The Seven Keys.

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir laughed. He walked along, setting a good pace, and tried to contain his laughter enough to keep an eye where he was going. He looked up at Trianna and smiled.

"Lady, you're talking to the man who, fifty years ago, led a group containing an injured crown princess from here to the capital of the Neutral Zone...in one day. On foot. Trust me, we don't need to worry about getting there fast."

 

[LadyRozes]

Baddies

Nexus enters the dark cavern then lit a tourch in front of them there were three entrances one that led straight, one to the left and the other to the right.

Turning she looked at the others and asked, "So, anyone want to lead us ?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna bowed her head to Yris. "Than I bow to your expertise in this matter, Sir. For I have never been out of the elvin lands until the day the Gods called upon me to enter this contest."

Looking around at the trees that waved gently in the breeze, she sighed.

"And I hope to live long enough to return when this is over!" She said quietly and a bit sadly.

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Okay, so lets get going," I said with a grin. We started off and the extra horse followed with a nicker.
I looked from the horse to Tana and back, tilting my head. "Um, in the interest of not tiring Trianna's mount, why don't we have Tana ride the spare horse? Poor thing looks rather superflious... superflu... heck it looks wasted as it is, without a rider."
Tana's eyes light up as she smiled at me.
"Come, little one, let us get you mounted on this beast."
After reseating the girl on Yris' former mount, sort of, we headed out, waving goodbye to those we left behind.
"So, he who does not ride horses, which way are we going," I asked with a grin, taking any bite from my words with a smile.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

Yrismir glanced over his shoulder, and flashed Cali a smile. He pointly in front of himself, in the direction he was walking and said dramatically, "That way!"

He glanced around, and altered his finger slightly to the left. "Okay, more like that way. Just, don't ask questions, okay? It's one of those things that you really don't want to question too much, or you'll start worrying yourself. Just know that we're going to a tunnel, ad then we'll be at the Neutral Zone Capital,...and then,...we'll see what we see. And 'll get myself into a uniform. Elves and their 'fashion'. Bah."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Fashion?"
I looked at Yris through slanted eyes. "What fashion and does it include me?"

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna arched a brow at Yris' comment and then said to Cali,"I believe he is talking about the choices of colors that we choose to wear."

To Yris, she says with a smile,"The mottled and mixed colors allow you to blend into your surroundings. Therefore you are able to 'disappear' so that the enemy cannot see you and you may then have the upper hand...should that be neccessary."

 

[Strolling Gecko]

I rode right next to Tana and her mount, figuring that it would make time go by faster if I gave her a little riding lesson, not to mentiont hat she had never ridden a horse before. I instructed her on the basics, how to make the horse stop, how to make him go, how to make him go faster, and lectured her on the finer points of trusting her mount. When the girl seemed confident enough, I had Aoth move up next to Trianna.

"Trianna, when we are so pressed for time, I'd like you to have a 'talk' with Aoth. He's been acting a little odd since I started riding him today."

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Trianna

Trianna's eyebrows arched as she looked from Ramas to Aoth and she replied,"What do you mean? He looks perfectly fine and you both ride very well together. It is as if one is the extention of the other."

Reaching over, she patted Aoth who nickered in pleasure at the touch.

"He is ment for you. There is a connection there that goes beyond horse and rider. He understands you though you do not speak directly to him. It is a rare thing and a gift. And I see no problem in it."

Aoth suddenly shook his head and gave a whinny and Trianna laughed.

"Ah! I see!" She said with a smile. Turning to Ramas, she said,"Aoth says that there is no problem but he has never known you to be happy without one. He says that you need to stop trying to explain everything and just accept that some things are."

Aoth nodded his head deeply at this, almost jerking the reins from Ramas' hands as he continued to nicker.

"Oh! Yes, well, he also says he would appreciate it if you would learn to ride bareback a bit. Either that or take turns wearing the saddle and bit."

Trianna shrugged. "Well, he does have a point." And at this there was a round of snickering and shaking of heads from the other mounts.

 

[The GrandMage]

Yrismir

"What I mean is that I almost had to threaten the servants to get this, and even now it's not solid colors. I swear, the only solid colors they had were covered in frills and had collars I don't even want to think about. The elves at court have some odd ideas about how to show their importance."

