After Stormie gained the Dark One's trust as much as she could he started taking her with him to his blood room. This time as she is in the room with him she hears him speaking to someone. Looking around the room she sees no one but him and her. Walking up behind him she peers over his shoulder to see if she can see who he is speaking too. Running her nails down his back lightly scratching him to distract him mentally she starts to call out for Vik.. "Vik help me...please I can t hold on much longer. I can feel.." the message cuts off there as the Dark One turns to look at her. She smiles a wicked smile then looks back to watch the goings on at WOH quietly dying inside but on the outside she shows nothing.

Shortly after Vikar gives everyone their assignments the group sent to seal and secure the catacombs gather in the lower reaches of the keep. Each voicing their views on how best to secure the area and to achieve their goal. And like all independent personalities and more or less solitary people not much was agreed on for quite some time. So after nearly a day of slightly pissed and heated debate they all came to the true and ultimate conclusion. That they can't agree and that the best course is to split the catacombs into sections and to each secure it in their own way. By mutual agreement and the fact that Viper volunteered he and Tig went into the lower reached of the catacombs and the others spread out into the upper reaches. Each securing the intersections and chamber entrances until only a single way to the lower reaches remained. Now the two who had gone into the lowest sections could get out and secure the way behind them.

Some time later in the lower reaches.
"Viper, why are searching the chambers before sealing them? I mean our job is just to seal them, not get paranoid. After all if something gets sealed down here we can deal with it later after everything else is dealt with." Viper replies from across the room where he is double checking a shadowed alcove, "for the simple reason that I am paranoid." Tig smirks, "Great. That s all I need. A paranoid priest that dresses in tattered rags and bits of armor. Which reminds me, you smell terrible. Why do you scavenge the dead for bits of armor and drape yourself in filthy strips of cloth?"
"Because the armor is cheap and each piece of cloth represents a time I was mortally wounded," Viper answers. Tig pauses in her own inspection of the room and looks directly at Viper. "What! If you have been mortally wounded you should be dead. And since you aren't how can you have been that badly wounded that many times? After all you're completely shrouded in bits of cloth."
Viper, having completed his section of the room moved toward Tig and replies "All I said was that I was mortally wounded not that I had died. I mean after all I can't die so being mortally wounded isn't anything more that a severe irritant. What do you know of how I joined the guild?"
Tig pauses to think then says, "Not much really. Just that you joined shortly after Vikar and that ever since you haven't really been heard from. And that you have been a source of support and minor objects of power. That s about it. Why? What does that have to do with you being unable to die?"
With a slight smile Viper begins to tell the simple version of how he entered the guild as he leads the ways out into the hall and toward the lowest level of the catacombs. "Vikar and I have been friends for a long time. After he entered the guild he thought of me and approached me. I say approached and not recruited since I was already a priest to the Goddess of Pain." With a sense of extreme shock Tig interrupted "What! that can't be right. Members are devoted to the serpent and no other and we wouldn't take an oath breaker!" Viper just smiles and continues over the interruption. "As I said he approached me and since the stated goals of the serpent were very close to the Lady of Pains I strove to contact her and seek her guidance. After all Vikar was a dear friend and the guild seemed to mean so much to him. The lady accepted the idea and like it so much she struck a bargain with the Serpent. I became an alliance gift. A priest of both and neither. And because of the nature of their bargain I can only enter the realms of the dead with the permission of both parties of the agreement." Then after a short pause, "and since being denied the release of death is very painful when mortally wounded my goddess thinks it is really funny to hear my screams of pain."
After continuing in silence for a short distance Tig says "OK. But how is it that everyone thinks you re a minor mage?" "That would be because I am." "Oh." "Does that answer your questions?"
"I think so....... Why are you paranoid?" asks Tig. After a bit of thought Viper replies "Because this doesn't feel right. Like something is down here." Tig looks to her friend, There is nothing down here, the catacombs are empty except for a few corpses."
They continue in silence for a time until they finally reach the entrance to the lowest level of the catacombs. A low arched entry to an shadowed chamber that split into several passages. Walking to the entry they each allow a little space to come between them just in case. As Viper starts to enter the chamber he pauses. "You are sure there is nothing down here?"
"Nothing. I'm absolutely sure" says Tig.
"Then I think we have a problem." And with those words Viper slips his hand into a fold of his wraps and pulls out a very nasty weapon. A mace with a handle carved with instructional depictions of the nastier forms of glorious torture. And instead of the normal head a head made of four razor sharp blades. Each blade with a slight looping curve at its widest point and the entire edge covered in serrations. Tig in shock at seeing a priest actually carrying such a nasty weapon blurts "Problem? What Problem!?!....." And with those words glowing points of light wink into being down each passage. Viper steps forward into the room, raising his blade mace, and says "seal it behind me and secure the passage to the keep." "What!!!!" screams Tig.
Viper continues "I'll deal with them then teleport outside then come in around our defenses.... Now seal it!" And with that he continues forward to meet the enemy and solid walls of snarling darkness boils out of each passage. Tig begins chanting and the darkness engulfs Viper. The darkness pauses trying to continue as Tig completes her spell, sealing the entrance with an impenetrable wall of stone.
Pausing and with a shake of her head Tig says "I knew you were nuts but even so this tops it Viper." And with those words she turns and goes back the way she came. Preparing herself mentally to start sealing the way out behind her.

