As the sword was pulled loose from its prison, a group of portals opened from the icy surroundings. A handful of Weavers stepped forth. "You have done well in your task. We can take you now to face Apyrel."
"Be warned, as Apyrel's plane is one of horror. The creatures there are incredibly hostile, and immune to most conventional attacks. Only the strongest of magics and magical items can pierce their protections. Ice and cold are your best defenses."
"We can take you, but we can only retrieve you once you've defeated the demon. Remember, in your final confrontation, you must use the Shield to defend yourself from his attacks, the Staff to weaken him by transmuting his physical form, and finally, that Sword to destroy him forever."
"It is time. Prepare yourselves."
Without another word, the Weavers chanted an incantation, and the party was whisked off into nothingness.
When the vision returned to their eyes, they found themselves in hell.
All around, pits of lava and bursts of hellfire were all that could be seen. The air was malevolently hot, and steam clouds wafted at random intervals. All directions seemed to lead off into infinity.
Jerreck turned to seek the guidance of the Weavers, but they were already gone.
"All right, we're here. Any ideas which way to go?"
Ravyson looked around. The Frostbite kept the party living with its coldness. Without it, they would be charred into a crisp as soon as they arrived. He looked at his companions. Their number was much lower than when they began this journey. Now, only he, Jerreck, Shara, Reeven, Traug, Liander, and Beliana remained.
Touching the blue gem on the hilt of the Frostbite, a storm began to emanate from the sword. Within seconds, the dragon of the sword appeared. Looking around, it saw the seven warriors who were brave enough to enter thiis hellish place. "What do you want?" The dragon seemed icy.
"Frost, can you take us up to look for the demon?"
"If you wish it." The dragon opened its wings and allowed the seven to climb on its back. "I suggest you try to hold on." Ravyson jumped off, deciding to fly himself as the dragon ascended.
OOC: Not in the mood for writing, so someone else write. Please.
Jerreck looked up into the black void above his head. The
sky here was... intense. Boiling pools of molten lava spew
out fumes that caused weird colorations, swirling about
as they climbed higher in the sky. Everything was colored
in different shades of red, but most structures in this place
just faded into a black unnatural darkness. Everywhere around
them, above them, and even below them, ominious rumblings
constantly kept them on their toes. And as a blanket on top
of everything was a low humming, as if the place itself was
alive.
He saw the dragon disappear in the hazy-red sky, his friends
hugging tight to its back. Before they had taken off, Jerreck
had explained he'd be better off on the ground. The others had
protested, but the dragon had just nodded at him and taken off.
Ravyson had landed next to him.
"What in the nine hells do you think you're doing??"
"There's no way I'll ever trust a dragon, Ravyson. I don't
fancy sitting on the slippery back of one while looking for
a demon in a place that looks and feels like the kingdom of
death! Besides, if i can work as bait by walking alone, so
much better. I'm sorry, but this is the way it has to be.
Catch up with the others, i'll keep a look out from where i
walk. I'll hollar if i find something.
Or if something finds you, Ravyson thought.
They had both known the others were not very likely to hear any
shouts for help in this place.
Ravyson had taken off without another word. In his hand he
held Frostbite. Jerreck had declined taking the shield
and the greyskin in favour of Beliana and Shara. Liander had the
Staff.
Protected by his oricalcium plate mail and his Silver Shield,
Jerreck lowered his gaze towards the dark landscape that
surrounded him. It all looked the same, so he decided to walk
in the opposite direction from where he had seen the dragon
disappear. Slowly, he unfastened his viscious weapon; a
Lightning Mace, crafted in his home lands.
"Come on, demon" he whispered softly, "You know we're here for
you, don't you?" He kicked a petrified lava rock into a larger
boulder.
***
Liander held onto Beliana and the staff with all his might! He was
turning into a rather well built young man, hardended by travels
and adventure.Still, he wondered if he would have the strength to
hold on long enough, while the dragon swept the skies of this
hellish place.
