Necrothreat III
In the Hall of Legends
Player list:
Apiks - 6 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg5927838#msg5927838)
Highmax28 - 14 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.195), 15 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6057060#msg6057060), 16 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6075639#msg6075639), 17 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6100131#msg6100131), 18 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6121409#msg6121409)
NAV - 20 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6159841#msg6159841), 21 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6177908#msg6177908)
PsychoAngel
Archereon
Arx
GameDragon - 25 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6248881#msg6248881), 26 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6266478#msg6266478), 28 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6282887#msg6282887), 30 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6299399#msg6299399)
Th4DwArfY1 - 32 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.465), 38 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6432154#msg6432154), 40 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6452185#msg6452185)
Sprin - Madness
Pisskop
TheFlame52 - 45 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6508362#msg6508362), 47 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6513411#msg6513411)
Gwolfski - 51 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6522823#msg6522823), 53 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6532642#msg6532642), 54 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.795), 56 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.825), 58 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6555939#msg6555939)
IronTomato
mastahcheese
4maskwolf - 59 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6562826#msg6562826), 62 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.915)
Pisskop
TheFlame52 - 68 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6614242#msg6614242), 69 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6615442#msg6615442), 70 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6617599#msg6617599)
Apiks - 74 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1095), 75 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1110)
Gwolfski - 76 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6650214#msg6650214), 78 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6665298#msg6665298), 79 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1170), 80 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6681017#msg6681017), 81 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1200), 82 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1215), 83 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1230)
Arx - 84 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1245;topicseen), 85 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6745823#msg6745823), 88 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6809327#msg6809327)
Gamedragon/Emma - 93 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1380)
NAV - 94 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1395;topicseen), 95 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1410;topicseen)
Gwolfski - 106 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1575), 107 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1590)
TheFlame52
Highmax28 - 108 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg7165815#msg7165815), 109 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg7168294#msg7168294), 110 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.1635), 111 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg7187653#msg7187653)
Note and legend:
To read the overseers' turns, start by opening the spoiler of each cycle and then opening the link of each number, starting with the lowest to the highest. You will often need to scroll down to the person in question multiple times on the page to see their story. You will also notice sometimes that others write canon stories as well. The list is in order.
Green - finished turn
Teal - current turn
Yellow - premature fortress ending/alternative ending
Red - did not take their turn
White - future overseer turns
Rules:
1. Each player takes 1 ingame year of turn and then after his turn is over, he saves, zips his savefile and gives it to the next person.
2. If the fortress perishes, it shall either be reverted back to the latest save and then it shall be decided onto whom the savefile goes onto, reclaimed or the end of the fort.
3. You are not allowed to destroy the fortress on purpose.
4. You must play with Dwarf Fortress Version 42.06 and with Teh Lolmod (Should be in the savefile).
5. If a gamebreaking bug is discovered in the mod, it is to be stated so that it can be fixed.
6. You must forumite (dorf) yourelf after or during your turn as any forumite you desire.
7. Report deaths of any forumites that are in the Necrothreat Hall of Fame and add new if you desire.
9. You have exactly 1 week worth of time to finish your turn. If you have not finished by that time, you are required to hand over the savegame to the next player if you've made any progress.
10. Optional: Make narration and updates every-so often until you turn runs out. Try to keep it to the story. Every medium to large update will net you an extra day to finish your turn.
Strictly followed with three days grace period between two players ending and starting.
Note: Rules are subject to change.
Origin of Necrothreat:
It all started when BFEL necroed an years old thread (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19244.15) and as the conversation went by, somehow Apiks (me) started a Succession fort based on the thread. From there I contacted the OP to aid us in changing the thread itself. Talvieno and BFEL began making the first version of Teh LOLmod which was used in that succession fort. That thread (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?board=14.0) proved to be succesful and after that fort failed due to a head (yes, a head), we started a new one which proved to be butchered by the gods themselves. So here we have started the third installment with the latest version of Teh LOLmod with the aim of continuing our numerious hilarious exploits.
Embark site:
Spread Blizzard (http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20default_zpssm8ay8zq.png)
Savegames:
Highmax, the Toad's Turn (http://www.mediafire.com/download/wv1yv56c1ur41na/Necrothreat+III+Save.zip)
NAV, the Adamantine Drunkard's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=10786)
GameDragon, the Calm's Turn (http://www.mediafire.com/download/44q0boqw6ctqjjh/Necrothreat+III.zip)
Th4DwArfY1, the Avenger's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11048)
Sprin, the Dimensional Madman's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11132)
TheFlame52, the Lost Light's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11144)
Gwolfski, the Savior's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11207)
4maskwolf, the Ignorant's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11231)
TheFlame52, the Flame of Necrothreat's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11284)
Apiks, the Reawakened's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11302)
Gwolfski, the Reformer's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11624)
Arx, the Confused's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11777)
GameDragon, the Conservator's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11916)
NAV, the Reclaimer's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=11944)
Gwolfski, the Horse Connoisseur's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12313)
Th4DwArfY1, the Evacuee's Turn (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12374)
Hall of Necrothreat Fame:
Apiks - First Militia Commander of Necrothreat - Killed the first 2 necrothreaders in Necrothreat - Death during the Mad Doctor Sprin's reign of the year 252 - Necrothreat I
Esther1 - Global Moderator - Defended the fort against Drunians with nothing but a laptop which ultimately lead to her demise but saved many lives - Death during Gold Rusher Misko's reign of the year 253 - Necrothreat I
Obok Lanlarurdim - Unknown - Killed 43 male elves (male fetish) and 5 leopards in Glidesnarls - Death during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Tun Kikrostfikod - Wife of the Mayor Rakust - Has ranked 5 leopard and cheetah kills each in Glidesnarls and 1 Drunian, Gray Langur and 2 zombie forumites in Necrothreat - Death during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Apiks(lover) - Militia Commander - The lover of the legend and first militia commander of Necrothreat, Apiks. She has taken up his name in favor for his death and does everything he would've in his name. She has killed a fellow forumite, a zombie forumite and 3 elves as well as 2 Troglodytes with a pick which made the other Troglodyes (she essentially stopped an attack single-handedly) run in fear - Death during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Stukos Zefonotin - Unknown - Like Obok Lanlarurdim, Stukos has killed 43 male (yet another male fetish) elves in Glidesnarls. Other kills include 5 tigers and 10 jaguars in Glidesnarls as well as a wild boar man an woman, 2 Zombie Gray Langur Women and his greatest feat, Akith Sloshlabors the Troll - Death during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Mebzuth Kuletabod - Unknown - As with other of her kind from Glidesnarls, she has killed exactly 43 male elves in Glidersnarls. This raises questions from where these elf-killers are arrising. Mebzuth has also killed 5 female tigers, 4 male tigers and 5 leopards - Death during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Fath Avuztost - Living Head - This head has caused many problems in Necrothreat I that border on the edge of destroying Necrothreat itself. First it was a simple head to serve as a warning to all that opposed us, now it is our doom. This head has scared all our forumites which leave us unable to do any work, which in turn destroys us. - Undead Legend that died out during the Fall of Necrothreat I - Necrothreat I
