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Aegis tenses as he finds himself still in the Rift. Damn! He swore to himself. As his body returned to it's normal stability, he saw the creatures enter. Nsihruus, and a Hakeashar. This could be difficult. He raised the staff into the air, as it vanished into a hidden, cotten holster on his back. He drew his sword, now noticing that it, too, had been stained black. In the back of his mind he heard Talos speak with him. Black Razor. Aegis grinned slyly as the creatures partaked in their own actions.

Suddenly, he saw begin to vanish. This would be no good. He searched his mind quickly, calling up a spell. With a sudden surge of energy, and raw mystic forces, an enormous fireball formed at his free hands finger tips. The massive ball of sulfer and flame pulsed towards the vainshing Nishruu, catching it just in time. The creature screeched in pain. The others reacted violently to this. Two of the Nishruu's charged Aegis, while the other, and the Hakeashar remained back, probably casting some spell. He met the two Nishruu's head on. He raised Black Razor high in the air. It's cold, black metal shone evilly in the light of Rift. He swung it downwards in a vicious arc, aiming for one of the Nishruu's shoulders. He watched the blade cut cleanly through the etheral body, hearing another cry of pain. He continued his counter attack by spinning, with Black Razor, creating a torrent of power. As he spun on his heel, the momentum of the blade increased, slicing the Nishruu cleaningly in half. It vanished from sight.

Suddenly, his ears caught the sound of the other Nishruu. He felt the spectre slam a translucent fist into Aegis's ribs. It felt cold to the touch. That Nishruu would soon experiance such a touch, Aegis thought to himself. Recovering quickly from the shot, he jabbed at the Nishruu. The blade seemed to cut air itself as it rushed to it's target. The Nishruu could do nothing to avoid it. It soon felt the cold sting of Black Razor seep into it's etheral form, and it vanished from sight.

It was then he remembered about the other Two. He turned just as a Magic missile was being hurled at his body. He dived off to the side, calling up a spell of magic resistence. He hit the ground behind a table, finishing the spell. He waited there for a moments time. He heard the tongue of magic being spoken again. He shot up from his hiding spot, and aggresivly charged the two. The one Nishruu sent three more Magic missiles his way. As they contacted Aegis's body, they felt like little more then a wasp's sting. He made it to a few feet away from the Nishruu, pulled his leg back, and sprung forward, leaping at him. Black Razor glinted eerily in the light as it slide through the form. Another Nishruu had died. That made four. It was then he saw the Hakeashar dissappear. Aegis had been found out. He needed to escape before an encounter with Magus began. He left the room, keeping Black Razor at the ready, and began to make his ways through the halls of the Rift...

------------------
All for one, and one for all!

Originally posted by Magus:
I've considered, and I think I'll keep my delusions of granduer to myself.

And I'll stick with my delusions of adequacy.

[This message has been edited by Rail (edited 02-22-2001).]

So Magus, your new mail is @$$munchers@hotmail.com?

[This message has been edited by Gruntboy (edited 02-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Gruntboy (edited 02-23-2001).]

I just lost everything I wrote...3 hours worth...
I had it all written and was editing it when a stray backspace made the page go back, and a forward saw the page completely blank.
Moral of this sad, sad story: Don't write anything of value in Internet Explorer. Write it in Microsoft Word or some other application, then paste it into the box.
Maybe I'll write a new one tomorrow...sigh. I'm too bummed right now.

------------------
...Magus
Level 18 young Half-Elf Conjurer, Neutral Good, resident of The Rift, bitter foe of Ubik

@Melosh: You read a book on teleporting and suddenly you're a mage? Then, befuddled from an intensive mind-probing, you knocked out both Fallout and Trip-Wire, who had been standing there as your mind was being probed? Not to mention Rail, who was, well, not even mentioned. And then, Void just let you get away without so much as a glance?
Just don't try anymore teleporting and I'll be happy. It takes many years of training for one gifted in magic to learn it. Use items or cooperate with Ubik next time. BTW, I'm not mad. That made me feel beter after the deletion incident.

