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Author Topic: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)  (Read 67864 times)

Offline Kitharsis

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #60 on: September 24, 2013, 09:30:00 AM »
Kitharsis runs his fingers over his arm.  He doesn't find any cracks, but his skin cannot stand much more abuse without bursting open.  His arm flexes as he tests it.  It is more than a little tender, but it will heal in time.

His metal boots kick away pieces of Chaos Armor that have fallen around him.  Having cleared the space, he rises from the ground.  His blond mow hawk stands rigid like some kind of marker in the middle of the wreckage.

"Everyone still alive?" Asks Cameron.

Gulgrim and Jorumn confirm that they were fine.  Kitharsis kicks an empty Chaos helmet as he walks towards the others.

"Well enough," is the Tirthandara's reply.

His glowing shield is no longer square.  The sides have overrun, and it looks more like a lava spill than a diamond.  The stretched and curved energy sucks back into his tattoo as he walks through throngs of Orkz and resurrected 'Spiky Boyz."

"I suggest we keep moving, before any more of the chaos forces pop out of their hiding places."
« Last Edit: September 24, 2013, 09:48:01 AM by Kitharsis »

Offline Cameron

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #61 on: September 24, 2013, 08:59:24 PM »
Cameron looks over the impromptu strike team. Orks and undead Chaos Marines. Not his ideal choice of allies, but the orks have definitely proved useful so far. The marines would at least be useful as meat shields.

"Yes, Jorumn. Might as well keep them handy. Definitely can't hurt to have more firepower."

Cameron then turns to Kitharsis as he speaks.

"Yes, but first we need to find an... exit..."

Cameron trails off as he looks past Kitharsis. There is now a door sticking out of the floor a short distance away from the companion's position. It looks very out of place. Not only is there no door frame to support it, but it is a small wooden door that looks like it could be from a completely different time period. Cameron approaches it it cautiously.

"Well, this is definitely an exit. Something's off about it though."

Cameron walks around behind the door. There is nothing but more dead marines and empty space. This door should technically lead nowhere. Cameron returns to the front of the door and turns the handle. It turns easily.

"Here goes nothing. Be ready for anything."

Cameron pulls open the door, and suddenly the chamber is bathed in bright sunlight. Cameron has to shield his eyes before his helmet's light adjustment kicks in. Looking through the door, he sees what appears to be a grassy field. Confused, he steps through.

Cameron finds himself in a large open field. The sun shines brightly and a cool breeze blows. The grassy field is marked with dirt paths that create a diamond. Each point of the diamond is marked with a white canvas marker. Cameron recognizes this. The humans use fields like this to play a game called baseball, though the new fields are much more modern and usually are not made out of real grass and dirt.

The field is occupied. 16 young looking humans occupy various positions on the field. Some have oversized gloves, and the one at the head of the diamond has a wooden bat. They all glare at Cameron, their perfect hair barely moving in the breeze. Cameron shifts into a defensive stance as Karyl and Kari emerge from the doorway behind him. The man with the bat steps towards them.

"And what is this? You people have some nerve intruding on our private game. This is our field, and I suggest you return from where you came before we get angry."

The man bares his teeth, revealing fangs. Cameron has seen this before. Vampires, obviously. But why the hell would they be playing baseball? Karyl speaks up from behind Cameron.

"Cameron, why are they sparkling?"

Sure enough, the men seem to be sparkling in the sunlight. Cameron takes a step back, unsure of what to make of this. The sparkling vampires all begin to converge on the doorway, snarling and baring their fangs. The men further away in the field suddenly leap forward with unnatural speed, and Cameron and the other elementals find themselves surrounded.

"We warned you. Now we're going to have to teach you a lesson in respect."

The sun partially moves behind a cloud, and the shadow under a nearby tree begins to grow longer...

Offline Fei

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #62 on: September 25, 2013, 12:21:46 AM »
The tree's shadow flows forward like a gentle ocean tide, brushing calmly to the side in the breeze and coming back to rest as a curtain does so.  From the base of the tree, spanning forward, the enriched field upon which the shadow casts upon begins to slowly fade in its sun-kissed luster, withering and crumbling apart, the breeze carrying the remains away leaving in it's wake a barren wasteland upon all vegetation which meets the umbra's caress.

As the rabble of vampires encroach upon Cameron and his companions, their neatly kept hair is rendered disheveled and they find themselves holding their balance from a sudden gale that tears across the field. The wind picking up in short violent bursts while the sun's light begins to wane. Deafening thunder follows brilliant flashes of light within the deepening storm clouds as they constrict the remaining blue sky, dancing and tumbling inward upon the sun, looking to consume it's light.

The tree's shadow now stretches in to cast itself upon the vampires, the grass beneath their pristine baseball cleats becoming barren, picked up and whisked away by the wind. The cleats themselves begin to tarnish, the leather cracking and cheap paint peeling back and flaking apart.  From the now pitch black umbra at the base of the tree's shadow a ripple begins to approach, growing in... volume?... as it rises from the tenebrous tide. Just a sea creature swimming beneath the surface of the water, the shadows boil and flow up around the humanoid figure, melding into it the closer it gets.  The figure is made of shadows itself, and weren't it for the now darkened sky, one would be able to see through it slightly.

The vampires look around in confused rage, hissing in disgust as their wonderful day of baseball has become ruined in its entirety.  They turn back to Cameron, their sparkles snuffed out in the dimming light and their eyes angrily growing a glowing amber orange.

"You've ruined our game!" the now raggedly looking blonde woman screams out, her voice breaking in the storm raging above.
"And for that, you're dinner."