Cutstandards - Zombie Yak - Has stiffled the first ambitions of Necrothreat II single handendly and has killed DwArfY who beforehand had withstood the wrath of the gods themselves. Truly the harbinger of Necrothreat II's destruction. - Undead Legend that died when the corpse of DwArfY revived and murdered it whilst it was on fire. - Necrothreat II
Asmel - The Vampire Defender - Stood indefatigable in battle against the hordes of Fain's minions. Abstains from the blood of the living, instead drinks only from the dead. - Death during The Abomination Th4DwArfY1's reign. - Necrothreat II
Solon - Maiden of the Spear - During the Great Undead siege in the Second Turn of Th4DwArfY1, Solon fought endlessly, killing many before numbers forced her back. She did this despite the loss of a leg. Prior to her arrival, she killed 144 animal men in the Belted Jungle. - Death during The Abomination Th4DwArfY1's reign. - Necrothreat II
Sulin - Leader of the Maidens - Fought valiantly alongside Solon, killing at least as many zombies. Wielder of the named spear, and Spearmistress. 80 kills, all zombies. Truly, a thorn in the side of Armok and Fain. - Living Legend - Necrothreat II
NAV - The Harbinger - Has survived the longest in any Necrothreat history, ranking up about 6 years in Necrothreat II. Is a fierce warrior and a master at boozemaking. He loves drinking to such a degree that he would stop in the middle of the battlefield with death all around him to have a drink. All of that without a spine. - Death during The Redeemer IronTomato's reign. - Necrothreat II
Coilmerge the North Wisp - Zombie Zombie Slayer - Has 102 kills under his belt of Necrothreat II's enemies, all the while being one of them himself! Coilmerge is the zombie that rebelled against his own, saving Necrothreat in many ways by diverting attention. All with just an iron wiki article as a weapon. - Unknown - Necrothreat II
TheFlame52 - The Determined Savior - After mistakenly sending the fortress to its death, determination flooded into this forumite and, doing the unspeakable, releasing HFS, he saved the fort, pushing both necrothreaders and demons from whence they came, saving the fortress from that which he himself wrought. Truly a magnanimous feat. - Living Legend - Necrothreat III
Poems:
The shadow of a former me (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6432154#msg6432154)
The last fight of Arx (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6452185#msg6452185)
After I die (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=118805.msg6623858#msg6623858)
Mod:
Teh LOLmod v1.7 (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=132175.0)
The Fall of Necrothreat I
And just like Troy, Necrothreat shall fall... Thus begins the final chapter of Necrothreat I, the last bastion against the Thread Necromancers. And thus by through the eyes of a decapitated head, the battle is lost. Slowly the walls begin to crumble, and the great and mighty fortress falls into disarray. The enemy awaits those mad enough to seek refuge in the outside, hungry for flesh other than their own kind. They wait in the shadows and murder those foolish enough to rescue the falling fortress. Highmax, the "Guardian" of Necrothreat, rallies those for a final push for escape, as hopeless as it seems. BFEL, The Handless Cripple, Master of "Unhanded Combat", Highmax's lieutenant, distributes the last of the weapons to the last of the citizens. The beasts that howl in the depths shriek in joy, for their bonds loosen in each coming day. Apiks visits the burial site of her husband whose name she took as her own and swears she will return one day to bring his body back to their homeland when she escapes. The children live in fear and cry from the doom lingering overtop of them. The Haxxors sharpen their skills and blades as they prepare for the pillaging of the fortress' goods, the raping of their women and the slaughtering of anything that moves. The trolls rally to take the fortress and spread their twisted ideals to the world. NAV leads the people to prepare for their escape, if one is found possible. Sprin begins to incinerate all documents and experiments that were made and written. The High Lord Threadomancer, Ur, smiles in his own plane of existance. Though he may not have mortal flesh and lead the final assult against the forces of Necrothreat, he played his part in their defeat easily. Each misfortune was his doing. And now his revenge on all fourmites for his death in his mortal shell. Highmax climbs up on top of the tower and screams to the world a war cry so loud, the Elves of Glidesnarls thought they were being attacked again and prepared to fight. Highmax turned to the people he served and spoke a speech to prepare them for their final escape:
"People of Necrothreat! I can see the fear and pain in your eyes. The zombies outside are ready to tear our walls down and you fear they will. I say that I don't fear that it will happen. I KNOW it will happen. We will escape this condemned fortress and never look back. We were the last fortress able to hold up to the Thread Necromancers. We have failed, and the zombies will begin to overwhelm the rest of the world. But I will not die in this forsaken land. No, I will die in that infernal Dark Tower fighting my way up to put an end to all this. I will die fighting. I will kill each of the zombies here so you all may flee. I will take the strongest men and women here and we will hold the line as the rest escape. No songs will be sung of the fall of Necrothreat. There will be no evidence of our colonizing of this forsaken land. It will be as if Necrothreat never existed. The zombies will never know who we were, nor will they know what happened here. Let us prepare for our final journey. Do not fear the setting sun, bask in the glory of the night. That is when we will leave, under no moonlight or starlight. We will release the the evil spirit body of the vampire and the werebeast and send them out first. Then we will rush out as the zombies are distracted eating them. Those with me will kill any that come after us. If we make it out alive, we will burn the entire fortress to the ground and collapse the tunnels. No one gets in, and everything inside will be sealed away. All I have to say is WE WILL ESCAPE! WE WILL SURVIVE!"
The crowd wept and cheered at the same time. The thoughts of impending doom were all around now. The eyes of the head keep on staring, and the mindless look on it turns into a fiendish grin. The face forms into the face of Ur. Suddenly the walls collapse, and the hordes of the undead charge. The Thread Necromancer is freed by his undead allies and turns to the graveyard and corpse pile. He laughs as those who aided in the rising of Necrothreat rise again to bring its fall. His laughter fills the halls and the vampire spirit body of Mastahcheese returns from his binding in the caverns and the werebeast is released. Apiks screams as she sees her husband run towards her, pickaxe in hand. The pickaxe hits its mark with deadly skill and kills Apiks upon striking. Her body is then reanimated and the two once lovers were reunited in death. BFEL runs into the raging werebeast. The hulking were-rodent grins savegely and the handless cripple fights the beast in single combat. But alas, BFEL is slain, but not without mortally wounding the Were-Capybara by biting its juggular and smashing its skull with his savage kicks. Mastahcheese the vampire spirit body now free is met by Sprin, and the two slay eachother with ban-hammers, striking eachother in the skull at the same time. Sprin's nurse is killed in turn by the Apiks couple after watching her boss get his head smashed open. Highmax, "Champion" of Necrothreat, charges towards the Thread Necromancer, slaughtering endless hordes of the undead. Twenty two he felled in his path to the Thread Necromancer. Unable to defend himself after being stripped of all his posessions, Highmax slays the Thread Necromancer by severing his lower body. Highmax turns around, only to see the newly arisen Were-Capybara zombie; the original one. Highmax charges with his blade in hand. The werebeast smacks him aside, and then devours Highmax alive and whole. NAV, though not a warrior, grabs Highmax's sword and charges towards the undead-werebeast, letting out a warcry that sounded like screaming in fear. The were-beast goes to bite down and kill NAV, but the brave and foolish fourmite steps on the beasts lower jaw and stabs Highmax's blade into the roof of the beasts mouth. Letting go of the blade, NAV, with strength never seen before, tears apart the jaws of the undead beast with his bare hands, killing it instantly. NAV takes the blade and tries to free Highmax but he was too late. Several ribs were impaled into Highmax's chest, and though he still drew breath, he was dying.
