Worlds Apart

[intriguess]

Mic

I felt a strange change in my posture and I simply nodded and let them argue it out. I sat back hidden in my cloak and observed. I let the men take the watches and wondered what the fuck a wizard was doing with a broadsword. It seemed in my mind that magic and serious weaponry didn't go together. At they offered to rest I pulled a half dozen rolls out of my pocket and handed them out. It would be good for Jasmine to eat something and regain her strength.

I rested against the tree and debated the use of following the creature. It was as if we were being played with, like a mouse in a maze that has only one way out. I let my eyes close and sleep overtake me, my cloak surrounding me like a protective blanket.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack watched Dan slip off to sleep. Heh...the guard is the first one out. Jack put the stick down; carving was getting him nowhere. He joined up with Loki and the girls.

Loki pulled him aside for a second. "Do you think it's wise to follow this toad? He's a little too shady for my liking."

"I don't know." Jack said. "But the girls seem to think this is the best way, and frankly, we've probably been walking circles all day. As much as I don't want to admit it, that Gorleb thing is our best on finding a way out of here."

"We should keep an eye on it, anyway."

"My thoughts exactly." Jack nodded and the duo rejoined the rest of the group. They sat down on the ground. Jack was immensly hungry, but he was too tired to think about eating. "I'll take third shift." Jack said.

"No, man. You need the rest more than anyone." Loki said.

"Yeah, you got hurt a lot today." Jasamine spoke up.

"I'll take the third shift." Loki said to Sorian. "Tell Dan when his watch comes."

Jack didn't feel like protesting and leaned up against one of the plentiful trees. Sleep was going to feel good...

"Jack?" He heard Jasamine's voice.

"Yeah?" Jack asked.

"I just wanted to see if your okay."

"Eh." Jack shrugged. "It's just my hand."

"Oh." She whispered simply. "Uh...." She looked down at the ground.

"What?"

"Um...thank you. You know, for helping me and carrying me around."

"Well, I already saved you once this trip. I couldn't let that be in vain, could I?" Jack shrugged again, but this time, he winced.

"Are you alright?" Jasamine asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Just a tingle on the back of my neck. Nothing big, I'm probably just sore."

"Oh. Ok." she paused for a few seconds. "Good night."

"Night." Jack said simply. He closed his eyes and tried to think about something other than how odd the last 24 hours had been. For some reason, Gorleb's words haunted his thoughts:

"Gorgglesssss and hagsssss, demonsssss and witchesssss, the ssssssetting ssssssun, your world it ssssswitchessssss."

 

[silverwolf]

Sorian

As everyone drifted off to sleep i watched the stars for a moment and realized they wernt the same as i remebered them.Then looking over the scrolls again i took the burning hands one out of my pocket.'My hands are heat as fire burst forth,The flame it burns and hurts those touched, LOFTARIEN.' the scroll read as i fiddled with the edge of the parchmen.Memorizing the word at the end i watched the moon listening intently to anything around.Taking the chainmail out of my pack i slip it on underneath the robe' a bit uncomfortable but well worth it' i thought.Finaly the sun hitting the poit the guard had said i wake him up,Surprised by how hard his voice and face are he lightens up a bit and asks "anything to report" "nope not mmuch going on " i said as i set my staff to one side of me and my broadsword to the other.Drifting off to a light sleep.my dreams were very disturbed.

 

[kamalw1]

ooc: Hope you had a happy birthday creme!

ic: After Loki told them that he would take the third watch, he sat down and took one of the rolls that Mic offered. It wasn't much, but it would have to do. Loki laid back against a tree and dozed off, mulling overthe tumultous events of the past day.

After awhile, he felt a hand on his shoulder, waking him. He looked up as dan told him it was his turn to take over the watch. Dan told him that his shift had been uneventful as he sat down and prepared to go to sleep.

Loki stood watch over the camp, thinking to himself to keep his mind occupied. As he was pacing around, Loki thought he heard a faint sound coming from the bushes. He stopped and pulled out his hammer, looking around for the source of the sound. He glanced around and saw a commotion in the bushes. He shouted an alarm as he slowly walked to where the disturbance was...

