GameBanshee Forums

@craig: The final battle beckons. There’s no use joining now. This story will soon end, and another will spring up in its place. Then you can join from the beginning and actually know what’s going on.
*****

The group continues down the dark hallway. Silence hangs over them like a shroud. Even the soft tapping of footsteps and the rustle of armor are eerily absent. Flagg opens his mouth to break the quiet, but no sound issues forth. The whispering words of Void creep into everyone’s thoughts.
We have entered an area permanently enchanted with the silence spell. Keldorn, you’ll be unable to cast spells until we pass.
Keldorn nods, while Magus and Aerie begin the gestures of a vocalize spell. That done, the group continues onward through the stifling soundlessness.
They walk, and walk, and walk, and time itself seems to blur. An eternity passes, and the sensation of sound is but a distant memory. Suddenly, the darkness of midnight looms ahead of them, black and impenetrable. The party hesitates, but Magus steps forward and thrusts his hand into the wall of darkness. It disappears, even before his gift of infravision. He withdraws his hand, and it reappears unharmed.
Globe of Darkness. Similar in nature to the silence spell. And like it, totally undispellable. But there’s no turning back now.
The words form themselves in each person’s head, but no voice, no tone, accompanies them. Only his unique will distinguishes Magus as the source. The power of the silence spell had increased.
Magus beckons, and the night welcomes them into its embrace as they leave the light behind. Their nerves like coiled springs, Rail jostles Fallout and nearly loses his head as Fallout’s sword swipes under his chin, toward his vulnerable neck. Only the warning rush of air allows Rail to dodge death’s sharp blade. The close call brings a wave of paranoia as Rail tries to sense out every current, every wisp of air brushing by him. Words form again in everyone’s mind, this time from Void, but they feel...malignant, evil.
Careful, Fallout. You nearly chopped Rail’s head from his shoulders!
Rail catches the inconsistency.
How did YOU know? We can’t see or hear! Or are you just Raistlin’s pawn?!
Rail feels a small eddy of wind to his right. Instinctively, he knows it to be the “imposter Void.” He thrusts his magical blade into the darkness, but hits only solid wall.
The sinister words echo through their minds again.
Rail, are you mad? What are you trying to do?
Just then, searing pain shoots up Rail’s leg. Rail’s hand shoots down, and comes back slimy with blood. Instantly his mind registers the damage. A claw wound. Deep. A breeze tickles the back of his hand, and Rail barely lunges out of the way of another swipe.
*****

@Rail: Cool, huh? I thought this an appropriate prelude before the battle to end all battles. Hopefully I’ve got you guessing.

@Aegis: I sent you a private message.

[ 04-27-2001: Message edited by: Magus ]

@Magus- Yep. I'm guessin'.

Rail rolled to the side as the unseen force slashed across the space the assassin had occupied only moments before. The darkness was Rail's element, but this was magic in nature, and his skin practically crawled with the thought of it surrounding him. Apparently, the other-Void could see without problem. Perhaps it was only in his mind.

Again, he felt the brush of wind on his arm and the assassin leapt toward the other side of the passageway, a claw clutching at his leather armor, just a breath behind the mage-killer. Rail turned and countered with a thrust that bit deep into the stone wall in a shower of sparks felt but not seen. The enchantments on the blade helped it slide out as if the wall were flesh.

Rail spun and waited. He felt nothing. The darkness seemed to close in on him by the second. He began to wonder if it was worth slashing out blindly and risk hitting an ally. If it was his life or theirs...

Do not panic..., one of the Voids began, but Rail didn't hear the rest.

Another rush of wind and a claw grabbed hold of his shoulder from behind. Desperately reversing his blade, he thrust it in an upward motion past his side. The blade hit nothing.

Rail spun out of the grasp leaving another trail of claw marks in his skin.

Anger and frustration mixed together, blurring his combat instincts. Rail knew better. He'd been in worse situations than this and walked out, but somehow he was far less confident than usual. More sorcery?

Closing his eyes, he concentrated on fighting both blind and deaf. He'd had some experience, but not as much as this required. It was only a matter of time before he was worn down or killed an ally. He should have gone alone.

But he wasn't alone. He had friends. He just needed to contact them. How?!?

