Sword of Sacrifice 2 : The Swords of Our Sons

"You're telling me, that you are a...Lord of the Bananas....You mated with a tree and made a woman named...Tia Dam...who mated with an asexual gnome to form the abnormal Tinie...", Poliloko asked, slightly confused.

"Correct.", Tinie said. “Call me ‘abnormal’ again and I’ll break your kneecaps.”

"Then you were eaten by an octopus and expelled, and you've lived for over 200 years..."

"210 to be exact.", Tinie replied. “I don’t look a day over 3, do I?”

"How the hell is this possible?", Poliloko asked.

"Quite simply….I am a god.", The Banana Lord said. Poliloko stood still for a moment.

“Enough about that…”, The Banana Lord said. “The reason that I sent for you….”

Dangoth was nowhere to be found, but Minx came running holding a book. Poliloko took the book, but looked at it like it was foreign.

“For you.”, The Banana Lord.

Poliloko looked at the book. “I can’t read.”

“A live gnome does not belong in the Halls of the Lost.”, The Banana Lord said. “Take good care of him.”

“Wait…what?”, Poliloko asked, dropping the book. Minx caught it and cradled it like a child.

“Tinie is dead, Dangoth died long ago during the last siege of Gnomeville. I am alive, but only just. I grow stronger here, meaning that I am dying in the mortal world.”

“Is there anything I can do?”, Poliloko asked.

“Nay.”, The Banana Lord said, unhooking the wires.

He stood, no longer crippled and skeletal, but as he once looked as he did two hundred years ago.

“Now that I have perished, this section of nothingness in the world will dissipate. You will awaken near the rotting animal, unable to return here.”

And The Banana Lord snapped his fingers. Poliloko awoke exactly where the Dragon said he would.

"Did I smoke something?"

"Not likely.", Minx replied, sitting down next to Poliloko. "What's next?"

The Shoustegahl growled as Percival casually stepped in front of him. Plucking the elf's arrow from the air with his index and middles fingers, he said in a quivering voice, "Please now... Let's be civil about this..." He caught the second arrow just as easily.

And then many things happened at once. Men appeared from out of nowhere, words were exchanged, and arrows where loosed within a short time frame.

And then the swords were out, and blood danced with the rain.

Nearby, the downed ogre floated back to his feet, having already healed completely from the jester's unexpected attack. And then he disappeared; likely to continue hunting his prey.

"I like this not." Shoutegahl grumbled, as his lieutenant snatched a third and fourth arrow from the freezing rain, "These men... They steal what is mine... They steal my bloodshed... I'll be having none of it."

Then, in one fluid movement, The Shoustegahl threw aside the left side of his cloak, and materialized his Shingaet, his "Man-Destroying-knife." It was several times broader than the broadest broadsword, and sported three cruel spikes at the end. In a savage arc, his attack cleaved four of the intruders in two, despite the fact that they were on his side. Their deaths were quick and horrible, after which nothing was left but viscera and broken bones.

"Looks like their leader isn't going to show..." Shoustegahl mused, delighted by this revelation, "It would seem negotiations failed before they even began."

"S-so it would seem, my lord." His lieutenant agreed, still anticipating another shot.

The hail began to fall.

A deep rumbling noise emanated from within the Shoustegahl's massive helmet... "Stand aside, lad. I'll show you how it's done."

And the blood was in him, once again.


(If you intend to take part in this battle, put ((Stand and Fight)) at the beginning of your post, so I'll know to add you to the party monitor. Otherwise, you best find a place to hide until this all blows over. Remember the list of boss-battle-commands I posted earlier? You'll need to make it very clear which ones you're using in your battle responses. Remember that from here until you flee/win/lose, you can only post once between my posts. Basically, we take turns. We all choose an action, and then the boss responds.)

((Stand and Fight))

Cimeries cried out and dropped to his knees.

The orb in his hand had quadrupled in size and the power was beginning to become to much for him to handle.

“If we fight my brothers,” he said wincing in pain and forcing it out, “I will fight with you.”

His hand began to go numb and he ignored it standing back up using both hands now to contain the magic.

“However make your decision both quickly and wisely,” he said, “For although I will fight along side you I have no plan on dieing beside you.”

(Stand and Fight)

"The darkness shall not overcome us!", Annette shouted, remembering she shouted these same words when the elven city she was in was destroyed.

(Stand and Fight)

As Raziel and Shiron watched as the monster ripped through them, he did not hope to live if he ran.

"Shiron, try to flank" him OOC(please kill him, but a slow death, like stabbed through gut, make it so I can talk to him after fight though, before he bleeds out.)

Raziel then leaped forward with a blade swinging through the air.