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

Loki made the sugestion that we rest. I understood that everyone was tired, but for some reason felt we should keep moving nonetheless.
After listening to the men decide who was taking watch, I decided to stay awake. It wasn't that I didn't trust them, but I somehow knew that whatever we did backup wouldn't hurt.

I felt a heaviness against my chest. It was my Mother's pouch again. I was told all my life never to open it til I was sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that I needed to. Da never really said much more, but I never doubted him. I wondered if the time was coming that I would have to open it...

I saw Jack leaning up against a tree to sleep. After walking over and making an awkward atttempt at being grateful for his carrying me and such, I figured it wasn't of much use. He dismissed it as nothing more than simply not wanting his saving me the first time to be in vain. I must have misread him.
then I saw him wince. I tried to ask him what was wrong, again my concern (like the thanks I tried to give) was brushed off as nothing. I wasn't sure why I even saw anything in him in the first place, but I had the feeling we were depending on one another for something.
Aw, hell, there you go Jasamine. No closeness, no pain. Keep your head on your shoulders.
Well, I tried.

I walked away to clear my head and to watch the stars. I was just noticing how odd they looked when I heard Loki jumping up and shouting a warning.
I could see the bushes moving and hear sounds. I instinctively turned to count the others with us to see if anyone was missing.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

oops

 

[Sebastiana]

As the moon continued it's path over the sky, Gorleb, thought back over the passing time. How could he have managed to fail this far. Luchina's words rang in his head. "before the birth of a new dawn." Curses, he need to get these fledglings moving.

He looked from one to the next until his eyes again happened upon the innocent girl. Quickly he averted his glare. The pain in his head vividly remembered. How did she know the ancient language? How did she pocess the crippling commands to have control over the low darkness? He had refused to speak to any of them, in the end he knew they had but two choices, kill him and continue on their own in vain, or follow. The theif had suggested the later and they agreed. He had hummed the tune of his song all night as each drifted to sleep or sat watch.

It was time to move and he could not let them remain any longer. As he prepared to cause a commotion he heard the large hammer swinging one yell to the others and move in his direction. Gorleb cowered, he had decided to do away with him without the others consent. " noooooooo, pleassssse, Gorleb helpsssssss, please."

As he begged, the man took a giant step over him searching beyond him in the underbrush. The others were coming back from fitful slumber. Gorleb looked to see a few now joining the viking in his search. He took the chance to scutle over to the theif. Sliding along the ground, his body still bound. Slimey fingers crusted with grit reached forth and tugged at her clothing.
"We mossssst move. You can sensssssse it, yesssssss. Look to the sssssky. The moon ssssshall sssssleeep and the sssssun awaken and their will be others waiting. waiting, yesssssss, you sssssaw them before, ssssensed them." He began to wiggle away, the saturated ropes staring to slip from his form as he edged away. "Come, come, sssshheeeee awaitssssssss."

**********************

The inner worlds rumbled. The green mist swirled. She was losing time.

"Gorleb you cursed slime! I will pick my teeth with your bones!"

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack grumbled to himself. He hated this fucking island. Couldn't he get one second of rest? Now it was the middle of the night and they were walking along the woods following a ugly creature who was leading them to a mysterious woman. This day couldn't get any odder.

He walked in the back of the group, watching for any suprise attacks from the rear. He noticed Jasamine was trying to stay away from him. Well, isn't that what usually happens? Jack thought to himself.

They continued walking for what seemed like an eternity before the group stopped. Jack saw that Gorleb had stopped short. He heard Kelly ask the toad why they stopped. He awaited the creature's response.

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly had slipped away during the night. She didn't know what it was about the darkness but it seemed to call to her like a warm blanket gathering around her and she somehow knew she could slip into the darkness unseen and unheard to explore the world that beckoned her.

She had made several rounds of the camp not finding anything and watching from the shadows as the men exchanged watch. She knew she should sleep but something about the night sang through her veins and she could not resist the call.

