FB: The Quest for the Warpstone (eng. kiel. valm. 26.11-02)
Lähetetty: La 25.01.2003 22:05
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Skleetnik the Grey Seer, the leader of the Clan Skittah was worried. For two weeks his army has been regulating their food supplies. If it keeps going like this, the army will be weakened and then there will be big troubles. "These are very-very hard-hard times ya know..?" he said to his closest friend, and also his most trusted henchman, Chieftain Skirslik. "Yes Master, I know-know. We'll have to raid some man-thing lairs..." said Skirslik. "Yes, I think yar right... I think there is a small village over there-there. Let's try that one shall we...?" So, the Clan Skittah started to march towards a small village, so small that it's name has not been in maps for years. After the few days of march, they came to a hill, only few miles away from the village. Skleetnik started to organize his army to raid the small village. "Skritsnik! Get-get 40 Clanrats and gather to north... Gnawlik! Gather yar friends and Giant Rats, and go-go to aid Clanrats, to north-north… Sneesch! Get da Nightrunners and gather to east-east.. Quick-quick! We'll make a surprise attack..." After the regiments had been arranged, Skleetnik started yelling the commands. "Nightrunners! Go! Clanrats! Charge! Packmasters! Charge with yar Giant Rats!" He's lips turned into a grin. This would be an easy battle for his mercenary clan. Skirslik came to him. "Those puny man-things won't know what hit them... This will be easy!" As Skleetnik had thought, the villagers weren't a match for his Skaven. Lots of Clanrats and Giant Rats had died, but who cares. According to his plans, the Nightrunners had infiltrated to the villagers rear, suprising the defenders totally and after few hours, the last of the defenders were either killed or captured. "Exellent!", thought Skleetnik, "Everything has went as planned..."
After the victory, Skleetnik send few searching patrols to search the village for food and weapon supplies. For few moments it looked like there were no food or weapons, but finally it started to look better. Then there came two clanrats from searching patrols, running to Skleetnik. "Waaarpstoone!" yelled one. "We found lot-lots warpstoone... Follow us.. Quick-quick!!" Following these two, Skleetnik and Skirslik look each other in excitement. "Do ya think that there really is warpstone..?" asked Skirslik from Skleetnik. "Why wouldn't I? If there isn't those two are in big-big trouble..." Then they arrived to an old abandoned mine with a huge boulder blocking the entrance. "There-there.. Look!" There were little warpstone pieces lying on the ground. "What are ya waiting for...? Go-go dig-dig!!!" yelled Skleetnik. "Yes Master! Rightaway!" So, Skleetnik arranged a "digging team" of 20 Clanrats to dig as much warpstone as they can find. Skleetnik was very happy. "I'll be rich... Rich-Rich!!!"
Few days passed, and Skleetnik had got some warpstone, and he decided he would have a little "vacation". As he had remembered, there was a pub-inn in called "The Castle of the Red Bat" only few days of travel away. Skleetnik had visited it when he was alone meditating and gathering powers here in north. There he got friends with a young (well, atleast she looked young) sorceress called Anarea. "I wonder, if she's there now..." he thought. So, he travelled to the castle, and surprisingly he noticed that Anarea was there. "Skleetnik, my friend! How are you doing? It's been a long time..." she shouted when he noticed Skleetnik, "Anarea!" They went to a table to talk things out. "I'm fine-fine.. I'm leader of a clan now... Clan Skittah..” "Waiter, one-one bottle of your best wine..! Quick-quick!" Skleetnik said to a passing waitress. "How are ya?" "I'm fine as well. I'm on a mission. It's a long story, but I'll try to tell it as shortly as I can..." She responded. "I put my nose on things of gods. And got caught. So, we made a deal. They gave me immortality, but I'll have to figure out this thing.." She took few dragon statues. " These two I got from the gods to figure out their meanings, and this I found from, well that's another story. But I can make these two alive. Wanna see?" she said, and started to mumble a spell. "Eh, umm.. I don’t like dragons.. I had this traumatic experinece, and..." "That’s ok.. It won’t be bigger than the statue, and it's very obeying. And I thought..." before she could finish, the statue started morphing and turned into a light brown coloured dragon ".. to give it to you as a gift." "To me-me?" said Skleetnik. "Nobody has given me a gift-gift before... What's da dragon-thing’s name..?" "He hasn't got a name yet... You give him one..." She said with a smile "Hmm... Maybe I'll call-call it Asgroth... But-but if you give me a gift-gift, then I'll give you one-one too… I'll give ya this Warpstone piece. You can make some useful magical items from it..." "Thank you Skleetnik..." "No, thank-thank ya..."
