The Expedition Reaches Mount Yaanek

[Zirandorthel]

Led by the God-Baron himself, and deputised by Svantoit Von Pettenburg, the expedition to find the Kettrelexonphanene finally reaches the ominous bulk of Mount Yaanek. Unwittingly to them, they are followed by the shabby monk, Grumblefinch Peskwick of Y'brekk."Soon, soon, they will find it, and then we'll see who is a worm! I shall have that slave's head yet" He gibbers to himself, chewing more of the skin from his hands. The expedition reaches the first slopes. The God-Baron stands, surveying the dark slopes. The team wait with baited breath. What will their living god proclaim? Grumblefinch PeskwickAdvisor to his Lordship, the God-Baron Eoin

[George W Seagull]

Worms? Worms? I like worms! A great delicacy. How are your culinary skills? Never in the theatre of conflict have so few dropped so much guano on so many... Firefox - Web Browsing Redefined">mozilla.org/products/firefox/buttons/takebacktheweb_large.png"width="185" height="72" border="0" alt="Get Firefox">

[Svantovit von Plettenberg]

Brave lords! Perchance I took a small break this weekend to visit the legendary whorehouses of Delvenus but my trip was interrupted by savage Karnalians waving firebrands. Now I have returned and my slaves, at the behest of the God Baron have resumed their journey into the firey heart of the mountain...

[Eoin Dornan]

"At last, we are here. Beloved, soon we will be united. At last"The God-Baron stares up at the fiery mountain, his eyes shining with ancient desire. For a moment, he seems much taller than those around him, darker, a dread, fell presence. Those around him shiver, taking it for his divinity. Little do they know of his true nature.He leads them up the slopes, followed by the barbarian Von Plettenburg, who neither had an idea of his lord's true self, but followed him for the reflection of power. "My lord, perhaps we should rest?" the man asks after a good five hours hike, even his fit warrior form heaving with exertion. The God-Baron rebukes him with a wordless snarl, and the warrior soon lags behind.Eventually he is alone, alone but for his thoughts. After all this eons, alone, sealed within the merest petals of a plant, by the damned Loremaster. No more! He had had enough. Enough of being sealed in, enough of stealing the bodies of petty human lords, enough of working from the shadows. The others thought they could use him, the Dark Child, thought they could manipulate him. The Forsaken did, as if he could not tell who the stupid little monk truly was. He knew he was behind him somewhere too, likely caught up with the others by now.He neared the crater, and stopped, breathing in the sulphurous air. "Ahhh, Elwynn, my love. You are close, I can feel you. Think you to hide? I have found you, after all these ages, you cannot run again. I will snare you, and drag you to a marriage if I must. We will be bound together as surely either way, willing or otherwise! Come, my love, we will rule together!"And there she was, before him, shining like the evenstar, clothed all in white. An affectation, she knew, like his own dark raiment. She chose to appear like the Mother Godess, and the Crystal Empress before her, because she felt it a close reflection of her nature. Even her headband could easily be slipped over her eyes to make her appear as Laguna did, blinded and weak. Lest, he could cast off the name of God-Baron now, had corrupted the hearts of greater and lesser beings than her a thousand times. She would not resist him. He smiled, and began his stride towards her.She held up a hand, "Hold, Dark Child." Lest halted, bristling. He was no Child. He was as grown as she! "You know the prophecy, do you not? What will happen when we unite? What we will bring to this world?" Lest, grinning, nodded. "Aye, a weapon, to destroy all, and bring it to my feet. A power to smash stars, to challenge Spedomhain and Eiseamlar themselves! A power that would elevate us above all else! The endless power! Ultima Thule, what they named this isle for. Even then, they knew!" But she shook her head, looking both amused and unearthly sad at the same time. He always remembered her as morose. She had never forgiven him, he believed, for killing Utas."No, no, Dark Child, they have filled your head with lies. You have lied to yourself. No, the fruit of your loins, and the child of my womb, will be ANDAN, and the both of us will be destroyed by his coming. You seek to rule, knowing not that your own son will be your killer. I sadden for you, Dark Child, though I hate you." This stopped Lest in his dismissal. "You..hate me? But I have loved you since before the stars knew their wandering. I have loved you all these ages, and you say you hate me? And now you say that our union will be our deaths? Fie, I will have no part in it! I will see you no more, White Child. You will have no part of me, especially not my death!"Elwynn smiled too, and her smile was by far the more sinister. "But you have no choice, Dark Child. You never did." Roaring, he turned to run. But she was by him, and strong. He never knew how she would be so strong. She dragged him along, down into the crater."Bliss" was Lest's last thought, before it all happened.