Considering Highmax is a Legendary Swordsmite, and Rosywander grants the wielder power, I assumed Rosywander would have to force itself into the right places to block against Highmax and possibly other strong enemies. Which is why it was jerky in movement. Think of it an aimbot but for blocking.
I THINK its my last day today, so I'll get the save ready. Sad that the lag + crashing + extra work hours got in the way of getting past four months.
If you keep posting in the chunks you've been at, you can earn yourself another day. I'm happy to wait.
Too much work on hand, plus real life problems getting in the way. Not gonna get into why.
Tensions grew high as Apiks was hauled off in a cage to be released. Highmax was overseer, but was it really his place to decide something for the fort that he only just recently arrived to? He didn’t know what happened in necrothreat in the past few years, let alone since the fort was around. He was a hero, yes. But was he truly a hero they needed right now?
Apiks’ cage was set down and the lever was set up by Rogue and the other member of Rogue’s law enforcement group. Everyone else went about their duties, save for Dastot who peeked around the corner, listening and writing of the events of Apiks’ release. But what he was expecting to write and what he began to write were opposites. His face grew grim as he heard Apiks speak: “Are the two lawbreakers dealt with?” Rogue pulled the lever and gave his response. “One is dead, but the other is crippled. The rest of the fort thinks it was Highmax’s orders to do so.” Apiks’ cage burst open and he stretched his body out from the cramped wooden cage. “Good. Then I assume that after Highmax has let me be free, the people are almost ready to cast out this hero of theirs. We have work to do.”
Dastot quickly tried to shove his writings into his pack. His hands were shaking; he needed a drink and quick. Dastot picked up his inkwell and pen only for the shakes to grow violent, ink splattering all over his clothes and on the floor. “What was that?” Dastot’s hands shook now from withdrawals and in fear now as he tried to sling his bag over his back, only for the shakes to rattle the inkwell out of his hand. The sound of the metal inkwell made the loudest *plink* he heard in his life, and his fear overwhelmed him. He took a second to gather himself before trying to move but Dastot felt something on the side of his head and then another force striking his ribs. Several more feelings of force within seconds and that’s when the numbness of fear was gone and the pain came all at once. He screamed in pain and horror as he felt his weak bones breaking under the weight of Rogue’s punches. “Don’t kill him. I want him to write what happens when we
destroy Highmax.”
People had already started a mob as Highmax came from the forges. Shouts of “how can you let him go!?” and “you’re no better than Apiks!” were heard throughout the crowd. Highmax stayed stalwart as he made his way to the barracks, with DwArfY there doing an individual drill. Highmax prepared himself for his own drill when DwArfY spoke up. “I know you don’t speak much outside of just to Dastot. Why did you release Apiks? If you think he’s no threat, then why do you think so?” Highmax tightened his gauntlets before speaking up. “The undead don’t care about politics. We shouldn’t either. We are the last bastion against them. We can’t be fighting each other. We would be doing Ur’s job if we killed one another.”
DwArfY, by the gods planting the thought in him or by pure curiosity, asked the hero: “Highmax, do you remember anything about Armok before you were trapped?” Highmax stopped what he was doing. “About as much as everyone else does about the God of Blood. Why?” “You know that Armok is-“ He was interrupted quickly. “Highmax, this is Rogue. Come out and face the justice you are due.” Highmax opened the door to the barracks and saw Red Hammer, Rogue and several other members of the fort armed and upset. “Under who’s orders?” Rogue’s voice was low and stern. “Necrothreat’s.” Quickly, they grabbed him and brought him downstairs to that locked room, where the mass of dead bodies were. The people were angry, but they had no idea where Rogue was taking him. They opened the door and those present felt an overwhelming force come over them, save for Rogue, his comrade in law, and Highmax. They mob entered the room and threw Highmax to the floor before the King.
“You spelled your doom Highmax. The people hate you, and as far as they will remember, you were impeached and slain by my orders. They will be upset, but I
will have order. They will bend their knee to me so I can save them against Ur and Armok’s forces. That is the only way for us to survive.” The next sound Apiks heard shook him to his very core. Highmax chuckled. The cold, hardened warrior showed emotion. “Bring in the prisoner!” Rogue went around the corner and dragged Dastot across the ground, bone splinters cutting his pants and his broken legs. “It’s over Highmax. This forumite is going to write how I destroyed you. And the people will forget everything that happened after they walk out of this room.”
Highmax stood unshaken. “Do you know the story about me and my ancestors? What the name ‘Highmax’ meant? It meant I was born into a life I did not want. The first of us was a Highmax who gave up the afterlife after he was given it for slaying Ur. I don’t believe it to be true since Ur was around when I was born. Then when his descendant took over after his body could not take it anymore, his soul stayed in limbo as another Highmax came. And then on his passing, he too chose the path to return to the living until his body was no more. Soon, there was a tale that a Highmax would come once every generation, and they would be forced to take this oath so that they could live on until their body was gone. But by the time I was born, it became a tradition, and I wasn’t willing to sell my soul for a cause to fight undead. I was forced to by my father, by our King and by Toady One, the one ruling Necrothreat during my younger days.” Silence befell the hall as Apiks looked confused at the forumites ramblings.