The Vampires hiss again and bare their fangs, approaching Cameron and the others and what appears to be some form of poorly synchronized choreography as they surround them at the door, moving unnecessarily slow for a predator species, clearly looking to intimidate the marine and his companions that their fear would make the approaching feast better.

"Ohhh I've found you...  I've finally found you, bastard kine of the long, almost-forgotten Tremere Lord Meyer.
A quiet, ghostly, second-guessable male voice pierces the sharp winds and crackling thunder, cutting into the minds of those within the vicinity. 

Stopping their synchronized strut, the vampires' heads turn, reeling around to a figure standing in the center of the oak's shadow approximately seven feet tall, the tree's branches spanning out from figure's form, almost looking like a large cloak flowing forth from it, resting out to the surrounding area.

"Who the fuck is this guy? Is he talking to us?  Hey Asshole, get  out of here or else we'llgrraghhhghhlk.
The cocky brown haired vampire is cut off with a gesture of the being's left hand being lifted.  The shadow branches to the left figure suddenly leap to life, pulling themselves from their two-dimensional prison, striking with blinding speed, ensnaring and hoisting the teen 10 feet into the air.  The branches twist around the struggling vampire.

The others look in horror as they all turn to the shadowy being. Their sudden horror is replaced with howls and rage. The raven haired woman charges in a burst of inhuman speed, claws sprouting from her fingertips. As her strike comes whistling in to carve down the being, his right hand goes from idly resting at his side to wrapped around her face in an instant. Stopping her in her tracks, the woman's head snaps back beneath his grip and her hands now pry to remove his grip from her face.

Horror returns to the vampires as they witness the figure close his left hand; The shadowy branches snapping the cocky-one's limbs in multiple places with a gruesomely satisfying crunch and wrenching them free of each other and pulling free with little resistance.  His terrified screams are cut short as one of the shadows wretch his head from his body while two additional shadows peel back his rib cage and reach in to pull out his heart. Blood flows freely from his body and splash down onto the shadow which begins to absorb into long, thin vermilion cords that snake their way back to the shadowy figure.   One of the shadowy tendrils snake up to the exposed heart and splits into a wide maw that snatches down on the heart, grinding, chewing and devouring it.

Simultaneously, the woman's body in the figure's grip begins to shrivel as her precious blood is sucked out of her body and in almost an instant her body dissolves to ash, leaving nothing but dust in the wind.

"Mmmm yes.  I will devour you all as the cattle you are, as I've devoured your sire and her sire.  Their attempts to hide you have failed.  Your legacy ends now and none shall mourn for you, as none remain to mourn for you."  The figure's head lifts and crimson red eyes stir atop a twisted smile as the absorbed blood course through the shadows like a circuit.

Raising its right hand high and clenching a fist, the shadows around the figure howl and bound forward and impale nine additional vampires and swiftly jerk them away from Cameron.  In a shower of blood, entrails and sinew, the vampires are torn apart.  Their screams echo into the roaring wind which proceeds to carry their ashes away as their blood is ripped from their remains.  The blood red mists coalesce into a central point before the being before shaping itself into a wickedly shaped crystal blade of garnet. 

The shadow grasps the blade in it's left hand and black lightning courses down from it's shoulder and into the blade, tempting the warp to tear free the abyss. 

The five remaining vampires dash forward in abject horror, rage and bloodlust looking to tear apart shadowy creature before he acts again each throwing down their baseball gloves and lashing out with vicious talons.   Calm and calculated the shadowy creature flows around each attack with an unnatural grace, making the vampires look clumsy as he dashes around avoiding each attack and reciprocating with a sweeping strike.  As the blade connects with the vampire, their very essence is sucked into the blade, utterly disintegrating them.  One by one, each vampire falls, drunk on the overwhelming stench of blood as they relentlessly assault the being.   One by one each vampire screams in agony as their essence is torn from their body until the blonde teenager remains.

In a final rush towards the creature, her eyes meets its eyes which now swirl an emerald green and she stops in her place, her attack coming to an end as her dash becomes a slow walk towards it.  Her twisted face of hatred is suddenly placated as she becomes enthralled by the being. She slowly approaches the shadow which extends a hand out to her.  She takes it's hand, hopelessly captivated by the being.

As the being caresses the teen's hair back into it's perfect shape, the winds die down. She reaches up to stroke it's face and it places it's hand upon hers.

"Please, I'll do anything for you... anything." the teen pouts, pulling her face closer to it's, panting in complete seduction.

"I know you will."  the being says with a warm gentle smile as it leans in to embrace her.

Before their lips meet, her head explodes into a shower of gray matter, skull fragments and blood, saturating the creature's face and her body going limp in its arms.  The creature laughs a healthy laugh as he absorbs the rest of her blood into the shadows and it stands to face the party.  Smoke lazily floats from the barrel of Cameron's wrist mounted storm bolter as he lowers it.

"It's been a long time, Cameron.  I'm glad I could find you." the creature nods to the party before the shadows begin to part away from the being, receding back to the depths as the sky clears.   Before Cameron and the others, stands Fei Serumen.

Offline Shadow Chorus

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #63 on: September 25, 2013, 01:15:38 AM »
Gulgrim watches Cameron leave through the door, and squints at its wooden surface. It looks too small for him or his bigger nobz to fit through. He'd have to make his own entrance. He heard the sounds of a fight on the other side and decided he couldn't waste any more time if he was gonna get stuck in. With a mighty WAAAGH! Gulgrim charged straight for the door, his psychic field plowing through the extradimensional magic that worked in that door's construction and sending him straight through to the portal's destination, despite there no longer being a door there. No, instead there was a now a vaguely Gulgrim-shape hole where the door used to be. That hole appeared to now be a permanent portal leading to the strange baseball field.

