Library

[BelDragos]

As you enter the door it seems as if you are in a tunnel of mist.

Moments later you find yourself in a large room filled floor to ceiling with row upon row of books.

Craning your neck upwards you can see the ceiling several levels above you. There is a row of skylights letting in the sunlight from three yellow suns and two red ones.

Narrow catwalks criss-cross the room and in the corners there are spiral staircases winding their way towards the upper stacks.

Through open doorways other rooms can be glimpsed, their shelves nearly filled to overflowing.

Globes of light float lazily about the room as if searching for someone. One spots you and drifts until it is hovering above your head, lighting your way.

Occasionally a stack of books fly by being directed by a small winged humanoid. The Imp stops and a book flies off the pile and shelves itself in it's proper place.

The Imp moves on to the next location.

A voice speaks in a hushed tone behind you, "Who are you and how may I help you?".

You turn to see an Imp holding a rolled piece of parchment. He is also holding an ink quill in it's stained fingers.

The Imp waits for an answer....

[Razor487]

*stares in awe at the vast collection of knowledge*
where shall i start.....?
*jumps when the voice of an imp breaks the silence*
I am Fanyen Unloved, Master Assassin and seeker of knowledge.
And who, or what, are you?

[BelDragos]

"I am Serzhen, one of the many extentions of my master's will. I am to greet the mortals when they arrive and direct them to the proper location.

Please follow my instructions carefully. Even though this is a small example of my masters Library, it is easy to become lost in its many rooms."

:eek:

He directs you to a room to wait.

[Razor487]

*walks into the room uneasily*
*mutters to himself*hmmm....this might be some sort of trap.
*thinks, If beldragos wanted to trap me im sure he would have sprung it by now*
So Serzhen, what exactly am i waiting for?

[BelDragos]

"You are waiting for the other students who also wish to follow the Master. Please be patient for they will arrive soon."



*Out Of Character
I am waiting to see of anyone else wants to jump on the bandwagon*

[Razor487]

Fine. Time does not have much meaning to me anyway. Ill just read a book while i wait
*reaches out to grab one of the ancient leatherbound books*

[BelDragos]

Serzhen gestures for Razor to hold a moment. It flies to the shelf and begins speaking to the book in a tongue not understood. The bood speaks back.

Serzhen flutters away from the books.

"I told it you had permission to open it, otherwise it might be painful."

[Razor487]

Pain? My people dont feel pain, we merely exist, then cease to exist.
*grabs the ancient book and opens it*
oh....my.......
*stares into the book dumbfounded*
This book is in the ancient language of my ancestors. But the language is unknown to any but my people! How did your master acquire such knowledge?!

[Mephista]

Cool! Books. I guess I might as well see what this God of Magic knows. I might learn something I can use elsewhere...;)

[BelDragos]

"My Master is the Incarnation of Knowledge and Wisdom," Serzhen replies. "All he experiences and witness ends up in his Library. The Imps also document all they witness for the collection."

"Just as we Imps are extensions of his will, this abode is an extension of The Library. There are many more chambers to the original. Some even say it is endless, which could be because as each minute passes, more is added to hold the newly documented volumes."

Serzhen turns and speaks to the newcomer.

"Welcome Mephista, daughter of Lillith and Mephisto. If you are here to learn and leave your hostilities at the door you may enter."

[Lim-Dûl]

I will listen; however, only out of curiosity.

[BelDragos]

"Good, you have finally arrived. I will inform the Master you are here. It will give anyone else a chance to show before the Master does."

Serzhen fades from view.

[Razor487]

*sits down and munches on some of his newly acquired popcorn*
Anyone want some while we wait?

[Razor487]

*puts down the popcorn*
Can we get this circus on the road?
I've been here far too long, and have yet to see anything other than these "librarians". Atleast send someone a little higher up on the food chain!

[Lim-Dûl]

Shh! Be quite while in the library.

[BelDragos]

Two Imps float by shelving books.

[Lim-Dûl]

Razor, you don't seem to be very sharp.
You need patience to learn.

[Razor487]

I dont have time for patience while *he* still lives.

