Reluctant Heroes

[BadForm]

Dollar

"Very well, if you are all ready, we will send you over to the drop zone in Antarctica..."

There seemed like there was nothing else he intended to say, but then there was nothing else he truly could say. A second later the room was envelloped in a teleportation beam, sending each and every one of them to their drop zone.

This turned out to be a remarkably snow-free, relatively warm valley, which seemed unlike anything anyone had imagined as Antarctica. Then again, there was a strange feeling in the air. To some it was like the buzz of electricity in a heavy storm, to others, like a powerful spiritual presence over the area. It seemed quiet. Eerily so. No birdsong or other life, no breeze, no cracking ice or running water, no anything. Scanning the rock faces which made up the sides of the valley, they quickly saw the cave that had been mentioned. It barely seemed wide enough for two men to walk through side by side, let alone to set up a powerful base.

OOC: Any technological devices you brought (watches etc) just stopped working.

 

[airborne92]

Demon

I stand there looking around the valley, taking in the lack of noises. Nothing was making a sound, except for us. So much for the arctic gear. At least I hadn't changed yet. This couldn't be Antartica. There should be snow and ice everywhere, but there wasn't. Whoever we were after had a lot of power to be able to do this.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Mirage

Instinctively, she stepped closer to Demon. Though she sensed the power of Bloodwynd and Wayfarer, the mind power, was greater than her own, she also knew that this was the Demon's element. Somehow he seemed at home here in the valley, the unkown, the impossible.
Erica looked around for Blazer. The mother instinct again, she thought. Goddess knows that the girl possesses great power. But can she control it, Mirage wondered. As for the others, Plague and Weaver, their part in all this will come, she knew. They were all here for a purpose. But what could it be? She wasn't sure she really wanted to discover the answer to that question. Not yet.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Weaver

Weaver looked down at his watch, surprised to see it was no longer working.
Strange, that he was already beginning to adapt to his new world. He could even make out the tiny hands on the watch.
"My watch has stopped." he announced to the group, looking at their faces one by one. "What are you waiting for? To me, it's pretty clear where we have to go..." he said, his voice wavering off as he gestured to the cave.

 

[The GrandMage]

Plague

He shiver, looking around. Oh, the valley was relatively warm, but still cold. The majority of antarctica's landmass was ice and snow, so even as warm as it was, it was still below freezing, or they'd be in a lake, not a valley. Luckily, he'd dressed in clothes that kept warmth in by their material, not warming devices. He pulled a scarf up, over his nose, looking around. White, as far as the eye could see.

It wasn't against what he expected. They were pretty far inland, and nothing really lived there, except when the penguins moved in. But they didn't go too far inland, and even then, it was only for a couple of months. Mating season, he thought, and it was still pretty far away. No, Antarctica was a desert. A great icy waste.

It was relatively warm, but cold enough that since none of them had actually been anywhere else, it was as cold as could be. If anything, he was most surprised my the cave, if you could call it that. The true soil of the Antarctic was under so much ice and snow, it was nearly impossible to get at. Almost all of its major landmarks were made of ice. And here it was, a 'cave'. It wasn't your normal conception of a cave, but it was an opening nontheless.

"Well, what are we waiting for? I'm freezing out here. I'll take point. I'm not that strong, but hey, if there's a big pit, at least we'll all know, right?" He gave a weak chuckle at his little joke, and shook his head. They didn't know him, even if they were on the same team. He hurried over to the cave. His eyes were more bloodshot, the red going from little lines across his eyes to small blurs of red on the black background. He waited for them to make a decision, and instead busied himself by moving, trying to add more warth to his body. He glanced around the mouth of the cave.

This whole thing gave him shivers.

 

[Lacewing]

Firelight

BLazer walked up next to Demon and Mirage. She looked arround and blinked a moment. She herself was not dressed for the cold. She didn't need to be. Her body was plunty warm. It was cold outside her skin but under it she felt the fire, the warm fire. Plus there was only so much one could do with fire retardent plastic and vinels

::Where do we go?:: she signed hoping someone could hear her thoughts and understand the sign. It was a rather odd day and she still didn't really understand anything.

Not like she cared really. She stretched and looked around looking for signs of direction. Either that or maybe she should burn some ice and make a steam bath out of the cave. THat might stop the complaints of cold.

Waistful use of power but it might be fun.

She shook her head at such silly childish thoughts. She always prided herself at being more machure than that.

 

[BadForm]

Asha Tambika

She reached out with her mind, seeking, searching for the source of the spiritual energy that seemed to be controlling this place. She felt each of the changed in turn, her own mind, Demon's, Blazers, Bloodwynds and the others. They were simple to pick out, but that was all. There was nothing else here with a mind she could recognise as such.

"There's nobody here..." She said quietly. "It's like there is mentality, or spirit but no mind, no individual spirit. It seems to flow through this place like electricity through a grid - there but not visible as a unit."

