Who left the dimensional door open?

Welcome home. ;-)

Thanks.
Kinda was scary out there.
It all made more sense.

Is Al being cruel to the family pet again, your sole source of transport? Or do you mean you have bruises all over cushion today????

Get the orderlies to wipe down that keyboard before lights out, ya hear?

On my way out to get Tex-Mex.. You two behave..

Darks.. if you find a better home than this... then you know where to go.. (and it's not there);)

I was talking about Jeopody.. Jeeeze.. Later.. ;)
Oh.... where the heck have you BEEN?

Kinda reminds me of us.. in a way.

Hey, there's no place like home. Besides, IF I did find such a place, I'd have to bring the rest of us there.

Don't worry, we'll behave *wink, nudge* Honest.

Well, the keyboard hasn't shorted out yEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Hey Darks - thanks for the Nodwick 'toon, and good to see you out of the rack and posting again.

Stay safe, stay armed my man. There are crazier than us out there.

I've noticed that there are weirder than us out there.
What a horrible revelation that was.
I'm about an inch taller now, after being racked away for a bit.
Ouch.

OOh, almost forgot.
Who does Yeager (The warrior guy in the Nodwick toon) remind you of the most?

Who does Yeager (The warrior guy in the Nodwick toon) remind you of the most?

Janet Reno? PIAPS? A younger Helen Thomas? Gran?

Hell, I give. Who?

You sheethead..Lodwick...

Are we talking Face-wise, or the whole "package?"

Personality wise.

"Yeah, You were here when I came. And You'll be here when I'm gone." -Winger - "Heading for a Heartbreak"
"It's no mistake. Don't you think I can feel the pain? I walk away, and live again." -Winger - "Heading for a Heartbreak"

Karsh watched the look on the troops faces as they caught sight of the fast approaching enemy. They had expected survivors of the scouts to show up instead. But to their dismay, far out through the huge gates, they saw the tall shapes of Torban heading their way. And some giants. And seemingly half of Karant. Their faces dropped in surprise at first, then they had the shock of realization look, then abject terror.

Karsh sneared at them.
"Cowards. Go back to your homes. I'll fight them alone then." He turned on his heels and walked out the gates.
"I thought you were all warriors, not children playing mock battles." Rathe turned and followed.
"You're all supposed to be men. I guess I was mistaken." Abilene looked disappointed at them, making them feel... inadequate, and went her own way to the field. Rathe caught up to Karsh with some effort.
"You're not alone. There's us." Karsh merely looked at him with a pitying look.
"If only you knew what manner of death you are wandering so blithly towards." Rathe stopped for a second in thought.

Somewhere behind them, there were shouts of more surprise. A chi'rack had broken free from the stables and come running out through the gates towards Karsh. Somehow, it also had it's saddle and bridle on. A small irritating voice in the back of his head told him to get in the saddle. The troops followed reluctantly. They were pretty much on their way to retrieve Rathe. Karsh watched as the chi'rack raced towards them, the fanged horse like creature bounding on it's three sectioned hooves.
"Get back with them, I've got work to do." Karsh smiled at Rathe as he made a spinning leap into the saddle as it sped by. Rathe had a fleeting thought that Karsh was undeniably insane.
"I am. Now move it!"

The enemy force halted at the top of the encircling hills, and a single rider came outwards to meet Karsh. Back at the Keep, Arselen was trying to move in defiance of Karsh's command to rest. Abilene was commanding a group of soldiers while rathe focused on building some sort of defense. As quickly as possible. The only thing Rathe could think of doing was closing the gates and readying for a siege. Unseen and unsensed by all, a faint spectre moved among the halls towards the Queen's chambers. Karsh rode almost three quarters of the distance to the enemy force before halting. His single opponent hadn't reached him yet. Karsh had his hood over his face, having pulled it down during his ride. His opponent also had his hood on. Karsh snorted. Tradition, wasn't it grand? Neither 'messenger' would know the other's identity. His opponent held a hand out in parley.
"Speak."
"If we had known that you were all that could be fielded against us, we wouldn't have bothered to come here." cold laughter.
"Never the less, I am here. What have you to say, other than that." his opponent moved slightly as if measuring him.
"We demand the surrender of all, and the remanding into our custody three certain renegades. One Karsh Kentu, One Lady illen-i Arselen, and one Rathe Kar. If these demands are not met, we will ravage the land and slaughter all we find." the messenger laughed. Karsh didn't move.
"Well, are you going to deliver our demands, or will you force me to do it mysef?" the messenger seemed fairly perturbed by Karsh's recalcitrance at moving to meet his demands. He spurred his mount forward to head towards teh gates, Karsh lifted a hand.
"Stay. I have considered your terms and find them unacceptable." the messenger moved as if insulted.
"YOU? Find the terms unacceptable? Who are you to decide that?" the messenger's hand went towards his weapon. Karsh made a gesture at it, sending it flying. Then he pulled off his hood.
"I find your manner uncultured and insulting. Where it matters, messengers are supposed to be diplomatic and civilised. I am..."
"I know who you are, Karsh Kentu! Think you that I wouldn't know your face!?" the messenger's hood fell back to reveal the Archon, and his fresh new skin.
"Well played, fiend. How many children perished to supply you with your baby fresh pink face?" Karsh stated in a bored tone, heavily inspecting his right hand as if looking for broken nails or a paper cut. Then he looked through his eyebrows at the Archon, one eyebrow raised.
"It matters not. We shall finish this here!"
"I would hope so, you have gotten very boring to talk to lately." Karsh snorted. The Archon dismounted his fetid mount, his feet hitting the ground. Karsh winced as the Archon's feet hit the ground. He could feel the hated footsteps of the entire Army of Karant, as if he were the land itself.
Karsh smoothly slipped out of his saddle and sent his mount riderless back to the gates.

