Mouse
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:42:15 GMT -7
By BarnCatDrgN
Gloomy Vale nights these days echoed with the swishklang of swordplay from various areas of the swamp. Bog Wraiths wandered from fight to fight like eager spectators feeding off the action this brought to their dreary lives.
BarnCat was busy with his own set of problems that presented themselves in the way of an urgent call from a clan-mate, Xcutionr. X earlier sent a mental urgent call that he was surrounded and could basically use some backup. BarnCat, nodded, even though Xcutionr could'nt see that, but sent a perceivable affirmative that he was on his way. He bounded due south and travelled the waterway where he eventually beheld a sight that froze the blood in his veins and ignited the fires of battle in his heart.
Xcutionr was walking tiredly over, after having ran like hell, and there to the rear, and flanking left and right were Bone Claws clacking doggedly with him. BarnCat dashed up and suck the bladed staff of Kryyn into the ribcage of one, ceasing it's forward progress. It angrily clacked its jaw and took a swipe at him. X stood decision as he seemed to be watching Barncat twisting the staff like a fork in spaghetti into the ribcage of this angry stack of bones.
Xcutionr rushed up, hit a few times on his own, and hoppd back. BarnCat with one hand shot Death Cloud at a bone claw and greater healing to X. This took Mana as well as concentration.
Attack that and on the other hand, heal, don't confuse the two! A steady fighting progress backpedalling back to Gloomy Vale and assured rescue, and relief. BarnCat breathed heavily and sat down outside town and messaged "Man WOW! I dunno what you said to set them off, but I've never seen them swarm like that, lol."
A few casual quips exchanged with weary chuckles and self-effacing humor and BarnCat went back inside Gloomy to sit in the pub and have himself another cigar for another job well done.
So close to ten levels of skill and battle experience and they creeped stealthily closer to him. bearer of rewards for hard work, portended things to come.
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Mouse
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Posts: 143
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:43:23 GMT -7
By BarnCatDrgN
The night as always started slow until I sped it up -
Zombies flanked me left and right and on my brains they'd sup -
But that's the path of a loser and I chose to be a winner -
so I drew my bladed staff and declared myself non-dinner -
After killing a bone claw and then those two elites -
the swamp as a whole seemed to change its mind on having me for eats -
I ran around looking for something else to kill -
but gone was the easy hunt, gone the local thrill -
so headed North and west, leaving behind my faith -
in battle until I happened upon a Bog Wraith -
It stood like a pillar of smoke floating in lazy patterns -
It looked sad and lost so I asked it what's the matter? -
It stopped and approached me hunger in it's eyes -
it's true intent from then on was hard to disguise -
but I guessed wrong as I write this song, or poem or prose, or rhyme -
All the poor misty dead being wanted was a little of my time -
So I killed me one drolling fiend, fire-dried its slimy hide -
and made from him a bench from here my time could abide -
It sat next to me weightless, but heavy hearted near -
and told me it's greivous tale it wanted me to hear -
It stated it hated being fated to be lost in 'tween life and death -
I identified with this spectre e'en though i still drew breath -
I heard his tale through and decided it was best -
to divest of this being it's limbo existence and lay it to rest -
It stood stock still and gave me a good fight as a reward -
but in the ending the one left standing was one BarnCat with a new sword -
BarnCat continued, on to Byrendell smiling his way north -
and vowed from then on to the future to live life for all it's worth. -
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Mouse
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:44:11 GMT -7
Of Attainment and Atonement, what the Ten meant!
By BarnCatDrgN Winds howled soundlessly muffled by fog in the swamps south of Gloomy Vale. Standing starkly blacker than the black night skies it silhouetted, stood an Atonement Shrine. Even the winds avoided it, as it echoed with the memories of it's own, stored within it the intent for closure, and the hopes of a brighter future for all.
At the foot of this grim obelisk knelt one who'd never killed a fellow hero, but why?
This was so odd it summoned Zanden himself to BarnCat's side. Zanden appeared in his usual sudden manner.
(that is when battle had been finished for long enough to allow him peaceful entrance.)
He furrowed his brow and stroked his beard thoughtfully, then strode up and stood above the penitent BarnCat. "Hmm, nice isn't it? This Atonement Shrine and many others Symbolize Hope, Renewal, all of that. My friend, you do not belong here."
BarnCat, looked up, his eyes reflecting twin flames of conviction. "I ... I know, but, I was drawn here. I was just out hunting, and I've just attained the rank of level ten. I feel so much more capable, but, yet, I feel still so unfulfilled."
