In a realm far removed than that of the scene that is happening amongst those of the Warriors of Hades, another scene is unfolding upon a much different realm. In a realm of shadows and swirling mist, where the screams of the dying and the damn are ever present. A lone figure stands atop a plateau covered in smoke and haze, contemplating the recent reversal in roles that has become its life in the past year and half. It's memories of waging wars in hell and the abyss in the times of the Ancient gods. Some had feared it, others sought to become allies. And still others had begged for mercy upon his many claws. It had seen those gods thrown down and had fought against the upstart patheon god that now claims Toril as their own. And yet still through all that it had still won control of several of the lowest levels of the abyss. Mostly forgotten by all but a few of the upstart gods and mortals. It had built for itself a realm of its own spanning several levels of the abyss. Until that fateful day that the dark one had come to be. Whispering in its many ears that he had discovered a way to open a portal to Toril, so that his armies could pour though and claim that which should have been his so many long millennia ago. Even then it had planed to accept this mortals proposal so far as to learn that secret and then to destroy him! It had not taken into account that this dark one would prove to be his undoing. It that had once fought gods and won, was now only a puppet for a mere mortal. But even to it, it was clear that it was not in charge of its own armies or its realm anymore.

Slowly through the swirling mists came the succubus with the news that it had awaited for so very long. At last it was time to get this game of the dark ones underway. Quickly its massive form moved to the other end of the plateau. To a place where the mists, smoke and haze that it so enjoyed avoided like its very life depended upon it. Slowly the great abyssal lord walked into the circle of clear air that hung in its realm with oppressiveness unlike anything it had ever known. Siting upon a thrown of pure blood, sat the dark one. Laid out before him was a massive wooden table of a dark wood that was incredible heavy and resistant to magic. Upon that table sat the accursed game board of the dark one. A most interesting game board, for it showed many realms from Toril to the realms of the shattered multiverse of Ultima. Spread through out this game board were many pieces that represented living being, that moved and played among the dark ones own pieces. Some times to fade out completely and others times to become brighter than it would have like to have seen. To its abyssal light sensitive eyes it was quite painful. There were figures of gleaming white for Elimister, and his knights. The symbol, and her sisters. And for various other goodies spread over the various realms thus portrayed. But a hand full of figures shining in variants of green and black moved with skill upon the game board also. Several times they had flashed and disappeared and the dark one had been pleased. But for the most part, these unknown figures had beaten him at his own game. Several times it had caught the dark one in a rage, shouting names of unknown mortals that had beaten him. Peron, Quin, Vikar, Beast, Jozix, Ion, Hydra, Haze and still a few more. Although, these names do not ring in its ears to be the names of goodies. Still the dark one fights them, why? Ever that question ponders its thoughts. Why fight evil? When there are goodies to kill?