He knew he could do it. Through all the conversations with Void, he knew the ability was there. Once before he'd initiated contact with the hakeashar. It was simple, but Rail was no natural at such things. Clearing his mind as best he could, the assassin gathered his emotions and thoughts, gritting his teeth in determination. With all the power a strong-willed amateur could muster, Rail called out with his thoughts, I need aid! NOW!

Magus heard the raw call in grating amazement, stopping the mage in his tracks from surprise. Even fallout heard. Somewhere, the real Void smiled proudly.

Do not panic...
Void forces the thought through only with great difficulty. A powerful force is suppressing his telepathy. It is malignant, evil. Sneering. Without warning, the force surges, and Void’s telepathic sending is completely blocked, severing his connection to the Rift, and depriving him of his magic supply.
He hears Rail’s telepathic cry. I need aid! NOW! He smiles briefly. Finally the assassin had realized his real attacker. But deprived of precious magic, Void knows he doesn’t have much longer to live. The force is slowly suffocating him.
And no one will ever know... he thinks. Surrounded by friends, he is all alone. Somewhere, a figure smiles, cruelly, mockingly.
*****

Die, Void! NOW!
Rail’s astonishing cry reverberates through Magus’s mind. But it is distorted...evil.
Void, what is going on?! Magus yells telepathically. No response. A sense wells inside him...and he sees it. Rail leaps towards Void. Caught by surprise, Void is impaled on his magical blade. His eyes flare in shock, then dim as he fades away. Rail smiles in satisfaction, and sheathes his blade.
NOOOOO! Magus screams telepathically, and hurls a lightning bolt at Rail.
*****

Rail’s struggle with the unseen assailant continues. Badly wounded, he knows he can’t keep this up much longer. Abruptly, some instinct from deep within tells him to freeze. Stop moving. The next attack doesn’t come. Rail jerks his sword arm, and this time he anticipates the breeze. He senses the direction of the source and lunges, impaling a small creature on his blade. It dematerializes, and smiling grimly, Rail sheathes his blade.
NOOOOO! Magus’s telepathic scream sends him reeling. In the next instant, a lightning bolt smashes into his chest, sending Rail flying into the wall. He feels bones crunch in his side. Ribs. Rail coughs up blood as he struggles to stand...
*****

Do not panic... Void’s soft words echo in Fallout, Aran, Keldorn, and Aerie’s minds.
They struggle to grasp what is going on. It is so dark and silent... Was Rail going mad?
I need aid! NOW! Rail’s grating cry hits their minds like the screech of steel on stone. Rail was in trouble, but what could they do? Aerie tries to contact Magus, but his mind is not listening. She casts light, but it fizzles in the darkness-enchanted tunnel.
NOOOOO! Magus’s wail hits their minds with painful force. Aerie’s hair suddenly shoots up as a lightning bolt streaks past her and rebounds. The bolt singes Fallout’s arm, then smashes into Keldorn’s leg, causing his knee to buckle,and sending him crashing to the ground. With the finely-honed senses of a true master thief, Aran deftly sidesteps it, receiving no more than an irritating shock.
In more or less words, they all think: What the hell is going on?
*****

@All: Just wanted you to know I probably will not have THAT MUCH time to write anytime soon!

@Rail: You understand what’s going on, now?

[ 04-29-2001: Message edited by: Magus ]

[ 04-29-2001: Message edited by: Magus ]

Originally posted by Magus:
<STRONG><snip>@Rail: You understand what’s going on, now?</STRONG>

Whew! Not exactly, but I'll try and muddle my way through it. Let me know how I'm doing.

Rail struggled vainly to get to his knees, leaning forward on his arm, which collapsed under his weight. Pain shot from the wound on his chest which which burned numbly, an odd sensation, he noted distantly. He could feel his lifeblood flowing freely from the wound, warm to the touch, almost hot on his clammy fingers. His other hand gripped the hilt of his sword so tightly, he felt the wire-wrapped handle had permanently imprinted on his palm.

His belt pouch! Distantly, he remembered there was a potion to heal him at his waist. He tried again to sit up, but he was getting weaker by the moment and it only made breathing more difficult. Every breath was nearly unbearable.