After few hours, few short stories and two empty winebottles, they both noticed that they were in a hurry. Skleetnik had to go back to his army, and Anarea had to do some research on the statues. So, they said goodbye to each other, and went to the opposite directions. When Skleetnik got back with his new companion, it seemed as the village had been attacked, the streets were in blood and looked very dirty, and there were –well, not so much- dead Skaven bodies scattered all over the village. "What on the Horned one's name has been happening over here…?" Skleetnik thought. Closer the mine he got, more there were bodies. Then suddenly he saw the Digging team leader's body, and went to look at it.. "What's happened here...? Why-why all these bodies..?" he asked. "Uhh… Monsters… Few monsters came-came from da mine… Killed lots-lots… Unghh…" after he had said this, the Skaven died to the hands of the Grey Seer…"What in the…" thought Skleetnik leaving the body behind him. He went to the ”command center” they made to run the mine, and hoping that nothing had happened to Skirslik, his only and best friend. It's kinda unusual to two Skavens to attach to each other… But these two weren't usual Skavens. They had been friends since… Well, always… They have saved each others butt so many times, that they even weren't counting the favours they made. Anyway, as Skleetnik got to the ”command center”, he noticed that his most trusted leaders and henchmen were safe. Only the digging team had "damaged"… "Ok… What's that noncence about monsters in the mine-mine…? Can somebody tell me-me…?"
"Ahh, mm.." started Chieftain Skritsnik, Skirslik’s brother. "Ya see, as da mining crew got-got deeper, they noticed this smell... Rotting man-things.. They came to report that to me-me, and-and… Me orders them-them to go deep-deeper to the mine, but they were-were too frightened even to go near dat place… But-but, I ”convienced” them, saying, that ya’ll kill those who didn’t go there… So, they went down to da mine, and in da last night, we all-all heared this terrible roaring from the tunnels, and in this morning, and well-well I think ya know the rest..”
”Hmmm..” responded Skleetnik ”Well, let’s go to da mine to find-find out what’s goin on.. I think I’ll take Skirslik, da Assassin Sneesch, few Nightrunners, Pack of Giant Rats and da Rat Ogre to-to check out-out da mine with me…” ”Yes, Master… Me will go and inform them, to prepare themseleves…” said Skritskik. So, they went down to the mine, possibly to kill the ”monsters” the Diggin team were talking ’bout… First Assassin Sneech and his twenty Nightrunners, then the Rat Ogre and it’s provider Packmaster Grisskik, and next to them were a pack of Giant Rats and their provider Packmaster Gnawlik, and after them, Skleetnik -with Asgroth flying next to him- and Skirslik. After few yards of dark and smelly mining tunnels, they noticed, that the tunnel was dividing into two. ”Ok… Skirslik, go with Sneesch and da Night Runners to that one, and then we’ll go in this one.” said Skleetnik. ”Allrighty then.. C’mon let’s get-get movin’…”
After entering the other tunnel Skirslik noticed that there were raw Warpstone pieces on the ceilings, walls and on the ground. Suddenly, he bowed to pick up some Warpstone, and a huge bat flew right above him. ”Phew, that was close-close… Watch out…!” The bat charged to the rear of the runners, who -as result of alarming or not- turned around, and attacked fiercely the bat, wounding it, and it started to make some noises… ”It-it’s calling for h..” started one of the Nightrunners, but he couldn’t finish his sentence, as one other bat thrusted a claw trough him. And there we’re few more of them coming from the tunnel… Suddenly, a throwing star flew over the air, hitting the wounded bat, which died with a horrible shriek. ”Kill-kill da bat-things!!” hissed the Assassin, and charged fiercely those appearing from the tunnels.The runners attacked the bat they were opposing, killing it, and then running towards the remaining three. Skirslik run towards them, hoping, that they wouldn’t need any help. As a result of Sneesch’ skills, and the Night runners superiority in number, the bats were overthrown, killing only few of the Night Runners ”Do ya think da bat-things were da ”monsters” da Mining team talked ’bout…?” asked Skirslik from Sneech. ”Hmm.. Maybe… But I think dat they were-were guarding somethin’…” ”Like what…?” asked Skirslik, doubting the words of the Assassin. ”I know not. Some-something strong… A horrible bat monster,maybe..?” said the Assassin with a grin on his face. ”If so, then we’ll godda get rid of dat dirty,smelly,ugly bat monster…” said Skirslik, and they both started to cacle maniacally to Skirslik’s little joke…
Skleetnik and the rest had blisfull ignorance about the things happened at the other tunnel. Their only real problem was the growing number of bats flying over them, killing one giant rat. Asgroth fried lots of them, and the Giant Rats showed the bats too, until the bats were all gone… As they got deeper to the tunnels, the smell of rotting men was more awful, and it seemed to come from closer, and closer… ”Sniff, sniff… Where do ya think dat-dat smell is comin’ from…?” asked Gnawlik from Skleetnik. ”I don’t know-know… Sniff.. But I think dat it’s coming from around dat corner…” answered Skleetnik, pointing to a place where tunnel curve to the east –well, at least they tought it was east-. Asgroth flew around Skleetnik with anxiety. Grisskik leadid his Rat Ogre towards the curve, as Gnawlik, and his Giant Rats leaped over the rocky surface of the tunnel. Skleetnik talked gentlyto his dragon escort. ”What’s wrong, Asgroth…? Is something there-there…?” As they arrived to the curve, they noticed that the ground was full of rotting human bodyparts… ”Ah. At least, we know-know dat our Diggin’ team wasn’t the only victim… Those puny little man-things… I bet-bet the weren’t even a match..” said Grisskik with dishonour… After the curve, the tunnel became wider, and looked like a small room… After few examining views, they noticed it was huge alchemist’s laboratorium. But whose…? ”Looking for something..?” said a creepy voice behind them. Skleetnik turned around… ”You…?”
