RPG Pandora's Box

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen]
Alastuin: Well, killing sprees are good fun but once you guys stop endagering the natural wildlife let's go and find a castle to knock down or something. There is a pineforest over the bridge, Enron, you may find some timberwolves in there if you paint yourself in honey and lie down for a week or two on an ants nest.

Zaltazar: hang on, didn't you say we would be burning bridges?

Alastuin(glaring): haha, but if we all get over it I might do it anyway just to spite you.

Rogan: I have a feeling that if we get to the top of that hill we might see the dastle from there...

Enron: What, you mean that hill up there with the guard tower on it?

Rogan: um.... yeah, that's the one. I was kinda hoping you wouldn't notice that....

[I]They cross the bridge and continue along the path into the forest, Enron looking up into the canopy for bees nests and Alastuin pausing momentarily to torch the rickity plankbridge they have just crossed.[/I][/color]

[Guest cloricus]

Enron(whispering): Damn no bees...

Rogan: Hurry up Alastuin. Stop sniffing the matches.. (OOC: um no they didn't have matches um "fire twigs"?)

IC: *[I][They continue up the path towards the hill.][/I]

[The Harlequin]

[I]Wondering how he gets involved with such strange people. Zaltazar concentrates on how to take down the guard tower. As they reach the edge of the forest, Zaltazat notices an area on the tower where the crenellation are higher than usual. Beckoning, he leads everyone a round to that side.[/I]

Zaltazar: Alright, you three go around to the other side and get their attention. I'll scale the wall.

[I]The others shrug, and start to yell at the tower. Zaltazar climbs the wall, finding all but imperceptible foothols in the almost sheer surface. When he gets to the top, he risks a quick glance over the battlements, and sees that no one mans the top of the tower. Climbing over, he edges up to the stairwell, only to find his companions standing in the courtyard. Sighing, he walks down to them.[/I]

Zaltazar: Let me guess. The gate was unlocked.

Alastuin: Not only unlocked, but open.

[I]Zaltazar groans, and resolutely ignores the three grinning faces staring at him. Zaltazar then notices something strange about the wall. It's almost...rippling. Then, like quicksilver, the area where the gate had been is covered in molten stone. Stone that is seeping into the courtyard. Again, the deep shadow appears above them.[/I]

Warlock: Pitiful fools! You made it too easy for me!

[I]With another shimmer, the shadow eclispes them, as the roof too becomes a wall of scintillating stone.[/I]

[Ravenstorture]

(((ooc: dear god i love you)))

[color=darkgreen][I]Alastuin gasps and walks up to a wall, staring at it closely in facination. The others back into the center, away from the walls of the trap.[/I]

Alastuin: Wow... that's really really cool...

Rogan: Um, Alastuin - what are you doing?

Alastuin: We are so stupid! How could we possibly have been so stupid as to walk right into this perfectly formed trap.

Zaltazar: Actually, I thought it was rather clever. I mean, it could have just as easily been abandoned by -

Alastuin: yeah, but by who? I mean, aren't all the bad guys under the same roof?

Enron: I don't think it matters how we got in here, let's start thinking about how we can get out.

[I]Alastuin, still facinated by the ripling walls, reaches out and pokes it with a gloved finger. She was surprised to note that her finger passed through as if nothing was there, and came away clean.[/I]

Alastuin: Hey....

Others: Yeah?

Alastuin: Do you think that this trap is... um....

Zaltazar: What?

Alastuin: Well, think about it. Why are we still in here.

Enron: Because we're trapped.

[I]*deathly silence*[/I]

Alastuin: Why are we trapped, Enron.

Enron: I don't know, because... we can't get out?

Alastuin: How do you know? because it [I]looks[/I] like we are entrapped in a stone chamber? But you know what....

Rogan: What?

Alastuin: I don't think we are.

