Alexyi
03-15-2001, 11:25 AM
And so it was that Innoruuk learned of the pact made by the other gods and felt resentful of their world they had built. A world he was not wanted in. He looked down upon Norrath and beheld the kingdom of the Elves. He watched as their King and Queen reigned over a land of Love and Harmony. He took them in darkness and brought them to his domain. For an eternity he held them prisoner. He played their love for each other against them and amused himself with their suffering. He slowly tortured and twisted them, till their hate for life and for their Mother of All was second only to their hate for each other. Then he returned them to Norrath where they spawned their poisoned progeny. The Mother of All cried out for justice. The Nameless ones heard her cry and passed judgement. Since Innoruuk had turned love to hate, they would turn hate to love.
Eidderf was afraid of the lagoon. Everyone was afraid of the lagoon. “Hah, and you want to join the Guk” said Illip. Illip had just been accepted in the Gaz. The Gaz were the first real line of defense for their city. It was very honorable to be a Gaz, not very safe but honorable. Eidderf had grown up in a world of death. Since he was a tiny Tad his people had been attacked. The Invaders were not only Trolls but also a diverse range of other races. Its like the world had turned against the froglocks. His people were not native to this continent. Eidderf had listened intently to his history lessons. They had been slaves of the lizardmen for centuries. When the Lizardmen built their large temple to their god, they had brought many slaves with them. But soon the supply ships from their empire stopped coming. They were on foreign soil and outnumbered by their slaves 5 to one. It had been the day the Temple of Cazic Thule was dedicated. The plan was for all the slaves to be slaughtered and their blood used to soak every square foot of the temple. After the first 100 were killed, his people had risen up and attacked their oppressors. Suffering heavy losses they had fled east into a great swamp. They had found a cave and the ruins of an ancient city. The survivors made this place their home. Little did they know what the trolls had learned before them. The gods cursed the place. The dead did not sleep easy there. Still, the dead seemed content to stay in one portion of the city and never sought to expand their territory. The Froglocks adapted and survived. Until of course the Day of Discord. “Heh, well if you are afraid of that silly story maybe you should join the guard” Illip chided. Eidderf shuddered. If you were not accepted into any of the other brigades, you ended up in the Tuk or the Guard. As bad as being a Tuk was, the guards were worse. Guards were the very first to die when outlanders came. None of which mattered very much, because Eidderf was afraid of the lagoon. The ritual of the Guk was held only once every 5 years. It was an honor to be invited and the greatest of privileges to be selected. The ritual entailed swimming for 2 days in the lagoon to prove your stamina, then winning a wrestling match with the local Minatour Champion to prove your strength, and defeating one of the Guk Wizards in a brutal battle of magic and weapons. It was not easy and several of his people had died in the past rituals. But if you wanted to be among the best, that was a risk he would have to take. But he was afraid of the Lagoon. Everyone was afraid of the Lagoon, ever since the Ghost had come.
It was a cold and dark night in Innoruuk’s domain. It had always been a cold and dark night for as long as Riktapi could remember and he could remember quite a lot. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. Where was the peace it promised. It had been a lie. Like all the other promises his masters had taught. He gripped the shuriken he gripped in his hand like all the other Kiraikuei. The blades pressed into his dead flesh. He had forsaken the teachings of his masters in life and the lessons they taught forsook him in death. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. He passed his comrades, he passed the servants of Innoruuk, he passed the vermin that infested the streets of Innorruk’s city. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. He had long thought himself past the realm of pain, but knew he wasn’t when he was gripped in the hand of agony. Pain seared every portion of his decaying flesh. He felt every sensation at once threatening to overload the remains of his brain. He heard a whisper “Take me to your master”. He balked, not wanting to enter the dread ones presence. His pain doubled, as he felt every element assaulting his being, he burned, he froze, he felt pummeled and he choked, the last of which he had not experienced for hundreds of years. “Take me to your master” the voice whispered again. This time Riktapi did not balk, the pain did not lessen but grew with each step as he hurriedly made his way to the great stair. He climbed the great stair and passed the dragon bones standing guard. They made to block his way but fell writhing onto their backs shrieking as did any others who sought to bar his way. Finally he saw his master, on his throne and felt the malevolent gaze shift his way. He watched his master’s face contort into fury as all his servants fell clawing at the ground screaming. “ENOUGH” Innoruuk shouted. Riktapi’s last glimpse of existence was Innorruk’s towering Fury as he was consumed to the last.