It took some time before the dark one finally noticed the presence of the abyssal lord standing below him, yet still was more than three feet taller than his current position. In a deep voice of rolling thunder the dark one slowly spoke,"Ahh partner, what news have you today?" **Partner says (spoken with distaste) I have news that your thief has been caught by the ones you call the Warriors of Hades.** The abyssal lord notices that this information caught the dark one off guard. Quickly the dark one turns around to an enlarged portion of the map. " Ahh so they have, once again they interfere with my plans. It is far too soon yet, my armies are not in position yet! Damn them to hell!" siting back the dark ones clasps his hands over his chest and thinks for awhile. Slowly a dark smile spreads over his face."Ahh but this can be used to my advantage!!" Reaching over the dark one grasps the black figure of his thief that was to be spying upon the unsuspecting Warriors. Then sets it back gently upon the game board and once again takes a figurine off the game board. This time a figure of a blue human woman." Time for some fun" placing the blue women outside of the building, he quickly waves his hands over it to put it into play. All to quickly the blue figurine flashes and is no more. "What, how dare they!" grasping the figurine of the thief once again, the dark one tries to make mental contact with his little spy. Only he finds that his spy's mind is being bent to that of another. Quickly the dark one hurls a thick stream of magical energy into the figurine of the thief. Back at the Warrior's keep the thief/phantom begins to howl in pain. There voices becoming one, one of pain and torture. Then the Thief's body becomes rigid, as if a new mind has entered it. Suddenly a scream is heard coming from the prone yoga floating body of Phantom. His head held back and his hands squeezing his head as if in an attempt to keep his head from exploding. Slowly the thief head turns towards Phantoms body screaming in pain. Then the thief speaks in a new voice. One that is deep and very powerful. "Do be quiet Phantom" Without warning Phantoms body is hurled across the room and slammed into the back wall. Slowly his prone form slides down the wall leaving behind a bloody smear. There to lie motionless on the floor, in a bloody broken mass. Then before anyone can attempt to move to help Phantom. Peron begins to cry in agony, as the hand he is holding the thief with is mercilessly burned to a blackened stump of a useless hand. Quickly the other warriors prepare spells or draw weapons, to smite the possessed thief. "STOP" commands a booming voice, all the Warriors turn to watch as Vikar steps forward and addresses the possessed theif.' Who would dare to engage in combat with the Warriors of Hades?' Slowly the possessed thief answers Vikar. " You all have interfered in plans once to often. Your intervention this time was untimely, but not unforeseen. I have long planned the destruction of your Guild (dripping with venom). As far as who I am, you may address me as the Dark One. Make known to all present that the deed is done, the die is cast. The wheel turns, stand aside or be crushed upon it." Just then Stormie comes running into the bar holding the note that Devlyn had asked her to bring forth. "Ahh the lovely Stormie returns, and with information about me that must not be brought before your friends. Not yet at least" Stormie stunned from being addressed thus from a mere thief stops in her tracks and simply stares at the possessed thief in total amazement, still holding the note for Devlyn. All eyes turn but for a brief moment to gaze upon Stormie in her total amazement. And that is all the opportunity the dark ones needs, but with a wave of his hand Stormie is gone, vanished from Toril right in front of the stunned warriors. ' Grab him quickly' Vikar yells as he lunges for the thief. Too late before anyone can reach him the thief is engulfed in a blazing black fire and is ashes instantly. But a fading voice echoes for all the Warriors to hear "The game is afoot, are you up to the challenge?"

Stormie materializes in a dark and smoky place. A place that is far removed from any place that she has ever been, and will likely ever see again. Dark forms move about her, but none will answer her call or aid her. She vainly tries to contact any of her guild brothers and sisters using ESP. Nothing. She is being shielded completely. Her head aches, as if she is standing in a magical dead zone. Like the ones that were left with the death of the gods back in Toril during the times of trouble. Slowly a form approaches her with food and wine. A form that is oddly familiar, Then other forms begin to take shape about her. Forms that she comes to recognize as guild brothers and sisters that have been missing for sometime or that are dead. Then that same voice the thief had spoken to her with comes to her gently on the unseen zephyr. Ahh Stormie, how do you like my collection? Tis but a small part of my army that I have arrayed against your guild, but they will be the best Warriors to use against your friends don't you think? Do not worry for I have plans for you as well. I plan on breeding you my dear. The voice leaves to be replaced with a hideous laughter that never seems to end.

From the corner of the room a small groan is heard. The body of Phantom moves slightly and the bloodstains on the walls disappear. Lifelessly the body of Phantom raises up and moves to the shadows. His body now rests in the darkest corner of the room, still bleeding, still broken. Known to all, Phantoms powers reside from the shadows and the darkness. In a matter of minutes he will be well enough to talk, well enough...to LIVE. As his wounds heal, and his bones reform, the lifeless body begins to take some shape. This time, however, it does not look like the Phantom of old. The body, now having taken shape, starts to float, in an upright position, above the ground...above everyone. The body has mutated, less human features...no face...no hair... he feet only stubs on his legs. Yes, this IS the WOH Phantom of old...and yes...he IS different. A voice is heard from the room...not from his body, but you are sure it is Phantom.