Sadly, Gulgrim arrived too late for the fight, and found some twiggy looking fing finishin' off the last o' da bad 'uns. Apparently he knew the Space Marine Git, so Gulgrim wouldn't shoot 'im....Yet.

"Oh Zog it all. I missed da fightin'. Come on ladz! Get out 'ere."

Slowly Gulgrim's boyz began to file through the hole in the wall, leaving room for Jorumn should he choose to enter as well, gathering around and milling about the area. A handful of them pick up some of the bats and balls in the are and start hitting each other and throwing the baseballs around in something of an Orky semblance of the game. Though it looked more like a brawl. But then, most ork games did. In the matter of a minute it degraded into one of the nobz yelling at a Boy wearing an umpire's uniform for 'bein a blind git who can't see a foul ball.' It was unknown -where- the boy had gotten the uniform in the first place, but there was a Gretchin wearing a coach's outfit standing a little off to the side, telling some of the 'players' to get out there and win.

Apparently Orks took their improvised games of Squigball very seriously, even when there was no squig to use as a ball.

It was almost frightening how quickly Gulgrim's Boyz could find something to do with nothing available. And how often they pulled objects out of thin air. There was an air of Orky madness and reality-warping around Gulgrim, and it only became more palpable as the Orks' antics became more impossible, as if he was a generator for some Orky theory, causing improbable events to happen from sheer force of will. Gulgrim seemed to ignore it, if he even knew it existed. But the fact that the Orks under his command seemingly had no limit to their numbers and could arrive from anywhere seemed to be an ever-growing clue to any who observed him.

Offline Archdemon Stu

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #64 on: September 27, 2013, 07:17:43 PM »
Jorumn watches the display of this new being.  He felt no remorse nor empathy for the poor creatures that were destroyed so mercilessly; on the contrary, he is impressed by yet another being's power.  The Warp indeed had provided him with many subjects to study, and it seemed he would get to for some time until he managed to find a way out of The Eye.

He turned to Cameron and Fei, "Interruption necessary. We should leave shortly.  This world... it is unstable... it cannot stand on its own; it is as if the very fabric of it defies logic on a fundamental level.  Should we dwell here for too long, I sense we shall become..." the construct seemed to search for a polite word, yet... "...stupid."

The beads of energy that were Jorumn's eyes turned independently of his head toward the Orks playing Squigball.  "Observe.  The effects are taking place already."

Offline Daccio

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #65 on: September 28, 2013, 09:50:55 AM »
Sepher latched onto the soul of the daemon soul with an iron grip of his mind, and it settled in next to he dozens of others already there. The daemons had scattered away from him, terrified of the ability he wielded, but even as they did they were cut down by his companions. Soon, there were no more left, and everyone stood then, panting with effort. As Kalana asks if anyone needs healing, he waved off that he didn’t, His ribs weren’t broken, thankfully. Even as he did, however, a cleansing light flushed over him from Jharm that took away the tinge in his ribs. Sepher pulls his throwing blades to his hand with a yank of chaos magic, re-sheathing them.

   He looked over to both Kalana and Mary, giving them a nod that he was ready to go. With a flick of his wrist, the metal baton he was wielding retracted and lightning stopped arcing from it. He moved to follow the others, taking up a position of rear guard.

Offline Cameron

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #66 on: September 29, 2013, 02:23:11 AM »
Soul Reaver rounds the corner and plunges into the darkness of the warehouse. At first, he can see nothing but vague shapes, even with the light of the flaming sphere above him. Unnatural shadows swirl around the wrecked place and absorb all light. As Soul Reaver steps inside, there is a grinding noise from above and behind him. A huge door falls closed with a loud crash, blocking Soul Reaver's retreat and separating him from Natalya. She shouts something outside but it is muffled by the door and cannot be made out clearly. Before Soul Reaver has a chance to investigate this further, there is another crash from further ahead.

In the center of the warehouse, a makeshift platform has been crafted out of the remnants of tools and materials that once filled this place. A blinding light suddenly cuts on in the pile of junk behind the platform. The unnatural shadows dissipate, allowing the light to illuminate Soul Reaver and back-lighting the outline of the platform and it's contents.

A makeshift cross stands on the platform. It appears to be made out of two crossed i-beams from the warehouse ceiling, A figure is strapped to it, but the light shining from behind it prevents Soul Reaver from seeing anything other than it's shadowy outline. A female voice rings from the platform. Soul Reaver recognizes it instantly.

"Thank you... for everything. Don't think I'd be here now if it wasn't for you. I owe you the universe, my sensei."


The light cuts out, and without the shadows masking it, Soul Reaver's sphere of flame clearly illuminates the platform. A small figure is chained to the cross. The figure is wearing a tattered leather biker's outfit. Ragged snowy white hair obscures her face. Blood drips from various wounds and cuts on her body. She is breathing, but the breathing is labored and ragged. It is she who was speaking, and she soon speaks again.

"I wouldn't be where I am today. Trapped. Tortured. All because of your refusal to act. You had the power to stop me from being taken, and yet you allowed me to be taken anyway. And now look at me. This is your fault."


The figure looks up, and Soul Reaver is staring into the single remaining eye of his former student, Asaki. Her other eye is missing. It appears to have been gouged out sometime recently. Blood flows slowly from the clotted eye socket where it used to be. The rest of her face is covered in deep cuts and gashes, some fresh, some scarred. She flashes Soul Reaver a bloody grin.

"So thank you, sensei. Thank you for protecting me and providing this future for me. I owe you the universe."



