When RP takes control IC thread

[Armphid]

(OOC: Sorry about the double post, just wanted to keep things going. Hope it's not too annoying.)

Jasleth tugged the map out of his sash and dragged a small table over to where the party was standing. "Here's what we have for options." He put a finger on Garnet Town, "This is us...not, I heard this army was coming from the south." 'I'd prefer to verify that with my own eyes, but let's take it as a given now." He ran a finger along a road that led to the northeast. "This goes to Beolve Castle." "Both the road and the castle itself are well-traveled and guarded, most people will head there, I'm guessing."

He then tapped at a dot directly north, "Varsi here is bult into a cliff face, so it's pretty solid." "No road goes all the way there though, so we'd have to hoof it part way." "It's one of the premier sites for casters though, so there's a lot of magic readily available." "Might be a good place to regroup and rearm if needed."

He grinned, "Now for the counter intuitive choice..." He moved his finger to the southeast. "There's a hidden city here, called Sanctuary in a moment of creative genius." "It isn't on the map, and it can be hard to find if you don't know what you're looking for." "Going there would be cross-country and mean skirting or hiding out from the apppraoching force, but they know a lot about hidden things in Sanctuary." "Lot of Seer-types there, they might be able to tell us something if Sanctuary has become as real as everything else seems to have."

Jasleth lefted his face from regarding the map to consider each of his companions in turn. "There are other places, but there are the nearest ones to us as it stands." "We could also just try to hide out inthe woods and see what the army does, find out who is in charge that kind of thing." He shrugged, "personally I'd favor one ofthe bolder courses of action rather than running to the Beolves with our tails between our legs, but I'm willing to be overruled." "Thoughts?"

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I crossed my amrs after readjusting my glasses. "I'd rather not go running to the Beovles either, Jas; I heard they are rather stuck-up brats. However, at the same time, I highly value my life and would not like to risk it just yet. Beovles' castle is quite possibly one of the most well defended places around here.

"If we go there and get some supplies, weapons and such, we can make the trek to the Sanctuary much easier. And much safer." I turned to Kryss and Skyler. "Ladies?"

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

"I agree with Dominic, especially if dead is dead right now. Supplies would be a good choice."

She sure didn't want to run around the woods looking for trouble, she'd rather make it out of this mess in one piece.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth looked over his companions, and sighed. Raising his head, he grinned broadly. "Well, there goes my hope of telling the tale of how we fought our way through an army." He laughed at the expression on Dominic's face, "Just kidding, guys." "Since that's how the wind is blowing, I'll throw my vote in for Beovle Castle too." He smiled at Kryss apologetically, "Sorry if you had other plans, looks like the voting is over."

He folded the map back up, tucking it into a vest pocket. "Right then." "I suggest we get going now." "There'll be caravans of refugees that we can join up with, or so I imagine." "That'll either make travel safer or give the beasties a juicier target, but there will be no avoiding them if we stick to the road." Jasleth began to move back to the stairs, "it might be a good idea to raid the pantry here, get some food for the road...and maybe to trade with other refugees." "Assuming everyone makes it, the Beovles supplies will be strained dealing with the survivors."

He paused, surprised at how logical and thoughtful he sounded, him, The Prodigious Youth. "Guess Kyle is starting to leak through Jasleth." "Not sure if that's a good thing..." "What if the two personas conflict?" "I mean, which one am I?"

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"Good idea." I nodded and began to look through the drawers at the corner of the room.

Ooo. Thievery. You're all cool now. Slip said.

Won't be the first time. I responded.

True. Listen we need to talk. Slip said. I sighed.

No, those snacks are for later today.

I mean about Skyler. It was obvious you weren't listening to me, cause you were too busy feeling her up.

There's nothing to talk about.

She was seducing you, ya know.

Oh. God forbid a woman seduces me. How horrible. I rolled my eyes.

She's a damn vampire! Slip almost yelled in my head. You do know what it means when a vampire seduces someone, right?

It-it wasn't like that....

Look, I don't want a boss that's also the living dead, so try not to let her sire you, okay?

That wasn't...I mean....She didn't.... My train of thought was slipping.