When the one called Loki raised and alarm it was not hard for her to slip back into the group but she stayed on the outside instinctively knowing that close combat was not her strong point. It was then that the slimy, frog-like thing came over and began tugging on her cloak. Pulling it from it's grasp in disgust Kelly called out in alarm when it started to wriggle away. Acting on instinct only she found a knife in her hand without even a conscious thought or memory of taking it from her packs and she was over the creature, the kife at it's throat and her knee in it's chest.

"One more move and you won't be able to lead us anywhere," She hissed at it breathing hard and trying to understand how she was doing this and where this all was coming from,"I will take my chances wandering around this gods forsaken island before I let you go off and warn whoever it is that you keep talking about. Never doubt that."

The problem was that he was right. She could feel it. A change in the night as if it had gotten colder and darker all of a sudden. It was a feeling of things not being right. More wrong than they already were.

"We have to get out of here," She said to the others,"Someone or something is coming and I don't think we are ready to deal with it right now."

 

[silverwolf]

Sorian

Walking an endless forest i walked alone.No one around me.Then out of the brush and trees i saw a great many things come out at me.They were short and ugly and all came to attack me."Loftarien" I shouted as i drew my sword.My hands burt into flames ant traveled up the sword i had in my right hand and the staff in my left.Swinging and a slaying many i was eventually taken down and....."Wake up" i heard the shout as i awoke from my hidious dream.Finding my self following the group and that creature i drew my broadsword just to be safe.The only part of my body that felt fatigued was my upper body. which hadnt had as much of a workout but even that had went started to go away since i out the chainmail on underneath my clothes.Thinking over my dream i try to take notice of things around me.Wishing that i had been awake in nature class....

 

[kamalw1]

Loki couldn't believe it. It had started out so simple. All he had to do was watch over the camp until the sun came up. Somehow, it didn't turn out that way. Now, he was doing what he really didn't want to do, following that little simy creature through the forest in the dark. He had his hammer out, alert for any little thing. Loki swore silently that if anything happened, he would take it out on Gorleb and anything else that stood in his way.

 

[Sebastiana]

Like an animal on all fours Gorleb crossed through the forest, leading the pack. The mouth of the cave growing closer with each step. He eyed the rising sun. "Gorleb comes Mistressssssss." He whispered.

*****************

The mist began to thicken, small solid forms becoming visiable if only for a breif moment. A hand, a face, the hem of a cloak, thick with mist, shimmered and disappeared.

"Ahhhh yes, my minion, I sense your presence, and those of many fledglings. My release will not be long to follow." A soft laughter of pleasure and pure evil filled the hollows of the cave.

 

[Emotionless]

Dan walked at the back of the line of travelers. Partly because he didn't want to be anywhere near that slimey little thing, but mostly because it felt natural to be the rear guard. He didn't know why, he'd never done it before, but it felt right none the less.

He was walking behing that wizard looking man with the sword, once again Dan couldn't remember his name. "It makes it easier if corpes don't have names" a voice in his head told him. Dan stoped short. Where did that come from?

The wizard man turned when her noticed Dan had stopped, "Problem?" he asked.

"No, no problem." he started walking again. "Hey, look there," he pointed to a few plumes of smoke drifting over the forest. "Looks like chimney smoke. Must be a village."

 

[intriguess]

Mic

I sprung to alertness and followed along feeling more like a shadow than a person. The cloak seemed to consume me wrapping around me concealing me and changing me. I watched the others feeling who trusted who and so on and so forth. I spent a few moments talking with Kelly and Jasmine. I found that when I touched Jasmine I could feel her pain and my hand felt warm and she gave me this look. I pulled the hood over my face and drifted on, managing to touch every member of the party taking in the pain. It was the oddest feeling and I looked through the cloak again, reading the items closely. Most were for distraction and healing. I had this odd feeling that I was more of a cleric than a mage.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

as we followed along waiting for anything to happen broadsword still st rdy i awaited the unexpected

 

[kamalw1]

Loki kept walking through the forest and stopped short, finding himself in front of a rock face. Just to his left was an opening in the rock, leading to what appeared to be a cave. He heard the little creature Gorleb comment that this is where they were suposed to go. Loki looked back at the group and said, "There is no way in hell we are supposed to follow that thing in there!"