"I have many things to tell you about myself brethren...many new things I have yet to say. But remember we have Stormie to find. I guess I should tell you about who I am. I was not always in human form. I am what is known as a Shadow. I live, breathe, and survive thanks to the darkness. The Phantom you once knew will only be with you in mind now...for I am his new body. The Dark one came close to destroying me, but forgot about my mind. As for the rest...you'll find out soon enough."

The new body of Phantom now wears a long black cloak, showing nothing of his body. It now 'hovers' half an inch off the ground. The voice of WOH Phantom is never again heard from his body but it seems to come from nowhere. In time, you will begin to know the Phantom for who, or what, it is. Until then...

"Stormie is our main concern...and this 'Dark One' has her. I can not tell you where she is, or how we will find her, but she can not reach us, so WE must reach HER."

Amidst all the confusion and the re-birth of Phantom, Ion stands muttering " Oh how I have seen so many of our brethren reborn, reformed, reshaped. Be weary Phantom, with new power comes new responsibility, and more importantly new limitations." Again Ion sighs at his own ethereal figure, losing the last signs of the physical realm." My dream, my nightmare." Ion snaps out of his mental lapse, something that has been plaguing him as of late. He proceeds ever so gingerly over to the ashes of the dead thief as Phantom holds everyone's attention; Ion pulls out a thin vial from the ether realm and sweeps some of the ash into it. Then as quickly as Stormie vanished, so does Ion back to his home, back to the world of purgatory, the land where souls go who cannot die. He goes back to study. Study the ashes, the magic still lingering on them, to question the souls of eternity past for answers to such magic. And maybe find a way to travel into a world long suspected dead.

Peron utters a sound unusual for him. Pain mixed with surprise. "All right that's it !!" he says to no one in particular, "I must be getting old. If I was a damn pledge I'd have myself flogged for such carelessness." "Damnit" he mutters to himself. "A friggin parlor trick and it's going to take me three days to get this hand back to normal again." Devlyn, seeing Peron's hand, comes up to him. "Peron !!, this needs some attention" she says as she starts to prepare to start to help heal him. "No Dev, not now" he says to her with a grin and a grateful look. "There's no time now, the pain will remind me not to be that careless again." He motions towards Vik, Ion and Cobaras to join him. "Quickly, he says, we must search for Stormie and combining our powers will extend our reach." The feeling of power and energy is almost touchable as the four warriors turn their minds outward, trying to find any trace of their missing sister. After what seems like hours, Cobaras breaks concentration first. Soon followed by the others. "Nothing" he says forlornly. "Ion? Vic?" asks Peron. "Nothing on Stormie" says Vikar "but there's *something* I was able to trace from here." "Aye" says Ion. "I felt it too.. A feeling of familiarity and evil but I can't trace it back to any one location or being." "Aye" Peron nods, "I got the same ... but while I couldn't trace it to where it is .. I was able to eliminate areas where it isn't .. And that only left one area that both *it* and Stormie must be." "We're going to have to gather the warriors." "We'll need Quin, Magi, Hydra, Joz, Haze and everyone else we can find and as soon as possible." "The area that I know they must be in is below Hades and Hell. In realms long left abandoned by any sane beings