As the rest of the companions prepare to move on, Kalana and Garr make their way to the large door that the Daemons entered the mall area through. It appears to be the only exit. Kalana shines a light into it but reveals nothing but a long dark corridor.

"Well, this is our only way through. Stay together so that we don't get separated."

Kalana and Garr make their way into the long corridor. Mary hands Danyael his cloak back with a smile and a nod of thanks, and then readies her broadsword and follows.

It seems like Kalana is walking for hours with her light illuminating nothing but more blank corridor, but she finally reaches a large wooden door. She and Garr manage to pull it open as Mary steps through ahead of them in a defensive stance. As they step out into what appears to be bright moonlight, The two elementals and the veteran bounty hunter look around in amazement.

The companions find themselves at the end of a large stone bridge that stretches across a lake. At the other end of the bridge stands an ancient castle. Towers and parapets stretch into the night sky. Every window is lit with a pleasant glow, and children's laughter can be heard coming from inside. A pleasant looking man with a long beard and a pointy hat stands at the end of the bridge and extends his hands in welcome. He beckons the companions to cross the bridge. Kalana, Garr and Mary exchange confused looks. Garr is the first to speak.

"What sorcery is this?"

Offline Daccio

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #67 on: September 29, 2013, 11:59:47 AM »
Sepher moved through the entrance that the daemons came through, following the others, keeping a lookout for what was coming next. It was not a question IF, but when. They walk for a goodly period of time down the dark corridor, what must be hours really until any noticible changes occur. Sepher takes position, ready to cast some daemonic energy or shift forms at a moment's notice as the others move to open the door.

He frowned at the moonlight and followed the others out, to what appeared to be a large stone bridge. His eyes went wide as they followed the pathway to a large, warmly lit stone castle. It was then that he saw the the pleasant looking man with the long beard. This place felt off... the laughter of children could faintly be heard, and to be welcomed so readily by anyone who was a stranger was disconcerting. Echoing laughter of the daemon souls played through his head, cackling, teasing him. It filled his mind, the chorus of dozens of souls. Sepher sounded almost distraught as he spoke up, speaking in a rush. The souls partially overwhelming his senses for a few moments. Usually when he heard cackling like that from the souls in his head, destruction of some sort ensued.

"Something is wrong, very wrong. I don't know what, but all is not as it seems" He spun around, looking around for some unseen attack, and he drew upon the chaotic energies of his home system to be unleashed in an instant, before spinning back around to face the Old man and castle before them.


Offline Veldanya Venalla

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #68 on: September 29, 2013, 07:03:26 PM »
The Seraphim follows the rest of the group through the entryway the demons came through.  After traveling for a lengthy amount of time they reached a large wooden door that the elementals heave open.  Upon stepping through the doorway Jharm gazes around at stars and moonlight, a giant castle looming before them.  The faint sound of childrens laughter and the sight of a kindly old gentleman at the end of a stone bridge in front of them causes him to lift his hammer off his shoulder and grasp it with both hands.  They are in the Labyrinth after all....nothing is as it seems. 

"A "church" to a shopping mall to a giant castle.  The insanity of this place continues...."

He gazes up at the castle parapets, observant for any potential attackers (especially winged ones) that may be hiding above the group.
Religion and greed, cause millions to bleed.

Offline Soul Reaver

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #69 on: September 29, 2013, 08:09:34 PM »
As the door slams behind him, Soul Reaver immediately pulls Blooddrinker back, ready to engage in combat.  A sinister silhouette stands ahead, and a sense of immense foreboding washes over the immortal warrior.  And then, a familiar voice speaks, and Soul Reaver's heart feels as though it had turned to stone.

"Thank you... for everything. Don't think I'd be here now if it wasn't for you. I owe you the universe, my sensei."

The light vanishes, and in the orange glow of his flaming sphere, Soul Reaver beholds Asaki.  Tortured, cruelly crucified, blood running freely over savaged limbs.

"I wouldn't be where I am today. Trapped. Tortured. All because of your refusal to act. You had the power to stop me from being taken, and yet you allowed me to be taken anyway. And now look at me. This is your fault."

Colour drains from Soul Reaver's face and his normally stoic mask crumbles.  A faint metallic ting can be heard as Soul Reaver unconsciously lowers the tip of his blade until it touches the ground.  Asaki's words thrust like icy lances through his mind.

With effort, Asaki raises her head, her one good eye filled with bitter accusation.

"So thank you, sensei. Thank you for protecting me and providing this future for me. I owe you the universe."

For a moment, Soul Reaver is left standing completely motionless.  His shoulders sagging, it looks as though he can barely carry the weight of his own armor.  His eyes brim with tears.  No longer an immortal warrior of legend or a heroic champion of justice, he stands there instead as but a tired, broken man. 

Then he blinks, and the tears roll down his cheeks.  But his face is changed again.  Grim, unyielding, but now struggling to hold back something boiling viciously just beneath the surface.

Soul Reaver's eyes blaze with a deep crimson light and for a few seconds the air in the entire warehouse shimmers visibly as Soul Reaver's senses probe for the truth.  It is Asaki... but it is not.  There is a glamour here, hiding the truth.  Were it impersonating another, perhaps he might have been fooled.  But not Asaki!

Soul Reaver's visage twists in fury.  He spreads his arms wide and his voice echoes deep throughout the warehouse.

"Show yourself, debased Daemon-kin!  Do you think I would not question what you lay before me in this place of deceit and illusion?!  Step forth and we shall see your measure!!"

He lowers his arms.  Though quieter, his next words drip with murderous hostility, and are accompanied by a strange, inhuman growl.