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

*the language actually is a real language that's nearly obsolete now*



I quietly followed along with the others knowing I needed to conserve every bit of energy I could.I was certain we had to follow Gorleb, not to safety, but to fight for our lives and something more. I was all so... vague.
I did my best to stay away from Jack as it seemed that was what he wanted, although I wasn't completely certain it was what I wanted.
Gorleb was, in a sense, trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes. I knew he was not working for our best interest, but the reasons were not yet clear to me. The only thing I knew for certain was that I could communicate with him in a language that nobody else unerstood. Great. I didn't even know what it was, maybe I was under a spell or something. It didn't feel that way, but nothing on this Island would suprise me anymore. I had to be alert ~ impeccable and cautious for the sake of the others. Knowing that, I kept all ideas of what might lay ahead to myself until I would absolutely HAVE to share them.

Suddeny I heard a similar sound... the laughter-like rumbling of thunder, the language that I now knew was not understood by the others. Gorleb averted my gaze knowing full well that I could understand if I saw his eyes. The responsibility starting to weigh heavily on me.

I was interrupted by a strage warmth, a presense. There was no real word for what I felt. Turning to my right I saw Micki looking deep into my soul - not my eyes, but my soul. She had been speaking to me, but the words were overshadowed by a connection so overwhelming that I felt as though she felt everything I felt and I could sense what she saw as well. We physically parted, but it was as though we had in a sense joined forces.

Then we came to a halt.

Loki was in the front of the group. I overheard him say something about not going into the cave we had come upon.
I sensed he was more right than he even knew, but what was worse was that he didn't know that this was our only hope of ever getting off the island. Thoughts came to me slowly, but never completed. I walked to the front to Loki's side and knelt in front of the beast.

 

[silverwolf]

Sorian

As we stopped in front of the cave i felt wierd, like anyone in htere right mind would never go into that place.and yet at the same time i knew it was our only hope.Going over the spell of the paper in my head i hoped that it would work when the time came.

 

[Sebastiana]

Gorleb stopped just inside the cave's mouth. He placed his talon like fingers in the air to halt the group.

"Not all may enter." His probing eyes danced over the group. The needed ones he lingered upon just moments longer than the others. Whne he saw her move to the fron tof the group a shiver ran down his crooked spine.

Wothout looking straight into her face he said, "You, you may enter thisssss place. Ssshe will speak to you in the words you underssssssstand." And then pointing to the keeper of the scrolls. Gorelb curled forward a grossly filth covered finger. "And you, for you can keep the record for the ressssst. Come, come fledglingsssss."

With this said the minion crossed into the darkness of the cave his words to floow echoing out behind him.

 

[kamalw1]

"Wait, the two of you can't go in there alone based just on the word of this slimy little toad," Loki said. He turned to the rest of the group, "I think we should stick together. Who knows what may be in there."

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

"If i am to go in there i then maybe i should wear this"i said more to myself that to anyone.Digging the helm out of my pack i put it on and the pull the hood over it.Gripping the staff in one hand and my broadsword in the other,"if it must only be us then i will be rdy." i said as i prepared to follow.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack stood by Loki's side, gripping his sword. His expression hardened as he stared at the creature.

"I'm with Loki. You won't be taking Jas...anybody anywhere without us." Jack said menacingly. He motioned to Jasamine. "Besides, this girl gets into too much trouble when we're not around. If this cave is where we are going, then we all go in."

Gorleb nodded eventually and reluctantly. He motioned to the cave impatiently and they all walked into the dark entry. It was so dark, it was hard to see anything. The only color was a dull yellow of the ceiling.

They walked across the damp floor, trying to make their way around in the darkness. Jack searched his pockets for the rocks he had picked up at the campsite, then took the peice of wood he was carving. He stopped for a second, striking the two rocks together.