Hades a second home to the me, or was it ever really home? No I think it wasn't. My other self was always more at home here then I was. Still I take comfort in the knowledge that I shall soon be destroying something that my old comrades hold so dear. Soon my army will roll over their meager defenses. Barely sixty Warriors, and maybe one hundred guardsmen is all that stands between me and wiping them out! Yes, today is a good day. Deep in thought the Dark One doesn't notice that his little piece of artwork has been studying him intently. Closely Ion watches his moves trying against all odds to find some way to help his friends. But it is a futile effort for he is totally encompassed within this dark prison that the dark one had placed him in. And so he watches and learns. Slowly his attention is drawn to the battlements so clearly being shown to him in the orb that floats at eye level in front of him. That fool Hydra had just summoned up another of his armies. How he loved to manipulate people. Chuckling to himself, he recalled how he had gained Hydra as a servant. With out the fool ever even knowing. Slowly over time he had been **helping** him find rings of power. Only these rings came from the Dark One. Rings of power yes, but rings that also let him gain access to hydras mind. A truly unique place was Hydras mind. But easy enough to control. For sometime he had simply piggy backed around in his head. Watching and waiting for the right time to strike. That time had come when he and the others of his small band had entered to seal up the crypt under the castle. (Smiling to himself) sometimes Vikar could be so helpful! But then a strange sense of separation had occurred. Most likely because of Quin s attempts to seal up the castle from his prying eyes. He had lost control of Hydra while they were still in the crypt. But all worked out in the end. Apparently Hydra had, well for a lack of a better word, gone nuts! And summoned up the horde of demons. This Horde was to be summoned inside of the castle's crypts. But Hydra had summoned them in an effort to counter my other army! Simply amazing. Doesn t really matter after all. All that s important is that he summoned then. The image in the floating orb wavered for a moment. Suddenly Vikar s face came into sharp focus. And Vikar s voice came through clearly to the Dark ones ears. "Hydra, HYDRA, give me those rings!" A deep frown spread across the face of the Dark One. "I can not allow that to happen". Quickly his hand moved to grab the orb pulling it close to his face. Down went his mind into the orb and though the link to hydra's mind. Hydra's mouth moved seemingly of its own accord and out came the whispered words from the Dark One. "How do you like my new pet"? With a thought the Dark One had Hydra attack Vikar sending him flying into another Warrior. "Ahh at last, I shall take you out my most hated enemy", thought the Dark One. He neither heard Vikar s snarl nor saw Exodus on the battlements, only the cursed form of Vikar. He watched as Vikar jumped to his feet and then vanished. And then was in front of his puppet, his sword flashing. Pain lanced out in hydra's mind. Expelling the Dark One. After several moments, the Dark One was able to collect his thoughts. He was lucky that the backlash had not killed him. He had been unprepared for such a ruthless attack. Or the pain from hydra's mind. But how had he just appeared there! Answers he must have answers! Standing, (with the orb trailing over his right shoulder just a step behind) he went in search of his generals. Those fallen warriors would lead his army across the plains of Hades. Soon the cloaked figures came into view. with a thought he summoned all of them before him. "March to the castle. Join up with the demons and flies and destroy the Warriors of Hades" With out comment the cloaked figures went to their tasks with vigor and speed. Watching them leave, the Dark One knew who he must consult for the answers he sought.

