Worlds Apart

[intriguess]

Mic

I simply nodded and watched them spread out a little and begin to cross. My cloak seemed to insulate me somewhat from the heat and I opened my hand and let the small globe float wobbling by Jasmine to shed light, I would need to rest soon as they had crossed and Loki and I set to cross the bridge.

 

[kamalw1]

Loki thought that the plan for crossing the bridge was a good idea. He stood beside Mic, waiting their turn to cross over the rickety bridge. Loki watched how Jack, Sorian, and Jasamine crossed, looking for any place that might give them trouble. After they made it across, Loki gestured for Mic to step onto the bridge. He followed close behind her, the heat of the flames causing him to sweat underneath the armor. Loki kept wishing silently that they make it across without incident.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

sheathing my blade i stepped up behind jack and awaited to crosse the bridge

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly stood close beside Dan with her arms crossed, her eyes sharp for any tell tell signs that the group was running into trouble. Running into trouble? They had had nothing but since they landed on the island.

Biting her lip she moved a bit closer to Dan. She didn't know why but his presence seemed to calm her a bit. Maybe it was the way he took care of the zombies and came to help her. Looking up at him she was startled to see that he had long, deep scatches in his arm. He must have gotten them fighting the undead in the cavern.

Turning she took his arm and examined it even when he tried to pull away from her. Already the wounds were starting to fester. She knew that the undead could have the effect of rotting living flesh and she was worried that that was what was happening here.

"Stay still," She said not letting go of his arm as she took another vial from her cloak. Looking at it in the glow from the molten fire beneath the bridge she read that it was a salve. "Looks like I am prepared for anything," She said with a wiry smile wanting to lighten the mood and not wanting him to see she was worried.

Pouring the liquid on the wounds it immediatly began to bubble over it and she could feel the muscles in Dan's arm tighten as he bit back a yell of pain.

"Cure is worse than the wound, eh?" She said as she tore some of her cloak to make a bandage for his arm. "It will have to do until Mic can look at it and, hopefully, cure it completely."

Tying off the bandage she gave him a stern look. "Next time let someone know. Don't go all noble and heroic and bite the bullet. We need you healthy, you know." Then her look softened as she added. "Please."

 

[intriguess]

Mic

I loved the feeling of solid ground underneath my feet, regardless of how uncertain the ground was. I noticed that Kelly was tending to Dan's arm and I moved closer, they smell told me what was going on before I got there. I steeled myself as I approached and wondered if we had the luxury of rest. I doubted it as I glanced at the wounds. I found my hand reaching into my cloak and pulling out a roll. I was ravenous and I munched on it as I debated whether it was worth the energy to take care of it now. I had finally decided that this was probably the last calm moment we would have as the last two cross the bridge and I slowly trace my index finger across the wounds, feeling the heat of healing move into his wounds. I bit my lower lip and finally where the nasty scratches had been there were red welts.

I pull out another roll and munch hoping that we find a better way out of here even as I doubt we will get out of here.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

I had expected a test, some great challenge as we all crossed the bridge. I was not at the least bit disappointed to find that we all crossed in a safe manner.

Together I saw all of us...Mic as the Healer, Dan as the Warrior powerful, Jack as the reluctant & wise leader with a hint of sarcasm that kept things interesting, Loki was definitely another warrior of sorts. Kelly had great magic that she was only beginning to understand and Sorian was some kind of wizard, with me trailing as someone who could communicate with the enemy and something inside me that enhanced everyone else's magic or power, whatever it was.
We sure had come a long way since leaving home.
We were becoming something new yet ancient, something old yet unknown to us.
Then before the bridge conquest had a chance to sink in,Gorleb reappeared and nervously bobbed back and forth like a preying mantis, so eager to tell us another direction to go.
"We must turn around now!" he said. He was manic and intense.
I knew better and everyone could see in my eyes that we must challenge him before moving on.
There was something that told us that he could even help us if we could get past his loyalty, even in a small way, to the evil underground seductress of souls.

 

[Emotionless]

Mic finnished her healing and Dan smiled warmly, "Thanks, Mic. Fell's much better." The healer nodded and set off across the bridge.

He then turned to Kelly, "And thank you, too...for everything. I think I may have frozen back there with the zombies if it weren't for your words of encouragement. I guess...I guess I wasn't accepting what was happening to me like everyone else was, and I was pretty scared."

He gripped her shoulder and looked into her eyes, "Thank you."

He removed his hand and turned to look at the others.
"That sneeky rat is back. I wonder what he's up to?"

