Murdermachine's Reclaim, Chapter 1: The Void God ReturnsJournal of Goden Dorenthangath, Expedition LeaderTimbershards, one of out outposts to the west, went silent last year. The King has ordered a detachment of seven dwarves, those seven being ourselves, to investigate the fortress. Rumors say the fortress was overrun by a kobold attack, however the king seems unwilling to believe such hearsay. If the fortress is too dangerous to retake, we are to return to the mountain home. Otherwise we are to bunker down and wait for reinforcements. However, while the king will not admit it publicly, he knows the truth.
Timbershards was a nightmare. A place that other dwarves spoke of in whispers. They say the leader of the fortress, one who called himself AnimaRytak, was a demon in dwarven form. Virtually everyone who settled there had changed. Whispered tales returned to the mountain home; tales that said none that inhabitated Timbershard called it such. To them, the name was Usanstakud Nazushmestthos.
Murdermachines, the Blood-Citadel.
When word of the fortress's fall reached us, some were overjoyed by the news.
I myself am but a mere farmer; I'm here in the event that the fortress is salvageable. Along with me are Morul Eshtanudesh, a doctor, and five well trained, well equipped soldiers. I pray their axes keep us safe...
Several Months Later...It was less than an hour after sunrise when the seven dwarves crept along the bottom of the hill towards the entrance of the fortress. The group remained silent as the crept closer. They had spotted goblins and kobolds from afar but had been unable to guess their numbers. They had snuck closer to get a better look, perhaps an unwise decision.
As the expedition leader poked his head up to count the enemies, he noticed both the goblins and the kobolds were staring up into the sky. Goden followed their gaze and spotted a black mass of fire streaking across the sky.
"What is that?" Datan asked.
"Lass, that be a black meteor. No good will follow it. We should leave now Goden." Lolor said in a whisper.
"I...I agree." The expedition leader stuttered out.
As the seven could turn tail and leave, the meteor instantly reversed direction and began falling towards the dwarves current location.
"Oh hell, it's coming towards us!" Lolor exclaimed as he took off as quick as his stout legs could carry him.
"Scatter!" Goden shouted and he followed Lolor. However their attempt to run was fruitless. The black mass moved at a speed that nothing in existence could surpass. Within seconds, it slammed into the ground in the center of the dwarves. Six were thrown clear, but one was consumed by the black flame. The air filled with a blood-curdling scream that quickly died into a choked whisper.
Lolor was the first to rise to his feet. Coughing and sputtering, "Are ye alright?!" he shouted into the dust-strewn air.
Where the soldier once stood, a scorched crater remained. Standing within the crater was something that made Goden's blood run cold.
It had the form of a dwarf. But it's bronze skin was now the color of ash. Where it's beard should be, a mass of black, flame-licked tendrils hung. Floating above its head was a halo of white-hot iron. The once fine dwarven armor had been scorched black. And now a foul, tainted miasma poured from the armor's joints. The figure slowly turned it's head and stared at Goden. As the dwarf stared into the two glowing eyes of molten magma, he gave up any hope of seeing the mountain home again.
"
I return once more." A voice like a thousand hungering thralls filled the air.
"Armok help us..." Goden whimpered.
(OOC: Oh god instant ambush chain. Even with the Voidgod, this will probably be a clusterfuck of massive proportions.)