“Thank you, but I don’t think we can use you!” Nathan said. This had been the third guide he had interviewed. None of them seemed to grasp the concept that he didn’t want to go in and slaughter Froglocks. Nathan sat back and sighed. He had been at the Oasis Inn for two days. The sun was hot during the day and the sand was cold at night. He spent his days sitting in the tavern and talking to people only interested in killing and looting. The others would be arriving soon and he had not yet found his guide. If this was going to work, he had to be patient. But patience was luxury he could not afford. The darkness was coming and they must prepare. He was a big man, with chestnut hair. He was not young but could not be called old either. It had been over 8 years since the day his life had changed. The day the storms had come. He remembered the last 8 years. The struggles they had entailed and of what it meant to be a child of order. He sometimes wished he had chosen differently. “Still haven’t found anyone?” Tizzy said as she brought him a mug of water. Nathan sighed. “It makes me sad, seeing what most of us have become. So intent on acquiring wealth that we simply don’t see the harm we’re causing.” He slammed his fist down on the table, “Time is getting short!” Nathan put his head in hands and rubbed his temples. Tizzy left him and walked back into the Atrium where Marnan sat. “He still having trouble finding his guide?” “Yep. Kind of feel sorry for him.” The door opened revealing a Lean well-muscled man of average height. He was bare chested with a large tattoo covering his midsection. His skin was bright red and he squinted, as if the sun was his enemy. He came in carrying several large sacks and packs. “Hi Marnan, Hi Tizzy” he said quietly. “Welcome Friend” Marnan replied “You look overburdened, your hunting must have been successful. Let’s see what you brought for me this trip.” Marnan and Tizzy went through the sacks the man placed before them. All told they counted 8 fine steel weapons, 24 miscellaneous gems and several pieces of Mesh Armor most commonly worn by the Froglocks of Guk. “How does 60 platinum sound,” Marnan asked. “Sounds good” the man replied taking the platinum and dropping it in his pouch. “I will need some supplies. 2 Full jugs of water, 2 weeks worth of rations and about 250 bandages.” “Same as last time, right?” Marnan joked. The man smiled but Marnan could detect no humor in it. Marnan and Tizzy started gathering the things ordered. The man stayed standing, he looked anxious to leave, just as he always did. The man was anxious to leave. These supply runs though necessary took too much time from his task, too much time from his . . . activities. The man felt a hand on his sunburned shoulder. He twisted and punched low with his left hand and followed through with his right. He felt contact and the slight dull pain of flesh to metal. He looked at the big man standing there clutching his stomach. “Sorry Nathan!” was all he said. Nathan looked at the man. He had changed in the five years since last they met. The man was no longer slow. The man was no longer emaciated. “My own fault Alex” Nathan replied in a gasping voice. Nathan struggled to recapture his breath but it took him several minutes. Tizzy brought him some water and made him sit down. After a while Nathan felt a little better and could finally speak. During that time he had observed Alexyi’s reaction. His expression hadn’t even changed. It was a blank expression utterly devoid of interest in his surroundings. “Its been a while since …” “Since Qeynos, Yes it has” Alexyi interrupted. Nathan sighed, “Beladoo mentioned you had spent some time in Rivervale.” “Yes!” Alexyi glanced over at the innkeepers still preparing his order. ‘Damn-it’ he thought. Alexyi felt a sinking feeling, knowing what Nathan’s next words would be. “Alex, I need your help.” ‘FUCK!’ his mind screamed.