"What are you doing?" Kelly asked.

"Creating a torch." Jack said, clashing the two stones together trying to make a spark. Everyone stopped walking and there was silence except for the clashing rocks and Jack's occasional cussing.

"Wait...do you hear something?" Loki asked. Everyone strained their ears and a faint skittering noise could be heard.

"What is it?" Dan asked.

"I think...I think the ceiling is moving." Jasamine whispered.

A spark leapt from the rocks and ignited the end of the carved stick. A flame grew on the tip and Jack lifted it into the air. And it was suddenly revealed that the ceiling was covered in 1-foot long, yellow beetles. There was a moment of shocked silence, then someone let out a scream. And the entire layer of beetles jumped from the ceiling onto the travelers.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

He wouldn't look me in the eye, the little coward. That was the moment I was sure I could have the upper hand with him, and I intended to use it at my first opportunity. He said that only I could enter... and Sorian.
I watched as Sorian readied himself to follow Gorleb into the cave with me. I felt a wave of groundedness (for lack of any better term) and at the same time felt lightened. I felt taller and strangely old ~ ancient perhaps.
I was just ready to walk into the cave when Loki protested and Jack followed. Was it just me or did I get the distinct impression he was trying to protect me? Then he had to throw in a great macho,"Besides, this girl gets into too much trouble when we're not around. If this cave is where we are going, then we all go in."
Normally I would have gone with my instincts and kicked him in the shin or something, but this time I knew he was right. I needed him and everyone else. We did need to stick together and I had no problem with the growing chivalry.
So, that was it. We joined forces and all entered the cave, staying as close as we could . I was focused forward and inward when I noticed Jack trying to light a torch. Good idea.
why not before we went in? I thought to myself, but then my thought was interrupted by Loki saying, " Wait...do you hear something?"
No sooner did he say that when, "I think the ceiling is moving" seemed to come like a frightened whisper through my lips.

Jack finally got the torch lit.

It was moving allright, but it wasn't the ceiling. There were millions of enormous yellow beetles crawling over each other, moving almost as one.

I heard a scream and the beetles fell just as they were crawling ~ almost as one, and we were covered.

I had no thoughts, only action filled my head. I walked to Sorian as if in a daze.
My eyes met his as a beetle clung to my neck, one on my shoulder. I spoke...
"Sorian, tara' pthe ekha"
He reached into his cape trying to get past the beetles who were beginning to hiss and give off a dreadful odor, a fog.
His eyes never leaving mine he pulled out his sword, raised it up and shouted, "Ee'n ee'n, tara' pthe ekha!"
A door opened in the side of the cave. It was light.

I heard Gorleb hissing a curse as we ran into the tunnel through the doorway, losing some of the beetles as we went.

 

[seduce887]

seba

I fled on all fours in search for the remaining ingredients to complete the spell. Searching high grounds as well as the low in the dense fog that surrounds me and the thick forest. Suddenly my eyes went blank, web feet numb, while I felt strong vibes soming from the velvet bag. "That's it!" I said, comforting my frog like face. Plucking a few strands of my dark pubic hair and two large green sores and placing them in the sack as I shook the bag all the way back to te cave. When I was back inside the old room, ugly walls of granite, I opened the bag that had been shook many times and a beautiful genie arose without a stitch of clothing on. She was like a dream, dreamy blonde with lovely blue eyes. Then the entire room changed, changing into a palace of crystal that glistens.

 

[intriguess]

Mic

I followed mainly because I doubted the creatures words about who may enter. I did not expect it to be painful, as if the evil was trying to keep me from moving. I pulled on an inner reserve of strength and felt the beetles scamper off my cloak and away from me lurking a mere inch away. The seemed to loathe approaching me and crave to devour my flesh. I blinked and flung my cloak out and pulled out something on instinct and dusted those nearest me with it. I saw it glow a faint blue and fade before the creatures fled from them. I missed Loki and Jasmine and watched as the creatures converged on them.