The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[Dark Silver]

The two blades where intersected by the two humans weapons. The Hunter's saber's were knocked aside, even falling out of his hands, but the damage to the two swords was already done. Metal corroded and melted away, at first it was only the spot where the swords intersected, and seconds later, the nearly the entire weapon was coated in a faint black aura, one which left only a small fraction of the blade, rendering it useless.

With the sabers gone from it's hands, the Hunter's own leather gloved hands shot for thier throats, the hands moving faster than either could see to react. The dagger which penetrated it's stomach did little to detere the movement, only tighten the grip of the Hunter on thier throats, the Hunter only grunted from the impact.

The Paladin and the Warrior where lifted bodily from the floor, left hanging in the air in the Hunter's grip. Once, twice, thrice, they where knocked together, and then the Paladin was discarded, thrown forcily against the far wall, where he still thudded hard against it.

The little Warrior in it's hands, the Hunter decided to make a object lesson. It hissed slowly, as a was of fear washed over not only the Avatar, but the player on the end. Tangible, true fear, the Paladin and his player would be only on the edge of the field, but the Warrior obtained the full effects. It was primal, instinctual fear which was induced. The kind one felt when threatened by a superior predator. The kind a person felt when they knew they were completely outmatched.

For a brief moment, the Warrior was able to see in the darkness of the cowl, to see the elven face staring back at him, the smirk of disdain and pity as the free stiffened, and drove into the Warrior's stomach. The sound of rending flesh filled the audience chamber, as the gloved hand exploded from the Warrior's back, the virtual stomach still whole in it's grip.

The Elf smiled, revealing a row of sharpened teeth, as it looked into the fading Warrior's eyes, released the throat, and let the warrior struggle impaled on the hand.

"Lambs...." the Elf said, in that deep, threatening voice, "to the slaughter....."

With that, he threw the dying warrior in the same direction as the paladin, the soon to be corpse landing nearly ontop of the warrior.

"Thanks for the heal..." the Hunter said, the smirk in it's voice apparent, as he picked up it's sabers, and disappeared into a shadow.

[Charon]

Ottoman was coughing, trying to breath normally when the wave of fear hit him. He pressed himself further against the wall as Matthew did the same in his seat. This wasn't right. Something like this shouldn't happen. This was a game. He watched as the knight got a hole torn through him by a bare hand. This was insane, no one should be able to do that, at least no one he'd ever seen. Ottoman was beginning to try to get up despite his wounds when the assassin threw Decimus on top of him. Ottoman collapsed again under the weight as it crashed un top of him. Pushing the corpse off of him Ottoman made his way to the door, holding onto it for support.

"Healer! Get a healer up here now!"

Ottoman slumped against the door as Matthew leaned forward in his chair. These were definately of the same ilk as those creatures which were gathering in the North. Were all of them this powerful? If they were, this town was doomed.

[Comrade Tortoise]

As he peered into his scrying pool Elwyn's jaw dropped and hid face went pale. "Dear God" he muttered.

"Leandra! What sort of rees landscape that town?! Are there trees andscaping that town!? I can teleport us there, but I need a tree!"

[LadyTevar]

As he peered into his scrying pool Elwyn's jaw dropped and hid face went pale. "Dear God" he muttered.

"Leandra! What sort of rees landscape that town?! Are there trees andscaping that town!? I can teleport us there, but I need a tree!"

Leandra had to stop and think a moment. "There's a large maple tree in the center of the village... will that work?" she replied.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Yeah that's right.." he said, remembering the tree from when he visited the town back when he was lower level before he could shapeshift

Elywn ran over to a nearby maple tree. He saw the assassin leave, that was difinitely a teleportation spell

He ran over to a maple. "Leandra, Vadlenar! Take my hand!"

[Agent Fisher]

Jack looked at the display, wide eyed, for a good two minutes. He slowed his breathing. It was just a game. And besides, if he got this scared from a game, how the hell could he be an infantryman, like his father.

"A fucking hole in my stomach? Ow."

His player layed on the ground, a nice big hole in his chest, through his armor.

"Note to self, next time you see that guy, run."

