Kveldrunar's Baptism of Pain

[Volgathras]

The Chamber of Pain

As you enter this room, horrific sights, sounds and smells assault you.

Mutilated corpses hang from rusted hooks set into the ceiling and various

implements of torture are arranged around the room, most of them occupied

unwillingly. A large iron grate is set into the floor and what seems to be

an unending torrent of flowing blood pours into the drain. The metallic

smell of blood is its greatest here, and uneases your stomach as you breathe

it in. A single iron grate above your head allows light to enter this

forboding realm.

[Exits: east]

(WANTED) Kveldrunar is here.

(Charmed) Sadokant's gargoyle awaits its master's orders.

Sadokant slowly looks Kveldrunar up and down, its gaze pausing at every scar and cut.

The jawless head of a horned black dragon crowns a maimed, dark

crimson giant. Eyeless, its face is forever frozen in the

grimace of defeat and death. The battle-scarred hide of the

slain beast serves as his cloak. Gold and precious stones can

be seen tucked between the scales, pressed in from millenia of

guarding its hoard. The sharp, menacing teeth of the trophy

somewhat cover the giant's horrible face:

His black-as-night eyes, still as the dead, lay beneath

grisled, coarse eyebrows. A great beard hangs down to

behemoth's chest, the skulls of humans and elves braided into

it. Half of the flesh on his mouth has been ripped off; rotten

teeth peek through where lip and cheek should be.

A long, ancient chain shirt is all he wears for armor. His

bare arms are both sleeved with tattoos. The left arm shows

an enormous black and yellow snake slithering down his arm, its

mouth open at his hand, which grips the haft of a double-bladed

axe so dull and worn from use, it bludgeons as much as cleaves.

On his right arm there, there is a patchwork of scenes of

mutilated, partially decayed bodies. The quality of the tattoos

are awful. His right hand is missing a ring finger and grasps

the hilt of a broken iron greatsword, the jagged ends bloody

with gore.

He has done a fair amount of traveling.

Kveldrunar has some small wounds and bruises.

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

A chip falls off of Kveldrunar's axe, and chingle-changles a little on the floor.

You broadcast 'So. Kveldrunar Dragonslayer of the Fire Giants of Aabahran. You are here to renounce fealty to the False Gods of this land, and pledge allegiance to Prince Volgathras and the True Gods."'

Kveldrunar kneels before Prophet Sadokant.

Kveldrunar says 'May we free them big and free them small.'

You broadcast 'You were raised a heretic by heretics, but the blame for this is not yours.'

Kveldrunar bows his head.

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

You broadcast 'And instead of falling into this life, a part of you knew that it was not the right path... and you fought against it.'

You broadcast 'Your instincts have served you well, but they are only the beginning of wisdom.'

You broadcast 'You will come to learn the true meaning of Pain...'

Kveldrunar shifts slightly, his knee crackling.

You broadcast 'And through such understanding and sacrifice, bring honor and nourishment to the True Gods.'

You broadcast 'This is only the beginning of your journey. I only can set you upon the righteous path... to continue to walk it is your task alone.'

Kveldrunar says 'Cult of Sadokant rip down walls of True Gods' prison!'

Sadokant's laughter echoes through your mind.

You broadcast 'Have a care not to venerate me too far, Dragonslayer... the glory belongs to the Prince and the other Gods, not us.'

Kveldrunar says 'Yes Prophet.'

You nod.

You broadcast 'Now...'

Sadokant turns and slowly walks over to the wall, examining the various torture implements there.

Sadokant picks a vicious-looking pair of pincers off the wall, and turns back to Kveldrunar.

You broadcast 'As the Gods sacrificed of themselves to create you, to create me, to create life itself...'

You broadcast 'So too will you sacrifice of yourself in their service.'

Sadokant's mismatched eyes seem to burn like fire as they bore into yours.

An Undead Fire Giant soldier yells 'You will pay for your crimes Kveldrunar!'

An Undead Fire Giant soldier seems to change in size and shape to match Kveldrunar's.

An Undead Fire Giant soldier's slash injures Kveldrunar.

Kveldrunar's flame MASSACRES an Undead Fire Giant soldier!

A blazing bardiche draws life from an Undead Fire Giant soldier.

Kveldrunar's life drain grazes an Undead Fire Giant soldier.

An Undead Fire Giant soldier tries to disarm Kveldrunar, but fails.

Kveldrunar spits in utter disgust!

Kveldrunar gets the head of an Undead Fire Giant soldier.

