 BANZAI!!! By: DoozerVee The sight that greeted the young dwarf's eyes was a scene from the lowest pits of Hell; bodies of dwarves were interspersed with those of goblins and creatures he recognized instantly as drow elves. Shattered rock still fell intermittently from above in the cavern, which was lit with a pulsing red glow. Knots of fighting were scattered about, and the stench of Daemonkind hung heavy in the heated air. As DoozerVee watched, the glow diminished and the cavern shook once more as the deep crunch of grinding rock echoed. For a moment, it seemed as if everything stopped, and a n eerie silence fell; then, the hue and cry of battle rung out once more. Duzerentin cast about for a place to throw himself into the fray, or some beleaguered dwarf in need of help. Suddenly, a hand grasped his shoulder and a voice rang in his ear, speaking Dwarven with a peculiar accent. "Fash, boy, dinna stand there like a gawky-eyed chile! Picks yersel' some goblins er darklins an' lay en out! Th' chief's nae dead, an' we has te clear out these halls ere they become like rats an' vanish in tha woodwark!" The armored dwarf didn't wait for a reply, but waded gleefully into a melee with three terrified goblins. DoozerVee shrugged and followed, firmly gripping his axe. Gaglug's Retreat By: Gaglug The goblin army had completely disintegrated. There were still pockets of fighting goblins, but all order had been lost. Gaglug vainly waved his arms, attempting to use his powers. Unfortunately for the shaman, the psychic energy that was feeding him had disappeared. The energy came from the united minds of the goblin horde. Now that the horde had been dissolved, so had the shaman's powers. Realizing that all was lost, Gaglug took to his heels along with the rest of his comrades. The crazed shaman disappeared back into the deep tunnels. Mumbling and talking to himself, he began his plotting. He would rebuild the goblin army, oh yes. He would once again wield the mighty power. It was rightfully his. He would be back. And next time, he would be better prepared. Mighty Gaglug, Dwarf-Ripper and Troll-Eater Shaman of the Goblins ...Falling... By: Zorak Time seemed to stretch out into an indeterminate blur. As he fell, Zor'ak sensed that Zyxos was indeed finishing his work. The rift would be closed. The threat to the Underdark had been removed. The drow and the dwarf continued their falling. The ancient wizard could only wonder where they would end up. In the confusion, Zor'ak had re-aligned the rift. But to where? In his haste, the wounded drow had attempted to connect the interplanar rift with another world on the Prime Material...but had he succeeded? They would soon find out.... Zor'ak Alur Faern Tired! Nae! By: Tigguhr Tigguhr looked around the battle field, drow retreating, kin toppled over, gobbo heads rollin' around loose. It got very quiet (for a change!) "Ya all be tuckered ou' after tha battle so's ya nae got anythin ta says?? Suren ya dinna wants tha bouncer ta be fillin' tha gap do ya know? Thar only be trouble! Ya dinna wants me comin up whi a new plot twist do ya?" (can't help it-two days without a post? Oh well, we all gotta recharge sometime!) Tigguhr 3rd o' tha 10 Jungle Dwarf Gap Filler The Fog of Battle Lifts... By: DoozerVee The young dwarf gazed about the cavern at the carnage and felt a sense of bitter disappointment, mixed with a dash of relief. It appeared that the battle was over; goblins were still scurrying into the shadows, but the only Dark elves left were dead ones, and there were no signs of the Daemonkin that had surely been here only moments ago. A hand gripped his shoulder and turned him about. A grizzled dwarven face peered at him through the disordered red locks hanging in its eyes. "Well, lad, yer not from tha Peak, then, are ya?" A hint of suspicion crept into his face and he gripped his axe tighter. "Ye'd best be splainin yersel', or by th beard o th' Forger, I'll be cleavin' yer from crown ta toes!" DoozerVee spoke hastily, hands up in a sign of peace. "Beggin' yer pardon, lordship but I was travellin th' Darkways an' heard the sound o' battle, an' could hear th' ring o steel forged by th' People, so I bethought meself te throw in wi' ye, fer good or ill. I means no harm, an' crave only