"Take the survivors and flee... I'm done... Keep my blade, and may it serve you well..."
Highmax, the self proclaimed champion of Necrothreat died. NAV screamed in sadness and began to slaughter the zombies around him in an insane rage. Highmax was dead. Apiks was dead. Sprin was dead. Everyone was dead. Only he remained. Thirty six he killed before the Apiks couple arrived with the legendary dead: Toady One The Great. NAV took the blade and decapitated the Apiks husband and took the pickaxe, quickly shattering the skull of the Apiks wife. Toady One the Great had a grin most devious. He was but a skeleton after being drowned and being one of the first to die. He then pulled out a sword made out of the bones of those unburied and the two fought. NAV fought hard and bravely, but he was not a warrior, and had his arm ripped off and his legs severed from his body. Toady One then laughed. He spoke without lungs, made sound without a voicebox, and laughed with the vigor and darkness of demons. NAV looked up at this horror as it brought its sword down into his heart. NAV, the last of the fourmites, was killed. Thus ends the last chapter of Necrothreat. Through the fear brought by Ur through a severed head, the league is broken. Even Armok wept on this day, as it rained for a hundred days, flooding the world and reshaping the world underneath. He put forth his sorrow and his thoughts of this doomed fortress that the world had gained new living beings, made to make Armok laugh and forget his sorrow. And those that died in Necrothreat were reborn, ready to start anew and to begin the second chapter of Necrothreat...
The Fall of Necrothreat II
At last, the time has come...
A pale silence filled the halls of the fourmites as a lone scream filled the air. Highmax stopped working the pumps, and looked at Elephant Parade who had a face of terror and fear written all over his face. If it wasn’t covered by an elephant skin helmet, Highmax would’ve screamed at his look of horror. Wasara, who was down the hall, came running past them, screaming at the top of her lungs. Highmax grabbed his blade, no longer as bright blue as it was in the old homes where he was the great hero. Here? He was only known as Ur’s Bane, and would forever be known as such. He grabbed EP and dragged him to the armory at a quick trot and tossed him an axe. “Ready yourself” he said.
Dorisdwarf, Talvieno, Nav and several others, were still celebrating the defeat and the construction of the magma cannon. Food, booze made by the master boozecrafter reborn, and bones were tossed about the table as a merry feast began when they heard a faint scream in the depths and then Wasara running by them, heading right for the gates. A loud sound of a skull splitting and the screams of Wasara stopped. Apiks walked into the room, half written slab in one hand, a pickaxe in the other. “No one opens that damned gate. Now each of you grab a weapon and prepare for the worst; I think a forgotten one was released into the mines again.” Spears, axes and crossbows were distributed amongst them, NAV donning on the skill of his previous body, armed himself to the teeth with his mighty crossbow, the very same one his old body used. He was ready for anything… Almost anything…
TalonisWolf, DwArfY and Sulin all were near the barracks when they heard the screams. Wolf immediately booked it and grabbed the nearest weapon he could get his hands on. Soon, the entire fortress ran in and were grabbing whatever they could get their hands on. They all headed into the graveyard; that place they all believed would be perfect for a last stand, although they were all confident it wouldn’t be the last. Highmax, DwArfY and Apiks stood side by side, Apiks taking the front and middle, pickaxe in hand. DwArfY gripped his spear with the strength that could easily crush someone’s head. And Highmax stood off to the side, blade at the ready. Then they all smelled smoke. “DRAGON!” One fourmite cried, but what they saw confirmed it wasn’t a dragon… It was something worse.
The smoke filled the large room and a being of fire, burning brighter than the sun, stood before them, and more strange abominations created of things that should not exist, arrived. Steam, lead, mud, and even the cursed blue ore were all apparent. But one Highmax recognized stood before them all clad in armor and a crown, standing taller than anything he had ever seen, breaking through the stairwell and made of flesh and steel. It was a demon he saw on the engravings in that strange place back in the old homes. Then the bloody battle began, and half of the fourmites died almost instantly.
The creature made of steam ran towards the great NAV and the heat became so intense, an explosion was created from the beer that he carried on him. NAV’s body was a bloody mess that covered the entire graveyard, as well as the other 6 that stood near him, Dorisdwarf, Tal and EP were slain and splattered all over the others as well. The others were lucky to have escaped the inferno and the shock of the blast. The demons, however, were unfazed, save for the creature of steam, which ceased to exist. The fire giant belched a great flame and more fourmites fell, save those who grabbed a shield. 15 were dead now, and the last remaining charged to death. Highmax kept his cool and went in, blade swinging and whirling. Apiks charged with a near snarl on his face, his past deeds and sins all were nothing in comparison to this. DwArfY let the madness of Armok consume him, his loud battlecry fueling the hearts of the last fourmites. Many fell within seconds, but the three fought on.
Sulin was slain within seconds, blood of NAV on her face, and the demon king swallowing her whole. Forty more demons arrived, and spells were fired from the three, who let magic fly as well as their weapons clashing against the inorganic flesh of the demonic enemies. Wolf kept up with the three but then he felt something grip his ankle as he was then dragged into the ground. Looking down, he saw the decayed and mangled bodies of his once friends and family arise and pull him under in their place. He screamed but they were quickly muffled as his mouth went into the earth. The freed necrothreader stood with the demon king, and now fourmites, less then twenty strong now, watched as another enemy overwhelmed them. Then, as if the gods showed mercy, an ally was brought free and fought the dead though they did not harm him; Sodel the Vampire joined the war.
It was hopeless. Too many fell and the enemy kept getting back up. DwArfY then let the fury of Armok consume him entirely, letting every ounce of madness consume him. Red light glowed around him as the fires of Armok raged from his hands, burning the dead and scorching the demons. He didn’t care who he slaughtered now. He cut down two of the last of the fourmites and was headed straight to his goal: the Necrothreader. Flames covered the place, reminding highmax of that dreaded last battle on the fields of the great dark tower. Highmax stopped for a moment and watched as DwArfY killed a demon made of adamantine by scorching it and then stabbing the point where he hit, killing it by stabbing its heart. The necrothreader was before him, and with a clean stab of his spear, the Necrothreader’s head flew off and his body fell in a lifeless slump. Highmax then charged to save his dear and close friend as he saw the demon king swing his blade down on him. DwArfY stood with a blade in between his legs as Highmax got close, and before the great warrior, the one friend who helped him in all this madness and saved them all, split into two halves and fell. Highmax let out every ounce of his energy out. Nothing mattered now but the survival of the last few. He will slay the demon king and hope it causes the rest to fall back.