[Mephista]

Who is this "he" you are talking about? I have an enemy too but I take the time to become better so I may utterly destroy him. As the ancient sages say, "know thy enemy".

*Picks up a book and sits down on a chair and begins reading patiently*

[Razor487]

He has many names and none. He his merely him who exists to hunt my people. And since i am the last I dont have much time left. Unless i can find out who he is in these books then i wont be able to study him and learn weaknesses. Does tis god of yours know of a tall red man with one eye who carries a large blue bladed sword?

[UBIK]

Now thats one ugly mofo... ;)

[BelDragos]

Another Imp floats by shelving books....

[Mephista]

*looks up and watches the imp until it leaves and then goes back to reading*

[Razor487]

*begins to tap his fingers on the table*

tap.......tap......tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap....tap.......tap......tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap.....tap....

[Razor487]

*watches as a little midget runs into the library and disappears behind a large stack of books*
That thing looks just like Nome....UH-OH! errrr, hey librarian....thing....you might wanna get that thing out of the library before he eats all the books. I have encountered that race before, and if this library truly is endless then that guy will never stop eating. If he never stops eating then he will never stop growing.....i think you get my point!
*makes sure his newly acquired ankle guards are strapped on firmly*

(ooc: lol sorry! I feel the need to add a little humor into just about everything)

[Mephista]

*without looking up from the bood she is reading, Mephista waves a hand at the creature. A sphere of crackling black energy surrounds the creature and it dissapears with a soft audible pop. Mephista turns a page and yawns*

[Lim-Dûl]

Try not to show off young one. It is better to stay quite and be mysterious rather than speak of something you could still learn more about.

Rather than strike small amounts of fear continuesly, wait for them to try and mob you. Then show them a fraction of your power...

words of advice from an old old lich.

[Mephista]

One must also set the status quo so others will know who not to bother...

[Razor487]

Mephista, your show of power merely makes me want to challenge you even more. But thats just the way i am i suppose...
I fear death as any mortal should, but i also realize that it will grant me more power, so i relish it.

[UBIK]

I believe she is like I, and would rather play with you first before killing, if you get my drift...

[Mephista]

Razor, my dear. That is one of the many differences between us. You were born mortal, I wasn't.

[UBIK]

You made razor bite his tongue. He has not spoken a word for a little while... maybe he choked on it.

*chuckles*

[Krum]

OH OH! I wanna fight too!!!!!!!!!!!!!


PPPPPUURRRRRRPPLLLLEEE MOOOONNKKKKKKEEEEEEEEYYYYYY DDDDDDDDISSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHERRRRRRRRRRRR ATTTTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACKKKKKKKKKKKKK!

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999.9 Damage to everyone, they all die no stupid "I can't die, my people never die" you all DIE forever! And if you cant die then you are turned into a circus midget with a big nose.

Ohhhh yeah I am level 9999999999999999999999 now.

[UBIK]

*An imp floats by, picks Krum up by the back of his neck, and subtly throws him out of the library. Before getting back to stacking books.

Had to put in some order around here bel, your not doing your job!

[BelDragos]

*An Imp floats by and picks up Ubik and throws him out of the Library on top of Krum.*

Go to the Arena if you want to fight. My Master does not permit it here.

The Imp returns to his job.

[Razor487]

wtf....i havent fought here! I have been waiting for your master as paitently as i can! Now come here so i can rip your wings off you little devil!

[BelDragos]

*An Imp floats over*

Excuse me sir. I did not throw you out. Ubik threw Krum out, so we evicted him also. They both may return if they wish as long as everyone abides by the rules.

The Master has already started his class long ago....




One more thing....we do not have wings.

*The Imp floats away*

[Mephista]

*Mephista look over the top of her book chuckling*

I thought he might be doing something like that by making us wait.

[UBIK]

Last time i do something for order...

[Krum]

PURRRRRRRRRRRRRRPLLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE MOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY DISHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRR ATTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK


X5!


You imaginary imp friends all die, and uhm all the books are replaced by picture books about Sesame Street to get that awful violence out of you head.