yer patience wi' me, who is but a stranger t'yer lands." The warrior relaxed a bit, then spoke softly. "Aye, laddie, enow o' me brethren lie still as stone in this here Doomcave, so's I be right glad ta welcome ya t' the Lonely Peak. I be Tigguhr, Kuldmorndin o' Clan Axepeak, an' temp'rary Warchief, as well, it seems. Would 'twere more peaceable circumstance I could greet ya in, but ye takes what ye gets I guess. Come wi' me laddie, an' watch me back whilst I makes da rounds o' the wounded. We ken observe formal stuff later." Heart beating hard, DoozerVee followed the grizzled, weary veteran as he began the sad task of tallying the grim results of the day's carnage. The End of The Beginning By: Nystramo Nystramo stood watching it all. The drow forces withdrawing and making their escape, the last remnants of the goblin force being cut down as they ran, the rest of the minor demons either being destroyed or disappearing into the shadows for the time being. Amazingly, it was all coming to an end. Every now and then, it seemed, Tigguhr would look his way for direction. Oddly enough, though, Nys saw that there was nothing to direct. Everything was being taken care of. His kin understood mopping up very well indeed. And it was a good thing, too. Nys was in no condition to lead right now. His side still ached from his battle with the goblin chieftan, and his mind reeled from what he had seen. He still had trouble accepting it. Moradinson, plunging into the gaping hole with the drow.... and the hole closing behind him. Storm was gone. Storm was gone. And Dwyvyrn was still missing. And HiuFang Li had not returned from his mission into the Underdark, and nothing had been heard from him either. And Starkadh had left the mount ages ago, and nobody had any idea where he had gone (but it certainly wasn't where Nys had asked him to go, it seemed). And Patroc1us was off on yet another mysterious journey. And Heese simply wasn't herself when the Scowler was away. "Gordul," he muttered as he surveyed the cavern. Dead kin lay everwhere, and the count of the wounded was staggering. Shattered stonework littered the floor, and he was certain that most of the mount would need to be repaired in one way or another. (Baldar Hmr, it seemed, was going to be leaving his apprenticeship earlier than he had expected, with Moradinson gone.) Victory not withstanding, Clan Axepeak had met with a disaster of tremendous proportions. Rebuilding would not be an easy task. "An' I be alone ta see over it," he said. A hand touched his shoulder, then. He turned to see D1amond looking at him with a serious expression. "Ya nae be alone, lad. Ya has ne'er been alone, an' ya ne'er will be." He looked from his taerin, to the remainder of The Ten standing around him (not quite ten now, he thought grimly), to the faces of all of his kin already hard at work to repair what had been damaged. No, he thought, he wasn't alone. Nobody was alone in Lonely Mountain. Ever. "Gordul," he swore again. But this time he said it with a touch of wonder. The Pains of War... By: KAGIS A tough thick hand seems to materialize out from underneath a pile of rubble. After several moments of clearing away debre, Kagis stumbles from the pile. "Har!" Clutching my side in pain I realize that several ribs, and at least my left arm are broken. "Durn beast done deals som' nasty blows." I manage to walk over to the spot where the beast fell, and retrieved Fulcrum. A long rent flawed it's once shiny blade. I pick up the axe in my right hand, and whisper to it, "Ya done well Fulcrum." Thinking that perhaps the blade might one day be reforged I stumbled back over toward the fore of the cavern where Nys stands with Di at his side. Nys raises an eyebrow at my staggering approach, "Lad... shoul' ye be up an' 'bout?" Di just clucked at me as she shook her head. "It's nae pro'lem chief..." I wince as the pain in my side throbs. Lifting up my left hand in my right, I nod toward the ring still wrapped warmly around my finger. "Me Axe been torn, and me family armor's nae more. But I still gots me papy's ring o' re'gen'ration. Give me a few days ta racoop... recooop... err.. rest, an' I'll be back ta me old self." Nys smiles, "Take yer time lad, there'll be plenty of work for ya when yer ready