Suddenly Phantom appeared in front of Vikar as he was about to site in a Fly that was getting a little to close to the castle. The Flies had been circling the castle for some time. Watching the demons pour forth from the rift that hydra had created. But staying out of bow shot for all except a few of the Rangers who carried magic bows. Still angry over Hydra's actions, he listened to Phantoms report. "Good work, Phantom. But that won't hold them for long. Your spell can only affect so many, and there is a horde of them. Too few will be affected to change the outcome. They will attack, and soon." Drawing his bow and sighting in on a fly, Vikar releases once, then notches another arrow with a well practiced move, by reaching over his right shoulder and drawing an arrow from his quiver. With a fluid motion, he slips it into place and draws back on the string. 'TWANG' A second arrow is in the air and then 'TWANG' a third follows it into the air. All before the first arrow had even struck home. Phantom follows the flight of the arrows and watches with grim satisfaction as the first strikes the fly just behind its overly large head. A killing blow for sure. But before the ugly thing could stop twitching. Two more arrows hit it in the side. Phantom watched as it slowly begun to spiral downward.
Turning back to Phantom, Vikar asks. "Phantom, how goes the preparation for the rescue?"
"Well Vic, not good. all is ready but Peron hasn t given the word for us to depart yet."
Vikar frowns greatly, "Damnit, what s the hold up!" he shouts. Just then he feels a slight tug on his mind. A familiar voice calling out to him. A female voice. One that he knows quite well. "Vic help me, I can't hold on much longer" The mental tug was broken off as suddenly as it had begun. Falling to his knees, Vikar was momentarily at a loss. "Phantom, bro! It's Stormie, I just felt her. She's in dire need of our help!"

Blaze, who was sitting upon the edge of the castle wall above the front gates, shudders when a form pops up along side of him, casts at one of his dogs makes it disappear. Then makes half the attacking horde start attacking themselves....and is then gone a few short seconds later...
"Whaa whooo Damnit where did my dog go......." While looking around he notices some of the other dogs showing up with items that he requested. "Ahh, some of Quin's magic arrows, that should help." there were other items such as 2 ice storm wands and 2 fireball wand. "oooo what s this?" Blaze puts on the ring and feels a surge of energy flow through him as if his intelligence just increased. "OK this is one of those mage rings." Feeling new power Blaze tries a simple Magic missile spell at one of the oncoming hulks. "--Dras vootant--- " A huge bolt of energy flies from Blazes finger tips and hits square in the monsters chest almost 60 feet away knocking it back about 10 feet, also leveling 4 others on its way back. "Wooooooo Hooooooooo Someone oughta try this out" Blaze, liking his new power, tries some of the more damaging spells. "---Coots ontopof yourmomma---" The entire field in front of him turns into one big rainbow, paralyzing about 30 of the creatures. "Wooo doggy this thing is like having the power of the serpent behind ya" Blaze turns and hears footsteps behind him. "Hello brother Quin, did you come to cast at the retarded monsters below ?" Quin holds out his hand, "gimme my damn ring back that your dog stole from my table.." Oh, sorry Quin they just pick up all kinds of things sometimes, but thanks for letting me borrow them, actually I have the whole front covered. They wont be attacking from this side." Blaze hands the ring back to Quin with a devious smile. As Quin turns and leaves Blaze says " Sorry again Bro "
Blaze knowing that the dogs screwed up decides to make up for it by moving to the back side of the keep and start taking out the flies that Vic was shooting at...........

After talking with Vikar, Phantom realizes the errors of his ways. "Blaze, don't worry, your faithful dog is just kinda sitting there...watching the idiots, watch." After the creatures destroy themselves, Phantom casts a minor spell of reappearance. Blazes dog sits there, rather confused, and looks up at Blaze. "That's better Phantom, thanks, I think" Looking at Vikar, he places one hand on his back. "She'll be fine bro. We'll get her." Phantom starts to wander away from Vikar but turns back slightly pointing his hands to the sky. A fireball comes from his hands throwing him backwards 20 feet against the stonewall behind him and flies forward. It stops dead 100 feet away from the castle and floats for a few seconds then falls to the ground right inside the deep crevice made by Hydra, or whoever it was controlling Hydra. It explodes with more force then most of the WOH's have ever seen before melting the earth from within it. The demons still climbing out burn to nothing but ash as the crack seemingly seals itself. Slowly getting up from the wall Phantom looks at it and sees the imprint of his shoulders and head on it. "I think I need some medicine for the pain" Looking over at Vikar, "Get me Quin, I think I'll just sit here for a few minutes, no, I need a cleric for this one! Never felt this drained in my life..."