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly smiled back up at Dan. "We are all scared," She said in a quiet voice so no one else could hear,"Your bravery comes from the fact that you acted even though you were scared."

Then she turned at his words, her eyes furrowing as she tried to see what was going on on the other side.

"I don't know what he wants," She said with a shake of her head,"But Jasmine is over there and I know she is part of what he desires. We had best hurry up and get over the bridge before something else happens."

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

Not knowing exactly how to deal with Gorleb, I looked around me for help. Nearly everyone was across the bridge now .I leaned over to Jack and asked him to get Mic for me knowing I would need every bit of strength I had for what I was about to attempt.
I was sared, but knew that my fear was nothing compared to what we'd suffer if we didn't get through this soon. When Mic came up next to me she didn't look like she was the least bit afraid, more angry than that. I just hoped that her anger would help give her the strength that we would both need.Then I again leaned in close to Gorleb. God, the stench of him was nauseating and the sight of his nervous bobbing back and forth was nearly hypnotic. I had to be strong and hold my ground.

I heard Sorian from behind us just as I reached for Mic's hand.
"Hey, now. Don't leave me outa this. I have a few things I'd like to say to that little SOB. Besides, you might need some help"
Not letting my eyes off of Gorleb, I backed towards the others.

"Go ahead, I'll keep an eye on the little bastard for you. Nothing to worry about," Dan said with a newfound confidence.

We all leaned in close together and began to try and understand just what it was that was going on and
how the hell we could get out of here alive.
Somehow we had to turn this creature into an ally, and that wasn't going to be easy. I prayed that someone would have the answers.

 

[intriguess]

Mic

The group quickly encircled Gorleb, my eyes flashed with an unbidden response to it's presence. I gave Jasmine my hand and peered from inside the hood of my cloak to a creature so foul and loathsome that it repelled me. The globe of light that had been lighting our way returned to me and I let it fall into the palm of my hand and I dropped it back into my cloak.

What will be will be, it was just a matter of controlling our actions and reactions to it that would make all the difference. I glanced towards Jack our leader, Loki a mysterious warrior, Dan a battlehardened guard, Kelly the lithe thief, Jasmine who knew little of what she possessed, and Sorian who I was unable to figure out. As for myself I was not sure I was prepared for what was to come, but I was ready to try my best and prayed that would be enough when the time came.

 

[silverwolf]

sorian

We all kinda ganged up on that gorleb creature.And thats when it hit me.'What role do i play in this group.I have armor and shit that makes it so i am almost never tired and yet i can use majick. ' and so i decided the next time we took a rest i would read every single scoll in the robe and memorize it.And that i would search the pack i had taken from the hut for anything else that might have been hidden.As we all stand there i had a feeling that i wouldnt be with the group for a period of time but yet my feelings have been wrong before.Snapping back to reality i found that almost no time had past that in the cource of my thoughts only a couple seconds had past. Wierd.....

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack kept his sword out and pointing at Gorleb. He turned to Sorian. "Still got that rope?" he asked. Sorian smiled. Gorleb didn't.

Jack inched closer and jumped on Gorleb, holding him down. Sorian ran up and tied another leash around Gorleb's neck. Gorleb thrashed around, but he was once again under Sorian's control.

Jack straightened and dusted himself off. He stopped suddenly. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly stood in the background behind Dan a knife in her hand just in case. She was shaking her head. She didn't care how much it seemed that they were in control of this little toad, something told her that they never had the upper hand.

She paused as she sensed it a split second before she heard the rumbling. Looking down she got a feeling that the ground was rising and falling at the same time around Jasmine, Sorien and their prisoner. The ground was sinking and at the same time forming a barrier was forming Jasmine and Mic and Kelly knew it had one purpose...to cut those three off from the others.

Kelly yelled a warning to Jack. She was behind Dan and could not get around the others in time in spite of her thieve's agility. He was the closest and needed to act fast.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