and fit." Through the pain, I stand tall, nod my head to Di and then salute Nys, my chief. Then turning I stagger back to my room to rest and wait for the ring to finish my healing. Kagis Undermount Scout Time for a Breath By: Niord Niord lay there on the ground where the crevace was only moments before. He was so intent on maintaining a hold on the rope he didn't notice Emmrald come back up it. She lay there, out of breath, and the pain of losing Storm clearly evident. There is nothing I can do for her ;( I survey the cavern. It is enough to make a grown dwarf want to cry. Dead goblins, drow, and kin lay all over. Some places, the bodies are two and three high. The number of wounded is staggering, and even the proudest of us have suffered their losses. After everything else...it is to much to bear. I silently lay back and let the comforting darkness of unconsioiusness overtake me... Niord Thunderstrike Pellera?? Pel???!!! By: Kheldoar ::: there had been nothing heroic in his actions....there were no great stories to be told.... he was but a warrior and had done a warrior's duty ::: Kheldoar was battered and bruised.... there was blood on his armor... whether his or drow or goblin, no one could be sure....the ebony shield of his Pap had been battered and dented, but it had done it's job and he was still alive. Anyone watching him would see that he seemed to wander aimlessly... but his eyes were scanning every crevice and nook in the great hall.... he used his fork to move the dead bodies where they were piled on top of each other... occasionally a wounded kin was found and a healer was summoned. There was no spring to his step as one normally saw... he could have been bleeding beneith his armor.. but there was no sign of it as Kheldoar continued what seemed to be and endless quest and searching in the great hall and surrounding caverns. Finally he moved past D1 and Nys close enough that they could see a vacant look in Khel's eyes as he wandered.... and he was mumbling .... a lost and lonely mumble.... Upon seeing the female form standing beside his chief... Khel hesitated only slightly to look at the female Dwarf there... and there was only a moment of hope in his eyes.... "Pel ?".... :::but it was his Chief's lass... and she cared for him and he was holding her:::: D1and Nys looked at Kheldoar.... and understood as only a female and male in love, and caring for each other could understand.... and they saw the vacant look return to Kheldoar's eyes as he turned to continue his lost and lonely search ::::: "Pellera?" was the plaintive cry they heard coming from his lips.... .... Aftermath (1) By: D1AMOND 2 D1amond stood with Nystramo as the battle came to an end. Kin were busy uncovering bodies and tending to the wounded. The dead were quietly carried to a small cavern off to the side of the battle site and moans and cries of grief could be heard echoing from that direction. The occasional scream of terror could be heard when the search party rooted out another hiding goblin and did away with it. With each passing minute, Nystramo leaned heavier and heavier on D1's supporting arm. Seeing that all of the real threats were gone, she quietly whispered to her taerin, "If'n ye'll nae lay down an' rest, at least ye cin sits down." Too tired to speak, Nys nodded. D1 asked a passing lad to bring the chief a chair to sit in. The lad quickly brought back a chair and D1 helped Nys sit, and made sure he was comfortable. Handing him an ale, she squatted down in front of the chair and asked, "Ye ok fer now me lad?" ::nod:: "I has ta go an' find me sis. Ye understands if'n I nae stands by yer side fer a bit?" "I understands, me lass, yer sister be needin' ye rite now too." Giving him a quick kiss, D1 stood again and charged the ten that still stood nearby to take care of him. She scanned the room and saw that Emmy was still standing in the same spot, stareing at the ground. D1 made her way over to her grieving sister and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. Emmrald was muttering and apparantly in shock. "Gettin' married next week. Had ta gets yerself burried." D1 tried to pull her away from the spot where the rift had closed, but Emmrald stubbornly refused to be moved and continued to talk to the