Pleasure Kingdoms: Second Attempt

[NyghtRayne]

Logan ran on easily carrying Zarl's weight through the trees. The horse easily kept up with them. Logan felt the presence of others there in the trees around them. He knew as long as he kept moving though they should be alright.

Of course with them on foot it took them awhile to get to the mountain, it was pretty late in the evening by the time they arrived.

Logan was fairly tired and the horse wasn't much better. Logan came to a stop just at the edge of the camp so Zarl could dismount.

 

[Sky Jade]

The dragon was carefully to not do anything which would jar her riders too much as Ritsuko climbed on with Lavastine. She rose into the air with strong strokes of her wings, soaring into the sky. She took the same path as before , heading towards the opening in the forest. They were soon upon it and she dove through the opening into the clearing.

The sudden dive was enough to scare Ritsuko, but the dragon kept everything under control. They passed through the foilage without a problem, the dragon landing gracefully despite the sudden speed before. She lowered down to let Ritsuko climb down carefully, holding Lavastine as well. Once Ritsuko was off, the dragon transformed back to Eeve who smiled for a moemnt before she moved to help Ritsuko. She offered a shoulder, pulling Lavastine's arm gently around her neck.

"Let's go and find Taren now. Maybe he's foundt something to help out."

 

[roleplaylifer]

As Evee's great wings beat furiously against the air currents to slowly their descent, Ritsuko couldn't help but find herself breathing a loud sigh of relief. While fully trained in horsemanship, her first experience of aerial travel had left the smallish elf terribly shaken.

Still cradling Lavastine as gently as she could without risk of dropping her, the samurai slowly slid a shaky leg across Evee's scaled back towards the solid ground once more.

Silently praising the fact that she was no longer airborne, Ritsuko took a moment to let Evee change back into her usual preistess form, marvelling that two such entities could be combined in one person....

"Let's go and find Taren now. Maybe he's foundt something to help out."

Nodding gently, Ritsuko glanced downward at her precious cargo. The slightest of moans escaping the dark elf's lips, presumably from the ravages of the poison, her body continued to tremble slightly as if trying to move on its own. The samurai glanced briefly at Evee, worry filling her sapphire eyes.

"I hope Logan's magic was enough. Yes, let's find Taren as you suggest. I don't like the thought of us being separated for long. If you like, I will stand watch for Logan and Zarl once we've found Taren. You are much more likely to be able to do something further for Lavastine than I am, if indeed anything further can be done."

 

[katalynn]

Lavastine

The more they moved her, slightly dragging her feet (Not on purpose of course) it seemed to have brought more feeling into her legs. Struggled to make steps and slowly she was managing it, wishing she was on her horse instead of hendering them in this moment.

Damn! Why now? After so damn long, why did he choose now to want me?

Begining to realize who it was that wanted her, once she got her legs moving even if it was still a weak movement, the more they walk the more she'll have use of her limbs again.

Gripped at both the females shoulders as they carried her, her body heat was rising as her spell did the best it could to work on the poison. Head was lowered and it was a blur but she was able to see the ground, see their feet moving.

"K--k-keep me.. moving...."

Tried to speak to them, though at this moment she wasn't sure if she said actual words, or if was even in the common tongue vs her native tongue. All she knew is she felt the vibration of her voice and can only hope they understood her.

Damn him.... Master my ass.. I belong to no-one and he will soon find that out.... Well, as soon as I get this poison out of me... then he will regret it....

forcing herself to move as much as possible, which still wasn't much. Getting the feeling that she should be able to have full control over her own body within an hour. Maybe less if she kept moving. Every so often she had to hold back some giggles as the ground hit her tingling feet sending nerve ending shocks up and down the legs. As if she had been sitting in a bad position and her legs had fallen asleep.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

It took him, Logan, and the horse much longer to go through the forest on foot than it had the others to ride Eeve over it. Zarl slid his sword home as her saw the camp. He sighed, and patted Logans neck.

"Finally. Hate to ask, Logan, but could I get a quick healing? All this riding hasn't been good on me, I think I'm a little sore."

He got top the ground, and found to his suprise he was not a little sore. He was very sore. With a few choice swear words from his native tongue, he began to insult all forms of transport than involved riding animals directly.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan looked to Zarl as he dismounted. He did not know his language, but he could tell Zarl was not at all happy by the tone in his voice.