An uneasy feeling had stayed with him during their whole stay here.
Something was out there, just waiting for the right moment to strike.
He figured Jerreck's bait tactics were sound, but he couldn't help
thinking which of the groups the demon would consider weaker.
Jerreck was an experienced warrior, equipped like a king. Ravyson
was a strong fighter, and he had Frostbite, but Liander
wasn't sure where the flying man was right now. He hoped he was
somewhere nearby. Visibility up here was almost zero, and the more
he thought of it, the more did he long for that hot, unstable,
lava spewing ground. It was still ground, after all.
Trying to overvoice the searing wind, he leaned forward and yelled
in Beliana's ear, "I think we'd have a better chance on the ground!
If the demon wants to fight us, he will find us!"
Beliana nodded, her long hair whisking Liander's face as the
wind caught it. She shouted back, "What do you want me to do about
it though? Ravyson seems to be the only one who can command this
beast!"
Reeven, sitting behind Liander, leaned forward, "Why complain!!
This is the best ride i've had since i was a little brat and dad
let me ride Whirlwind! Just enjoy it! There's nothing we can do
right now anyway!"
The dragon banked sharply to the right, its passengers too stiff
to scream. Once it had straightened itself out, Shara thought she
saw something large to their left. Perhaps a mountainside? Within
a second, the shape was gone and Shara thought it best to just keep
quiet and hang on tight.
The air was thick with tension. Wary eyes shifted constantly, scanning the fiery horizons for any sort of movement. One moment of hesitation in dealing with a threat could result in death.
The dragon slowed its glide, paused, then dove for the ground. It landed right in front of Jerreck and peered ahead at a cliffside. There was a bustle of activity outside a small cavern in the mountain of glowing rock. The sounds of battle could be heard, loud snarls of demons filled the air.
The group huddled close to the ground, hoping to avoid attention, as they plotted their next actions.
Beliana spoke first. "A battle in this plane means one of two things. Either the demons are having it out amongst themselves over Apyrel's favor, or another group of invaders is here on a mission, as we are."
"This journey has lasted long," Liander replied, "and we lost contact with Rolshin near the start of it. Could it be that another party was formed to attempt our mission?"
Jerreck peered into the glow of the stone. "No, I don't think so. Our path was long but it was also the only way that they knew of to get here. Regardless, we're going to need some recon. Liander, do you have an invisibility spell for us?"
"Not for all of us. But I can make Ravyson undetectable by the demons. However, if they're battling anything from our plane, he will be seen."
Jerreck looked at Ravyson. "Willing to risk it?"
Ravyson stood and nodded. Liander performed the necessary ritual, and Ravyson's form seemed to waver for a moment.
"There. The demons won't notice you unless they're looking for you. If you draw attention from anyone, try to get back as fast as possible." Ravyson nodded again and took off.
After a brief flight, Ravyson neared the lip of the plateau where the fight was occurring. He peeked his eyes up over the edge, cautiously. His eyes widened, and he returned quickly to the party.
"Well?" asked Jerreck, when Ravyson had caught his breath.
"I might be mistaken, but I think we've found the missing Wolfriders."
Question: Who? I wasn't quite listening closely when this whole thing began.
Understandable, because it started so very long ago. The only plausible reason for why a bunch of mercenaries and adventurers were gathered in the first place was that the team sent out from the Dantimian military, still reeling as it was from the BMW (ah, the memories), had already attempted the quest and were missing. This team was most of my main characters (Torlax, Latros, Pendel, Dvorak, Baltir, Cerolt, Gabrosin, Relondor, and a dozen generic Wolfriders to accompany them). A second part of the RBE was to try to figure out what happened to them. Well, this is where you find out. So either ride off valiantly to their aid, or leave them to distract the minor demons. Your choice.
Torlax
Not in the mood to write. Just finishd a football game. Last one of the season. We won, 14-0. I didn't get much playing time because Coach wanted to let everyone have a chance, instead of letting me play the whole game like normal.