Yeah okay. Whatever. Slip said. I'm going to help myself to some damn snacks.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She also helped gather what food supplies that they would be able to carry. Things were sparse as some others had had the same thought as well.

She shook her head, she heard Slip mention her name, but then realized he was talking to Dominic and blocked his words from her mind. She wasn’t one to eavesdrop and she wasn’t going to start now. She couldn’t help but be curious as she noticed it seemed that Dominic was getting a little flustered with the iguana.

She put about as much as she could carry into her backpack. Light non-perishable things for the group, she wouldn’t be able to eat any of it, but she could at least carry it for the others. She would have to get her food elsewhere when the time came, for now her water flask was half full, that should last till tomorrow at least.

She looked to Dominic and Jasleth and Kryss, “Well we should get moving before we are overwhelmed by the horde.” She looked to Jas, “I know you would rather stand and fight, but the four of us against an army is not the best odds.”

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth smiled at Skyler's words. "I was mostly joking about the army." "I wouldn't mind trying to buy the refugees some more time...I've studied enough history to know what invading armies do to the people who don't make it out, or that they catch." His wine red eyes hardened for a brief, "but it'd hard to do without making ourselves into a speed bump." "This is the best option...even if I don;t like it."

"I think I got all I can carry..." he glanced at Kryss and Dominic. There was something he needed to say to Skyler...and he preferred to say it to her alone. "Kryss, Dom, would you two mind taking a look to see if the coast is clear for our getaway?" "Skyler and I'll tie the packs up and be there in a minute." He smiled as the two moved to the basement door. Kryss flitted up the steps making no sound. Dominic stood at the bottom, watching.

Hopefully that was far enough. As he strapped a pack closed, he moved close to Skyler and whispered, "This has become real...and I know what that means for you." "If you can feed without killing...my previous offer is open." "If I remember my vampire lore right, you could get by with animal blood, but human's better." "If you need it...mine is available."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

"Thanks Jasleth, but I would like to try to avoid that if at all possible. I know it is going to come down to something like that sooner or later. I sure hope it is later." She shuddered to think she was going to have to drink blood again and probably too soon for her liking.

She looked back to him."I will keep your offer in mind, but lets hope I don't have to take you up on it. I just wouldn't feel in control having to drink from someone, maybe we can find a way around it. I do have a water flask that is about half full, for now."

She helped him finish up with the supplies and then headed upstairs with him.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I can read their lips, you know. Slip said.

Don't. I said simply, watching Kryss look around us.

You aren't in the least bit curious what their saying? Slip asked. I know you are. They're moving close together.

Shut up. I said.

What's Jas saying?...you...me...previous offer...better...available... She says:....Thanks....I would like to try....come down....later...

Shut up! I closed the pack on the lizard's head roughly. I turned a sat down on the stairs, closing my eyes. To calm myself down, I concentrated on the crystal ball in my mind. Let's see how my powers are doing...

There was a large open space, like a town square. Hundreds of people gathered around a wooden podium. Skyler and Kryss were in the crowd, looking on with worried faces. The podium had two large guillotines on it and a snide man stood with his hands on the ropes. Jasleth and I were on our knees, with our heads in the guillotines.

My eyes shot open and took in a deep breath. That's not good. That's not good at all.

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She and Jasleth were headed back from the pantry when she stepped out of the doorway and noticed Dominic's expression. "Dominic, are you alright?" He didn't look alright, he looked downright agitated and more than just abit upset at something.

She looked to the others, and shifted her pack on her shoulders. "We need to be going and soon, I am sure the others in town are pretty much gone by the sounds of things."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I shook my head as I stood up. "Yeah." I said cortly. "I'm fine." I shifted my pack as Skyler had done. "Beovle's castle is still quite a walk away. Let's get going."

The three of us joined up with Kryss and we moved toward the back exit to the town, sneaking through alleyways to remain unnoticed. As we left the doomed town, I turned to Jas. "You have the map, right? You lead the way."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She nodded to Dominic, it wasn't her place to question him and she wouldn't push him. She knew something was bothering him, probably Slip being a pain yet again. She wondered why he had picked such a smartass familiar anyway, but to each his own.

