[pnpgm] What happened when? [Spoilers]
pnpgm
pnpgm at comcast.net
Wed Dec 19 21:30:26 CET 2012
* Behind the Scenes Campaign Information
Apris 12 - Augado 19, c. 1480 - [Location: Edge of Zen'da Plains]
Through forces no one knows in recorded history or divined knowledge
the first Vong war takes place. Using a dimensional gate set in the
mountains south of the Plains between Marentia and L'p'nth they set up
camp. A force of 2,000 Vong soon invade the Middle World through this
portal. They soon invade the mountains and venture onto the Zen'da
plains. Their unusual technology and fierce nature soon ravage the
land. Within a month they have 2/3rds of the plains crushed or
destroyed. Zen'da nomads have to move out of the plains for the first
time in many cases just to survive. Neighbors refuse to listen to pleas
by the Zen'da for help. It only takes a combined effort from the
council of Ga'shas and a group of elite Shamans to balance the tide.
By mid Julis the shamans use nature itself to thwart the living
beasts and weapons of the Vong. By sheer attrition the Vong begin to
lose. A month later the last of the Vong are destroyed. Having chased
the last of the Vong to the gate itself the Shamans bury the gate by
sand in hopes no more Vong arrive.
The First Vong War saw beasts as large as 2 elephants side by side
and as tall as two of them. They could be rode on and used as
virtual tank and beasts of destruction. There were many Flyers who
poured out plasma fireball like balls from its top and could suck
in entire clouds of arrows in its wake. The Shamans learned the
hard way magic would not work against them at all. Only area effect
or spells that affect things around them worked. After the battle
of the great Fel'ora Shaman Mi'tur Sheam did the Zen'da finally win
a major battle against 300 Vong warriors. This great Shaman was
influenced by the great spirits. He could control great many flocks
of animals at will. Using these great flocks of animals including
hundreds of lions, thousands of rats or millions of insects he could
devastate the warriors.
Under Ga'sha Ga'bahum, great ancestor to Gib'borah - Caladan's father,
took many Vong prisoner for interrogation. He would soon learn many
could take any amount of pain and torture. In fact they seemed to
thrive on the pain and enjoy it. But soon he would over months learn
some details a visiting Scholar from Marentia would scribe down for
the King of Marentia that are now to this day still recorded and
documented in the Royal private Archives. The Ga'sha would learn there
are three castes of the Vong. The Vong Warrior caste or military
controlled all aspects of their life. The Shapers were mostly a female
dominated caste where they did all the technology and development of
their science. These techno-savvy Vong could use nature itself though
their religion made them deny all mechanical devices. The other
caste was the Shamed Ones the outcasts. These were the laborers and
shamed ones who failed to take the love of their strange gods or not
accept their coral-implants properly. Many Vong would take torture
as a rite of passage. From the Shamed Ones the Zen'da learned they
would cut off a limb and implant coral to "improve" their body. Some
warriors would take coral-implants to have rock hard hands or arms
or beefy large legs or such. It was a common practice in their lives.
The Shamed Ones were the ones to interrogate. They talked to the Zen'da
through worms in their ears that translated everything they heard and
somehow could affect their own brains and vocal patterns to talk back
in their own language. The Oglith Masker also allowed some to wear
a creature on their nose to completely look human and be disguised
from view not as an illusion but an actual person.
Even though the Vong were crushed this time their technology left
their impact. Some of their wild beasts would escape their masters
and travel the lands. Some would eventually perish but others would
breed with other animals like them. The Vong armor and weapons would
not last a week as they would decay too fast. But some of their minor
weapons like the Blast Bugs or Control Bugs would live on. Many of
their slave bugs would escape and live on for centuries. Some of
these bugs would continue to thrive on the plains like the Blue
Control Bugs the Vampire Ezam would be tricked by the L'p'nth to use
against the Zen'da.
One such item the Claw which controlled other non-Vong animals would
be later found or sought after by others centuries later.
It was also learned the Vong did believe in gods of their own. In
their world or universe they had strange craft to leave their world
and go to other worlds. Of course the shamans and elders thought the
Shamed Ones were insane. Their religion was a strict one where pain
and suffering the norm. Their religion taught them hatred of all non
natural technology. Those who used technology or in the case of the
Middle World magic were despised the most.
Apris 12, 1633 - [Location: Port Doman]
The group of adventurers including Farseeker, Thig, Xian, Varange and
others leave Port Doman. Just days earlier having destroyed a super
Kototh Temple deep in the jungle. Upon destroying the Hydra, temple
and other forces, Kototh was highly enraged. The party heads back to
Marentia. Kototh sets in motion his long term plans of revenge.
Apris 13, 1633 c. - [Location: Middle World]
The God Kototh enraged by what the group of mortals did to one of his
supreme Temples, sets things in motion. Conspired with other gods,
Middle World Avatars and other forces, Kototh causes rifts in space and
time. Kototh never directly caused these rifts but his allies did it
for him. These rifts spread from Port Doman to all continents of the
Middle World. Like a ripple in a pond the effects spread unknown to
mortal men.
Apris 28, 1633 - [Location: Lemasa/Katai]
Climan teams have just obtained the last piece of the Elemental Staff
from the secret society known as the Red Anchor on Lemasa. Using magic
and fast ships a relay system is sent to Climan forces deep in the south
Katai mountains. These forces in Katai were looking for the same piece
based on wrong information. Near a extinct volcano a Katai group known
as the Ku Mi "Hand of God" found the Climans. A battle took place
between the group and Katai military of 115 Katai to 30 Climans. The
Climans had magic on their side and wiped the Katai army out. But it
came down to 1 Climan Priestess and 2 acolytes. These three women fled
the area and into a cave system which turned out to be a dead lava
tube. Being chased by 8 Katai the group emerged inside a large volcano
cavern with a open top. The long dead volcano was the last to serve for
the final stand. While the acolytes took on the Katai, the Priestess
used the Staff piece to shatter the Katai. In the process all were
killed but the Priestess. Limping back the Priestess fled Katai to
head home for the Staff Ritual at Cloud Base. This dead volcano is
west of Pamau city in lower Katai, some natives call it Rising Mount
as it rises high from the ground and few things grow on the sides.
Julis 10, 1633 - [Location: Katai dead Volcano]
A earthquake set in motion 3 months ago during the final battle of
Climan and Katai goes off. As the earth releases the energy, strong
magnetics merge with a pocket of Kotothi rift inside the mountain.
This collision of energy, magic residue and other factors leads to s
tiny pocket of interdimensional window. Such windows to the Upper or
Lower worlds are common in the ancient past. In the modern times
though they are created only manually. For this one to come about is
rare. This gate however doesn't go to the other two worlds but to
another entirely different world. Kototh has no clue what he has
unleashed onto the Middle World.
