Deep inside Skaali's crystal fortress he brooded silently over his next move. It was going to be a bold strike, and when it was executed, it would shake the very foundation of Trothgard.
He heard the whispers of his madness. He heard the doubts and fears of his people as he passed by. He could feel their unease as in his very bones. It mattered little to him. The ruud had been chosen. The path was set. The Queen beckoned him to finish it, and although nearly every soul in Trothgard would find his steps distasteful and difficult, he nevertheless strode forward on his chosen course.
There would be severe opposition. The women of the settlements would lay down their lives to rebuke him and cause him to fail.
So be it...
He thought grimly.
He looked to Hrut to gather his men. It was high time for their next move. A move that surely no one could expect.
Troth - The Crystal Fortress - Chyril 22
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Hamar so`Bergliin
- Civus
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 am
Hamar looked up from the strengthening rune was carving into one of the crystal walls. Life had been hectic here in Grimkell. After the battle and Skaalyr's great act of power that raised the fortress, Hamar had been carving non-stop to reinforce and stabilize the great structure. His skills were little compared to the Master but he had more than most of the men that had flocked to his banner. Hrut was giving the call for the men to attend Skaalyr. Hamar packed his tools and went to his Master's side.
They gathered in the crystal hall. The runes of strength and power glistening and glowing. The numbered less than a hundred, but were nearing that mark more and more with each passing day.
It was a spartan chamber, as the men inside were a hard, leathery bunch that cared little for ornate decoration or comfortable surroundings. They were not here to relax and coddle one another. They were here for a singular purpose;
To walk Skaalyr's path.
He stood and walked over to a raised area so he could speak to all assembled.
"The battles we have fought have led us here. The battle we are about to fight, will lead us into history. Many of you have asked me what is next. Many of you question where we are headed. I'll tell you now. The Reign of Witches must come to an end. The Kona enslaved us. Forced us to do her will for too long..."
He paused, to gauge the reaction in the close, crowded chamber.
"We will slay the Kona and her Council and bring an end to their wicked reign!"
His shout caused the room to erupt in bloodlust and shouts of rapture and agreement.
Skaalyr stood over them, and raised his arms in triumphant glee.
It was a spartan chamber, as the men inside were a hard, leathery bunch that cared little for ornate decoration or comfortable surroundings. They were not here to relax and coddle one another. They were here for a singular purpose;
To walk Skaalyr's path.
He stood and walked over to a raised area so he could speak to all assembled.
"The battles we have fought have led us here. The battle we are about to fight, will lead us into history. Many of you have asked me what is next. Many of you question where we are headed. I'll tell you now. The Reign of Witches must come to an end. The Kona enslaved us. Forced us to do her will for too long..."
He paused, to gauge the reaction in the close, crowded chamber.
"We will slay the Kona and her Council and bring an end to their wicked reign!"
His shout caused the room to erupt in bloodlust and shouts of rapture and agreement.
Skaalyr stood over them, and raised his arms in triumphant glee.
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Hamar so`Bergliin
- Civus
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 am
Skaalyr laughed, drinking in the majestic power and might of his assembled army. He waved his arms in the air, gesturing for peace and silence once more. When it was calm and quiet enough once more, he addressed the shouts and questions with obvious relish.
"We will use their strengths against them. For thousands of yahren they have relied upon the power of the crystals from this mine to augment their runes and magic. We will make that power obsolete the same way we have erected this fortress, by tuning the power they hurl against us to add to the strength and power we wield. I have discovered a way for us to transmute their power into energy and magic for us to destroy them with. The more of their might they hurl against us, the stronger we will become!"
The assembled throng roared once more. Skaali drank it in once more before again gesturing for silence.
"The Reign of Witches is at an end! We shall arise as free men no longer beholden to their tyranny. Tomorrow we will strike! Tomorrow we will bring them to their knees!"
He shouted, grabbing a spear from a nearby warrior and thrusting it into the air.
The crowd was deafening now. Shouts of bloodlust and ecstasy mingled with chants of Skaalyr's name. We're it not for the Crystal Dome encasing them, their shouts would have reached Gods.
"We will use their strengths against them. For thousands of yahren they have relied upon the power of the crystals from this mine to augment their runes and magic. We will make that power obsolete the same way we have erected this fortress, by tuning the power they hurl against us to add to the strength and power we wield. I have discovered a way for us to transmute their power into energy and magic for us to destroy them with. The more of their might they hurl against us, the stronger we will become!"
The assembled throng roared once more. Skaali drank it in once more before again gesturing for silence.
"The Reign of Witches is at an end! We shall arise as free men no longer beholden to their tyranny. Tomorrow we will strike! Tomorrow we will bring them to their knees!"
He shouted, grabbing a spear from a nearby warrior and thrusting it into the air.
The crowd was deafening now. Shouts of bloodlust and ecstasy mingled with chants of Skaalyr's name. We're it not for the Crystal Dome encasing them, their shouts would have reached Gods.
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Hamar so`Bergliin
- Civus
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 am
Hamar was swept away by the cries of his fellows. If Skaalyr had ordered it, he would have turned and charged from the fortress of Grimkell that flicker until Rimmerhold was before him and his hammer found its home in the Kona's skull. Skaalyr was his master and his hope. He would follow him anywhere.
