Description
Darkness coalesces about this ebony-skinned dark dwarf. Two pinpricks of
lurid light hang and sway heavily within two sunken, bleary eyesockets.
A slothenly smirk plays at the corners of two large, dingy lips. A stained
beard, albeit well-trimmed, hangs dismally about the ebon face. A contoured
scalp devoid of hair gleams dismally against the gloom.
A short, agile frame slinks quietly in place, allowing view of thinly
muscled arms and deft, buoyant legs. Thickly veined, calloused hands suggest
a profession requiring nimble fingers, confirmed by the lustful, greedy
look of this duergar.
This duergar's armor seems to be a shoddily mixed hodgepodge of sleek, dark
leathers and massive platemail, a duallity of the simple peasant clothing
worn by wayward villages interspliced with the finest of Imperial war suit.
Role
The Empire, Part IV: A moment of clarity (cont'd)
Added Wed Nov 24 14:13:48 2004 at level 51:
Chapter 3: The Dread Lord
The heavy musk of embalming fluid washed over the gravestones as the Dread Lord
began his animation.
"A fitting servant of the Black Sect, this zombie," he stated, nodding to
himself.
The shadows behind him formed into the all-too-familiar figure of the Emperor.
Teranoth shuddered involuntarily as the chill breeze blew past him.
"My liege, how good of you to.. visit."
"Jus' checkin' up 's all. Found this 'ere fine li'l potion an' figured
yer maybe put yer spin o' the Negative Planes on 't if'n yer don't mind."
The Emperor produced a small vial from a pouch along his waist, a mischevious
smile playing at his lips. The Dread Lord looked at the stoppered potion
untrustfully, yet with curiosity.
"Exquisite reactions taking place. Even I am unable to ascertain its' properties."
"Yea I's know, fella. I's made 't. Why don't ya have a drink. Ting like this
makes ya feel all better inside, I's promise."
The Dread Lord shook his head reluctantly, sensing treachery.
"I'd rather not, my liege. I wish not to distract from my animations."
"I's insist,' came the heavy drawl of the thief. He focused his dark eyes
at the Dread Lord, gazing deep inside him, untill the necromancer could bear
it no more. Grabbing the flask, he swallowed what he was sure to be poison,
however he found himself feeling rather relaxed and calm.
"Good, fella. Real good. Now we's play us a li'l game. Why don't ya start by
droppin' ta yer knees an' barkin' like a dog," came the amused voice.
Teranoth stared in indignance, unbelieving of such a humiliating request. He
found himself complying, oddly enough. Withought thought or concern, he quickly
dropped to his knees. Staring up at the Emperor, pleadingly,
"What.. what is this? What have you done to me?"
"Jus' a li'l technique that there Guildmaster o'er in the Ruined City done
taught Me. 'e calls 't mind control. Funny that. I's call 't barkin' like a
dog. We's try anot'er trick. How's about yer stand up off the dirt there,
an' speak that power word o' deat' yer so fond o'?"
"As... as you wish my Emperor. To whom shall I direct this pox?"
"Why, ta yerself o' course, fella! Yer know. Fer the sake o' experimentation."
Teranoth stared in horror as he found his own body betraying him, casting
the proper incantantions of the word that has brought fear into the hearts
of his enemies. With one utterance,
"Die."
the corpse of the Dread Lord crumpled to the earth silently, a horrid look
etched into its' features. Urog stared in fascination as the hands of the dead
reached forth from their graves to draw the corpse down beneath the earth. A
final, lurid resting place.
The Empire, Part IV: A moment of clarity
Added Sun Nov 21 19:38:55 2004 at level 51:
Amidst Urog's decent into senility and obscurity, he has uncovered a plot
against him. In his younger days he would have noticed such an act almost
instantly, but this day it was the incompetence of his Council that gave them
away:
It was dusk within the Palace, and the aging Emperor's eyelids hung heavily
as battle plans were detailed for raiding the Fortress of Light. His eyes
scanned the crowded Throne Room dismally, gazing over the Shadow Lord, Shanta,
the newly-named High Priest, Izuaki, the War Master, Ceiekelak, and the Dread
Lord pro tempore, Teranoth. Before him and his council stood legions of
armed men and women, Oathed men and women ready to give their lives for his
cause. As the plans droned on and the Emperor fell in and out of sleep, he
was jostled awake by a sharp, tingling pain along his right arm. His tattoo
had begun to flare and he snapped back to awareness quickly. So quickly that
he just barely noticed the Shadow Lord placing a scroll into the hands of a
cloaked messenger who promptly slinked away. Sensing dissent, he excused
himself promptly and began stalking the cloaked figure.
The trail did not last long. He found the messenger huddled asleep before the
gates of Asgaard. A swift spike-toed kick to the face ensured that none this
messenger would not be returning to the Shadow Lord, and a precursory search
showed the Emperor what he had expected to see: a plot to be overthrown.