Julis 14, 1633 - [Location: Dead volcano, Rising Mount, Katai]
A Shaper having found this rift gate in her world uses her own
technology to open the rift bigger. Using one of the Outcasts she
orders him to enter the rift and to report back. At 1:38pm local time
the First Vong return to this world. The Outcast reports back on the
new world including the sky without the Rainbow Arch and the blue sky
rather than the pink sky. The Vong military soon take over and order
the Shaper caste to open it further so they can invade with scouts
first to establish growing grounds and local control Brains. Little
does the Shaper know in her world over 700 years have passed since the
last Vong invasion. The military under the direction of each generation
of Supreme Commander keeps this knowledge a secret. To the military
it is a failure and thus to be ignored.
Augado 21, 1633 - [Location: Jinquo, Katai]
Another Dark Lands Chaos Master sends her apprentice down to Katai to
retrieve a simple item, a book. The book being held in a private
library of a noble in Shantou has magical formulae in it. The master
has failed 3 times in this quest but this is another apprentice for
her to test and use. By now the apprentice has arrived in Katai by
one of the ships that land at the Dark Lands but is not the party's
ship. Tung Lee, Tiehul's right hand man has felt betrayed by the
wizards who come and flaunt their power. He had asked several to help
his mother in her illness. But since these wizards were Chaos oriented
ones they knew death not life. They refused and this further made Tung
angry. With this new arrival Tung decides enough is enough. He sells
the local guards information on how to capture this apprentice. As she
meets Tiehul for normal meet and greet, Tung sets his plan in motion.
The apprentice soon leaves a day later and travels west. But the local
guards capture and will later execute the young girl. This betrayal is
worth 12 gold for his information. A handsome prize.
Augado 10, 1633 - [Location: Dead volcano, Rising Mount, Katai]
For almost a month the Vong have sent out infiltration teams into
Katai to learn and scout. Nom Amor is one of the first to gain the
friendship of local Katai Nobles in Pamau. In order to make their
secret invasion work the Vong must grow their animals, weapons and
armor. So they send out teams across the Middle World disguised by
their Maskers in human form. One such team arrives this day in the
Lake Oca area and sets up a Orb and Staff farm in the mineral rich
waters. Weeks later this farm would poison the sacred forest bit
by bit and cause trouble with the Forestal and Green Lady. The Vong
needed only a mineral rich area of land or water for their breeding
grounds. The fact that Lake Oca had some magical intricate value
was besides the point.
Nom Amor of Executor rank would learn of the vile world of magic and
those who cast it. Even thought of touching books with the info was
abhorrent to him. On learning this information and the lazy magic
users who refused to use nature to serve them and relied on the unseen.
The Shamans at least seemed to use nature but they still called it
"magic" a term the Vong seem to hate by sheer instinct. The true
origin to this is not known but it must go back centuries upon centuries.
Of course Executor Nom Amor is a smart one and knows that the military
rule their people through fear. Fear must be created and thus magic
is the patsy as the humans say, in this strange world.
Over the next few months Executor Amor would learn a great deal of
many things. His skills as a manipulator is masterful in its art form.
He would even infiltrate several magic bounty hunter groups and use
them against others and each other.
Octaqi 1, 1633 - [Location: L'p'nth Mountains]
Months earlier a few of the L'p'nth Priestess discovered the power of
the Blue Bugs they found on the edge of their nation. When the bugs
entered innocent people they became highly suggestive. The Priestess
group then set into motion a plan to weaken the Zen'da. This could
lead to a possible invasion of their own. They had heard of the
mysterious Vampire Ezam reclaiming an ancient castle in their western
mountains. Using their influence and signs of alliance with him they
twisted him into trying to recruit a Zen'da army by using the Blue
Bugs. Ezam would seek the Bova to help in this plot. But a couple
weeks later the party would raid his castle and stop this plan before
it was completed.
Marqi 24, 1634 - [Location: Katai]
Nom Amor has been exploring the Katai Empire for months now. He has
gained military secrets and other vital information. Learning the size
of this Empire he had to gain the aid of local Katai people. He made
many contacts and friends disguised in his human form without the use
of the Blue Bugs. He found one such local Noble in Pamau. Baron Jin
Ka who owns a vast merchant empire and would be tricked by Nom's
influence by the desire for more power and money. Greed would make
Baron Ka start to buy other shipping companies to expand his empire.
Nom simply explained he needed to ship large man sized items around
without notice. What better way than a common shipping company and
one that can cater to coffins as an example. While the Oglith Maskers
could make Vong look like humans they were in short supply. So it was
good to ship Vong small groups place to place by these coffin style
shipments. Baron Ka never suspected as he simply sought power and
money. He figured and hoped one day to have his House become very
powerful.
Apris 2, 1634 - [Location: Dark Lands]
The High Elder has always been one to watch and observe. Though
his people are isolationist he is not stupid. He knows soon one day
the neighbors around him will want more land or power. For years and
decades he has sent out visitors to the various nations with items that
allow him to spy on them and learn things. Using his power on the
astral planes to contact the item's spirit he learns the dreaded past
will soon arrive back again. The Gnarish staff he gave to Chion awhile
back warns him that he is on the move and gives generic information on
the details as best the spirit can. The Elder has lived centuries and
was around during the first Vong Invasion. Though he did not
participate he knew of their invasion through contacts but well after
they were destroyed. In his secret library he would take notes and
study their orbs and staff weapons. But even centuries later he still
had no idea where they come from. There were rumors he learned from
a old Ticasi scholar on metaphysics that was radical. The long dead
scholar thought the universe was actually a multiverse. One in which
there might be an endless number of gods and middle worlds. But the
High Elder gave little credence to this radical theory.
Apris 15, 1634 - [Location: Dark Lands]
Shu is recruited into the mission by her master. Her Master was
sought out specifically by the High Elder. Even Ki'ama did not know
the secret ritual the master and Shu knows. The High Elder respected
this as many secrets exist in the lands. Shu was concerned as she was
not one to ever desire to travel. But her master asked it and she
agreed. But Shu sought out the Master Diviner in Ki'ama's own domain.
This old woman was a master in the forecast of people and rarely
talked to outsiders. She would warn Shu that she would die on this
mission and not return. But that what she did was a major help to the
party and to the dark lands. The master even told her it was a major
step to saving the world. With that level of responsibility Shu
decided to join the party knowing she would not return. She would
later confide in Zhou about this and her personal wishes on the ship
when it was too late to turn back. She made Zhou swear that he would
not risk the mission to protect her and to tell anyone else.
Ma 14, 1634 - [Location: Dark Lands]
Days ago the Master Diviner had an audience with Ki'ama to divine
the summer's weather for other domains as she normally does. But
the Elder would detect from her emotion that something was wrong.
