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by Darkman A Shadow in Tristram I crouched silently at the edge of town, watching the last rays of the sun fall beyond the horizon. The eerie glow of the dying daylight gave me warmth as I sharpened my blade, Shadow Hawk. The sword is girded by heavy enchantments, even for an earthly weapon, and allows the wielder to move undetected in shadows. I looked up from my work and the skies had begun to darken and soon the night would set upon the village of Tristram. I knew it was time. I took the path leading from the graveyard and made my way to town. A cloaked figure sat upon the fountain of Tristram, his dark features announcing it was the storyteller Cain. He glanced uneasily at the likes of me as I headed towards the witchdoctor Pepin seeking to acquire some potions to aid my quest. I was startled by the brashness of the blacksmith's voice as he called out to me in his pseudo-Scottish accent, "Whoa! What can I do for ya?!" "Bah!" I scowled at the smith and kept my course to the healer's house. What business has this peon addressing me? "Now com'on lassie, lemme show ya sumtin I been workin' on!" Hmm.. could it be this simpleton has indeed finally crafted something of value? Reluctantly, I walked to Griswald and followed skeptically as he led me into his shop. The main room of his hut was lined with oaken tables displaying various weaponry and armaments. Shields, clubs, helmets, plate mail. I saw nothing of interest and was about to leave when the smith delicately unsheathed a broad sword from a sheet of velvet. My eyebrow lifted as I examined the blade with scrutiny. The blacksmith was beaming proudly and my contempt for humans was renewed. "A King's Sword of Gore?? You beckoned me over to your pathetic shack for this?! For such an earthly weapon as this?!" My temper was mounting as the puzzled smith struggled to figure out what he did wrong. But then my eyes caught a shimmer of strange light in the corner of the room! Ignoring the stammering blacksmith, I was drawn to the light. I knelt down and uncovered a beautiful set of black mail partially hidden in a pile of hay. I started at Griswald, "What have you here, smith? You withhold such items from me do you?" "Whoa! Ya got me all wrong, lass! I threw that hunk of metal in the corner months ago! I figure nobody in their right mind would want sumtin like that! Ya need heavy plate mail to protect against those foul demons of Hell, not some lil' mail tunic!" I glared at him, but then realized I could use this fool's ignorance to my benefit. I smiled warmly. "How much for this mail then, smith? I rather like the way it looks. It may not be useful but it brings out the color of my rouge nicely." Yes, yes that will do.. At this Griwald changed his tone. "Ya know, this Obsidian Mail is forged with the finest metals from the North! I'd be lyin' to ya if I said this here mail wasn't worth 58,000 gold pieces!" "What!? You play me for the fool! I'll give you 20,000 gold for it and no more." I folded my arms waiting for his response. The foolish blacksmith actually thought he could outwit a Nightshadow. These humans can never be trusted..and they're stupid too.. The blacksmith rubbed his chin as he contemplated this outrageously low offer. But he conceded after concluding that no one else would wish to buy such dimly colored armor and this was his only chance to be rid of it. Garbed in my new Obsidian Mail, I left the shop with an evil grin on my face and made my way towards the Healer. I coyly slinked past the cloaked man by the fountain hoping he knew not my true identity. Again, he watched me suspiciously as I walked past. He knows too much.. I'll deal with him later..But my thoughts were interrupted! "Heeey! Nice legs, dude!" Farnham yelled out over his bottle, "I can almost see up yer loin cloth! Haha haha ha--hiccup--heh heh." "Quiet, you drunken oaf!!" I was prepared to annihilate this buffoon with fierce Blood Stars but clearly remembered my pact with the elders.. I must not harm the people of Tristram, no matter what the circumstances.. sigh. So I continued on my way a bit shaken up by this voyeuristic heckler. I looked over my shoulder one last time and caught him staring at my ass.. Pepin's house stood on the west side of Tristram across the town square from the blacksmith. As I approached, a white-cloaked elderly man greeted me, "What ails you, my friend?" "Just give me a few of those full rejuvenation potions of yours, ok?" I said not wanting to disclose my evil plans for the night. By now darkness had shed over Tristram and I was almost ready for my journey to Hell, but I needed a safe place to store my spare equipment. After all, I couldn't be burdened by heavy gear if I was going to travel through the halls of Hell unheard and undetected. But these humans I trusted not, and I went well off the beaten path searching for a suitable spot. A witch's shanty did I seek, and 'twas there that I laid my things down. Adria is no human and she knows her craft well. She sold me some of her spare scrolls of Infravision and a few potions