When RP takes control IC thread

[Zax]

Rubbing the back of his neck, he sighed. "Well, look...that spider's too big to get out of her cave right now, but that doesn't mean she can't send her little minions after us. I suggest we set up a fire and camp. Even if we're stuck, I say that's no reason to get ourselves killed, especially when we don't know what it'll do to us..."

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth looked at the distraught pair, wondering if he should put his two copper in. Then he shrugged. "Hey, I've heard rumors that logging on for too long can cause hallucinations." "I think it's just rumor though, never heard of any documented cases."

"I haven't tried to log out...but look at this." Jasleth punched a stone, cracking it, several shards falling to the ground. "See...I shouldn't be able to do that." "The environments aren't deformable, I shouldn't even be able to touch it."

 

[Zax]

Geo shook his head. "...either they've set up a brand new incredibly advanced software and it's screwed up....or someone's hacked the system and is playing with our heads. I bet we're not the only ones too..."

Never the less, he pulled a small pouch from his larger pouch and walked towards the clearing. "..either way, we still need rest..." Tossing it out, it flipped in mid air and formed a tent large enough for three people. "...who wants to make the fire?"

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

She crossed her arms, before removing her turban to run a hand through her thick hair. Not a hair was out of place from the tight bun she wore it in, but the gesture showed that she was a bit stressed.

"I really....really don't like the sounds of this. Why can't we just go in there and finish the wench off BEFORE she poses a threat?! The best defense is a good offense, isn't it?!"

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

"Hope you're right." He shook his head, looking back inthe direction of the cave. "I have a bad feeling about this though." "I'll take care of the fire." "Want me to see if I can rustle up any forest critters for dinner while I'm getting wood?"

He grinned at Soliel's comment. "She might be right." "Better know it's dead or sealed in, you know?" Jasleth looked at the rock he had cracked. "Maybe if we close up the entrance...though I'd rather just pound her into the dirt." 'It's the only way to be sure."

 

[Zax]

Deo waved a hand at the monk. "No squirrels please, I don't think Soliel would like it. I mean, she is sorta their friend. Maybe fish? There should be a river down wind so the spider's won't smell you..."

Looking back at the girl of discussion he sighed. "...you froze back there, so did I. Do you really want to take the chance of fighting something with a strength we don't know of? For all we know if we die in here, we go into some sort of feed back coma"

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

"NO! Just sealing her up won't do it! I won't be relaxed until I see her carcass, and even then, I'd rather torch it and see those little bug limbs twitching before I could sleep with ease!"

She picked up her turban, and put it back on. "If I could figure out how the hell the gem works on this thing, I could be able to use fire magic. This is what happens when you don't read the manual." Fuming, she twisted her mouth to the side before pouting.

Drawing another arrow, she notched it to her bow. "I know I got that witch in the arm and in the eye...."

 

[Zax]

Geo rubbed his eyes. "....augh.....we're not going back in there. You're hp has got to be down to what? 50% from fatigue? Plus their's the slow effect from the web, not to mention the fact that they know we're coming this time...we all need some rest, if it makes you feel any better. You can use my tent..and I'll sit watch..ok? Just...listen to me this one time..please?" He asked with half begging eyes. "And then we can squash the bitch..."

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth shrugged. "As much as I dislike leaving a fight alone...it IS good tactics." He sighed. "I'll see what fish I can rustle up, though you're cleaning them, Deo." "I hate that smell." "...Not that I should be able to smell in here..."

He shook his head again. "I'll be careful of the spiders." "I can be stealthy if I need to be." As he turned to leave, he grinned back at them. "Believe me though, if I run into anything bad, you'll know."

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

Frowning, she realized she would have to agree with Geo. Stamping one of her little feet, she growled, and then crossed her arms again.

"Fine, you're right."

Come to think about it....she was sort of hungry. Inbetween the spiders and the bickering, she hadn't had the time to think about it. The falcon shifted on her shoulders, glancing at her with a large golden eye.

"Sinbad, go with the monk. And screw not having squirrels - I need meat!" aside, she stroked the falcon's shiny plumage. "Bring mommy back a fat fish or a rabbit, would you, dearest?"

With a strange cat-like hiss, the falcon glared at the monk. Swatting at the bird, she shouted at him. "Just do it, okay?! I'll split it with you. The bigger the thing you bring back, the more you get? Comprende?"