Soon he would learn of Shu's forecast.
Together in the citadel Oby would drink with Ki'ama. "You knew
that Shu would die but didn't tell the others?" Oby would ask.
"I saw worry in Shu's face more than simple mission and travel
worries. I suspected but didn't know. Even if I had would it have
helped? Without her the mission would be very difficult to complete."
The High Elder replied.
"Yes. But they could've protected her. You could've tried to
warn Chion with his staff or send a servant." Oby glances at the
corner where the mysterious being stands in the shadows that helps
the High Elder.
"Over protection can hinder just as much. They are foolish
enough to take magic items and put them in risk so they might
not have heed my warning at any rate. "
"Did you warn them about the Flyers and the other animals the Vong
use and how to defeat them?" Oby asks as he shifts in his chair.
The High Elder gives a light laugh. "Did they want to hear? They
didn't even ask much questions. I suspect they gleam some of the info
on their own. They encounters the Orbs which are used for far
reaching communication and the animal staves. The others I think it
only requires experience."
"If they fail? Are the others ready?" Oby sips his wine slowly.
"If they fail only one other could stop the invasion point. Master
Tuma is prepared but he knows it will be a suicide mission."
Junaqa 7, 1634 - [Location: Dark Lands]
Oby learns from Ki'ama of the Blue Moon sailing into a hurricane
this day from the Gnarish staff Oby stands and shakes his head.
"Will they make it?"
"With this party? Likely." The High Elder replies.
"What about the Vong? Will they complete the quest?"
"That I don't know. Even this powerful group may not be able to
stop them. They will need to discover things on their own."
"But you didn't warn them about the Brain? Why."
"It is unreliable information from a long dead Shaman. If these
Brains can really use telepathic powers to control then the party
will discover it and deal with it. Likely it is just a story
told by the Zen'da Shamans in exaggeration. There is indication the
Brain at Lake Oca was destroyed. These brains seem to coordinate and
control the Vong and the various animal technology as one central source.
If the invasion point, somewhere in Katai, is found it is likely to have
a World Brain. This is theorized to control other brains world wide
and coordinate massive troop and resources. If this World Brain grows
to full maturity then the Vong have won. The party will have to kill
the World Brain to win. How I just don't know."
Julis 7, 1634 - [Location: Jinquo, Katai]
The party meets with Tiehul. Tung Lee sees a massive group of
wizards and a king's ransom in reward. Still upset Tung Lee feels this
reward can allow him to retire for good and not work for his old friend
Tiehul. Maybe Tung could even set his own black market operations.
Tung Lee heads this night to meet with his old guard contacts. He
gives full details on the wizards in the group including descriptions
and other facts.
The guards who work as mercenary warriors on the side get their
friends to help. They form a plan to act like Monks to hit the party
on the road. They prepare by stealing monk clothing and even shaving
their heads. Late that night they ride out way ahead of the party once
they learn which way they will be going.
Julis 8, 1634 - [Location: Jinquo, Katai]
After the party leaves Tung Lee meets with his contact once again.
He gets paid several bags of gold coins up front. But this morning
he was followed by one of Tiehul's own men. The man suspected that
Tung was working a side business and was going to get evidence to
report to Tiehul. But he soon discovers the plot and quickly returns
to Tiehul to report it. Soon after the party has left Tiehul
confronts Tung.
"Why would you sell them out?" Tiehul asks.
Tung lee goes into a full explanation with little emotion. He ends
it with, "You wouldn't help when I asked. So I was lead this way."
Hurt more than angry Tiehul stares at Tung. "Our friendship ruined
over a stack of coins?"
Tung simply looks away sad to end the friendship this way.
"We must warn them of the attack. You will come with me and
they will deal with you."
Tiehul and Tung leave the city and ride faster to catch up with
the party to warn them. Slightly beat up and wounded Tung Lee knows
he could try to escape or simply fight but he knows he has been caught.
It is one thing to betray for gold but another to kill a old friend.
honor and respect still is in his heart even if the emotion of his
friendship has waned.
Julis 18, 1634 - [Location: Katai Plains near Katai City, Katai]
A day after the Earth Eater attacks Raban some locals are in the
area and come across the great swarm of birds and scavengers who
begin to devour the dead Earth Eater. The locals clearly find signs
of a camp and struggle. A somewhat myth and legend begins to grow
in the local villages about a group who defeats a giant worm.
Among these locals who find the area is a middle level bounty hunter
from Katai city. His superiors send him out to investigate the surge
of magic in this general area. Using a hand held detection talisman
he finds traces of magic that is very faint. But not enough to become
concerned about. When a bird brings up a large pair of leather pants
that must have been worn by a giant he inspects the soiled pants. He
finds evidence of a giant must've fought this thing. The myth grows
and so the bounty hunter figures it wasn't wizards. Yet giants on
their own don't use magic. He takes traces of blood to use as a tracking
device and leaves.
Julis 19, 1634 - [Location: Shantou Province]
A Vong scouting group has arrived in the province secreted at night
by a Vong Flyer. Led by a Shaper they land at an abandoned carnival
grounds and find a family to take prisoner. Initially they only hold
the prisoners tied up as they go about their duties. But eventually
the torture begins of the family. The Vong see torture as a rite of
passage and as normal as human puberty. it is a thing to be accepted
and with pride. But the things they do to the family including the
poor kids are shameless and inhuman to human standards. Yet to the Vong
it is their duty to appease their gods.
Today the Vong warriors arrive after capturing a Baroness from west
of Shantou city. They had heard from their human infiltrator and
Nom Amor that this noble woman knows of great natural caves. Caves
were the perfect place for Vong to hide in the open. But when the
Vong learn, after ample torture that wasn't needed to gain the
information, the mine she owned near Pamau was worthless. The mine
was too small and not of value for Vong needs. A brain couldn't even
live inside the largest portion. The Shaper decides to learn of other
caves the baroness house held in hopes of other resources to obtain.
Julis 21, 1634 - [Location: Katai city, Katai]
The bounty hunter reports on the earth eater incident to his superiors.
The group, Xin Tsu - The Circle, is one of the most powerful groups in
the empire. They have connections all the way up to the top in the
very Iron City itself. News of such magic happenings is common place
so the superiors take it with little concern. But they do send out
squads to track using the blood found.
Quickly however the trail becomes lost due to limits of the spell
and possible weather effects of the natural trail. Where this person
who killed the Eater is never known. But rumors come later of a group
from the nearby Shantou city.
Julis 24, 1634 - [Location: Shantou City, Katai]
Today the Old Witch of Shantou finds herself walking the streets.