The conference was short, if you could even call it that. We had no time to gather any conclusions, let alone figure out how to turn things in our favor when the earth started rumbling. I made eye contact with Kelly and Mic. We knew that the plan was still to get Sorian and I alone with Gorleb, cutting us off fom the rest of the group. We needed their strength and their talents - all of us were to act as one unit to escape this living hell.
Rising and falling, creating a barrier, the ground started to increase in temperature. The other women were trying to communicate and get Loki and Jack, along with Dan, to help us out. We couldn't hear much and after a few seconds it was if we were spinning in the blur of an irridescent tornado, yet not moving. We could still see the others vaguely through the chaos, but could not reach them in any way.
"Sorian!" I had to yell loudly to be heard,"Your sword! The heat of the ground all around us... the magic"
"What about it?" He bellowed.
"Your fire magic, counter the fire heat with your fire heat!"
and don't let go of that little bastard Gorleb I said to him, though with no words at all. He could read it from my eyes.
I placed a hand on his shoulder and breathed deeply as he drew his sword from under his cape.
With one hand on Gorleb he raised his sword high above the swirling barrier.
"LOFTARIEN!"
The word rang like a giant bell that echoed through the entire underground.
The winds silenced and the earth grew cooler. Again we could see and hear the others, but my strength was getting depleted.
I lowered myself to the ground, weary.
"I just need a minute to get myself together" I said.

 

[Emotionless]

Sorian's magic had ceased the barrier's growth, but for how long Dan didn't know. With Kelly's warning shout in his ears, Dan reacted without thinking.

Two running strides took him to the lip of the barrier and a third sent him over. Without slowing Dan shoved the two humans that had been cut-off towards the opposite lip. His momentum sent them sprawling over and to safty.

Next Dan eyed the little creature with disgust. Maybe it would be better to leave it here, he though. "No, he'll find worse mischief to play." Reaching down, the soldier tucked the slimey wrigging toady under his arm and sprang for the edge of the barrier.

The magic blocking it's creation had apparently ended when Sorian exited the crater and the ground began to sink again.

Mustering his strength, Dan lunged for the edge and made it most of the way. His foot caught on the lip which sent him into a crashing roll.

"Yeoow!" he cried, Gorleb had sunk his teeth into Dan's arm during the crash.

In reaction, Dan threw the little creature towards the nearest cavern wall. The impact knocked the worm nearly sensless. That was the least of his worries though.

Dan follwed his flight into that wall and snatched Gorleb up by his neck. "Any more tricks, you little worm, and I'll crush your little neck!" he said with murder in his eyes.

With that he droped the creature and turned to face the others. "Everyone alive and acouted for?" Nods all around.

Dan turned to Kelly, "I seem to be injured yet again," he said displaying the bloody teeth marks on his arm. "Little blighter probably has rabies or something."

 

[SecretDesires]

Kelly had followed Dan, her increased agility aiding her in getting past the barrier, and immediately took up his arm, sprinkling the salve onto it and bandaging it as she did his arm just a short time ago.

"We have to give the magic users in the group time to rest," She said to Jack, motioning Mic back with a gesture. The cleric of the group did not have enough strength to deal with the little things right now. If it became worse later on she could cure it after she rested.

"I have a couple of ideas," She said grimly, thankful that thieves not only carried poisons but antidotes and healing salve. A must in their profession she assumed. "First off is, nothing happens to us until and unless we are with our friend over here. If my theory is right I think she is using him as her eyes and ears. And, if that is so we need to blindfold him and muffle his ears somehow. You can use what is left of my cape for that and to make extra bandages if you need to."

Tying up her makeshift bandage, she undid her cape and tossed it to Jack. Reaching up she felt Dan's forehead for any signs of illness from the bite. In the books she read, illness from monsters sometimes came on quickly. He seemed cool but she was still worried as she ran her hand behind his neck to double check for fever. Something her mother always did when Kelly was a little girl.

"The next thing I have an idea about, and I could be wrong, is I think I know where Sorien fits into all of this. I think he might be what is called a Battle Mage. Battle Mages are a combination of warrior and mage. They don't have as many spells or as much magical strength as pure mages and they don't level up...in games at least...as fast or as high as warriors. But they can pack a powerful punch in a fight. I think that might be Sorien's identity in this...place...we are in now."

She smiled and suddenly realized how she was touching Dan and she blushed a bright red. Removing her hand, she cleared her throat and said,"You feel fine for now. But I am going to keep my eyes on you. Something tells me you need a gardian angel. I don't know if I fit the part but I can fake it pretty well."

Flashing him another quick smile, she sat down and leaned against a wall, suddenly very, very tired.