"It is not a problem Zarl, I can heal you." He turned to Zarl and lightly touched his horn to his arm, knowing that the contact was all he needed.

Logan concentrated on healing Zarl's wounds and aches. He felt the power within him surge and flow into Zarl. After a few moments he stepped back. Feeling a little more tired than the journey to the camp had made him.

"I hope Taren and the others have found somewhere relatively safe to camp so we can all get a good night's rest."

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Zarl sighed with relief, and hugged the unicorn. "Thank you very much, Logan! By the Destroyer, though, riding an animal hurts, though. At least when I walk the areas that complain are not quite so tender."

He sighed, looking at Logan and shrugging about the camp. He suspected that if Taren had any brains he would not let the camp be a dangerous one, beut he had no idea what had happened in the long trek they had made to get here.

"I guess we'll just have to find out, won't we?"

 

[Armphid]

Taren saw the approaching trio, and waved to them. Good, they'd gotten here faster than he expected. Which was great, considering that they might need to find a safer camp site for the night. "Shizura, let's go meet the others." "We need to come up with a plan, and swap stories." "You're welcome to come too...uh...big guy."

The half-elven warrior padded toward them, his steps quiet for his size. "Glad to see you all made it." "Lavastine, are you doing any better?" He looked around, "We may have problems...this place isn't the best spot in the world." "There's a cave entrance nearby, and this mountain is full of tunnels...and the tunnels are full of monsters."

 

[katalynn]

Lavastine ~

By the time they had met and found Taren, Lavastine was almost walking on her own, leaning on the two girls every so often when she lose her balance. Wasn't watching straight ahead like she normally would, instead she was watching her steps, making sure she wouldn't trip on anything.

Upon seeing Tarens feet and hearing his voice Lavastine looked up to him,

"Aye.. I will be fine.. I'm doing much better now... Thank you."

Didn't say much, didn't want to. Knowing that there are going to many questions later, she really didn't want to talk about it. Wasn't even sure as to where to begin if she did want to talk about it.

"I just need to keep moving for a little longer... I'll be back to normal again."

With that she left the support of the two girls and started walking around a bit more, not straying from group. Walking around and getting a feel of the area, after a few m oments she felt that taren was right. As her hands followed the moutain wall she felt the power that was within the moutain. She didn't say anything for she was more than sure they all could feel how strong the energy was here.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan looked at Zarl and chuckled mentally. "I know what you mean, I hate riding horses. It's usually easier to either walk or to change."

They heard the voices of their companions not far off and headed that way. "It sounds as if Levastine has returned to us."

He smiled inside as they stepped from the clearance and spotted their friends there along with..."Shizura.... " He was pleasantly surprized to see her having returned once more.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Zarl smiled hearing Lavastine's voice. It sounded weak, but if she was talking, it promised only good things could come. He smiled, and trotted on ahead, only to be confronted with,...

Zarl's jaw dropped and he felt a stirring in his groin. "Shizura!" He rushed to her, and crushed her against him in a hug. "Good to see you're not dead!"

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

"I am Dreant Firebane, and am..."

The creature paused, and his paranoid gaze softened considerably. He was clearly thinking, but not in a gears-visibly-turning way; there was an actual quiet intelligence in his eyes, and even more surprisingly, just for that moment, it was almost melancholy. But in a flash that gleam of self-awareness, of knowledge of his own condition, so inappropriate in those bestial eyes, was gone, and the light of monster's instinct shone in the forefront again as he looked up. But even so...

"I am halfbreed. Born of woman, mated by monster. A... squirrel monster."

And whatever fear Shizura had felt was instantly banished by a wave of pity.

His mother... raped by a squirrel monster? And so he was made into this creature? This... abomination of nature? This bizarre mixed breed?

The creature continued to speak, and the pretty magician girl listened quietly, her brown eyes growing softer.

...somehow, I cannot feel any disgust. I can only feel sympathy. This may be a worse feeling -- Wain would tell me that my pity means nothing, and is worse than hatred -- but I cannot help it. To be so alone in the world, the only member of one's species, with a hatred of his father's kin and probably loathsome to his own mother; I would be far worse off than he. I would never be able to stand it. I would... be dead. He is far stronger than I.

