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Earth-shaking News
Posted: 22 Jul 2005 08:44 PM |
Mild tremors are starting to be felt along the south-east coast of Vives, particularly around Frobozz Isle.
The Bridge of Syn's not a safe place to be. It twists under unseen hands, threatening to dump the unwary into the sea. Thus far, though, the bridge has resisted the quakes, and remains navigable for those who would dare to cross into the nightmare realm of Maldovia.
A group of adventurers with a very strange and frankly unbelievable story to tell report that blue, white and purple sparks have begun to rise from beneath Frobozz Isle, and that Frobozz Isle has become unstable and the mines are starting to shift unpredictably. Whether this is to be believed is another matter: they also claim that it is because of a terrible Dark Sheep interfering with the magic of a wizard in dire need of a maid to keep his demesne tidy, so perhaps it's best not to take such claims at face value without firsthand proof of the fact. |
The subculture of my dreams
Is waiting for me to fall asleep.
I know you're scared—you should be.
I know you're scared. |
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Re: Earth-shaking News
Posted: 22 Jul 2005 08:44 PM |
| ((If you want to know the story, seek out Balthor Mountainhand, Scoopers, Gabriel or Connavar. Alternatively you could try talking to Frobozz, but he's not a terribly chatty or easy to find man.)) |
The subculture of my dreams
Is waiting for me to fall asleep.
I know you're scared—you should be.
I know you're scared. |
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Re: Earth-shaking News
Posted: 28 Aug 2005 03:50 PM |
The tremors have become more violent now, threatening to shear the bridge to Maldovia.
From the craggy cliffs on the mainland, Frobozz Isle and Maldovia can be seen shuddering from the force of violent tremors. Ships sailing along the east coast now give the dread island even more of a wide berth than before. Savage storms sweep the east coast with unchecked fury, and some swear that the thunder is the roar of some great beast, and isn't really thunder at all.
To Maldovia's North-East, a well-known whirlpool known to sailors as The Hungering Maw has claimed more ships in the past few days than it has in the past decade. Tales of close encounters are told by shaky sailors in taverns. Of ships being dragged into The Hungering Maw by the raging storms, to sink beneath the waters and never be seen again. In addition, sea monsters are rumoured to have risen from the deep to join in the carnage.
Amidst the tempestuous chaos, a song still rings out high and clear over the thunder, over the wind and rain, over the deadly and dangerous song of harpies and sirens. A haunting dirge, a funeral wail, but no one knows for whom the mysterious unseen singer mourns. |
The subculture of my dreams
Is waiting for me to fall asleep.
I know you're scared—you should be.
I know you're scared. |
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Re: Earth-shaking News
Posted: 31 Aug 2005 01:56 AM |
Three days ago...
Not even the thick pall of stormclouds that blotted out the sky could keep the sight of that glorious rainbow from dread Maldovia. Light flared overhead as dragons, of a size and magnificence never before seen, soared through the skies in perfect unity.
For a handful of long heartbeats, Maldovia knew light. And colour.
“They’re awake. All of them, awake,” an unseen, musical voice breathed in awe.
Lex wrenched his gaze away from the skies to the unseen Celestial. “All of them?” he asked him.
“All of them...” was the reply of mixed wonder and dread.
* * *
Now...
Connavar: Aye, that is the portal Lex guards.
* * *
I was wrong, I think. How could I have been wrong? Centuries of study. Centuries of observation.
Are they portals? I’m not so sure any more.
I’m not so sure any more...
* * *
Salt Sower: It is as though something threatens to come through, but cannot.
Salt Sower: Watch this closely...
A shield sparked into place intermittently over the glowing spiral. Magic burst, sparked, exploded, only to be sucked into the spiral once more.
Salt Sower: Do you see?
Connavar: Do not go close!!
Connavar: It almost killed us last time.
Salt Sower: The portal is assaulted from the other side, and magical protections rise up to shield it.
Salt Sower: There are containments placed upon it, but they are being tested.
Connavar: *Watches*
Salt Sower: You see?
Connavar: Aye.
Salt Sower: Wherever Lex came from, he has done his job well.
* * *
“I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up, Lex. Whatever it is you’re planning to do, you’d better do it quickly.”
* * *
Something monstrous arose from the portal, an amalgation of nightmares, uttering a low growl that resonated through one’s soul, struck a chord of fear and let the note linger like a song that could not be forgotten.
The unseen shield sparked, struggled.
Then slowly, steadily, the shield gathered strength and fortified itself, driving the nightmares back into the spiral, until nothing was left but a single mass of writhing black energy, poking through the centre of the spiral.
* * *
He thought he saw malevolent green eyes peering into his soul, glittering briefly in the darkness as lightning illuminated them for a heart-stopping instant. And then the lightning was gone, and so were the eyes. But the feeling remained.
Salt Sower: Nothing can come through it, but...
Salt Sower: *Shudders with each lightning strike*
Salt Sower: But there is something already here.
Connavar: *Raises a brow* What are ya gettin at? *Yelled over the lightning*
Connavar: Something? Like what?
Salt Sower: There is something to be afraid of, Conn.
* * *
The earth shuddered.
It groaned under tremendous stress, shifting as something beneath it seemed to shift, to thrash, to struggle violently.
* * *
Three days ago...
It was dangerous to fly in these stormy conditions, but he risked it anyway. Speed was needed here. He hit the ground running, already halfway through casting the first warding spell before his feet even touched the ground.
Magic twisted.
A roar of energy. An explosion of light. The spiral blazed. Beneath him, he felt the island of Maldovia lurch and thrash like a wounded beast as the spell went horribly wrong.
* * *
Now...
“It will hold. For now.” His voice was strained. “Tell the others—”
He was cut off by a sudden loud crack. It was as if someone had picked up Maldovia, thrown it into the air, and let it slam back down into the sea again.
* * *
For a thousand years the crooked bridge had stood, like some great leech attached to Vives’ side, bleeding out the mainland slowly as it gorged itself on the lives of those foolish enough to cross over to the cursed island.
No more.
Wood splintered, stone sundered, ropes snapped with the force of the earthquake.
The tattered bridge clung defiantly to life, but it was clear that soon there would be nothing left of it but smashed wreckage.
Soon... |
The subculture of my dreams
Is waiting for me to fall asleep.
I know you're scared—you should be.
I know you're scared. |
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