There was an increase in spiritual force inside the cave though, as though whatever was here was concentrated there, like a station on that grid, glowing brightly against the general background. She broke her concentration, and told the others what she had felt.

 

[airborne92]

Demon

"Well, we are racing against the clock people. Unless someone has a better idea we should go into the cave and find out who or what is behind this" I say to the others.

I look at both Blazer and Mirage before heading off into the cave. I was hoping that all would follow.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Mirage

She should be afraid, she knew that, but she felt nothing. The cave beckoned to her. When Demon headed into it, Mirage followed.

 

[The GrandMage]

Plague

His boots were in the snow around the cave, and he was watching the others. The cold was making his feel weak, and he withdrew into the warmth. Once the one that looked so much like a demon started, Plague was there, walking close to 'Big Red'. He smirked to himself in the darkness they were entering, hoping that Demon would know where the Hell they were going. He shook of an odd memory that popped into his head, wondering if everyone would come, or leave the few to go on.

 

[BadForm]

Asha Tambika/Wayfarer

"But... there's nobody here, I don't undestand."

Asha saw the other heading off towards the cave and felt afraid for them. What was causing this power here, if there was nobody here to do so? What, then, was inside the cave? She had been unable to prevent the loss of life before, or the savage way these people had been changed, but she could at least prevent them from being the first to face unknown danger. She waved one of her hands, casting a teleportation spell, and drew into the cave.

She kept the hand used for telepathy moving, using it to try to focus on where the power was most concentrated, and soon found it increasing towards the rear of the small cave. Once their, she found a small white cube. A little like a spotless die, it sat on the floor as if abandoned. She picked it up in her hands, turning it over and over, trying to study it and learn what it was.

An explosion of soundless white light erupted from the cube, catching her with all its force before filling the cave and temporarily blinding those within. A second later it was over. Asha lay on the ground, dead or unconscious was unknown. The cube had been dropped. And the sound of hooves filled the air. Four horses, galloping, but sounding as though they were coming from all around.

 

[Lacewing]

Blazer stood ready at hearing the sounds. Odd how it seemed to be everywere but no where as well.

Like they were dealing with ghosts.

Her eyes narrowed. She tried to maker her observations known but not one was watching her so she stood back from the group and waited for whatever was to come.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Weaver

Weaver turned to where Asha had been just the second before, surprised. He had no idea she had that... kind of power.
In a moment more, there was a severe white flash which blinded him, as well as the others he had followed into the cave. After a moment, it died away, and then the sounds of horses from all around could be heard. Quickly, Weaver rubbed his eyes, opening them and blinking away the whiteness until he could see again. Desperately, he looked around, but where these "horses" should have been was only a faint rippling in the webs of Reality.
"What... the fuck..." he whispered, his eyes darting around.

 

[The GrandMage]

Plague

His eyes took a few moments to adjust to the light. He heard the sounds of hooves, and shook himself. He looked up listening to the sounds of hooves as he gulped. "Four riders of four horses. White, red, black, and ashen. Get ahold of yourself, Claude, it can't be that. No, come on."

He shook in fear, and closed his eyes, starting forward.

 

[BadForm]

Narration

They appeared then, arriving as if from nowhere, outside the cave. Four horses, four riders. And yet, the horses looked like horses as if drawn only by people who had seen fantasy art - too powerful, lacking any fat or loose skin against their almost jagged muscles. The riders too, looked human only if humans were styled after greek gods. Lean and muscular, almost classically chiselled. On horse was white, one was grey, one russet and the other black. The riders bore symbols upon their shields, a crown, a balance, a sword... only the fourth was blank.

"Why are you here?" Hissed the pale horse rider, his breath invisible even despite the coolness of the air. "Why do you interfere with what must occur?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Plague

He heard it, behind himself. Moving back, he exited the cave, staring up at the four horsemen. Good Lord, what was going on? Could it truly be? No, it couldn't. It just,....wasn't right. It didn't fit. Their were little errors, at least, he thought so. He remember things that didn't exactly fit with the piture, but,...he had stopping reading the books so long ago. He stared, mouth agape as he watched.

The rider of the pale horse spoke, and Plague raised an eyebrow. Death? He raised a hand, reaching forward. Wasn't he supposed to kill with disease? It was a vague memory, might not be correct, but still. He felt the need to reach out and touch him. To ensure that it was all real.

"But,....it is not time,....things have not come to pass,...."

 

[Lacewing]

Dance of fire

Blazer would have laughed if she could have. Though the firery bellow was interesting. Someone oviously wasn't paying attention to detail. Red horse, ment for War, who looked about right. White horse for the white rider.

But then Famine and Death were all wrong. In the biblical description they were both thinner horses. And famine was refugee thin and death was a skellonton on a PALE horse.

Not a black one.