As the shouting and fervor began to recede, Skaali swept himself away from the clamor and motioned for Hamar and a few others to join him. The stronghold was not a large place, but it did have a few private rooms that Hamar had helped shape and mould with his talents.
Essentially the entire structure had been built to withstand any of the Queen or Kona's magic that was thrown against it, with one insidious twist. The walls were not only built to absorb and deflect the energy from the weaves, but they were strengthened by it further, and they stored it as well. Essentially, every bit of energy that was thrown at the crystal dome built over Grimkell was like a dry rag absorbing the moisture from a spill. When the Kona and her Priestesses attacked, they only made the fortress stronger and even more resistant.
Deep within his quarters once more, Skaali's inner circle gathered. Hrut, Hamar, Naug, and a few others awaited his orders and huddled together over a low brazier that glowed ruddy with hot coals. When all were settled, he began to speak. Gone was the madness and bloodlust. Gone was the crazed madman that was shouting in the halls a few burns before. Now he was quietly lucid and sober, laying out the foundation of his strategy.
"Hrut. How are the spears coming along?"
The stern warrior looked resolute and replied. "Nearly a hundred made thus far. By tomorrow, we should have enough."
This seemed to please Skaali, and he grinned.
"Naug? The dogs?"
"Ready." Came the huge, walrus of a man's reply in it's deep, sinister tone.
Over the past month's they had grown accustomed to Naug's voice. The huge mammoth of a man rarely spoke, but when he did, it was in earnest.
"Good. Now, for the ultimate surprise."
He reached into the folds of his heavy fur cloak and pulled forth a bag about the size of a man's head. It was full of something, and bulged with it's contents. Skaali handed the bag over to Hamar.
"Shaper Hamar. Here is my greatest gift. Raw crystals, mined over the past week."
He spoke truly. The bag was full of thumb sized crystals of various colors . They were all rough hewn, still containing bits of rock and soil clinging to them, but they were pure and raw and there was no mistaking what they were for.
"Use the absorbing rune. I want each warrior to wear one about his neck when we attack. Their magic will be useless, and we will cut them down one by one. How soon can you prepare them?"
Essentially the entire structure had been built to withstand any of the Queen or Kona's magic that was thrown against it, with one insidious twist. The walls were not only built to absorb and deflect the energy from the weaves, but they were strengthened by it further, and they stored it as well. Essentially, every bit of energy that was thrown at the crystal dome built over Grimkell was like a dry rag absorbing the moisture from a spill. When the Kona and her Priestesses attacked, they only made the fortress stronger and even more resistant.
Deep within his quarters once more, Skaali's inner circle gathered. Hrut, Hamar, Naug, and a few others awaited his orders and huddled together over a low brazier that glowed ruddy with hot coals. When all were settled, he began to speak. Gone was the madness and bloodlust. Gone was the crazed madman that was shouting in the halls a few burns before. Now he was quietly lucid and sober, laying out the foundation of his strategy.
"Hrut. How are the spears coming along?"
The stern warrior looked resolute and replied. "Nearly a hundred made thus far. By tomorrow, we should have enough."
This seemed to please Skaali, and he grinned.
"Naug? The dogs?"
"Ready." Came the huge, walrus of a man's reply in it's deep, sinister tone.
Over the past month's they had grown accustomed to Naug's voice. The huge mammoth of a man rarely spoke, but when he did, it was in earnest.
"Good. Now, for the ultimate surprise."
He reached into the folds of his heavy fur cloak and pulled forth a bag about the size of a man's head. It was full of something, and bulged with it's contents. Skaali handed the bag over to Hamar.
"Shaper Hamar. Here is my greatest gift. Raw crystals, mined over the past week."
He spoke truly. The bag was full of thumb sized crystals of various colors . They were all rough hewn, still containing bits of rock and soil clinging to them, but they were pure and raw and there was no mistaking what they were for.
"Use the absorbing rune. I want each warrior to wear one about his neck when we attack. Their magic will be useless, and we will cut them down one by one. How soon can you prepare them?"
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Hamar so`Bergliin
- Civus
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 am
"I prefer the runes." He said confidently.
"I leave you to it."
And with that, he literally left the young shaper to his work and stalked off to his private chamber.
OOC: Feel free to round this thread off with a post if you prefer. I'll be starting a new thread for you very soon. Nice to have you back!
"I leave you to it."
And with that, he literally left the young shaper to his work and stalked off to his private chamber.
OOC: Feel free to round this thread off with a post if you prefer. I'll be starting a new thread for you very soon. Nice to have you back!
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Hamar so`Bergliin
- Civus
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:48 am
Hamar wasted no time in gathering up his fellows and explaining the simple yet crucial task that lay before them. "This must be our finest work, my fellows. All depends on it." Tension mounted in all of them as the needs fro precision and speed conflicted. Hamar soon fell into an easy rhythm carving rune after rune. He began to sparkle in the light as crystalline dust stuck to sweat covered arms. Marks later when the last rune was carved and Hamar had a chance to wash, he idly wondered if he looked like the man of crystal from his dreams.