She isn't called that just because of her witch-hag like gray hair,
rotten teeth and looks. But in fact this old woman has a natural
innate talent that her family has shared for generations. Every
3 or 4 generations their family line will create a diviner who can
see the future in her dreams. These witches have let her family and
their allies to grow in some station but weave their hand through
local power.
This old woman has been a part of the local Shantou Mynock group
which hunts down magic users. It is ironic since if they knew the
facts of the old woman she'd be a target though her skills aren't
magic directly but some divine gift. For the last week she has been
having dreams of a group of powerful wizards coming to town. She
dreams of a group that will visit briefly then move on. She dreams
of several images of these people but doesn't know their power. She
dreams that an incident with a smoke monster will occur in some place
likely a hotel. She realizes this information will be of great
coin to her and the family. She tells her allies who in turns spreads
the news. Soon Nom Amor through his own methods, K'vok birds which
are special Vong messenger birds that fly very fast, of this news.
Nom Amor finds this distressing news since he has learned a prophecy
from Ci'jian that tells of a foreign group of wizards will help to
prevent a massive internal conflict to the Empire. The prophecy
details of strange creatures fighting the Empire's backbone. Nom
interprets this to be the Vong taking over the empire. If this
large group is the threat he has to take care of them.
The Old Witch happens this day to bump right into Ben'dar. She
says, "You are one of them, the ally of the wizards!" But Ben'dar
hasn't learned Katai and has no clue what the old woman says as she
moves on. If only he had learned the language he might have prevented
things to come.
The Old Woman reports quickly to her own allies of the presence of
these people in the city.
Julis 25, 1634 - [Location: Shantou City, Katai]
The next day the group of bounty hunters send out people to find
the group. Today Kiet and a few others are shopping. Kiet notices
a old man with a cane walk by. Kiet's suspicions are true as this
man is in disguise and the cane is a magic detection device. It
doesn't glow or beep or hum. The device simply warms up when it
nears magic and those who can cast it. As the man walks by Kiet
the old man grimaces in pain but Kiet thinks this of old age bones
but it is pain from the warmth of the cane. As the old man is allowed
to move on he alerts more subtle shadowers and they follow the group
back to the tavern. There they setup spies to watch the group until
they can assemble a large force to deal with them.
Nom Amor has arranged through channels for a local middle man
to contract with the Night Demons. He contracts for the group to
kill one particular person. This person the old witch says in her
report is the key to finding something - the Vong but she doesn't
know this. The contract is to kill Shu and is quickly finalized.
Julis 26, 1634 - [Location: Shantou City, Katai]
Just after midnight a sentry takes over for the bounty hunters and
takes up position watching the tavern for the party. He reports to
those who have been on site for hours the attack will occur in just
a few hours right before sunrise. But this attack never comes as
the party leaves. But as the trio of bounty hunters begin to disperse
a black form swallows the area and suddenly and quickly with silence
the three men are slaughtered. It would seem the party has a person
or thing who wishes to keep them safe?
A couple hours after the bounty hunters are slaughtered an assassin
skilled in the shadow magic arts slinks through the back area of the
tavern grounds. But this person is also watched by another set of
people who are observing the tavern. For some reason this group
recognizes the assassin but do not interfere. The shadow assassin
gets to Shu's balcony and unleashes death into her room. The man
flees all the while watched by others, as if they are unsure what
to do or care less?
Around 45 minutes after the party leaves the tavern the bounty
hunter force some 15 in number with local guards hired of 8 more
approach the tavern. But they find no party. When they investigate
no trace of even Shu's attack is found for tracking purposes. The
leader of the group finds the corpses and becomes enraged at the
escape of the party.
Hours later word is sent out to local folks about the escape and
to engage even street detectors even if it means being caught by
local guards. But by now the party has left the city. By now the
party has arrived at the river and crossed the bridge. But unknown
to them a bounty hunter sentry is here.
Though river traffic is heavy leaving such a magic detection device
around the bridge would be dangerous as it would be caught and found.
So the sentry in the disguise of a fisherman who sits on the bank near
the river has his device in his fish bucket. Who would inspect a
bucket with foul smells and eyeballs? When the party ride over the
device goes crazy with its red glow. The Fisherman who has never seen
such a big response from the talisman goes into action and alerts his
allies. But these allies is yet another group from the ones who
missed out capturing the party at the tavern hours later. This small
group works the bridge, river and some of the highway only and doesn't
work in the city. This group captures 1-2 wizards every 2 months and
is good profit but not as much as those in the city. today to see
a possible dozen or so is a miracle! The bounty hunters mass and
mount up to follow the party. Using a longer range device they
track the party for some time. When the bounty hunters see them
head to the carnival grounds they plan to ambush them there. They
know coming from the north and using the cover of the sun will allow
them to get some advantage. They plan their move and act on it.
But as the party approach the Barn the Vong sentry sees the party
and alerts others. The Vong pilot enters the Flyer and prepares to
ambush the party as well. Inside the other buildings the Shaper
orders to watch only for now and to secure the prisoners.
Julis 27, 1634 - [Location: Shantou Province, Katai]
A day after the party left the carnival grounds the secret group which
had license 5 miles north and 5 miles south of the river is in
desperate need to contact their men. When none return the leadership,
a man who sells gems and jewelry, starts an investigation.
A report eventually surfaces that the group went to chase after
the party that was detected at the bridge. The group had left in
such haste that they had no idea where they were going. They only
tracked what was reported as a noble wagon on the highway for some
distance south.
After hours of asking the network of underground contacts and
locals the group learns the party may have gone to the fair grounds.
Just before sunset a group of 3 bounty hunters arrive at the
fair grounds to find the father alone. The bounty hunter demand
to search the place but the farmer refuses. In fact the bounty
hunters have no direct authority. They threatened to call the local
military but that would cause more problems than good. After riding
around the bounty hunters do find soaked blood in the grass and dirt
but no other signs of trouble. the three are forced to leave the
area and return to their local base of operations - a converted
barn meeting house south of the river.
The leadership is highly concerned about the loss of a great many
of their men. It is four days later when rumors come about that
a group of horses were found in the western hills with the brand
the hunters use. It is another week after this that the leadership
hires a specialized Tracker bounty hunter who has a reputation to
even work for the Master General. but by the time the Tracker
gets on the trail of the party it is too late.
It is 3.5 weeks later when the teleported group reaches a
town that is willing to send word back to their headquarters.
It is another two months before the teleported bounty hunters
return to their homes with a story so absurd that even the hunter
leadership fails to believe it. By this time the party is long
gone from Katai.
Julis 28, 1634 - [Location: Shantou Province, Katai]
Qui Nim, Champion of House Jian from Li'jian arrives in Shantou
province a day before. He learns of the search for her and sees
to its operations for several hours. But it soon becomes clear
the Lady has slipped through the searches that started almost a
week earlier. It is Qui's duty to protect the House and as such
serves to track her down. He follows up on all leads and so called
rumors he can find.
