Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story except maybe the names of the
heroes; Raven, Mortis, Riley, Allan, Egwene, CT, VonKat, et cetera.
---------Chapter One: Reunion---------
Slowly they descended from the sacred mountain, covered in blood and seemingly half-dead. Larzuk was the first to greet them at the entrance to Harrogath, grinning cheerfully.
"So I take it Baal is dead.you did a good job." he said gruffly, much like the other Barbarians. "It's a pity that you'll be leaving soon.you guys made me a fortune."
One of the warriors, a very pale, very thin and very tall man followed by a creature made of metal, smiled grimly. "You sound SO upset.but then again, I don't care.we beat Baal.and Tyrael destroyed the Worldstone." Behind him, a blonde Amazon was un-doing the fastenings of a large Tower Shield, muttering to herself. Her Pike lay on the ground, broken in half.
"Baal did a number on us, though.most of your men died up there.but not to him."
The pale warrior turned, an eyebrow arched. "That's true, isn't it, Raven? But my Iron Golem did it's job.but he got battered just as much as the rest of them."
Raven sighed and shook her head, but paused as light footsteps walked up behind her, and a cheerful voice rang in her ears. "Well done! You have finally destroyed the Lord of Destruction.if I remember, your friends said they were heading up the mountain after you a short while ago."
The pale warrior looked up in shock, eyes wide. "They.can't go up there. We barely escaped ourselves! The Worldstone chambers were swarming with Hell- Spawn even with Baal dead! They're so confused."
Raven snorted, handing her Pike to Larzuk absently. "Listen, Mortis, we can either sit here and moan, or we can go up there and save our friends.it's your call."
Mortis sighed, then nodded his head. "Let's get going.but we have to stock up on items again."
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Halfway up Mount Arreat, a pack of wolves and a larger Werewolf stalked up the cliff, then paused. The Werewolf turned his head and sighed, a puff of frozen air rising from his mouth. "Come on, they may need our help."
A good 15 feet below, a young Sorceress and her Rogue scout sat, panting heavily. Snarling, the Sorceress stood, glaring at the Druid. "Well, if you insist." She sighed, focusing on a spot near the Druid and vanished, her Rogue following her up the cliff. "OK, now where's Riley?"
The Druid shrugged, turning back into his normal form; that of a young man in his late 20's, carrying a giant hammer in both hands. His fur vest and brown tunics seemed inappropriate for the harsh climate of the mountain, but he never complained. "Why don't you yell down and see, Egwene? If you don't bring the entire mountain down, he'll catch up."
Still glaring, the Sorceress tilted her head and called out. "RILEY, YOU IDIOT, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Her voice echoed for a minute before she turned to the Druid. "OK, Allan, now what?"
The Druid started to answer when he heard the returning call. "Down here. No need to shout.my Mercenary died though.again. Qual-Kehk SO owes me. I'll be right up.step back."
There was a grunt and then the massive Barbarian appeared, Halberd in hand as he crashed onto the edge of the cliff, his slain Mercenary draped over his bare shoulder. Egwene shivered, glaring at both of them. "Just looking at you two makes me cold.do you not notice the blizzard?"
Both Druid and Barbarian grinned, causing the Sorceress to sigh. "Fine. You can head back to Harrogath if you want.we'll keep on going. But you have to take what's left of Neeraj."
Egwene grinned, shivering despite herself. She had agreed to drag the lunkheads along, after all. "Fine. If I see Raven and Mortis down there, I'll come find you.and why did you choose a Mercenary with a name unpronounceable even to him?"
Riley shrugged, flashing his trademark grin, then took out a Town Portal scroll. "Wakka wakka wakka." The bluish portal sprang to life and Egwene, along with the Rogue and Nikal's corpse, entered it. It closed, leaving Riley and Allan to themselves. "So.let's get going. Baal awaits."
Allan nodded and transformed into his Werewolf form, and started up the hill again, his wolves and Riley following close behind.
-----------------------
Farther down the mountain, two Paladins and their Iron Wolves Mercenaries stood in a tight circle formation, growling. In the center, a wounded Assassin laid moaning, blood dripping from where her right hand used to be. Her own Mercenary, a big brute of a Barbarian, knelt beside her, trying to stop the flow of blood.
"Damnit, VonKat, we have to go back down and get help!" shouted one of the Paladins as he smashed a rampaging Ice Spawn aside with his shield.
"And I told you, CT, we can't just yet! We can't open a Portal here, because those damn Demons will just follow us in!" snapped the other Paladin, his Broad Sword stabbing another Ice Spawn in the neck.
"Hold on.look down there! They're.fighting each other." replied CT, grinning. "And I know that we didn't do it."