“WHO ARE YOU” Innoruuk thundered at the Pale woman standing in the now empty hall. The woman looked up at him and smiled. Her forehead was adorned with a single black gem. She started to laugh as her gaze swept around the hall. Innoruuk felt his fury rising to unprecedented levels. He gathered his will and threw it at the pale woman, she stood in the storm and grinned as his power washed over her. She continued to laugh as his anger grew. His mind continued to rage for a long time and still she stood there laughing at him. After he had unleashed enough fury to flatten worlds he stopped. “Who are you” he repeated more quietly. She walked up to him, expanding in size until she had matched his own. “I am your wife” she whispered into his ear as she bit down on his lobe. He felt an involuntary shriek as pain ripped through him but he stifled his cry. She laughed again “I am the Queen of Pain”. “Is that so?” whispered Innoruuk as he slowly extending blades from the tips of his fingers. He struck swiftly plunging them deep into her chest again and again. Her screams of agony filled the hall as he stabbed her repeatedly. Outside in the town even the most jaded and ancient of the ilk of Innoruuk shuddered. Inside the Hall, Innoruuk laughed as he twisted the blades and the queen of pain renewed her shrieks. Innoruuk waved his free hand at the wall nearest him, causing needlelike spikes to form and he hurled the queen of pain into them. The tortured melody of her agony was accompanied by Rancor’s music drifting up from below. Innoruuk returned to his throne and again gathered an entourage of his faithful around him. The Queen of Pain shrieked as waves of fire and ice fluctuated in the spikes. Innoruuk sat back and smiled as Rancor played on.
Beladoo arrived a few days after. With him came 3 others. A young Fier’Dal scout named Chloro and a pair of dwarven siblings named Dorick and Kerna. Kerna was former member of the Stormguard while Dorick was a Disciple of the God Brell. After they had time to rest from their journey, Nathan gathered them together around a table. “First off, I would like to thank you all for coming. The task I have been charged with will not be easy. The days that are coming will bring great change to the world. Places once thought safe will be deadly, places once thought lost will be found.” Nathan paused and looked at each and every one of those he had gathered. “This task is very important, it must be done exactly as I say or great harm will come from it. The Froglocks of Guk as they are called are a very isolated culture. They are attacked on all sides and have come to mistrust outlanders as they call us. I plan to change that.” He paused for a moment, then continued. “My order first discovered the Froglocks on a mission to cleanse the Ancient City of its infestation of the Undead. We did not know then that it had been resettled. When my order first encountered them they were very supportive. Our expedition was received with enthusiasm and many of them swelled our numbers. Initially our forays seemed to be succeeding against the ancient undead. The victories though costly in froglock lives allowed much of the lower parts of the city to be reclaimed. The trouble started when their dead started returning. It is almost unthinkable for one froglock to kill another, its one of their most sacred tenets, and it appears to be binding even in death. Not one of their undead ever attacked a living froglock and the living complied by it also. The problem was they were now being inundated by the undead. So our expedition once again attempted to destroy their infestation, this time without help. We took heavy losses and the leader of our expedition Sir Bradford fell in battle and with him the Ghoulsbane, one of our most sacred relics. The expedition retreated and came back to Freeport to report. It seems that the dead always returned when killed in that place by violence. Now with so many raiders hitting Guk, the undead have become more numerous and encroaching. Only one Froglock was willing to stand up to the Undead. He broke his people’s most sacred taboo and fought the undead Froglocks. In his hands he bore the Ghoulsbane. My order sent me to try to recover the blade.” Nathan stopped for a moment “In my over zealousness, I caused much death and sorrow.” “No. We caused much death and sorrow” Beladoo whispered. Nathan stopped for a moment and mastered his emotions. “That will not happen, this time. We must find the Ghoulsbane and ask for its return. Let me state this very clear.” His eyes locked on Alexyi. “There will be no killing unless it is in self defense, we will avoid the populated sections as much as possible and we will negotiate for the return of the Ghoulsbane. Does everyone understand that?” All of them nodded their heads accept Alexyi. “Alex? Do you understand?” Nathan repeated. “Do you?” Alex replied as he walked out of the room.
The Queen of Pain bled for an eternity and from her blood came the darkest of spirits, the foulest of creatures and Innorruk’s joy knew no bounds as he sent these monsters onto the world to feed on the living. He found himself constantly drawn to her. He found himself noticing when her screams of pain subsided, even in the slightest. Once, when he turned his gaze upon her, for only a second he thought that he saw her smile, but the second passed and her face once again twisted into agony and her screams resumed their usual tempo. For countless time this was how it was in Innoruuk’s Domain and it was unbearable. The Queen had become Innoruuk’s favorite and all those who had wrestled for their master’s favor came to resent her. They mumbled to themselves how to rid their master of her and return it to the way it had been. If only they had a way to cause Innoruuk to obliterate her forever. They appeared to countless followers of Innoruuk, proclaiming their will as if it was their masters. They sent many to gather the necessary components and when they had the ingredients, brewed a potion of love; then they waited.
