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Death by Sorcery
Written by Deproelius.
Corvin and Vgi stood guard hidden to the south of the entrance to the orc
camp, keeping a wary eye out for enemies. Theirs was a daring raid, deep
into the territory owned by the Morgul Mages, and danger lay all around
them, in guises most hideous and evil. Looking to the rolling hills to the
south, you would never have known that you were this close to a Morgul
outpost, but just over the hill to the north lay a well-established camp,
hideously decorated with the war-banners and trophies of the orcs. Tents
sprawled around campfires like hounds around the hearth, and the whole camp
was shrouded in a dank mist that no light source seemed able to penetrate or
burn off. Some where in the middle of this camp lay the tent of the Morgul
commander, and it was in this tent that their comrade Tanthalis presumably
was now, attempting to fulfil their mission.
Although the presence of the orc camp was a secret to most of the peaceful
hobbits of the Shire, the Elders of the Shire were well aware of this place,
and had sought help from the lands of Caliana, as the rangers had so far
proven to be totally ineffectual. Help had arrived one day in the form of
the small band known as Vgi's Dogs of War, and the mission had quickly been
planned, late that night.
Tanthalis was taking far too long, thought Vgi. Perhaps the mission had been
planned too quickly, or perhaps there were spies amongst the Elders? It
shouldn't have taken too long to locate the commander, and assassination of
a mage should have been no problem with the items that Tanthalis carried.
Vgi did not voice his suspicions to Corvin, but the monk must have been
aware that things were not proceeding smoothly, for he was shuffling
agitatedly on the spot, going through a limbering up exercise common to the
martial artists amongst the monks.
Vgi took a deep breath and leant against his giant black maul. "Don't worry,
he'll be here soon," he assured Corvin, but the look in his eyes told a
different story. Calians were fearsome warriors in teams, but by themselves
they were no match for an equally skilled opponent. Without the element of
surprise, Tanthalis could be in real trouble.
Corvin looked around, trying to spot any sign of trouble. He reached into
his sack, and pulled out an earthen bottle. Uncorking the lid, he took a
long pull of whisky, then returned the bottle to the sack. If there was
going to be trouble, it was best to be fortified for it. He took his thanar
helm off and wiped the sweat from his face. Corvin ran his fingers over his
close-cropped skull, and pulled his helm back on, ready for action.
As they waited nervously, the crystalline medallion that Vgi wore around his
neck flashed with an emerald green tint, and he felt Tanthalis' words
projected into his head. "You had better be ready, we've been discovered!
I'm on my way out!"
"Corvin, we're hot... Tanthalis is in trouble, and we can expect company
soon," whispered Vgi tersely. Corvin nodded, and took up position next to
Vgi. Just then, Tanthalis came running out, followed closely by a
black-robed Morgul mage. Tanthalis pulled up panting next to his comrades,
and gripped his fiery steel halberd tightly. The mage wasted no time, and
attacked Tanthalis, swinging his spiked steel morning star in circles over
his head.
Tanthalis moved behind Corvin, and the black-robed mage threw his head back
and cackled with glee, bellowing "I'll rip Calia's colours off your dead
body, Tanthalis. And yours too, Vgi!". The mage then beckoned endearingly
towards Corvin, his morning star making an ominous sound as it swung through
the air.
Vgi feinted at the mage with his giant maul, and the mage took a step back.
The black-robed human's eyes narrowed as he concentrated, drawing power from
the realm of the shadows. Quickly, Corvin rushed forward and struck the mage
hard stunning him, before he was able to unleash his terrible spell on the
raiding party. Corvin followed up with a vicious roundhouse, while Vgi and
Tanthalis circled around, trying to find an opening for their polearms.
Tanthalis found a weakness in the mage's defences, and cut his arm deeply
with his fiery steel halberd. The mage appeared startled, and quickly ran
for the safety of the camp. Tanthalis gave chase, and Vgi and Corvin could
clearly hear the harsh cry of a hidden orc shouting "Intruders in the camp!