"You unearth things that should have been left buried."
« Last Edit: September 29, 2013, 08:16:19 PM by Soul Reaver »

Offline Danyael

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #70 on: September 29, 2013, 10:08:36 PM »
Danyael wordlessly accepts his cloak with a nod, redraping it back across his shoulders with linking movement the moment it was back in his hands. Following the others through the hall, Danyael at first felt something, only for it to pass. Remembering the feeling, he secured it in his thoughts and pressed on as if nothing happened. Lifting the hood back over his head, he continued on with the others.

And then the doors opened. While outwardly he expressed nothing, that's precisely what he had an idea of: nothing. This entire labyrinth was one great big... nothing. From a shopping mall to an enchanted castle filled with giggles and an old man who more than likely was a wizard. What was next? Sugar and Rainbows? Sparkling Vampires? He thought on the second question, then shook it off as nonsense. Hopefully the other companions didn't deal with tomfoolery of that caliber. 

“Something is wrong, very wrong. I don't know what, but all is not as it seems.” he heard Sepher exactly when he saw the older gentleman welcoming them while sporting his awkwardly pointed hat. If this was someone's idea of a cosmic joke, he didn't get it – nor did he find it funny.

“A “church” to a shopping mall to a giant castle. The insanity of this place continues...” He heard Jharm say. Insanity was a polite way of stating it. This was just downright off course. “Mind-boggling...” Danyael mused as he passed Jharm by. Honestly, it became all the more difficult to take this place seriously, it became borderline insulting.
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Offline Kitharsis

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #71 on: September 30, 2013, 08:48:01 PM »
The random door that apparently leads to a separate plane is a little odd, even for this place.  What is even odder is the sparkling baseball playing vampires.  Kitharsis is poised and ready to rush to defend Cameron, but before he even enters the doorway he notices the lengthening shadow.  There is power inside of it, and it makes itself known abruptly. 

This new being displays a large amount of power and skill.  These lesser vampires fall easily to the rampaging shadows.  This battle style is familiar, and Kitharsis would bet money on who is behind the deadly shadows.

His guess is correct, as the shadows melt away and reveal Fei Serumen.

"Good to see you are well, Fei.  How did you find yourself here?"

Offline Cameron

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #72 on: October 01, 2013, 12:32:00 AM »
Asaki's bloody grin widens as Soul Reaver speaks. His anger and show of power doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, she seems to have been counting on it.

"Funny that you should mention things that were unearthed, Master Reaver."

The word Master drips with sarcasm.

"You are correct, of course. I am not actually Asaki. And I wasn't expecting you to fall for that for very long. But your very reaction has told me all I need to know."

The body of "Asaki" suddenly begins to glow. Large white wings burst from her back as the chains holding her to the cross are torn asunder. Her good eye glows green and the wounds fade from her instantly, though her other eye remains an empty socket. She hovers above the platform, grinning wildly, her white hair blowing around her face as immense power radiates from her.

"You wish to see my true measure? Well, I want nothing more than to fight you, and break you. And trust me. I WILL break you. You will suffer for letting Asaki be taken."

Asaki's flesh begins to twist and boil. Her entire body changes, becoming much bigger and more muscular. What's left after the changes is a massive figure in a tattered Blood Angels uniform with long black hair. He is still grinning an awful grin and his one good eye is still glowing green. The other eye is still missing. His voice has changed when he speaks, but it's another voice that is familiar to Soul Reaver.

"Do you remember me, Master Reaver? Probably not. My life was of no consequence to you. Just a pawn in your fight against your enemies. Just as she was. But I have long thought about you. I saw you, through that pathetic fool Cameron. I saw you leave Asaki to her fate. You had the opportunity to stop them. You all did. And you just let them take her. I know you feel that guilt! Your reaction serves as your confession! And I am here to exact judgement. Not just on you, but on everyone who was responsible. And their friends. And their families. I will not rest until all of you have suffered the way she suffered. The way I suffered."

The figure raises his arms, hovering in front of Soul Reaver on his angelic wings.

"James Peterson. At your service. I am your judge, your jury, and your executioner."



Cameron had fallen into a purely defensive stance when the vampires had surrounded them. His hand was resting on the hilt of one of the two elemental blades at his side. Karyl and Kari fallin on either side of him, covering his flank. But then Cameron's eyes are drawn to the tree. A familiar energy is building in it's growing shadow. He recognizes it immediately.

Fei.

Cameron watches, growing increasingly more nervous with each vampire's evisceration. He hasn't seen Fei since before they left Cadia. And he and Fei were not exactly on great terms due to the events that took place on Cellaris V. Cameron had essentially murdered Fei by breaking his bond with Tamrissa. But he had survived. And now here he is. Cameron keeps his guard up as Fei finishes his murdering and reveals himself to the group.

"Fei Serumen. I wish we were meeting on better circumstances. We appear to be lost within the Labyrinth of Chaos. We had others with us, but we've been separated. If you are here to help, we could definitely use it."

While Cameron talks to Fei, Karyl and Kari are walking around the baseball diamond, avoiding the orks and their hijinks. Eventually, Karyl sees something.

"Cameron? This is an odd looking door to have in the middle of a field."

Karyl points at a large wooden shed. Everything about it screams old and rustic except the door. The door is a huge industrial looking door that apparently opens by retracting it's two halves vertically. Square teeth run the length of the center of the door in a horizontal line. They are bordered with yellow and black stripes. A large red button sticks out of the wood to the door's right. Cameron regards it humorlessly.

"Another out of place door. That must lead to the next area. All we can do is keep moving."