“Follow me.” Alexyi led them down. Once again they came to populated section. “Follow the left branch till you reach an iron pot. Go right there for 500 ft then follow the left fork, I will meet you there.” Nathan placed his hand once more on Alexyi’s shoulder. Alexyi sighed “Yeah, I know, No killing.” Alexyi ran into cavern and decked one of the shin warriors standing guard. The rest of the frogs leapt at him. Alexyi easily avoided most of their blows and took off running down the right branch. Nathan moved his band down the left branch and continued on. When they reached the place Alexyi had described they found him sitting there waiting. A few new bruises adorned his pale body. Nathan looked at him questioningly. “No, nobody died” Alexyi said. “Its important, Alex” Nathan replied. “This quest fails if we don’t do this correctly. If this quest fails many more then froglocks will die.” “Yeah, you keep reminding me.” Alexyi led them down deeper into Guk. Eventually they came to a lagoon. “We camp here for the night, they don’t come down here anymore, we should be undisturbed.” Alexyi said. Kerna stooped and placed her hands in the water, scooping up a handful to her lips. Alexyi quickly slapped it way from mouth, scattering the water. “Don’t drink the water!” he said harshly. “Why not?” Kerna said squaring herself. This human was really wearing out her patience. “There’s blood in the water” he said simply. He went to a boulder off in a corner and pushed the top of it, rolling it out of the way, revealing a large hole. Inside he emptied the contents of his pouch. Chloro inched her way over and gazed in. It was filled with coins. Platinum, gold, silver, and even here and there a copper. “Is that a sapphire?” she asked. Alexyi rolled the boulder back into place. “Trust me, Don’t touch my money.” Nathan sat down near the waters edge and gazed into it. The water was muddy, he noticed a lot of fish moving around. “I’m surprised the Froglocks don’t come here. Seems to be a prime fishing spot?” “They used to come here quite often, till I convinced them otherwise” Alexyi murmured. The water cleared for a moment revealing a grisly sight, Nathan choked and glared at Alexyi. “How many?” Alexyi returned his glare. “Not nearly enough!” Alexyi replied. “I’m going to get some sleep, Tomorrow’s the big day.” Alexyi went to a corner and pulled out a sleeping roll. He stretched it out and lay down, turning his back to the party. “Lads got something of an attitude” Dorick remarked quietly. “I think we’re interrupting his private little war.” Kerna remarked. “I’ve seen it before. People taking things personally. Worlds out to get them attitude. Not gonna be pushed around so they’ll push at everything. Just hope I’m not around when the world pushes back.” “If we can get through tomorrow, this will end.” Nathan gazed into the lagoon. “This must end.” Beladoo was quiet. He merely sat in thought.
It was a cold and dark night in Innoruuk’s domain. Rancor played one of his most stirring symphonies, the Queen’s howls of torture were horrendous and Innoruuk savored his fury. The entourage praised their master’s name with shrieks of rage and the tempo of Rancor’s playing increased. One of the priests more zealous then most produced a cup, catching the blood of the queen in it, offered it with praises on his lips to his lord. Innoruuk took the cup and drank deep of the offering, smiling at his queen in ecstasy on the wall. Something stirred in him, his entire being shuddered as he felt the pain he had been inflicting on the Queen and he knew it was wrong. He waved his hands at the wall and the spikes vanished. He caught the queen in his arms and held her almost tenderly. He gazed into her eyes and whispered “I love you”. Everyone in Innoruuk’s Domain stopped. In Neriak, seven high priests felt their hearts explode. The Hiorphant collapsed near death. All Teir’Dal everywhere shuddered with unknown fear. In his hall, Innoruuk himself was stunned. He felt the strange sensation in him and instantly knew what had been done to him. He looked into the eyes of his Queen and she laughed, her features shifted and he found himself holding Erollisi Marr, The goddess of Love. The black gem on her brow fell into her hands. She grinned as she rubbed it. Innoruuk heard his very voice speak again those accursed words. She rubbed it again and again, the voice mocking him. His anger boiled over and his shriek of rage exploded, destroying all in its path, except Erollisi. She calmly waited for him to stop his tirade. “Justice is served,” she shouted. “Let this remind the world that love is more powerful then hate. Let all who hold it know…Even the Prince of Hate can feel love. Let it also serve as a reminder to you O Prince. Never overstep your bounds again. You are now and always have been watched.” With that said, Erollisi tossed the stone towards Norrath and vanished. Innoruuk shrieked with rage for a very long, long, time.
