The Thunderers are a trio of daemonic brothers with seemingly elemental ties. Rarely summoned except to battle, the brothers manifest as broadly muscled behemoths with slick skin that turns unenchanted blades aside. Unlike the traditional image of the daemon, there is little to suggest brimstone, but still their presence reeks of wrongness, barely hidden by the aromatic smoke that typically issues from censers held by their servitors.
Their very presence in this world is marked by sudden stormy weather even from previously sunny and clear skies, while stored food and drink within thirteen miles of their presence is instantly spoiled.
Their great power as shock troops of the otherworld comes from their ground-shaking footsteps, which are prone to knock all enemies within thirty foot of them from their feet. The impact of their sharp-horned fists on armour is accompanied by the crash of thunder and often severely damages it. Within a half-dozen blows, it is not unknown for a fully protected knight to suddenly find his breastplate riven from top to bottom; with another blow heading rapidly for his now vulnerable torso.
Their time in our world on each summoning is fortunately limited to the length of time that the summoner spends in a ritual circle concentrating on the spell. It is typically therefore a primary goal of any commander who has found themselves facing these beasts to locate and disrupt the summoner's concentration.
Thursday, 27 March 2008
Winter fragment
Krisla-Tenu waved Rhaek over, and he tossed a datastick to her as he sat down. The chair creaked under his weight as he settled and crossed his leg. “How’s our man?” she asked idly. Pulsing icons signalled updates to a number of projects.
“On his way – the couriers reported back not that long ago.”
“Any problems?”
“Not for us to worry about – insertion should take place in a couple of days.” Rhaek steepled his fingers. “So – what’s our next step? Preparation for extraction or do we have time for some work on the side?” Her terminal chirped, and she held up a hand to quiet him a moment. He got up quietly and left the room.
Jerrek’s thin voice whispered in her ear. “Sorry to break in – can you talk right now?”
“If you’re quick, I’m just about to go into a meeting.”
“Okay – quickly then; I’ve been going through the logs and I think there’s a set-up in progress.”
“In what way?”
“Looks like someone’s trying to get past the Challenge protocols – I’ve found reference to the hiring of a cybrid from the Hunters’ Guild – not sure by who though.”
“The Guild isn’t co-operating?” She rose from her chair, skirting around her desk and leaning out the door. “Rhaek! Get back here now.”
“No – not even in an unofficial way – they’re claiming client confidentiality.” Jerrek continued. Rhaek came back, trotting down the hall. “The original encrypted notices are pretty fragmented, but I’ll see how well Corran and her crew can do with them.”
“On his way – the couriers reported back not that long ago.”
“Any problems?”
“Not for us to worry about – insertion should take place in a couple of days.” Rhaek steepled his fingers. “So – what’s our next step? Preparation for extraction or do we have time for some work on the side?” Her terminal chirped, and she held up a hand to quiet him a moment. He got up quietly and left the room.
Jerrek’s thin voice whispered in her ear. “Sorry to break in – can you talk right now?”
“If you’re quick, I’m just about to go into a meeting.”
“Okay – quickly then; I’ve been going through the logs and I think there’s a set-up in progress.”
“In what way?”
“Looks like someone’s trying to get past the Challenge protocols – I’ve found reference to the hiring of a cybrid from the Hunters’ Guild – not sure by who though.”
“The Guild isn’t co-operating?” She rose from her chair, skirting around her desk and leaning out the door. “Rhaek! Get back here now.”
“No – not even in an unofficial way – they’re claiming client confidentiality.” Jerrek continued. Rhaek came back, trotting down the hall. “The original encrypted notices are pretty fragmented, but I’ll see how well Corran and her crew can do with them.”
Dungeons and Dragons campaign briefing
The Known World sprawls from icy wastes to lush jungles, and has embraced the challenges of both magic and burgeoning technology for both weal and woe. The Known World is that of the light – largely above the ground and comprised of large enough numbers to form nations or sizeable proportions of states in their numbers. By no means does this mean that there are not divisions or wars between them however.
There are a number of major players in the arena of the Known World – the elven nation of Shammarhys is perhaps the oldest and deepest rooted civilisation, though this is disputed by the keen craftsmen of the dwarven nation Ghurramahk.
The humans – once a slave race of the departed Daelkyr – have spread and founded their own nations: Solangis, Freehold, Bellayne and Loyir being the greatest among them.
The halflings have their Hearthholds, and the gnomes maintain the nomadic lifestyle that allowed them to survive the destruction of their cavern realms.
Living among them all are reminders of the scars of war – half elves, half orcs and half ogres all experience varying degrees of acceptance or rejection, while the warforged struggle both to construct a society for themselves, and to decide what stance to take on the less advanced mechs and constructs from which they were formed.