Upon Peron s last words spoken, a sudden lapse of unconsciousness enveloped all of the Warriors present. The lapse lasted only a few brief seconds. "What the @#$!?", Vikar shouts. "Hey, watch it." Peron states "We are in Quin s library." "Yes, yes you are and it would be wise to follow the knowledge of your elders Vik" Quin smirked. A series of "Hey Quin" followed. Quin replied, "Enough with the formalities and my apologies for breaking up your gender changing party. However the situation at hand is more serious than you thought and it will require the help of many of your brethren so lets move into the Council room that way we can sit down and I ll tell you what I ve discovered." After moving down the hall into the Council of Elder s meeting chambers, Cobaras shuts the doors and joins the others at the table. Quin opens an Oak chest and removes two bottles of bloodwine given to him by Storm of the Army of Bloodkeep. The wine is known for its ability to calm the nerves and allow one to focus on the matters at hand. After the bottles are passed around the table for their equal consumption Peron asks, "Do you know where Stormie is? Who is this "dark one" as he refers to himself?" Again the barrage of "yea s" followed. Taking a sip of the wine, "Stormie is where you perceived her presence to be. She is present in a level of the Abyss that is accessed through a magical portal that is only able to be created with the Sphere of Dar h quar, the plasma from a newly slaughtered infant, and a soul. Very few are at the level of skill to harness the power of the Sphere. There is only two individuals known in the realms that can harness the power successfully however it is neither one who has Stormie. This is a coalition of wizards whom have a deep set hatred against us and Vikar is the target or focus because of past feelings between them." Quin paused. "Why me, who and what have I done against this person or these people?" "Let me finish Vik, like I said, this isn t one person but a group of people. The rumor of a town hiring mercenaries to take us out is false, it was just to lead our pursuit elsewhere." Peron states, "I knew it, damnit I knew it" and hung his head. "What the hell, I must be missing something" questioned Ion. "Ion, several of the individuals assisting in the attempted demise of the Warriors are former Warriors. Some are not of sound mind hence they are warriors who s bodies have been cast up from the earth to fight along side with their former living brethren. You may know them by names such as Nefarious and Pitlord now both of them combined as the Dark One. This is all the information I could retrieve from my travels into the lower levels of the Abyss with Priedevil." Warlok intervenes "What the hell!!!!" Stands up strongly to protest knocking over his wine, "You have got to be joking ..This cannot be true. How could someone dare use their former brethren laid to rest and desecrate their graves and bodies? That for one is unacceptable to add with the abduction of Stormie." The door opened interrupting Warlok and behold Grave entered both the room and conversation, "They are no longer in the Abyss Quin "

A man climbs with purpose. The path isn't too steep, but the terrain is cluttered. Scrub brush and sharp rocks make caution an unwelcome necessity. The local wildlife avoids him, as it should be. The food chain goes no higher and they know it. The man called Rade pauses to rest. Closing his eyes briefly he feels for the tug. His brothers and sisters, most of them, could breach the barriers between worlds with effort poured into arcane rituals. As he faces the tug he wishes again, in vain, that he had paid more attention to his brothers attempts at tutoring him. At least his meager skills could sense the flow. Resuming the climb, his head shakes with a twinge of irritation. Why does it seem like every time a foothold is established within a world, actions are needed that requires his departure? Ah well, no regrets. The scabbard holding his slim long sword bangs against a rock as he slips. His leg scrapes against a sharp outcropping, but the impact draws no blood, he feels the vibration ring within his twin bracers and smiles. "Light in the spell department, but Hades shed joy if I don't have the best toys a man can steal." Abruptly the opening was before him, the glow twisting obscenely. Light and Dark caressing each other in a pattern of mist that could be looked at, but never focused upon. Hades! Who would WANT to? The familiar nausea swept over him as the voices of the ether whispered secrets. No WOH would ever fall to madness to THOSE voices though. Wishing he had had more time to prepare, he felt the dread. The oath and the binding was shared by ALL members, but he had lived with Stormie in cursed Brittania for some time, he knew her better than he knew any other WOH. He knew whoever caused her stress enough to cause him pain through the binding, even across the barrier, was no pussy. Rade knew his brothers would feel the pain too and would be on their way, it angered him that his laziness would bring him to her aid late. All this he knew, but many questions still remained. All that was important now was that Stormie needed him and Hades take the dumb bastard he had to chop through to get her. "I hate this part" And with those words he allowed himself to be carried away by the mist to his brothers. WOH WOULD PREVAIL!

