Diablo 3 Armory - Unofficial Diablo 3 Fansite

on 4/6/10Quote by Destroyer

on 4/6/10Quote by Omega

@spawn031 Good to see a new reader, I seem to be running out o them.

I liken myself as a lurker reader besides that I'm sure you starved the other readers to death.

Yes, I know you lurk in the shadows, watching, waiting. I am referring more to Silent_Templar who seem to be on the forums little. I may have to go on Facebook and bug him. As for the starving readers classes got in the way, but with finals finished I should be able to post more, next part hopeful soon.

Okay this next part is a bit rushed, but I wanted to get started on the lore and revision. Also I would like to know if anyone would be willing to be a Beta read for the revision, I just want a second opinion since it is an important part of the story. Also this is the first real fight in the story, and I would like feedback on what you think. I would also like feedback on what you people think of Renier view of how that battle is going to go. I have found trying to think up strategies on how an Undead army would fight and how they would be fought not that easy and the years of military study can only go so far.

Also on another note my fic is now over 50 pages long .

P.S. I just remembered something I forgot to add. I have talked about the weapon called a Messer, but not everyone may know what the weapon is. Some may remember that I posted a video calledFour Sources on Messer Combat whice show the possible attacks with a Messer based on four manuals. The Messer or more precisely the Großes Messer(great knife) is a sword that is similar to the Cusped falchion.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Wait! Why do you men follow him? Disarm and step out of the way." Said Alexander as he came to his feet "there is no reason for blood to be shed."

His words where said in hopes that the fight can be avoided, but all the guards did was laugh hear the words as nothing more than a desperate plea. Crimthann smiled shaking his head.

"Did you really think that was going to work?" Crimthann said, and then with a flash he draw his blades and charged the three men.

The guards stood two on the side, and one right in front of Crimthann so that one of the soldiers can get behind him when he attacked. Although this proved little help. Crimthann moved with an inhuman speed making any attempted to fight him hopeless. Crimthann charged at the man to his right, and easily side stepped and parried his spear as the guard trusted it at him, his elven blade cutting cleanly through the man's neck. Still facing the guard that was in front of him he then moved forward. The guard did not have a chance to do anything as Crimthann cut right thru the spear shaft of the guard with Crimthann fining off with a trust to trough the chest. The third guard seeing how Crimthann's blade was in the charged right at him spear point forward. Crimthann without even looking took his free blade and cleaved the spear shaft in two. Crimthann let go of the blade he had trust into the guards and lunged and the last of the three slashing the man deeply across the chest as he tried in vain to draw his sword. Seeing the fight turn against him the Mayor ran to the closet window in panic.

"I am under attack!Guards Come quick!" The mayor cried a loud as soon as the window was opened. Although to his horror as soon as these words were let loose from this mouth arrows were let loose from the darkness of night embedding themselves deeply into the guards on the grounds. Further still he saw through the rain drenched dark two more individuals assaulting through his front gates, cutting his guards down with ease. the mayor fell back from the window knowing all hope form him was lost.

As the mayor ran to the window the two guards that stood next to him dropped their spears seeing how easily Crimthann could avoid them choosing instead to see what luck with their Messers they had. While the guards were drawing their swords with trembling hands Alexander rushed to one of the fallen guards and draw a Messer of his own, griping tightly its oddly familiar handle and getting into stance with his left hand to his back. Crimtahnn once more hold both blades in hand jumped to Alexanders side to face the two of the guards. The four charged at each other, Alexander take the guard on the left and Crimthann to the right.

Alexander not wanting to kill the guard he faced deflected or blocked the mans clumsy blows waiting for a chance to disarm him. That chance did not take long to come for soon the guard turn to his comrade only to watch in horror as the man, a friend from when he was young and closer than bother, cut down in a flash of Crimthann's blades. Alexander see the guard distracted saw his oping and slashed the man across the wrist cause him to drop his blade. The guards grab his bleeding wrist, his heart racing hands trembling, he looked around the now quiet room, his fellow guards who now lie their bodies cooling in pools of there own blood with all life having left them. Crimthann began to move toward the guard only to have Alexander raise his arm to block him. The guard eyes shot to the door and without hesitation ran out of the room.

The mayor was now left alone with Crimthann and Alexander, the two men he had just failed to kill. Both Alexander and Crimthann turned their attention the the Mayor.

"Now mayor, I think it is time for you to explain yourself before I remove your head as well." Crimthann said his blades still slick with blood.

"Right then, what do you want to know?" the mayor said trying his best to hide his fear.

"Well first you can start with people corpse in the river." Alexander said as the Messer on the table, "Why did you poison them?"

"I had to, it was to save the town. That was the deal I made, anyone coming here to seek refuge was to be kill and sent down river." The mayor answered.

"A deal? A deal with who?" Asked Alexander. The mayor simply stood there in silence, his eye looking at the ground.