As if there wasn’t enough to contend with, the goblinoid hordes have, for now, retreated to the wastes, but still they strike out, emboldened by new leaders. The forces of the Unknown World, the darkness below, are always looking for avenues of influence. Tales occasionally reach the ears of the civilised world of horrific aberrations as old as time lurking in the depths and deserted places of the world, waiting for their time to come again, while other creatures dream of blotting out the sun, and striding forth under dying skies to claim the world…
And then there are the dragons – ancient foes of the giants – and equally gifted in guile and power. These two foes play a long game across a fractured board, and who knows what may tip the balance…
There are a number of major players in the arena of the Known World – the elven nation of Shammarhys is perhaps the oldest and deepest rooted civilisation, though this is disputed by the keen craftsmen of the dwarven nation Ghurramahk.
The humans – once a slave race of the departed Daelkyr – have spread and founded their own nations: Solangis, Freehold, Bellayne and Loyir being the greatest among them.
The halflings have their Hearthholds, and the gnomes maintain the nomadic lifestyle that allowed them to survive the destruction of their cavern realms.
Living among them all are reminders of the scars of war – half elves, half orcs and half ogres all experience varying degrees of acceptance or rejection, while the warforged struggle both to construct a society for themselves, and to decide what stance to take on the less advanced mechs and constructs from which they were formed.
As if there wasn’t enough to contend with, the goblinoid hordes have, for now, retreated to the wastes, but still they strike out, emboldened by new leaders. The forces of the Unknown World, the darkness below, are always looking for avenues of influence. Tales occasionally reach the ears of the civilised world of horrific aberrations as old as time lurking in the depths and deserted places of the world, waiting for their time to come again, while other creatures dream of blotting out the sun, and striding forth under dying skies to claim the world…
And then there are the dragons – ancient foes of the giants – and equally gifted in guile and power. These two foes play a long game across a fractured board, and who knows what may tip the balance…
Benevici fragment
From the eyes of a squirrel, Benevici watched the bustle of activity. A pigeon fluttered in on the bridge's parapet, and he watched through those eyes too.
Crime Fragment
“So here we are again...Happy as can be...” the white haired man’s expression didn’t match the jollity of his sing-song cadenced words. There was a fixed grimace as he almost spat the words out, playing to his audience. There were a mixture of reactions ranging from embarrassed grins and downright mischievous glances from what were obviously work colleagues sharing his lunchtime pub lunch.
Abraham Dennis shuddered to himself and fixed his concentration to staying in the here and now rather than getting caught up in what was beginning to feel suspiciously like a panic attack. Breathe in, breathe out, steady, relax your hands; people will be thinking you’re going to go for them. It was a well-worn mantra that occasionally worked for him. Self consciously, he unhooked his fingers from the rictused claws they had become and closed his eyes for a moment. It was a bad one. He felt as if every fibre of his being wanted to run from the building - or to explode - or both at once. Taking a sharp breath in, he instead opened his eyes again, and mentally pushed and packaged the panic into what he could only visualise as a small room. If he let myself, he could still feel the panic scratching away in the depths, but it would hold for now.
He took the time to finish his meal – although to be fair he bolted most of it rather than savour it. This was definitely a pub from the greasy spoon end of the culinary arts. It was warm though and filling – and right at this moment that was all Dennis needed. His pager rumbled quietly at his hip again. Reluctantly he glanced down at the display.
Abraham Dennis shuddered to himself and fixed his concentration to staying in the here and now rather than getting caught up in what was beginning to feel suspiciously like a panic attack. Breathe in, breathe out, steady, relax your hands; people will be thinking you’re going to go for them. It was a well-worn mantra that occasionally worked for him. Self consciously, he unhooked his fingers from the rictused claws they had become and closed his eyes for a moment. It was a bad one. He felt as if every fibre of his being wanted to run from the building - or to explode - or both at once. Taking a sharp breath in, he instead opened his eyes again, and mentally pushed and packaged the panic into what he could only visualise as a small room. If he let myself, he could still feel the panic scratching away in the depths, but it would hold for now.
He took the time to finish his meal – although to be fair he bolted most of it rather than savour it. This was definitely a pub from the greasy spoon end of the culinary arts. It was warm though and filling – and right at this moment that was all Dennis needed. His pager rumbled quietly at his hip again. Reluctantly he glanced down at the display.
Crime Fragment
They had a suspect. They had him in custody. They just didn't have enough to hold him and unfortunately the suspect knew it. Dennis and Grayson looked through the glass at the tall and heavily built man. Plainly dressed in black jeans and black cotton t-shirt, he was sitting quietly, with his palms flat to the table. Dennis felt uneasy even at this remove.
Conversation In A Firefight
Suzie changed the clip on her assault rifle and switched to semi-automatic. With three single shots she dropped three separate soldiers - the loud booms and explosive craters suggesting a change in ammunition type.
"HESH rounds" she offered by way of explanation, return fire from the remaining two assailants raking the wall above their heads. She popped up a sensor from her headset over the top of their cover, its micro-eye scannning the immediate surroundings.