[I]Alastuin steps through the wall and vanishes from sight. A muffled voice from the other side proclaims:[/I]

Alastuin: whoa, this is really really wierd...[/color]

[The Harlequin]

[I]Zaltazar sighs, and walks out after her. Once outside, he looks at her, sighs again, and forcibly removes her attention from the scintillating wall.[/I]

Alastuin: What did you do that for?

Zaltazar: It's time to leave.

Rogan: We have a warlock to find.

Zaltazar: No, my lost cathartic friend, we have much important things to do than that.

Rogan: Oh?

Zaltazar: Well, they might lead to that, but first we have to find out where to look, and more importantly, we need to find some place to set up camp. Where we won't be surprised in the middle of the night. And, there's that...

[I]Zaltazar points to the approaching storm clouds. The roiling surface seems to take on shapes, demonic visages flickering on the edge of perception. Lightning traces intricate patterns from cloud to cloud. The storm is coming on fast, an obviously unnatural.[/I]

[The Unholy Newt]

Rogan: Ok, Enron go get firewood, Alastuin and Zaltazar go find a cave or something to keep us out of the storm and i'll find food

(All three of them look at him weird)

Rogan: What! someone has to take charge around here

(They shrug and go off to do their jobs, after awhile they all meet back, A and Z, hey i'm lazy found a cave E found a lot of fire wood and R hunted down a couple of deer)

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen]
Alastuin: There is a dry, deepish cave about two minutes walk from here. It's got a stream relatively close to it, as well, so it may be quite a good place to settle into. I agree with Zaltazar, this storm is definately majick-based, and ti might not go away for a long while. We should be sheltered there.

Rogan: good, I have enough food for about a week. Hopefully we won't be there that long though.

Enron: How long do you reckon we have before it starts raining?

Alastuin: About two minutes.

Zaltazar(shouldering a deer): so we had better start walking.

[/color]

[The Harlequin]

[I]Long before they reach the questionable safety of the hopefully uninhabited cave, it begins to rain. And hail. And there are lightning bolts jumping around like firecrackers. Very soon, everyone is miserably wet. They all start as a lightning bolt takes out a tree only a few feet from them. As if that were a signal, more bolts flash near them, and they are getting closer.[/I]

Alastuin: We're going to have to run for it!

[I]Running over the uneven ground, trying to keep thier footing in the wet conditions and fading light, the four quickly leave the lightning strikes behind. Reaching the cave, they immediately move a fair distance from the entrance. They look to the rear of the cave.[/I]

Rogan: How far back did you explore this?

Zaltazar: We didn't find an end to it, and we wen't back pretty far.

[I]They all spin around when a deep rumbling comes from the entrance to the cave. The earth shakes, and more of those quicksilver shadows seen at the castle appear, shaking the roof. The entrance to the cave collapses, throwing them all to the ground. In a heap. After untangling each other, Alastuin immediately goes to the cave in, hoping it is merely an illusion. Not this time. They take stock of the situation.[/I]

Zaltazar: Alright, this doesn't look good. The most important thing right now is a fire. Do we have any tinder?

[I]Some murmers an assent.[/I]

Zaltazar: Good. We're all tired, so we need to sleep. If we're all wet and freezing, chances are we'll all die.

Rogan: Why's that?

Zaltazar: Well, you know how the body shuts down slightly when sleeping?

Rogan: Let me guess, it shuts down all the way.
Zaltazar: Exactly, So, we get a fire started, dry out our clothes, get some sleep, and only then do we explore the cave.

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen][I]Alastuin makes a small fire near the entrance of the cave, near an airhole through the piled boulders. As the roof is slightly higher there, the group should not die of asphixiation in the night. Taking a large branch and lighting the end, she ventures into the depths of the cave and reemerges an hour later. The others are sitting around the fire, roasting deermeat and drying their garments on lines of twine strung across the cavern.[/I]

Alastuin: I walked for half an hour, I could see no end to the cave. It does not decrease in altitude however, and there are only one or two splits in the way. Although there was no evidence of the tunnel being hewn artifically, there is no obstructions and the diameter stays about the same the whole way through.