“I am Highmax. But I am not the hero you searched so long for. That hero haunts my dreams with many others calling themselves Highmax. They tell me to slay undead and kill Ur. But I will not follow the noble line they tell me to follow. Forumites were born by Armok to fight against the undead. That is our goal. But what happens if I killed every last one of the undead? Their necromancers, their High Lord Threadromancers, and their god Ur himself? I could finally be at peace. Every Highmax can leave to the afterlife. Everyone else is just an extra way to help me reach that goal.” Apiks looked stunned by this. Rogue and his comrade were white with horror. “I let you live that day Apiks because you have forgotten your place. You are to live and die fighting the undead, just as I am.”
The bones around the room began to hover in an almost violent fashion. “Enough of this, I need you to die before I reclaim this fort as my own. The bones will make short work of you.” Highmax gripped his sword and drew it slowly. Apiks felt fear for the first time in his rule as King as Highmax drew a weapon bearing a mark on the hilt that he knew all too well. Highmax then shouted for all to hear. “In order to slay the undead fast enough for me to kill them all, a pact had to be made.” His blade of adamantine blue turned blood red as the emblem of Armok on the hilt began to glow faintly. The freshly brought in corpses of the butchered animals, the forgotten beast, and even the dead forumites began to quiver. Apiks stood up from his throne. “You… You did not… Armok is our enemy! Why would you do such a thing!?” Highmax shook his head. “Armok may have been an enemy to you and your fort, but in my world, he was revered as a great and powerful god. This pact between him and Ur was never something of my world. Armok has granted me power beyond what my predecessors were.” The blood from the countless slain began to fill the room and surrounded Highmax in a torrent. “I hold the power of a god, Apiks. You are but a pawn in my ultimate goal in this crusade against the undead. You will know your place.”
Highmax rose one of his hands towards Rogue, who put Dastot before him, hoping to use him as a human shield. But Rogue felt nothing when he closed his eyes. In fact, Dastot felt a lot lighter in his hands. He opened his eyes and saw the remains of Dastot in his arms, drained of all blood, and of his life. Rogue dropped the mummified corpse and grabbed his chainsaw. Bones closed in on Highmax but the torrent swallowed them, releasing wet mush from mixing blood and bone meal. The blood then turned into an orb. “I will fight your lawmen first, Apiks. And then I will show you the power of Armok.” Rogue stepped forward. He knew Apiks was not a good king. But Highmax? Highmax was worse. He made a deal with the devil and needed to be stopped. He spoke softly to Apiks. “Leaving this room will make people forget, right?” Apiks went to shout at the irrelevance of his statement but figured out what he was planning.
Rogue stepped forward and readied his weapon. The strength of the chainsaw was unparalleled to every sword they had. But this one was adamantine and clearly magical. What could he do to stop it? Highmax readied his sword and waited for the first move. Rogue charged in and used the brutality of the chainsaw to try and land a hit. But Highmax, now at full strength dodged quickly, with his hilt striking Rogue in a taunting manner. Rogue then swung again, and Highmax blocked it and punched Rogue while his weapon was blocking the chainsaw. The teeth to his weapon carrying his own soul was wearing down. He knew something at that point: Highmax wanted him alive and fit for combat. He could’ve killed Rogue quickly if he wanted to at that point, but he didn’t. Then charged and Highmax readied his stance to block the chainsaw.
What Highmax was greeted with instead was Rogue jumping up and kicking him. Highmax moved his blade out of the way, just as Rogue predicted, and with another quick charge, Rogue began forcing Highmax off of his feet and out the door. But then he felt a great force holding him back. Looking up, the pressure of the blood was forcing the warrior forward. “Apiks!” Rogue called out and he felt a large force pushing him forward, almost crushing him between the blood and bone. Highmax roared in fury as the torrent of blood pushed harder. That was when Rogue saw in Highmax’s sword that the emblem was merely sitting on it. Rogue let up a kick at his weapon and Highmax’s force lessened, protecting the sword, giving Rogue and Apiks enough leeway to force Highmax out the door. The torrent of blood was unleashed harmlessly as Highmax fell onto his back, unconscious. Blood soaked everyone present, including Highmax.
Rogue went up to Highmax’s sword that still laid in the room and forced the emblem off of it. As long as he forgot who he was, he could learn from the stories, rather than what his life used to be. Apiks put a hand on Rogue’s shoulder. “An aspect of Armok attacked us in my throne room. Highmax came in but was forced away by its power. Then you came along and slew it. The best way to destroy an old hero? Replace him with a new one. Congratulations, Overseer.”
Despite the writings, I got through four months with not a lot I wanted to get done, done. I made a farm plot for pig tails but they weren't getting made. Wafers are being made, so feel free to arm our army with candy armor and weapons. Don't cut down the tree in the front yard. I realize now I didn't set scheduling, but it doesn't matter much.
Here's the saveFeel free to upload this properly to DFFD. The site doesn't work for me when I upload.