(Hard attack)

(I don't remember the boss battle commands, not like that matters anyway)

"I'm hungry.", Minx said. Poliloko looked around quickly, then pointed at the dead animal near them.

"No. I need tea.", Minx said again, opening his book.

"What book is that?", Poliloko asked, not really caring but wanting to sound interested.

"This is the history of my people.", Minx responded, cradling the book like it was the most prescious thing in the world. "The only book about gnomes in the whole world."

A rustling sound in the trees startled them both, as one of the trees was ripped out of the ground.

Something large and sinister appeared, a menacing look on its face.

"Hey! You weren't invited to the tea party!", Poliloko shouted, using wind to pick up the dead animal and throw it at the ogre. Poliloko stood there helpless now.

"Cast Blizzaga!", Minx shouted, reading through his book.

"I don't know Blizzaga!", Poliloko shouted back.

((Stand and Fight))

Corvus analyzed the situation. Large sword, Large man. Nothing about this newcomer suggested that he could keep up with Corvus, but it's never good to underestimate your enemies.

Moving as fast as a lightning bolt, Corvus circled around the new threat, and attempted an attack from behind.

(Light Attack)

((Stand and Fight))

Looking at the chaos unfolding, Danbtr had to make a decision fast. He had only come to Wessenridge to settle a loose end, to gain some composure. Instead, he's involved in two bar fights and a shit-ton of ogres.

Danbtr smiled ferociously, gripping his sword tight. He was ready to fight.

Poliloko used some quick thinking. He was in a forest? Blow the leaves off the trees and escape in the ensuing madness.

Poliloko braced himself, and pushed will all his mind. The trees started swaying slightly, leaves trickled off the branches, and a branch fell off and landed on the ogre.

'Works for me', Poliloko though to himself as he grabbed the little gnome and ran away.

((Forfeit))

Cimeries had weighed the odds in his head and they did not appear in the favor of him and his comrades. He thought long and hard for a moment.

If I stay with these men I may lose my life, he thought to himself.

Indeed Cimeries despised any sort of odds that did not show in his favor and usually stayed away from such.

“I’m sorry,” he shouted to his fellow comrades having made up his mind.

“Do not take this personally,” he said casting the orb in his hand into the sky and letting his tired arms fall to his side, “I do not wish death upon anyone of you. However due to the fact that I do not know any of you, how well you fight, nor my chances of survivability in this battle, I can not fight beside you.”

“I also have no wishes of killing any of you in the future,” he began again twisting his head to the side and popping his neck, “So I ask you do not seek me out after the decision I have made against you.”

Lighting struck and Cimeries looked up into the sky letting the rain fall on his face.

Closing his eyes he teleported behind the one he had remembered being called Percival atop his mount.

“Greetings my future friend,” said Cimeries raising his hands to show he was in no way armed from head to toe as the ogre looked back at him.

“I will have no part in being slaughtered like a pig like such as these fools have chosen to do,” he pointed at those he at first had claimed he would fight beside as he spoke.

“Unwilling to fight beside them and fight in a losing battle I humbly ask of you,” said Cimeries dropping down to one knee and lowering his head, “To please accept me as a fellow knight in your order.”

“I am well trained in the dark arts,” he began after a short pause, “As well as a master with a scythe. And I am sure that I could act as a loyal knight of your lord as you see… bloodshed, is one of my many specialties.”

Cimeries grew a wicked smile as he spoke the later of his speech.

"Uh, yes, well..." Percival stammered, having been caught off guard by the strange man before him. Closer inspection immediately revealed the newcomer to be a Marked One. Delighted at such a find, Percival smiled and continued, "W-welcome. 'Twas our mission to gather those such as yourself in the first place..."

Nervously, he glanced toward is master, who had quickly been circled and surrounded by the attacking townsfolk. Lord Shoustegahl was biding his time, savoring the moment before the kill no doubt.

"Your friends have no chance," Percival stated, feeling sick to his stomach, "I should know."


- - elsewhere - -


Bob was an angry ogre. An angry ogre full of angry anger.

"Funny Man hurted mine face. Funny Man must get died," He snarled as he bound through the wind and rain.

Hisss~

"There is funny man..." The ogre thought to himself as he came across where his prey had been hiding. It had been quite a distance... Much farther than a limp human should be able to travel in such a short amount of time.

Instantly going on the offensive, Bob threw stealth through the wind and smashed through a tree. Shouts rang out as Bob hissed and kicked a stranger in the face, sending it through the air. Then he saw Funny Man.

Hisssss~

Boss 1/3
The Shoustegahl

"The gears, they groan as they turn."

BEGIN...