VonKat had to look as well, and he let out a cheer. "That's Mortis' work. They must have beaten the bastard.but where's Raven?"
His query was answered as a javelin flew from the bush, striking one of the larger Overlords and sending it to the ground as a large blast of lightning flew through the few remaining demons still standing.
"Right here." She said, smiling coyly. "I can't believe you guys are down here.look at those corpses.what the hell happened anyways? And where is Tina?"
CT stepped aside, revealing the deathly-pale Assassin, her eyes glazing over. "We were ambushed.didn't want to open a Town Portal.afraid the demons would follow."
Raven sighed and pulled out a Town Portal scroll, opening it with a muttered "Fine." and pointed. "You two, CT and.Barbarian, take her to Malah now. That's an order. VonKat, you and your Mercenary are coming with Mortis and myself; we still have a job to do.Egwene is waiting back in Harrogath."
The Paladin nodded, lifting Tina and carrying her into the Portal, the Barbarian and Iron Wolf following close behind. VonKat smiled, then pointed further down the path. "And as for Allan and Riley?"
Raven shrugged. "Much farther up the mountain, I guess. Come ON, we don't have all day.MORTIS!" She had seen the Necromancer create a wall of bone in front of himself, then turn around to prepare a dagger when a large Skeleton rose from the ground beside him, large blade cleaving the pale warrior in half. He didn't even let out a cry of surprise before he hit the ground.his Iron Golem shook twice then shattered.enraged, both Paladin and Amazon ran forward, a halo of light appearing at their feet. VonKat was the first to strike, his shield slamming into the skeletal midsection, followed by a flaming white arrow that shattered the bony warrior, sending chunks of ice everywhere. Raven knelt over Mortis, who grinned.
"Heh." he said, blood oozing from his lips. Immediately, a bluish halo surrounded Mortis, slowly (and I do mean SLOWLY) reforming his body.groaning, he sat up and shook his head. "Thanks, VonKat.oh damn, my Golem.now I have to find another fancy shield."
Raven sighed, then stood slowly, her expression blank. She didn't want to lose Mortis like she knew she'd lose Tina.the damage done, with a poisoned blade most likely, would never heal, even with an expert healer like Malah. "Damnit.we have to go find Riley and Allan now.we'll use that Town Portal and take the one that Egwene opened on the mountain."
-----------------------------
IWhat will happen to our beloved heroes? And what is going on, anyways? Why does Ormus only refer to himself in first person twice?!/I
---------Chapter One: Reunion---------
Slowly they descended from the sacred mountain, covered in blood and seemingly half-dead. Larzuk was the first to greet them at the entrance to Harrogath, grinning cheerfully.
"So I take it Baal is dead.you did a good job." he said gruffly, much like the other Barbarians. "It's a pity that you'll be leaving soon.you guys made me a fortune."
One of the warriors, a very pale, very thin and very tall man followed by a creature made of metal, smiled grimly. "You sound SO upset.but then again, I don't care.we beat Baal.and Tyrael destroyed the Worldstone." Behind him, a blonde Amazon was un-doing the fastenings of a large Tower Shield, muttering to herself. Her Pike lay on the ground, broken in half.
"Baal did a number on us, though.most of your men died up there.but not to him."
The pale warrior turned, an eyebrow arched. "That's true, isn't it, Raven? But my Iron Golem did it's job.but he got battered just as much as the rest of them."
Raven sighed and shook her head, but paused as light footsteps walked up behind her, and a cheerful voice rang in her ears. "Well done! You have finally destroyed the Lord of Destruction.if I remember, your friends said they were heading up the mountain after you a short while ago."
The pale warrior looked up in shock, eyes wide. "They.can't go up there. We barely escaped ourselves! The Worldstone chambers were swarming with Hell- Spawn even with Baal dead! They're so confused."
Raven snorted, handing her Pike to Larzuk absently. "Listen, Mortis, we can either sit here and moan, or we can go up there and save our friends.it's your call."
Mortis sighed, then nodded his head. "Let's get going.but we have to stock up on items again."
--------------------
Halfway up Mount Arreat, a pack of wolves and a larger Werewolf stalked up the cliff, then paused. The Werewolf turned his head and sighed, a puff of frozen air rising from his mouth. "Come on, they may need our help."
A good 15 feet below, a young Sorceress and her Rogue scout sat, panting heavily. Snarling, the Sorceress stood, glaring at the Druid. "Well, if you insist." She sighed, focusing on a spot near the Druid and vanished, her Rogue following her up the cliff. "OK, now where's Riley?"
The Druid shrugged, turning back into his normal form; that of a young man in his late 20's, carrying a giant hammer in both hands. His fur vest and brown tunics seemed inappropriate for the harsh climate of the mountain, but he never complained. "Why don't you yell down and see, Egwene? If you don't bring the entire mountain down, he'll catch up."