------------------
...Magus
Level 18 young Half-Elf Conjurer, Neutral Good, resident of The Rift, bitter foe of Ubik

Wow Melosh-tar. Even Supermen cant do this. Small remind. there isnt a berserker in our group. I am a proud barbarian.

@Rail Another magic user. If this will go like this. We will be alone here.
Are we going accept this story or take Melosh-tar as an second prisoner.


[This message has been edited by fallout (edited 02-24-2001).]

@fallout- You and me, we'll take down the world! Maybe we'll invite Weasel. I think he's way past bored.

@Magus- Don't fret. We got what we needed from Waverly. I asked questions of a gagged Waverly and Void watched his thoughts. I think Waverly kept the torn page from us, though. Small victory, but he is a hi-level mage and I wouldn't have known to ask about it anyway. I'll write it tomorrow, if you don't first. About Melosh not mentioning me, well... maybe I was on a taco run or something.

@Waverly- all this okay with you?

@Melosh- next time... Oh, and beware TripWire. He's awesome against vampires.

@Rail: OK with me. Take what you need from me to keep your story moving, just make sure it wasn't voluntarily given. Maybe you found that page, or void read me while I refused to answer out loud.

@Melosh-tar My only critism is my character knock out very quick. I will be happy if use a monster summoning item on me. While you kidnap Waverly i can slice them. My honor will be restored too.
I wonder what magus do after recover. I think i will going to accuse Void.

For Aegis he prepare a good backround for chancing into a mage.

@Rail: So you’ve taken control of Trip-Wire semi-permanently? Fine with me. Saves me a headache. BTW, I’d be happy to leave the interrogation to you. You play Void well, so feel free to use him in the interrogation if needed. I need to concentrate on the story with Aegis right now to progress my end of the story, or I won’t ever make it back before the final battle

@KidD01: I’ll try to incorporate your character into the story after Rail finishes the interrogation scene. Or maybe Rail would like to incorporate you in. Perhaps Rail might control your character while you’re gone, too. With your permission, and Rail’s acceptance, of course. I’m kind of occupied with the subplot in the Rift, right now. BTW, you don’t have to accept if you don’t want to Rail. It’s just a suggestion.

@Melosh-tar: Aegis’s change was carefully planned and executed. He also had tremendous magical potential. But even then, there was something else going behind the scenes that I still cannot reveal. This was what allowed Aegis to advance so quickly.

@Fallout: The mighty barbarian falls to one blow with the flat side of a blade

@Aegis: You know, those nishruu were supposed to be a challenge. I wasn’t just fabricating stuff off the top of my head when I said they were extremely powerful. The idea behind it stems from the beginning of the story itself. BTW, if you don’t mind I’d like to extend this little escapade in the Rift. However, you’ll need to review the setting of the Rift I layed out earlier in the story. You are currently in the library of the Tower. Once you reread the setting that I provided, you can create new rooms as you go (but first you need to figure out how to get from room to room, which I revealed in the setting). Exploration will both be punished and rewarded, but when escape becomes necessary your knowledge of the setting will also get you out. So pay attention to the clues and hints I have and will provide.

(Before and during the battle with the nishruu)