It is determined that the Lady must've went south rather than
east if captured. If captured it would've been too dangerous
to take her near the capital. So Qui sets off south to track
her and use the towns for more rumors.
For the next three days there is not one rumor he doesn't know
about already other than she had been captured. The trail
goes cold. When Qui finally becomes depressed and desperate he
arrives in Crossroads at his wit's end. This is when he learns
that a Lady was recently found in a nearby village a day behind
him on the road. He rushes to this village and learns it was indeed
the noble but she hired a caravan to transport her back to her
home city. Quit sets out as fast as he can to catch up in hopes
to reach her.
It is another week before Baroness May Win gets home to her estate.
Now cured of the Vong Coral she begins a secret investigation into
these creatures. It is another week after that when she learns
of Baron's Ka fall in Pamau. Rumors abound of him being a traitor
in some fashion. She hires many people to investigate and she learns
Baron Ka's allies must be traitors. She begins her secret war to
rid the Empire of these Vong loving traitors. It is a month after
the party leave when she finds a large group of this group called
the Peace Brigade and they are caught, arrested and slaughtered.
Julis 29, 1634 - [Location: Highway to Crossroads]
[Time: 12:49pm]
The Wizard captive is sorely upset. He can't believe he was
captured by a merchant and a simple coffin. Just two days earlier
a merchant was selling him a enhanced Ruby ring from the black
market. A market he has trusted for some time. The wizard
named Lin Tu is a major leader in the Katai resistance. Just a
year ago he setup the local cell in Crossroads to help wizards
escape and move through Katai safely. He just setup three new
safehouses a week prior.
But then Lin found himself knocked out by some thug carrying a
strange spear like staff. He was shoved into a coffin which
smelled of a strange odor and further subdued. Tied and gagged
he was then sent to the local military. He was unsure how he even
was found out as there was no sign of detection.
When he woke he could hear two men talking nearby.
"..will use Ka's caravan to ship the next four coffins. We
need to move a couple more to the north. To some lake up there
which has some fertile ground." A pause as the other man speaks
softly. "No. I have no clue what is in the coffins. I just
know we ship them from place to place. The money his good and
we can hunt down these scum...."
Then the wizard falls back unconscious to find himself now tied
and gagged surrounded by six guards on the road to Shantou.
The guards admit they will serve him to Katai for a quick trail
and immediate execution when he is found guilty for sure.
But then Lin passes this odd group of tall and obvious non-Katai
people and their wagon. Several eye him for some strange reason
and seem to ask the guards a question or two. As the group of
patrol guards move past the wagon he suddenly feels a lump in his
left boot. With his hands bound he can't feel down but he knows
it is something there. He can only assume it to be a rock or bug
from previous time walking around.
[Time: 7:13pm]
Lin is thrown into a small storage shed that serves as the town's
central storage. The town of 250 is so small it can't afford a
jail so uses this area for one. Outside one guard stands at the
door and one circles the building. The other head to a local tavern
for drinks and food.
Still bound and gagged like an animal Lin finally finds the chance
to feel in the boot. There he finds the hilt of a dagger and takes
a good 5 min to get it out without dropping it. Another 2 minutes to
deftly position it between his knees so it doesn't drop. Cutting the
ropes he quickly removes his gag. Standing up he quickly casts a
teleport spell and teleports away to safety.
[Time: 11:46pm]
Hours later Lin stands together with two others near Crossroads
in a small town of 50.
"...I suspect this group were wizards. How else did they get
a dagger to me. But how they knew who or what I was is not
known to me." Lin speaks.
"You are correct. We had hoped to rescue you but only had 2
following you due to the wide open road. I thought it was odd
that you kept trying to glance back at them but the guards kept
you from doing so. We thought it a signal to us. I sent the
other to follow the wagon and I followed you to the town where
I learned you had escaped and rode back here fast. When they
entered crossroads our man on the inside detected the presence
of strange magic within them. Lucky he works for us for now
as long as the bribes are good. If the guards had detected it
they'd be a King's ransom now. We sent a few of us to follow
them. We noticed two strangers shopping. We used the portable
Yin device to find that both had strong presence's in magic. That
is when you came and watched them for awhile."
That is indeed when Lin approached Arawn and Will in the alley.
Warning them and then throwing the Contact Coin to them.
Augado 1, 1634 - [Location: Pamau City, Pamau Province, Katai]
Sitting inside Baron Ka's estate the Vong in his oglith masker
disguise sits and pretends to enjoy his tea. Nom Amor hates
this human drinks but finds it required to be friendly. The
vile humans stink and serve their use for now. But soon his
people will take over and the magic users will be all destroyed.
"I have learned this shadow group in Shantou has started to
investigate you. I have taken steps to deal with it. But we
can't have these open problems. It has to be dealt with quietly."
Baron Ka sneers at the Vong disguised as a Human. "Your allies
seem powerful. After they demonstrated their power by sinking
the merchant fleet I joined you. I have no idea how you sunk
12 ships full of cargo. But it was a huge profit for me to
get the contract they failed to finish. But if the other
Houses or even Katai learns of our dealings we will be in
serous trouble. Even the Duke here doesn't know what is going
on and likely will not for some time."
"We have things under control. There is a silly rumor of
a group asking about us. But they are stupid merchants and
traders it seems. They can't be of any possible threat to us."
Nom Amor smiles as his right eye bulges in anticipation of
wanting to spray Baron Ka with acid. One day he will have no
use for this human. Some day but not now. Now the least he
knows about the Shaper group sent to capture Baroness May Win
which have gone missing is not good news to report.
Nom Amor just doesn't have the people, in this case Vong, to
send to find the Shaper and the noble lady. The mine he needs
from her for his people to hide in may not be so worth it if
the core base is ready in weeks. He sips his tea and smiles at
the thought that the army will be ready in just a couple weeks.
Augado 2, 1634 - [Location: Crossroads City, Katai]
When the party groomed the horses, Whitney saw his chance to leave.
This Vong mess is clearly out of his league. He decides to leave
and not help the group after all. Some will consider him a coward
but he only sees a chance to save himself. He sneaks away and
heads deeper into the city.
[Time: 11:52pm]
A tired group of three bounty hunters who have license to hunt
on the road south of Crossroads and all the way to Pamau, arrive
in Crossroads. But they arrive with a captive. This young girl
was detected by a simple sensor when she foolishly cast a fire
spell to start her camp fire. The three men sought her out and
was able to track her down when they detected the common wizard
mistake of casting magic.
After a bit of lewd fun showing their dominant and superior
male bodies they bound her. Now tired the four arrive in
Crossroads and turn them into the local military commander.