 

[silverwolf]

Sorian

"I think he might be a battle mage" and thats when i sorta spaced.I walked a few paces away from the group and stood i romoved the cloak and all the scrolls in it and carfully tore it into strips.As i toor i uncovered another scroll.tucking that and the other scrolls into my boot i continued to tear it into strips.Then i noticed it.My chainmail and helm were both the most brilliant shade of silver i had ever seen.As if they had a silver aura around them.searching the pack i found a white wizards robe in a secret pouch in the bottom.Donning that and hoping that no one saw the armor and stuff i walked back to the group."Grey wasnt my color" i said more to myself that to anyone.as i stood there and thought i dont remeber there being anything in the pack and yet when i need a ne robe it was there. it intrigued me yet i couldnt figure it out.Coming back to my original thought..'battle mage hmm i think i may be a form of that but not mage it just didnt feel right but then it may just be.Again holding the staff in one hand i reposision my sword to make it almost invisible.And for some reason i felt as if i had more power than i had thought after that first spell.......

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack stood by Jasamine. He had caught her as Dan pushed her out of the way. He kept her in his arms a little longer than necessary and it didn't seem like she was too eager to leave him.

Jack listened to them talk about Sorian's identity. He began to wonder how he had figured out everything about that bridge. Maybe there was something else to him as well...

Jack put his hand to the back of his neck and cringed. Pain surged down his spine. He put his hands by his side and ignored the soreness.

Jack looked around in awe there was a definite eerieness to this cave. He had to decide their next course of action, but he could rest for a little bit. Jack leaned down by Jasamine and whispered in her ear. "Are you still alright? You've been through a lot in the last few hours."

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

As I sat down on the ground Dan got into it with Gorleb and ended up getting a nasty bite out of the deal. Good thing he had a healer handy ~ I had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last time he would need her. I think it was an understatement when he said something about Gorleb having rabies or something. I tried to kep an eye on him, but Kelly was right. Some of us really did need some rest, and Gorleb was the demoness' eyes and ears.
I as pondering what I would be able to do to get the creature to tell us something when I was overcome by a sudden sound sleep and began dreaming (at least I thought it was) right away.

*The sky was a strange color of bloody red and the orb in the sky was neither sun nor moon as I knew them. The air was ice cold but burned my skin and wind moaned and screeched continually. There were screams and cries and evil laughter coming from everywhere, but nobody else was there. I was alone. Then Gorleb came out of a shadow giggling with glee,"The humannnnnnnnnn daughter falls, the Mistressssss conquersss alllllllllllll!"
Following that I saw coming towards me a giant winged serpent. It flew to me and stood tall, hovering over me. Then it was transformed into the same hideously deformed and strangely beautiful creature I had seen before in another dream. But this time when she tried to hide her words they all came out very simply and to the point.
"You have what I need, sister. Give it to me and I shall give you your freedom an that of the others that walk with you. Give it not and you shall feel my wrath!"*

I woke grasping the pouch around my neck with both hands crying softly,"Awa...Im-ma" (Father...Mother) .
I opened my eyes to find myself once again in Jack's arms. This time I was glad to be there and wished I could stay. After he asked me if I was alright, I simply said to him,"Where's Gorleb?"
I was going to find out a few things for us.

 

[kamalw1]

As everyone was resting and pondering what to do next, Loki decided to take a look around the cave that they were in. Maybe there would be some sort of clues that would help them out along the way.

As he was walking around, he noticed something weird on one of the cave walls. He walked over to it to get a closer look. He ran his fingers along the symbols that were etched into the stone. That is when he called everyon over to take a look at it, hoping that either Jasamine or Sorian could decipher what was written.

 

[silverwolf]

Sorian

Everyone having sat down i walked away from the group a little bit.No one seemed to notice .I sat down and started reading the scrolls.In the middle of memorizing what they said i was called to a wall to read some writing."well i know the letters but not the language.Maybe if i ..." taking the point of my staff i wrote the words on the wall in the dirt for everyone to see "that is what that sais in english." i said as i backed to the back of the group.

 

[intriguess]

Mic

I settled down against a wall and fell quickly into a medatative trance. The old adage "Healer, heal thyself," chanted eerily in my thoughts. I stirred to hear them talking about words and I felt an odd need to tether the group together somehow so that if one of us fell the rest would know and so that seperating us would be more difficult. I could already sense each of the party disolving into their own concerns about what had happened to them. I pulled a coin out and began rolling it across my hand and dropped it only when I realized it had turned to a flame. I picked the coin up, it was cold to the touch and put it back in my cloak. Sorian looked more at ease in the white robe and I had this odd sensation about him. I glanced at Loki and words formed into a pale white mist from my mouth and before I knew what I was doing it clung to his weapon and armor.

I retreated in my cloak and repeated the concept for Dan who recieved a red haze, and Jack got a green fog.