Shards of stone dug into his cheek as he reached agonizingly to his belt as he clumsily worked open the drawstrings of the bag. The silver flask was on the other side of the silk, but his hands felt as though they were fitted with course Luskan mittens. After several moments of burning pain, he felt the metal bottle slide out of the bag onto the stone beside him.

How had the lightning done that! He knew Magus' power, but that lightning seemed far more than the mage could have thrown. Rail had been hit by such magics before and knew how to handle such attacks, but this one was immense. Distantly, he knew there was something he was missing, but dizziness made such thoughts clouded.

Rail picked up the metal flask as if under the effects of a slow spell. He noticed detachedly he was rapidly losing control of his body as the blood continued to soak his armor. Desperately, he tried to get the cork out of the top, but his fingers couldn't grip the tiny piece with any strength. He pulled at the stopper, but the fingers only slipped off the top. Trying again, the assassin lost grip of the bottle, and the metal flask fell with a soundless clatter to the cold stone floor.

Rail leaned his head back in exhaustion against the rock wall that had shattered his ribs, laughing inwardly at the futility of his actions. With one hand he began groping once again for the Promethean bottle. His fingers closed around the cold metal, but he barely had the strength to lift it.

Rail felt a nudge against his legs, a distant feeling as if it were someone else's body. Alarm bells went off in his mind, but he was too tired to pay them any mind. They annoyed him and broke the peaceful silence.

He felt more nudges, now on his arm as well. Rail thought to push it away, but apathy overpowered urgency.

A hand supported him, lifting him to a sitting position in piercing agony. His blood filled lungs struggled to pull in air. The flask was thrust into his hand (Rail hadn't remembered it falling again), and the open bottle was pressed to his lips. The liquid felt cool and refreshing, with a spark of something bitter that seemed to wake him up.

Rail gasped in pleasant agony as bones began to grind against eachother, knitting themselves back together. The wound in his chest closed in a pleasant pulling of the flesh, as if it had a mind of it's own. He healed, though not completely. The potion was far from all the healing he needed, but it stopped the bleeding and gave him some of his strength back. The helping hand lifted him to his feet, far sooner than he was ready, and Rail struggled to get his tingling legs under him to support his weight.

Rail didn't ask who it was. He didn't care. He knew only that he still yet lived.

Somewhere, there was a mage who was systematically slaughtering the group of them. This was all Rail knew. His mind steeled.

The helper nudged him forward and Rail began to follow the rough stone wall, putting one foot in front of the other as best he could. His coordination was fast returning. He thought about events preceding the attack. His mind remembered the foul Void-like thoughts. The calls of Magus. The smell of burned flesh and metal.

He glanced down at his ring. He'd been going about this wrong. He grimly activated his invisibility in the darkness.

Carefully, Rail emptied his mind. He thought of nothing. His body knew what to do. His senses remained alert, truing desperately to pick up any signals of his surroundings. Without a thought, Rail left the wall and his helper and began to walk in the general direction he'd sensed the evil-thoughts coming from. He crept silently out of sheer habit, careful to keep his mind blank as his cursed father had taught him. Somewhere, the irony of it all screamed out to him, but he presently paid it no mind. He was empty.

Rail walked into the darkness to kill a mage, truly without a second thought.

* * *

A suffocating Void smiled. His last dying thoughts? He watched the minds of his companions as they struggled to comprehend the danger before them. Or, more accurately, around them. He saw Rail recover, begin to walk, then disappear. He hadn't died, but to Void, Rail had simply disappeared. Void's thoughts began to cloud.

* * *

Raistlin smiled. He loved his art and the slow, leisurely torture he could inflict at his every whim. He would do the same to the gods of Faerun, much as he has done in another time and place. These gods were weak! They were many, but they cowered as if afraid to act. Were they worried their hand would be slapped? Children! Don't they know what they could do with the powers the wield? Fools! Childish weaklings! They deserved not even the title they bore.

Turning his attention back to the futile scene before him, he debated ending it, but so little had brought him amusement in the past few years. This, he enjoyed. His art and his mind, intertwined in cunning effectiveness, well above any foe's abilities. He was a god, and he'd once again show the universe!

Something was wrong! Some of them were missing. His mind spread out as did nis magic, but there were missing pieces. They hadn't died. He wouldn't have allowed that.

With a sneering laugh that sounded like dry bones under a millstone, he decided this only heightened his amusement. They would perish. Fools! Let them do their worst! Insects!