ground. D1 grabbed each side of Emmy's face and turned it so that Em was looking into her eyes. "Ye needs ta rest, sis. Don't be thin'in tha' a large rift inta tha abyss itself'll put a stop ta yer taerin. He too stubborn ta die tha' easy." Emmrald's haunted eyes looked back at her sister's. D1amond pulled her sister into her arms and gave her a long gentle hug, then slowly guided her back across the room. Aftermath (2) By: DoozerVee Duzerentin felt a horrible chill run down his spine. The sense of deja vu was so overwhelming he almost fell to his knees: The devastation was almost exactly what had happened to his homeland, the glorious mountain/city Andamon; the only thing missing was the bodies of human and elven defenders mixed in with those of the dwarves, and the signs of dragon attacks. Even the grief of the two females nearby staring at the ground where the chasm had been was dreadfully familiar. His father had gazed at the pile of rubble which had taken his mother in just such a manner. He knew that at least a few of the warriors of this clan had vanished into the maw of the earth which had been open here so short a while before - much the same as Captain Mistknell's fiancee had been kidnapped from the Great Library by the minions of Tiamat. His hatred of Daemonkin grew by leaps and bounds as he gazed once more on the havoc the denizens of the Lower Planes were wont to wreak on the hapless citizens this one. Suddenly a howl built up and exploded from his lips, ringing stridently from the walls of the cavern. "BY THE BEARDS OF THOR AND REORX, I'LL NOT SUFFER DAEMONKIN T'BREATHE TH' AIR O' MY HOME PLANE NO MORE!! IF'N E'ER YE COME NEAR ME, SPAWN O' HELL, I'LL BE HANDIN' YE YER HEADS AS MEMENTOS O' YER MEETIN' WI' ME!!" Shaking with emotion, DoozerVee sank to his knees as the dwarves nearby gazed at him in shock. Overcome by grief - old and new, owned and shared - he was past caring. More Aftermath By: Emmrald As D1amond slowly, gently guided her sister across the cavern, she felt Emmrald suddenly turn and break out of her comforting embrace. Sobbing, Emmy beat her axe against the stone floor where the chasm had opened. "Open up, ye filthy demons! I wants me Taerin! Ye cin nae keeps me frum him!", she screamed, striking again and again until sparks and chips of stone flew around her. She continued chopping at the stone and yelling until she dropped to her knees exhausted. When her rage subsided (and her axe lost most of its edge), D1amond put a hand on Emmrald's shoulder. Emmy looked up at her sister with tear-filled green eyes. "I gots ta git me Taerin back, Sis, I gots ta.." D1amond sighed heavily as she put her arm around her sister and guided her once more back to their kin. "Ye will, Emmy, ye will" she whispered, "It wou' take more'n a pack o' demons ta keeps tha' stubborn lad down thar." Standin Firm (Sorta) By: Tigguhr There were no more foes to fell, so tha bouncer stopped still. Looking left and then right he saw far fewer than ten and not many officers left. Still, he had his duty. Looking over to where the rift had been, he saw the two sisters grieving and consoling each other. He saw the chief slumped in his chair, but with a grim, determined, almost heartened look in his eyes. Tigguhr hauled himself over to stand next to the chair that Nys sat in. He took up his post once again. With honor and dignity, he guarded his chief. The Lost Patrol Returns By: Dwyvyrn (Subtitled: Jeb Stuart arrives at Gettysburg) Gilgina glanced sidelong at Dwyvyrn as the two dwarves raced along with the young fighter Nalvor toward a large cavern where they knew their kin must be battling the goblin army. