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Tuesday, August 26, 2003 02:14 AM |
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Cyborg Story by: SoulRitual
A new definition to the term "Bots" on Battle.net... |
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Diablo >>
Bane - Hero of the North - Part IX (continued) by Bane
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"I will come, if only to slay some beasts. These people here look suspicious, and I do not like this ale." It was then that the barkeeper returned to the companion's table, accompanied by the man he had been talking too.
"This is Bern," He said gesturing towards the man beside him. "He knows this area better than anybody else in the town and will show you the way."
"Explain?" Asked Bane. "Does this man know where the beast is?" Bern nodded, his deep voice unsettling.
"I hunt deer around these woods and have done so for years, I know this area as well as God himself." Bane could feel the man was confident.
"Very well, if you will lead us to this demon we will do the rest." Bane looked at his companions, Kabana and Chiana looked keen, Balkin however seemed to want to stay and drink the night away.
"Ok then barbarian, let us depart." Bane stood up and began a walk towards the door. The barkeeper rushed at him and grabbed hold of Bane's arm.
"Wait, there is something you must know. It will help you identify my son." Bane nodded and watched the barkeeper remove a medallion from his neck. The barkeeper handed it to Bane. The piece was incomplete; it was a half circle, with plain markings.
"My son has the other half to this, please find him."
Bern had led them far from the village, through paths barely trodden by men. The darkness of the night and the green illumination from the lining of the moon made for tense atmosphere. The only sounds were of the group's footsteps and a wolf howling far away.
The canopy of trees above made it feel as if they were trapped within a room, the bush and plant life harassing them at every move. Bern had moved on ahead with Bane, the two carefully looking for sign of recent travel.
"Footprints!" Bane exclaimed, kneeling low to the ground, one hand on his sword hilt, the other pointing at the prints on the ground. Bern made his way to the barbarian, his eyes a tale of sadness.
"We are close barbarian…the clearing is close." Clearing? Bern had never mentioned that, in fact he had not mentioned he had seen the beasts home at all.
"You have been to this clearing before?"
"Yes north-man. I came here two years ago; I witnessed the sacrifices made that evening. I must warn you though, for the Dark Rider will have its followers." Bane nodded despite wanting to press the matter further, to find out how the man had exactly been in the position to see the sacrifices in the first place.
The group moved on through the dark, pushing deeper into the dense forest. As they progressed Bane had detected a foul smell clinging to the very leaves of the trees and plants that they brushed past. He had smelt it once before in the City of Fire.
It was not long before he heard a humming from ahead, no further than a hundred yards. Stopping suddenly Bane turned towards Bern, who was now shaking.
"This is the place isn't it?" Bern nodded and began taking steps backwards.
"I will not stay here, good luck to you!" Bern broke of into a run, back towards the town. Bane whispered a curse; Bern was clumsy and loud on his retreat, perhaps loud enough to disturb the Dark Rider. Shaking his head he slowly moved forward, as silent as a ghost.
Peeling back a bush carefully Bane stared into the clearing, horrified by the sight. The clearing was large, a large piece of rock towards the north end, the front of which had been fashioned into steps so one could easily walk up it. On top of this rock was a smaller rectangular stone slab, upon which blood dripped. Torches burnt violently by the stone slab as well as hanging from trees and fixtures in the giant rock creating a darker atmosphere that matched the actions and sounds of the sacrifice.
Standing behind it stood the creature known as the Dark Rider. It was dressed in similar fashion as before, but crimson and black ribbons draped over the plate mail armour as if he were a priest. Blood dripped from his hands and mouth.
Below the beast was a crowd of screaming beasts. The sight of them made his blood run cold, his anger started to build. Before him were all manners of strange and alien beasts, there were similar looking beasts to that of the Dark Rider, with goat-heads while others had horns and bull heads.
Smaller creatures were among these tall beasts and Bane instantly recognised them as Fallen and Devil Kin. He could see no shaman's however, always a good sign. Amongst these were robed figures, their features hidden in the dark, the occasional torch light illuminating them. Bane could see that they looked more or less human, burnt danced and screamed the way the other beasts did.
Bane turned towards his companions. Kabana had already drawn his sword. It glittered and shone a pale blue. It looked to be a grand sword and Bane had wondered why he had not seen it before.
Balkin had his axe in hand, and was obviously disgusted by what he saw, while Chiana had notched an arrow ready to fire. It was then Bane saw a group of chained people brought forth from the darkness of the trees. Women, children and old men cried in terror. They were kicked and punched as they were taken up to the stone slab.
The Dark Rider turned to them, drawing forth a curved and bloodied blade. He marched back and forth, grunting and gloating at the captives, apparently it seemed to be a sign of sadism. The blade cut the cheek of a young woman who cried out in pain. The beast nodded and two goat-men unchained her, roughly dragging her towards the bloodied rectangular slab.
The Dark Rider loomed over her as the two goat-men held her tightly by the ankles and wrists. She screamed once more as the beast plunged the blade into her chest. The skies above roared its approval, lightning crashed to the ground.
"We must act!" Cried out Kabana, who stood from his hiding place, his pale blue sword in hand, frustration across his face. An arrow whipped out and hit a target followed quickly by a second and third. Bane was amazed at just how fast Chiana could fire the bow. Quickly now Bane roared out his battle-cry, sword in hand he rushed the back rows, Kabana and Balkin behind.
Bane hacked and sliced his way forward, finding hope that the creatures were to disorientated to act quickly. To his right a creature fell, arrow stuck firmly in its face. Bane's sword arm worked as if he were painting, his strikes calculated and precise. Roars filled the clearing; screams of pain filled the rest.