Cameron walks over to the door and presses the button. A klaxon sounds from somewhere inside, and the door slowly retracts and opens. Cameron steps through. He finds himself on a huge platform. A ramp extends diagonally upward. This looks like a large freight elevator. As Kari and Karyl step through behind him, Cameron looks around. The only two things on this large elevator are two barrels over in the corner. Cameron walks over and pushes one and it falls over, apparently hollow. Underneath it is a whole roasted turkey on a plate.

"What... the fuck?"



Kalana reacts to Sepher's panic by raising her rifle and aiming it at the old man. She doesn't want to be discourteous, but they ARE in the Eye of Terror. This can't be what it seems.

The man smiles and raises his arms.

"Now, now, esteemed visitors! There's no reason to be alarmed! I am just here to welcome you to the school! And I brought our students out to welcome you as well. Students? Give our fine guests a proper wizarding welcome!"

The source of children's laughter is suddenly much closer. A legion of children on broomsticks rise from either side of the massive bridge. There must be thousands of them. It's hard to get an accurate count. They are all wearing pointy hats and strange uniforms, and each of them have a stick in their hands. But that is not the first thing the companions would notice. The first thing they would see is their eyes. No iris or pupils. Just a glowing red pit where their eyes should be. Mary raises her sword, fear in her voice for the first time since arriving in the Eye.

"No... this is wrong. Fall back! Defensive formations!!!"

Just as she says this, the children all giggle in unison, and suddenly they are on the companions. Zipping around extremely fast, they launch lightning, fire, and beams of power from their wands and look to swarm the companions and either kill them where they stand or drive them off the bridge. The old man cackles from the edge of the bridge as a powerful barrier springs up in front of him.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2013, 07:47:05 AM by Starblade|MKIV »

Offline Daccio

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #73 on: October 01, 2013, 01:23:44 PM »
The man before them smiled and raised his arms.

"Now, now, esteemed visitors! There's no reason to be alarmed! I am just here to welcome you to the school! And I brought our students out to welcome you as well. Students? Give our fine guests a proper wizarding welcome!"

This children's laughter echoed around the companions, but to sepher, it seemed more like demonic cackling. He had been ready.

"No... this is wrong. Fall back! Defensive formations!!!" Mary shouts.

Sepher grits his teeth. He will now let anything happen to them, he should have reacted sooner, but at least he had a large reserve of power to use at the moment. He holds his hands open in front of himself and focuses every bit of energy he can muster between them. The fire bolts and lances of power and lightning and stupifys and all sorts of other swirls of energy are flowing their way. In sephers mind, they seemed to craw inevitably towards the companions, but suddenly he throws his fists out, casting a shield of energy around all of the companions just as the spells slammed into them. Sepher grunted with the impact, his boots sliding across the gravel on the ground.

"GET READY" Sepher shouted, not bothering to lower his voice in the maelstrom of magical energies.

In one explosive burst of energy, Sepher threw his shield outward, like a sphere of breaking glass, launching the missiles of the evil little mages back at themselves in a violent whirlwind of deadly energy. It gave them a small lull in the purposeful intent to kill them as their spells slam back into themselves, the screams of children floating up into the air. Sepher fell to a knee, the screams of the kids digging into his soul as the daemons cackled louder in his mind. He knew full well that there were thousands upon thousands of creatures here, intent to kill them.

Offline Soul Reaver

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #74 on: October 01, 2013, 08:44:26 PM »
Soul Reaver stands his ground as Peterson reveals himself.  As he speaks, Soul Reaver's hands close white-knuckled over the hilt of his blood-tinted sword.  Every word from Peterson builds a rage within Soul Reaver's breast that threatens to burn away all reason.  Beads of sweat run down his forehead and he hisses through gritted teeth.

"Peterson!  We all thought you were lost - and indeed it seems you are.  Better you had died than become such an abomination!"

The ball of flame above Soul Reaver backs away slightly and begins to grow, spitting sparks down onto Soul Reaver and casting his face into sinister shadow.  Two pinpoints of red light shine unwholesomely from beneath a dark brow.

"Asaki had committed crimes and the Soreans offered her a path to redemption.  She CHOSE to go!"

He pauses for a moment.

"Yes, I could have stopped them."  As he speaks, he takes a half-step forward, extending his left hand and closing it in a claw-like grip in emphasis.  He spits every word with vehement hatred.  "I could have torn their accursed hearts from their chests, cloven them from head to groin, woven sorcery to shred their flesh into bloodied ribbons!"

Soul Reaver steps back and turns his head aside.  For a moment, his voice reflects not rage, but quiet regret.

"She would have been free of her pursuers and free to travel throughout the multiverse.  She could have stayed at my side."

The moment passes, and Soul Reaver's eyes blaze with red balefire once more.  His voice reaches a crescendo.

"But I had to let her go!  It was the only just decision!!  It was the only way left open to me!!"

The ball of flame roars as it blazes even brighter, and Soul Reaver brings Blooddrinker up in a combat stance, held two-handed beside his head, the tip pointed straight toward Peterson's heart.  Soul Reaver's voice now sounds strange - as though another being were speaking his words along with him.

"Who are you to judge me?!  You are nothing but a worm, and like a worm shall you die!!"

A surge of hot strength pours from Blooddrinker, up Soul Reaver's arms and into his body as he launches himself toward Peterson.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2013, 06:19:01 AM by Soul Reaver »

Offline Veldanya Venalla

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #75 on: October 01, 2013, 09:35:20 PM »
"Now, now, esteemed visitors! There's no reason to be alarmed! I am just here to welcome you to the school! And I brought our students out to welcome you as well. Students? Give our fine guests a proper wizarding welcome!"

Suddenly thousands of children on broomsticks rise up from around the old man.  Glowing red pits glare at the companions as malevolent giggling echoes from the demonic creatures.