[ 05-01-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]

Aegis heard Raistlin laugh his dry, brittle laugh. He also heard the violent caughing spasm that came after it. This struck him as odd, because Raistlin had long since become powerful enough to cure his weak body from the violent cough. Aegis moved one of his arms, and surprisingly enough, he saw it before his face! Raistlin was using too much strength to maintain a grip of power in this plane. He wasn't able to keep track of as many of his tasks at one time!

Aegis quickly peeled himself off the wall. He hit the ground, making little noise. His legs ached from lack of use, and his entire body was numb. He ignored the sensation, and removed his robe. He wanted nothing to do with that accursed thing. He went to a nearby cabinet, and withdrew a long broadsword, skimming it quickly.

Aegis: This will do...

Aegis then glanced to Raistlin. He hadn't been paying enough attention to Aegis to realize he had broken free. Excellent. Aegis quickly darted off into one of the many halls of the Shattered Hearts inner sanctum, heading towards his former friends. Hoping to save them from Raistlin's twisted games.

***************************

After 5 minutes of running, the globe of darkness was visible before him. He stopped momentarly outside of it, then thrust himself into the void. He knew he would be severly weakend inside of it, but he knew Raistlin's tricks. He knew he could remove the globe.

Once inside, he set a violent wave of mystic power, and pyshic emmenations. He felt the globe weaken. If he could maintain the power, he could help Magus and the others defeat this mad-man.

He felt a sudden pain shoot through his back, and saw three obsidian claws rip through his chest. Raistlin had learned of his escape. Aegis felt the blood seep through his clothing, and his legs weakend. As he fell to the ground, he saw the globe slowly fade, and vanish, and Magus and his friends became visible. Aegis lay on the ground, bleeding violently...


@All: Here comes the finale...

@All: Come on people! We're so close to the ending (And this story is getting me an A in English! ) We should really get this done, and start the next.

Allwight!*crosses hand with thumbs up* Aegis

Allwight!*crosses hand with thumbs up* Aegis

Sorry, Aegis. I've been tied up for a bit (but I'm getting loose ). I'll try and make an addition later in the day.

Sorry for being gone so long. School’s been deadly lately. I had 2 large papers due this week alone! But after next week I’ll get some free time at last. AP Tests are next week, and after that it’s smooth sailing.

@Aegis: I sent you a private message.

@Rail: I have no idea what you’re up to, so I’m just going to avoid “thinking” for your character for now.
*****

NOOOOO! Magus screams telepathically.
Aerie’s hair shoots up as a lightning bolt streaks past her and rebounds.
A new sense engulfs her, and suddenly she can *feel* everyone. Confusion, fear, rage, all barrage her mind. But she “hears” the cries of two above the rest, not by intensity, but by their very softness. She senses Void, and abruptly she knows the way to him. But the other “voice” nags at her mind. Aerie bows her head, and rushes to Rail’s aid, knowing she can help him better than Void. She lifts him til his back is against the wall, and finding a potion bottle in his grasp, lifts it to his lips. She feels Magus’s malevolent gaze on them, and prays that Magus snaps out of whatever was controlling him. The potion drunk, she gives Rail scant time to recover before lifting him to his feet. She smiles as Rail’s stumbles become the careful steps of a thief.
*****

Magus observes with grim satisfaction as Rail crumples to a heap on the floor. He readies a flame arrow for the finishing blow, but Ubik suddenly appears at Rail’s side, feeding him a potion while sneering back at Magus, defiantly, triumphantly. Infuriated, Magus begins casting a variation on the Cone of Cold, one guaranteed to penetrate even the most powerful of magical robes. Then a strange thing happens. The globe of darkness wavers, and an instant of sight and sound reaches him. The lapse is only for an instant, and the darkness and silence are back immediately, but it is all he needs. He sees that “Ubik” is Aerie, his love. The spell fizzles as Magus’s hands drop to his sides, and the horrible image of Aerie’s frozen body sticks in his mind. He stands in shock as his dangerously-overstressed mind ceases to function coherently.
*****

Void is on the edge of consciousness when a small gust of magical energy brings his mind back to focus. It’s immediately cut off, but Void feels the force struggling to maintain control. Void throws all the power of his mind at his killer, but he is far too weak. Consciousness begins to slip again...
*****