Aerie kneels over Magus in his bedchambers, wondering what to do. The only signs of life in him are a faint pulse, and the slight rise and fall of his chest. Why don’t her healing spells work? She would have long ago given in to uncontrollable weeping, but something inside pushes her onward. Just as hopelessness sets in, a memory surfaces...
A young Aerie is sitting at a table intently studying a book on clerical powers. It is night outside, and the only sounds are the occasional growl or snort of an animal. Just then, the tent flap opens, and Quayle steps in.
Aerie looks up from her book.
Aerie: Quayle, why do dead people have to be raised to bring them back to life? Why can’t their wounds just be healed?
Quayle smiles at Aerie, and patiently explains:
Quayle: When a person dies, their soul leaves their body to journey to the afterlife. If only the body is healed, it doesn’t return the spirit, which is the essence of a person. The Raise Dead spell uses the bonds that link body and soul to recall the spirit to the body, returning the person to life. However, these bonds decay over time when the soul is no longer in the body, so persons long dead cannot be revived. Certain foul magicks can also sever the bonds between body and soul, preventing revival...
Then the memory fades. It was strange, but it almost felt like Aerie was seeing it for the first time. Then Quayle’s words echoes through her mind:
If only the body is healed, it doesn’t return the spirit...
Maybe that was why her healing was having no effect!
Excited, Aerie places her hands on Magus’s chest. She chants a long incantation beseeching her god’s aid, and with its completion feels the energy well within her. She concentrates on locating Magus’s soul...it is near, very near, but not within his body. His soul found, she focuses on its reunion with his body...
Suddenly, sheer agony rips through her small frame. She struggles desperately to hold the spell, but the pain overwhelms her. The spell fizzles, and Aerie collapses to the ground. She lies in shock for a moment, unable to think or move. Then she recovers, and the last few moments replay in her mind. She had never experienced any pain while casting Raise Dead before. But just then she had felt like she was being torn in two... Also, in her excitement she had forgotten that a person without a soul was dead. So how did Magus yet live without his soul? Questions spin through her mind, but her thoughts are interrupted by the sense (?) of a being breaching the barriers of space and time near her.
A hakeashar appears before her. Aerie recognizes it as the talented captain of one of Magus’s squads of elite guards. Remembering her last encounter with one of his servants, Aerie prepares to defend herself.
The hakeashar seems surprised. He carefully scrutinizes Aerie, then notices that she’s about to attack. He hurries to explain himself.
Peace, mistress. I apologize for my deceased comrade’s actions. I come to ask your aid with an intruder that killed my squad of guards. I barely escaped to inform you.
Aerie looks confused.
Aerie: Why do you come to me? How could I be of use against a person that destroyed an entire squad of Magus’s elite guards?
The hakeashar seems at a loss.
But lady, the power of Magus himself rests within you! Don’t you know of this?
Aerie lurches back in surprise.
Aerie: What are you talking about?! I have no such power! Magus lies over there clinging to life.(she points to his comatose form)
The hakeashar pauses as if thinking. She really did have no idea... Suddenly, the guard captain streaks towards Aerie, reaching for her heart in a fatal attack. In an instant he closes with Aerie, but then her aura flashes blue, and his mind is seized by a tremendous blast. He flies back, and it’s all he can do to hold his mind intact.
As quickly as it came, the flash of blue recedes. The hakeashar painfully recovers control of his form.
There lady, are you satisfied now?
Aerie looks at him in confusion.
Aerie: How did you get over there? Why did you attack me? WHAT IS GOING ON?! (screaming and clutching her head)
(still pained) Please lady, calm yourself! You don’t remember? I feigned to attack you to get you to use your hidden powers, and prove to you that you have inherited Magus’s powers. His powers were channeled through you, and you hit me with a mental blast that sent me reeling. I don’t know how you came by his power, but please hear my plea. The intruder broke into the Rift in you and Magus’s absence and made himself immortal. Now he rampages through the Tower for who knows what ends. He must be stopped before he stumbles on anything that could increase his power any more. Will you help us defend the master’s home?
Aerie calms down, but still seems bewildered by it all. However, she sighs in acceptance of this new task. If she indeed had such power, it was her duty to defend the Rift in Magus’s absence. Besides, Magus would never stand by while his servants died for him.
Thus resolved, Aerie prepares to depart. She turns to the guard captain. She gives him a few instructions, and he flashes an affirmative. He departs, leaving Aerie to her thoughts.
Aerie looks one last time over at Magus’s body, lying there peacefully. She had thought him on the verge of death, but maybe he was just waiting...
Aerie (whispering): Are you really inside me, my love?
With that, she clears her thoughts, preparing for the encounter ahead. Then she teleports to the intruder, not even pausing to consider how she knew where he was. She had accepted her newfound powers.