Intruders in the camp!"
Tanthalis quickly reappeared, this time with the Morgul mage in hot pursuit.
As Vgi and Corvin ran to join the battle, they heard some low guttural
sounds from behind them, and a snicker of amusement. Casting a glance over
his shoulder, Vgi saw that two more black-robed figures had appeared, a male
and a female human. Vgi glanced closer at the male mage and almost had a
stroke, as he realised that he was facing the infamous King of Minas Morgul,
the Nazgul Stern!
Tanthalis bravely faced Stern and said "Greetings, Stern". In a whisper, he
added to Vgi "I think that we have big problems... please back me up." The
black-robed human's burning red eyes narrowed coldly beneath his hood, and
he hissed "Greetingss Tanthalis."
Vgi bowed respectfully in the direction of Stern, as Tanthalis whispered
"Interesting how he knows my name, Vgi" in a low aside. Stern's eyes
narrowed once more, and a hard edged, hollow sounding maniacal laughter rang
out from beneath his hood as his preternaturally acute hearing caught
Tanthalis' comment. "You think sso?" he hissed at Tanthalis. "You know mine,
don't you?"
Tanthalis sighed deeply, and nodded his assent. "I do." The female mage
rasped some low guttural sounds, and Stern leered creepily at Tanthalis with
the unholy light of corruption in his eyes.
Tanthalis sneered unconvincingly, and cried out "Let's find the commander
and finish him off... he doesn't deserve to live". Stern stopped wielding
his double headed morning-star, and paused momentarily, drawing power from
the realms of the shadows. Employing the powers of dark sorcery, he cast a
spell, wielding a shimmering long-knife that had magically appeared in his
claw-like hand.
Tanthalis turned and ran south, into the rocky canyon that lay between the
orc camp and the hamlet of Greenfields. Corvin and Vgi kept pace with
Tanthalis, stumbling on the rocks lying along the pathway. The mages
followed after the trio in hot pursuit, and when Vgi tripped and fell over a
particularly large rock, the mages were upon them once more.
One of the black-robed figures quaffed a powerful ash-grey potion, and then
threw his head back cackling with glee as he faced the monk and the two
calians who stood before the mages in battle-ready stances. The hooded
female subserviently hissed low guttural words to Stern, before pausing in
contemplation, seeking power from the forces of darkness.
Tanthalis moved into position behind the stout frame of the monk Corvin, as
he and Vgi prepared to coordinate their attacks on the mages. Tanthalis'
fiery steel halberd snaked out and around the mage's defences, narrowly
missing him, as Vgi thrust his giant black maul deeply into the human's
legs. Corvin sized up his opponent and powerfully hit him in the solar
plexus, leaving the Morgul mage gasping for breath, momentarily stunned.
Stern gazed uncaringly over the battlefield, surveying his allies and foes
alike with an unblinking stare. As the mage from the camp recovered his
breath, he turned and fled for the safety of the camp. Stern noticed this
seemingly without reaction, before stretching his arms wide, and making
arcane passes in the air with his fingers. He inhaled deeply, and then
spouted forth fierce white-hot flames, withering Tanthalis. Tanthalis
screamed in agony, and fled south, in an attempt to avoid the scorching heat
of the magical fire.
Vgi and Corvin raced after Tanthalis, with the two mages in hot pursuit.
Tanthalis had collapsed against a boulder, his face cracked and scorched by
the incredible fury of the demonic flames, his body already covered in
oozing blisters. As Vgi and Corvin bent down to pick up Tanthalis, the mages
attacked again, pressing their advantage with Tanthalis momentarily
incapacitated.
Stern made another arcane gesture, and once more white-hot flames spouted
from his mouth, burning Tanthalis even worse. By now, Tanthalis' hair was
ablaze, his mouth stretched wide in a rictus of pain and terror, his
piercing scream echoing through the rocky walls of the box canyon. Somehow,
Tanthalis managed to get his feet moving, and he fled northwards, driven mad
with the searing pain.