Kveldrunar gives you the head of an Undead Fire Giant soldier.

Sadokant shakes with obvious amusement.

Kveldrunar kneels.

Kveldrunar says 'His head, Prophet.'

You broadcast 'No... it is good... yet another sacrifice, yet more pain felt by you here and now.'

You nod.

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

You broadcast 'We will continue. You have chosen your right eye to be your sacrifice, correct?'

Kveldrunar says 'Yes Prophet.'

Kveldrunar nods at you in agreement.

You nod.

You broadcast 'Your sight has expanded beyond the lies of the False Gods, such that even the loss of an eye will not blind you from the true path.'

Kveldrunar says 'Kveldrunar offer this to Prince.'

Sadokant holds up the pincers for a moment, examining the dried blood yet on them.

Sadokant shakes his head, and crushes the pincers within his hand, dropping their mangled remains to the floor.

Sadokant stands before Kveldrunar and places his left hand on Kveldrunar's shoulder.

Sadokant holds up his claw-like right hand before Kveldrunar's face.

You broadcast 'It was this hand that I offered as my sacrifice to the Avatar, and its touch that set me upon my path...'

You broadcast 'Now it is the hand of another Avatar, and it will set you upon yours.'

Sadokant straightens one claw out from his right hand... and plunges it deep into Kveldrunar's right eye.

Kveldrunar yells 'RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!'

The left eye of Kveldrunar squints under the stress of the pain!

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

You grin evilly.

You broadcast 'Very good... you did not move back.'

You broadcast 'Now... let us continue.'

Sadokant closes its eyes, and images of fields of people of all races fill Kveldrunar's mind.

As Sadokant slowly twists his claw in Kveldrunar's eye, the images come into focus... millions of people writhing in agony, their screams ripping through your mind like a bolt of lightning

Drooling, the berserker nearly goes berserk from the pain. Hunching forward on the claw, Kveldrunar focuses on the image.

You broadcast 'This is the world we will create, Dragonslayer...'

You broadcast 'Millions upon millions of beings, living in a state of constant agony...'

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

You broadcast 'Only then will our purpose be served. Only then can the True Gods return to their rightful place. Only then can we truly feel pride in ourselves.'

Sadokant opens his eyes again, focusing them on Kveldrunar's right eye. 'And it will take far greater sacrifice than this to achieve it.'

Kveldrunar looks at the dripping mess. 'Sacrifice is service to Prince.'

You nod.

You broadcast 'That it is... and it is rewarded as well.'

Sadokant closes its eyes again.

The blood dripping from Sadokant's claw suddenly ceases to flow, yet the pain in Kveldrunar's eye intensifies a hundred-fold as lines of white-hot agony spread through the socket.

Kveldrunar turns his head side to side, as if trying to shake it off...!

Sadokant's claw twitches slightly, then slowly pulls out of Kveldrunar's eye... which seals as it returns.

Kveldrunar says 'AMGMMMMNNNGNNGNDNGMMMM....'

You smile happily.

You broadcast 'You did well...'

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

Sadokant walks over to the wall again for a moment, and picks a mirror off of it.

Sadokant walks back to Kveldrunar and holds the mirror before Kveldrunar's blood-covered face, the milky-white orb of his right eye clearly visible in it.

You broadcast 'It will serve you as well as the old... better in some ways. A being's suffering will be almost tangible to your sight.'

Kveldrunar grasps the mirror.

Kveldrunar blood runs down the wound...

Blood drips from the mangled face of Kveldrunar.

Kveldrunar grins evilly.

Sadokant touches Kveldrunar's face with his claws, much more gently this time. 'Now, you are marked.'

Kveldrunar yells 'HAIL TO VOLGATHRAS!!!'

Sadokant's laughter echoes through your mind.

You broadcast 'Rise, servant of the True Gods.'

Kveldrunar says 'Kveldrunar pray Volgathras approve new face.'

Kveldrunar stands erectly.

Sadokant shakes with obvious amusement.

Kveldrunar looks at himself.

You broadcast 'I will send word to the heavens of this. They will know of your devotion.'

Kveldrunar says 'Prophet Honor Kveldrunar.'

You broadcast 'No... you honor yourself, by righting improper course into what it should be.'

Kveldrunar says 'Soon Kveldrunar charge into battle screaming for Volgathras.'

Sadokant shakes with obvious amusement.

You broadcast 'I have no doubt he will find the act pleasing. But for now... I must go. There

are other duties I must attend to.'

Kveldrunar bows before you.

Kveldrunar walks east.