Meanwhile...
Aegis wanders the endless library, searching in vain for something new in the unending sea of identical shelves and mirrors. Suddenly he notices how drained he feels. He looks down and whispers an epithet. There is a sizable hole in his chest, left by the lucky nishruu’s fist. No blood flows from the wound, and he feels no pain, just inexorable exhaustion. Aegis places his hands over the wound, and concentrates on a vision of the hole mending and closing. Power surges through his hands, and he screams in pain as the flesh under his fingers boils and bubbles. The torment continues for what seems like an eternity, then it ends as suddenly as it began. A look down reveals the wound completely closed. The flesh in the area is blackened, and a blood-red sigil is burned into the center. Aegis knows that he has just sacrificed something for Talos’s aid.
Aegis continues on through the maze of shelves. He hears Magus laughing with every passing bookcase. In a fury, he slings a massive fireball at the bookcases beside him, delighting that at least the uniformity had been destroyed. He walks onward, but a glance back reveals the broken bookcase repaired, the books and shelf not even charred. He hears the despicable laughing again... Aegis prepares to incinerate the entire place with a couple of massive lightning bolts, but abruptly he senses someone materializing behind him. He whirls around and sees Magus’s elven whore, Aerie. He senses for her power, and this time is not met with a splitting headache. She is weak, and no match for him.
Aerie sees Aegis and starts in surprise. She stares in awe at his power. She speaks, and strangely, the stutter is gone from her voice.
Aerie: It’s you! Why did you come here? What have you done?
Aegis’s first impulse is to disintegrate the annoying little elf, but pride at his ascendance momentarily stays his hand. Why not humor the bitch before he kills her? Why not tell her of his invincible power? Besides, maybe he could extract Magus’s location, and kill the pest off so he could get out of this hellhole. Ah, such decisions...destruction or manipulation?

@Aegis: How do you like this so far? I think I realistically portrayed the consequences and effects of a pact with an evil deity. Have you read the Avatar series? That gave me a lot of the background for this. Know that this will only be the first step in your journey through the Rift (if it’s okay with you). I have good ideas for developing both of our characters.
BTW, whether you talk or fight with Aerie, you don't know enough about this new Aerie to respond for her. Conversely, I don't know enough about the new Aegis. We should really carry this out in a fluid manner, where you type what Aegis does and I respond, and vice versa (as opposed to each one of us controlling the other for our part of the story). Therefore it would be a good idea if you gave me a time to log on so we could do that in a timely manner.

And finally...
I know you sickos out there will delight in a certain phrase said by Aerie. And no, it’s not sick by intention, but by coincidence.


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...Magus
Level 18 young Half-Elf Conjurer, Neutral Good, resident of The Rift, bitter foe of Ubik

[This message has been edited by Magus (edited 02-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Magus (edited 02-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Magus (edited 02-24-2001).]

Originally posted by Magus:
[B@Fallout: The mighty barbarian falls to one blow with the flat side of a blade
[/b]

Errr its Voids fault. The ground was very slippery....... Melosh-taaaaaaaaar

Aegis looked towards Aerie for a long while. As he did so, thoughts flooded into his mind. He could kill her, but that could make his escape from the Rift next to impossible. On the other hand, he could use her. Get her to lead him to Magus. Manipulate her.

He was till breathing heavily from forcing his wound closed. Where the wound was, only the red imprint of his hand was visible. A permainent mark of what he had done. He stood upright.

Aegis: Aerie. Where is Magus? I must speak with him!

Aegis lied through his teeth. He had no intention of speaking with him. He wanted to gain his power. He wanted out of this god-foresaken hell hole! Regardless of his frustration, and plight, he maintained a straight face, and a calm demeaner.

Aegis: Something has happend! I have compremised somehow! Only Magus knows how to help me! He needs to take me out of the Rift, and to Athkatla!