Zanden smiled, knowingly, enigmatically, as all old Wizards seemed to like to do.
(agrravating really)
He placed a hand on BarnCat's shoulder and used him to lower down to eye level. "You know, few privileged warriors know this, but I know many things, many places. I exist in many worlds, many forms. I live a sort of cosmic infinity, as it were. But yes, getting to my point. Some of us lived multiple existences. Even some simultaneously! In tow of the worlds I dwell, I've watched you... both."
BarnCat stood up suddenly, this was making no sense to his rational mind, but his deep inner self nodded yes yes yes! "Both... of me? I'm one, I'm one, I'm here! Among my clan, and friends, and people who have accepted me whiskers and all and have come to rely on me!"
Zanden stood up unaided by the stunned catwarrior. "Well yes, you have done well by your fellow warriors, none have openly quarreled with you here, but think on this, think on two sides of the coin, the gold token of your being. Both of you, you here and you there. Here-you has experienced much light and joy, darkness and misery, these have hardened you, but tempered you to a fine edged trophy. But think, Other-you-there still has much to gain, much to lose, much to learn and much to teach. I ask of you, to fill and finalise this void within you-here, you complete yourself."
BarnCat was starting t get it, deeply felt was a sense of a sourceless loss, regret, and Duty! "Well, makes sense, Zanden nine levels have passed, nine lives are past, I'll do this. Whatever it takes to finally lay to rest these doubts, fears, everpresent internal struggle. If it's not here, and it isn't, this... other-me holds the key to it? My salvation... my atonement!"
Zanden nodded somberly, the beginning of a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, a step through a gateway to another world.
In all the few significant stories told and yet to be heard was there ever a tale of one who willingly returned to that LOTheR place? Tales of Shade will always be told in Shade to those who would hear, from those who would tell. Tales elsewhere shall remain there.
The BarnCat will return, and be better for it, Be ye Man or Beast, we all do what we feel we must do.
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Mouse
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Posts: 143
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:45:05 GMT -7
Look what the... CatDrgn!
By BarnCatDrgN
Something happened on the way that souls travel from world to world. Something terrible and weird, terribly weird.
BarnCatX's body stayed in Shade, but his essence, his very soul is extracted from him and in a new and unskilled body.
Now, he wanders Shade again as one new would, searching for adventure while his old self sits immobile awaiting restoration from Grimm.
CatDrgn bought his new equipment, remembering the places he cuold still find chests lying about, that were of little value to the older warriors, he put them to great use.
With gold gathered from a short hunt in the Catacombs and a run to Gloomy Vale and back He planned his next moves, hoping soon to be back in his old self. Meanwhile, why not enjoy being new all over again?
"Let's Explore!" And so on up and out he went! {To be continued...}
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Mouse
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:46:12 GMT -7
Unhinged crazed CatDrgn going on in teh volcano.
By BarnCatDrgN
Bursting out of Slyythra with nothing on but basic equipment, and a maniacal grin on his face, CatDrgn ran south. South right into the region of the Volcano!?!
What a NUT! LOL! Look at him go, walking casually by Great FLame Lizards, Running past Young Dragons!
Unhinged, he wanted to see exactly how far a level one such as he now was could go on an attempted run to Bal'Rak. He wanted to be the First, or one of the first.
He ran laughing madly, his face twitching from adrenaline and mania. He howled with glee as he left more and more bewildered dragon types behind him.
WHOOP! Dead end there, yipes Atonement shrine here, how nice, but blah, not Bal'Rak! Okay a nice clear path, wait whoops not so clear, hah, sidestep that dragon!
Seeeyah!
He kept running north, and whoa what a crowd! uh ok uhm damn heh whoops.., "Would one of you happen to know the way to Bal'Rak?"
4 Great Flame Lizards, 2 young dragons, and 1 ordinary flame lizard all looked up from their doings, and RRROOOAARRed! "Translation please? heeheehahaha!"
(Gulp!)
RUN!
He dashed north, bounced off the armored chest of a flame lizard, it lashed out with it's spiked tail, yeeeouch much pain, ran left, FFFOOOMPT!
Seared by scorching dragon breath. very little life left now (HP = IQ) and he wobbled, exhausted from the running, and walked south and was incinerated by a great flame lizard.
Moments later, he stood above his blackened body, in limbo and ghostlike, covered in the ashes of his leather armor and the slag of his melted sword still glowed red.
His corpse was eaten gladly, his attempt, foolhardy, frenzied and failed. He resurrected and planned his next daring adventure.