And, worst of all, there is nothing I can do for him. This poor creature is doomed to a life alone...

But...

"Sir Firebane," Shizura said softly, and she stepped forward and rose on her tip-toes to look up at the hulking half-monster. Her large eyes now seemed to be glistening slightly. "You poor man. You have no friends..."

But... what if I could help? What if there was something I could do to ease his existence... to make the world know that Dreant Firebane is no one's enemy but the squirrels'...

To have people look into his eyes and be touched like I am...

"...would you let me, Shizura, be your friend?"

Her smile grew wide, and cast a soft light on her pretty young features -- a light of calm and quiet compassion -- a light of truth. For this moment, she seemed not just a girl, but a woman; not just pretty, but beautiful. Knowing the right thing to do, despite all the chaos around her, she was at peace.

Dreant stared at her, wide-eyed, silently.

"I have many other friends too, and they are coming. I am sure they would be your friend too, if you would have them, because some of them... are not totally human either."

Are THEY my friends? We have fought side by side against trolls and goblins... but I wonder if they would consider me a friend, especially considering how we met...

Maybe, if they come with me into this dungeon, I will find out.

"We're going to fight the, ah, creatures in the dungeon." Looking at his features again, Shizura was actually seriously considering the idea that Dreant was a hater of real squirrels, and not goblins, so she felt bad about calling the monsters in the dungeons squirrels this time around. "Because one of my old friends is in there, and he's testing me, and..." THe magician girl paused for a moment, her smile fading, and she glanced down at the ground before turning her gaze upward again. "...and I want to see if he's still my friend."

"It'd be fun with us, Sir Firebane! Let's see -- there's a, uh, Macrai-Itoshe by the name of Zarl. He's got bat-wings and, um, green skin. And there's a pretty dark elf named Lavastine. And let's see... oh! He's Fae, but, eeheehee, there's this really handsome half-elf guy named--"

"Shizura!"

Long, dark, lightly curled tresses of silky hair were flung directly into Dreant's face as the magician girl spun on her heels in surprise, her eyes widening and then a big smile growing on her face as she saw the half-elf himself standing before her. "Taren!" she exclaimed, rushing forward toward him but stopping herself a pace away, looking as though she had just barely kept herself from throwing herself into his arms. "Oh, I'm fine! I got into a scrape, but I met Wain -- the wizard -- he and I, uh, have a history. If we're going to swap tales... first thing, I'll have to tell you about him. I need to. But I'm so glad you're alright! Is everyone else okay?"

The squirrel-man stifled a sneeze from Shizura's hair and then turned his head in response to Taren's greeting. His eyes were still wide, showing the warring fight-or-flight impulse in them -- but something tempered them. Surprise at sudden kindness... He remained silent, and watched, even as more people appeared.

Stepping to the side to look out, Shizura saw Evee and Ritsuko approaching slowly, with the dragon-girl priestess and beautiful female samurai giving the dark elf a helping hand. "Oh! It looks like only the girls are here so far." A short pause -- and then the magician girl's eyes narrowed slightly, and in a very surprising display of wry humor, she raised her eyebrows and smirked at Taren. "So you managed to get rid of all the guys! How devious of you. I didn't expect your mind would work that way, Taren. You seemed like such a dear."

Rather than immediately run towards her friends, however, the magician girl first turned to the large squirrel-man. "Sir Firebane... Dreant... would you... like to join us while we camp? You know... we can all sit down and tell stories. And then... maybe... you can decide if... you'd like to fight with us."

Dreant's expression finally calmed slightly, and the half-monster thought. Clearly the creature had been tricked before, but never in such a manner -- and, of course, Shizura's big eyes are hard to resist. Yet another confusing sentiment thrown into the boiling pot that is currently the squirrel-monster's brain, which is usually only used to the single element that is undying hatred of squirrelkind. "I..." he managed, his rumbling voice tinged with uncertainly, "I will... 'camp' with you. We will... talk. Maybe... be friends... you say."

"Yes," Shizura replied earnestly, her eyes sparkling. "We'll be friends. Thank you, Dreant. I'll be right back -- I have to make sure all my friends are okay!"