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she considered the change that had come over Dwyvyrn recently. After the fight with the goblin chieftan, their subsequent rescue by Niord, and the collapse of the tunnels beneath the Mount, Dwyvyrn had seemed in a daze. Since then had led them on a wandering ramble through the now somewhat random series of tunnels that led back to the halls of the clan. Frequently he had turned in the wrong direction, only to mutter, "Hmmm..rite ye is lass," when Gilgina pointed out the correct path to him. That had all changed now. As the stench of the goblin armies increased, so too did Dwyvyrn's energy. He began to increase their pace, and decide more quickly and positively as to the correct route to take in pursuit of the goblin armies. His return to form was complete the moment they saw the first goblin running down the corridor toward them. Dwyvyrn's axe was out in a heartbeat and he charged the foul creature, cutting it cleanly in two before it even had a chance to scream. They had been running at a full sprint ever since, pausing only momentarily to slay any goblins who had the bad fortune of choosing this tunnel to flee from the epic battle with Clan Axepeak in the cavern ahead. Dwyvyrn and his companions ran untiringly, possessed by the urge to get into the fray alongside the members of their clan. So possessed were they that they failed to notice the slippery goblin shaman who ducked silently into the shadows of a small alcove as the battle-hungry dwarves lumbered by. At last they rounded a bend and the entrance to the cavern came into view. The shrieks and groans of the wounded and dying assaulted their ears, and the putrid odor of something not of this plane assaulted their noses, but nothing could possibly have prepared them for the sight that assaulted their eyes as they came to the small ledge where the passage opened up into the cavern. The battle was over, that much was clear. However, the carnage that remained was almost unfathomable. Dwyvyrn skidded to a stop as he looked out over the cavern. Everywhere he turned, the floor of the vast underground cave was covered by bodies--goblin bodies, dwarven bodies, drow bodies, even the bodies of otherworldly creatures littered the stone bottom of the cavern. The whole surface seemed to writhe as the many dwarves and goblins who were down but not quite dead struggled to find help or perhaps to just get clear of the battle. Amidst this squirming mass walked several small groups of dwarves, tending to the wounded kin and finishing off any goblins who still breathed. Dwyvyrn recovered from his initial shock as an armed group of five dwarves clambered up toward the tunnel behind him, obviously intending to chase down any fleeing goblins. "This tunnel be clear lads, heads o'er dat way," Dwyvyrn said as he waved the kin toward the next passage branching off from the cavern. He then turned to his two kin, who were still gaping at the scene before them, and said, "Let's heads down dere an' see wots we can does, kin." The three dwarves began carefully picking their way down toward the area where the main battle had taken place. They paused momentarily as they heard a rasping voice choke out, "Dwy, be dat ye lad?" Turning, they saw a dwarf tucked into a crevice high along the cavern wall. "Thorug!" Dwyvyrn called, immediately recognizing the battlerager he had fought beside so many times. He scrambled up to get beside his kin, with Gilgina and Nalvor following close behind. They immediately saw the grave condition the battlerager was in. His left leg was completely severed, and the rest of his body was twisted oddly and wedged into the niche in the cavern wall. Gilgina set to work right away tending the wounds, and Dwyvyrn reached down to carefully remove the battlerager's helmet. "Wots happened to ye, kin?" a shocked Nalvor asked, only to be silenced by a withering scowl from Dwyvyrn. Thorug managed a weak "Har!" before a coughing fit overtook him. Once that passed, he began to quietly recount the events that brought him to this spot. "I charged one o' dem foul demonspawn, bu' da critter scooped me up wi' its mangy paws. Da jargh thin' bit me leg off!" The dwarf paused for a moment and chuckled, then continued. " I s'pose da creature nae liked da way me tasted, cuz'n he threw da res' o' me up 'ere." Dwyvyrn looked down at his samman and forced a smile onto his face. He clasped a hand on Thorug's shoulder (since it was about the only part of the battlerager's body that seemed relatively unscathed) and said, "Well'n kin, dinnae werries yeself. Gilgina 'ere wi' has ye up an' fitin' agin' in nae time." He hoped to Moradin that his words sounded more confident than he felt. "Nae kin," Thorug responded, "I nae thinks so. Me hears Clangeddin callin' an' he be tellin' me I has fought me las' battle." Here Thorug's features took on a