The commander finds a death warrant on her. Seems some group
locally let her escape but not this time. Since the 19 year
old girl already had one death mark she is immediately executed
by the commander with a dagger to her stomach. Giving her a
very painful and slow death he believes she deserves.
Augado 4, 1634 - [Location: Pamau City, Katai]
The Ch'tain Amoza group in Pamau has license to hunt for wizards
by the local Duke. Recently the group has been given more control
through contact with Baron Ka and his middle men. This day the
group believes a squat house in the north district holds up to a
total of 5 wizards or family members.
there have been rumors that the mother had a sick child and
was about to die when suddenly the child lived without seeing
a Healer. The neighbors found this odd and told the local
guards. After watching the group for 3 days now the bounty
hunters make visual proof of the claim. The father who was
in the small field tending to his garden found it full of birds.
After speaking a few odd words quietly and waving a hand they
flew away. the bounty hunters knew this to be magic while
some farmers do the same thing.
With this scant evidence the bounty hunters raid the house and
capture the family easy. They don't even try to fight back.
The father, mother and 3 children are captured. Bound and
gagged to prevent spell casting they are sent to the local base
for interrogation and plans are made for a open execution.
The group is paid well for their initial find and will be
paid more when the vile wizards admit to their heretica arcane
ways. Plans are made for a public execution. The city has
not put up a group execution of wizards in 2 years. This
should be quite the fun time for the city!
Augado 5, 1634 - [Location: Pamau City, Katai]
Some time before the team arrives at the town square for the execution
several of the magic underground resistance group meets in secret. By
now three members are in the apartment building lobby left of the
square.
The green eyed woman paces back and forth. "I don't think this is
a wise plan. First we bump into that stranger and you teleport
away right in front of him. Then this reckless plan-"
The tall man the leader of the local resistance cell for the
entire city frowns. "I sensed the stranger was different. We
saw what we saw of them. We knew they were of our kind. But
they were clearly not from this land. They may need our help
and we need help from them someday. As to this plan if they
get away with this it will only fuel more executions. The Purge
recently was political and didn't involve us. But this would
give them the right and will to do more. We must show that
we can fight back."
The other man who has been quiet leans against a wall and
watches the square fill up. He finally glances at the woman
who has those vivid green eyes which is rare for women in this
land. "The executioner has arrived with the children."
"But why couldn't we just get the kids from the jail or en
route like we've done before? We are now out to kill innocents
including other kids to prove something?" The woman asks.
"These strangers with the coffin we hear about...they seem
to be planning something major. We don't know what yet or
where. But if the military suddenly find themselves fighting
this other group they'll ignore us." The leader adds.
The quiet man goes outside to lure the executioner inside
on the whim that he will be bribed if he can furnish the head
of the children to some local noble as a prize.
"This is still foolish. We bring heat down on us and it will
be too hot for us to survive." The woman crosses her arms.
"We suspect the creatures attacked and sacked the town out
east..burning it to the ground. Who knows the local nobles
may even be required to call upon us like the collaborators
who use treason against us to line their coin bags." The
leader says and draws his dagger.
Soon the executioner still in his hood as is customary enters
the building. Outside the group from the party notice this but
doesn't react to it. Soon the quiet man pulls out silver coins
and starts to parlay the bribe. The executioner doesn't hear the
leader draw up lifting the hood and slicing the man's neck open.
Soon the leader dons the executioner hood already dressed like
a executioner.
"Why would Sunail decide to kill herself in this foolish plan?"
"She knows it will allow us to draw her kids to freedom by
drawing more guards here. She may kill herself for her kids
today but she realizes by doing this it will lead to better
and bigger things."
The woman shakes her head and goes to the window to watch
the activity. The quiet man comes up to the leader and whispers.
"You didn't tell her about Nom's new alliance with us?"
"They can work both ways for us. These people Vong or Peace fools
whatever they call themselves will help us to crush the Empire.
A new day is dawning and it begins today." With that he closes
the hood around his face.
"Once she finds out you'll be sleeping in the barn again."
The quiet man shakes his head.
"We do what we must. Oddly Baron Ka said the same thing before
the Purge began and now we do our own purge." With that the leader
walks outside to start the execution dressed in the uniform of the
executioner.
Across the square another member observes from the south east end
of the square. He notices the odd giant with the small girl looking
at him. He becomes nervous and when he sees the leader of the
group take the stand he knows things are in motion. Best not to
be around when the fire starts. He rounds the corner and leaves.
Meanwhile across the city in the eastern warehouse district the
party lurk outside the Brigade warehouse. Inside the Peace Brigade
men talk and prepare.
"I don't understand. We set up these warehouses and collect
coffins. We ship them inside...even if we aren't allowed to
look inside...and their gear around the Empire. we are paid well
and now they just want to burn it down?"
"We only follow orders. That Nom fella said the coffins aren't
needed. That they will work in the open soon. He said we
complete this and get a huge bonus."
A third man walks into the area. "The oil is set upstairs. The
papers and everything will burn out of control. What was that?"
A noise is heard from the rear warehouse office where the party
has attempted to infiltrate.
Meanwhile roughly at the same time to the south Unali and
others are entering Baron Ka's house. They are directed to
a waiting room. But inside the Baron's office a heated
conversation continues.
Baron Ka slams his fist down on the desk. "You refuse to help
me now because we can't agree on how to handle the noble houses?"
Nom Amor in human disguise snarls back, "we no longer need your
help at all. Our business deal is at an end."
"We had a deal to ban the other noble houses and with your
vast resources march to Katai! With our four armies and your
vast resources we could-"
"Fail. The military would crush you easy enough. Maybe
someday we will help you again. But you failed to find the
ones searching for us. You failed to keep the attention away
from us by those Osik D'yaum you called Heretics. You
failed to protect our simple activities. Why should we need
you if you can't do these simple tasks?"
"The fairgrounds? I have no control there. You know that.
I sent out all the bribes I could do to ensure the investigation
would end at a simple brigand attack. It worked. I personally
sent a man to hire the assassin to kill that witch in Shantou."
"The Witch you call her? Your poor excuse for a intelligence
network couldn't even have known about her. I only learned of
her from the other witch who foresaw her arrival in Shantou.
When I was there and my other contacts heard this I made her
a rich woman before I split her into three pieces. The gods
will love the pain she suffered as a sacrifice to our quest."
Nom can hear a bit of noise outside. AS he recalls the wizard
old woman in Shantou who had those dreams. Those dreams of
seeing the party arrive in the city. Before her limbs were
sliced off in dire pain she told of even bumping into the smelly
one named Ben'dar on the street. Her odd magick allowed her to
see what Shu would do and that was enough for Nom to act on. He
didn't understand the magick used. The hoomans call it magic but
the vile word is even disgusting to think about. Until the Vong
came here in this foul world they didn't even have a word for it
in their language. Now it rolls off the tongue like some insidious
insult to his brain.