But let's go help them.
Yeah, Jerreck or Ravyson, you'll have to make the next post and lead the group to help the wolfriders. That's my vote anyway. Traug's not exactly the leader-type, so it wouldn't be in-character for me to have him charge into battle with the demons. So I leave that to you. :)
~ /\/\ist Phantom ~
Traug, Troll Mage
I'm sorry for my absence the last couple of days... i've been sick and not in shape to do any writing. I'll be back to work tomorrow though, and hopefully i can write a post then. Just a question though... how are we supposed to get up onto the plateau where the fight takes place? :) Other than riding the dragon that is.
/Jerreck
Jerreck went silent for a moment, scratching his unshaven chin with a scarred hand. Peering up torwards the plateau, his eyes narrowed.
"Well, if indeed it is Torlax, Cerolt and their riders, we better get up there and help. If this is some sort of trick, at least it means the cursed demon is around here somewhere. Either way, we'll have to do battle. Get yourselves ready."
The group checked their weapons and gear, securing loose straps and tightening shields. Liander simply held onto the staff.
Recuctantly, Jerreck turned to the dragon. "Can you carry us up there?" He nodded towards where the battle took place. The dragon's mouth widened into an impossibly large grin. "But of course."
The dragon hugged the ground to let the group secure themselves onto his back, and off they went. Jerreck felt nausea grip his guts as warm winds assaulted his face and the ground disappeared below them.
"Why am I doing this..?", he muttered to himself... but then he remembered the rewards they had been promised, and things felt a little better.
*transubstantiates*
"Yes, I'll bet you do feel better now, but you'd feel even better if--"
"Who the hell are you?!" Jerreck blurted to the pale, oddly dressed man who had appeared floating in the inferno next to the dragon. He was wearing a top hat, a Malkmallow t-shirt, blue jeans, and loafers. The man reddened a bit.
"PERHAPS IF YOU WOULD REFRAIM FROM INTERRUPTING ME...you would find out little bits of information like that. Now then, as I was saying before you so rudely interjected your heathen speech patterns, you would feel much better if you took some Milk of Magnesia. It clears up that motion sickness like nothing else. Fortunately for you, I have prepared some ahead of time." He held out a decanter containing some thick unidentifiable liquid.
"As for your question, my name is Ziv, and I'll be your flight attendent for today's ride on DragonAirlines, a division of Demons, Familiars, and Elementals Inc. a subsidary of Malk Enterprises, a property of Universal Studios Afghanistan, which has just merged with DragonAirlines. Please keep your seat belt fastened and your tray table properly stowed. Please deactivate any electronic devices that may be in your possession as they may interfere with the flight. I notice you're seated next to an emergency exit. Please review the instructions for operation of that exit, and if you don't feel up to the task, just tell me and I'll have you reseated. Enjoy the flight."
Jerreck blinked.
"Uh oh, looks like there's some turbulance ahead," the odd man said, and promptly hit Jerreck upside the head, leaving a rather large welt.
"Hey, what's going on here? You're hijacking my flight! Nurse! This man's eating my peas and carrots. I find this intolerable and I expect you'll do something about it."
Zaph, Prophet of the Irrelevant took his seat next to Jerreck.
"You look like a nice chap. Afraid of flying? It's not that bad. Once in a while the plane shakes, but Afghanistan's been working hard on rectifying the problem. Isn't that right, Ziv?"
"Oh yes, quite right. Glad to see that you could make it for this flight. We'll get somebody on those peas and carrots just as soon as the airline resolves the nature of its own existence."
"Look out, more turbulance ahead." WHAP. He breaks Jerreck's nose.
"Coffee? Tea? Monster?"
Of in the distance, the sky flickered and the familiar humm and crash of electicity loomed warning of the things to come. Ravyson looked at Jerrick as if surprised.
"Odd. Storms don't usually leap up that suddenly without warning."
Jerreck rubbed his chin in quiet contemplation. He broke his own silence.