Urog rose with a snarl, and snuck back into the Palace clutching a bloody
straight razor named 'Answer to Dissent.'
Chapter 1: The Shadow Lord's Humiliation.
A faint buzzing from a nearby nest droned through the chasm of the tiny throne
room. Below the throne led a black marble staircase into a chamber of catacombs
of the great Hornet, Khasotholas. Knelt before the staircase, deep in prayer,
the Shadow Lord flinched suddenly as a large, chainmail-clad gauntlet was
placed on her shoulder.
"We's need ta talk."
"Can it wait? I'm praying to my Lord" replied the indignant Shadow Lord.
The Emperor trudged forward without so much as a glance and knelt next to
Shanta in prayer.
"Fine. We's pray first. Great Lord Khasot'olas, grant Me the strength ta judge
this 'ere wort'less no-good back-stabbin' surface wretch o' a wench." came the
tired, heavy drawl of the thief.
The Shadow Lord jumped to her feet in surprise, wide-eyed with her mouth
hanging as she uttered a single, pained whimper in protest. The realization
of what had occured dawned on her then and there, as had the sensation of pain
from deep inside her back.
Urog retracted a bloody straight razor named 'Answer to Dissent' with satisfaction.
"One down. T'ree ta go."
The Empire, Part III: Bitterness and Greed
Added Sat Nov 13 17:08:25 2004 at level 51:
As mounting pressures coupled with the shock of old age build on Urog, he
finds himself becoming jaded and bitter. The greed he has enjoyed during his
life has become too much for even him to handle. It has consumed every fiber
of his being, causing only more envy, jealousy, and lust to have and control
not only the possessions of others, but of others themselves.
He has alienated any allies he has gained during his reign, warring with all
factions of Thera as in the days of the former Empire. His decisions now are
prone to pettiness and serve only to further himself over his Empire. In his
eyes, after all, he IS the Empire.
The question of sanity plays a part as well. That is, if he has any remaining.
As senility and a changing world consume him, he finds himself alienated and
unhappy with his own Empire. Truly he is no longer fit for the title of Emperor.
Yet he finds his minions follow him without question, and this weakness of his
underlings, once his greatest asset, has only ensured that any plotting to
take place now would go unnoticed by the tired and old Enforcer. Were Lord
Grurk or the other Lords of the Empire convince his council to overthrow him,
he would surely not see such an action coming, and likely slip into madness.
Daily Planner
Added Sat Oct 30 22:21:24 2004 at level 51:
A sloppy, rugged script flows across the pages. The author, obviously not gifted
with a bardic creativity, seems to have simply outlined a list of activies. Although
most are too messy to read, you make out the following words:
1. Add to the coffers, look into lumberyarding contracts. Begin the razing of the Northwest.
2. Destroy the Scions. Prophecies to destroy the Empire do not come to light in my watch.
3. Find the stones. Confirmed from all, the Tridecagon brings power to those that wield it.
One large, many small, and necklaces to boot. Do not allow into Scion hands.
4. Reports of rains of fire confirmed. Find some Ilthiad, bring to Big Boss.
5. Need access to Lyceum. Sweet talk Lady Shazirah. Befriend Heralds if necessary.
6. Form contacts with thieve's guilds. Unite them under rule.
Writing continues, however it has faded into an illegible script, marred by several droplets of blood.
The Empire, Part II: A touch of anger amongst the greed.
Added Tue Aug 31 17:57:05 2004 at level 51:
With the recent addition of Lord Grurk to the Empire, Urog has found himself
re-examining his treatment of others. After being embarassed by the ignorance
of his Shadow from a simple question of Imperial law, his bitterness and
greed have surfaced themselves to harden his drive and personality. He no
longer finds himself bending backwards to accomodate for others, and has taken
firm, no-nonesense stances with those both outside and inside the Empire.
He has bullied both his own Sect and people he once called friends, all in
the name of greed for both material possession and dominance. This switch of
heart has been fuelled through years and years of drudging through the ranks
of the Empire, bowing to an endless supply of power above him, a power he now
wishes to dominate and control himself.
Urog's greed is beginning to consume him without him realizing it. He no
cares for relations or the fondness of others, burning bridges as he crosses
them. The question remains whether his greed, bully tactics, and bitterness
will swallow him and spit him out, a failure to the Empire, or whether they
will nurture and fuel his drive for ambition.
The Bandit King, Calheil. The Herald, Cadothu, and his wife, Raja. His own
trusted (as far as "trust" can be defined within the Empire) Elite Shadows,
Shanta and Saayayse. Men and women of power and stature, these, yet he has
begun to bully them for various things, and time will tell if he is able to
dominate them to his own ends or be trampled beneath their own combined agendas.
Buying a namesake
Added Tue Aug 3 18:17:25 2004 at level 35:
In a ploy to advance his political influence over Dagdan to help rise through the Thieve's Guild,
Urog has paid off the mayor of the city for use of his last name. He hopes that the citizens will
associate the name as a sign of social status and be more receptive to his influence. He has noticed
how others have gotten recognition and influence simply by the adding of a family name to their title
and desires this power for himself.