There are sounds flowing from a now emptied room in Woh keep.You hear Blaze tearing through the Chests looking for his lucky halfling foot.He says " Where the hell is it, I can't help to find Stormie with out it". Minutes later he finds it under his pet wolf's toy Draxan doll.Ahhh here it is...(he beams and calls for Nanuk)Let's go Mutt we have traveling to do...Blaze and his Wolf departs for Quin's Library, as that is the last place he was Mindwalked from...Many hours later he shows up at the door, Open the Damn Door, before I burn it down already.

"Quin", All eyes turn to face Vikar, knowing something is afoot. "Yes Vic, what's on your mind?"Slowly, making sure as to have his reasons and facts straight before speaking. Vikar starts off very slowly. "First, (pause) I think it to be unwise of us all to go after Stormie. Don't get me wrong I want her back safe and sound as much as any of you. But there is something bigger then we are all currently seeing. So I, hear by, as General of the Warriors of Hades, ask for volunteers to man and defend the Castle of Fire in Hades." Total silence is his only answer. Slowly as if coming out of a petrification Quin speaks. "Vic are you saying that you believe that this so called Dark one posses a threat to us in our very home?" Slowly shaking his head in confirmation. "That I do Quin and more. There is something familiar about this dark one; Peron has sensed it also, as well as myself. He may know us better then we know ourselves. So I say we act cautiously until he shows his hand." murmurs of agreement and outrage go around the table until at last a lone figure emerges from the darkness behind Quin. Quickly the figure is greeted by all present. Beast! They holler! Beast addresses the gathering; "Vikar speaks with wise words as always he has. I have been with the Serpent. (Beasts head bows for a brief second) Our lord the great Serpent has spoken to me, and has passed on some ill tidings. Yes many of our former brethren are now in the hands of this dark one. Worse yet they can not break free of his control. And still they struggle. This dark one has plans for Stormie of that I am certain. What, even I can not say. Lets all hope that Stormie is strong enough to prevail through the coming days ahead of her. But I must agree with Vic, that at the moment Stormie is the least of our concerns". As beast is saying this last statement, Blaze and Rade enter the council hall, after having met in the castle courtyard. "What! Leave Stormie to rot at the hands of this bastard!! They both scream at once. Quickly beast stares them down, slowly there anger fades as they both know that they have missed out on something important for being so late. Beast continues, "As I was saying, the Serpent has also informed me that great armies are on the move all over the varied realms that we all call home. Armies of demons and creatures of evil as well as forces of light that have rallied to move against these evils. Question is, where shall we stand, Since we know that this Dark one is head hunting for us, do we aid him and his plans or not? Or do we do as our General asks and take the defensive for now. Or at least until his plan is revealed to us? (Beast turns to address Vikar) Vic what else were you going to say?" "Thank you my old friend for your support, all I was going to add is that we don't know much about this dark one or at the moment, if any information we have on him is accurate. So I would ask that we no longer travel separately but in pairs or larger groups." Quin quickly nods in approval. "Aye Vic sound advice and I think that we should act upon this advice. I call for volunteers to man the castle, and myself I pledge to be the first to volunteer for that service." Quin says to the gathered Warriors.

While Beast had been speaking, Cobaras had listened intently in awe. He had heard much talk of the infamous Beast, but had never had the honor of meeting him until this day. The mere presence of this Elder of the Warriors of Hades seemed to bring strength and power to the room. When Beast had stopped speaking, Cobaras' mind wandered for a moment. His thoughts drifted back to a time that seemed so long ago, but was actually little more than a year.
He remembered his first meeting with Warlok & Rogue. He remembered how strong the bond was that he had felt with them from the very start. Pledging his allegiance to the Serpent did not seem as much a choice as it did a calling. A yearning for something that had been with him his whole life, but that only now was finally realized. From that time on he had met many of his fellow Warriors & had felt this same bond with each of them, and that included Stormie.
Thinking of Stormie brought Cobaras back to the present. The thought of the Dark One keeping his Sister captive enraged him. Standing suddenly, knocking his chair over, Cobaras yells, " Aye Quin, I will stand by your side my Brother !" "I wish to rescue Stormie as much as any of you, but I know that she would want us to do whatever is best for the Guild." "We must defend our home at all costs and find out more about this Dark One so that we may plan the best course of action to defeat him & hang his foolish head in our courtyard for all to see. "