Zaltazar: Too much of a coincidence for my liking.

Alastuin: Well, I am still wet and cold. And hungry. So don't bother me, unless it's to stop me from swallowing my own tongue.

[I]With this she lies on the ground and falls asleep.[/I][/color]

[Guest cloricus]

Enron: I'll stay watching if you people want to sleep, I won?t be sleeping any way.

[Guest cloricus]

BMC **** off you stupid newbie. Delete your post.

[Warlock]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by cloricus [/i]
[B]BMC **** off you stupid newbie. Delete your post. [/B][/QUOTE]

Don't worry, he's been taken care of. I think I've taught him a lesson or two in how to maturely act...

[The Harlequin]

OOC: Anyway, what was that about?

Zaltazar: Nor will any of us, for a while.

[I]With that he nudges Alastuin awake, receiving a snarl and a slap to the ankle as punishment. Amused, he nudges her harder. She sits up, very annoyed.[/I]

Alastuin: What the hell are you doing?

Zaltazar:Saving your sorry, ungrateful life. Did you not hear a word I said before?

Alastuin: Alright, alright. Why don't you just shut up with the "I told you so"s.

[I]The others, already dry, watch as Alastuin unsuccessfully tries to stand as near to the fire as she can without burning herself.[/I]

Alastuin: yes damn it I know what I'm doing. This is the best way I've ever seen to get dry.

[I]True to her word, she is dry within several minutes, and starts to resume her interrupted nap, when another rumbling noise comes from the wall.[/I]

Rogan: Aftershocks?

Enron: It wasn't a natural quake. Why would there be aftershocks? Besides, it was over an hour ago. Surely we would have heard something earlier.

Zaltazar:Personally, I recommend everyone back up against the walls as far as they can.

Enron: Why?

[I]Zaltazar points into the cave. A slight movement can be discerned in the far away darkness, and the tremors are increasing.[/I]

Zaltazar: Rock worm. Considering how near we are to the surface, it's unlikely that it will approach, but if it's caught our scent...

Enron: I've dealt with worse.

Zaltazar: We all have. In this situation though, a rock worm attack would be fatal.

[I]The tremors change tone, as the rock worm changes direction, swimming though solid rock like water. Zaltazar gathers his gear.[/I]

Zaltazar: I'd appreciate it if someone kept the fire going, I'll need it to sight my way back.

Rogan: Whee are you going?

Zaltazar: I'm following it of course. Rock worm tunnels quite often abridge other, older passages, so we may find some very interesting places. However, we don't know, so I'll be back soon to tell you all. If I'm not back before the fire runs out, don't bother with me.

[I]With that cliche dramatic statement, Zaltazar slips off into the cave, ears attuned to the pitch of the stone, listenign for movement.[/I]

[Guest cloricus]

*[I][Seeing Zaltazar walk off, in my opinion a stupid thing to do but let him go with no argument.][/I]

Enron: Well this should be fun. Has any one thought of just tunnelling out?

[The Unholy Newt]

Rogan: Okay, Enron we'll tunnel out. . . Just as soon as you figure out how to tunnel through solid rock!

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen][I]Alastuin gathers her things and grabs the branch she took with her into the tunnel before relighting it.[/I]

Alastuin: Well, think about it and keep yourselves warm and dry. As for me, I'm going to follow Zaltazar.

Enron: Um, why?

Alastuin: Because right now, I know this cave better than anyone, and there were a few things I forgot to mention...

[I]With this she runs off into the winding darkness, leaving the others to collect their things and stand against the walls in silence.[/I]
[/color]

[The Harlequin]

OOC: I'll let you write the battle scene this time.

[I]After walking for some distance, Zaltazar hears hurried footsteps behind him. He stops and waits, readying his most acidic tone.[/I]

Zaltazar: Alright, who took it upon themselves to follow me? I believe, I said to stay there.