[Razor487]

*An Imp floats by and picks up Ubik and throws him out of the Library on top os Razor.*


la~

[Razor487]

Bah, i learned my first lesson already. Dont try to understand gods!

[BelDragos]

*an Imp aproaches Razor and speaks*

We apolagize for the mistake. It has been corrected.




*another Imp floats over to Krum and tosses him back out the door for making rude noises in the Library.*

[Razor487]

Thanks, cuz that bump hurt my head!
*notices a book on the treatment of headwounds*
well ill be.....
*completely forgets about the imp and begins to study the book*

[BelDragos]

*An Imp aproaches with a bag of ice for the bump*

The Master should be appearing soon

*Imp floats away*

[Mephista]

COOL!! I hope I can finish this book first. I only have a few chapters left.

[BelDragos]

*One by one, the students happen to glance up and notice a figure seated in a chair across the room. They do not remember the person entering the room but somehow they know he was always there, unoticed. The figure remains seated until everyone finishes what they are doing.*

I see all of you has passed the first test. Extreme patience. Without it, you will not have the temperment to study the secrets of the Multiverse.

All those present has their own reasons for persuing the Secrets of Power. They are your own reasons known only to you and myself.

If you study hard enough and have an open mind you may achieve your goal. The choice is yours.

As Apprentices and Students of mine, you will study more than Magic. You will study history. You will study politics. You will study science. You will study religeon. You will study how bugs fly. You will study the sun, moon, and stars above us. You will study everything in creation for all is linked above and below your awareness.

If you feel this is beyond you, now is your chance to leave without any shame.

Make your decision now.

*BelDragos sits back in the chair and relaxes, waiting for the answers.*

[Mephista]

I am up to your instruction. Count me in.

[Kornflakee]

*Runs in panting*

Uhm, uh, did I miss something......

*looks around room at angry eyes*

Um...sorry....uh....anyone want some Chicken?

*Holds up a drumstick while red at the face*

uhm, uhm, I'm an A+++ student, I promise!

*looks ashamed*

Can, I, uh, attend too?

[Razor487]

Im ready to learn!

*turns to Kornflakee*

No thanks, i have some popcorn!

[BelDragos]

It seems we have a new student.

I believe we are waiting to hear from Lim-Dul.

[Kornflakee]

Ah, well, then, I'm gonna lounge and read.

*Takes a book from a shelf and....*

*SNAP!*

AHHHHHH!!!!

*Runs from shelf with book closed on finger*

GET IT OFF!!!!

[BelDragos]

*Imp appears with a bandaid.*

You must treat the books better. These are not ordinary books, thay are alive.

*Imp floats away*

[Kornflakee]

*nurses damaged finger, and sticks tongue out at book*

[Razor487]

Some mystics from the deep south believe that merely consuming a book would grant you the knowledge contained within. Anyone hungry?

[Kornflakee]

hmmm....I dunno bout these books, they seem to think the same thing about us...I think it would be a contest of who could bite faster....

[Mephista]

...and which can open wider too.

[BelDragos]

*An Imp floats over to Lim-Dul.*

Excuse me Sir, The Master would like to start class. Are you going to stay?

[Razor487]

I think Lim-Dul is too occupied with the fate of his poor little gophers in the arena to pay much attention to class....

[Lim-Dûl]

Excuse me for not making any motion saying i was going to be here, I was pre-occupied by some pesky elves at a graveyard, apparently they thought they could find me there. I showed them where i was.

*Lim-Dûl opens his hands to reveal two pairs of eyes; and hands them to razor

Keep these as momentos.

[Kornflakee]

Ah, now we can get to learning. No homework tho, ok? As I have demonstrated, shiny objects can throw off my attention all too easily. Homework would waste precious time :). Oh, wait.....I'm supposed to be fighting......

*Kornflakee sneaks off to fight, but will check in :D)

[BelDragos]

Homework?

The whole of Life is a Journey of Learning. The minute you stop learning is the moment you die.

[Razor487]

Death is the greatest lesson ever taught...

[Kornflakee]

*Kornflakee looks around at the people lounging....*

Uh....when is the learning gonna start? The battle arena seems to be teeming with people, everyplace else is abandoned!