Then she turned to Jas as well. "We'll need to plan the trip well, I know that I can change forms. I do not know if the sun will not effect me. I have run into other Vampires in the game and it is a slow death, and looks awfully painful. I could try exposing myself to the sun ofter I change and should be able to get into cover quick enough if it begins to affect me."

She was still trying to get the pack comfortable on her back as they made thier way through the deserted town. "I will try it though and I am small enough as the ferret to hide in someone's pack if it doesn't work." "Maybe I'll bug you Slip, since I seem to annoy you so much."

"We'd have to be stopped before I wake though, since tonight I changed back to me just before I woke and I don't know if that was automatic or if I could keep from changing if I had been awake at sunset. I think that would be pretty uncomfortable if I was in someone's pack.." She smiled. "I don't know how much control I have over the change, maybe this trip to Beovle's castle will give me the opportunity to learn."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I looked off into the shining moon and grimaced slightly. I wish I could get back to RL. My fish are probably dead by now. Hell, I could be dead by now and not know it.

I kicked at a rock. I watched it bounce off of another tree. Could I use a rock to hack into the game?

No, I couldn't use sentinent objects. Too few lines of code. It would have to be something more complex, something using AI...

I turned back around to the group. "Yeah...I'll carry you around in my pack during the day." I told Skyler. "You are the most diverse of us all, so I think you should learn as much about your powers as you can."

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She smiled at Dominic's comment. "Thanks Dominic. I appreciate that. I don't think in ferret form I could keep up by running alongside."

She looked to Dominic. "So have you come up with anything more on how to hack this game? I want to get out of here..." She hesitated then spoke again, "But then again I am in no hurry, the company isn't bad."

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Something was bothering Dominic, Jasleth could tell...probably the same thing that was bothering him. The army that was coming...and what it would do to anyone still intown when it got there...a deep frown crossed his face. He'd read enough history to know what would happen. Murder, rape, burning...there always seemed to be fire involved. Horror beyond imagining...and all he could do about it was run away. His scowl deepened as he lead the way out of town and onto the road, the night air full of the sounds of the more tied down citizens preperations to leave.

He forced himself to pay attention to what was being said, "Sorry...lost in thought." "We do have another option...there are waystations inthe forest, used by the guards and forest wardens." 'Now, those guys aren't going to be using them now, they'll be on the move in this state of emergency." "If need be, we can hole up in those during the day." "Just a thought."

He peered into the darkness ahead, eyes alert for movement. "I think you are right about something Dom...although your focus is skewed." "We all need to master our skills and powers...and see about developing new ones." "Right now...we're all we've got." He was silent for a few more moments. "If you think you can do it, and keep talking since we need to plan more...I think we might want to jog." "Let's try to cover as much ground as possible."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I smiled back at her. Her smile was warm and I couldn't maintain a bad disposition. Even if Slip was crawling out of my backpack with a cookie in his mouth. The little bugger couldn't stay out of the food for one minute. I ignored him as he slinked off to sit on a rock.

"I know what you mean, Skyler. You guys are great friends, but this is weirding me out far too much." I adjusted my glasses. "Well, to hack into the game, I need something with complex coding to expirament on. Something with Artificial Intelligence. So I can't use a rock or something. That leaves three different catagories; people, monsters and animals. I don't want to try on a person; it's way too dangerous. I could try with a monster, but it would be far to difficult because it will fight us the whole time and be totally uncooperative. That only leaves animals as the last catagory, and I think they are too simple. I'd need an animal that thinks like a human and the chances of finding one of those is..." I paused, then slowly turned to face the lizard who was happily munching on a cookie from his seat on a rock. Everyone else's eyes moved to him as well.

Slip finally stopped eating and looked up to see the four faces staring back at him. He looked at each one suspiciously. What? Why is everyone looking at me like that?

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

In spite of himself, he grinned. "Nice thinking Dom." Inwardly he had his doubts...but it was best not to voice them in front of the lizard. Jasleth looked back at the gates of Garnet Town, trying to dredge up a memory from a History Channel on how fast an ancient world army could move, hoping to figure out what kind of time they had. "When do you want to give it a try?"

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She recognized the look Slip was giving everyone, it was the same look she would get from one of the horses is they got into something or did something they shouldn't have done. She smiled briefly at the thought.