His face showed no emothion, by his spirited was grinning wildly. He watched the Elven women squirm. She obviously felt his power. In his mind, he kept urging her to respond. To take him to Magus. He waited, almost impatiently, for her to respond...

@Magus: Good job with the small part you did for me. About the Nishruu though, keep in mind he is an Avatar now. Almost anything is going to be a pushover to him. Also, he did sacrifice a lot for Talos to give him power. I have a few plots in mind of my own, we'll see how they interact. For now though, I think both the evil side, and good side have a common enemy.

------------------
All for one, and one for all!

Aegis's attempt at mind control is deflected without her conscious realization. When she responds, Aerie shakes, but her voice is steady.
Aerie: No...you radiate evil. Great evil. You are not welcome here, but now I see it is far better for you to remain here then to inflict you upon the outside world. You shall not leave while I still stand.
Her voice gains force as she speaks, her body straightening to its full height, til she is no longer a frail child, but an imposing mage of power. An intense ice blue aura radiates from her body.
As he witnesses the transformation, Aegis has a sudden twinge of doubt. She is not what she seems, his mind nags. A fight seems inevitable, but now Aegis isn't so sure of the outcome...

@Aegis: Yes, normally everything would be a pushover for you. But you're not on Faerun anymore... The nishruu that attacked you have special abilities within the Rift.
If you start off with a preemptive attack, allow me to respond before anything actually happens. Again, I propose that we get together at a certain time to do this, at least if this goes the way of battle. BTW, did you not approve of the "sacrifice for Talos's aid" idea? I read somewhere (I think Avatar series, but not sure) of a very similar thing happening. Evil gods aren't known for their square deals.

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...Magus
Level 18 young Half-Elf Conjurer, Neutral Good, resident of The Rift, bitter foe of Ubik

@fallout- okay, I'll explain your KO the only way I can think of. I think this will defend your honor.

@Magus- While I'd prefer to have just one character, I haven't seen TripWire around, lately. I don't mind if KidD01 wants me to write his character, but I'd prefer to only do it if I have to. Kid would be far better with his own character, and he knows his personality. I don't know him, yet, so I'd keep his interractions with others to a minimum.

They could not wait for the ailing Magus to recover enough to start the questioning, if that's what Waverly's interrogation could be called. Rail and TripWire rattled off question after question, statement after statement, while Void watched Waverly's mind for reactions, gleaning what information he could get. Several times, Void had the two repeat statements while Waverly kept his mind on other things. In all, they were able to get a good picture of who was involved, how the Planar Sphere was set up, what Ubik was after, and how much information he had. Waverly desperately kept back as much as he could, and the going was slow. Near the end, as TripWire had relieved the assassin from questioning the foul wizard since Rail had uncharacteristically lost his cool and began to physically shake the mage. Interrupting the bard mid question, there was a vertical slash of light that opened up into a portal, and out stepped Melosh-Tar.

The intruder looked as surprised as the others. Melosh stood facing TripWire and fallout, with Void next to the bound and gagged Waverly. Melosh's back was to Rail. The assassin didn't know who this newcomer was, but he was ready for the kill, seeing his unwary opponent's back. It was clear the intruder was distracted as Void probed his mind. Now would have been a good time, but before he could act, Void shouted a warning to the mingd of the three "goodies" in the room.

"No one is to harm him!" Void's voice was forceful.

Rail stopped in his tracks, even as the intruder sprang into action, still not seeing the assassin.

Again, Void's voice spoke to them clearly. "Let the intruder win!"

Fallout looked incredulous, like someone had told him the world really wasn't flat. The intruder approached him, and fallout crumbled on the first blow in not the best of acting jobs, but it worked anyway.

Melosh didn't break stride, even as Rail surprisingly slid back into the shadows, watching the scene unfold before him.

TripWire, however, didn't respond to Void's command, instead drawing both of his blades and rushing to meet the newcomer. He seemed to bear an intense hatred of the intruder, as if it had become personal.

Again, Void shouted out, "No!", even as the bard slashed the intruder in the ribs. TripWire hesitated, the frustration obvious on his face. "The intruder must win! Trust me, human."