[Mephista]

That is because they are all at the arena.

[Razor487]

*Fanyen bursts through the door and shouts...*

BelDragos! I know of your teaching methods but right now i need information quickly! Either tell me how that "thing" in the arena can be defeated or tell me a way to get Nome out of there! I entered him into a contest of strength, now it seems his soul will be lost to some shapeless beast!

[BelDragos]

*An Imp floats up to Razor.*

Calm down Sir. There are books here that might contain your answer.

*The Imp looks up as it gets a message from it's master*

Follow me Sir, The Master will see you.

*The Imp leads Razor to a part of the library near to the area set aside for the students. There are boodk piled upon the study table. After glancing at the spines, it seems like they are all on Demons.*

The Master will be here in a few minutes.

[Razor487]

*Fanyen picks up the nearest book while he waits and begins to read about a demon called a "Succubus"*

Ewww, i bet thats not pleasant.

*Fanyen picks up a new book and begins to read about a shapeshifting demon that steals souls*

hmmm.......

[BelDragos]

*Excerpt from the volume Razor is reading*

"...a collection of races from a grouping of connected planes of existance. These planes are situated near the source of negative planular energies so the terrain here is very inhospitable to mortal standards.

Due to the rarity of mortal existance in these planes, the possession of the lifeforce, or soul, is the driving force behind most of the actions of these creatures. The more sould you possess, the higher in status you become. This is the concept behind the power structure of the entire region.

There are many names of the different planes that create this area. Some are known as The Abyss, Tarterous, Limbo, The Hells, Hades, Ect... There are also subplanular layers within several of these. The scholar Dante claimed there were 9 layers to The Hells and there is rumored to be over 600 layers to The Abyss.

Many of these creature's racial name depends upon their point of oragin. Demons come from the Abyss, Devils from The Hells, Slaads from Tarterous, Ect...

Most of these creaturs depend upon severat traps they release into the Mortal world to ensnare their victims for them. If a mortal accepts the snare, then they will come to rely upon the power granted to them and loose part of themselves with each use. Others make deals with their prey and then collect their souls afterwards. Some just destroy the mortal and collects the soul as it leaves the wreckage of it's body.

A demon will usually leave as soon as they collect what they want. They don't want to risk losing what they worked so hard to acomplish.

There are many ways to protect one self from these forces. A Circle of Protection will hold one at bay. Holy items of great power could also do the job if they are of a deity who can oppose them and if they don't want to bother with the hassle of an encounter.

The True Name could also be used upon one but you need their ENTIRE name or it will not have any effect. Some demons have names that could take longer than 5 minutes to pronounce. If the creature is a Demon Lord then the True Name might not even affect them. Several are known to be immune to this method.

There are some beings dwelling here that are not mortal themselves. They are..."

[Razor487]

*Fanyen stops to comtemplate what he has read...*

Hmmm, when she gets what she wants she will leave. So all Nome has to do is release Kornflakee's soul and she will depart! No...there must be a better way and I WILL find it.

[BelDragos]

*Fanyon hears a voice behind him.*

I see you have found the book I left for you. You will always learn more through Discovery than Instruction. I hope you can find your answer in that tome. If you need anymore assistance let me know.

*BelDragos fades. Through the whole bit Fanyon could hear BelDragos conducting class in the other room.*

[Razor487]

*Fanyen puts down the book and walks out the door with a look of determination on his face. He knows now what he must do.*

[Mephista]

*Mephista slips back into the class after dealing with a problem.*

[BelDragos]

Please do not slip in and out of class. It is disturbing to the other students.

[Razor487]

*Fanyen takes a seat in a corner, nobody noticing that he had been gone except for BelDragos and Mephista. And Fanyen knows BelDragos will forgive him for leaving class this once.*

So...how are the books arranges? I hope its not that strange decimal system those scholars from the west use. I cant stand all those damn numbers.

[BelDragos]

The book's order depends what section you are looking in. Only the Imps and I truely have it memorized.