"You mustn't do this. Together we can be a force to be
reckoned with. Just today we are going to execute some of these
Heretics. It will be a distraction to the slack military. We
can then move our plans further along. "
Nom glances at the fireplace and the device on the ledge above
it some strange device he has heard the word before, a sextant.
He frowns at the awful technology. These creatures can't even
use the stars they must use mechanical evil things to help them.
"You use the Heretics both ways. You use them as tools to help
you hunt the others down or various tasks and yet you kill them
as well. This sort of double dealing is something we do not
appreciate. The Supreme Commander feels if you can prove yourself
we might be able to help in the future. But for now-"
Nom hears the floor creak and whirls around in time to see the
Baron lunging with a dagger in his hand. The foul hooman is
attacking him? He almost cackles at this. The Oglith Masker
is working well in his disguise. But now he telepathically
orders his small amphistaff to unfurl from his arm and come
out of his sleeve. It does this in lightning speed. But
at the same time from his eye boils the fake eye, a Vong Mulo
boil that juts out of his eye socket a few inches. This startles
the baron and he stalls in mid stride. The boil a animal of course
not some foul mechanical device opens up in two hemispheres and spits
out a acid into the face of the baron. The Baron goes flying back
into the chair to the left.
Nom waits for the eye to resettle in and adjusts his disguise
again as the Baron screams in pain. Of course the pain is music
to the Executor's ear holes. Now the baron must die as another
gift to the gods. But he'll not be able to just walk out so he'll
have to use his Flo'ayum flying creature to escape. Glad he
hid it a few days ago in the garden just in case. After all he
hasn't survived in this world for this long without forethought.
Nom lowers his now stiff amphistaff toward the screaming man
just as the party enters the room.
Hours later the Katai military officer lurks in the shadows near
the Peace Brigade tavern. He is alone tonight since he can't call
on the military yet. His orders are solid. His group which is
a subset of the main military intelligence group acts in secret
and only for the Master General. Only in dire situations should
they get local help. Having his party captured by the gang is
not a dire emergency. But he plans to go and break him out. If
it means his death he will do it.
For a week now he has heard rumors of this group. Something
about expanding their territory and there has even been some
unconfirmed rumors that Baron Ka is allied with them. Why such
a respected Baron would do such is beyond his imagination. But
he has heard street gossip that this group has moved resources
of all things including wagons and coffins around the empire. This
is a common trick for smugglers so it could be that. But the
amount and speed seems odd for smuggling. No this tavern seems
to be a headquarters for a group that is planning something big.
Now after a full day of interrogating street contacts he has
learned the password to enter.
Suddenly a odd thing happens. From his seat he notices a man
being accosted by the bouncer and the security it seems for this
place. Who is the strange man in the hat and why does he keep
glancing all over the place?
Eventually this strange man gives him the excuse to find the Drug
Room. He tries to elude the man later but the long haired stranger
finds him just as he frees his friend. The fight comes about and
all chaos happens. Then the crazy escape with the help of the
woman in the black. She almost looks familiar. Has she been seen
by him before or in some ledger of people of interest and their
possible pictures? No surely not. Her face was covered. But
her frame clearly showed it was a female. Yet there is still something
odd about her.
As the man helps his friend down the alley to freedom the
others who help him run away. He fights the urge to capture
them. He has the strange feeling they could be Heretics but
his mandate tonight is freedom and healing for his friend. The
man in the hat is the strangest one. At one point the ears
of that man were seen. Why was his left ear rather pointed?
Could it have been some farming machine accident? He'll have
to research that. How many pointy eared people could there be
in this city?
Augado 8, 1634 - [Location: Katai Mountains west of Pamau]
The last village in the area is attacked by 8 Vong Flyers. They
begin to bomb the hooman structures. This allows their ground
forces to get the people outside. The village is quickly sacked
by the sheer force of Vong warriors who find nothing but weak
resistance to their attack.
The Vong commander in this group orders the weak ones killed but
not before a bit of fun. To those who put up a fight they have
some respect for and therefore owe them a quick death. This is
done but for the kids, the old ones, the women who will not be
of use for them they are sliced, diced, kicked, beaten or otherwise
given gifts of painful pleasure as they enter the next world.
Then there was that sudden attack by the hooman animal they called
the dog? The warriors who saw it report the dog was helping the
hooman man by defending it. The dog ripped open the Vong's throat
ripping the crab armor with scary ease. The Shaper, why must one
always come on these fun trips the commander wondered, investigated
the scene.
The Shaper was quiet as she studied the dog and the dead Vong.
In the attack on the other local villages and the one far to the
east they never had such a incident. Yet up north her caste has
heard of stories like this. There is something odd with these
creatures. They are like Voxxen but a lot weaker. They can't
sense magic like their pets. No there seems something different
in their saliva. She takes more samples to study. Shimara will
be upset at this new development. She boards the lead Flyer without
saying anything to the ground commander.
The ground commander snarls at the Shaper who is smug. He
knows someday their power will wane. How they control the warrior
caste is a long lost thing. But the commander knows they must
have secrets to leverage their power. For now they will be
of use but someday they will be crushed like the Shamed Ones.
One final blow is struck when the flyer fires a single fireball
plasma ball to down the tree over the dead dog's body. The
hoomans must've link this secret. Hopefully if they find the
sight they won't put it together.
Augado 9, 1634 - [Location: Rising Mount base]
The Supreme Commander marches down the wet corridor to his
thrown room. Shimara is in no mood to hear the whines of the
Shapers as they plead for more time to prepare. Given their
way the Shapers would spend months more in this world working
to prepare. No. Shimara has sent word home that the final
stage is coming up.
The almost eight foot tall Vong marches into his throne room.
Omini the shamed one, his pet, crawls toward the bone throne.
Omini curls up into a ball and Shimara steps on the pitiful
excuse for a Vong. Omini dares not yell out in pain. No he
must accept pain. After all Omini knows his implant rejections
and cries during the pain rituals insult him. He must strive
to be a better Vong. Yet the Supreme Commander is heavy and
he can't help but whimper as the Vong leader steps on him and
sits on the thrown. Omini's back is now made to be a stool
for Shimara's spiked boots.
An Attendant one who could not earn his Executor status enters
the room. The Vong had wanted to be out like Nom Amor to study
these strange people. "Report!" Shimara bellows in the chamber.
"Still no word on Nom Amor's whereabouts. He has been overdue
to report in for four days now. The other Executors have reported
in around the strange world. We now have 87 Growing Places setup.
The last one in a land they called Fomoria is in their sacred waters
in the inland lake. The orb farm there has resulted in orbs that
can communicate faster. We have now 14 strongholds in various
lands with the most recent inside a land they called Gom."