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Mouse
Mouse Secretary
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:47:40 GMT -7
NoVaCaT-ion.
By BarnCatDrgN Sitting in the Pub in Cloven Pine, thinking there should be a Steaming/No Steaming section as a wisps of swamp gas still rose from his decaying flesh in phosphorescent tendrils, he lost his track of thought in that vivid imagery that visual description brought to mind. Drumming his bony claws on the table, mentally scanning Shade for someone to message with to pass some time, he noticed some {PoA} clan members begin to filter in.
Some of the Pillars recognized him in his new form, others seemed leery. NoVa hunched over his drink, took another swig, still feeling no effects of it, or the cigars he puffed in succession.
He was looking rather creepy in his Cryptkeeper cloak and zombie berserker blade sheathed at his side. He had to remember to buy a more face-concealing helm to deflect the stares he still let bother him.
Some people came to sit at his table, politely hiding their reaction to the sight and smell he now emitted. He nodded and answered in a raspy voice to their conversations, but actually had his mind on a trip he planned on taking.
His glazed eyes like two cloudy orbs of glowing ice looked out the window, in the direction of... the goblin caves.
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Mouse
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:48:41 GMT -7
here's the 411..yo.) NoVaCaveTrip.
By BarnCatDrgN
Post#411 puts us squarely back in BardMode as we pick up where we left off.
The shelves were stocked with a nice variety of Warrior's Helms, various facial carvings on display beckoned the gold out of the pockets but one stood out in particular and was grabbed, bought and worn before anyone could notice teh rotten feline features it concealed. Ironically the helm bought's carvings were of a panther skull, glinting with silver protection.
Later in the bar, trying to sip Cloven Ales through his helm and waiting for a potential hunting party to arrive, he chatted with some Pillars of Autumn warriors.
Standing up, bowing, taking his leave after welcoming to the clan yet another promising recruit, he remembered his first days in Clan {Trk}, they were stumbling new days, full with victorys and losses, gains and goods. He only hoped Condok's experience with us was just as good if not even better.
(Nice thing he was no longer the only undead warroir in the ranks, now he could blame the smells on someone else.)
Inside the cave the darkness revealed something else odd and disturbing about being undead.
His eyes glowed a sickly reddish hue as phosphorescent bacteria ate away at his nonliving eyes. Nice effect though, and definitely helped him against the brash little humanoids who seemed a little hesitant to fight this new threat to their days of wheezy airbreathing. The Zombie Berseker blade danced at the end of his arms, slicing patterns in Goblins and Goblins into Patterns. Halting to answer an echoing telepathic communication from Kei, {Trk} Clanmate. Nodding, he slowed his roll and stood by the ladder watching a goblin wander around a safe distance from him.
Kei leapt down the ladder and landed silently next to him, damn, gotta admit the kid has some moves! He smiled invisibly and abruptly ran the route there. He stopped to kill a goblin scout and ran past, ("wait, I do need gold, damn...")
NoVa ran back and grabbed some Gold, but had trouble swinging the blade and holding the gold so he shrugged and stuffed it into his mouth then swallowed.
After a few more kills and metallic meals, Kei held his hand up for a halt. He explained his part in this hunt was interrupted by other business. NoVa nodded and smiled, his mouth full of gold pieces. Zanden soon apparated next to Kei and smiled then.... grimaced at NoVa's golden mouthful grinning gruesomely back to him. Zanden covered his face in his hands shook his head and vanished with Kei.
~BuRrRpP!~
NoVaCaT continued on North, not certain he knew exactly where he was going and that seemed to be the only thing he was really right about. He was Lost! He wandered from chamber to chamber, exterminating goblin occupants, but finding no landmark looking even remotely familiar.
He was Sure he'd avoided the wrong turn that took him up into the Goblin Barracks, but now he passed living spaces left and right, up and down. He ran south, tirelessly until he reached a chamber edged with a shimmering underground pool. His gut was gettin heavy with gold he jingled when he walked.
Zanden appeared, sighed. "Well, nice, you're lost hmmm? You might as well give it up for this night. This one'll cost you 100 gold, you have it?"
NoVa nodded enthusiastically.
"100 Gold?"
NoVa nodded again.
"Well, open your mouth, idiot."
NoVa frowned.
"Oh no... No! It's all inside of you?"
NoVa frowned and nodded, then let out a jangling burp.
Zanden growled, paced "oKAY!! Okay... just this once, right? Just This Once! But you could for the next time please PLEASE use your damned Backpack!"