Bane fought like a trapped lion-ox, his free hand worked independently from his sword arm, catching attackers by the wrist or simply punching out at them. He parried an attack to his right, then a wild lunge towards his stomach, counter-attacking to deadly effect.
His mind began to become unclear, or reasonable thought slipping away. The blessing and curse of his people was their fierce battle-rage, something Bane had not learnt to tame, crimson screened his vision, and his sword did the rest.
Arrows whipped past his head at a consistent rhythm but they were merely things of battle, only something more to add to the lust. Bane wished to do nothing more than kill. His sword flashed back and forth, hacking his enemies more times than was necessary, his grunts and roars like that of the demons he fought.
It was when he heard a familiar voice cry out for help did he calm, the voice of one he had come to respect. His head turned towards the scream, through unsure eyes he spotted Chiana fighting dearly for her life against more opponents than she could possibly handle.
His mind settled, his actions less barbaric. He sent a wild circular swing above his head, an action that cleared his way back to Chiana. The girl was quick and skilled in the use of the short sword, but the beasts that surrounded her did not seem to care, they through themselves willingly at her blade, if only to drag her down so that tis vile companions could kill her easily.
He rushed forward, as he remembered briefly doing so in the trap the wizard had set up to kill him, instead of golems however were creatures of the hells. His rush attack knocked two of the beasts down, and before they could stand Bane had broken their necks quickly with powerful kicks.
Some now turned their attention towards him, the new threat. The creature that charged him first was a foot taller that the barbarian, its bull like head scarred and bloodied. It roared, in doing so releasing saliva from its large mouth.
Bane met the challenge and cried out in the same manner, as if he was of the same kind. Bane sidestepped to his right in time, the bull-beast's sword thrust cutting his arm. Bane's own thrust was deadly and accurate. The next two beasts were smaller than Bane and even clumsier with weapons than the first one had been, all it took was a swipe at head height to dispatch. Chiana had worked her way free, her fluid twisting style looked more like a dance to Bane.
The number of beasts had thinned. Bane noticed many of them fled; the robed figures hoods dropping to reveal human faces. It was then he felt a pain in his side.
Looking left he noticed the Dark Rider, and the blood that now dripped at his side. Somehow the beast had attacked him from a distance. Enraged by the cowardly attack Bane charged to meet the feared creature.
His sword flashed forward like a lunging snake, but the Dark Rider parried the attack easily, swiping the blade aside causing Bane to become off balance. Realising his peril Bane through himself backwards, the curved blade of the Rider missing his chest by mere inches.
Bane regained his composure and brought his sword up, to defend himself. The Dark Rider stood dripping with blood. It looked as though he had killed his own for the pleasure of it. It grunted at Bane, who followed up by spitting on the ground.
Bane charged out battle-cry once again parting from his lips. The beast parried it once more and followed through with an attack to Bane's face. With great effort the barbarian managed to get his sword therein time, only forced to bring it back down again quickly, to save his stomach from being stabbed.
Bane cursed himself inwardly; he had been a fool charging in wildly, now he was being made to pay for his mindlessness. His sword arm was not as strong as he would have liked, while the Dark Rider was still fresh. The beast attacked again, Bane parried it and struck out with his free hand, knocking the Dark Rider backwards but not off its cloven feet. It roared out and spoke to him in common, its words strange.
"It has been a while since I last fed on the soul of a true warrior!" Bane shook his head, assuming a defensive position, sword out ready in front. The beast laughed and stepped back.
"You are lucky I have fed enough today barbarian, for I would surely kill you now otherwise."
"Then try beast, but I assure you that it will be your death at my hands." The Dark Rider brought its head back and looked to the sky and laughed out loud, mockery evident in its tone.
"I have killed pups like you before a time where Sanctuary fought a great battle with the very demons of hell. For centuries I have fought barbarian of the north, for both righteous and evil causes. What makes you so sure you can win?" Bane said nothing his cold eyes said everything.
"I have no time for this, but perhaps later, when you are older." It was then a bolt of lightning struck the stone slab behind the beast man; a white light flowed from out of it encasing the Dark Rider within.
"I will enjoy the wait north-man…" Then it was gone, the outline of the Dark Rider burnt into the air. Where had it gone, and what was the talk of meeting him when he was older? Bane could only hope.
"Humans among them, damn devil worshipers!" Balkin cried out turning over a body of a young man whose arm had been severed. Kabana stood beside him, a ghostly expression masking his features. Bane walked towards the group to inspect the man Balkin was so disgusted by.
"I think we should return these villagers and get some rest." Bane said, looking over his cut and bloodied body. Balkin nodded and walked towards the captives, the friendliest smile he could muster sparkling across his face.
"Lets go Kabana." It was when Bane began to turn did he notice a sparkling piece of jewellery around the dead mans neck. Kneeling down he pulled out a medallion; one shaped to match the one the barkeeper had given him. The barkeepers words entered his mind, 'please find my son' he had said. Bane shook his head. He did not want to tell the man his only child was with the beast.
"Come on Kabana, lets get out of this cursed place." Bane turned and walked, leaving Kabana to stare at the dead.
"So its true," Kabana whispered. "Chaos has spread further than Sankekur, Que-Hegan and the Zakarum Council has expected, I must get word to them." With that Kabana turned and made his way behind the companions, a seed of fear planted in his heart
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| Roc | | Story by: fruitless_roar |
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