He charged the mighty Lord of Demons, and he brought down his blade. Highmax dodged and slashed the hand off in a clean stroke. The demon roared in fury as his other hand grabbed Highmax and then slammed him into the ground. Highmax was barely alive but still able to stand. He stared down his enemy as he got up. Laughing, the King grabbed his blade in his other hand. A swing and Highmax barely dodged. Blood was draining from his nearly broken body quickly, and he only had seconds to live. He climbed up the demon’s arm and made it to the creature’s face, where the diety tried to grab him, only to meet Highmax’s blade cutting deep into his eye. He roared in fury, blood covering Highmax and spraying the place with fowl black blood. Highmax twisted his blade out and stabbed the other eye before the creature smacked him into his face, digging the blade deep into his eye and ripping into his brain. He let Highmax go and fell, dying. Highmax dropped to the ground and died before his body hit the floor.
Apiks was alone now. He had nothing left but to escape. He swung his pick into the ground and disappeared in a flash of white. Apiks ran up the stairs, and was lucky his distraction worked enough for him to try and get the children to escape. Suddenly, he heard the sound of screaming as he made it to the top floor where the children he knew and saw were all being consumed by a flow of magma; someone had opened the gate! He watched helplessly as the screams of younglings died quickly as they were swallowed and killed by the magma. The son of the dead highmax, Timeless Bob, and Sulin’s Spawn all perished before him. Life meant nothing to him now, Apiks was truly alone. He needed to escape if he wanted to live. But where? The demons are free here, and they would kill everything before he could hope to rebuild. He had one choice, and he only knew Highmax was the one capable of doing it.
The demons were already approaching when he readied his spell. He struck the earth and a flash of light enveloped them all as the crack in the earth grew and grew until the entire fortress began to collapse around them. Another, larger flash of light, and Apiks was blinded. White was all he saw, and he fell down into that crack, which grew into an abyss now. He fell and closed his eyes. He fell and all he felt was his power leaving his body. He said goodbye to the heroes, the fallen, and was ready to greet the old heroes that he was told of by Highmax. But he awoke with a start as someone was shaking him awake…
BFEL and Talvieno sat next to him on the wagon Apiks felt Toady One slap him awake. “Get up! We’re almost there, Apiks.” He got up and gripped his pickaxe. It was copper, unlike his powerful steel he remembered he had. “Where am I?” He asked sleepily. Sprin laughed at him from the back of the cart. “You were the one who came up with this. How can you forget? You even named it; Necrothreat, The land of wealth and a salvation from the undead.” His grin seemed almost too kind, hiding something. Mastahcheese laughed as he was fiddling with some junk in the cart as he walked next to the cart. “Well, you can’t be serious about that. You must be kidding!” Everyone but Apiks laughed. “What’s the name of the world again? I think I bumped my head during the ride.” Apiks said wearily. He tried to use some of his magic, but he felt cut off. As if he was severed from his source of power. Jenny looked confused and answered, but in a mumble. Whatever it was, Apiks knew it wasn’t the same as the one where he was just on… Or the one before it. He did it, and relief filled his face. Another world that he could protect and keep safe from the remnents of Ur and the spawn of Armok. NAV kept on driving the cart and then let out a cry. “I see it! The place we’ve waited so many months to get to! Thank Armok we’re here!” Sprin laughed maniacally. He knew that Apiks remembered everything, just as he did.
And thus, a new chapter of the fourmites began. The fallen sat in the afterlife and reveled in a great party that lasted until the end days. But Highmax and DwArfY couldn’t stand it, and they watched as their old friend tried to fix everything… And then others came by and watched as well. Wolf, Esther, and even the mad Elephant Parade watched. They may return one day to that world to aid the Father in White, but not today. Today, Apiks grabbed his pick and slammed it into the ground. As his ancestors told him and as tradition goes, he pulled it back out and raised it into the air as he let out a cry that made the fallen heroes cheer and celebrate again.
STRIKE THE EARTH!
Necrothreat I (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19244.msg3564784#msg3564784)
Necrothreat I PDF (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12470)
Necrothreat II (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=120751.0)
Necrothreat II PDF (http://dffd.bay12games.com/file.php?id=12471)
Necrothreat IV (http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=19308.0;topicseen)
Due to some PM stuff and the fact we want this started, I've volunteered to start the embark and get this thing rolling (so the haxxors can deal with you guys *cough cough*). I looked over the legends, and we have several living High Lord Thread Necromancers (BFEL, your children live to see us suffer). I have found ten different spawns for us to go with. I do have a personal favorite amongst these, but I will abstain from voting. For the sake of storyline, I'll be voicing Toady One since Highmax doesn't arrive until later. So, in the meantime...
Prequel - Necrothreat 2.75
1st of Obsidian - 124
We've been traveling for a long while now, almost a month and we've hit a crossroads. Even though I did remember to bring a map of the area and the way to it, sprin found it a good idea to mix the maps up with his own. I question his sanity more and more often... Regardless, I know he means well, but we got all the maps mixed up and I cannot figure out which one is the one we're headed to. I think we'll camp here for the night and I'll have the others vote on this. I really don't want to get us lost in the woods after that incident back in the forest where sprin thought it was a good idea to take a shortcut through the woods that had that pack of giant wolves. No, we're taking the road until we KNOW its a safe bet.
*****
Toady One went before the party of forumites with a bundle of rolled up papers and laid them on the ground, handing each and every one out. "I want you guys to pick which one we're going to. From a mistake I made, I don't remember which one is the one we're taking. Luckily, we can pick which one; we're perfectly in the middle of the world right now and we can go whichever way you guys decide on. I'm hoping you all can come up with a decision before sunrise, as we're voting after breakfast. We're staying here for the night, so look them over, think about it, and get some rest. We still got a long way ahead and the rear end of winter to deal with." And with that, the great Toady One went off to untie the pack animals so they can rest for the night as well...