Alastuin: Who said I intended to listen?

[I]Zaltazar throws his hands in the air, mutters "Women" under his breath and starts walking again. Alastuin catches up with him, and they walk in silence for a while[/I]

Zaltazar: Why?

Alastuin: Why what?

Zaltazar: That's an annoying habit you've picked up somewhere. Why did you follow me?

Alastuin: There are some thing I forgot to mention about this cave.

Zaltazar: We just had a rock worm go through here. The only things about will be scavangers. And they're not hard to deal with.

Alastuin: I'm sure.

[I]With that, a strange hissing sound comes from ahead of them. Alastuin and Zaltazar step apart, each readying weapons.[/I]

Alastuin: Scavangers you say?

Zaltazar: Yes, even I am wrong some times.

[I]With that, the naga attacks. Alastuin ducks one of its four arms, each of which is armed with a scimitar. Zaltazar steps out of range. The naga blocks the entire passageway with it's long reach, so there is nothing to do but try and kill it. Considering the phenomenal speed these beasts posses, it will not be easy.[/I]

OOC: Oh fine. Be that way.

Zaltazar deflects one of the naga's arms into the wall, forcing it to drop the scimitar. He steps back and throws his twin viper at he beast. While the naga dodges, he runs forward and picks up the scimitar, slicing another hand off as he does so, and appropriates that weapon as well. Forcing Alastuin behind him, he spins the weapons in intricate patterns faster than the eye can follow. The naga however, intercepts both weapons with its own, and strikes Zaltazar in the chest with its tail. As Zaltazar is knocked back, Alastuin steps forward and engages the monster, killing it easily. Zaltazar gets up.

Zaltazar: Appreciated.

They continue down the tunnel.

[Ravenstorture]

[color=crimson]You had better merge these posts, my love... three in a row, not good....[/color]

[color=darkgreen]Alastuin: Anyway, the reason I followed you is because I lied when i said there were only a few splits in the way.

Zaltazar: Oh? And why did you do that?

Alastuin: Because i'm a compulsive liar at times.

Zaltazar(stopping her): So tell me the truth then, before we go any further.

Alastuin: I made a map, at the beginning of the labyrinth...

Zaltazar: Labyrinth?

Alastuin: I'll show you.

[I]They continue along the tunnel for about a minute before it opens up into a vast cavern, reaching as far as the eye can see in each direction. The floor is carved with intricate patterns, like that of a maze. Zaltazar gasps in apreciation.[/I]

Alastuin: I made a rough sketch of it.

Zaltazar: Why? It's just a relief, is it not?

[I]Alastuin points to her left, a staircase carved into the wall stretches down a long way. It brings the rest of the cavern into perspective - not only does the ground look further away, but the carvings jump into perspective and suddenly it is apparent that they are not relief carvings, but walls - each two or so meters high. [/I]

Zaltazar: Oh, I see. Well. Damn.

Alastuin: That's why I took so long. But even with this map, we can only get so far. I can't see half of this thing!

Zaltazar: And... have you....

Alastuin: Yeah, I tried that... it's not an illusion. Pity. Those things were really -

Zaltazar(interrupting):We'd better get back to the others.[/color]

[Guest cloricus]

Rogan: You don't think us coming here was an accident, do you?

Enron: I hadn't thought about it. But do go on.

Rogan: Well all the odd things that have happened have lead us here. Now why would we be brought all this way just to sit at a cave wall, that we have found no escape from?

Enron: Rorgan, I think that is the most intelligent thing I have heard you say. You want to follow the other two?

Rogan: Yes.

Enron: Okay. Grab a few of those fire sticks, we my need light. Also get any thing that can be used as a weapon.

Rogan: I have my own.

Enron: Really? I hadn't seen it.