She rushed toward Lavastine, Evee, and Ritsuko and caught up with Taren. "Hey, you guys!" She smiled broadly, her eyes resting on Evee for a few seconds longer before she spoke. "I'm glad to see you made it through alright." Her smile faded. "I... have no excuse for not being around while you all had to make your way here. But I was... summoned by the wizard itself. And he has revealed his intent... to a degree. We need to talk, and decide whether or not we're going to finish what we began. It may be that... it's just not worth it. And we need to decide that all individually, first..."

"...hey, Lavastine, are you alright?" The beautiful dark elf was now walking on her own, but she still seemed somewhat woozy. "Ohh..." Shizura slumped with genuine unhappiness. "You got hurt... now I feel just awful. We'll rest, and recover our energies, and you can tell me what happened."

A dark elf, fighting with us... getting injured while fighting on my side... maybe for our cause, maybe for companionship, maybe just because, but all the same...

"...Lavastine, I promise: if we go thorugh with this, I'll protect you and everyone else with my life." The pretty magician girl's face hardened and she shook her head. "I've been AWOL too much. I won't let anything by me now. I'll use all my power to-- gwuh?" Shizura blinked twice at the sound of words echoing in her head, until she realized it was the feeling of Logan's telepathy. "Mister Unicorn! Zarl! Hey, the boys are here!"

Logan's still safe... thank goodness...

I wouldn't want that handsome face to be scarred... eeheeheehee...!

Mastering her girlish thoughts, Shizura smiled with relief as her gaze turned toward the unicorn and Macrai-Itoshe approaching. "Great... our team is all here. Now, let's set up a camp in a sheltered area nearby -- we won't be ambushed, not tonight. I'll explain why as soon as-- oof!!"

"Shizura! Good to see you're not dead!"

Wh-wha...?

Zarl... hugging me?

I... I didn't know he cared...

The pretty magician girl began to blush slightly. "Oh... yes, I'm safe... thank you, Zarl... I'm glad you're safe, too... and here..." His hug was warm, and for a moment she actually found herself relaxing in his arms. Her blush began to deepen.

Zarl...

...you're hugging me... very tightly...

And, as shock subsided, she became aware of the feeling of two things: her breasts pressed tightly against his chest, and a growing sensation of something stirring near her thighs...

"Erk!" As gracefully as she could, the magician girl extracted herself from the Macrai-Itoshe's arms. It was hard to be graceful. He was holding her very tightly. "Ahem... um... about the battle plans..." Shizura shot Zarl a strange, ambivalent expression that seemed one-third flattered, one-third suspicious, one-third just plain confused, but she continued on, turning back to the rest of the group with a smile. "Yes. Have you guys found a good location to set up camp?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

She squirmed while trying to get out of his grip. He held her a moment, liking the feel of her body moving, her breasts pressed against him. But them, to be in good taste, and so Taren wouldn't decide to protect her honor, he let go, letting her detach herself. He grinned, and looked around.

"Lavastine! Oh, thank the Destroyer, you look much better."

He didn't race to her, but he did walk to her, and give her a reassuring hug. Something tender. He was glad she was alright. He was starting to like these people.

They weren't trying to kill him, and that might be why. He genuinely worried about them. As his friends and comrades-in-arms. He smiled, and looked around.

"Yes, a camp could be nice. A roaring fire, some food. I hate to point this out, but,...we haven't eaten all that much today and I, for one, am starving."

 

[katalynn]

Although Lavastine didn't jump for joy and did a little dance upon seeing Shizura, she was happy that she was live and seems well. Cept for the ragged clothes, looks like shes been through a tuff time herself. Also noticing that Dreant had somehow found her, or she found him, none the less, Lavastine was happy to see that he was alright as well.

"I'm alright thank you for asking.... if its all the same though, I don't wish to talk about it. Least tonight. I still need to puzzle it altogether myself first."

Paused a moment in her words, walking much better now and didn't the support as much anymore.

"I owe my life to all of you, I will not be leaving anytime soon, where ever these caves lead. Or our feet takes us, I'll be here for any of you."

just then she heard Zarl, then seen how happy he was to see Shizura. It really made Lavastine happy to see that he was ok, even more so that they didn't leave her horse behind, it would have been hell to only have Logan as the only horse / unicorn here to carry all of us and our packs.

Just then Lavastine looked towards Taren, now that she was more focused she remembered something of which he said. Something that now struck her hard.

"She is our friend, and it will take more that you and your arrogant threats to take her from us!"