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Eidderf was afraid of the lagoon. Everyone was afraid of the lagoon. “Hah, and you want to join the Guk” said Illip. Illip had just been accepted in the Gaz. The Gaz were the first real line of defense for their city. It was very honorable to be a Gaz, not very safe but honorable. Eidderf had grown up in a world of death. Since he was a tiny Tad his people had been attacked. The Invaders were not only Trolls but also a diverse range of other races. Its like the world had turned against the froglocks. His people were not native to this continent. Eidderf had listened intently to his history lessons. They had been slaves of the lizardmen for centuries. When the Lizardmen built their large temple to their god, they had brought many slaves with them. But soon the supply ships from their empire stopped coming. They were on foreign soil and outnumbered by their slaves 5 to one. It had been the day the Temple of Cazic Thule was dedicated. The plan was for all the slaves to be slaughtered and their blood used to soak every square foot of the temple. After the first 100 were killed, his people had risen up and attacked their oppressors. Suffering heavy losses they had fled east into a great swamp. They had found a cave and the ruins of an ancient city. The survivors made this place their home. Little did they know what the trolls had learned before them. The gods cursed the place. The dead did not sleep easy there. Still, the dead seemed content to stay in one portion of the city and never sought to expand their territory. The Froglocks adapted and survived. Until of course the Day of Discord. “Heh, well if you are afraid of that silly story maybe you should join the guard” Illip chided. Eidderf shuddered. If you were not accepted into any of the other brigades, you ended up in the Tuk or the Guard. As bad as being a Tuk was, the guards were worse. Guards were the very first to die when outlanders came. None of which mattered very much, because Eidderf was afraid of the lagoon. The ritual of the Guk was held only once every 5 years. It was an honor to be invited and the greatest of privileges to be selected. The ritual entailed swimming for 2 days in the lagoon to prove your stamina, then winning a wrestling match with the local Minatour Champion to prove your strength, and defeating one of the Guk Wizards in a brutal battle of magic and weapons. It was not easy and several of his people had died in the past rituals. But if you wanted to be among the best, that was a risk he would have to take. But he was afraid of the Lagoon. Everyone was afraid of the Lagoon, ever since the Ghost had come.
It was a cold and dark night in Innoruuk’s domain. It had always been a cold and dark night for as long as Riktapi could remember and he could remember quite a lot. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. Where was the peace it promised. It had been a lie. Like all the other promises his masters had taught. He gripped the shuriken he gripped in his hand like all the other Kiraikuei. The blades pressed into his dead flesh. He had forsaken the teachings of his masters in life and the lessons they taught forsook him in death. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. He passed his comrades, he passed the servants of Innoruuk, he passed the vermin that infested the streets of Innorruk’s city. ‘Tranquility’ he spat in his mind. He had long thought himself past the realm of pain, but knew he wasn’t when he was gripped in the hand of agony. Pain seared every portion of his decaying flesh. He felt every sensation at once threatening to overload the remains of his brain. He heard a whisper “Take me to your master”. He balked, not wanting to enter the dread ones presence. His pain doubled, as he felt every element assaulting his being, he burned, he froze, he felt pummeled and he choked, the last of which he had not experienced for hundreds of years. “Take me to your master” the voice whispered again. This time Riktapi did not balk, the pain did not lessen but grew with each step as he hurriedly made his way to the great stair. He climbed the great stair and passed the dragon bones standing guard. They made to block his way but fell writhing onto their backs shrieking as did any others who sought to bar his way. Finally he saw his master, on his throne and felt the malevolent gaze shift his way. He watched his master’s face contort into fury as all his servants fell clawing at the ground screaming. “ENOUGH” Innoruuk shouted. Riktapi’s last glimpse of existence was Innorruk’s towering Fury as he was consumed to the last.