The flash of light and sound catches Aerie completely by surprise. With the darkness and silence back in place, Aerie sends her mind out, seeking the source. A terrible image hits her mind’s eye. She sees a gaunt young man in a deep black robe. But his skin is not normal. It is a burnished golden scale, as if blasted by an intense heat. And his eyes... Instead of pupils, he sees through two hourglasses. A cruel, intense look is on his face, as if he is deep in concentration. Then, his head turns, and he looks straight at her, his lips twisting into a crooked, sneering smile. Aerie sees herself in his eyes, and a shudder convulses her body. The vision fades, but the image doesn’t. Aerie falls to her knees and vomits violently.
*****

The darkness fades again, and sound reaches everybody’s ears. But this time it doesn’t recede. Everyone stumbles as they adjust to their surroundings. Aegis’s body lays facedown mere feet away, his lifeblood pumping from a gaping wound in his back. The depth is easily ascertained by the pool of blood spreading away from his chest.
*****

As consciousness slips away, Void senses Aegis’s approach. He smiles dreamily when he recognizes the old Aegis, then sweet oblivion claims him.
*****

Clarifications: No, Void is not dead. Merely unconscious. He’ll appear as a shapeless cloud of mist. Magus and Aerie are still in the condition the story last left them at. The brief lapse in the globe of darkness and silence was Raistlin's fit of coughing, as described by Aegis.

@Rail: I think I left you a lot of room to work with (notice I didn’t act for your character, again because I didn’t know what the hell you would do ). Feel free to make modifications to accomodate your character’s actions if necessary. I’ll bring in the “knight” soon if you don’t first.

@All: Sorry I didn’t actually write anything to “further” the story (I just wrote what happened before and during Aegis’s escape). But that’ll just have to wait for my next post (hopefully tomorrow). I can only write so much at one time! And besides, I’ve got SAT’s tomorrow! (In case you have no idea what these are, they are a major factor in applying for colleges in the U.S.) Wish me luck!

[ 05-04-2001: Message edited by: Magus ]

Aaaagg i dont have time to read Goodbye again

Good luck magus are they Y9 or Y11 ones?

Hi Fallout. Bye Fallout.

@Craig: I don't think there's a difference. All SAT's are designed to be taken in your junior year. I took the test yesterday. It wasn't bad. It was just like the 2 PSAT's I've taken already.

I'll write my next post after someone responds. I'm afraid I might mess up what Rail has planned if I start making assumptions.

Sorry all. A close family friend passed away, so I've been rather busy. Getting back into the swing of things, though!

@fallout- we miss ya, buddy! Hurry back.

@Magus- I'll post a flashback to explain. Basically, Rail's father was both a Cowled Wizard and a Psionicist. As a lvl 24 assassin, Rail should be able to kill both. Void can sense Rail's thoughts and thus knows exactly where he is, despite the fact that Rail's virtually undetectable by any other means. Would Raistlin, with his mighty intellect, be any different? Rail simply did as his father taught him to do; he emptied his mind and kept his thoughts blank. He'll act out of reflex when the time arises. Rail's father taught him these things in order to eliminate his father's rivals. His father used everyone, as all mages do (present company excepted ). Little did he know Rail would end up using those skills to murder him and bring ruin to the Cowled Wizards.

Thus, Rail is either avoiding conscious thought or shield his thoughts from others. It's hard to tell which. He is new to such things. Void would be able to tell through more observation. If only there were more time...


I'll try and get an update to the story soon.

[ 05-06-2001: Message edited by: Rail ]

@Rail: Sorry to hear about that
I'll delay my next post a little while longer to give you license to act as you choose while the darkness was still there, and to react when light comes. I'm still not sure who you're stalking...Magus or Raistlin. Of course, it will be interesting either way, so do whatever Rail would do.
BTW, Magus wasn't using psionics, or even magic, to detect you. He was actually using a power he has only now become aware of...thus explaining the ease with which Raistlin deceived him.

@all- I'll proceed cautiously.

Rail walked toward where he sensed the malicious thoughts. He didn't know exactly where he was headed, but he allowed himself to simply go through the darkness, one foot in front of the other. He limped invisibly, but the pain merely registered to him as a note. He thought nothing of it. Carefully, he kept his mind blank, as his father had taught. He would kill him one more time.