Like shadows, the two mages slipped after Tanthalis, and by the time Corvin
and Vgi had recovered from the terror cast over them by the dark sorcery and
had followed Tanthalis, Tanthalis lay dead at the feet of the mages, his
corpse smouldering, eerie blue flames flickering over his armour.
From afar, Vgi and Corvin could hear the echoing strains of a mournful
dirge. The sound grew closer, and they were able to recognise it as a choir
of voices, singing together a song both powerful and sad. The sound of the
choir continued to grow nearer, and although they could almost resolve
individual voices, they were unable to discern a source of the almost
heavenly choir. The music swelled, and reached a deafening crescendo, and
suddenly a blast of sound seemed to coalesce on the very spot. Above the
corpse of Tanthalis now stood a stern white figure, seemingly an embodiment
of the choir's music!
The stern-looking female figure was clothed entirely in white, and had taken
up a protective stance over the corpse of Tanthalis. She seemed surrounded
somehow by the music, a mournful choir of voices that blended together into
a seamless whole, a truly angelic harmony.
Through eyes brimming with tears at the death of his comrade, Vgi glared his
hatred at the lord Nazgul. He rushed forward in attack, and Corvin quickly
assisted him. The black-robed female leapt to the aid of her lord, and the
four combatants resumed their deadly dance, fencing for openings and
weaknesses in their opponents defences.
Corvin was the first to succeed, as with perfect timing he stunned the King
of Minas Morgul with a well-placed blow. Taking advantage of Stern's
disablement, Vgi brought his giant black maul down upon the black-robed
hooded male's black platemail, with shattering force. The mighty armour,
forged in the pits below Barad-Ur, dangled hopelessly from a broken strap,
hindering the mage's actions.
Stunned and hindered by his broken armour, Stern turned and fled, his
assistant with him. The two mages seemed to move with super human speed, and
quickly outpaced their mortal opponents. Giving up the chase, Vgi and Corvin
examined the corpse of their friend. As they approached it, the stern white
avatar stared stonily at them, and they knew without being told that that
the avatar would die before she let them near the body.
Vgi moved into position behind Corvin, and attacked the avatar of Thalia.
Corvin sized up the translucent figure, feinting with his hands and feet,
before landing a disabling blow on the angelic figure. Vgi's maul quickly
followed, sneaking around the avatar's defences and leaving a gaping wound
in her body. A thunderous blow with the giant black maul was all it took to
finish off the translucent figure.
The avatar trembled with pain and anger, and flashed a dark look of wrath at
Vgi. All around the canyon the sound gave evidence of her fury; peals of
thunder echoed amongst cries of pain, and the very ground trembled before
her. Vgi cried out in terror as the avatar's eyes met his, and peered deep
into their depths. Suddenly the avatar was gone, as if she had never been
there! Both Vgi and Corvin sighed in relief as the terrible music faded
away, and the thunderous echoes died down.
Glancing around apprehensively in case the mages had returned, Corvin
methodically looted the corpse of his friend, storing the items in his
backpack for return to the Elders. As he stored the jagged black scimitar,
the blue dragonscale armour and the fire-emblazoned wolfhelm away, he paused
to wonder how it could be that even with the most potent weapons and armour,
such as these, Tanthalis had fallen prey to the foul magic of the Nazgul.
After saying a final prayer wishing their friend's spirit a quick journey to
the Halls of Resurrection, the two set off back towards the hamlet, to
report their failure to the Elders. They had only just set out on their
course when the mages caught up with them. The mage from the camp had
returned, with Stern and the hooded female mage.
Realising that they would have to fight once more, Corvin bravely faced the
mages, while Vgi quickly moved behind him, occasionally poking forward with
his maul, forcing the mages to keep their distance. The two concentrated
their attacks on the hooded female, trying to force her out of the battle
and even up the odds somewhat.
Vgi was quickly successful, landing successive blows on her head, following
them up with a shattering blow on her polished silver breastplate. Corvin
was just as lucky, landing a telling blow to her abdomen that left her
choking for air, helpless for the time being.