He hit the key to spawn himself as a ghost and started walking towards the town, to get resurrected.

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar grabbed the elf's hand and nodded signaling he was ready.

-------------

Ted bolted out of his room and ran to the fridge chugged a soda and was back before the spell had finished its work.

[SirNitram]

"Thog hate telly-portin'." The half-giant, recently healed and not to his best state, complained as he hurried to the druid and the tree. Onward and upwards...

[LadyTevar]

Leandra took Thog's hand, then took Elwins. "Let's go."

[Charon]

Ottoman coughed again and called upon his god Xiranth to give him the power to heal his wounds. Placing his hand against his chest Ottoman felt the healing powers course through his body. It wasn't much, Xiranth must have been tired replying to his faithful servant. And after something like this, probably wondering if Ottoman was a faithful subject. Thankfully it was enough though.

Ottoman got to his feet, standing tall again as Decimus passed on. "Clerics!" He stalked over to the late Baron and stood before him. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. With an event like this no one could question his coming to power.

"The Baron is dead, long live the Baron."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Elwyn whispeeda few words, and they all melded with the maple. They were instantly transported through to the maple in town. And Elwyn bolted to the castle. When he arrived, gasping for breath he asked Ottoman in a ragged voice

'What the hell ws that? he tore a hole in that soldier's chest?!"

[LadyTevar]

Elwyn whispeeda few words, and they all melded with the maple. They were instantly transported through to the maple in town. And Elwyn bolted to the castle. When he arrived, gasping for breath he asked Ottoman in a ragged voice

'What the hell ws that? he tore a hole in that soldier's chest?!"

Leandra was hard on Elwyn's heels... skidding to a stop as she stared at the bodies, including Baron and Decimus.

"Who did this?" she asked, her eyes looking around the room for the ghosts of the dead. Clerics could see the dead and resurrect them, so death was never quite permanent in Zion.

[Agent Fisher]

Jack noticed the Clerk who came in. The Village Bicycle.

His character started jumping up and down, trying to get her attention.

[Charon]

Ottoman looked back as others ran into the castle. That was something that would have to change. This had been an example, they could break in any time they wanted. He intended to change that.

"An assassin, he teleported through the shadows and killed the Baron. When I confronted him he easily handled me, but he did not kill me. After that the militia broke in, he slaughtered them. Decimus and I attempted to kill him. He did that to him, we never had a chance."

Hearing those words come from the self-confident and proud Ottoman put the words into clear understanding.

[LadyTevar]

Ottoman looked back as others ran into the castle. That was something that would have to change. This had been an example, they could break in any time they wanted. He intended to change that.

"An assassin, he teleported through the shadows and killed the Baron. When I confronted him he easily handled me, but he did not kill me. After that the militia broke in, he slaughtered them. Decimus and I attempted to kill him. He did that to him, we never had a chance."

Hearing those words come from the self-confident and proud Ottoman put the words into clear understanding.

"... The Baron is gone..." Leandra said sadly. "I can't resurrect him."

Jack noticed the Cleric who came in. The Village Bicycle.

His character started jumping up and down, trying to get her attention.

"However... here is one anxious to be back amongst us..." Leandra bowed her head, as she began her prayer, walking to stand over Decimus' body. "Oh Mother Inanna, hear my prayer. Bring back to us this Warrior, let him live once more..." The body faded away into a pile of armor and possessions as Decimus' ghost took solid shape, wearing only a basic tunic. He'd have to grab everything left behind by his departed body. More than one unlucky person had been rezzed far from his body, only to find his possessions had been stolen.

The spell took a lot out of her, she would only be able to rez two more PCs. "Someone find another cleric... there's too many ghosts..."

[SirNitram]

Thog peered as Decimus came back. "Dat cost. You give money to nice lady." The half-giant said simply, before surveying the area. He was not, admittably, good at this kind of thing. He fumbled for his contact stones and began speaking to what clerics he knew could rezz. The messages were Classic Thog, with a hint of Wounded Thog thrown in for variety.

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus smiled.

"Thank you, M'Lady."

He grabbed his money pouch and gave her some coins, to pay for the rez.

He started grabbing his gear and placing his armor back on.