The Adorable Hills
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20default_zpsh0cixndg.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20default_zpsh0cixndg.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20neighbors_zps1kowqsts.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20neighbors_zps1kowqsts.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20elevation_zps09ik5vd2.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20adorable%20hills%20-%20elevation_zps09ik5vd2.png.html)
The Fed Hills
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20default_zpsmjugghie.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20default_zpsmjugghie.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20neighbors_zps0cgp3oft.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20neighbors_zps0cgp3oft.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20elevation_zpsqfhde6fy.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20fed%20hills%20-%20elevation_zpsqfhde6fy.png.html)
The Forests of Copper
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20default_zpsoifz70iu.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20default_zpsoifz70iu.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20neighbors_zpspehsh1hr.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20neighbors_zpspehsh1hr.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20elevation_zpshem7ybfc.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20forests%20of%20copper%20-%20elevation_zpshem7ybfc.png.html)
The Hill of Kindling
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20default_zpskwpbc19q.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20default_zpskwpbc19q.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20neighbors_zpsaqdn6tou.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20neighbors_zpsaqdn6tou.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20elevation_zpsjbmgx3dm.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hill%20of%20kindling%20-%20elevation_zpsjbmgx3dm.png.html)
The Hills of Matching
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20default_zps0efdz4bc.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20default_zps0efdz4bc.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20neighbors_zpsvj33wxoa.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20neighbors_zpsvj33wxoa.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20elevation_zpsh4tywa4e.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20hills%20of%20matching%20-%20elevation_zpsh4tywa4e.png.html)
The Jungles of Grinding
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20default_zpsowbug09c.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20default_zpsowbug09c.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20neighbors_zpsxbnzbqdb.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20neighbors_zpsxbnzbqdb.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20elevation_zpsqgnqp1eo.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20jungles%20of%20grinding%20-%20elevation_zpsqgnqp1eo.png.html)
The Murk of Acting
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20default_zpsug2ukixc.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20default_zpsug2ukixc.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20neighbours_zpske4ec9iq.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20neighbours_zpske4ec9iq.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20elevation_zpsvlpybvgh.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20murk%20of%20acting%20-%20elevation_zpsvlpybvgh.png.html)
The Spread Blizzard
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20default_zpssm8ay8zq.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20default_zpssm8ay8zq.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20neighbors_zpsungsi6q2.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20neighbors_zpsungsi6q2.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20elevation_zpszdvsl68a.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20spread%20blizzard%20-%20elevation_zpszdvsl68a.png.html)
The Teal Forest
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20default_zps8v1deii7.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20default_zps8v1deii7.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20neighbors_zpsanb5eqkl.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20neighbors_zpsanb5eqkl.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20elevation_zpsqbalht6o.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20teal%20forest%20-%20elevation_zpsqbalht6o.png.html)
The Waves of Humility
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20default_zpsbrewj8ck.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20default_zpsbrewj8ck.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20neighbors_zpspvz1nnwn.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20neighbors_zpspvz1nnwn.png.html)
(http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n593/highmax28/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20elevation_zpsli4aahuu.png) (http://s1141.photobucket.com/user/highmax28/media/the%20waters%20of%20humility%20-%20elevation_zpsli4aahuu.png.html)
The gates have finally opened, and I know I should be feeling the joy of the moment. But I do not. My happiness has crystallised within my breast, for I can see the sun, and yet not go outside and enjoy it. They are always there, always screaming for me to come out, so that they can get me. Bring me to Armok, for whom I'm just a link in the chain to be forged as he sees fit. In the past I am told that I stood tall against his might, threw him into a magma flow which burned and scorched even him. The power of axle and water, magic and might threw him into such a web of power it rocked him from our world, and brought him...here. What happened to the Armok that was part of this world, I cannot even guess, but I know what he meant regardless. The Forumites cannot afford to lose even one link of the chain which holds us to this plane. We are not meant to go outside, no. Red, blue, white… how can these colours stand against the blood of a god?
And yet, we must. We must prevail. Though we but stand as a candle flame stands before the wind, we must flare higher and brighter than ever before. Old Necrothreat should be looked down on from our civilized centre, with fountains and shaded walks. But first...we need the outside. To show the gods we won't bend. That we have the fortitude, the strength, the courage to go on. I am told I once held force to bring down a deity. I am told so. And yet my hands tremble even trying to lift the latch on my bedroom door. But let the tides of undead and haxxors come, they shall find them steady enough on the hilt of a sword.
2nd Limestone
Not all share my zeal for a new start. Yoink, the resident hospital bed inhabitant since my arrival, has now refused to even clean himself.
(http://i.imgur.com/GahaNpi.png?1)
I asked Sprin to see to the matter, but he only laughs in my face. The brute. He should be punished, but I dare not. His eyes shine with a fervour, barely tempered with love. I looked with jealousy at the expression in his eyes – to feel a love that could shake the mountainhome to the ground at its lowest point is something I would give much to possess. Sprin made the entirety of Necrothreat Jenny's tomb, punctured the bowels of the earth in mourning her. The world burned in fire because he could no longer see it whole without her- and part of me appreciates that. Part of me wants that. With disgust, I shake my head to dispel memory and look up at the ceiling of my bedroom. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drops from the ceiling have been falling for some time now, and in each one I see a world, a fortress. Drop. Drop. Drop. I hold out my hand, and a droplet falls onto it, explodes, fractures, dies. With a sigh, I stand up and start the orders for an above ground stronghold to stand as a girdle around my droplet, for though the earth gets nearer, I shall make the drop harder than the earth, harder than fire.
A whisper tickles the back of my mind. Fire is my element – fire eradicates water before it even sees the ground.
(http://i.imgur.com/ui4oAC1.png?1)
Another siege. Another fight for the upper land. My sword's not in my grasp...the bedroom door seems much more welcome, but the people are looking at me, Sprin walks past with a sneer of cold command, Jenny brushes her hand against my arm with concern in her eyes – how did I get to the hospital from my room? - Yoink is glaring at me from his unwashed face. A voice that holds the crack of the whip and fire wove through my mind, my mind, or is it mine? I'm now in the dining room, and still they look at me, but no, I know they don't look at me. They look through me, looking for a hero that only the tales of Apiks keep alive. I am no hero – I am me, better than some, worse than most. The Forumites follow me though, so I shout at them to man the newly made stations, repel the enemy, leave the crypt as no bar. They hurry to obey. I hurry to my room, closing the door. My sword rests on the inside of the door, and as it did – although I knew it not at the time – in the times of old Necrothreat, my hand reaches for the pen instead to pour the pains of the mind into the page and lock them there.
I live within the shadow of a former me
Who had the seas as his to command,
Who waved his hand and saw gods shake,
Who shook himself, before standing, gritting, living.
I am not he. I stand behind the window, looking in,
I could be him, I know, but I just quake
I'm full of sin – they tell me how he used to win,
He fought the gods for the Fort's sake.
Highmax strove with his sword, Apiks with spoken word
He held them both together, wielded both word and sword
And I'm not he. I have neither the blade, or what Apiks said-
I am just me, and shadows jump in my inner thoughts,
And each one says “you can't do this
Your dreams will vanish.”
Stay back, the shadows of the past I never lived!
I cannot live in shoes I've never seen,
His steps are in the sand, I'm in the tide
Of what is and what could have been.
They tell me that he lived just as I now live,
A leader of this fortress full of death
And kept his head when all about was doom,
But I'm not that, I'm all that's left.
Do not ask a shell to hold gold,
Don't ask me to help you,
I'm not ready, I can't do it,
The things they say are true
Of just a dream, an ideal already sold.
So true. The words hold the truth of the matter, as they always do. My hand is too callused by sword and pick to wield the pen as it should, but the words… the words remain the same. We will fight the enemy, give no quarter, but they are not the real enemy. These are just the front lines of a bigger plot, a larger army. If we cannot drive this token force back, we have no place in this world.
As if to mock me, a knock on the door is swiftly followed by Timeless Bob, running in with a message for me once again. Panting, he holds his grime-stained missive up – a scout's report, baring a description of the enemy to instil terror in even the most hardened veteran.
(http://i.imgur.com/jzXPa9Y.png?1)
Necrothreaders are here. Scourge of a thousand forts, beast of myth and legend. In the Old Tales of Apiks they rarely featured, but the common Forumite has much to say on the matter. They shoot lightning and fire, have powers over your mind, can raise the dead. Some of it is even true. With a sigh, Th4DwArfY1 picks up the face of a fortress leader and ties it on firmly, so firmly no one could see any gap to the man beneath. “Let's go then.” Timeless Bob nods, awed, and follows the leader through the door. To another battle. Another bloody battle in a long line of them.