Lavastine had this look as if she wanted to say something to Taren when he caught her gaze. Instead, hearing and feeling Zarls' hug it made her shake head and return the hug.

"Aye, I'm feeling much better. Thank you for everything.... And yes, food does wonderful right now."

 

[Armphid]

At Shizura's comment, Taren blushed brightly. He hadn't thought of that...but he kind of liked the idea. Knowing his burning face likely belied his response, he said, "Curses, Shizura...you've seen through my plan to seduce you all." "Here I thought my goody-two0shoes act had you fooled."

He flushed even brighter as he realized that Evee, Lavastine, and Ritsuko were likely close enough to hear him. Damn it, why couldn't he just joke without blushing like this? He must look like an idiot. Something he did not want in front of any of these women. "Uh...anyway...Zarl and Logan should be here soon too." "We had to split the group because-" Logan and Zarl's arrival, and the winged swordsman sweeping Shizura into his arms cut him off. He felt a sudden rush of shock, and a feeling similar to when he had kissed Ritsuko earlier that day.

This time however, he restrained himself. It was only a hug, even if a tight one. Moreover, he knew, could feel that he was mostly just jealous. Jealous that Zarl had the lack of inhibition to act as his feelings told him too. How he would love to hug any of them like that...especially Ritsuko. To have them close...must feel wonderful. Filthy thoughts, he knew, but to be expected from a dirty half-breed like himself. Taren looked away, his face twisted into a grimace.

As Shizura pushed Zarl off, and the Macrai-Itoche went to Lavastine, Taren continued to look back toward Evee's landing site. "We have found a decent site, Shizura." "As good as we will find anyway." He took a few steps that way, "Let's get food going and set up for the night, then we can swap tales." He paused a moment as he passed Logan, "Our training will have to wait Logan, but I haven't forgotten it." "You made very good time, I'm impressed." He did the same as he passed Ritsuko, "If it pleases you, I would still like to talk to you tonight."

Perhaps an hour later, a fire burned merrily, a mountain sheep roasting over the flames. The others sat on logs or the ground close to the fire, Taren standing further out in the shadows, watching for any sign of movement. "If we're going to trade stories, this might be a good time." "Who wants to go first?" "Shizura, or us?"

 

[Sky Jade]

Evee released Lavastine carefully once she felt she would be able to move on her own. She stayed close as they walked, making sure the dark elf didn't fall any. She looked toward Taren when he spoke to Lavastine and then smiled brightly when she noticed Shizura. She laughed as Zarl ran up and hugged Shizura tightly, before Shizura squirmed from his grasp. She helped gather wood for the fire since it was decided that they would make camp here. She would have to find time to talk to Shizura a bit, later to see if Shizura could help her out with her magic.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Zarl followed along with the others, making sure that Lavastine was okay and focusing on how indecent Shizura's clothing could become as they set up camp. Once they were gathered around the fire, Taren brought up stories again.

"My people are natural storytellers, so, if it doesn't bother anyone, I could set down the rules we've come up with. Since it was Shizura's idea, she tells the first story, as often the person to start these has a story they wish to tell. After that,...we should decide upon stories by relevance to the starting, Shizura's, story."

He spread his hands. "To do so, we each say a few words about what our stories would be about, and then the next story is chosen by a majority. After that, we discuss the story that has been told, and continue along that way."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan looked to Taren as he spoke of their training session being delayed. "It's alright as there are more important things right now."

As camp was set up he had pretty much taken to watching the surrounding woods, for his hearing was better than most while in this form, and that would free up the others to set about setting up camp.

He kept watch on both the camp and and ear open for trouble approaching in the woods. He hoped it would be a quiet night, but knew if anything did happen upon the camp there were more than enough of them to take care of it.

He grazed at the edges of the clearing, finding the grass there a little more appealing than the sheep on the fire.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Shizura helped to set up the campsite near the cavern's edge, safely up next to the rocky cliffs where they would be protected from one side and at high enough ground to survey the rest of the wooded territory around them. But though she was enthusiastic enough about helping Dreant learn the ways of camp-making and integrating him with the rest of the team -- though he had a tendency to stray to Lavastine, whom he remembered well -- her actions were mostly subdued. The magician girl seemed deep in thought the entire time.

