Life's Eclipse

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

(( Background theme. ))

The armored cleric stood a few hundred yards before the Orc encampment, listening to the grunts, groans, and moans coming from the area. Though he could not discern the language, he didn't care.

"The worship of false gods will not be tolerated," the cleric recited; readying himself for combat, preparing his magical wards granted to him by the Dark Lord of Tyranny. Before he could finish, steps could be heard coming from behind him..

"Whom dares to stalk me as prey?" the cleric said ominously, turning around to bring his eyes to a presence in full-plate with an undead companion. It seemed to be a man, though his face was masked in a blackened metal mask, concealing all facial features but bloodshot eyes.


"I am a guardian of Bane," the man called out from under the mask, lowering his longsword before the cleric.


The cleric kept a firm grip on his weapon, suspecting deceit. "A brother of the faith, are you?" the cleric asked.

"Perhaps.." responded the stranger, making a motion to his undead companion to lower its weapon as well.


Only slightly convinced, the cleric clasped his morningstar to his side, keeping the chain close. "Hmph. On your knees, servant," The clergyman extended his fist, expecting a gesture of adherence. "Let us see where your loyalties lie. Bring your lips to my gauntlet, as the world will do to Lord Bane's in time."

Nodding, yet hesitant, the stranger responded. "I will do ask you ask.. if you can prove who you are.."

With the other hand free, the dark cleric procured the all-too familiar symbol of the Lord of Tyranny for the stranger to scrutinize. With the cleric's faith on display, the stranger accepted the order and did as he was commanded.

".. Excellent.." Thendulryn muttered. "Rise, servant. Give me the name to which our Lord has branded you."

"I am Oliver Ironhide," proclaimed the dark champion. ".. Watchful Brother of the Black Hand."

"Dark Brother Oliver.." the cleric muttered, turning back to the Orc encampment. ".. Do you see this wretched gathering of heretics ahead?"

The blackguard nodded in response.

"They dare to worship a false god. They prefer extermination to subjugation." Thendulryn turned back to the blackguard. "Are you are aware of the punishment of heresy, Watchful Brother?"

"Yes, Sir," the blackguard responded, drawing his weapon with malicious intent. The undead minion followed suit.

"Good.. You will flay all of them, Watchful Brother. This.. place.. shall be wiped from the face of Faerun, for our Dark Lord commands it." Thendulryn stepped closer to the blackguard, murmuring hateful invocations to Lord Bane, filling both Oliver and his minion with unholy strength and a limitless reservoir of hatred and contempt. The results were palpable.

"Yes! I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger.." The dark cleric stood before the two monstrous figures, proud in his abilities to enhance them. "Now.. go."

"Yes, Sir." the blackguard responded with enthusiasm, commanding his minion to follow.

Within moments, the encampment became awash in Orc blood; grunt after grunt fell before the blackguard's blade. With unholy power coursing through his veins, the Orcs were slaughtered maliciously, one by one.. Thendulryn stood from behind the battle, grinning from under his helm. He knew Bane was watching them with favor.

With every last Orc violently exterminated, the dread duo proceeded to the chieftain's lair. The leader was strangely absent.

"Come, Watchful Brother," Thendulryn moved to a perverse altar beside the Orc chieftain's grounds. ".. You shall be witness to our Lord's strength this day."

"Yes, Sir." responded the blackguard, standing before the shrine.

The cleric began another frightful incantation, drinking in Lord Bane's divine power. Thendulryn's body became a vessel of strength, of hatred. "Never forget the price of heresy, Watchful Brother.." The cleric's voice was deeper now, ever more vile and harrowing than before.

Thendulryn brought his magical morningstar down upon the shrine with unimaginable strength, destroying it utterly in a mere handful of blows, reducing it to rubble.

[bipolar bear]

a few hours latter, a figure darts between shadow and hunt, barricade and body striding at an increadable rate. sniffing and snorting....

a scent is caught. perhaps two. there is no question..... instinct takes over.... there is a new prey in the woods.

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

"Well now.." said Thendulryn uttered, looking about the carnage that had recently taken place. Mutilated undead corpses lay about the lower graveyard in the Necropolis, at the feet of a female dual-wielding sickles.

"What have we here? A female, strolling into our territory? Vandalizing our minions?" The cleric's undead companions groaned in hunger, eager to feed upon the flesh of the living. The female turned to the dark-armored man and his wretched followers, wrinkling her nose in utter disgust.

"What you to say in your defense?"

The female warrior grasped her weapons close, anticipating what was to come. "These undead things must be laid to rest, and those who command them brought to justice." Her tone was cool, calm, and firm.

The dark cleric chuckled at the righteous response. He unclasped his morningstar and pointed it to the female. "I'm going to enjoy ripping the flesh from your bones, bitch." In a commanding tone, Thendulryn called out to the shambling corpses at his sides. "Destroy her!"

The walking dead hungrily lunged at the female, their need to devour flesh insatiable. The cleric stood back and watched, readying himself to join in the battle. The female's prowess was deadly, her sickles dancing in a whirlwind of strikes; each blow landing in a critical spot on the zombies. As the many corpses of undead around her feet, the cleric's minions too would fall.

Enraged at such blasphemy, Thendulryn charged towards the woman, the hatred in his heart driving each strike. The two exchanged blow for blow, eye for eye; a bystander would claim both forces of good and evil that day on even terms. Soon, however, the light of goodness would vanish.