A barrage of arrows hurtled toward the Shoustegahl, cutting through the night and the hail with a sinister whistle. One by one they pierced the general's cloak, but if they harmed him, he gave no indication. Next up was Raziel, who practically flew at Shoustegahl, so great was his speed. However, he was caught in midair by a crushing sideslash that would have split any lesser man asunder. Grisly cracks were heard as the human flew backwards in a bloody arc.

Though the cost was grim, Raziel's mauling bought Corvus the opening he needed to score a nasty slash at the general with his blade. As Corvus lept backward to avoid counterattack, twin bolts of level-one electricity and fire hurtled through the air from the palms of Jegd and Sandy, though only the electricity actually scored a hit.

A few guards grew brave enough to lash out at the Shoustegahl while he briefly reeled from the force of the electricity, but they were smashed to gory pieces instants later when the general regained his balance.

"Delicious!!" Shoustegahl shouted, then raised his shingaet above his head and dashed at his attackers. Most rolled or jumped out of the way of his fierce charge, but Danbtr attempted a stab. However, his blow proved ineffective, and he barely avoided being trampled beneath the monstrosity's massive frame as he careened into a hut, likely killing everyone inside.

"Again!" Shoustegahl roared, thrilled to have finally found a real fight. He sincerely hoped they would last more than a minute or two.

"Traitor!", Annette shouted, notching an arrow and firing instead upon Cimeries and the person he was speaking with.

She had seen many of her elven folk betray one another for the sake of a few more moments of life, and she was not one to forgive betrayal.

Percival gulped as the arrows careened toward him and the new recruit, but he managed to snatch them out of the air all the same. "E-elf girl!" he shouted at her, "I'd be more worried about the commander than a turncloak, if I were you."

He broke the slender wooden shafts in his palm.

Poliloko ran away as Minx punted, eventually reaching a plaque near a clearing reading,

'In this field in 499 AR, a group of travelers camped here to escape from the Rogue King's army.'

Two campfires were set up, and a dozen people were reenacting a scene from a storybook. There was even a gift shop.

“Help!”, Poliloko shouted, but was hushed by a few bystanders who were watching the group.

"I am the emotionless leader, who abandons my children and goes on a quest that I know nothing about. How may I help you?", a man dressed like Braavos in the old storybooks shouted. Poliloko wanted to throw something at him, because the entire act was not necessary.

"I am looking for a gnome! They are small, child sized people with funny hats!", Poliloko shouted at the group.

The fat little midget that was supposed to be Tinie spoke next. "I'm sorry; I couldn't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am. Would you like some cheese?"

“I do not want any cheese! Who do you people think you are!?”

“I am Braavos.”, the man announced, dressed in armor that looked fake.

“This is Tinie.”, he said, pointing to a little fat human man. “This is Lock and his bird companion Crixus.”

“This stuffed bird is the original Crixus!”, the fake Lock announced, pointing to the bird perched on his arm. Upon closer examination, Poliloko found out that the bird was tied to fake Lock’s arm with twine and string.

“The female is Za….”, Fake Braavos began, but stopped when a spiky appendage ripped through his chest. The ogre had reached the camp, and ripped the fake Tinie's head from his shoulders, before begining on the others.

Poliloko fled again, this time with assistance. The fake Lock and the Za-woman ran with him.

"What is the meaning of this!", Annette gasped, notching another arrow. Her last one.

She thought out her plan; run up, climb onto his armor, shoot the arrow into the intruder's face point blank.

She moved, intending to carry out her plan.

Poliloko with the help of Marcus and Sonya, heaved himself onto a rather large rock. He used his hand to shield his vision from the setting sun, and to scout the area.

"Pick, I think he's over here.", Sonya said, moving a bush aside. Inside lay a bruised, battered, and rather worn out looking gnome. Poliloko dropped from the tree and rushed over to the two actors.

"That's not my gnome....", Pick whispered, but his words were drowned out by the dozens of rabid child like people surrounding them with sharp sticks and rocks.

"They don't look very threatening.", Marcus said, kicking one over. He didn't even know he died, his skin flaking off his bones.

Raziel tried with no success to staunch the flow of blood pouring from the wound in his chest. The pain nearly made Raziel want to fall on his own blade to end it all, but he saw the faces of all those who had been killed by this monster and turned pain to anger and leaped forward with a (Hard) attack.

- - Elsewhere - -

The Emansal was completely naked, as was customary after sex. He sat upon a remarkably unremarkable wooden stool, and lithely slid his fingers across the massive harp before him. Plucking the first chord, he closed his eyes as the sorrowful note slid across the chamber. Slowly and painfully, an elaborate dirge effused from the instrument, as if it were being played by some morose musical god.

"Alas..." He sighed, as his tune began strumming to a slower pace, "'It seems that my best general shall soon be killed."