After sending Phantom and the others for supplies, Peron and Warlock take quite some time in going over many different strategies for getting Stormie back from their unknown foe. It was formulate a plan.. then tear it apart piece by piece with all the different things they knew could go wrong .. then plan another. Finally, after many hours, they came upon one they decided gave the best chance of success. Touching minds with Quin and learning that Magi was back at the Keep was the final piece that Peron needed to begin getting the plan into action. Timing would be essential and Magi was the one that Peron would need to be his clock. They left the tavern together ... Warlock to pick up a couple magical items they would need .. and Peron to see Quin and Magi before they left. Entering the Keep, Peron is pleasantly surprised by a welcome physical diversion meeting WOH s newest member, Kyrst. After their ... *introduction* ... Peron thanks her for the exercise, compliments her on her fighting prowess, and signals Beast, Quin and Magi that he needs to see them .. and soon..
"15 or 20 minutes," mindspeaks Quin to Peron ... "In my Library." "Perfect" thinks Peron back. Finding a secluded spot near the outer wall, Peron sends a mind summons for Rogue, Phantom and Angela, which they answer almost immediately. "Well it's about time Peron, I thought we were never going to get this show on the road," says Phantom. His voice hesitating somewhat and trailing down to near silence as he notices the gaze that Peron is giving him. "Ahhh, we've readied the supplies sir and are awaiting further orders" says Phantom somewhat sheepishly as Peron grins at his last statement.
"Well done ... now listen carefully" Peron ... using mindspeak .. gives the three a dozen different locations on a dozen different planes and a timetable for reaching each. I've allowed 3 hours at each location. Rest, but be prepared to ride or fight at a moment's notice. The pace isn't leisurely, but not so hard that you shouldn't be fit for any fighting, although I would council much caution... and when I meet you ... be ready for a hard ride ahead. Phantom, use your teleport to get yourselves as far away from the keep and the oncoming horde as you can and avoid them at all costs. Ride with the Serpent my friends. "We will sir !! says Rogue and "We'll be there when you need us sir " says Angela. "MUUHAHAHAHA" says Phantom as he waves his hand and they disappear.
"Find em ?" says Peron to seemingly no one as the three Warriors disappear. Chuckling, Warlock materializes next to him. "Aye bro ... yours was exactly where you said. I've mine and I scrounged up two more just in case."
Great !! Come on .. it's time to get to the Library and then we're off. Approaching the library doors they notice Kyrst leaving in a rush. Chuckling as they enter, Peron says "Damn, some poor young warrior is really going to get his ass kicked going after that cute little thing." Magi, hearing Peron's voice raises to meet his old friend. "Peron, you old fart !!, will you get yer mind out of the gutter !!"
Approaching and grasping Magi's arm in a warriors greeting Peron laughs .. "Aye, old friend, I have to get it back into the sewers so I can meet you again !!"
Looking around, Peron is just about to ask where Quin is when the door opens and Quin comes in chuckling to himself. "Poor Haze, he says. I know he had a thousand questions about Kyrst and was busting at the seams to ask em when I told him he should does she asked. He just got this quizzical look on his face though ... shook his head ... and went off to follow orders ... good man that one ..... Now Peron ... wussup ?
After about an hour of going over the plans, answering questions and taking some suggestions from both Quin and Magi, Peron says ... "Whelp, I think that's it then ... whadda think ?" Both Quin and Magi nod their heads .. "It should work" says Quin.
Magi, agreeing says ... "You'll have your signal my friend ... just get in ... and get yer ass *out* as fast as you can." Laughing, Warlock says " You can take bets on that one Magi !!" You still shielding the Keep from prying eye's Quin ? asks Peron.
"Aye bro," answers Quin, "No one will see you leave". Smiling, Peron and Warlock don two of the cloaks that Warlock had picked up for them and seemingly disappear from the plane of existence. "Ya got that right boss" says Warlock as the door of the library seeming opens and closes by itself. "Damnit I've got to get me one of those" says Magi as the door shuts itself closed.