“Thank you, but I don’t think we can use you!” Nathan said. This had been the third guide he had interviewed. None of them seemed to grasp the concept that he didn’t want to go in and slaughter Froglocks. Nathan sat back and sighed. He had been at the Oasis Inn for two days. The sun was hot during the day and the sand was cold at night. He spent his days sitting in the tavern and talking to people only interested in killing and looting. The others would be arriving soon and he had not yet found his guide. If this was going to work, he had to be patient. But patience was luxury he could not afford. The darkness was coming and they must prepare. He was a big man, with chestnut hair. He was not young but could not be called old either. It had been over 8 years since the day his life had changed. The day the storms had come. He remembered the last 8 years. The struggles they had entailed and of what it meant to be a child of order. He sometimes wished he had chosen differently. “Still haven’t found anyone?” Tizzy said as she brought him a mug of water. Nathan sighed. “It makes me sad, seeing what most of us have become. So intent on acquiring wealth that we simply don’t see the harm we’re causing.” He slammed his fist down on the table, “Time is getting short!” Nathan put his head in hands and rubbed his temples. Tizzy left him and walked back into the Atrium where Marnan sat. “He still having trouble finding his guide?” “Yep. Kind of feel sorry for him.” The door opened revealing a Lean well-muscled man of average height. He was bare chested with a large tattoo covering his midsection. His skin was bright red and he squinted, as if the sun was his enemy. He came in carrying several large sacks and packs. “Hi Marnan, Hi Tizzy” he said quietly. “Welcome Friend” Marnan replied “You look overburdened, your hunting must have been successful. Let’s see what you brought for me this trip.” Marnan and Tizzy went through the sacks the man placed before them. All told they counted 8 fine steel weapons, 24 miscellaneous gems and several pieces of Mesh Armor most commonly worn by the Froglocks of Guk. “How does 60 platinum sound,” Marnan asked. “Sounds good” the man replied taking the platinum and dropping it in his pouch. “I will need some supplies. 2 Full jugs of water, 2 weeks worth of rations and about 250 bandages.” “Same as last time, right?” Marnan joked. The man smiled but Marnan could detect no humor in it. Marnan and Tizzy started gathering the things ordered. The man stayed standing, he looked anxious to leave, just as he always did. The man was anxious to leave. These supply runs though necessary took too much time from his task, too much time from his . . . activities. The man felt a hand on his sunburned shoulder. He twisted and punched low with his left hand and followed through with his right. He felt contact and the slight dull pain of flesh to metal. He looked at the big man standing there clutching his stomach. “Sorry Nathan!” was all he said. Nathan looked at the man. He had changed in the five years since last they met. The man was no longer slow. The man was no longer emaciated. “My own fault Alex” Nathan replied in a gasping voice. Nathan struggled to recapture his breath but it took him several minutes. Tizzy brought him some water and made him sit down. After a while Nathan felt a little better and could finally speak. During that time he had observed Alexyi’s reaction. His expression hadn’t even changed. It was a blank expression utterly devoid of interest in his surroundings. “Its been a while since …” “Since Qeynos, Yes it has” Alexyi interrupted. Nathan sighed, “Beladoo mentioned you had spent some time in Rivervale.” “Yes!” Alexyi glanced over at the innkeepers still preparing his order. ‘Damn-it’ he thought. Alexyi felt a sinking feeling, knowing what Nathan’s next words would be. “Alex, I need your help.” ‘FUCK!’ his mind screamed.
“WHO ARE YOU” Innoruuk thundered at the Pale woman standing in the now empty hall. The woman looked up at him and smiled. Her forehead was adorned with a single black gem. She started to laugh as her gaze swept around the hall. Innoruuk felt his fury rising to unprecedented levels. He gathered his will and threw it at the pale woman, she stood in the storm and grinned as his power washed over her. She continued to laugh as his anger grew. His mind continued to rage for a long time and still she stood there laughing at him. After he had unleashed enough fury to flatten worlds he stopped. “Who are you” he repeated more quietly. She walked up to him, expanding in size until she had matched his own. “I am your wife” she whispered into his ear as she bit down on his lobe. He felt an involuntary shriek as pain ripped through him but he stifled his cry. She laughed again “I am the Queen of Pain”. “Is that so?” whispered Innoruuk as he slowly extending blades from the tips of his fingers. He struck swiftly plunging them deep into her chest again and again. Her screams of agony filled the hall as he stabbed her repeatedly. Outside in the town even the most jaded and ancient of the ilk of Innoruuk shuddered. Inside the Hall, Innoruuk laughed as he twisted the blades and the queen of pain renewed her shrieks. Innoruuk waved his free hand at the wall nearest him, causing needlelike spikes to form and he hurled the queen of pain into them. The tortured melody of her agony was accompanied by Rancor’s music drifting up from below. Innoruuk returned to his throne and again gathered an entourage of his faithful around him. The Queen of Pain shrieked as waves of fire and ice fluctuated in the spikes. Innoruuk sat back and smiled as Rancor played on.