3rd of Limestone
A day of waiting on the enemy, who stand in steaming ranks beneath the Necrothreat rain. A day's reprieve, as it were – the work on the surface had many forumites exposed to the enemy, who are dangerously close to the main gate. I will not go outside to assist them, and indeed very nearly would not leave the gate open for them. For the good of the many, the gates should be closed. I am about to give the order when Apiks approaches, pickaxe slung over his shoulder, anger blazing in his eyes. A gleam of white appears on the blade of the pick, and as it fades there seems to blaze with new light within the depths of his eyes. With a sharp gesture, he indicates the many people in the outside rain, and also the line of beasts rotting at their stations who seem to be waiting on some foul officer to order them forward.
“Well, Leader of our Fort. Will we leave our people to die in agony while we cower in the grottos of our people, our arched halls and our smoky furnace rooms? Will we protect the body of the fort and let its soul die?" I look at him, and see a picture of a Forumite in the full of his rage. His jaw knots and clenches, twisting his beard. Beneath his beetled brows, a furnace blazes in each eye. He intimidates me, yes, but also causes a similar emotion to rise – the stubbornness of those hewn from the rock, our blessing and our curse. It is all I can do to hold down my sharp retort and simply nod instead.
With a grunt, Apiks throws down his pick. It falls with a loud clang and clatter, and all around turn to see what is happening. Spreading his arms, he addresses himself to the room at large- “this is the pick of Apiks, and with it I shaped the walls in which you live. I am the gate builder, wall raiser, and storyteller of Necrothreat. Close the gate and kill our spirit. Close the gate and kill me, if you wish it. I will return for my pick when I have gathered all those outside.” With that he bulls into the storm of rain and bestial howls. The others look at each other, and the muscles that work the levers relax. The doors, it would appear, were going to stay open whether I wished it or not. All I can do is grind my teeth and order the military into position. We were going to need them.
(http://i.imgur.com/QfmyjIo.png?1)
And that is how it came to be that as the rain lashed down and the beasts howled, our military saw its first real action. The fortress rested at our backs like an enormous shadow, while before us the stain of the undead crept ever closer. Ur's forces, some whisper with halting breaths. The force which caused the First Fort to fall. A small, gleaming line of heroes is all that stands between the fort now and that force – Mastah with war reindeer, Ruhn and Arx with their spears. Me and highmax with our swords. As we stand and wait for the hammer stroke, Apiks hurries towards us with the last of the citizens. Fire. Death. Destruction. The Necrothreaders have arrived. The civilians run past, scared, the pick of Apiks glowing as a marker to show them the way. The Forumite himself is wreathed in fire, mouth open in a silent scream. Before my eyes, flesh is stripped back, skeleton laid bare, soul flees. Here dies Apiks, Father of Forts. Here dies Apiks, my friend. A pit opens in my heart, and I look into the face of death. The face of a Necrothreader, who killed Apiks. My mind can't process the information, the colours of the battlefield seem drab. But deep within, down below the waves of despair, is a molten core of anger and hate. This is what I nurse as the bones of a brilliant and wise Forumite crumble to ash in front of me. This is what I bring to life, help surge through the despair. They have destroyed part of us, but the dead of Necrothreat have a habit of rising stronger and more fierce because of it. Grimly, I level my sword at the beasts and prepare for the assault.
It takes a day to come.
4th Limestone
A battalion of Trolls are the first to break ranks, running to the rough hewn fortifications with a zeal for death. They climb over once thought to be secure walls and drop amidst our confused men, casting about with heavy limb and sharpened horn. Battered troops begin to give way before the surprise attack…. And then an arc of blue blood streaks through the air. Highmax claims his first kill. A limb flies into the air, and terrified Trolls start backing away. Sprin whirls like a dervish, his blade a part of him, tears streaming down his face as he slices through skin with a surgical precision. He goes through the forms of the Sword Dance with an efficiency and beauty which inspires the troops, but still he cries. Does he cry for the death he is dealing? Is it possible that Sprin can emphasise, can care? Is it the death of Apiks or his foes which saddens him?
(http://i.imgur.com/KiSpt8L.png?1)
Regardless, the beasts are on the run. With a vicious grin, I give pursuit, the Forumites falling in behind us. From each throat rises the chant of a nation in thrall to anger and hatred. From each throat rises a lament for the death of Apiks. The meek come forward and find they have the strength and courage of a lion. The crippled find new strength in their limbs. In each mind pulses the thought – “Apiks will be avenged!” The thrill of the fight gives everything vivid colours, each droplet of blue blood the sheen of a diamond. I have not felt this alive for many years, and all it took was for death to look me in the face. Weapons brandished, we force the beasts back over the walls to whence they came. The first wave is repulsed. Now to wait on the second wave, the thread zombies and Necrothreaders. The true test of our fervour.
As the Trolls are repulsed, the Necrothreaders burn the ground surrounding the resting place of Apiks.
(http://i.imgur.com/LbbfMWN.png?1)
His pick still gleams on the ground, and I have left it there for now. It gives the men strength and courage. Gwolfski curses from the back of our lines and jostles for position with Sprin, but even in him a surge of Patriotism is kept alight at the sight of the lone pick. He curses loud and long, but when he passes by that place, you can often see a suspicious gleam to his eyes. Now his curses are directed at the Necrothreaders, not Sprin or the rest of us. He will be a stout warrior, if we can drag him from his forge long enough. Strong muscles built at the anvil bode well for his strength behind a hammer, smelting alloys of blood and bone rather than separating Tetrahedrite in the glum depths.
For now there is the problem that comes with too much fire – as Highmax once noted, the Trade Depot of our fort has the odd ability to spontaneously erupt into fire. I suspect undead intervention in this case, for fire is ever the bringer of death. Like blood, the flames roil in our fort's entrance, so fierce I lock our military behind closed doors. We huddle in the dark of the earth and hear the boom and crackle of fire through the door. We hear the door to the fowl shelter splinter with a flurry of sparks, and the sounds of death as the flames feed on their small bodies, making an offering to their master, Ur. We hear the sounds of death be replaced by the sounds of a facsimile of life as they rise, scorched of their life to haunt us in our time of battle. NAV, hand on his crossbow, raises his tankard of ale. “A toast to the Forumites, hiding in their hole! A toast to us!”
(http://i.imgur.com/Fx9cMtd.png?1)
The sound of flames die down, but they are now reflected fiercer than ever in the sound of NAV's anger. Dashing his cup against the wall, he pushes open the door, letting warmth and light bathe us. The sound of the undead grows louder, and I look at NAV, silhouetted in the dark doorway, the only man amongst us. The flames flicker strangely in Sprin's eyes, disconcertingly. As one, the Crossbow Battalion, the Drunken Brawlers, toss down their customary cups and join NAV. The rest of us wait longer, listen to their calls, the sound of bolt on flesh. The sound of men at work. Louder than them all, NAV shouts so the walls shake. “Take up your weapons against the foe! Attack!”
As the sound of a scuffle rises to a fever pitch, Fabulous Death Bringer stands up, drawing the eyes of all. From his side he lifts his mace, with which he has a legendary skill. With a few practice swipes, he gives a curt nod to his squad. They rise from the huddle, and somewhat reluctantly follow their commander as he strolls boldly out the door. The sounds of battle get noticeably louder, and the clarion call of the Death Bringer's voice lifts the spirits of all. Standing, I order the remaining men up and outside, gesturing at Highmax and his fellow legendary weapon wielders. His hollow eye gazes at me balefully, full of shadows and doubts, knowledge and death. “Apiks will be avenged,” comes the hoarse whisper, for my ear alone. I clasp his shoulder as he starts to pass. “Yes, he will be.”