After hearing the great Beast speak, a being appears from the shadows. To no ones surprise Phantom appears. His first steps are over to Beast. He kneels before the great leader, and his old friend, bowing his head, and speaks...
"Beast, I am so happy to see you again."
Stunned by this being, Beast steps back slightly, only enough to figure out this person in front of him.
"Ahh, Phantom, I did not recognize you. However, from the stories I've been told, I am pleased to see you alive and well."
Phantom stands and looks to the table of men.
"I too believe that more then Stormie's life is at hand, however, if we lose any more to this thing, including her, we will lose more then the brother or sister. We will lose the respect we have worked so hard to get from our friends, our enemies, and our selves. I will not let that happen. ::looking towards beast:: My brother, I will be going on the journey to find Stormie. I believe a group of four to 6 men (or women) will be sufficient for our first movement, maybe even two groups of 3. We do not want to make a big rush into ANYTHING until we know where we are going, and if what we want is there. Using the barracks and training facilities on site, I also suggest that the younger, less experienced be prepared, with knowledge on the subject, and with the use of their magic. ::back to the table:: Please, forgive me for being so bold. I often forget who I am in this guild. All that is my request, my suggestion. I will do anything for the 'evil' of the guild. Let us fight this battle and win."
Stepping back from his position Phantom walks back to the shadows from where he can hear, and not be seen. Listening to all that is commented. Before more is said, however, one last comment is heard...

"TOGETHER, WE WILL PREVAIL"

Slowly rising from his chair, Vikar looks around and speaks. "Cobaras thank you my friend for your devotion. As well as you old friend. (nodding towards Quin) Peron I know that you would wish to go after Stormie as well, and I think that you should head up that expedition. Phantom shall be first recruit and I think you should take Rogue along as well. both have skills that could come in handy and that might lead to finding Stormie or some vital information on this Dark One". Peron stands as well, "Aye Vic you assume correctly that I will be going after Stormie! Hmm, yes that is a good idea to take these two along, but I shall need some powerful magic along as well seeing that I'm not up to my old self today." with that Peron holds up the stump of a hand just starting to show the begins off healing. From nowhere and everywhere a dark form emerges and changes into the form of a man. A man all in black no other color is seen except the fiery red glow of his menacing eyes. "Ahh Warlok, just the man I had in mind!" says Peron. "Yes my old friend I shall join your search for Stormie." And with that he is gone once more. but his presence is still felt. Vikar begins to speak once more, "OK then your group is formed now". "UMM excuse me". a weak voice is heard saying from the back. Quickly Quin stands and waves the warrior forward. "May I speak M'lord?" The figure asks. "If the answer was no I would not have waved you forward, pray tell us your name, I don't have the time to meet all the new recruits as much as I would like to these days but I believe you are from the world Athas. Quin replies. "That is correct M'lord Quin, the name is Angela, and yes I hail from Athas. I wish to ask a favor. I would like to be accepted into the group in search of Stormie", Angela says. Quin looks to Vikar, "Peron have room for another?" Vikar asks. "Aye Sis you're more than welcome to join us, now all of you on my team lets head out and meet in at the bar to plan our strategies." And with that the five members of the rescue team depart the council chambers. Once more Vikar speaks, "OK with that done, I have one more agenda, before we meet in the court yard in full battle gear to hear Quin's placement for the defense of the castle. (looking to Quin) We need to compile a list of our dead and missing that this dark one may have among his forces. If for no better reason than to know what we are up against. But to also know how much this dark one may know about us and the castle defenses. We can't take any chances."