"What is he doing?" Rathe pointed at the distant figures.
"He isn't.." Abilene stared at what she saw unfolding before here eyes.

"Now, you said it'll end here. Didn't you?" Karsh smiled, then made a viscious slash at the Archon. Seemingly, Karsh's sword had appeared fromo nowhere. The Archon barely had enough time to get his own sword ready, after he'd hunted it down from where it had flown to. There was a high pitched ringing sound in the air.
"I did. We won't be having any tricks now, will we?" the Archon spat out.
"Strange that you should mention tricks, necromancer." Karsh blocked a thrust, parried, and then made a backhanded slash down the length of the Archon's arm. The Archon made an attempt to block, but still had a massive cut from the attack.
"Well done, but there are still hours in the day."
"If that was an attempt at a joke, your humor is improving, vilewraith." Karsh was smiling.

"Who in all the tortured vomitus of Corsainn is that?" Rathe pointed at a third figure standing behind Karsh.
"Balk'el!" Abilene let out an intense mental shriek.

Karsh sensed Abilene's distress and started to turn to his right, there was a loud thud from directly behind him. A red swordblade poked out his chest. In instant agony, and retribution, he gestured towards the Archon with his left hand. The Archon sailed for distance before making a painful sliding landing in a crumpled heap. Karsh spun about, and locked his blade into the hilts stocking out of his back. Balk'el merely sat with his arms crossed. Karsh's eyes flared, and he yanked with his sword- pulling Balk'el's sword out of his back.
Which came whipping overhead and landing hilt first into Balk'el's smirking face.
After recovering his composure, Balk'el picked up his sword and started cricling Karsh. The Archon was on his way back in a huff. Karsh examined the hole in his chest before turning his full attention, for the moment, on Balk'el. Balk'el looked frightened for a second.
"Remember, you are forbidden from destroying me!" Balk'el whined. It was easy to forget such a thing when dealing with the evil one, especially when he was so.. annoying. That, and he was mimicking your facial features.

Karsh's response was to clip Balk'el in the face with his swordhilt, then shove him backwards before pinning him to the ground like a bug.
"I've had about enough of you. Besides, you aren't invited to this party, traitor to your maker." Karsh twisted his sword a little, making Balk'el writhe in pain. It was easy to forget that Balk'el wasn't truly a physical being, considering. Karsh reached behind his back and pulled out another sword, moving it behind his head for a block. There was a clang and ringing of steel.
"Welcome back, necromancer." Karsh pulled his other sword free from Balk'el's guts and spun about.
The Archon couldn't possibly block two swords by himself, and hope to remain in one piece. Karsh was a spinning flurry of blades, forcing the Arcon backwards. Balk'el painfully stood up. He'd never wanted to face Karsh like that before, and hoped he'd never have to again. He'd stupidly forgotten that the sword he used was made by the Eternal himself, and as such, Balk'el was vulnerable to it.

WHY?.. Why, do you always post these long sections of your story................... when you know damned well I"ve been out drinking and eating.. and trying soooooooo hard to just stay awake for the SOU address? Kids.. they just don't seem to get it.. (lifting hands in surrender.)

Ummm.... I dunno.
I guess it's the lack of debauchery.

ROFLMAO... Don't call me.. I'll call you.. 8-)

Okers.
I'll wait.
*Inhales and exhales heavily into phone receiver.*