She looked back to Dominic. "I want more than anything for you to try this now, but we are going to havbe to wait until we get further away from town. Maybe even wait till we get to Beolve castle. Then go from there."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I nodded. "Right. Come on, Slip. Let's go."

You want to use me for WHAT!?

Nothing, Slip. Don't worry about it.

Uh-uh, bullshit. I can read your mind. You want to test on me!

Just so we can get out of here. I told him.

Why me?

I don't want to endanger any people.

Gee thanks. I'm all choked up now. Slip seethed. Asshole.

I rolled my eyes and began to walk ahead. Slip could sulk in my pack for all I care. I just wanted to get to the next town.

And Jas and Skyler can do whatever it is they were planning. I don't care about that. It doesn't mean anything to me. Why should I care? I doesn't mean anything to me, right? Right.






Right?

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She watched as Dominic put Slip in his pack. They then continued on towards the next town. There was some idle chatting as they walked. She looked to Dominic, "So you really think you might be able to figure this out? Maybe we can find someother creature to use. You don't think it'd be harmful, cause if it would you might reconsider usuing Slip to help."

She really didn't like the little beast all that much, but she didn't want any harm to come to it either. She wondered how much time had they been really stuck in the game, and how long would it take for their real bodies to slowly fade and if that happened, what would happen to them then.

Would their consciousnesses be trapped in the game or would they just cease to exist?

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth moved a bit further ahead, feeling a bit on edge. Something out there was watching them. It didn't feel hostile...but feelings meant nothing. "The lady has a point, Dom." As he spoke he pointed to his eyes with one hand, the other flicking slightly inthe direction he thought they were being watched from. "I've heard nasty stuff can happen to a caster if their familiar was hurt...wouldn't want to see you get injured again." "Once we hit the castle, why don't we hunt up a goblin for you?" As he spoke, he casually moved in that direction, placing himself betweenthe watcher and the party.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I watched as Skyler glided up alongside me, then Jas did as well. I shook my head at their suggestions. "No, this is how it has to be. A goblin would be far to uncooperative and I would need it alive. I might need it to do all the actual hacking for us. It needs to be someone on our side. Slip will come around to the idea." I let out a nervous laugh. "He doesn't have a choice, really. I'm his master."

But they had a point. If this thing ended up hurting Slip...it could mean trouble for both of us. But that's not a problem. it would work. It had to.

Since when was I the optimist?


I noticed Jas's odd movement pattern and rose an eyebrow. "What's up, Jasleth? Something wrong?"

 

[NyghtRayne]

Skyler

She had noticed Jas's movments and not too subtle hints as well. Then she seemed to feel the unseen presence as well.

She wanted their watcher to think they hadn't really noticed it yet. "Dominic, an idea... would you be able to use a player to hack the system, or does it have to be something that is a programmed part of the game?"

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

He simultaneously wanted to kiss Skyler for playing along, and throttle Dominic for asking him what was wrong. Forcing a sheepish smile onto his face, he laughed nervously. "Nothing's wrong." "Just feeling antsy." He strained his ears, listening for some noise that might tell him what the watcher was up to. "With what's happening...I just want to get underway, you know?" "Feel like we've been sitting here too long." As he spoke he scratched at the dirt of the road with one foot. "W..A..T..C..H..R" then an arrow pointing to the woods.

He caught Skyler's eyes, trying to see if she wanted to make a rush for whatever it was or avoid it. He inclined his head inthat direction a fraction of an inch, and raised an eyebrow in question. "Not that we don't need to talk about this, but I think we need to pick up the pace." "Real soon."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I noticed what Jas wrote in the ground and flushed quickly. I can't believe I had missed that. My mind was to preoccupied on other things...dammit! I picked up the pace with the others.

I cleared my throat. "Uh...I suppose another person could be used to hack the game, but a true ingame character would have more lenient code, I would assume. Plus if this game is connected to our real life bodies, fiddling with a person's code could mess with their real genetic code. In theory."

I tried to keep my eyes away from the woods. I didn't like this 'being watched' thing one bit.

Slip, poke your head out and see if you can spot the guy watching us.

Let me think about it for a sec...fuck you.

Ingrate lizard. I growled back at him furiously. What the hell was with him lately?