"No... this is wrong. Fall back! Defensive formations!!!" Mary shouts.

As the demonic "children" scatter and assorted spells rain down towards the companions a bubble of energy appears overhead.  The Seraphim notices Sepher struggle as the array of magical effects slam into his shield, and moves towards him.  Suddenly Sepher shouts out, his voice barely audible above the assault above them.

"GET READY!"

Suddenly the shield seems to...shatter as the collected spells are reflected back towards their demonic casters.  The sound of children screaming pierces the soul of the heavenly being.  First they were sent into a despicable abomination of a holy place...a desecration of a church.  Then they are forced to face off against demonic children.  To twist and distort something as innocent as a child to hide demonic abominations beneath....something Jharm could not stand.   Those around him sense a surge of power emanate from within the Seraphim as he reaches the half-kneeling Sepher.  A glowing gauntlet touches the twisted humans shoulder as a sense of calm and peace flows into Sepher followed by a voice.

Peace my friend....focus....do not let them win.....

Suddenly the hand is removed as glowing eyes gaze skyward.

"Time to bring the fight to them......"

The Seraphim launches upwards into the air, glowing brightly against the midnight sky.  With a grace and deftness most would assume impossible, the massive angel darts and dives amongst the airborne witches and warlocks either striking them from their brooms with his massive sledge and blasting them away with blasts of holy light.  A particularly malicious teenager bearing short blond hair and a sneer with a strange snake sewn onto his robe manages to get behind Jharm and raises his wand.

"Avada kedavra!"

A bolt of green lightning launches from the tip of the wand and flies towards the Seraphim, slamming into and through a shield created by the angel.  The bolt punches through the holy armor and launches him rocketting into the ground a large cloud of dust hiding the impact spot.  A few seconds pass when suddenly a massive beam of light launches from within the dust towards the caster responsible for the curse, bathing him in glowing white light as clothing then flesh then finally bone burn away until the creature is completely incinerated.  The dust clears to show Jharm hunched over slightly, breathing heavily, a noticeable hole in his armor between his wings.

"Foul creatures....you can not.....stop....the Light!"

Summoning his fallen hammer to his hand, the Seraphim launches into the air once more, battling the demons above the companions, working to prevent another magical onslaught against his "grounded" companions.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2013, 03:56:00 PM by Jharm »
Religion and greed, cause millions to bleed.

Offline Fei

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #76 on: October 01, 2013, 10:52:28 PM »
Fei eyes over Cameron's companions, inspecting the new individuals that have joined him as well as some old faces he's recognized.  How long has it really been since he last seen them?  He has an... Ork as a companion... it appears.  And what appears to be a spiritual entity controlling a body such as a marionette.  Perhaps a Lich? Perhaps not so different.  But an Ork?

He would ponder this while his attention is drawn to what appears to be an old Freight elevator.   Fei begins to approach it, speaking as he does so.

"Hmmm... Curious.  Anyways, there is much to discuss and not much time.  However, is Abaddon dead? In my last attack against him, the border between the Eye and the Abyss were strained too thin. I let my guard down and  was pulled over.  I didn't have the energy to make it back on my own against the abyss until you encountered... them."

Stepping into Elevator, Fei's boots clang steadily against the sheet steel floor. It's secure.  His attention is diverted upwards and a grin crosses his face.

"Hmmm. Many are going to die, here. Very soon. I can taste it.  I must conserve my strength for challenges to come, less the abyss try and reclaim me.  The turkey would probably restore my energy completely, but I sense there is only 2 of them.  I'll have to fight with my Bare Knuckles.

With a satisfying pop, Fei cracks his knuckles, neck and back and pulls back into a readied fighting stance, his form, perfect and motionless as he waits for the enemies to come.  His anima and essence expenditure drops, and the shadows around him mute and fade away.

"Let it begin... Let them come."


Offline Kitharsis

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #77 on: October 02, 2013, 01:58:58 PM »
Kitharsis follows behind Fei and Cameron.  He stands cross armed as as the huge industrial door retracts open.  More madness awaits them.  Fei has been explaining his disappearance, and how he was able to return.

"I hope you are able to fend off the abyss until we are out of this demented place, Fei."  Is Kitharsis's reply.

"What... the fuck?"  Cameron questions, as he stands over what looks like a roasted bird of some sort.

A freight elevator, and a roasted bird.  Kitharsis is just as confused.  Fei is preparing for a battle, and gives a warning.  Not wanting to be caught off guard, Kitharsis unhooks his horseman's pick.  He taps the blunt hammer side on the floor as he waits for whatever will be poking its head out.

Offline Archdemon Stu

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #78 on: October 03, 2013, 11:02:07 PM »
Even Jorumn's vast library of knowledge has allowed him no words, no explanation for what is happening before him.  The one Cameron called "Fei" seems to have dwelt in this world long enough to know what's going on, and far be it from Jorumn to question him in this land of utter nonsense.  Despite being well armed, Fei chooses to use his "bare knuckles."

Jorumn surrenders his previously held logic.  It will not help him or his new allies; not here.  As he gathered the elements of his home world, he would gather the elements of this world and bend them to his will.  As he planted his feet on the strange platform, familiar ritual circles opened up beneath the feet of each Jorumn.  The energy was unsteady as the construct navigated the energies of this dimension of silliness... but it was not long before Jorumn seemed to capture its essence, and the energies steadied.  Strange symbols and images faded in an out as the circles danced with power; headbands... impossibly tight shirts... hair spray... boy bands...

The powers Jorumn toyed with now were far more vile than any he had dared trifle with before; it was good that now he was merely a construct, for if he truly knew the magnitude of the magics he now toyed with, he would surely wretch at the thought.