Meanwhile Skirslik, Sneesch and the Night Runners arrived to an old refinery, where they counted the casualities. ”Right-right… Only four-four Night Runners fell-fell…” said Skirslik after counting the surviros. ”That’s not much-much… We killed five of those bat-things…” answered Sneesch. They looked around and noticed, that everything wasn’t right… They felt like they were being watched… Then, Skirslik suddenly noticed an quick glimpse of a pair of foots… ”Nah, it’s just my imagination…” Skirslik thought and suddenly, he heard something… They all had heard it. It sounded like something growling… ”Stop..!” ordered Skirslik, and in the same moment something attacked them… ”Ghouls!” yelled Sneech. Nine Ghouls charged them from the darkness of the refinery. Sneesch jumped fiercely from the center of the regiment, killing one with his poisoned throwing stars, and attacking the others. As the reaction of the charge, the Ghouls killed six Night Runners. Skirslik drew his Desolate Blade from his belt, and attacked the Ghouls, killing one. When the Night Runners attacked, the Ghouls got surprised by the opposition that the Night Runners gave them -as they had got used to the farmers who wandered down here- and turned to flee, but they were overrun by the fast and the furious Skaven force… ”Phew”, said Skirslik ”that was-was a devastating match…” ”And now-now we know, dat the bat-things were obviously Fellbats…” responded Sneesch ”Hmmm… Do ya think there’s a vampire in here-here..?” asked Skirslik with fear in his tone of speech. And as only the thought of a vampire living here maked him tremble, what would seeing a vampire in situation like this do to his nerves…? ”Maybe…” answered Sneesch with a whisper…
”Yes, me…” answered the voice… ”And as your friends don’t seem to know me, I’ll introduce myself…
I am Nicodemus the Master Necromancer…” said Nicodemus. ”We met-met few years ago, when I firstly had a contact with da dead-things…” replied Skleetnik. ”Yes… But it’s been a few centuries since we met…” told Nicodemus to Skleetnik, and his campanions… Nicodemus’ appearance was very similiar to other Necromancers: black hair that came up to his shoulders, pale and slender face, and skinny body veiled with black robe, and a rope as a belt. ”I bet that you wonder what am I doing here, in this old mine. I try to learn more from these Warpstone pieces, that can be found all around the mine. You didin’t know enough for my interests back then Skleetnik…” he said in a threatening tone of voice… ”I teached him-him all I know of Warpstones…” whispered Skleetnik to his companions. ”And the reward I got-got was death…” ”I know your thoughts Skleetnik, and I must say that, I’m impressed, that you got away from my Dire Wolves…” said Nicodemus suddenly. ”But I cant let that happen now, can I…? So, this will be the end for your miserable force, you’ve brought with you…” After saing that, he mumbled some word’s, and in the same time, the rottening bodyparts started to gather together, and forming to these rotting, smelly human shaped living dead… ”Zombies..!!” yelled Gnawlik. As the zombies rase from the ground, the Necromancer walked towards them… ”30 fine Zombies… Now you can see the reason to butcher those humans… I started to gather an army to raid the village, but now, as I don’t have to do that, I’ll just get rid of you… My friend…” he said with irony, and commanded the Zombies to charge…
As a reaction to the Zombies charge, the Giant Rat’s broke, and fleed towards the tunnel they got in to this room. ”Oh, you aren’t going nowhere…” said Nicodemus, turning a candelabrum, and in the same time, the mouth of the tunnel collapsed… Skleetnik rised his hand, pointing towards the Zombies, and mumbling few words… Only thing that happened, was that few sparks flew from his fingertips. He grinned maniacally, started shaking, mumbling aloud, commanding the winds of magic, and suprisingly, a green lightning sprang from his hand, cracked through the air, dividing to few bolts of green ligthningbolts, and striking the Zombies as many of them burned as the warp energy coursed through their rotting bodies. Asgroth started breathing heavily, and slowly. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, sucking air to his lugns, and blow a flame from his throat, burning 3 of the Zombies, and the only thing left of them, was a little stack of ash remaining…