Shimara raises his left hand and looks at it. His great
implant was done many years ago. He willingly cut off his left
hand after he won the Battle of Cestus in glory to the gods.
Then the shapers outfitted him with this new implant that has
become quite pleasing. He flexes his new coral hand and knows
he could crush a skull with a simple flick of his implant. "Nom
Amor is our best Executor. He must be in trouble. The group
we sent to find him at the shack couldn't?"
"No. They burnt the shack down so not to get any of our
items in the wrong hands. Using maskers they scoured the
city. We are waiting for them to report on what they have
found but are overdue to report as well."
"Failures!" Shimara slams his fist-implant down on the throne
side. The human skull used to decorate that side obliterates to
a fine dust. The attendant will have to repair that later.
Omini doesn't jump knowing the temper of his master. "Our past
victories have made my warriors lax! I will not tolerate it.
If we are to take over this world we must be loyal to our ways
and the gods. See to it personally they report in the next
few hours or you'll find the Embrace of Pain bedtime ritual to
be administered by me personally!"
"Yes Supreme Commander!" The Attendent bows and begins to
walk out as Omini hisses in glee seeing another Vong over his
station abused.
"Omini prepare my blood bath and you will have to clean my pelvis
lice off again. But this time if you bite I'll rip your throat
out!"
Omini stops hisses and gulps in regret. Someday his people will
uprise and overthrow the other castes. He can dream.
Augado 10, 1634 - [Location: Rising Mount base]
The Shaper leader ends the meeting of her underling Shapers. She
frowns at the reports of this "dog" venom. Now the World Brain
reports 8 full such incidents. She will have to order all dogs
killed on sight and immediately. She dares not report this to
Shimmra yet. Today he makes his big speech to the troops and
he would be most upset.
She turns to her trusted friend another Shaper. "The World Brain
has reconnected to the Brain in Teos?"
"Yes. it is setup and ready for production. But I still can't
explain the odd thoughts the World Brain has been giving us. It
reports connections with the one with the pointed ear. Ever since
the creature put on the Thought Hood it made some connection. Then
we lost connection with the Vassa brain at that lake. We don't
know if this creature is an enemy but the World Brain seems more
confused by the connection. It fights us more and more."
"This must not be known by Shimara ever. We know the results
when the other World Brain was tricked. it caused our race
devastation. Ensure all connections are made. If we are to
attack our forces will need to be controlled from here. if this
World Brain fails our effort here in this world will be destroyed."
Elsewhere in the mountain the World Brain wriggles its tentacles
this way and that way. Its connections to the flyers, orbs,
growing places and other bases around this world are simple to it.
The children Brains are easy to control. It is confused by this
world as there seems to be a ease to the effort. The shapers claim
some force called magic allows great things here. The World Brain
continues to rip human brains and their memories apart as it tries
to understand this concept of magic. Over the last few weeks it has
learned a great thing. Recently when the one man called Quim who
claimed to be a Wizard of Ice was absorbed he learned that magic
can be useful. Maybe even it can control the Shapers who control
it. Maybe he can be the one to control rather than be controlled.
The Shapers continue to work on the World Brain to get it to
remain loyal but these strange human thoughts distract it. Could
there be another way?
Suddenly the World Brain senses the one called Arawn nearby. Should
he report this or let him come closer. Could he get Arawn under his
control to help it in the future? Thousands of thoughts pass through
the large brain as it considers the options.
The Future - ???
The Shaper Mother which escaped from the Brain Cave during the
final battle gets back to the homeworld. But she has to deal with
a disaster first. The thing that is a living rock which
was thrown through the portal by the Brain is creating great havoc.
It has already killed over 80 warriors before she even arrived.
A dozen shapers use their weapons to no avail. Buzz Bombs explode
and do nothing to the creature. Entire sections of the base is
destroyed by the insane berserk creature. At least 3 dozen homes.
The shapers in a desperate bid to take the creature order over
a 100 outcasts to charge and do whatever they can do. But it is
like flies on a giant. They are simply batted away and crushed.
Soon the Coralskippers arrive and fire their plasma balls at the
creature. This does seem to affect it taking bits and pieces away
from the creature. Two days later after hundreds are killed by
the creature the Shapers come up with a new plan. They use a giant
dovin from a World Ship to capture the thing. The controlled black
hole generator sucks the creature inside toward the singularity.
But by then the damage was to great. The warriors lose over 175
warriors. Two coralskippers are destroyed in collisions. At least
2 dozen Shapers estimated dead. The outcasts they do not care who
died but the outcasts believe it was in the hundreds.
The Shaper Mother is excuted for her failure to capture this
new strange world as well to stop the creature from its rampage.
But before she is tortured and killed she warns the new Supreme
Commander of the danger the hoomans face. Of course the new
young Commander scoffs and ignores that. The gods will see to it
that they will defeat them some day.
While the portal to the Middle World was not used often to go
back and forth, it was used on special occasions. By corssing
the portal weakened it. One such time a Shaper tried to report
the location of the planet to the Shaper group who were in charge
of stellar travel. But the details were confusing and no definite
locations were determined.
Kolir was one of Shimara's personal food tasters. Omini spoke to
the Outcast often in quiet alcoves. When Nom Amor was reporting the
humans, Kolir thought it was a chance to revolt. The Outcasts had
tried it on many worlds over the centuries but all failed. But
these humans seem to have a spirit of a open nature. They do not
simply fall to the ground surrendering like the Ithorians. These
creatures fight back and to the last man or woman. When Kolir was
sent back to the homeworld to get his favorite sea lobsters the outcast
decided to report this info to a local resistance group. He would later
be found and excuted by Shimara himself. Skinned alive and one eye
eaten while awake by a Voxyen. But the news spread from world to world.
But after 300 years the rebelion was aided by a group of humanoids who
were tired of being slaves. It may have taken 300 years but the uprising
was quick and fast. With the Shapers slaughtered the warriors lost
their ability to think. The outcasts then slaughtered Brains on
worlds and World Ships. This created havoc on Vong controlled things
like fleets of Coralskippers and World Ships. The final stage was
a direct assault on the warrior leadership. Though millions of outcasts
were killed including slave races the rebels finally won. By now the
Vong had conquered three galaxies. Countless worlds were in their
control. With two galaxies going into chaos slave races revolted and
overthrew the enemy. The Vong were driven back by the sheer
overwhelming numbers of rebels. It takes another 125 years before
most of the conquered areas are finally free. Historians would later
comment that trillions of outcasts died in past revolts. At least
52 worlds were destroyed by the Vong as a show of force against these
rebels. Countless untold slave races were killed. But due to one
simple food taster. One simple thread of hope created by a long dead
group of adventurers in a place called the Middle World, they finally
won the final victory.
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