"Answer him now!" Crimthann yelled at the mayor, his Patience almost spent.

"Clam Crimthann, I know who. Evelynne, she was the one who you made the deal with. She was the one who told you to kill those people." Alexander said hoping he was right. This time the mayor's head shot up his eyes meeting Alexander his mouth hanging open.

"So you know. I guess if you know… yes, it was Evelynne who I made the deal. She came to me in a form of shadow and told me how soon the land was to be engulfed in death, and if we had any hope to live we where to bow before her. She offered me men to take the town that should have been mine anyway and to deal with any troubles that come." said the mayor before pausing to think carefully over what to say next, "She watch all her subject carefully, I can not say anymore."

Just as the mayor was finishing talking the sound of foot steps, and armor could be heard outside the door. Alexander and Crimthann true to face the door to see two men clad head to toe in full armor.

"Hilder! Renier! What are you two doing here?!" Alexander said recognizing his friends quickly.

"Ha Alexander, we know you would get yourself into trouble here, and came to save you." joked Renier as he took off his helm along with Hildebrandus, "After all if anything was to happen to you, I would have to face the wrath of Lily, and you know I would rather face the torment of a thousand demons before I do that."

"Actually Alexander not long after you left one of the towns men came running to the inn thru the cold rain." Said Hildebrandus still laugh at Renier said, "He began telling us how this man forced out the real mayor, a man called Tristram, and threw him in the local jail. When we heard this we knew you might need our help, and came as quick as we could. We had just convinced the guards at the front to open the gate and let us in when the false mayor yelled he was under attack."

"Hahaha so you two just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Alexander said to his friends.

"Maybe right for you, but I for one do not like to have a dozen guards suddenly charge at me." Said Renier reminding Alexander of his position.

"If you three will stop your talking for a moment to watch the prisoner I must be off. There are guards to hunt in the streets." Crimthann said before walking out the door not hiding his annoyance at their needless talking.

"Yes, the prisoner." Alexander said remembering the mayor was still in the room with them, "Hilder, Renier you two said there was a local prison. Do you know where it is?"

"Yes, the man who told us where it was. As well as many other detail that were not need." said Renier, "We can take your 'host' over there now."

"Yes, thank you, and if you find this Tristram still alive bring him to the Inn." Alexander said before bidding his friends goodbye for the time.

With his friends gone Alexander went over to the table and grabbing his and Crimthann wine glasses promptly poured them out the window before setting them back on the table. His he did Alexander decided to take another look at the Messer he had been using.

"Of course, how could I have missed that!" Alexander said to himself while looking over the blade, "This Messer is of the same design used by Sir. Azelinus' force during the Dark War."

The Messer in Alexander's hand had finely crafted a blade made from steel of high grade. Much unlike many of the Messers to the west of poorer make used commonly by Archers as a side weapon. These swords were said to be highly valued among the people who once lived in the lands beyond the frontier. Their seemly constant war against the undead since the loss of there king was the reason for this. The heavy cutting and chopping blade of the Messer proved far more ideal for the job of of cleaving the walking corpses than the more balanced blase of the stranded long sword. The handle was too unique, the wood of the handle coming from a tree that grew often in the east, but really in these lands. Alexander was familiar with such a weapon have spent time in his youth training with this very type of sword under the watchful eye of his master, Sir. Azelinus .Although one thing about the swords was not familiar to Alexander, a crest stamped into the blade just under the hand guard.

Alexander deciding to not discard such a good weapon found its scabbard before he was on his way. Perhaps Sir. Azelinus could also offer some insight about the weapon when he finally meets up with him again.

Alexander, now with his new sword strapped to his side, walked back through the house. Coming to the front door he had noticed that the rain had not let up yet, in fact it now is coming down worse than ever. With a sigh Alexander stepped from under the cover of the door and into the dark of night and pouring rain.

As Alexander walked trough the streets he could see the bodies of dead guards there blood being washed away in the rain, the rangers doing he guessed. Alexander took no time to examine the rangers work and moved on. It did not take him long to reach the Inn even in the poor weather.

Many of the soldiers were now asleep, or more likely passed out from their earlier celebrations. Alexander decided it would be best to explain what had happened to the men after they recovered. He moved up to the second story of the Inn to where his, Renier's, and Hildebrandus' room was, and where the planing for the battle would take place.

The room was almost completely empty save for a small table and the gear they had been carrying. The beds that once sat in the room where no more than nest of vermin after the year of neglect, as such remove with the rest of the refuse. Alexander took his new Sword and stored it with the rest of his thing after making sure everything was still in its place. After which he went to the table in the middle of the room, Renier has his map out still planing the fight. Next to the map was crude drawing by Renier of the battle including the bridge, Alexanders force and how Renier planned to deploy them, and the suspected undead forces.