Still glaring, the Sorceress tilted her head and called out. "RILEY, YOU IDIOT, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Her voice echoed for a minute before she turned to the Druid. "OK, Allan, now what?"
The Druid started to answer when he heard the returning call. "Down here. No need to shout.my Mercenary died though.again. Qual-Kehk SO owes me. I'll be right up.step back."
There was a grunt and then the massive Barbarian appeared, Halberd in hand as he crashed onto the edge of the cliff, his slain Mercenary draped over his bare shoulder. Egwene shivered, glaring at both of them. "Just looking at you two makes me cold.do you not notice the blizzard?"
Both Druid and Barbarian grinned, causing the Sorceress to sigh. "Fine. You can head back to Harrogath if you want.we'll keep on going. But you have to take what's left of Neeraj."
Egwene grinned, shivering despite herself. She had agreed to drag the lunkheads along, after all. "Fine. If I see Raven and Mortis down there, I'll come find you.and why did you choose a Mercenary with a name unpronounceable even to him?"
Riley shrugged, flashing his trademark grin, then took out a Town Portal scroll. "Wakka wakka wakka." The bluish portal sprang to life and Egwene, along with the Rogue and Nikal's corpse, entered it. It closed, leaving Riley and Allan to themselves. "So.let's get going. Baal awaits."
Allan nodded and transformed into his Werewolf form, and started up the hill again, his wolves and Riley following close behind.
-----------------------
Farther down the mountain, two Paladins and their Iron Wolves Mercenaries stood in a tight circle formation, growling. In the center, a wounded Assassin laid moaning, blood dripping from where her right hand used to be. Her own Mercenary, a big brute of a Barbarian, knelt beside her, trying to stop the flow of blood.
"Damnit, VonKat, we have to go back down and get help!" shouted one of the Paladins as he smashed a rampaging Ice Spawn aside with his shield.
"And I told you, CT, we can't just yet! We can't open a Portal here, because those damn Demons will just follow us in!" snapped the other Paladin, his Broad Sword stabbing another Ice Spawn in the neck.
"Hold on.look down there! They're.fighting each other." replied CT, grinning. "And I know that we didn't do it."
VonKat had to look as well, and he let out a cheer. "That's Mortis' work. They must have beaten the bastard.but where's Raven?"
His query was answered as a javelin flew from the bush, striking one of the larger Overlords and sending it to the ground as a large blast of lightning flew through the few remaining demons still standing.
"Right here." She said, smiling coyly. "I can't believe you guys are down here.look at those corpses.what the hell happened anyways? And where is Tina?"
CT stepped aside, revealing the deathly-pale Assassin, her eyes glazing over. "We were ambushed.didn't want to open a Town Portal.afraid the demons would follow."
Raven sighed and pulled out a Town Portal scroll, opening it with a muttered "Fine." and pointed. "You two, CT and.Barbarian, take her to Malah now. That's an order. VonKat, you and your Mercenary are coming with Mortis and myself; we still have a job to do.Egwene is waiting back in Harrogath."
The Paladin nodded, lifting Tina and carrying her into the Portal, the Barbarian and Iron Wolf following close behind. VonKat smiled, then pointed further down the path. "And as for Allan and Riley?"
Raven shrugged. "Much farther up the mountain, I guess. Come ON, we don't have all day.MORTIS!" She had seen the Necromancer create a wall of bone in front of himself, then turn around to prepare a dagger when a large Skeleton rose from the ground beside him, large blade cleaving the pale warrior in half. He didn't even let out a cry of surprise before he hit the ground.his Iron Golem shook twice then shattered.enraged, both Paladin and Amazon ran forward, a halo of light appearing at their feet. VonKat was the first to strike, his shield slamming into the skeletal midsection, followed by a flaming white arrow that shattered the bony warrior, sending chunks of ice everywhere. Raven knelt over Mortis, who grinned.
"Heh." he said, blood oozing from his lips. Immediately, a bluish halo surrounded Mortis, slowly (and I do mean SLOWLY) reforming his body.groaning, he sat up and shook his head. "Thanks, VonKat.oh damn, my Golem.now I have to find another fancy shield."
Raven sighed, then stood slowly, her expression blank. She didn't want to lose Mortis like she knew she'd lose Tina.the damage done, with a poisoned blade most likely, would never heal, even with an expert healer like Malah. "Damnit.we have to go find Riley and Allan now.we'll use that Town Portal and take the one that Egwene opened on the mountain."
-----------------------------
IWhat will happen to our beloved heroes? And what is going on, anyways? Why does Ormus only refer to himself in first person twice?!/I