He shook his head. "It'll be good to get back in uniform again. Even when I resigned from the High Circle I had to wear similar clothes. You do something for a century or so, and you just can't get used to something new."

He turned, and continued on. He glanced around, and nodded. "Not much longer now, and we'll get to the tunnel."

 

[Vixandra]

Cali

"Tunnel's huh," I mused aloud as we went. "First trip was over the ocean, second is underground... hey, do we get to fly to our next destination?"

 

[Mantra]

"So, anyone want to lead us ?"

"Lead whom, and to what I wonder." A voice echoed down from the tunnel on the left.

A man stepped out from the mouth of the tunnel. The first thing visible was the pale, skull-like face as the rest of him was clad in black leather. Across his back was a slung quiver of arrows and a shortbow. At his hip, a heavy broadsword hung.

His eyes swept the room, dismissing all until they fell onto the woman in the midst of the group. They locked onto her with a cold and indifferent look.

"More importantly, what's in this for me?"

 

[LadyRozes]

Nexus watched as the figure came upon them from the depths of the left tunnel. She looked at the skull framed face and froze.. she had heard of this creature.. shifting her wieght from one foot to the other, "I am not quite sure how it is that you came here, but I ask.. who sent you?"

She turned to Goven and the others.. "This is Viktor ... "she gave a lopside grin "our unholy protector of our temples.."

 

[Mantra]

Viktor

He smirked, not a totally pleasant thing. " A protector and I now? I've often been called many things, but not a protector...."

He dismissed his line of thought with a wave. "Either way, I came because I was....drawn. Not something I particuarly enjoyed. And it seems that you know me, so this must be where I was meant to come."

He placed his hands on his hips. "So tell me, are you Nexus and why am I here?" He smiled wider, his eyes taking on a more ferrel look.

"Of course, if you're not, I'll kill you where you stand for summoning me and wasting my time."

 

[LadyRozes]

Baddies

Snider looked at the Albino from his lands .. he had heard many years back an assisgn more deadly than he.. perhaps he should watch and there may be things that he could learn from him...


********
Nexus looked at Viktor and smiled, " I am Nextus Priestess of she who should not be named.. and we are on a mission of sorts .. what can I offer you in return for your help.. besides that which the goddess will grant you..??"

 

[LadyRozes]

Tana watched the forest around her.. so much happened since her release that she couldnt fathom where she was now and what these people wanted from her... she was no one special...

Riding .. apparently had been something in born within Tana it seemed as though she were an extension of her own horse.. everyonce in a while one could catch her speaking nonsense to her horse.. crooning it..

As the tunnel loomed ahead .. Tana fidgeted nervously that was one thing she never got over.. and that was .. the dark .. bad things always happened when she couldnt see...

 

[Mantra]

"In time, I will return to my home, and reclaim all that should be mine. I will punish those who have driven me out......you will support me in that endevor, when the time comes."

He shrugged. "In the meantime, you will still help me attain what I truly want."

"To be feared."

 

[LadyRozes]

Baddies

Nexus could barely keep her grin inside .. appearently the Goddess had chosen well ..this protector exuded everything that she wanted to create within this world.

Nexus looked over the others in the group and smiled, "Well I cannot so for them, but as a priestess I give you my world I shall help in anyway I can," She turned and looked at goven and the other.."So, which way ..Im sure all of you can feel which way the magic vibrates from.."

 

[Mantra]

Viktor leaned up against the cave wall, not showing his back to any of these individuals. his ears perked up at the mention of 'feeling for something'.

He knew there was power about. His tempered and honed senses told him that, and that these persons with him were all 'different', but he was no bloodhound.

"Perhaps if I knew what you were looking for, I might be inclined to seek it."

"As you summoned me here, perhaps you might fill me in on this current 'mission' which I have been picked for?"

 

[LadyRozes]

Nexus looked at Viktor curiously.. she put her hand upon her chest as if to indicate her.. "I?? how do you suppose I summoned you here.. I myself have no idea where you are from.. simply that you appeared here to us.. and I wonder.. perhaps.. if you sent by the Goddess.. we are searching for items which will help up win this world for the gods we are true to.. in return they will grant us immortality.. and more.. should we ask for it.."

Nexus inched towards goven .. the man was making her feel very uncomfortable which was rare.. no one put her on an inferior position .. she didnt like this one bit..

