Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!math.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!cis.ohio-state.edu!news.sei.cmu.edu!bb3.andrew.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!gh2e+ From: Gerry S Hayes Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: New character - Karadin Redbane Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1993 22:06:18 -0400 Organization: Freshman, MCS general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 66 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: po5.andrew.cmu.edu Two fortnights had passed since the siege of Sknla began. Outside the walls of the gnomish city, the army of He of the Living Dead stood vigilant, needing neither sleep nor nourishment. Inside the gates, a Om the Golden, rogue extrordinaire, stood talking to his friend, Arch-Thaumaturge Karadin of the Caldoonic Order. "Looks to be a bloody night, eh? Should be the telling point," the elven thief stated. "Aye, m' friend. If you cannot retrieve the demonstaff I fear Orcus' minions will overwhelm us." The mage's hand carefully lifted a crystal goblet of emerald wine to his lips. "The twin moons have arisen. Go now, with Tarin's blessing, and return ere the death of Nox." Om swiftly slipped through the door, leaving Karadin alone to wonder at the events to come. The army surrounding the gnomish capital was composed of hideous Undead, skeletons and zombies made animate through the direct intervention of Orcus himself. The Emperor's Guard had managed to keep the enemy at bay for one cycle of Nox, but with each battle came more fuel for the dead ones. With supplies running low, the Guard had petitioned Karadin and Om to retrieve the staff. Tonight, Om was attempting to do so. Even were he to succeed, though, that would merely place the staff in a different location. It seemed doubtful that such a powerful artifact could be destroyed. **************************************************************** "Greetings, Karadin." The mage awoke with a start, then realised that he was still in the study. Glancing to the door, he saw the face of Om, and behind him a long, ebony staff leaned against the door frame. "I see you were successful!" Karadin's voice choked with joy at the sight of his friend's return, and he arose and gave Om a warm hug. "It is now my turn to do my part. Hopefully I will succeed as well as you. Perhaps it would be best if you were to leave me to my own devices, though. No sense getting us both killed." Om nodded his assent and melted away down the hallway. Turning to the staff, Karadin rapidly chanted a few minor incantations, invoking divinations that were second nature to him. After ascertaining that it was indeed the correct rod and finding no weaknesses in the wards surrounding it, he began the preparation for the dweamor he had been researching. Taking a phial of silver powder he traced an intricate thaumaturgic triangle at the center of the room. Then, pulling a ginseg root from his belt pouch, he began the invocation. At his touch, the staff began to glow and become warm. Forces inside it pulled at Karadin's soul, urging him to stop his assault and join it's master. Finally, screams filled the air and an acrid odor accompanied the hiss of burning flesh as deep scars were burned into Karadin's arms. ****************************************************************From the hallway, Om turned and sprinted towards the study. The explosion he had heard moments before had blown the door from its hinges. Entering the room, he was relieved at the sight of the staff, broken into three ebon pieces, each one thrown to a distinct side of the room. Glancing about, though, he quickly realized that Karadin had disappeared. "Friend, you have given the ultimate price in service to your country," he moaned as he slumped to his knees and began to cry. **************************************************************** The morning sun shone on the eight-spoked wheel tattooed on Karadin's bald head. Looking up to find himself laying on the floor of a strange inn, he winced at the pain burning through his hands and shoulders. His eyes fixed themselves on the figure approaching, whose exact form was a blur in the sunlight streaming through the door behind it. "Please. I am in dire need of your aid." - Sumner Hayes gh2e+@andrew.cmu.edu Its not their idea.