With a squawk of defeat, the falcon swooped over to land gracefully on Jas' shoulder, large talons careful not to dig into his shoulder.

 

[Zax]

Deo shook his head and walked forward, sitting down infront of the tent he began to pile stones in a circle. "...so....how do you like your fish? I bet I could find some decent herbs to use as spices out here.."

 

[katalynn]

Kryss~

Setting up my own little camp, no tent, never needed one. Just curling up in my cloak, Sleep will not come easy tonight. Just sat there watching how real the fire looked, thinking. Not saying anything to anyone. If I didn't I'd either get snapped at by the twitt, and then the monk would go defensive. Another whole fight would begin.

But I did listen to Geo's words and he could very well be right. I didn't need rest, didn't want it. So I stayed awake for the night thinking of whats going to happen.

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

"You never gave me your name, Jolly Green Giant." She was pacing now, arms folded behind her back.

"I like anything that's spicy, but I doubt there's an herb around here for that....But bland meat is just...so...yuck. I guess whatever you can do, then."

Pacing back over to him, she began to help him with the stones, settling them in place.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I watched the events unfold in surprise. They were right. We can't log out. I was even more suprised to hear the archer swear and not be bleeped out. The game was beginning to glitch.

Skyler had followed the geomancer and the archer out of the cave and now the archer was resting in a tent.

Do you know what's going on, Slip?

What?

I can't log out of the game.

You can't what out of the what now? Slip's confused voice rang out. I sighed. Slip didn't know it was a game....he was still part of the programming.

Forget it. Maybe I should check on Soliel.

The cross-dressing archer? Why?

Seer's sense, alright? I responeded and walked over to the tent. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the crystal ball in my mind. Now to form a picture of Soliel...

There was a flash of disturbing pictures through my mind. My eyes jolted open. My mouth hung agape slightly.

Boss? What's wrong? You look paler than usual. Slip asked.

"It's Soliel..the spider queen gave her some kind of poison...She's gonna die."

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

Jasleth eyes the falcon on his shoulder with an equal distrust, then begant o move off into the woods again. "You know, Sinbad..." Man, it felt weird talking to the bird. "We got off on the wrong foot, but you seem like a decent guy." "Hope we can work well in the future." "How about as a way of making it up to you, I give you the first fish I catch?"

He wasn't sure whether the falcon agreed or not, but he hoped for the best. It only took a few minutes to find the stream. As he stepped out on the back, Sinbad took wing to alight in a low branch, fierce eyes watching shadows under the surface of the water.

"Prime fishin' spot, I think." Normally he just would have waded out into the water. With the way things were going though...maybe he should be a bit more careful than usual. He only had one change of clothes after all. He undid the silk sash around his waist, then kicked his pants onto the grassy bank. Shrugging off his vest, he began to wade into the icy water. "Cold, cold, cold, ACK!" "Soprano Zone!" This wasn't good, he shouldn't be able to feel cold...hell, he shouldn't be able to feel wet!

Puting it out of his mind, he focused, watching the fish under the stream's surface. Lashing out with a quick strike, he sent a large trout flapping wildly ontot he riverbank. "Yeah!" "It worked!" Gathering himself he attacked the fish passing by again and again, getting a dozen or so within the space of a minute. AS he worked, the falcon flew overhead, occasionally swooping down and adding a struggling fish to the pile.

Jasleth laughed as Sinbad dropped a huge fish bigger than himself onto the pile. "Think you got the biggest one, Sinbad." 'Think we've got enough?"

 

[Zax]

Geo smiled as they finished their small work. "Geo's fine, it's worked since I began this game, it'll work until it ends. Real names don't really matter in here, do they?"

Unclasping his sword from over his shoulders he rested it against the ground at his side and looked over at the staring oracle. "Hey! Think you can spark up some fire?" Geo asked as he piled a few of the smaller branches in the center of the stones.

 

[Armphid]

Jasleth

"Fire'd be a good idea, seeing as me and Sinbad here have been putting the Gordon's fisherman to shame." Jasleth strode back into camp, still wet from the river. He set down his vest, which had been using to carry the fish. "Though in all honesty, Sinbad here beat my best catch by a good two pounds." Jasleth pulled a trout from the pile and tossed it high into the air, "A deal's a deal Sinbad, there you go!"