Qaledus, Dagdan, and plans for the Northwest
Added Sun Aug 1 19:46:21 2004 at level 33:
Urog has met with the patron lord of the thieves' guilds and has laid out his plans to further
himself. While rising through the Empire he will also focus his energies towards becoming the
Enforcer of Dagdan, a prime location, surrounded by the forests of the northwest. Once in power, he will
destroy the woodlands to build another citadel of the Empire, in part as a testament to his own great
works (although not obvious, for he requires concealment for his plans' fruition) and in part to further
the control of the Empire to other parts of Thera, parts where he would then feel comfortable lurking
performing his work. He is also impressed by Qaledus' idealogy and will seek to gain his favor as
he establishes himself in Thera.
Plans for the Fortress
Added Sun Aug 1 19:40:26 2004 at level 33:
He has found much frustration and angst towards the members of the Fortress that assault the Palace,
interrupt his work in other areas and stealing the source of his power. He has begun plans to befriend
them and manipulate their ways, though he understands that the Maran are heavyset in their ways and
stubborn to change them. He has made contact with Lariya, feigning attraction and interest to her
ways, confident that her old elven age makes her senile and insecure in thought. He hopes to destroy
her image and subsequently strike a blow against the Fortress, to embarass and humiliate them before
Thera. He also attempts to befriend the Captain, Golron, as much as it pains him to associate
with a dwarf, to make the Captain lose face before his other Maran and Squires. Although aware of
the Acolytes and their protective roles, he does not feel as threatened nor concerned of them as he
does to the more aggressive Maran. It is quick, direct conflict that Urog understands, and that
a quick resolution must come of it, else it fall to chaos and the lose of acquisitions.
The Empire, Part I
Added Sun Aug 1 19:31:07 2004 at level 33:
Urog has found a natural calling within the Empire: an organization based on social standing
and domination over the weak. He watches as the other members grovel and beg before Blitzenturt,
happy with the slightest nod of acknowledgement from their Emperor. Urog, however, sees the giant
as merely a man with the right opportunities presented to him, a powerful man who has capitalized
on them, but a man nonetheless, much like him. He has positioned himself as an advisor and factfinder
to the Emperor, moreso than the others, and has ensured not to show the same spineless sniveling
as the other automatons around him. Finding comfort and intelligence with the Shadow, he looks down on
the other Sects not because it is simply the Empire's way, but because he has found ignorance and
stupidity among them, the Black and Divine especially. Although never coming in contact with the
Shadow Lord, he is determined to usurp him easily and painlessly once he has reached sufficient
standing, and will immediately vie for the Throne, confident that Blitzenturt's old age will deter
him from seeing the truth.
Greed as a motivating factor
Added Sun Aug 1 19:23:01 2004 at level 33:
Urog is a selfish, deceptive duergar. His goal in life is to accumulate power and wealth where
ever he sees it. He is a charismatic, influential silver-tongued thief, and will say nearly anything
to suit his ways. He takes certain pains to befriend those that would otherwise destroy him and his
standing solely to keep his enemies close to him. He has chosen the violent path of the guild, being
extremely impatient and callous to the finer, more extravagant forms of thievery. Conflict to him is
to be resolved quickly and painlessly, whether through tongue or dagger. His orderly tendencies
take the form of a knowledge that wealth and power come easily, dependably, like stepping-stones,
and that any chaotic acts would complicate things and make acquisition more difficult.
The Empire, Part IV: A moment of clarity (cont'd)
Added Sun Nov 21 20:19:19 2004 at level 51:
Chapter 2: Twisting the War Master
The sound of clanging steel on steel echoed through the Sect Hall as the
Death Dealer, Ceiekelak stood watching with satisfaction, tapping a large axe
to the ground. Silently, the shadows near him began to twist and reform into
the familiar shape of the Emperor.
"How's trainin' goin', fella?" came the drawl.
"Be good. Blades look strong, Empire look strong," replied the War Master.
"Good, good, fella. Say, what's that there young Shadow doin' near yer armory?"
The War Master turned towards his armory with a snarl, drawing his weapons
intent on teaching a lesson to the intruder. To his surprise, he saw no one
out of place, only the sound of a dark chuckling behind him. As his eyes begin
to focus, a dark, bloodied figure crawling slowly to him from across the
Council Chamber yells out to him 'He knows!' The realization dawns on him
then, as the coiled Emperor behind him plunges his still-bloodied razor into
the marrow of Ceiekelak's shoulder. The proud duergar drops to his knees with
a resonant clank of chainmail as the figure behind him retracts his blade.
"Yer really oughtta known better, fella. Luckily fer yer, that wound there
ain't gonna go an' kill ya, jus' makes sure that the only arms yer raise 'gainst
Me is all crippled 'n weak."