*****

Snider wrapped his arm around Cecilia and asked," This is all well and cozy, but we do have a mission to fullfill and we all are not immortal yet.. perhaps we should simply take the center tunnel.. it might take us to the core.. or .. well I know nothing of what mages do.. but are they not trickster.. and they guard their possessions more than their bodies.. which brings us to the lady's original question ..just where do we go?"

 

[Mantra]

Viktor raised an eyebrow. "Not long ago, I met a ....woman. I think she was a woman. She gave me this sword and asked me to seek you out. I was drawn here....and you knew my name, so I assumed that you were the one I was seeking."

His eyes narrowed. "I was hoping that you might tell me more...."

His gaze was drawn towards the other speaker, and his rather...disrespectful...tone. "A mission, really?...."

"Tell me about it." It was not a question. "Maybe I'll even help you."

 

[poohlive]

"No, mages are no tricksters... but don't let that fool you. They are powerful, and wise. If they find you someplace they don't want you to be, believe me, your lifespan will grow exceedingly short."

Goven shook his head, moving left. All three tunnels lead somewhere bad, and something unforgivable, but at least the left one was the shortest. He could only offer himself that much as a resolution.

New party member. Didn't surprise him much. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. No difference, all of them peaked with evil, prayin on death and destruction. This one wanted fear, which in a way was original, but then again... what really was fear? Fear was the thought of death and destruction. Nothing more. This man just wanted the thought rather than the action.

Interesting concept for a man with the gifts as he's had them.
"You may call me Goven, if you wish. And believe me when I say I fear you. I fear all of us now... for the damned are the ones you should fear the most."

Tork lead the rear, as usual, and Goven took the lead, it seemed, temporarily. Although, his heart really wasn't here. He felt the power, the destructable hatred and passion in this place, but that meant nothing to him... and he didn't know why.

His mind kept snapping back to that little girl. How she had shadowed away from him, from his very touch... his very presense. He would have given anything just to not have her look at him like that... like she could see behind his skin, see the monster he really was.

"We better hurry," He said, moving on, "He already knows we're coming."

 

[poohlive]

Sabaka

When the dwarf finally awoke, he thought he was in heaven. Beer surrounding him, his weapon nearby, he was in a bad swimming in a sea of euphoria, and all he could think of was the glorious fight with the ogre.

It wasn't until he saw an elf that he realized he must be in hell. And a few minutes after he'd risen, and got his bearings, he realized even further he was still in the fucking elven kingdom!! Oh, shit on a stick!!!

He grabbed his weapon, and ripped the fancy schmancy robe the elves has given him, and walked down the corridors completely naked, only his long beard and his weapon in hand.

He reached the throne room, bursting open the doors, already furious.

"Where did the ogre go? Someone must have seen him leave. I need to find him..."

 

[LadyRozes]

Tildiir heard the chaos emerging from his palace and sighed .. it seemed that his friend had awoken .. he went inside to see a few frantic servants running around trying to make sure no one noticed the wild naked dwarf demanding crazily for the ogre..

He cleared his throat and asked him, "so you are looking for an ogre that left with his master.. they dissappeared a few hours ago.. although.." his mind quickliy assembled a plan.. then smiled."I do know where you can find a few people that may help you find it.. they went towards the nuetral zone.. however they just left about an hour ago.. on horses.. so I dont know if you will be able to catch up with them or not.."

 

[LadyRozes]

Baddies

Nexus sighed, "Everyone knows of you .. word of you has spread like wild fire within the temples and as being a high priestess of one myself.. I would say I should have heard of you .. as for help.. I suppose it is up to you whether to risk the wrath of the goddess, and besides.. well"

She turned and listened to what Goven said and then replied, "Its up you whter you want what was promised to you .. if I can help convince you to do the bidding of the Goddess let me know.. but for now.. well I do have a duty to fullfill " with that Nexus turned and followed Goven .. She smiled internally, she knew the gift he carried.. it was one of the "holy" relics of their goddess, if it was what she thought it was ..

She turned and her smile grew, "I do hope you come.. your assistence could become a great benefit.." She turned and headed down the left tunnel where she noticed it was lined with several doors and the hallway ended far off into an open hall of sorts..