Nearby a figure struggled to sit up, “Is that why you’re playing such a depressing song?“ Gethriel pouted as she sat naked in the middle of their massive bed. The Emansal laughed darkly and returned her smile, “Oh no, my dear. His death will come very soon. And I shall be an exceedingly happy man.”

Gethriel snorted and plopped over on her side, “Methinks you jest… Dhennis is immortal… And besides, it’s merely five against one.”

The Emansal continued with his depressing melody, never skipping a beat, “Ah, but let’s not forget from where his immortality stems. Shoustegahl will soon die, and that is the truth of it.”

“Most doubtful.” Gethriel purred, rolling her head to inspect the Mirror of Due Hearts for the hundredth time. It showed the Shoustegahl battering five figures around as if they were little more than flies. Any hits they landed were struck only because the Ripper loved receiving pain almost as much as he loved causing it. “I fear you’re wrong this time, my sweet,” She said, rolling out of bed and standing up, “Because Dhennis is only toying with them.”

“Of that, I have no doubt.” The Emansal murmured as his melody sped with the increasing tempo. Unbidden, Gethriel moved to his backside and slid her fingers across his pale chest. “You really ought to spend less time in your armor… Do you really even need it at all?”

At this, The Emansal had to smile. He slowly ceased strumming his instrument, and stood up. Ignoring her question, he turned to face her, and placed both hands on her cheeks, “My best general shall soon be dead…” He kissed her gently on the lips, “But he leaves me with a wonderful gift.”

Gethriel licked her lips, “And what is that?”

The Emansal walked toward her, forcing her to step back. She tripped and landed on the bed. He dropped on top of her. She laughed sweetly, but he silenced her with a finger to her lips, “He has led me to the key, my dear. Or rather, he has led me to what shall lead me to the key. Of this, I am certain” He was interrupted as Gethriel bit his finger and grinned wickedly.

The Mirror of Due Hearts flashed as lighting lit up the battlefield it depicted.

“Just shut up and do me.”

Thus they fucked on the king's bed, once again.

"We shall burn them!", one shouted, holding up a torch.

"Nope.", Pick said, using wind magic to make the torch go out.

"We shall drown them!", came another shout.

"I know how to swim.", Pick replied, picking at his fingernails.

"Stone them!"

"I wanna get stoned.....", Sonya said to herself. She sat a few yards away, tied to a tree.

"Wrong stoned, Sonya."

(Flee)

Annette didn't notice anyone else about to charge, so she gave up her intricate plan to assault the armored being. The others were battered and broken, their will to fight gone.

She ran, away from the little group and into the sanctity of the forest. The others provided an ample distraction from the ogres and the one in armor.

Pick lay on a spit, slowly being turned over some warm coals. A fire wouldn't start beneath him for some reason. Sonya whistled a tune under her breath, waiting for him to give a sign or a signal.

It was in this moment that Pick finally got a look at the woman. She looked human, although only by appearance. Her face was that of the Southern Elves, perfectly round, and her ears were not pointy. There was a reason for this, she cut them off.

Little jagged marks where she took a knife to them were all that remained.

"Dniwdnaerif!", came a shout, sending ash into the air. The ash and coals swirled around a gnome holding a book.

"Hey look, it's Minx."

"What are you doing?! Fools!! fight back!!" Jets shouted over the crashing hail as the Shoustegahl swung to and fro, unleashing devastation at every turn.

"Damn..." Cassandre muttered, "Jegd, get them out of here before they get themselves killed. We can't lose them yet."

With a "Right-o," Jegd raised his right palm to the heavens, and summoned a portal. Corvus, Danbtr, and Raziel quietly fell through it, right before the Shoustegahl could lop off their heads.

"Bahahaha! Cowards!! Come and fight me!!!" The angry commander shouted as his blade lodged itself in a ruined cabin following the near-deadly stroke. "If you won't die like men, then I'll slaughter you like dogs!!!" He bellowed from beneath his helm. Yanking his massive shingaet clear, he began laughing as only the insane could.

"Do it." Cassandre muttered.

Jegd raised his left palm to the encroaching general, paused for a second, and then blew him away with a sorcerous word.

Ten minutes later, Pick was finally able to decipher what was going on. He sat on the ground, untied now, and contemplated his next move.

"Polilililoko, are you alright?", Minx shouted above the rabid herd of gnomes.

"I'm fine.", Pick replied, noticing his whip was missing now. He was unarmed, and that was fine with him.

Annette walked through the forest for awhile, listening for any sound of movement behind her. An ogre could be following her, like the one that followed the jester. It seemed every twig snapping was something out to get her.

A rustling in the bushes near her caused her to jump.