The Rat Ogre and Grisskik charged fiercely to the flank of the Zombies, yelling and roaring. The monstrous rat mutant swinged viciously the chain it had wrapped around its massive talon, and slashed the Zombies with it. Packmaster Grisskik lashed his whip in the air towards the Zombies, slicing one in two pieces. The Zombies started screaming,howling and roaring, and tried to harm the monstrous Rat Ogre, which started roared in it’s fury. Few Zombies from the back rank crumbled to dust… The Necromancer said few words, pointing towards the fallen corpses of the zombies. Skleetnik, mumbling few words, and trying to dispell the Necromancer’s casting, failing to do so. The Necromancer wathced in ecstasy, as ten Zombies rase from the ground, joining the other ones. In the same time, the Giant Rat pack had rallied, marching towards the Zombies, while Skleetnik stayed on the background, having a magical battle with the Master Necromancer. Nicodemus started to mumble magical words. Suddenly, the Necromanser's eyes started glowing red, menancing the thread to his enemies. Bolts of dark magic leaped from his eyes towards the Rat Ogre, burning it’s flesh, wounding the monstrous being, which started to roar in pain and suffer. Then the Giant Rats charged to the front side of the Zombie unit, biting, gnawing and chewing two of them to death. Then the Zombies attacked, punching, and biting the Giant Rats and managed to kill few of them. Some of them attacked and even wounded the massive Rat Ogre, which now was in great pain. The rest of the Giant Rats turned to flee… The battle seemed to be lost, when…
Skirslik noticed a tunnel leading to a large room, filled with noice of battle. ”This way.. Quick-quick…!” he shouted to Sneesch and the rest ten of the Night Runners. They ran to the room surprising everybody, expescially Nicodemus, who hadn’t expected, that there were more Skaven infiltrated to his mine. ”Die, dead-thing..!” shouted Sneech, and charged the Master Necromancer. The Night Runners -accompanied with Skirslik with his Desolate Blade- charged to the other side of the Zombie unit. Skirslik rushed towards the Zombies, slashing, cutting, slicing and stabbing them. The Night Runners sweeped and slashed, killing lots of the Zombies. The zombies tried to attack the Night Runners, but after that, the rest of the Zombie regiment vanished in a cloud of dust… Nicodemus were in big trouble with Sneesch, who swung his Weeping Blade and charged the Master Necromancer. The only thing that prevented Sneesch from killing him, was the special protection the amulet the Necromancer was wearing, gives him. Sneesch made dive attacks, jumped towards him, and rushed forward swinging his Weeping Blade, but every time, he had hit the Necromancer, his amulet saved him… Skleetnik had a plan. He would distract the Necromancers protection, with his spell, so that Sneesch would kill him. Skleetnik started mumbling a spell, that would only distract the Necromancer, and wouldn’t possibly harm Sneesch. He could feel the power growing within he, when he said the last words, the Necromancer raised his hand, to dispell it, but it seemed like it was casted so perfectly, that it couldn’t even be dispelled. Skleetnik started glowing green energy, and suddenly, a little, but lethal bolt of green lightning shot the Necromancer. He got hit by the lightning, but he had survived. As being wounded, and seeing that Sneesch was making an attack, he understood, that he had no other chances left… He run to the bookself, pulled a book, and it turned slightly open. ”You have maybe won me this time, but I shall revenge…!” shouted the Necromancer, before he disappared, and the secret passage had closed its doors…
”Phew” said Skleetnik with relief. The battle had been won, but at what cost..? ”What the heck.. Life is cheap…” he thought. The life of his Giant rats, and the 13 Night Runners wasn’t that important to him. After all, there is always more of them were they came from…
EDIT: hieman typoja korjattu. Ja pieniä muutoksia siellä täällä.