* * *
The darkness receeded and a scene of utter chaos revealed itself. Magus stood gaping in horror at the thought of frost-ravaged Aerie, crushed by his own hand. Rail was nowhere to be seen, but it mattered little to the mage. Magus knew that he was responsible for the assassin's demise, as well. Crestfallen and devastated, he hardly registered the struggles of his companions.

Keldorn limped painfully, the armor around his right knee fused together in a blackened mass of enchanted metal. Aran stood next to him, one eye watching the Praelit as if he were about to topple, though whether the master thief would support the him was unclear. Keldorn seemed to be making his way grimly toward the front of the room ignoring Magus completely.

Flagg was hoisted off the ground by a howling balor, though is was hard to tell who was the worse off with a number of the dwarf's armor spikes protruding from the demon's hand. Flagg growled primally at the beast and seemed perfectly content as the creature tried to squeeze the life out of the hardy dwarf. The demon had no idea how to fight the battlerager, and thus had no chance.

Fallout fought alone. Slowly backing away from both a pit fiend and an advancing illithid, fallout whirred his weapons in a dizzying display. Already, one pit fiend lay dead in his wake, but the barbarian glanced nervously at the mind flayer as it methodically stalked toward the human as a patron waiting to be served dinner.

Raistlin stood several paces from the fallen Aegis. His sickening grimace distantly resembled amusement, but only as it would be displayed on a rabid wolf. He glanced at a pair of illithids before him and motioned them to intercept the Praelit and Shadowmaster.

"Yes, master," they complied in a spidery, alien accent not meant for the surface world. They stepped forward, tentacles twitching in nervous anticipation.

Raistlin glanced down at the fallen Aegis. "You ever fool!" Spittle and scorn flew from his words. "You dare cross me?!? Even now, after all I have given you?" His contempt seemed beyond words.

Aegis looked up weakly, though his eyes showed no sign of recognition.

With a snarl and a wave of his hand, the golden-skinned Raistlin sent forth his power lifting the fallen paladin's body into the air and began to call forth the energy to rip it apart cell by cell, particle by particle.

"No!" With a wave, Keldorn firmly sent forth a wave of disrupting energy, rolling over the illithids and surrounding the evil arch-mage.

Raistlin watched in amazement as his magics fizzled at his fingertips. (Level 44 dispel magic) Aegis dropped roughly to the floor. Snarling, Raistlin motioned to the mind flayers, "Finish them. Do what you wish!"

The illithids reaction could only be called a smile, though if was far from the human expression.

It didn't last.

The first mind flayer had no more than twitched a tentacle in compliance with the mage's order before it erupted into a spray of gore and blood, as the assassin materialized behind him, thrusting his savage sword through the frail creature's frame well past the hilt. Drawing it out cleanly from the creatire's body, Rail slashed it upwards accross the other illithid's face deeply drawing blood and severing tentacles. The assassin's expression was distant. The attack had taken no more than a second and with only a word, Rail vanished from sight.

Recovering quickly, the other illithid issued a panicked psionic blast at the area he had seen the assassin. It's effects were unknown, but the creature didn't have time to ponder.

Aran issued a word of command holding a wand in his hand. The illithid's eyes shot wide as a bolt of lightning forked from the shadowmaster, slamming savagely into the mind flayer. In a dizzying display of convulsing tentacles and limbs, the illithid crumpled to a heap of irridescant robes. The shadow thief smiled and blew the wisps of smoke from the end of his wand.

Keldorn levelled a grim glare at the arch-mage. "Now, it's just you, you foul and perverted creature."

* * *

Flagg squirmed wildly in the balor's grasp. The dwarf had no desire to get loose; he only hoped to work more of his spiked into the foul creature's hands and arms. "Stupid beast! Squeeze all ye flamin' want, ye piece o' spittle! Goblin dung!"

The creature suddenly lurched sideways and toppled clumsily to the ground, releasing the dwarf in an expression of pain and surprise.

Fallout had backed his way toward the demon and deftly hamstrung it from behind and turned to finish off the pit fiend in front of him.

With a howl of a battlecry, Flagg flung himself atop the stunned Balor and began to work his special kind of gorey battle only a dwarf could love.