calmer set, and despite the obvious pain he was in the smile that came to his lips was sincere as he looked up into Dwyvyrn's eyes. "Bu' wots a battle it were, Dwy! Me wishes ye cou' ha'e seen it. Goblins, dark elfies, an' e'en dem creatures from da bowels of'n odder planes! A gran' battle indeed, wots wi' be sung of fer ages to come. Aye, a fine battle....Ye shou' ha'e been dere...." Here Thorugs voice trailed off, and the ragged heaving of his chest turned to stilled silence. "Nae speaks li' dat, kin!" Dwyvyrn urged, shaking the battlerager's shoulder gently in a futile attempt to revive him. Dwyvyrn began shaking more violently, but then felt Gilgina's hand close over his to stop him. He looked up at the priestess, but she only shook her head and looked down dejectedly. As Gilgina removed her hand from Dwyvyrn's to close Thorug's eyes for the last time, Dwyvyrn rose and slowly started walking away. Gilgina and Nalvor busied themselves removing Thorug's body from the crevice and so did not notice Dwyvyrn as he wandered off onto the battlefield. Dwyvyrn trudged along as if in a daze, his eyes unfocused as he picked his way among the dead and dying. Several kin called out as they recognized him, but he took no notice as he continued to make slow progress toward the far side of the cavern and passages which led to the clan halls. His ears were filled with the dying words of his kin: "Ye shou' ha'e been dere.... Ye shou' ha'e been dere.... Ye shou' ha'e been dere.... Ye shou' ha'e been dere...." Dwyvyrn Clan Axepeak Aftermath: Baldar's POV By: Baldar Hmr Baldar looked about the area with a mixture of shock and suprise on his face. Never had the young dwarven warrior been in such a fierce battle. Bodies were stacked like cordwood and blood ran like rivers in the dwarven Hall. As he surveyed the carnage, the enormity of the situation threatened to overwhelm him, and he simply sat down on the floor with a dull 'thud'. This had been no jovial outing with his kin, laughing and singing, whilst slaying whatever dark denizens they came across in the realms. This had been WAR, a WAR TO THE DEATH, and both sides had paid the price. Only half of the Ten still breathed, as far as Baldar could see; and scores of dwarven regulars lay still on the battlefield. He glanced over to one side and saw Emmrald, grief-stricken, clawing at the spot where Storm had vanished into the rift with the Drow wizard. Diamond, her sister,was comforting her as best she could, but even she had a faraway, vacant stare in her eyes. Baldar's heart was gladdened thou, to see Nystramo sitting in a chair near the edge of the main battlefield. 'At least I did me job, and helped keep tha Chief alive', thought the young warrior. 'Wot tha 'ell I gunna do now?', thought Baldar, as he mused on the fact that his mentor, Storm Moradinson, was missing. Baldar gave a silent prayer to Moradin to keep watch over the Dwarven Hero, wherever he wound up. Looking up from his thoughts, Baldar spied Dwyvryn entering the main chambers and rose to meet with the First Axe and ask for his orders... Get's ta Bed! By: D1AMOND 2 D1amond consoled her grieving sister as they made their way from the battle site. D1 knew her sister needed some clerical tending, so she took her to the small alcove tha' was now almost filled with wounded. She noticed Splendarr helping one of the clerics and called out to her. "Splendar lass, cin ye comes an' give me a hand wit me sis. She be in shock and sick wit grief. Mayhap we cin find her a blanket and some ale." Splendarr looked at Emmrald with compassion, "Alright lass, we have a room set up further back for the recoverin'. I'll takes your sister back there and sits with her if'n ye like?" The question was directed at Emmrald. The thought of an ale or twenty got Emmy's attention and she agreed to let Splendarr help her to the recover'n cavern. With here sister taken care of for now, D1 went back out to where Nys was sitting, to find Dwyvyrn talking quietly to his chief. Ignoring that the two were having a conversation, she grabbed Dwyvyrn and gave him a big hug. To which, of course, he said, "Ach! Nae lass!" and started squirming, but with a grin on his face. "It be so good ta see's ye alive lad," D1amond said with a grin, thrilled tha