Skleetnik the Grey Seer, the leader of the Clan Skittah was worried. For two weeks his army has been regulating their food supplies. If it keeps going like this, the army will be weakened and then there will be big troubles. "These are very-very hard-hard times ya know..?" he said to his closest friend, and also his most trusted henchman, Chieftain Skirslik. "Yes Master, I know-know. We'll have to raid some man-thing lairs..." said Skirslik. "Yes, I think yar right... I think there is a small village over there-there. Let's try that one shall we...?" So, the Clan Skittah started to march towards a small village, so small that it's name has not been in maps for years. After the few days of march, they came to a hill, only few miles away from the village. Skleetnik started to organize his army to raid the small village. "Skritsnik! Get-get 40 Clanrats and gather to north... Gnawlik! Gather yar friends and Giant Rats, and go-go to aid Clanrats, to north-north… Sneesch! Get da Nightrunners and gather to east-east.. Quick-quick! We'll make a surprise attack..." After the regiments had been arranged, Skleetnik started yelling the commands. "Nightrunners! Go! Clanrats! Charge! Packmasters! Charge with yar Giant Rats!" He's lips turned into a grin. This would be an easy battle for his mercenary clan. Skirslik came to him. "Those puny man-things won't know what hit them... This will be easy!" As Skleetnik had thought, the villagers weren't a match for his Skaven. Lots of Clanrats and Giant Rats had died, but who cares. According to his plans, the Nightrunners had infiltrated to the villagers rear, suprising the defenders totally and after few hours, the last of the defenders were either killed or captured. "Exellent!", thought Skleetnik, "Everything has went as planned..."
After the victory, Skleetnik send few searching patrols to search the village for food and weapon supplies. For few moments it looked like there were no food or weapons, but finally it started to look better. Then there came two clanrats from searching patrols, running to Skleetnik. "Waaarpstoone!" yelled one. "We found lot-lots warpstoone... Follow us.. Quick-quick!!" Following these two, Skleetnik and Skirslik look each other in excitement. "Do ya think that there really is warpstone..?" asked Skirslik from Skleetnik. "Why wouldn't I? If there isn't those two are in big-big trouble..." Then they arrived to an old abandoned mine with a huge boulder blocking the entrance. "There-there.. Look!" There were little warpstone pieces lying on the ground. "What are ya waiting for...? Go-go dig-dig!!!" yelled Skleetnik. "Yes Master! Rightaway!" So, Skleetnik arranged a "digging team" of 20 Clanrats to dig as much warpstone as they can find. Skleetnik was very happy. "I'll be rich... Rich-Rich!!!"
Few days passed, and Skleetnik had got some warpstone, and he decided he would have a little "vacation". As he had remembered, there was a pub-inn in called "The Castle of the Red Bat" only few days of travel away. Skleetnik had visited it when he was alone meditating and gathering powers here in north. There he got friends with a young (well, atleast she looked young) sorceress called Anarea. "I wonder, if she's there now..." he thought. So, he travelled to the castle, and surprisingly he noticed that Anarea was there. "Skleetnik, my friend! How are you doing? It's been a long time..." she shouted when he noticed Skleetnik, "Anarea!" They went to a table to talk things out. "I'm fine-fine.. I'm leader of a clan now... Clan Skittah..” "Waiter, one-one bottle of your best wine..! Quick-quick!" Skleetnik said to a passing waitress. "How are ya?" "I'm fine as well. I'm on a mission. It's a long story, but I'll try to tell it as shortly as I can..." She responded. "I put my nose on things of gods. And got caught. So, we made a deal. They gave me immortality, but I'll have to figure out this thing.." She took few dragon statues. " These two I got from the gods to figure out their meanings, and this I found from, well that's another story. But I can make these two alive. Wanna see?" she said, and started to mumble a spell. "Eh, umm.. I don’t like dragons.. I had this traumatic experinece, and..." "That’s ok.. It won’t be bigger than the statue, and it's very obeying. And I thought..." before she could finish, the statue started morphing and turned into a light brown coloured dragon ".. to give it to you as a gift." "To me-me?" said Skleetnik. "Nobody has given me a gift-gift before... What's da dragon-thing’s name..?" "He hasn't got a name yet... You give him one..." She said with a smile "Hmm... Maybe I'll call-call it Asgroth... But-but if you give me a gift-gift, then I'll give you one-one too… I'll give ya this Warpstone piece. You can make some useful magical items from it..." "Thank you Skleetnik..." "No, thank-thank ya..."