When you're a nerd with nothing else to do reading everything that comes to hand and memorizing it for the hell of it was just something to do for spite to the rest of the world.

So this couldn't be a real act of god. He'd pay more attention to detail she was sure.

Her amusement in the face of fear likely would have drawn attention if she had the ability to be smart mouthed. But as it was she Started to flick flecks of fire that never quite reached their destination since she was burning air which never burned long anyway.

She was just being a brat and enjoying it.

 

[LadyBlueMoon]

Mirage

Mirage noted the reaction of her comrades to the sudden appearance of the Horsemen. If it was fear they were seeking, it did not succeed. The girl, Blazer, was actually laughing. The Apocalypse must be a welcome event for this band of misfits, for us, she thought.

Mirage, of course, did not fear. Fear was an emotion, and she felt nothing. She noted that she had changed, however. Her body was amazonian, the warrior priestess.

She assumed a defnsive position, and waited.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Weaver

Weaver's jaw set hard and his eyes narrowed as he tried to make out the forms of these riders before him.
He could tell they were forms - roughly humanoid - on horses, but that was about the extent of his understanding. Their existence was like nothing he had seen yet, in this new world of Reality. Their forms were shadowy, hazy... almost as if they did not belong here, and something about them was all... wrong...
He stayed silent, waiting for the others to see what these guys wanted. He had not the benefit of knowing who they were to try to bargain with them.

 

[airborne92]

Demon

I turned to look at the horsemen, they appeared to be the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Not exactly how they had been described, but it was them.

"Who has brought you here to bring about the Apocalypse?" I ask the leader of the horsemen, the one said to be Death.

I knew what fear was, but at this moment I knew that what we were doing meant the lives of billions. For that reason I put the fear out of my mind.

 

[Abraxas Winterlight]

Bloodwynd

I follow the others into the cave, then wayfarer goes & gets herself dropped by the freaking mascots of the Roy Rogers Fan Club.
Some days it doesn't pay to get out of bed.
I opened myself up to the mental signatures in the area. My companions were afraid on some levels, except for Blazer, that girl has issues! As for the horsemen, I got a buzzing from them, & that was all. Weird.
I was about to try & tell the others what I knew when Demon start to mouth off at them. Well, at least this ain't jail.
**Deamon, one of my gifts is telepathy, like Wayfarer has but stronger. These guys are registering weird to me. Be careful.**

I step back & call my blade back into exsistance. Now I'm ready for action.

 

[Lacewing]

Dance of Fire

she rolled her eyes and looking sqarely at one of the horsement signed :You aren't scary: she stood and walked out infront glaring at the horsemen :Just go away! You aren't wanted!:

Well she made her stand clear, if they didn't understand american sign they understood when she flashed them the birdie.

Then she raised her arms above her head and flamed them with a ring of fire that circled them and closed in.

If they were real they would feel the heat.

 

[BadForm]

Pale Rider

"Sparkles and toys?" The pale rider seemed amused by the fiery ring Blazer created. "You earth people have develloped an enhanced breed, have you? Something with a little more power than your ancestors? It will not matter, the time is come for your destruction myth to play out, and if you try to prevent us..."

The white horse rider rode forwards towards the front of the circle. He looked, simply looked, at the people gathered before him, and it began. A sensation of hunger, tingling at first as if simply a need to snack, growing rapidly then through levels of need, through nausea and pain, almost paralysing pain.

"If try to prevent us," said the pale rider, "you shall simply face a personal doom more terrifying than that of your planet."

The horsemen turned to leave, galloping out through the flames, and rising to the air before vanishing. The sounds of their hooves echoed through the stillness, gradually dissipating along with the pain of near starvation.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Weaver

Weaver regained his feet, still gripping his stomach from the terrible pain that had subsided as quickly as it had come. He looked across to his companions and saw that they, too, had been affected by the starvation.
The horsemen were nowhere to be seen.
"What the hell... I think we're in over our heads... if those were the Riders of the Apocalypse..." he said, more to himself than anyone else. He shook his head, terrified to continue. "And where the hell did that 8-armed woman go?" he asked, looking around but not identifying her amongst the others.

 

[The GrandMage]

Plague

He broke out laughing. Famine was supposed to ride the black horse, not the white. The white was the conquering one. Some said the antichrist, some said christ, he simpky thought of it as Conquering. It was almost comical. They said our myth of destruction, but they couldn't even follow the basic line it was supposed to play along. He had felt the hunger setting in, but now ignored it.

"This good. Bullshit, but good." He shook his head, clearing up the fears impressed upon him since he was a child. He entered the cave again, going down through it until he saw Wayfarer and the cube. He knelt down, looking over both before taking off a glove and reaching out to touch her. His eyes opened wide and he gritted his teeth as biological information streamed into his mind. Ripping his hand back, he stared at it a moment. "Jesus Christ! This is new. But what the fuck does it mean? Is she fucking alive?"