Well, maybe a berbarian, too. Fallout smiled at the sight of the battlerager, even as he kept one eye on the steadily advancing illithid. He wasn't sure if his own battlerage could protect him from such a foul creature. Pulling his katana from the fallen demon, fallout turned with a tired sigh toward the daunting alien opponent. Flagg stomped off the crumpled balor to stand at the barbarian's side.

The illithid hungrily widened his tenticles, showing a wicked maw, tongue caressing both tentacle and jagged tooth. In a flurry of sudden motion, the creature blasted forth a wave of powerful psychic power, even as the two warriors charged forward.

The blast never hit them. Somewhere, a weakened Void smiled in satisfaction as he held back the illithid's attack.

The two warriors savagely tore into the crippled and surprised mind flayer. They didn't stop when the body ceased to move. They were having too much fun!

@Magus- I left you alone, but I know you'll join the fray as you see fit. It's all yours or Aegis' or Flagg's now. Or anyone else who'd care to add their 2 bits. Flagg?!? All okay with you? Aegis, are you still alive?

@Rail: I was planning on a little rest and recuperation (Void unconscious, Magus mentally fried, and Aerie vomiting uncontrollably), but I’ll adjust.
*****

The sounds of battle finally break through Magus’s mental stupor. His eyes focus, and light greets them once again. He finds himself in a huge room with a flat floor, and walls that slope up to form a sphere over them. He senses a dark presence...turning, he sees his tormenter. The immense power of the inhuman person immediately strikes him. Unconsciously surveying the battle taking place all around him with a sense he isn’t aware of, Magus knows the fiendish mage toys with them yet. He eyes his hands, wondering if their intricate motions could stave off this evil. He shakes his head, knowing they cannot. Looking up, he locks his gaze on Raistlin’s hideous face, and walks towards him slowly and purposely. He walks to his doom...
*****

Aerie awakes as if from a dream. A pool of bile sits in front of her, cruel reminder of the revolting image that had brought it forth. The noise of battle accosts her ears. The remembered feeling of Magus’s hostile gaze resurfaces in her mind, and instinctively her being reaches out to him. This time her effort is met with a wan smile. His intentions hit her with violent force. He couldn’t face Raistlin! She had felt Raistlin’s power, his dark, vile, energy. Magus didn’t stand a chance...no one did.
Strangely, no sobs come forth. Even Aerie is surprised. Instead, she feels only a grim determination to help him. Aerie shakes her head wonderingly. She had changed so much...
A teleport brings her to Magus’s side. Together, they face the omnipotent archmage, drawing strength from the bond they share.
*****

Sweet oblivion. Void drifts dreamily through the darkness; free, free at last. Slowly, gently, his senses bring him back to reality. He floats in the air, lazily observing the battle surging about him. He feels light...light as a bird. How nice it would be to be a bird...
Void...
The voice is like a breeze. It fades away, and he dismisses it.
VOID...
The voice is louder, commanding attention. But Void isn’t ready to listen.
VOID!
The voice is like thunder, blasting Void from his comatose-like state.
YOU CANNOT REST YET. FRIENDS FIGHT FOR THEIR LIVES WHILE YOU REMAIN IDLE, AND MAGUS PREPARES TO SACRIFICE HIS LIFE. RISE, THAT YOU MAY SERVE.
A surge of magical energy pulses through Void, restoring ruby life to his dimmed eyes, and gathering the mists to a recognizable form once more. Lucidness returns with a flash. Somewhere, an illithid lets loose with a psychic blast. Still weakened, the turning of the blast is difficult. His effort is acknowledged by a quick telepathic thanks from Rail. The magic continues to flow into Void, and he bathes in it for a time, letting it completely restore him, and then some.
Thank you, friend.
JUST SAVE MAGUS AND AERIE. MY POWER HAS ITS LIMITS, AND RAISTLIN IS A STRONG-WILLED FOE INDEED.
Void nods as the power of the Rift recedes. The glee of battle fills him, and Void lets the deadly dance envelop him. His eyes spot Raistlin, and he dives at him from his perch high above the melee.
*****