The female fell to the ground, winded. "Hah!" proclaimed Thendulryn, in a fit of battle rage. "You will enjoy your new form!" The cleric's morningstar came down hard upon the female's skull, ending the lengthy battle.

Thendulryn stood before the fresh cadaver of the woman, breathing heavily from such a prolonged exchange. He clasped his morningstar to his side, and slung his shield upon his back, dropping to both knees before the dead woman. The cleric began to chant foul incantations, making due on his promise of damnation. The female's body began to twitch. First, slowly.. then, it rose.. Thendulryn laughed in triumph as another corpse would join his cause. He rose to his feet as well.

"Come, slave.." the cleric procured his symbol of Bane, clutching it in his hand.

"I have such sights to show you..."

[Dihydrogen Monoxide]

Thendulryn proceeded back to the Grimaxe Orc encampment, desirous to see the chieftain kneel before Bane's dark will. The coward would not escape this time. Before he was to enter the chieftain's quarters, he spotted a familiar, yet surprising sight: One of the Dark Imperceptors and his cohort were stationed before the chieftain.

"Hold! He is one of ours!" cried the Dark Imperceptor, commanding his cohort with an iron fist.

Thendulryn lowered his morningstar and moved towards the two dark figures. The dark cleric fell to his knees before the Banite commander, bringing his lips to his boots in subservience.

"Greetings, Servant. You have arrived at an opportune time," stated the Imperceptor. His cohort remained silent. Longripe is expecting great things, and may consider joining our cause."

Spoken from a continuous position of kneeling, Thendulryn responded. "How may I serve His dark will, Master?"

"Longripe wishes to see a demonstration of power." responded the Imperceptor, glancing over to the chieftain. His statement was followed by a sneer of disgust.

"Yes, My Master.. How may we demonstrate such prowess?"

"The Grimaxe are muscle; they act as the brawn of the tribe. It would be fitting to keep my status elevatory."

"Yes, Master. We shall sway him to our cause, or him and his entire tribe will burn."

"As for burning, Servant.. It is a resource to be harvested. If the time is not ripe now, then perhaps later. My manservant here lacks the requisite diplomatic skill to deal with such creatures. See how you go."

Thendulryn rose to his feet, happy to please the official. Remaining unarmed, the dark cleric moved towards the chieftain's hut, calling out for him. The chieftain responded with an aggressive groan.

"Me tribal hero, worm!" The chieftain moved towards the Banite cleric, double-headed axe in hand. "What you want, dog?!"

Thendulryn tried his best to reserve his disgust for the foul humanoid. The fetid breath of the 7-foot tall creature was nearly enough to nauseate him. "Indeed. The strength you and your tribe carry, chieftain, is.. palpable."

The chieftain glanced past the meager human before him, glancing past to the Dark Imperceptor scowling in their direction.

"Nevermind him, chieftain. It is I who wishes to speak."

The chieftain grunted, another parcel of disgusting breath blown into Thendulryn's face. "I understand blood! Speak!"

"I was informed you wish to see what power the Lord of Tyranny will grant through servitude? Allow me to demonstrate..." The dark cleric began muttering dark incantations, drinking in Lord Bane's divine power. The cleric's body rose, engorged with unholy might, matching the height of the chieftain.

"Elf magics," the chieftain responded, unimpressed. ".. Tricks of the eye."

Thendulryn shook his head, remaining firm with the chieftain. "No, warchief. Not Elven. Through servitude and obedience, the Dark Tyrant grants much strength."

"Is this magic.. real. No tricks?" Thendulryn nodded in response. "Hmph. So you say. And Banites have honor?"

"Lord Bane's chosen always keep our word, warchief."

"A WARRIOR'S honor?

Thendulryn took a step closer to the chieftain, the glint of the tribal leader's double-axe glinting against the flame nearby. "We are warriors, much like your tribe, warchief. We stand against many enemies; against many hunters.. Without honor, our tribe would perish."

"My warriors would lay down their lives to Gruumush if I say DIE! How is YOUR spine, dog?"

".. As would our warriors to Lord Bane, warchief. Our spines are tempered with his hatred for all those who would oppose Him."

"Hmph. So you have honor and spine, YES?

Thendulryn nodded appropriately. "We offer no deceit, warchief. Join us, and serve Bane." The dark cleric smiled, if one would consider such an ominous grin a smile.

"Deeds do you offer, dog?! Deeds and not words!"

"What is it you wish, warchief? Weapons? Females? The Black Hand can provide all.. just imagine the strength your tribe would carry, outfitted with armaments tempered by the Dark Tyrant. No hunters would ever kill your own again."

"Our tribe will endure, dog! But to go on warpath is difficult," the chieftain lowered his double-headed axe. ".. I understand blood. Give me your blood and warchief will commit to tribe to Bane. A deal sealed in blood. Only when I see this, will I see the strength of Banite words."

Thendulryn moved his cumbersome shield to his back, and withdrew a slender skinning knife he preserved for sacrificial purposes.

"Across your neck, dog. Do this and I swear my tribe will join. Warchief will make sure we do not eat you, but bury you in warrior ground. Great honor."

Thendulryn removed his helm, and brought the knife up to his throat. He responded in disgust. "Hmph. As long as Bane's hatred flows through the cracks of my flesh, I never truly die. I merely serve him again, in another realm."

"Brave words.." The warchief made a motion to the knife at the cleric's throat. "Cut."

There was no scream, no struggling, no pain. The blood flowed unto the chieftain's feet. The dark cleric maintained eye contact with the warchief until he no longer remained conscious.