If you need a certain volume just ask one of the Imps for it and they will retrieve it for you. If someone else is using it they will let you know and bring it to you as soon as it is done being used.

The next room is one of the Index Rooms. The tomes on the shelves list the books and references for you to look up. They are magically kept up to date.

[Mephista]

So what do you want us to start learning about?

[Kintoun]

(I forsee the test of repetitiveness.

He's retesting your patientce. But I bet he's really only testing everyones patience, BADDA BAM!)

[UBIK]

*high fives kintoun

[Kornflakee]

Hey, I wanted some learnin'......

*Sits down, tired, and decides carefully read a book*

Hey....it's not biting!

*The book snarls at the loud statement*

Hey, let's be cool....

[BelDragos]

*Kornflakee opens the book randomly and begins reading.*


...the basic Necromatic incantation will animate the dead but it is thought only those who can partition their mind can control more than one type of undead. It would be nearly impossible for a normal mind to focus on several links enough to control all of them with absolute acuracy. For this reason many Necromancers use the natural pecking order of the undead minions to exercise control over them all.

By controling a few Commanders, they can exert their control over the entire army.

It is for this very reason some Necromancers choose to cross that very line seperating the controller from the controlled. They become Undead themselves and gain the natural control I mentioned earlier. This frees the Necromancer to use his mind for magical pursuits.



*Kornflakee looks at the spine of the book and reads the title in blood red lettering*



Necromancer's Handbook by Nevinyrral



*He turns to another part of the book.*



...your abode because of their single minded obedience. The undead also have the instinct to guard their territory. This is usually taken advantage of. A brilliant Necromancer will give areas to their Commanders that also conviently guard approaches to their own home. This gives the Necromancer a Guardian that will face extinction over having their territory violated.

The use of Undead as your military force also works very splendidly. The dead make good soldiers. They can't disobey orders, they never surrender, and they don't stop fighting when a random body part falls off. Mercenaries will flee at the first chance if something goes awry. Undead will fight until discorporation. Mercenaries will take bribes and betray you. Undead follow proper orders to the letter.

One of the greatest advantage to Undead Armies is the recruitment factor. As your opponant's forces fall to your advances, their soldiers can be animated and added to expand your ranks.

The biggest problem you will face with an Undead Legion is priests. To counter their sickening ability to affect your troops you have several options.

There are several enchantments that make the "turning" more diffacult. The presence of Unholy items also seems to show benificial effects. A third method is to only create undead that self purpetulate so you can use multiple layers of Liege/Pawn control. I use a combination of all three in what I feel is the best mix of....



*Kornflakee wipes his tired and watery eyes and turns to another part of the book.*



...are various constructs that can be created using undead.

In the many worlds that have been discovered there exists the Szlacta and Vozhd of the Tzimisce, the Garandian of High Frenson, and The Construct of Vecna.

There are many more but there is not enough space to list them here.

The creation of these monstrosities are as varied as their creators. Each Necromancer has their own method and the destruction depends upon the creation process.

The Construct required the possession of the artifacts known as the Eye and Hand of Vecna to destroy it. Unfortunately, it also put the destroyers under the power of Vecna and he quickly created another.

There is also a construct known as the Abomination created from the corpses of fallen demons, but it is inconceivable who might be powerful enough to slay the large amount of demons needed to construct one. It is also unknown how to destroy it, although clues might be discovered in it's creation process.

There is one more type of construct to mention. It is not ever recomended creating one of these vile things.

Constructs created using the backest of all Necromancy and Demonology are terrable to behold. They usually combine together not only the body of the victim, but also the soul or life essences, trapping them into a self powered nearly Immortal slave. These are usually found wandering the outer dimentions or the Hells and Abyss where they were created...

*Kornflakee closes the book and thinks about what he has read.*

[Lim-Dûl]

...

[BelDragos]

*Looks over at the scowl on Lim-Dûl's face*

What??

[Mephista]

What can you teach us about history and what happen after the Cataclysm?

[BelDragos]

Who else would like to hear of this?

[Mephista]

*sets aside the big book she spent all this time reading*

Is class about to start yet? Can I use the bathroom first?