Beladoo arrived a few days after. With him came 3 others. A young Fier’Dal scout named Chloro and a pair of dwarven siblings named Dorick and Kerna. Kerna was former member of the Stormguard while Dorick was a Disciple of the God Brell. After they had time to rest from their journey, Nathan gathered them together around a table. “First off, I would like to thank you all for coming. The task I have been charged with will not be easy. The days that are coming will bring great change to the world. Places once thought safe will be deadly, places once thought lost will be found.” Nathan paused and looked at each and every one of those he had gathered. “This task is very important, it must be done exactly as I say or great harm will come from it. The Froglocks of Guk as they are called are a very isolated culture. They are attacked on all sides and have come to mistrust outlanders as they call us. I plan to change that.” He paused for a moment, then continued. “My order first discovered the Froglocks on a mission to cleanse the Ancient City of its infestation of the Undead. We did not know then that it had been resettled. When my order first encountered them they were very supportive. Our expedition was received with enthusiasm and many of them swelled our numbers. Initially our forays seemed to be succeeding against the ancient undead. The victories though costly in froglock lives allowed much of the lower parts of the city to be reclaimed. The trouble started when their dead started returning. It is almost unthinkable for one froglock to kill another, its one of their most sacred tenets, and it appears to be binding even in death. Not one of their undead ever attacked a living froglock and the living complied by it also. The problem was they were now being inundated by the undead. So our expedition once again attempted to destroy their infestation, this time without help. We took heavy losses and the leader of our expedition Sir Bradford fell in battle and with him the Ghoulsbane, one of our most sacred relics. The expedition retreated and came back to Freeport to report. It seems that the dead always returned when killed in that place by violence. Now with so many raiders hitting Guk, the undead have become more numerous and encroaching. Only one Froglock was willing to stand up to the Undead. He broke his people’s most sacred taboo and fought the undead Froglocks. In his hands he bore the Ghoulsbane. My order sent me to try to recover the blade.” Nathan stopped for a moment “In my over zealousness, I caused much death and sorrow.” “No. We caused much death and sorrow” Beladoo whispered. Nathan stopped for a moment and mastered his emotions. “That will not happen, this time. We must find the Ghoulsbane and ask for its return. Let me state this very clear.” His eyes locked on Alexyi. “There will be no killing unless it is in self defense, we will avoid the populated sections as much as possible and we will negotiate for the return of the Ghoulsbane. Does everyone understand that?” All of them nodded their heads accept Alexyi. “Alex? Do you understand?” Nathan repeated. “Do you?” Alex replied as he walked out of the room.
The Queen of Pain bled for an eternity and from her blood came the darkest of spirits, the foulest of creatures and Innorruk’s joy knew no bounds as he sent these monsters onto the world to feed on the living. He found himself constantly drawn to her. He found himself noticing when her screams of pain subsided, even in the slightest. Once, when he turned his gaze upon her, for only a second he thought that he saw her smile, but the second passed and her face once again twisted into agony and her screams resumed their usual tempo. For countless time this was how it was in Innoruuk’s Domain and it was unbearable. The Queen had become Innoruuk’s favorite and all those who had wrestled for their master’s favor came to resent her. They mumbled to themselves how to rid their master of her and return it to the way it had been. If only they had a way to cause Innoruuk to obliterate her forever. They appeared to countless followers of Innoruuk, proclaiming their will as if it was their masters. They sent many to gather the necessary components and when they had the ingredients, brewed a potion of love; then they waited.