Keldorn and Rail begin their advance towards Raistlin, Keldorn with the noble (and foolish) direct approach, and Rail circling cunningly around to Raistlin’s side. Raistlin only sneers, seemingly amused by it all. Just as they are about to rush in, the sight of Magus and Aerie walking in holds them. Cool and composed, they stand together opposite Keldorn and Rail, forming a triangle around Raistlin.
“Raistlin, Faerun does not welcome you. Return from whence you came,” Magus speaks. His voice, though not issued forth loudly, booms clearly above the cachophony of battle. The battle itself seems to pause to listen.
Raistlin claps his hands, a grotesque sneer on his lips. “So, the mighty mage shakes off his mental phantoms. Welcome, Magus. I feared we would have to start without you. Where were we?” His rasping voice, magnified, is dripping with contempt. Raistlin turns in a circle, gazing at each person in turn with a mocking smile. He settles on Aerie, and she cringes slightly under the scrutiny of his hourglass eyes. “Oh, but we must not forget Ms. Aerie. Or is it Mrs.?” He turns to Magus, his sardonic smile widening.
“Enough!” Magus’s voice thunders through the room. Stepping forward, he hurls a shining blue bolt at Raistlin. His conceited smile becomes a hiss of pain as the magic-psionic bolt thrusts unfettered through his magenta shield to strike him squarely in the chest. His opponent thrown off-balance, Rail rushes in from behind, silent as the wind, his dagger thrusting for the small of his back. Inches from Raistlin’s body, it hits solid air, forcing Rail to fall to ground and roll to his feet. Meanwhile, Keldorn charges with sword held high. Seeing Rail’s failed attempt, he slows and takes a standing swing at Raistlin, again only hitting the shield. Then Aerie looses the strength of her God upon it, causing holes to form along its shimmering surface.
“FOOLS!” Raistlin screams, righting himself. The scream becomes a painful screech in the magnified chamber, causing everyone to wince. Suddenly, an incinerating wave of fire erupts from Raistlin, blasting into all four of the heroes like dragon’s breath. The force of it sends them flying backward to hit the ground, painfully ripping the flesh from terrible burns. They struggle to get up, but Raistlin is already casting another spell. Once again, Magus looks death in the face.
Abruptly, a shrieking phantom dives upon Raistlin from above. The hakeashar tears through the remains of Raistlin’s shield, hitting him with enough force to knock him to the ground. The other four seize the opportunity to stand and resume their attack. Magus uses the precious time to trigger his defenses, while Aerie lays her hands upon him and chants the syllables to a continuous-casting spell. Raistlin, irritated, points his finger at Void from a crouch, causing his vaporeous body to explode, and ensuring that Void will be out of the fight for a time while he recondenses his body. Void’s explosion accomplished, Raistlin gets up and begins casting anew.
*****

@Rail: I’ll leave the “other areas” of the battle (with Flagg and Fallout) to you. That was a LONG post. Hope it reads well.

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Magus ]

@Magus- All fine by me! Just a clarification. Was that Aran (the one with Keldorn) or Rail (the invisible one) attacking Raistlin? I'll get an addition out soon. Hope to, anyway? Anyone else care to take over? Aegis? Flagg? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

I can't believe I'm going through with this...

Sorry, just had to say it. I'm going to submit my last post for an English essay.

Anyway, I don't know what you're talking aobut Rail. Keldorn and Rail were attacking Raistlin physically. Magus and Aerie cast some spells. Void dives from above and distracts Raistlin, saving everybody's hides for the moment. Does that help? (sorry if I sound peevish, but it's late, and I'm still trying to work all the bugs out of this English essay thing).

Originally posted by Magus:
<STRONG>I can't believe I'm going through with this...

Sorry, just had to say it. I'm going to submit my last post for an English essay.</STRONG>

Hope the teacher likes it as much as the rest of us.

Originally posted by Magus:
<STRONG>Anyway, I don't know what you're talking aobut Rail. Keldorn and Rail were attacking Raistlin physically. Magus and Aerie cast some spells. Void dives from above and distracts Raistlin, saving everybody's hides for the moment. Does that help? (sorry if I sound peevish, but it's late, and I'm still trying to work all the bugs out of this English essay thing).</STRONG>

I guess I was just unsure what Aran was doing. But, then again, everyone's always unsure what Aran is up to. He IS the Shadowmaster, after all. We'll add him in without problem.