Like a snake, the tendrils of flame dart and billow about the figure of shadow standing in the centre of the room. His cloak seems to be made of shadow brought to life, his guttural commands fill the troops with dread. He gazes on us, and then breathes on us. In his breath the true meaning of heat and death is revealed, as more burning tendrils writhe to join their scorching fellows. The maelstrom of flame could only be beaten down by many Forumite feet, and already still bodies lay in pools of blood. The price of our inaction. The Necrothreader turns its gaze on us, and with a smile raises hands. Hands that burn red and hot and dangerous. A red hand and a black smile. Diving and weaving, the military forces its way closer to the being of destruction, dodging deadly bolts of fire as they go. Soon, my fellows are engaged in battle of their own. I see Mastahcheese struggle in battle, but when he turns his eyes are gone, and in their place are pits of dark flame. A vicious smile splits his face as I stare in horror until with the sound of grinding bones he clumsily pushes his way into the crowd once more.
A scream wells up in me, a cry of anguish and despair. The muscles in my jaw bunch and clench, and a rage I've never felt the like of before wells up inside me, taking control. The beast moves like quicksilver, like smoke. Bolts fall around it like rain, swords and axes clash against each other instead of becoming embedded in its flesh. On the peripheral, I see Mastahcheese vanquished and sent screaming into the void, and his undead torment pierces my heart with sadness. Another titan has fallen. With renewed hate, I dance the Sword Dance with the beast, dodging flame and death. In the end, it is undone by it own hubris, as such fiends so often are. Pausing to gloat over a fallen foe, it turns its back on the Booze Brawlers – a deadly mistake. A flight of arrows hastily falls around it, causing the air to ripple with their passage and force, and one shot strikes true and deep. Blood splatters my face, brain matter flies through the air. With disgust, the Forumites move back from the stench, as of Brimstone, which rises like a malignant spirit from the corpse. With renewed hope, we attack the remaining undead, forcing them after their dark master into the void.
(http://i.imgur.com/VCfwNn9.png?1)
The armies of night had better beware. The tramp of angry footsteps echo in our halls, the cleansing shine of steel gleams in its corridors. Our halls resound with the cries of our injured, but also with our war cries. Mastahcheese is dead. Apiks is dead. The military has taken a large hit, our very backbone has been struck, but instead of caving beneath the blow we merely reel, and then stand again. For we are the stuff of mountains. We will be the nightmare of our undead nightmares. Rest in peace, Mastahcheese. Your war reindeers champ at the bit for revenge, as do your comrades in war. Steely faced Forumites face the door to the farm, a place where the humble planters and diggers passed peacefully in by gone days. Its edges are cracked and peeling, the only sign of the recent trouble. I go forward and open the door, and silently the avengers pour through the portal, casting themselves selflessly on the enemy. Thread zombies and a Necrothreader to raise their foul corpses and spur them on. Flame wreaths him, he laughs, he laughs, and everything stills around me.
This is not rage. This is not loathing. This is the stillness of a winter night with ice forming on the water buckets. This is the patient breath of a hunter, drawn in and out in puffs of white gossamer. If the fire of hate could be frozen and drawn into something patient and calm, that would be what this is. The clatter of war falls from my ears, and all that is left is me and the arrogant attacker. A gleam of blue tells me that Highmax is near, that I have a companion in this time of madness. Toady One nods at me grimly from the other side, his eyes seeming to see into the heart of my emotion. The final Necrothreader's smile wanes as he sees the blood of his partner splattered on our faces, and becomes a rictus snarl of hate. The fight begins.
Like a snake, I swipe in with my sword, a dark gleam offset by Highmax's blue and Toady's silver. As metal clashes against metal, I sweep low, striking at the vulnerable parts. Around me the sounds of battle pitch to higher levels, rise and fall like the sea, but for me only the ice and the kill remain. Slicing, cutting, jabbing, I manage to land a blow on his legs. His blood splurts in a red geyser, a fountain of rubies. Certainty fades to fear in his eyes as he crumples forward, hamstrung. A gleam of other blades surround me in a protective net as Highmax and Toady hold off others, even throw the odd shot at the Necrothreader, but for me only one thing remains. The blood stained fiend in front of me. A second heart beat pounds like a fevered drum inside me, and each pulse is accompanied by the thought “revenge,” “revenge,” “revenge.” With a prayer to on high, I gather my darkly gleaming blade and pound it hard against the Necrothreader's helm, which rings with the clear, sharp sound of a bell. Stunned, the Necrothreader cries out, and I shout over the sound of the ringing helm, “I will have my revenge!” and stab its exposed foot, revelling in the sight of its tortured flesh and sundered skin. It drops its lash, the scourge it most likely used on its Forumite slaves, and tries to curl inward. I laugh at the pitiful wisp of shadow in front of me, and prepare the killing blow. Like a shadow falling from above, my blade pierces its leg once more, and a moan of pain rises from my nearly vanquished foe. Prepared to take of its head in one fell swoop, I stand over it, blink away the sweat in my eyes…
...and am on my back, the Necrothreader forcing me down, ripping my sword away from hands curled into fists with determination. Without the sword's weight, the fatigue I have been hiding hits like a sledge hammer, and I gasp. Sprin will have some work fixing me after this trip...if he gets the chance. Twin points of darkness gleam above me, its eyes. I remember the quicksilver movements of its brother, and curse myself for a fool. I should not have fallen for its ruse. I should have...what I should have done seems uncertain. Its eyes grow larger as my concentration slips, becoming maelstroms which seem to suck at my very soul. Vaguely, I hear ringing, see Highmax beset by Thread Zombies, Toady running to his aid… like a black curtain, the veil of sleep rushes towards me, the release of self, maybe death. Beyond its black borders the land of the dead stretches onwards, calm and still and welcome. Devoid of passion or war. I sink towards it with a kind of relief. In a hissing gasp, the beast above me says “I win this war, fool. Ur shall rise again, we shall rise again. Join your friends in death and be done.”
But I can't die yet; the ice in me won't allow it. My very matter protests against it. With the last of my strength, I claw the Necrothreader with my nails, finding gaps in its armour by some chance or divine guidance. The beast howls and rolls off me, and I surface from the dark dream it had been spinning, gasping like a fish fresh off the line. My hand goes almost automatically to my sword, and I raise my arms through a force of sheer will. I stagger forward, then collapse to the bloodstained floor once more, one knee to the ground and using my sword as a staff to keep balance. Blood trickles crust my beard, congealed and sticky, and my arms are so leaden I doubt I could lift them if I were offered the Mountainhomes as a reward. The lasher Necrothreader bends towards me once more, armour rent and cloak torn, foul blood streaming from its many wounds. Its eyes come closer, look deeper, try to steal my soul once more. Fire kindles in my legs and arms once more as with a guttural cry of “I will have my revenge!” my sword once more flies straight and true, punching through the foe's gorget like it was tin, puncturing the sweet flesh beneath. Once more Necrothreader blood spews and coats the cobbles of Necrothreat. Swiftly, with the speed of a striking cobra, I wrench it free and embed it in the black iron of the thing's breatplate. I fall into darkness with its screams echoing in my head, bouncing and jarring, shrill and discordant. Even in my exhausted state it sounds like the finest music, and I go with a smile on my face.