After few hours, few short stories and two empty winebottles, they both noticed that they were in a hurry. Skleetnik had to go back to his army, and Anarea had to do some research on the statues. So, they said goodbye to each other, and went to the opposite directions. When Skleetnik got back with his new companion, it seemed as the village had been attacked, the streets were in blood and looked very dirty, and there were –well, not so much- dead Skaven bodies scattered all over the village. "What on the Horned one's name has been happening over here…?" Skleetnik thought. Closer the mine he got, more there were bodies. Then suddenly he saw the Digging team leader's body, and went to look at it.. "What's happened here...? Why-why all these bodies..?" he asked. "Uhh… Monsters… Few monsters came-came from da mine… Killed lots-lots… Unghh…" after he had said this, the Skaven died to the hands of the Grey Seer…"What in the…" thought Skleetnik leaving the body behind him. He went to the ”command center” they made to run the mine, and hoping that nothing had happened to Skirslik, his only and best friend. It's kinda unusual to two Skavens to attach to each other… But these two weren't usual Skavens. They had been friends since… Well, always… They have saved each others butt so many times, that they even weren't counting the favours they made. Anyway, as Skleetnik got to the ”command center”, he noticed that his most trusted leaders and henchmen were safe. Only the digging team had "damaged"… "Ok… What's that noncence about monsters in the mine-mine…? Can somebody tell me-me…?"
"Ahh, mm.." started Chieftain Skritsnik, Skirslik’s brother. "Ya see, as da mining crew got-got deeper, they noticed this smell... Rotting man-things.. They came to report that to me-me, and-and… Me orders them-them to go deep-deeper to the mine, but they were-were too frightened even to go near dat place… But-but, I ”convienced” them, saying, that ya’ll kill those who didn’t go there… So, they went down to da mine, and in da last night, we all-all heared this terrible roaring from the tunnels, and in this morning, and well-well I think ya know the rest..”
”Hmmm..” responded Skleetnik ”Well, let’s go to da mine to find-find out what’s goin on.. I think I’ll take Skirslik, da Assassin Sneesch, few Nightrunners, Pack of Giant Rats and da Rat Ogre to-to check out-out da mine with me…” ”Yes, Master… Me will go and inform them, to prepare themseleves…” said Skritskik. So, they went down to the mine, possibly to kill the ”monsters” the Diggin team were talking ’bout… First Assassin Sneech and his twenty Nightrunners, then the Rat Ogre and it’s provider Packmaster Grisskik, and next to them were a pack of Giant Rats and their provider Packmaster Gnawlik, and after them, Skleetnik -with Asgroth flying next to him- and Skirslik. After few yards of dark and smelly mining tunnels, they noticed, that the tunnel was dividing into two. ”Ok… Skirslik, go with Sneesch and da Night Runners to that one, and then we’ll go in this one.” said Skleetnik. ”Allrighty then.. C’mon let’s get-get movin’…”
After entering the other tunnel Skirslik noticed that there were raw Warpstone pieces on the ceilings, walls and on the ground. Suddenly, he bowed to pick up some Warpstone, and a huge bat flew right above him. ”Phew, that was close-close… Watch out…!” The bat charged to the rear of the runners, who -as result of alarming or not- turned around, and attacked fiercely the bat, wounding it, and it started to make some noises… ”It-it’s calling for h..” started one of the Nightrunners, but he couldn’t finish his sentence, as one other bat thrusted a claw trough him. And there we’re few more of them coming from the tunnel… Suddenly, a throwing star flew over the air, hitting the wounded bat, which died with a horrible shriek. ”Kill-kill da bat-things!!” hissed the Assassin, and charged fiercely those appearing from the tunnels.The runners attacked the bat they were opposing, killing it, and then running towards the remaining three. Skirslik run towards them, hoping, that they wouldn’t need any help. As a result of Sneesch’ skills, and the Night runners superiority in number, the bats were overthrown, killing only few of the Night Runners ”Do ya think da bat-things were da ”monsters” da Mining team talked ’bout…?” asked Skirslik from Sneech. ”Hmm.. Maybe… But I think dat they were-were guarding somethin’…” ”Like what…?” asked Skirslik, doubting the words of the Assassin. ”I know not. Some-something strong… A horrible bat monster,maybe..?” said the Assassin with a grin on his face. ”If so, then we’ll godda get rid of dat dirty,smelly,ugly bat monster…” said Skirslik, and they both started to cacle maniacally to Skirslik’s little joke…
Skleetnik and the rest had blisfull ignorance about the things happened at the other tunnel. Their only real problem was the growing number of bats flying over them, killing one giant rat. Asgroth fried lots of them, and the Giant Rats showed the bats too, until the bats were all gone… As they got deeper to the tunnels, the smell of rotting men was more awful, and it seemed to come from closer, and closer… ”Sniff, sniff… Where do ya think dat-dat smell is comin’ from…?” asked Gnawlik from Skleetnik. ”I don’t know-know… Sniff.. But I think dat it’s coming from around dat corner…” answered Skleetnik, pointing to a place where tunnel curve to the east –well, at least they tought it was east-. Asgroth flew around Skleetnik with anxiety. Grisskik leadid his Rat Ogre towards the curve, as Gnawlik, and his Giant Rats leaped over the rocky surface of the tunnel. Skleetnik talked gentlyto his dragon escort. ”What’s wrong, Asgroth…? Is something there-there…?” As they arrived to the curve, they noticed that the ground was full of rotting human bodyparts… ”Ah. At least, we know-know dat our Diggin’ team wasn’t the only victim… Those puny little man-things… I bet-bet the weren’t even a match..” said Grisskik with dishonour… After the curve, the tunnel became wider, and looked like a small room… After few examining views, they noticed it was huge alchemist’s laboratorium. But whose…? ”Looking for something..?” said a creepy voice behind them. Skleetnik turned around… ”You…?”