“Follow me.” Alexyi led them down. Once again they came to populated section. “Follow the left branch till you reach an iron pot. Go right there for 500 ft then follow the left fork, I will meet you there.” Nathan placed his hand once more on Alexyi’s shoulder. Alexyi sighed “Yeah, I know, No killing.” Alexyi ran into cavern and decked one of the shin warriors standing guard. The rest of the frogs leapt at him. Alexyi easily avoided most of their blows and took off running down the right branch. Nathan moved his band down the left branch and continued on. When they reached the place Alexyi had described they found him sitting there waiting. A few new bruises adorned his pale body. Nathan looked at him questioningly. “No, nobody died” Alexyi said. “Its important, Alex” Nathan replied. “This quest fails if we don’t do this correctly. If this quest fails many more then froglocks will die.” “Yeah, you keep reminding me.” Alexyi led them down deeper into Guk. Eventually they came to a lagoon. “We camp here for the night, they don’t come down here anymore, we should be undisturbed.” Alexyi said. Kerna stooped and placed her hands in the water, scooping up a handful to her lips. Alexyi quickly slapped it way from mouth, scattering the water. “Don’t drink the water!” he said harshly. “Why not?” Kerna said squaring herself. This human was really wearing out her patience. “There’s blood in the water” he said simply. He went to a boulder off in a corner and pushed the top of it, rolling it out of the way, revealing a large hole. Inside he emptied the contents of his pouch. Chloro inched her way over and gazed in. It was filled with coins. Platinum, gold, silver, and even here and there a copper. “Is that a sapphire?” she asked. Alexyi rolled the boulder back into place. “Trust me, Don’t touch my money.” Nathan sat down near the waters edge and gazed into it. The water was muddy, he noticed a lot of fish moving around. “I’m surprised the Froglocks don’t come here. Seems to be a prime fishing spot?” “They used to come here quite often, till I convinced them otherwise” Alexyi murmured. The water cleared for a moment revealing a grisly sight, Nathan choked and glared at Alexyi. “How many?” Alexyi returned his glare. “Not nearly enough!” Alexyi replied. “I’m going to get some sleep, Tomorrow’s the big day.” Alexyi went to a corner and pulled out a sleeping roll. He stretched it out and lay down, turning his back to the party. “Lads got something of an attitude” Dorick remarked quietly. “I think we’re interrupting his private little war.” Kerna remarked. “I’ve seen it before. People taking things personally. Worlds out to get them attitude. Not gonna be pushed around so they’ll push at everything. Just hope I’m not around when the world pushes back.” “If we can get through tomorrow, this will end.” Nathan gazed into the lagoon. “This must end.” Beladoo was quiet. He merely sat in thought.
It was a cold and dark night in Innoruuk’s domain. Rancor played one of his most stirring symphonies, the Queen’s howls of torture were horrendous and Innoruuk savored his fury. The entourage praised their master’s name with shrieks of rage and the tempo of Rancor’s playing increased. One of the priests more zealous then most produced a cup, catching the blood of the queen in it, offered it with praises on his lips to his lord. Innoruuk took the cup and drank deep of the offering, smiling at his queen in ecstasy on the wall. Something stirred in him, his entire being shuddered as he felt the pain he had been inflicting on the Queen and he knew it was wrong. He waved his hands at the wall and the spikes vanished. He caught the queen in his arms and held her almost tenderly. He gazed into her eyes and whispered “I love you”. Everyone in Innoruuk’s Domain stopped. In Neriak, seven high priests felt their hearts explode. The Hiorphant collapsed near death. All Teir’Dal everywhere shuddered with unknown fear. In his hall, Innoruuk himself was stunned. He felt the strange sensation in him and instantly knew what had been done to him. He looked into the eyes of his Queen and she laughed, her features shifted and he found himself holding Erollisi Marr, The goddess of Love. The black gem on her brow fell into her hands. She grinned as she rubbed it. Innoruuk heard his very voice speak again those accursed words. She rubbed it again and again, the voice mocking him. His anger boiled over and his shriek of rage exploded, destroying all in its path, except Erollisi. She calmly waited for him to stop his tirade. “Justice is served,” she shouted. “Let this remind the world that love is more powerful then hate. Let all who hold it know…Even the Prince of Hate can feel love. Let it also serve as a reminder to you O Prince. Never overstep your bounds again. You are now and always have been watched.” With that said, Erollisi tossed the stone towards Norrath and vanished. Innoruuk shrieked with rage for a very long, long, time.
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