"True. Maybe it's not a storm at all." Ravyson's confused glance met his words. "Old wives say that a rainless storm in the distance is not even a storm. It is your own mind warning you of danger."
Ravyson crossed his arms.
"And we need warning, given our situation? I imagine danger ahead is a fairly apparent and accepted reality." But his words did not break Jerreck's distant gaze.
"There's something out there. Something we aren't prepared for, at least not yet, my friend. Such is the way of the world: there will always be something to keep you on your toes." He paused looking over at Ravyson complacently "The only disturbing thing is that it's the opposite way we need to go, like it's in the past already. That, and that if you listen carefully, the lightning almost sounds like it has a voice, a voice that is screaming."
The distant tempest continued its tirade, incessant to the wants of the party
Sigh.
No wonder people are leaving the forums. Listen guys, not everyone enjoys your ridiculing of what we do here. Take it someplace else.
"Ridiculing?!" cried the odd looking man. "I'll have you know that I was working as a flight attendent when you were still in diapers. Not to mention my years of experience as a prophet. I'll bet your little crew doesn't even have a prophet on board. Nobody does these days. The profession has lost all dignity. Why do you think I took up this job? Huh? Actually, I'm hurt that you would insult me like this. Just because I broke your nose is no reason to emotionally assault me." Ziv sniffled and a green tear ran down his cheek. "Oh god," he murmured, embaressed, and flew ahead towards the wolf riders.
"People these day--I swear--why I otta--learn him who knows a thing or three--that jerk!--insulting my intelligence like that--embaressing me in front of Zaph. Oh well. I wonder what people and what forum he was talking about. AH! It just hit me. I know what I'm going to do." he flew down next to Torlax ignoring whatever was going on with he and the wolfriders, he tapped him on the shoulder.
"Uh?"
"Yes. Hello. Did you know you are standing on the property of the Guild of Phaeman (and subplanes) Prophecy? In fact, I'd much appreciate it if you would leave, so that we can begin construction."
It's not all that bad. Let them have their fun. It isn't taking away from anyone else, is it? We just have to skip past the inane posts if we don't feel like reading them.
[OOC]
Well, technically, anything that happens, well, happens. This sort of thing used to go on all the time (see "The Walnuts of Deep Shadow", or pretty much any of Sage's good stories). Actually, it made things more interesting that, in some cases, would have been boring otherwise. It made for a unique history (I'm sure Elro can tell you more about it than I can).
As it's in keeping with my general philosophy on this mill, I would urge you to treat these "inane posts" as if they were really happening. Just adapt. Elements of uncertainty, whatever form they may take, are what make this place interesting. Also, when people are honestly just trying to waste your time, if you play along, it tends to frustrate them and they drop it almost immediately.
Of course, I can't *make* you pay attention to other posters, but it is kind of odd to have them there while you guys totally ignore them in character. I think you would have more fun if you played along. Hell, I'm just glad there are more people posting here. What does that make it? 5? 6?
Well, i don't mean to be a bore, but unfortunately i have a problem with people barging in, ridiculing someone's character, disfiguring them and talk about Afghanistan... i'm sorry. Perhaps someone could finish this story then.. i just lost inspiration (not that i had much to begin with). I had some plans for Jerreck, but this was kind of the death blow. It doesn't do anything for me. Maybe you can finish the story, Ravyson?
Guess it's time for some new blood, so no hard feelings. Good luck!
"Disfigurement? You've not seen disfigurement! Blinky rather had an unfortunate meeting with a book a while back, or was that Kay-ti? Methinks it was both! Aye, and life was much more interesting back then. Weasels and sauerkraut, things that make the world go round. What's that you say? Plink? Or stink? Stinky! Yes, that godforsaken excuse for an Atog! What happened to that fool, anyway? I'm sure Cup della Roccaforte di Kher would have something to say about that. Or was it Strak? Huzzah! Wait, X-Files is on. Gotta go!"