(http://i.imgur.com/N6U9KgR.png?1)
Highmax looks on as his friend falls to the ground in a heap, his dark blade jutting from the chest of his prey. Having ascertained that Th4DwArfY1 breathes, he advances with a threateningly spinning blade, Toady fending off the surrounding thread zombies. A crossbow wielding beast tries to stand up to him, and Highmax looks on with cool respect as Toady deftly twirls his blade and sends limbs flying across the room.
(http://i.imgur.com/l82SK8c.png?1)
He quickly dispatches the last of the gibbering fools with the other troops as Highmax advances forward, cool respect turning to flaring hatred as he approaches the prone Necrothreader. Armour rent in many places, blood flowing like a river, and skin as pale as alabaster. It was clear he did not have long left. Still whirling his blades, he quickens his pace until he is right beside the wheezing man, diminutive now without his aura of power. “You killed my friend in this attack. Apiks. You will die knowing his name, I swear.” The blades whirl faster, splitting the air with a whine as they pass through. Spitting blood, the Necrothreader gasps, saying “Only distraction...real attack...not this easy..fool.” Its guttural speech comes to a close with the coughing of more blood. The blades sing a higher pitched tune, and it looks into the empty, gaping hole of an eye. Highmax's whole eye seems to glow with an inner fire, but this one...shadows writhe and spin within those murky depths. Somewhere deep within that husk of a person, death felt the cold, clammy hand of fear. With a smile like a knife, Highmax sweeps the flat end of his blade up, caving in the skull of his foe. Blood explodes with flesh, and any semblance of life the corpse once had is drained away.
Highmax looks over the bloody carnage of the battlefield and through the fortifications to the dark mountains, where the setting sun paints a gleam of rouge on the peaks. He speaks without meaning to speak, mouthing words he feels to the very core of his being. His hand fidgets on the hilt of his sword, and his beard rises and falls as he speaks. “This was just a lackey for others. The force that ordered the attack, that caused Apiks' death is still out there. I cannot just stand by. I will have my revenge.” A stray beam of light from the baleful sun escapes through a chink in the mountains and bathes the Forumite in red, red like blood. “I will have my revenge.”
(http://i.imgur.com/QHNXBxj.jpg?1)
-----
I've been saying I'd update soon for ages. I feel genuinely bad about that, and thanks for all your...eh, let's call it patience, shall we? At the very least your tolerance. If it helps, I wasn't enjoying myself when I didn't have time to work on it.
Me just after I die:
The fortress dies, and in it me
Useless as lead, a body, nothing more.
I was once something, long ago.
What that was, I no longer know.
All I recall is how my hand -
That, I believe, once saved a land -
Circled my throat. My flesh against my flesh,
In parody of nature, rising from its death.
And then the cold. The cold. The season's end
When dimly yet I can remember rivers
And warmth, and light, and friends.
I did not know the dead could weep
Until I died.
Around, the flame licks up walls that mean…
Something to me. Something. Something real,
A thing that made my eyes prick so with pride,
Made me stand straight, and love, and heal.
And there are shapes...why do they lurch so…
That I once praised. A sword, a pick.
And with them comes a breeze, a crystal thought
That shows me what they wrought.
Great towers, sweeping to the sky
While down below a river ran -
It sang much sweeter music than the tunes
Heard sung beneath the roofs of man.
And in the hallways children laughed
As they played games amongst the stone
That masons, in their wisdom and thought,
Had thought to decorate and hone.
Praise to the halls of those gone days!
The Forumites in those times could forge
A blade that caught the sunshine's rays,
And beat its shape with careful rage.
And there the people I love dwell.
There they are.
Where are they?
The breeze of thought is far,
And I can't recall.
All I remember is my hand,
And ash and death. A river
Choked with fumes
And demons loosed upon the land.
Apocalyptic music? Check. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M_8asTJOH0)
Cup of coffee? Check.
Lots of time? Check.
(https://img.ie/images/2016/01/14/df59463311c02bc52035802bb834e639.png)
"17th Sandstone,
Necrothreat.
Day 4 of my captivity.
Does no-one stay gone here? One of the traders has announced that she is Sprin, and has begun practicing medicine. She's never had anything to do with it before. Oh well. It can't possibly be worse than before. She's not even male!"
I've reforumited Sprin as one of the dubiously useful Traders we seem to have floating around.
(https://img.ie/images/2016/01/14/ebe36dab77a0647c678e5e05a5305c56.png)
Hope you don't mind the gender too much...
"I've ordered the manufacture of a large number of blocks to build up our fortifications, above and below. I have no idea what's going on in this place, but I will have it shaped up if I can.
I also have miners working on cleaning up the outside of the hollowed-out slopes."
I think this screenshot aptly summarises my response to trying to understand the fort's layout:
(https://img.ie/images/2016/01/14/ac38fef77a24004a4807810778d12032.png)
I'm glad we have a manager, because I have no idea where the mason's worksops are.
"Weeks later, I've found the tombs. I'm glad we have them. Some of them even seem to be empty.
The work outside on cleaning up the slopes is much slowed by cave adaption. I'm sure it'll be fine.
23rd Sandstone,
Necrothreat.
Day nine of my captivity.
Ghostly... horse? What?
27th Sandstone,
Necrothreat.
Day thirteen of my captivity.
I've ordered piles upon piles of rotten food cleared out of the trade depot. The whole room was filled with miasma. I've also designated another food stockpile, since clearly the first wasn't big enough.
I discovered a long wall along one side of the site. I don't know what to make of that. I also discovered a shaft from the surface down to the living levels. I don't know what it was for, but now it's a statuary. The cave adaption situation is untenable. I'm having it walled at the top for security."
(https://img.ie/images/2016/01/14/a007d34d560a7adfcc4bd4e43a7b4404.png)
This is efficiency! Or it would be, if pretty much everyone weren't a) cave adapted b) thirsty (dunno why) c) stressed or d) lugging a huge chunk of rock.
(https://img.ie/images/2016/01/14/40ec293a58f4c412bec10b6017e71b64.png)
Back to work, slacker!
"Not even a day, and the statuary is already a lovely shade of vomit. The colour of progress!
4th Timber,
Necrothreat.
Day twenty of my captivity.
I've ordered statues scattered around the hallways. They'll get in the way, but we need the morale boost. The statuary is successfully attracting forumites. Hopefully that cuts back on the vomiting. I'm also putting together some more bedrooms. I'm pretty sure we don't have enough.
So far nothing's gone seriously wrong. Holding thumbs for that to continue."
It's slow going. I've been playing for a couple of hours now, and that's as far as I've got, partly because I've been spending a lot of time paused, partly because the FPS isn't great.
Sorry about the wait for the update. I may or may not have bought the new Age of Kings expansion and logged over fifty hours in the last week or so.
Any requests for the next update?