Jasleth noted Kryss's silence, taking a risk he decided to see if he could lend an ear to whatever was bothering her. "I'm going to go grab some firewood." "Hey Kryss, want to lend a hand?" "Two work better than one, you know?"

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

Waving her arms at the falcon, she beamed.

"What a lovely and large fish my baby has brought! You can eat the guts when I clean it...!"

A devious grin. Squealing in indignation, the falcon swooped up higher, holding out his talons as if he was going to drop the plump prize onto the dirt. Her facial expression fell into a scowl.

"If you drop that fish, Sinbad, I'll be eating roast FALCON tonight, you hear?! You know I was just joking....Right? Right?!"

With a statisfied coo, the falcon lowered himself to drop the fish into her waiting hands. Tugging out the dagger, she sat down on a rock and began the less than pleasant task of cleaning it.

"Oh, yargh - I can actually smell and feel this....Like that adds to the hopelessness of being stuck in this damn game."

Scowling, she chucked some steaming entrails to the side.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I walked over to where Soliel was sitting. How was I going to approach this? I didn't even know her all that well and now I had to tell her what fate had in store for her?

I gulped and stood a few feet away from her. I took a deep breath and walked over to her. "Um...Soliel?" I asked. "It's Dominic. Can I speak to you for a second?"

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

"Whaddya want...?"

She'd never really been formally introduced to the Oracle, and he hadn't really spoken to her before. Well, not like she made it easy for people to come and talk to her, but still. Usually whenever folks talked to her, it was because they wanted something.

Her gruesome task nearly completed, she deftly cut out the fish's small heart and liver. Holding them in a bloodied palm, she waved the organs in the air.

"Sinbad, your favorite...!"

Tossing the tidbits up, they were caught mid-air by the falcon, and devoured nearly as quickly. Landing near her feet, he began to pick at the other discarded entrails, waiting for the more staying meat to be delivered. Turning the knife on it's side, she began to scrape off the scales.

"Well.....? Since you're not saying anything, you COULD get a fire started."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"Oh right, fire." I said, picking up two sticks.

You just met and she already has you whipped. Slip laughed in my mind. I ignored him and went back to work rubbing the two sticks together. That bird is such a pussy. I can sense it from here. Slip added, glaring at Sinbad from my shoulder. I returned my attention to the archer.

"Um...I wanted to talk about your condition. The spider...I think it gave you a poison." I looked back at her. "I-I had a vision. And in it, you were dead."

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

As if sensing the insult, Sinbad raised his feathers fearfully. Falcons did eat lizards as well, after all. And if he didn't get more than the entrails, he wouldn't be too heartbroken if he had to settle for something more...gamey.

As he worked on the fire, she continued to scrape at the fish's tender hide.

"Oh yeah? How could she have given me a poison....? She didn't breath on me or anything....?"

She tried to shake the fear from her voice. With the Game acting all screwy, who's to say that a death here wouldn't mean a death out there? Her fans would be devestated.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

I felt Slip run from my shoulder and hide in my backpack. Damn barbarian bird! Did you see how it was looking at me?

"I don't know how the poison was transfused." I sighed, srcatching out words in the dirt. "Did she touch you with any web fluid or anything? I daresay that in a game system like this, there are many ways to spread poison."

"I don't know anything except the future, Soliel. And right now, your future isn't too pleasant."

 

[Apollo Wilde]

Soliel

"Well, her nasty little lackeys pinned me to the wall and she used that webbing to hold my feet down. But she used the same stuff on Geo, I think, so did you see anything about him as well....?"

As if sensing his victory, Sinbad hopped onto the rock that she was sitting on. Cutting free a piece of the cleaned meat, she held it out tenderly to the falcon. Delicately taking it from her fingers, he devoured it, before hopping back down to the ground to wait a bit longer.

"Not too pleasant, huh? And when did it ever look nice? That's one thing I can't stand about you Oracles - you think everything is set in stone...."

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Dominic

"I wouldn't say set in stone," I crossed my arms at her bluntness. "But I would say that the chisel isn't too far away from the rock."

"Seeing how the poison hasn't shown up on your status screen, I doubt it's the simple kind that will go away with a quick heal spell. We probably need some kind of special antidote. If I know game programming, which I do, then that antidote is hidden in the cave, in case someone gets this disease."

"But even then, you may need someone with a profeciency in healing to use it...so I suggest you kiss and make up with the dancer."