(sorry about the poor pic, but I thought I really needed something. If only I know someone who could do better)
Renier is planing have our forces stand and chock the bridge with a second force behind the first to replace injured and tired soldiers. Crimthann's rangers are to stand at the left flank to offer a clear shot for the them while the undead. The undead force he expect would have a skeletal light forward with a large number of zombies behind to act as the driving force when the skeletons have been cleared. Looking around the table Alexander continued to look around the table before finding Renier notes on the battle.

"I have not received the needed information on the enemies force to make a best estimates on what we would face, but considering this is an advanced force, and relaying on what we where told by Crimthann on the makeup of their main army I think I can deduce a rough idea of what we will face. The Undead army would have recently have gotten fat with fresh corpses so would undoubtedly have a very zombie heavy army, yet would still need to send a skeletal force to supplement the slow moving, clumsy zombies of fast moving highly skilled skeletons. The skeletons would most likely be armed with long spears, and shields, and a short sword. When the battle begins they would rush forward to ward our lines, before forming a phalanx formation with just a few yards away form their spears piercing our men.

We will be vastly out numbered, but this is of little concern. The main weakness of any Undead army are those who command them, with out the Necromances they have no intelligence behind their attacks, no single drive. Our plan must center around the killing of these Nwcromancers. Now I am not too proud to admit that we must relay on the skill of Crimthann's rangers here. Our lives seem to be resting on their skill to kill the Necromances from range while we hold back the forces. I expect there will only be two Necromance to command this army, anymore would be too great a risk for them lose. Our men must make sure our shield wall holds, and with the Necromancers dead we can retreat from the bridge safely dealing with the remaining undead as the disperse."

Alexander smiled at Renier's predictions, basing so much off so little. Yet his friend has yet to be wrong by far too much, and his still worth faith.

As Alexander was putting down the notes, a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in." Alexander called, ad in came his friends now with an old man Alexander hoped was Tristram. The old man came into the room and sat on one of the chairs by the table.

"We are going to leave you two alone, Hilder and I are going to check on the people in he town to see what we can learn form them." Said Renier before leaving.

"I heard you are the true mayor of Ravenwood, is this true?" alexander said addressing the man.

"Yes, I am. I am also one of the first people to reclaim this town after it was made desolate by the Dark War." The old man said in a raspy voice, his throat dried with thirst.

"So the town was abounded during the war, but how did you come by it, and who was the false mayor?" Alexander asked the man.

"I will try to answer all your questions I shall start at the beginning. I as well as many in this town are survivors of the Dark War. The person who call the false mayor is a man called Raymond, he was one of my superiors during the great war. Our general lead our men into a slaughter think the undead would just mindlessly advance. The main infantry charged right into the center of our enemies forces only to push through and be surrounded by the flanks. The group I was part of was held behind to guard the archers the battle happened south of here, by an old bridge, and as we watched hopelessly as our comrade where swallowed up in the mass of corpses our commander ordered a retreat. The commander also asked for volunteers to stand with him and hold the bridge as long as they could to allow the rest to make it away safely." Tristram said before pausing. The mens eyes showed that he still felt the pain of that day. Alexander walked over and put his hand on the Tristram shoulder.

"I can see this is hard, but pleases continue." Alexander said try to get him talking again.

"Yes, well you see the next in line was Raymond and after the battle he ordered us to move up the road. That is when we found the town of Ravenwood. The town was deserted when we found it, and was walled. Raymond ordered us inside to us its walls to protect us from the undead. Some of the men asked when did he plan to return to the main army, he said that we would most likely not live long enough too. We then waited for the undead to come, days at first then weeks past and nothing. When it was seen that the Undead had not come for us we again asked Raymond when he planed to have us regroup with the main force, he said said that we could not or we wold be seen as deserters. Whether that is true or not we did become as such that day. We decided to try and fix the town since we could not return to our homes anymore. The first building was the main hall that we had been using for shelter up until then, and from there fixed up any needed house around that building. We used that building to a a common home for some time."

"So everyone in town where soldiers in the Dark War? Also how did you become mayor of this town." Alexander asked.

"No, some where people who tried to return to the town they left. We let them come as long as they told no one of us, and never mentioned the town. Then there was some that risked bringing there families here. As for my position, I was considered the most able to lead the town after the rebuilding had began. The rest of the men had lost most of their confidence in Raymond at this point. Enough of the men stood behind me that Raymond had to give up command. He never was able to forget that it would seem." Tristram said finishing his tale.

"It would seem that with out Raymond in power anymore this town may be once more in danger. After we are finished here you and all the people of this town can come back with us. You may leave now." Alexander said. Tristram thanked Alexander for his help an left.