Meanwhile Skirslik, Sneesch and the Night Runners arrived to an old refinery, where they counted the casualities. ”Right-right… Only four-four Night Runners fell-fell…” said Skirslik after counting the surviros. ”That’s not much-much… We killed five of those bat-things…” answered Sneesch. They looked around and noticed, that everything wasn’t right… They felt like they were being watched… Then, Skirslik suddenly noticed an quick glimpse of a pair of foots… ”Nah, it’s just my imagination…” Skirslik thought and suddenly, he heard something… They all had heard it. It sounded like something growling… ”Stop..!” ordered Skirslik, and in the same moment something attacked them… ”Ghouls!” yelled Sneech. Nine Ghouls charged them from the darkness of the refinery. Sneesch jumped fiercely from the center of the regiment, killing one with his poisoned throwing stars, and attacking the others. As the reaction of the charge, the Ghouls killed six Night Runners. Skirslik drew his Desolate Blade from his belt, and attacked the Ghouls, killing one. When the Night Runners attacked, the Ghouls got surprised by the opposition that the Night Runners gave them -as they had got used to the farmers who wandered down here- and turned to flee, but they were overrun by the fast and the furious Skaven force… ”Phew”, said Skirslik ”that was-was a devastating match…” ”And now-now we know, dat the bat-things were obviously Fellbats…” responded Sneesch ”Hmmm… Do ya think there’s a vampire in here-here..?” asked Skirslik with fear in his tone of speech. And as only the thought of a vampire living here maked him tremble, what would seeing a vampire in situation like this do to his nerves…? ”Maybe…” answered Sneesch with a whisper…
”Yes, me…” answered the voice… ”And as your friends don’t seem to know me, I’ll introduce myself…
I am Nicodemus the Master Necromancer…” said Nicodemus. ”We met-met few years ago, when I firstly had a contact with da dead-things…” replied Skleetnik. ”Yes… But it’s been a few centuries since we met…” told Nicodemus to Skleetnik, and his campanions… Nicodemus’ appearance was very similiar to other Necromancers: black hair that came up to his shoulders, pale and slender face, and skinny body veiled with black robe, and a rope as a belt. ”I bet that you wonder what am I doing here, in this old mine. I try to learn more from these Warpstone pieces, that can be found all around the mine. You didin’t know enough for my interests back then Skleetnik…” he said in a threatening tone of voice… ”I teached him-him all I know of Warpstones…” whispered Skleetnik to his companions. ”And the reward I got-got was death…” ”I know your thoughts Skleetnik, and I must say that, I’m impressed, that you got away from my Dire Wolves…” said Nicodemus suddenly. ”But I cant let that happen now, can I…? So, this will be the end for your miserable force, you’ve brought with you…” After saing that, he mumbled some word’s, and in the same time, the rottening bodyparts started to gather together, and forming to these rotting, smelly human shaped living dead… ”Zombies..!!” yelled Gnawlik. As the zombies rase from the ground, the Necromancer walked towards them… ”30 fine Zombies… Now you can see the reason to butcher those humans… I started to gather an army to raid the village, but now, as I don’t have to do that, I’ll just get rid of you… My friend…” he said with irony, and commanded the Zombies to charge…
As a reaction to the Zombies charge, the Giant Rat’s broke, and fleed towards the tunnel they got in to this room. ”Oh, you aren’t going nowhere…” said Nicodemus, turning a candelabrum, and in the same time, the mouth of the tunnel collapsed… Skleetnik rised his hand, pointing towards the Zombies, and mumbling few words… Only thing that happened, was that few sparks flew from his fingertips. He grinned maniacally, started shaking, mumbling aloud, commanding the winds of magic, and suprisingly, a green lightning sprang from his hand, cracked through the air, dividing to few bolts of green ligthningbolts, and striking the Zombies as many of them burned as the warp energy coursed through their rotting bodies. Asgroth started breathing heavily, and slowly. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, sucking air to his lugns, and blow a flame from his throat, burning 3 of the Zombies, and the only thing left of them, was a little stack of ash remaining…