Finally, the fire was built and the area was secured, and the small group had gathered in a circle around the fire. After listening to what Taren and Zarl had to say, Shizura quietly nodded. "Yes... yes, I'd feel better if I was the first to explain where I've been, and why I've been there." A small, rather melancholy smile turned her lips slightly upward. "I'll have to reach back a ways into my past, but once I finish my story, I assure you it'll all come together..."

Dreant sat quietly between Shizura and Lavastine, and his bright eyes watched the pretty magician girl calmly while she took a quiet breath. Staring into the crackling, undulating fire, she began.

"I grew up in a small village on the outskirts of the Southwestern forests with my mother and father. My father was a carpenter, and my mother was a dancer; everyone agreed she was the most beautiful woman the village had ever seen. I think my father had lived in the village all of his life, but my mother used to travel around quite a bit. Still, she always seemed happy with the quiet life at the village, and I always admired her for that. I myself always wanted to adventure, but not in the manner of a warrior -- I wanted to be a traveling dancer too. And so I trained to become one from a very early age, and lived very happily with my friends and family until I turned thirteen.

Very few magicians had ever been born in this village, but there was one who had recently surfaced as a quite powerful, adaptable wizard and swordsman -- a young man named Wain, about four years older than I. It came as quite a surprise that I surfaced as a magic-user when there was already one around the same age; at least, to everyone except for my mother, who never seemed particularly surprised by anything. At any rate, I became closer friends with Wain, but though we shared the same gifts, I was nowhere near as powerful as he. Though he was sometimes cold, he was always patient. And--" Shizura's gaze softened, and her smile grew slightly. "--he was very, very handsome. I was only fourteen, but I was completely sure I was in love. I suppose the fact that my feelings were never reciprocated never meant anything to me...

With the help of a merchant's son with an adventurous spirit, Dyne, we went on many training expeditions, always under the tutelage and leadership of Wain. He never seemed to lose his cool. In fact... the only person he really seemed to ever get angry at was me." Her smile faded. "He expected more from me than I could give. I just didn't -- don't -- have the same potential as a fighter. But I tried hard, and I got stronger, even if my magical spells were learned in no particular pattern. And Wain taught me a lot. Even if he was arrogant at times and always distant, he
was very wise, and though I considered him my best friend, he was really more of a schoolteacher. My mother would say he had a 'poetic spirit', though my father would constantly make fun of him because he took things so seriously all the time."

She was silent for a moment, her lovely features lit up by the flame, and it was about ten seconds before she spoke again.

"This... continued for about four years. Then, Wain left for the Wizard's College, having decided he was ready to move on, and Dyne, having just turned eighteen, decided to head to the Capitol along with Wain in order to foster some contacts and begin his life as a merchant. Soon after..." She paused again, as though struggling with the words. "...my parents passed on." Again she paused, and looked uncertain for a moment, but in the end she just continued. "Finally, when I turned eighteen one year later, I decided there was no reason to stay in the village, so I left to become an adventurer myself, and make use of my magical talents.

Once I'm done, I think I'll go back to that village. But, for now..."

She leaned back and sighed heavily, dark ringlets of hair cascading over her face as she hung her head, and pausing just for a deep breath, her eyes dimmed with sorrow as she continued her story.

"...I never heard of Wain again until yesterday. I met Dyne in the tavern, and stopped to speak with him. He said that Wain had done very well in the Wizard's College until, inexplicably, he requested that the university allow him the funding and the opportunity to do some important research on... the Void. It all seemed very strange to me, but I somehow I remember Dyne's words exactly:

'The Void is both infinitesimal and infinite. It consumes and does not grow, and it is the source of all lust and desire. But, as desires come, so to dreams, and so does love. Love is connection, and love is home. Our home is all within the Void. We all belong there, and we are all connected. We can all understand each other through the Void.'

It seems to me that the Void humanity thinks of is not the Void that Wain believes in. That it is the source of both suffering and bliss -- the integral part of humanity. I guess he thinks of the Void as... the desire to succeed as a person. But what really caught me from Dyne's repetition of Wain's words was the last part: we are all connected, and can all understand each other through the Void..."

Shizura brushed her hair out of her eyes and looked up.