(BackPack?)
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Mouse
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Post by Mouse on Oct 3, 2005 17:53:32 GMT -7
Evil Revisited.
By BarnCatDrgN "So, tell me what happened then."
Leaning in close to listen to the Innkeeper's account of the strange happenings of last night.
"Well" he shuddered "It was really something uh, well of course you know we've been keeping a room for BarnCat. Odd thing is he never comes out, notto eat, not to hunt, just silent in there."
The hooded warrior nodded, "Yes, well... he's not been himself lately, so he's resting that self, so to speak."
"Resting hawh, you call that resting?"
"I think you'd better tell me the rest of what you saw happen in that room before I grow impatient with you."
"Getting to it, would you like some tea?"
"Yes thanks, golden healing darjeeling for me please."
"Right away."
The Innkeeper returned with two steaming cups and sat down. "Well, I was tending counter for any late night customers we sometimes get when I heard alot of glass breaking noises upstairs, found out it was from Room#10, BarnCat's room."
"And you opened the door and saw?"
"Well it was a mess in there, glass everywhere, and BarnCat still laying there but I saw someone else in the room so I hid behind the door and listened in."
"Give me a description of the man in BarnCat's room?"
"It was no man, it was a creature, dressed in all black, a cryptkeeper's cloak, and some kind of bucket helm, smelled like a pit of death this one, and you could almost see the anger coming off it's hide like waves."
"Did .... IT Do or say anything?"
"Yeah, this is where it gets weird, and you'll find this very interesting, word for word it growled out 'Ssso, this is where you are, as if I did not know, laying there so peaceful while I'm roaming Shade.' and then it pulled out a zombie berserker blade, ever seen one of those?"
.... "I know of them yes..."
"Well anyway, back to ...IT. It looked down at the blade and smiled then said 'I could kill and replace you so easily. You could be a past memory, a nothing but a few words in the annals of Shade, whereas I, who was given a choice after I was killed, could now work for my lord Chaos freely and without ever having to look back on you, my greatest mistake, my last hope, my failure.' and then it stood over the bed, raised the blade like so."
The Innkeeper raised both arms above his head, completely forgetting he was still holding hot tea, that spilled on his head causing him to exclaim loudly.
The hooded figure groaned and rose to get some rags for the careless Innkeep.
"Oh thanks sorry, oh my, I have made a mess on my breeches, heh."
"Just tell people it's tea-pee."
"Hahaha that was good, you're funny, yes."
"Please, continue."
"Well, it brought the sword down WHAM! right into BarnCat, I do mean into, but damned if I didnt see any blood, it was like BarnCat was made of vapor, it cut through him like owlwings through night fog."
"This is because he's under an enchantment or lacks his soul perhaps?" the warrior hastily added.
"Yes, that could be it, like it was him and it was'nt him, and this figure, it growled and hissed and tore up the room, well I could stand it no more, I rushed in with the fireplace poker in my hand. It looked right at me, those eyes, oh my, they were like pits of evil. It laughed and said 'Oh fair Innkeep, hahahhaaaa, yes perfect, bear witness' it took off it's helm and there, was the face of BarnCat's, but twisted with hatred, undead, and unmistakably evil! It ah it also said this to me before leaving 'GO on, tell the policing force of this town what you have seen.'"
"But you came to me instead."
"YOU came to ME, but as long as you are here maybe you can help?"
"I'll have to."
"Well it walked to the window and said in parting 'Who would ever believe that I would kill Barn... Cat' and leapt out the window like a cat itself."
The hooded warrior, sighed, stood up, and walked to the door. "Well my thanks to you kind sir, but I must now take my leave." and then he pulled off his concealing hood. NoVaCaT stood and faced the Innkeep who shrieked and fell back into his chair, spilling more tea.
"Y-y-y-y-you!!!"
"No, not me, I was not in that creature, I was laying peacefully in that bed, while I was also hunting down in Gloomy Vale, but this being is known to me."
Upstairs, scratched into the wooden walls, were these words, written in a dark red fluid:
Death is Only the Beginning, isn't it? Therein comes the choice, judging from your present state I would say you too also chose wisely.
Now keep to your choice and do not follow me. My ... ow, I broke a nail...damn...
Anyways, yes. Keep to your path, and I'll keep to mine and may the two never twine or your world will become unravelled!
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Post by barncat on Oct 4, 2005 21:00:05 GMT -7
These in my probably too humble opinion weren't as good as the others, but are still amusing reading, at least for me, but then I'm trying to be humble here, lol.
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