The Rat Ogre and Grisskik charged fiercely to the flank of the Zombies, yelling and roaring. The monstrous rat mutant swinged viciously the chain it had wrapped around its massive talon, and slashed the Zombies with it. Packmaster Grisskik lashed his whip in the air towards the Zombies, slicing one in two pieces. The Zombies started screaming,howling and roaring, and tried to harm the monstrous Rat Ogre, which started roared in it’s fury. Few Zombies from the back rank crumbled to dust… The Necromancer said few words, pointing towards the fallen corpses of the zombies. Skleetnik, mumbling few words, and trying to dispell the Necromancer’s casting, failing to do so. The Necromancer wathced in ecstasy, as ten Zombies rase from the ground, joining the other ones. In the same time, the Giant Rat pack had rallied, marching towards the Zombies, while Skleetnik stayed on the background, having a magical battle with the Master Necromancer. Nicodemus started to mumble magical words. Suddenly, the Necromanser's eyes started glowing red, menancing the thread to his enemies. Bolts of dark magic leaped from his eyes towards the Rat Ogre, burning it’s flesh, wounding the monstrous being, which started to roar in pain and suffer. Then the Giant Rats charged to the front side of the Zombie unit, biting, gnawing and chewing two of them to death. Then the Zombies attacked, punching, and biting the Giant Rats and managed to kill few of them. Some of them attacked and even wounded the massive Rat Ogre, which now was in great pain. The rest of the Giant Rats turned to flee… The battle seemed to be lost, when…
Skirslik noticed a tunnel leading to a large room, filled with noice of battle. ”This way.. Quick-quick…!” he shouted to Sneesch and the rest ten of the Night Runners. They ran to the room surprising everybody, expescially Nicodemus, who hadn’t expected, that there were more Skaven infiltrated to his mine. ”Die, dead-thing..!” shouted Sneech, and charged the Master Necromancer. The Night Runners -accompanied with Skirslik with his Desolate Blade- charged to the other side of the Zombie unit. Skirslik rushed towards the Zombies, slashing, cutting, slicing and stabbing them. The Night Runners sweeped and slashed, killing lots of the Zombies. The zombies tried to attack the Night Runners, but after that, the rest of the Zombie regiment vanished in a cloud of dust… Nicodemus were in big trouble with Sneesch, who swung his Weeping Blade and charged the Master Necromancer. The only thing that prevented Sneesch from killing him, was the special protection the amulet the Necromancer was wearing, gives him. Sneesch made dive attacks, jumped towards him, and rushed forward swinging his Weeping Blade, but every time, he had hit the Necromancer, his amulet saved him… Skleetnik had a plan. He would distract the Necromancers protection, with his spell, so that Sneesch would kill him. Skleetnik started mumbling a spell, that would only distract the Necromancer, and wouldn’t possibly harm Sneesch. He could feel the power growing within he, when he said the last words, the Necromancer raised his hand, to dispell it, but it seemed like it was casted so perfectly, that it couldn’t even be dispelled. Skleetnik started glowing green energy, and suddenly, a little, but lethal bolt of green lightning shot the Necromancer. He got hit by the lightning, but he had survived. As being wounded, and seeing that Sneesch was making an attack, he understood, that he had no other chances left… He run to the bookself, pulled a book, and it turned slightly open. ”You have maybe won me this time, but I shall revenge…!” shouted the Necromancer, before he disappared, and the secret passage had closed its doors…
”Phew” said Skleetnik with relief. The battle had been won, but at what cost..? ”What the heck.. Life is cheap…” he thought. The life of his Giant rats, and the 13 Night Runners wasn’t that important to him. After all, there is always more of them were they came from…
EDIT: hieman typoja korjattu. Ja pieniä muutoksia siellä täällä.
nyt voinkin -taas kerran- mainostaa kotisivujani, joilta voi lukea (sekä imuroida tuon tarinan "alkuperäisen" version) jotain armeijan fluffia... (pitää muuttaa hieman, armeijaani ei (ehkä) tulekaan kahta Assassinia...