"I think Wain is able to communicate with and lead these monsters with a new sort of magic he has developed. He's basing it on the Void, but I don't think the magic is anything 'evil', in and of itself. Corrupt, maybe, but it hasn't destroyed him. I know it hasn't destroyed him. I saw him, and spoke to him, just an hour ago.

I'm really not sure what his purpose is, exactly. He seems... dissatisfied. And now that I really think about it, I think he always was. With everything. So he's experimenting with this new kind of magic -- 'the Spiritual Magicks', he called them -- and he captured me and summoned me there to tell me that he wanted me to enter the cavern with all my friends. He spoke for quite a while on things I didn't understand, but I plan to understand them. I'm going to go inside there and talk to him again. That's my reason for going. This mission to fight trolls has turned into something much more personal.

...I have to prove to him... I'm not weak anymore.

But I know this is what he wants. He's going to try and use us as animals for testing. He's expecting me to want to prove myself. I want to stress the fact that he's very, very clever, and I have no doubt that his magic is extremely strong -- and I'm also fairly certain that, though he's strange, he's not insane. And he's not a murderer. He just wants to test his abilities. The dungeon is for us to prove we're powerful enough to face him. It's all... very elaborate. It suits him.

Guys..."

She shook her head quietly.

"I don't know what's going to be in there. But this is very important to me, and I'm beginning to worry that Wain may actually become extremely dangerous in the future. If Wain's new magic isn't just a hoax or some foolishness, and is powerful, then he may use it for some bizarre purpose. He said... he said he wanted to 'end all suffering in the world'. And... somehow, the sound of that makes me very worried.

So... I ask you all to join me in this fight... because..."

Looking up, and turning her head to look into the eyes of all those seated around the fire, her eyes were doubly bright with the reflected flames of campire, and the flames that burned from within her.

"...I want to talk to Wain... just one more time."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Logan looked up at Shizura's words. He knew already before she even asked that he would go. He didn't know why but something deep within told him he must go, that there he may find answers. He didn't feel like he even knew the questions, but he would go.

He moved and stepped into the firelight, the color of the flames dancing on his dark brown coat. "I will join you Shizura and I am sure the others will as well." He stood there quietly on the edge of the campsite, just inside the firelight waiting to hear what the others had to say.

 

[Jacobo_Curious]

Shizura's gaze shifted to Logan at his telepathic thoughts, and she smiled widely, her eyes soft and warm, her head tilting slightly. It was an extremely cute expression of extreme gratitude; her eyes showed an open happiness, but with the slight tilting of her head, her dark hair fell forward over her face a little, as though she was shyly and demurely trying to hide just how appreciative she was.

Logan... Mister Unicorn... thank you so much...

She thought these things; but unbenownst to her, the temporarily channel between their thoughts was still slightly open, and because she directed these thoughts at Logan, for a short while, he was able to hear them. Her mental words resounded with deep, heartfelt gratitude.

I'm so glad you're coming... after all, I can't let a boy as devillishly handsome as you get away quite so soon, anyway. Heeheehee... goodness me, no...

...though it was probably a good thing she didn't know he could hear her thoughts.

 

[NyghtRayne]

He looked to Shizura hearing her thoughts about him, and if he had been in human form he would have been glad of the darkness for he would probably have blushed slightly.

"Shizura. please... Just Logan.. we're friends and Mr. Unicorn sounds like you're talking to someone a whole lot older than I am."

He was glad to know how she felt, and that she actually was happy to have him along. Ever since his father had left he had always felt like he didn't belong and now with Shizura and the others he felt as if he had a place to belong.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Ritsuko watched stoically as the group reunited, her skin crawling despite her formidable mental control, the intimidating ride upon Evee's back no longer having anything to do with it.

All around her was stone, dark and brooding, leaving the cave's enterance as her only escape. She did her best to conceal her nervousness from the others, the samurai too proud to admit that she was a little claustrophobic. Effectively cut off from the moon now both during day and night, she was well aware of the problems that this could cause, she only hoped that she wouldn't embarrass herself too badly in front of the party before this was all over.

Smiling, a little unsure, she bowed respectfully to Shizura.

"We meet again, Shizura. It is most fortunate to have reunited with you. I trust you are well?"