After a few hours of rest and some help from the Keeps cleric Phantom gets a summons from Peron and receives his orders. After Peron finishes...
"Lets see what I've gotten back shall we? Vik, I'll see ya' soon bro, take care of the keep and don't let anyone break in you bastard."
With a wave of his hand and a few words uttered from his mouth Phantom, Rogue and Angela all disappear from different parts of the castle and reappear about 1 mile PAST the horde threatening the WOH Keep. Above the horde on Mount Beast (named after the obvious) the three can see exactly what is coming to attack WOH. With telepathy Phantom does a quick explanation of what he sees to Vik and adds one comment. "Vik, take care of the new one for me...you know, Kyrst." "Why Phantom, has a thing for our new killer already??" "Shut up and just watch out for her. I wouldn't want her to go after one of the older more idiotic WOH like Kith or Blaze" A small smirk comes over Phantoms face as he realizes that both Kith AND Blaze are gonna wanna kick his ass when he gets back.
With all that done Phantom waves his hands once more and 3 stallions appear along with all the equipment Angela and Rogue had been gathering. "OK guys, lets get some rest, then we'll move out."
Phantom starts to doze off but before he does he gets a message from the realms. He can't place a location on it, so a response would be impossible, but he recognizes it to be from Kyrst saying nothing more then "Be Careful Phantom"

It had no idea how long it had been sitting there. Trying to decipher the riddles that Moandor had offered as payment to their long held debt. It had no reason to doubt that all the information it had asked was indeed there. Problem was like all of their kind. Moandor loved nothing better than a good riddle of confusion. Well at least nothing better except for his plants. It had not taken long before Moandor had realized that its attempts to corrupt the abyssal Lord were in vain. So like some great oyster it had enveloped the massive body of the Abyssal Lord. Within its cocoon the abyssal lord had solved most of the riddle of the Serpent lord. It knew where the serpent laired and why it chose to be with this beast person. What was missing? something wasn t fitting into the puzzle and it tormented the abyssal lord to no end. No Moandor would not get the best of him. No he would figure it all out and then this serpent lord would know what is it to truly be powerful. It's breathing came in long slow breaths. The foul stench of rotting and decaying vegetation did little in impress him. It could feel the weight of what must be tons of vegetation upon his massive shoulder. And still it did little to bend his form. It had survived much through out its long life. A mound of death and decay(even if it were part of an ancient god) could hardly crush the life from its body. Yes it had much to think about. The old god, had seemed to go on forever! Couldn t it simple have told him what it had asked for. No that was too much to ask for. Any being of evil(including itself) would like nothing better to torment another being with tangling bits of information in front of his eyes, but just out of reach. Now Moandor had been silent for some time, trying to squish him as if it was some kinda of bug. Maybe the Dark one would be able to shed some light on his last unanswered question. Suddenly with that thought, the Abyssal Lord realized that it was far overdue to report in. The thought that it should have to report to a mere mortal was revolting to say the least. But at least the opportunity had presented itself to go to battle against an ancient god. How long had it been since his last real fight? With a shrug of his massive shoulders he was gone, simply to be replaced by a wispy trail of smoke. This did not last long. for the mound of vegetation collapsed in on that very spot with a loud thud. Unheard to any living animal, a collective sigh was uttered from the planet that was a god.

Slowly Stormie's fingers ran through the Dark One's hair from the base of his neck to the top of his skull. She knew it would be a simple thing to kill him then and there. Finally bring this whole nightmare to an end. But she dared not. The power that this being held was far beyond anything that she could hope to defeat or comprehend. Never had she seen any one person so completely control another. And not one but many! Several of them strong in the ways of magic themselves. Sildra, kat, Ion, Damon, Lyric, Starr, Sharky, Ambush, the list went on, but the names all seemed to blur before her. Then there were those poor soulless bodies. Nefar, jester, Pitlord, Ions body, Vadar and still some too decomposed to be recognizable. The dark one was once again watching his army move closer to the castle. Soon they would join us with the Fly's and the horde that poor hydra had summoned. Then they would besiege the castle of fire. And then her friends were truly doomed. The Dark one had been asking many strange questions of her. He wanted to know all about Vikar's shadow powers. How strong they were, what he had learned to do with them. Almost as if he hadn't really ever known him! Or at least not since he had come into his powers granted to him by the Serpent himself. Also there were questions about Quin, he strength and weaknesses. Like always she resisted as much as she dared. Trying to turn the subject to anything else! Something that wouldn't endanger her friends. But she wasn't always able to do this. Sometimes she had to giveaway vital information. Each time this happened. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she was becoming his more and more.