Offline Danyael

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Re: The Eye of Terror: The Labyrinthine Depths of Chaos (Part II)
« Reply #79 on: October 04, 2013, 12:24:51 AM »
If these creatures were to think themselves fit to make the companions look like fools, then two could play at that game. A twiddling of his fingers and a snap brought a plume of cotton candy smoke into the realm with a 'Bamf!' flatulent sound. The homonculus, a floating orb whose body was no bigger than a human head – perhaps because head and body were one and the same – bobbed up and down in a playful dance amid the chaos. One of the louder of the wizards, a girl – if she could be called one – screamed on a straight ahead collision course toward Mary. In a tuft of pinkish smoke, the Homonculus spurted in front of the elemental, its cylindrical fingers jutting forward in a halting gesture. The gesture, however, was anything but.

“Sounimulov Smoozab!” the homonculus chirped with a playful squawk. The young wizardress jolted to attention, surprise clearly painting her features as her eyes dart down to notice her bust increase by four sizes. Wide eyed, she looked back up onto to receive a headbutt by the homonculus before the creature vanished back into the ether with a playful snicker.

Danyael, on the other hand, was far from being in a laughing mood – or any mood. Turning to watch a portly wizard dressed in green and black robes lift his wand. The stubby want erupted with what could none other be described as living lava. The fire appeared with a roaring, billowing noise, rising to abnormally massive sizes as it takes the shape of fiery monstrous personages of snakes, dragons and chimeras, constantly mutating between forms as it expands to greater sizes. Screeching toward Danyael, it razed all in its path, including the many other wizards racing toward him. At the same time, another group of wizards, totaling a number too high to care to count, aimed their wands with a concerted command: “Avada Kedavra!” exploding arcs of dazzling green light, much like that of serpentine lightning, toward the Nephilim Lord.

An explosion of light made it first appear that Danyael had taken the hit as it crumpled him to his knees upon impact. But when noticing the green lights were still connected to him did it become apparent the nephilim lord was blocking the attack with his free hand, shielding himself with a barrier in the form of a howling white orb of moonlight. The wizards increase their focus, by forcing harder, pushing Danyael to such extent that the ground around him begins digs in, breaking apart in segments and chunks of earth. And with the living flames rushing toward him at the same time, ready for the final pounce, it appeared Danyael would be singing his swan song within moments.

But then again... there was his other hand to consider. Gripped in his clutch was the yamato, quaking with the wanton urges of death and violence raging around him. His warp-blinded eyes perceived the very threads of energy that brought the spells into existence. He watched the leylines stretch and coil, bending and expanding – but never breaking. And so, he decided it was finally time to end this farce. A gutteral snarl rippled through the air and his moonlight shield was suddenly replaced by the slashing upward movement of the reverse-gripped (now unsheathed) yamato, transmuting its hellish energies into consumable prana for the blade – which has known only death all its existence. And with a blink, the green light snuffed out into a fizz of nothingness.

The somnus swirled in a weaponized whirlwind, his free hand snaring hold of a two bladed halberd – the Niitei. He looked up slowly, his eyes now a deep shade of forest green, looked back at the wizards, now aghast with what they had seen. And as if to silently say 'My Turn', he was suddenly no longer there. That is until they heard a sound coming from behind them; the sound of something spinning. Fast. Too fast. Wheeling the weapon around his wrist, he let the weapon loose. The Niitei surged through the battlefield in a sudden burst of strength, the wind around it picked up in a howling aftermath, shredding up the forestry in its wake where it dissolved away the distance between weapon and its prey with the speed of a camera shutter, hammering into the wizards with the centrifugal force of a hurricane.

Relentless as he was, however, the nephilim lord felt it prudent to insure the pests, inspite of the massacre, stayed dead. Feeling the energies of the flaming beast still raging toward him, he felt the raw force of the creature carving across the battlefield to reach him. But that was just it – the beast was still on the ground. On. The. Ground. Big mistake. Stomping his booted heel hard into the ground, the beast felt its own lack of control dissolve all the more away when it not only couldn't move, but now felt pulled toward Danyael instead.

The closer it got, the brighter its flames glowed. The brighter they glowed, the more their hues changed – transmuting the creature from a beast of furious flame into raw blazing white energy, sucked deep now into the very ground Danyael commanded; feeding the nephilim lord's hunger. And with this newly absorbed strength, he aimed his free hand toward the massacre of wizards where he proceeded to send the transmuted energy back at the demons, igniting the battlefield in a haze of crimson and platinum flames.

The nephilim lord stood still at first, his body quivering and quaking before shades of himself, exact duplicates save for donning nightshade black hooded cloaks, began spilling out of him in all directions. What became six, became twelve. What became twelve became twenty four. And at their center stood the nephilim lord himself. But not all was well. The transference of too many energies had taken its toll. And so, the hybrid keeled to a knee, where he suddenly vomited up an unacceptable weight of blood before taking a haggard breath after the occurrence. A command of will and his shades vanished and reappeared in randomly calculated areas of the battlements, engaging the wizards and their monstrosities as their creator knelt amid the chaos waiting for his healing factor to kick in. But it didn't. Not right away. It came slowly. Almost too slowly. And then he realized that the Labyrinth was far more than assumed. The pain wracked him in waves while his shades fought on without fail. And when another wave of anguish hit him, he finally let out a tortured scream that echoed across the emptiness.
« Last Edit: October 04, 2013, 12:34:28 AM by Danyael »
"Yeah, well, ya' better have a spatula where we're goin' cause my ass is frozen to this yak!" :o