I wondered if anyone else even saw what I had done, I had this sense that I had just 'blessed' their weapons and armor. I coughed and looked towards Kelly and wasn't even sure I was speaking as she had a blue shimmer clinging to her garb and the weapons I could see. I glanced at Jasmine and the sparks that surrounded her blinded me for a moment. When I opened my the auras were gone and I wondered if I had imagined the entire thing.

 

[cremebrulee]

Jasamine

Jack gave me a puzzled look when I asked where Gorleb was. It almost seemed he was disappointed. To tell the truth, I was too. At this point there was nothing I would rather do than curl up in his arms and feel safe, but that would be an illusion. We were surrounded by great forces and needed to stay focused on getting through this. Maybe afterwards...........

Before I had a chance to get to Gorleb I noticed Mic. Now, I have seen a lot of strange things in my life, but this was so beautiful there are no words to accurately describe what was happening.
She was sitting against a wall in the cave her palms outward and I could have sworn I saw her floating there. I was hypnotized as I watched her reach out from herself, from her soul, to each one of us.
She breathed the white of purity of strength on Loki's armor, red for passion in battle to Dan, green for continued growth to Jack, blue to Kelly and then to me...
I was full beyond my comprehension. I felt electric, explosive, powerful and as if I exuded tremendous light to all around me.
Then I saw Mic again. I needed to go to her before Gorleb. She needed rest - to be "recharged" in a way. I understood now that I could help. We needed our healer. We needed every one of us strong.
Walking towards her I beckoned to the others to all hold hands. There wasn't much scoffing at the idea as we were willing to try anything and question nothing in this pit of a place.
As the others joined hands I looked deep into Mic's eyes, reaching into her soul to supplement her strengths and help her to heal herself.
I took both her hands and felt once again that electricity, that energy she had blessed me with not long before.
"Aykan-na eethayk?" (How are you?) I asked her.
"Better Jasamine. I was tired..."
"We have to keep moving, you know that right?"
"Yes. But we need to bind together, we can' go any further tiul we do"
She was right, and we joined into the circle with the others. The colors we were each blessed with blended together in an upward spiral and shone a brilliant gold.
"LLaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!" (No!) the shriek came louder this time.
Gorleb was our next step, then to move on to face the challenge head on.

 

[Tantrikenetic]

Jack

Jack's cold, lifeless expression never left his face. He felt the green mist encircle his body, then entwined with everyone else's. There was a definite scream echoing through the cave.

Jack was the first to break away from the group. He pulled out his blade and walked up to the doorway that was our only exit. "Grab Gorleb. It's time to go." His voice was like frozen metal. "Whoever this sorceress is, she's our best link to the outside world. We are going to have to try and subdue her so she can answer our questions. Mic, Sorian, work some spell up for that. Loki, Dan" He turned enough to nod at them. "You and I will be the distraction. Kelly will make sure Jasamine and Sorian stay out of sight so the sorceress can't get to them. We'll see if she can fight as big as she can talk." Jack motioned to everyone else. "Let's go."

Sorian mumbled some words to Gorleb about no funny business and the creature merely nodded. The group headed to the next room.

The walls of the small room were lined with weapons. Axes, halbirds, crossbows, everything. The group stared at the collection in awe. "Might as well stock up." Jack advised.

Jack walked over to a bow and arrow set. Well, I am an archer... He decided and put some arrows in his quiver and strapped the bow to his back. He turned his eyes and a shiny blade caught his attention.

He walked over and saw a long sword, that didn't even show the slightest bit of rust. Jack noticed some inscriptions along the blade. They were in an odd language. "Jasamine, what does this say?"

"It says 'The Metamune'" She responded.

"Metamune..." Jack whispered. He liked the sound of that. He grabbed the sword's hilt and lifted it. Suddenly, he felt a jolt of energy go through him, like thunder without sound. The blade seemed to call out his name. It made a loud metallic ring in the air.

Jack couldn't help but smile. Something about this sword felt...right. It was raw power...like holding a lightning bolt. He turned back to the group, holding the sword out. "I'm set. Everyone else ready?"

No one seemed to notice that the pupils of his eyes had turned a deep bloody shade of red.

 

[kamalw1]

Loki walked with the group, feeling a litle stronger. He felt like something had come over him, but he didn't say anything about it. They walked into a room that was more like an armourer's shop. There was all kinds of weapons and things that they would need. Loki looked around and found what he was looking for, a silver shield. He strapped it to his back, feeling the weight of it across his shoulders. He looked at the others, feeling a sense of readiness he hadn't felt since arriving in this strange land.