Trapped by his frustration, the bard was caught unaware as Melosh-Tar kicked the blade's feet out from under him. TripWire went down hard, and stayed down.

Melosh glanced around the room seeing no one left to fight. He eyed the hakeashar suspicously even as he untied the half-elven mage, pulling out his gag last of all. In a few words they were gone.

"Coast is clear," Rail called out as he emerged from a shadow near the interrogation chair. "They're gone."

Fallout climbed to his feat, muttering to himself. Rail caught the words "rediculous" and "moron beast" mixed with several swear words, and the assassin smiled to himself. The both looked worredly at the bard seeing his rough fall, but the blade was nimbly on his feet already, looking none the worse for wear.

"You've got some damn explaining to do, creature," fallout shouted out, eying Void in disgust.

"Relax," Rail responded, clapping the barbarian on the back. "Misty was just following orders."

"Is that so, beast?" Fallout's voice dripped suspicion.

"I do not need to explain my actions to you, human" Void's hollow voice boomed in the three companions' heads. "You obeyed. Wise for you."

"I am just about sick of this," spat the barbarian. "First we're attacked by this mage you brought, ans second, we're told to lie down like dogs and..."

"It's alright, friend," Rail said calmly, putting up his hands either to reassure the barbarian or to hold him back. "We'll get a good explanation, won't we, Misty?"

"You are pushing where you shouldn't, human," Void answered, only for the assassin to hear. "But you did well. I'll let this slide. Next time, however..." The hakeashar left the threat open ended.

"Yeah, yeah," Rail responded, frowning to himself. "That's the second person you've kept me from sheathing my blade in their back, though. I want..."

** edit **
"The mage was to be released when we were finished with him," Void cut in impatiently for all to hear. "We weren't to torture and kill."

"Shoulda just killed," muttered fallout.

"You don't just murder prisoners for no reason, barbarian," TripWire commented in a distant voice, as if he was thinking of something entirely different.

"I do," the barbarian shot back. Rail smiled. "Besides," fallout continued, "He tried to kill us, or have you forgotten."

"He was defending himself," Void countered steadily. "I suspect you would do the same, human."

TripWire added, "It has to do with honor, something the two of you probably wouldn't understand."

"We thieves have our own code of honor," Rail shot back coldly, "And it doesn't include letting deadly mage prisoners or evil warriors back out on the streets to get a second shot at..."
** end edit **

"That intruder was a vampire." TripWire's interruption stopped all conversation.

Fallout looked thoroughly puzzled and Rail tilted his head thoughtfully at the bard. "Are you sure," asked the assassin.

"Yes."

Fallout looked doubtful. "He didn't look all decayed and stuff." The barbarian turned toward Rail and added, "He didn't even smell that much."

"I am certain," TripWire answered.

Before the others could reply, Void interrupted their thoughts. "That would explain much, bard. Our business here is concluded. Let us depart." Without waiting for a response, the beast teleported the group and their belongings from the room, leaving behind no trace of their ever having been there.


@Magus- I'll leave you to decide if you want us back in the rift or somewhere else. If not the rift, I'll pick up this tomorrow. Fallout, Magus, TripWire or KidD01, feel free to take any of this and run with it.

[This message has been edited by Rail (edited 02-25-2001).]

Originally posted by fallout:
@Rail Another magic user. If this will go like this. We will be alone here.
Are we going accept this story or take Melosh-tar as an second prisoner.


[This message has been edited by fallout (edited 02-24-2001).]

We'll accept all stories. We'll just work with it. Remember... flexible.

I thought we weren't the type to take prisoners, though, if you know what I mean.

Originally posted by Rail:
I thought we weren't the type to take prisoners, though, if you know what I mean

Hehe i like this. Except constant prisoner Weasel. Thanks for my honour.

Next time a wooden stake, written "revenge" on it will be ready.



[This message has been edited by fallout (edited 02-25-2001).]