Before the mage could respond, a Macrai-Itoche blew by the startled samurai to sweep the grinning Shizura up in a tight embrace. Turning, Ritsuko blushed slightly as she nodded politely to Logan, slightly perturbed that she had allowed herself to be distracted enough to miss the sounds of their arrival. She gave Taren another of her rare smiles as she nodded her assent to his request. She actually looked forward to the meeting he proposed.

Minutes later and she was listening to Shizura's story, trying desperately to swallow the idea of going deeper into the maze of tunnels stretched out before them. What if they got lost? Would anybody ever find them? Or would this Wain character simply pick them off one at a time?

Though her lips were drawn back in a distinct grimace, and her normally pearlescent facial features had paled even further to the color of alabaster, Ritsuko surprised herself by being first to speak aloud.

"I....will accompany you, Shizura."

Her tongue felt thick as the words escaped her, loosening slowly as she tried to talk fast enough to cloak her discomfort, failing as her own nervousness caused her to pause quite frequently.

"I know what it is like to have traps laid out for you at every turn. This group has seen me through my trials, if I can aid you in some way in this....dungeon crawl....then....I will do what I can for you. Besides....it.....kind of amuses me what you say. If this Wain you are so familiar with....seeks to test our full power against his....magic....perhaps we'll be able to lure him into a few tricks of our own."

That was as close as Ritsuko's pride would allow her to speak of her weakness in this place. Thoroughly uncomfortable with her surroundings, and her situation, the elf graciously excused herself to the cave enterance....

 

[katalynn]

By now Lavastine had full control of her body, voice whatever else. Pulled out a blanket was laying next to the fire, watching the fire so intently and buried in her thoughts she barely, or even most of it, didn't even hear the Mages' tale of her life. But, after sometime she heard the others speak, it made her feel somewhat compelled to speak.

Kept her eyes on the fire as the tears started anew;

"I've never once in my life had family.. least ones that I wish to call family.... I.. I've made myself an outcast, keeping away from people. Using people to gain my own wants and needs, being half demon I'm sure you can tell what some of needs are."

tried to smile, only to fail and it brought even more tears and it was clear that she was trying to fight from breaking down into pure sobs.

"I'm afraid I can not say who sent those shadows after me today, mainly because I'm still uncertain. And I'm also afraid that the poison still runs through my veins.
"It only affects me when the shadows around, it will not kill me. It just paralyzes me so I can not defend myself, making it easier for them to take me."

closed her eyes, pulling her hood up to let he shadows hide her face, not wishing to show her weak side.

"After today.......... when they came for me.... I.. heard something before the fight broke out.. just as it broke I should say... None the less, I found out that I do have friends.... And that is something I wish to keep....
"I give each and every one of you my life... Any other person would have let them take me.... but you guys didn't allow it, even though I can could not fight by your side then, you still faught to keep me."

breathing was bit shallow, body was shivering with so much emotion that she has never felt before. Stood up at this point;

"Even though this unwanted substance runs through my veins...... And even though Evee has killed a good number of the shadows, more will come eventually.

"That is something I could not bear to bring upon my friends........ But, I will remain by your side."

"And until I rid of this poison, I will not be able to fight against the shadows when and if they come back.

"And also, caves? That would mean I would have to let the stallion go, for caves are no place for a horse."

"None the less, I will stand by your side till I am either dead, or something seprates us."

Bowed her head and went a few feet from the group to try and calm down her emotions.

 

[The GrandMage]

Zarl of the Macrai-Itoche (Green)

Zarl's face was dark. Anger raged within him. Rage, ready to rip apart someone who annoyed him. He breathed in, listening to the others, and sighed. He looked over at Shizura.

"The Void is no more the source of lust and desires than a rock is. Wain might be gifted in magic, Shizura, but your old friend, like most fae, has absolutely no idea what the Void is. I will go with you, if only to stop this Wain person from perverting the natural order of things. If he plays with the Void too much, under these delusions he seems to be under, he could cause irreversible harm to our world."

He grunted, and reached into his pack. He lifted his flute out, and looked around them. He sighed. "I wish to tell a story now. It is the oldest of the Stories of the Macrai-Itoche, and as far as we know, the oldest of the know stories of our world. I feel that this story needs to be heard."

He put his flute to his lips, and began playing a haunting and complex song passed down through generation after generation of his people. He didn't think about what he was playing, but felt it, at the very core of his being. It was a song as old as Time itself, and it's entire purpose was one thing: To inspire wonder...