As before, when things were looking grim for the mages, Stern drew power
from the realm of the shadows, and inhaled deeply, spouting forth fierce
white-hot flames, which shrivelled Corvin. Corvin cried out in agony, and
fled southeast, leaving Vgi to fend for himself against the three mages. The
female fixed Vgi a mocking glance, seeming to say that he would be next,
before the three mages raced after Corvin.
Vgi ran after the mages, looking for Corvin. Corvin had managed to make it
all the way back to the now-deserted village of Greenfields, where he had
decided to face the mages. The three mages were circling the crippled
Kahedan monk like wolves around a crippled deer, the flickering light of
corruption glowing evilly from beneath their hoods. Almost as if they were
waiting for Vgi to witness the death of his comrade, they kept their
distance until Vgi had reached Corvin's side.
Like a cat that has become bored with the mouse that it is playing with, the
King of Minas Morgul seemed to grow bored of the feeble struggles of the
priest Corvin. The flames that spouted forth from Stern's mouth this time
were even hotter than the previous ones, seeming to consume Corvin almost
completely. With a final rattling gasp, Corvin died, and a dark shape seemed
to appear over his body, gathering some mist. The dark shape disappeared,
leaving Vgi to wonder if he had just imagined it.
Faced by the three mages, and having just seen the corpses of his two
friends, Vgi's spirit broke completely and he fled, madly trying to put as
much distance as he could between the evil humans and himself. He ran along
the twisting path that led through the village of Greenfields, out into the
bushy fields that lay to the east. Behind him, he caught glimpses of the
mages flitting along like wraiths, seeming to leave no trace of their
presence except for a lingering feeling of horror and foulness.
Vgi had almost reached the trail that led towards the abandoned city of
Annuminas when the mages materialised beside him. The black-robed hooded
male human from the camp scoffed scornfully at Vgi, viewing him as no
threat. The mage drew himself upright, and spoke in a cold sibilant voice:
"Mortal, you have before you Mauhur, the Lord Wraith of Morgul!"
Vgi's only response was a thrust with his maul, which caught Mauhur off
guard, spinning him around. The mage narrowed his eyes in annoyance,
bellowing "I'll rip Calia's colours off your dead body, like I did to
Tanthalis, Vgi!" His spiked steel morning star swung around in circles, then
lashed out, grazing Vgi.
As if some unseen communication had passed between Mauhur and Stern, Mauhur
abased himself before Stern, hissing "Hail Melkor!". He stepped back,
leaving the King of Minas Morgul facing Vgi alone. What passed for a flicker
of amusement raced across Stern's lips, as he surveyed the injured and
terrified Calian. Almost teasingly, he reached out into nothingness,
summoning power to add to his already bountiful stores.
He inhaled once more, and the now familiar flames spouted forth, withering
Vgi. Vgi winced with pain at the magical onslaught, but lashed out, slamming
his giant maul into the King's legs. Again the mage cast his spell of woe,
shrivelling Vgi's flesh and filling the clear air with the smell of roasting
skin and burning hair.
The pain was too much for Vgi, brave as he was, and his legs betrayed him,
forcing him to flee. Almost blind, peering through swollen and bruised eyes,
Vgi tripped and fell, and the mages were upon him instantly. For the final
time, the black-robed hooded male inhaled deeply, spouting forth fierce
flames which consumed Vgi.
As Vgi died, he had a strange feeling, as if he was seeing his dead body
from above. He saw a dark hooded man standing beside his corpse, wiping the
bloody blade of a wicked looking scythe with slow measured motions. As he
wiped the blade, he looked at Stern, and nodded his head in acknowledgment.
Suddenly, the hooded man stopped, and seemed to look straight at Vgi with
his empty... no, not empty but... orbs...
The last thing that Vgi heard as his consciousness left his body was Death's
voice, saying "COME WITH ME, MORTAL ONE!" Death reached for him, and
suddenly Vgi found himself in another place...
Written by Deproelius.