Now once more alone Alexander set out his bedroll on the wood floor and laid down. The day had worn on him and he was ready for rest. Yet one more thing for him to do, reaching into his belongings he pulled out the worn letter from Lily and read it be falling into the embrace of sleep.
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Nice plot twist! Crimthann is kinda op though, he might need a nerf
Looks like a battle with the Undead is coming soon!

@Dorkmaster sorry in real war there is no balance only the limits of what some can do. Also No nerfing the Ranger.... he scares me.

P.S. by the way if you guys have yet to notice today is june 6, the day D-day occurred.

on 4/6/10Quote by Omega

Yes, I know you lurk in the shadows, watching, waiting. I am referring more to Silent_Templar who seem to be on the forums little. I may have to go on Facebook and bug him. As for the starving readers classes got in the way, but with finals finished I should be able to post more, next part hopeful soon.

*cue SC1 Ghost quote, 'You got my attention'.*

You have a LOT of updates there, and while they may be long, I enjoyed every bit. It was really nice to learn more about the people, the land and the characters.

I am psyched about the upcoming swashbuckling with the undead. Will there be different forms? Or are they just masses of rambling shambling dead? I hope the undead have like grunts, generals and the sort, lol.

Anyway, aside the minor spelling errors here and there, the updates were really good. I'm thankful you reminded me in Facebook. I've been visiting the armory far less usual than ever, mainly because much of the sc2 hype has left me.

@Silent Glad you enjoyed it.As for the undead army I will be going over them in the lore dump I posting soon, I will let you know on Facebook when it is ready.

By the way for the Lore I want people to know it will be from the point of view from an in story source. I like this for a few reasons: it help keep it from sounding like some textbook, it allows flexibility in lore(if I want to change I can blame it and the source not having good info ), I like the feel of an in story source.

I have an example using the still being worked on lore of the Death Knight(note everything still can change if I see fit in this example of the Death Knight Lore).

Death Knights

"…and then out came the knight the men have hunted. His eye where empty and dark. His face grim and uncaring. His armor was black, and cold as his soul. His blade wicked, and cruel its attacks not only cleaving flesh, but rending soul as well. Before him went fear, and behind him laid death. And his foe fall like wheat before the reaper.

The men who not long ago were full of pride and bravery were now ran in terror, or hide like children. For now they know what it is they faced, and what they faced is death."

The Death Knight is perhaps one of the most feared individuals in the armies of the dark save perhaps for major Liches. I have yet to kill a Death Knight myself, or even face one. Still I have done much research on them, and I feel know enough to be able to speak about them as well.

It is often the mistaken belief that Death knights are just some other risen corpse, but in truth it is more of a title than anything. They are imbued with the death magic that all undead are held by. All that matters is that they are able to fight with great skill and power, and weave the dark magics. Some Death Knights are Vampires, while other are Skeletons, and others are special reanimated corpse made to be nothing more than such knights, and it is even rumored that some may even still hold the warmth of life in them. A Knight's will is his own as is his loyalty. They are as able a practitioner of the dark arts as any Necromance and as such a threat by this alone. Their ability to weave their dark magics into their attacks makes them far more deadly than any other knight you may face.

There role in the armies of the dark is as generals, and leaders. They are also at times guards for Liches of tremendous power. Death Knights armor and weapons are also often empower by some dark curse. Only powerful spellcasters, or Paladins stand a chance against such a powerful foe, and not with out paying a price for victory.

Note the in story source is writing this down as a form of research and has included as small bit lore on what he/she has read why doing his/her research(not write by the writer). After that it goes into the description write by the character source. Let me know what you people think of this style.

Great story so far Omega. You have me hooked! As for my ideas of the future- the undead horde is going to be a little more than the soldiers can handle. And at the end of the fight the necromancer is going to imbue Alexander with the Necrotic energies of the undead and turn him into a Death Knight. Whether he turns to the side of evil after his transformation is yet to be seen as your lore pointed out that Death Knights retain their free will. I have my fingers crossed for the choice I hope he makes!

Still like it, still killing cus u showed me the death knight lore and battle plans, plz either have the battle soon or make the paladin lore or the lore for something else that can beat a death knight

@Shadowwraith Great to know you like the story . Also nice to see someone reading the lore. Anyway as for your guesses to the future we will see, I mean would I kill off so many people . would nice if we can get some discussion between people here on what the story might bring.

Also as for an update I have given up on revising the first part for now, could not find a good way yet. Also as for lore I am almost done with a little on the first Paladin Dnalor(Can anyone guess where the name comes from?). I will hopefully have the Paladin lore finished soon and will post when it is. Sorry I have taken so long in working on this I just am doing this by myself and find it a little hard with out any help is all.

I hope to be able to get to the battle before Beta comes back. When beta does come back i plan on taking a leave from the Armory so I would have more time for this story. This is in part due to not much for me to do around here leading to me just coming to talk with a few members I like and respect, but that will just lead to me getting on peoples nerves(if i am not already ).