In a brief lull she surged again back to her feet, and fired again, twice. She received several large dents and scores in her own plating for her trouble, but there was no more incoming fire.
Dust began to settle. "High Explosive Squash Heads - designed to take out armoured personnel - they penetrate, then fragment."
"Sounds like they'd seriously hurt you too" KT asked
"Nah, I'm a full-body replacement job - chromed through and through. If they got through the brain pan or hit the nerve processors I'd be screwed but if anyone got shot in those locations, armour or no armour they'd be out of the fight."
"HESH rounds" she offered by way of explanation, return fire from the remaining two assailants raking the wall above their heads. She popped up a sensor from her headset over the top of their cover, its micro-eye scannning the immediate surroundings.
In a brief lull she surged again back to her feet, and fired again, twice. She received several large dents and scores in her own plating for her trouble, but there was no more incoming fire.
Dust began to settle. "High Explosive Squash Heads - designed to take out armoured personnel - they penetrate, then fragment."
"Sounds like they'd seriously hurt you too" KT asked
"Nah, I'm a full-body replacement job - chromed through and through. If they got through the brain pan or hit the nerve processors I'd be screwed but if anyone got shot in those locations, armour or no armour they'd be out of the fight."
Imminent Contact - Fragment
There was a prolongued whine of slowing turbofans outside that reduced in scale from deafening to merely loud. Krisla-Tenu risked a peek through the blinds and saw figures moving their way towards the building through the raised dust cloud. They were hunched low against the downdraft, and their bulk suggested armour.
The Windward Incident
This tale is told among the quieter and more sober sailors to the Isles of a recent incident that has chilled the blood of many in the area.
It is said that a marine in service to House Ferris was on shore leave following a successful campaign against the pirates then active to the West of the settlements on the Windward Coast. Deep in his cups he had boasted of the many miscreants sent to the bottom of the seas by the blades of him and his company.
He also told of their defeat of the daemon-driven pirate-lord - Horny Tom Windlass - in his own fastness, and of the loot they had recovered.
To all that paid attention, he showed them a mirrored mask - plucked, he said - from Horny Tom's face himself. Made of chased silver, with iron fittings, it was bitterly cold to the touch; and the marine - one Cormack Berryson - kept his prize in a wrapping of tattered sailcloth.
Drinks placed upon it rapidly cooled to the point of ice crystals forming; and yet Cormack claimed that the unpadded mask had been worn by the pirate-lord without apparent penalty or concern.
When doubt was expressed by those around the table, he foolishly picked up the mask and concealed his own features upon it, whereupon he froze solid on the spot. Rimed with frost, and a pale blue tinge to his flesh he was sat there at the table like some macabre statue brought in from the night.
When the outcry died down and the attempt was made to move his corpse however, a far more disturbing event took place - the now-black fleshed marine's eyes lit with a pale green flame, and with a haunting cry, the possessed young marine knocked aside all between him and the door, disappearing into the cold night air.
Some say he still resides in the snow-capped passes, leading desperate bands of the damned onto the caravans braving the wilds between settlements. Others say that the tales of the return of Horny Tom Windlass hint at a darker origin of the mask, and that the poor foolish marine has more than paid with his life and soul for his part in the slaying of the previous bearer.
We only know that the winter nights blow colder, and the howls on the wind may not always be that of the wind through the trees...
It is said that a marine in service to House Ferris was on shore leave following a successful campaign against the pirates then active to the West of the settlements on the Windward Coast. Deep in his cups he had boasted of the many miscreants sent to the bottom of the seas by the blades of him and his company.
He also told of their defeat of the daemon-driven pirate-lord - Horny Tom Windlass - in his own fastness, and of the loot they had recovered.
To all that paid attention, he showed them a mirrored mask - plucked, he said - from Horny Tom's face himself. Made of chased silver, with iron fittings, it was bitterly cold to the touch; and the marine - one Cormack Berryson - kept his prize in a wrapping of tattered sailcloth.
Drinks placed upon it rapidly cooled to the point of ice crystals forming; and yet Cormack claimed that the unpadded mask had been worn by the pirate-lord without apparent penalty or concern.
When doubt was expressed by those around the table, he foolishly picked up the mask and concealed his own features upon it, whereupon he froze solid on the spot. Rimed with frost, and a pale blue tinge to his flesh he was sat there at the table like some macabre statue brought in from the night.
When the outcry died down and the attempt was made to move his corpse however, a far more disturbing event took place - the now-black fleshed marine's eyes lit with a pale green flame, and with a haunting cry, the possessed young marine knocked aside all between him and the door, disappearing into the cold night air.
Some say he still resides in the snow-capped passes, leading desperate bands of the damned onto the caravans braving the wilds between settlements. Others say that the tales of the return of Horny Tom Windlass hint at a darker origin of the mask, and that the poor foolish marine has more than paid with his life and soul for his part in the slaying of the previous bearer.
We only know that the winter nights blow colder, and the howls on the wind may not always be that of the wind through the trees...
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