one less of her kin was dead. She held him and arms length and looked him over. "How ye holdin' up lad?" His grin fell from his face, "Fisically, I be fit enuff, but me heart be sick ta nae have bin here fer tha battle and ta see's such lose." D1amond looked grim and quickly wiped a tear from her eye. She looked over at Tigguhr, who was standing near by and yelled, "Don't just stand there lad! Can't ye see tha' these two nae has any ale?!" Tigguhr jumped at D1's words, then bounced off to get some ale. D1 looked from Nystramo to Dwyvyrn, then to Nys again. "It seems, me lad, ye has two choices here." Both of the lads looked confused, so D1 continued to explain, "Ye cin let's Dwyvyrn takes command o thing fer a bit, whilst we git ye ta yer bed fer some restin' and recoverin'. Er, Dwy cin still takes charge o' thin's and I cin stands here an' wait fer ye ta pass out from injury an' exhaustion. Then has ye dragged back ta yer bed. Whut'll it be me taerin?" Even Kings Must Sleep By: Nystramo Nys was overjoyed when Dwyvyrn approached him, alive and well. Finally, a bright spot in this darkest of days! After a warm and enthusiastic reunion, they fell to talking. After a few moments, Nys understood the haunted look in the eyes of one of his oldest friends. "I shou' ha been 'ere, Nys," he growled. "I shou' ha' been battlin' a' yer side!" "Ye did wha' ye could, Dwy. Nae one cou' ha' done more, an' it seems ya did yer share o' damage ta 'em afore they gots ta us. Tha' may ha' made tha diff'rence 'tween victr'y an' defeat." The words were sincere, but he knew they were scant comfort to the First of The Ten. His role was to battle at his chief's side, and he was not able to do that when the time came. Nys knew it could not have been avoided; even Dwyvyrn knew it could not have been avoided, he was sure. Unfortunately, knowledge was a weak defense against a gnawing conscience. A voice interrupted them. "Chief! It be Dorgan." Nys and Dwy turned to see the body of the newest of The Ten being carried respectfully by several kin. His armor was shredded in places, and his morning star broken at the haft. Nys remembered the grimly efficient warrior as he cut his way through goblins and stood his ground firmly in battle with the Hammer Warriors. Nys could scarcely believe he was dead. "Fell ta a demon, Olor Kuld," one kuldar informed him. "Tha beast wa' tryin' ta get ta ya, I thinks. Dorgan took 'em down ta saves ya, bu' gave 'imself ta does it." Another kin added, "Aye chief. He done Tha Ten proud." Dwyvern's head snapped up at that. "Tha Ten? When di' Dorgan becomes one o' Tha Ten?" he demanded. Nys paused a moment, but knew he had to tell Dwyvyrn the truth. He respected his friend too much to do otherwise. "He wa' takin' yer place, lad," he replied quietly. Never before had he had such difficulty answering a question. Dwyvyrn seemed about to say something, but then D1amond appeared from nowhere and buried the First Axe in a powerful hug. When she suggested that Nys take a break for a bit and put Dwyvyrn in charge, he felt the weariness overcome him and agreed. "Aye lass. There nae be any I'd be trustin' more wi' me kin than Dwy." In Thanks By: Nystramo The End.... for now *** OOC I'd like to thank everyone who jumped in and got involved with the story of the war between The Temple of Lolth and Clan Axepeak. It clearly isn't over yet (you don't think Moradinson is going to STAY down there, do you? ;D), but it is the end of the beginning. Call it an overture. ;) First of, my sincerest thanks to Jhaelryna for agreeing to help out with the story. Clearly, this could never have happened without her participation. Also, thanks to Zyxos and Zorak, a creative pair of drow if ever I met any. Thanks to Dwyvyrn, Moradinson, D1amond 2, Emmrald, Tigguhr, Baldar Hmr, Niord and KAGIS for their excellent additions to the story as it unfolded. There were many other authors, of course, but these were the most regular contributors (even if Dwy did contribute himself right out of it. ;D) Finally, thanks to all of the other authors. I can't name all of you (since there were so many), but every one of you added to the story as a whole. Congratulations, also, to all involved for one of the best stories ever to grace the boards of NWN. Now, |