"M'Lord, are you alright?"

[LadyTevar]

Leandra absently took the coins, still looking around for the Baron. It was odd, he shouldn't have logged off, he'd have known someone would be sent for to resurrect him.

"The Baron's ghost isn't here...." she repeated, frowning. "I don't see him anywhere."

Leah spoke out of character, the letters forming above her head 'Did he log off?'

[Charon]

Ottoman turned back to Leandra as she said that. "Can't resurrect?" His thoughts whirled around him. He heard the warrior ask him a question but he ignored it for now, there were more important matters at hand.

"We cannot properly defend ourselves with the Baron missing..." Ottoman strode up to the throne and bowed before it before reaching out and taking the baronship ring from the corpse. Holding it in his hand Ottoman turned back to those that were assembled. "In the absence of a Baron I declare that I am to be acting Baron. There is much to be done and we cannot spend time arguing in a committee over who should be next in the line. These attacks may very well be the first of many. And I for one plan on being ready for the next."

Matthew leaned forward in his chair, his hands steepled as he thought. He responded in OOC. "I was too busy at the time to notice. But it doesn't make much sense that he would. There's something else though. I don't know how to describe it."

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus's eyes narrowed. 'He declares? I dont like it. There are others that would be chosen over him.'

But he held his tongue.

He simply placed his right fist against his chest in salute and bowed his head.

"M'Lord, what are you orders?"

[LadyTevar]

Ottoman turned back to Leandra as she said that. "Can't resurrect?" His thoughts whirled around him. He heard the warrior ask him a question but he ignored it for now, there were more important matters at hand.

"We cannot properly defend ourselves with the Baron missing..." Ottoman strode up to the throne and bowed before it before reaching out and taking the baronship ring from the corpse. Holding it in his hand Ottoman turned back to those that were assembled. "In the absence of a Baron I declare that I am to be acting Baron. There is much to be done and we cannot spend time arguing in a committee over who should be next in the line. These attacks may very well be the first of many. And I for one plan on being ready for the next."

Matthew leaned forward in his chair, his hands steepled as he thought. He responded in OOC. "I was too busy at the time to notice. But it doesn't make much sense that he would. There's something else though. I don't know how to describe it."

Leandra bowed to Ottoman. "The Baron is dead... all hail the new Baron."

Back in the attic room that served as both bedroom and parlor Leah snorted. Ottoman's player had been bucking for power for months now. She spoke OOC again 'You're right, things are getting freaky. We need to discuss this in and out of game.'

Leandra herself simply turned to the next PC ghost and chanted the spell to return him to life.

[SirNitram]

"Why you Baron now?" Thog's brows furrowed like a ravine. "Dat not make no sense. Dere a Baron already. He just not here." The half-giant seemed put off by this idea, stomping forward. "Lee-Dra, Baron not ded, right? Why then he new Baron? We not need new Baron. Dat smell like.. Like.. Like ting which is not smelling good."

[LadyTevar]

"Why you Baron now?" Thog's brows furrowed like a ravine. "Dat not make no sense. Dere a Baron already. He just not here." The half-giant seemed put off by this idea, stomping forward. "Lee-Dra, Baron not ded, right? Why then he new Baron? We not need new Baron. Dat smell like.. Like.. Like ting which is not smelling good."

Leandra sways, her magic drained by the resurrection spells. "Thog... I can't find the Baron's ghost. He's vanished... like... like..." she didn't want to finish the sentence: like he'd been stolen away by the Hunter.

[Charon]

Ottoman looked over to Thog. Good old Thog, always dependable.

"The evil men have taken the Baron away, and we don't know when he's going to be back. Everyone already knows that I'm the best situated to take his place." Ottoman looked over to the corpse. "And if he returns, we can then discuss the matter of the Barony."

[SirNitram]

"Un-less... Un-less..." Thog clearly had a thought, but it had escaped the confines of Thog's head and ran free for a few seconds, leaving him with a slack-jawed look until he recaptured it. Then he spoke. "Un-less you used bad-guys! You get dem to make you Bar-non!" Thog nodded. This made perfect sense. "I gonna go find Bar-non, den you in trouble!"