of mana to aid my journey. We exchanged few words, but the witch knew my business and gave me a curt nod of encouragement. With this I donned my Nightscape and started west across the heath, back through the village, to the opening to Hell.. A Journey through Hell Shrowded in complete darkness I took my first step into Hell, the stairs of bone looming behind me in a mountain of shadows. The stagnant stench of death was strong in this place and I could smell the rotting bodies of fallen heroes old. With the golden sphere of Mana Shield protecting me, I read a scroll of Infravision so that I may peer beyond the realm of the light.. Not a creature did I see, so I moved forward taking another step and another until I came upon a sole Fire Drake. I pulled my cloak tight across my face, took a deep breath, and slowly moved past. My cloak nearly brushed against this demon, but he was unaware as I came and went. I now stood in the entrance of a bigger room, a room filled with the armies of The Lord of Terror. Doom Guards and Fire Drakes blocked my path. I chanted a familiar incantation and was instantly transported to the other side of the chamber with placid guards on either side. They know not what evil lurks amongst them! But my way was again blocked and there was no where to go, or so it seemed.. Using the Infravision, I peered through the wall into the adjacent room, found a sufficiently open area, and Teleported to the spot. I let out an evil laugh as I realized just how easy this would be. I heard my cackling echo through the labyrinth and watched the baffled Knights and Drakes as they stood confused around me. With ever-growing confidence I picked up my pace and began Teleporting vigorously. I sensed I was nearing the stairs downward as I Teleported from room to room, but before I made it there a single Knight attemped to stop my progression. Humored by the situation, I calmly turned the fool into a statue and plucked a stream of arrows into his hapless body. Down the stairs I went, laughing feverishly at the brave Knight's demise and the demise of others soon to come.   The Hunting of Lazarus I was on the third level of Hell, the level of Lazarus, and knew what must be done. Only the Archbishop holds the key to open the gateway to Diablo and this traitor must be sought out and slain for his insolence. I casted Infravision to better see my surroundings. It seemed I was in the western quadrant, just oustide a smaller chamber. Like moss on a tree, the way to Lazarus is always North.. I followed my instinct and came upon a wall. On the other side an army of Steel Lords and Hell Spawn was gathered. Such an entourage could only be for the fallen Archbishop himself! I wasted no time and quickly Teleported clear of the mob, materializing just west of a small room. An eerie glow came from within. My blood raced as I eased around the corner and peaked inside.. Four wizards did I see, and a sacrificed child laying limp from atop an alter of stone. I entered slowly and anxiously awaited the wrath of Lazarus. But they knew not of my presence. As I moved further into the place, my heart was saddened as I found four my own kin had been corrupted. These witches served the dark bishop and must be punished for their disobedience. I turned the entire room to stone with my breath and put them out of their misery, one by one. Now only the Archbishop was left and I freed him from his stone encasement so that he may fight freely for his life. Fight he did, but my Guardians set upon him and I outlasted the fiend. ppffft I spat upon his remains. "Your vile life was the cost of treachery. Burn in Hell, betrayer."  The Epic Battle with The Lord of Terror I found myself standing in a large open area. I sensed great evil in this place and knew I must be close. I read an Infravision scroll, opening my eyes to the night. The two-lever room lay to the northwest and Diablo's prison to the southeast. I was close indeed! I slowly explored the perimeter of the area and sought to secure a place for the upcoming battle. The level was speckled with Advocates and Blood Knights, neither of which posed a threat when singled out but could be lethal if fought in packs. Upon reaching the upper room, I noticed the Knight general Sir Gorash was inside guarding the left-most switch. Without thinking twice, I abrubtly Teleported just behind the general and gently touched my hand to his shoulder turning him to stone. Sir Gorash suffered great pain that night as I smothered him with a barage of Blood Stars. Unsurprisingly, the bastard dropped a Mace of Vigor when he crumpled beneath my onslaught. But I was satified with the kill and returned to my previous task of working my way along the perimeter of the chamber. I methodically snuffed the life out of each demon one by one until a clear path was made around the northwest chamber. When this was done, I used my natural ability of Telekinesis to pull the two skull levers, opening Diablo's lair. I cautiously made my way to the exposed southwest chamber and spied The Lord of Terror himself.   - Layil`Ogun(NTS), Nightshadow Mellitus |