*[I][Enron pulls his long sword and grabs some burning wood to use as a torch. Rogan dose the same, and they start walking off down the tunnel.][/I]

[Guest cloricus]

Thank you. :)

[The Unholy Newt]

Seeing the other two Enron and Rogan run up to meet them, Alastuin was covered in blood and holding a paper of some kind

Rogan: What happened?

Zaltazar: We encountered a Naga

Enron: You okay?

Alastuin: Yeah, we're fine

Zaltazar: We have a problem . . .

Enron: What?

Alastuin shows them the picture of the labyrinth and tells them about it

Rogan: Well what do we do?

[The Harlequin]

Zaltazar: You know, I've heard about this place. I should have recognised it immediately, but my mind as elsewhere.

Alastuin: I'm not surprised.

Zaltazar: Hmmm. No, you probably aren't. Anyway, as I was saying, or about to say, whichever depending on how distracted you people let me get, or something along those lines, this is an abandoned dwarvish city. Srak Durath. So, we are in a lot of trouble.

Alastuin: Why?

Zaltazar: Because of why it was abandoned.

Alastuin: Quit being cryptic. What are you talking about?

Zaltazar: A Hive.

Rogan: You mean this place was abandoned because of a bunch of bugs...

Zaltazar: No. Nagas. Which explans their presence here. On top of your average nagas, Hive's give birth to the Nagazishni.

[I]OOC: I'll explain what they are some other time, don't bother me about it.[/I]

Alastuin: Aren't they an entirely different race?

Zaltazar: It's generally thought so, but no.

Enron: How do you know so much about nagas? They won't talk to anybody outside their race, and no one understands their language anyway.

Zaltazar: I spent some time with them a while back, using a handy little spell. Gives me all sorts of knowledge. I get on well with them really.

Alastuin: You are just full of surprises. Anyway, shall we go?

[I]The four set off in a random direction.[/I]

[Guest cloricus]

Enron: Wait a minute. If you have a spell why are we worried about them?

[The Harlequin]

OOC: Cloricus, if you're going to post, make it more than one sentence.

Zaltazar: All it did was allow me to understand them. They already understand us.

Enron: Is it still in effect?

Zaltazar: Yes, so I can negotiate with them. Which we will probably have to do, considering the number they're likely to appear in.

Rogan: So basically, we're screwed.

Zaltazar: Not neccessarily. They may still be in hiding, or gone completely, The fact that we encountered a rock worm could mean either of those things.

Alastuin: Oh joy. We're buried alive, walking into a situation we don't know anything about, and in an hour or so we'll have no source of light. We're all going to die.

Zaltazar: I've never known anyone who sum it all up in such a commonplace tone...

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen]Alastuin: Well, I know what I want to do.

Zaltazar: That's nice. Are you going to tell up what it is?

Alastuin: Well, call me old fashioned, but when [I]I[/I] come across a massive underground labryinth, I don't just say oh, that's nice and keep walking.

Rogan: So... what are you suggesting we do?

Alastuin: Dear god man, is it not obvious?

Zaltazar: Perhaps not so much as obvious as 'too stupid and dangerous to even consider.'

Alastuin: Well, I reckon it will be fun.

Zaltazar: You said we can only go so far before your map runs out.

Alastuin: What I figure is, if you give me a hand up onto one of the walls every day or so, I can scetch a new map of our surroundings. From different vantage points.

Enron: Every [I]day[/I] or so?

Alastuin: Yeah, I think it might take about a month or so to get to the middle.

Rogan: And why are we ehading for the middle?

Zaltazar: Think about it. Someone didn't carve this beautiful, intricate maze underground just because they 'felt like it'. It has to be guarding something.

Alastuin: And it had better be good, too.

Enron: Will we be safe in there, though?

Alastuin: I don't know. The naga are pretty intelligent. They wouldn't wander mindlessly through their own labyrinth, I don't think.

Zaltazar: Unless the thing in the middle was precious enough to guard.

Enron: Don't you think that they would just let other monsters roam around in there for that?

Alastuin: Well, we're about to find out, aren't we?

[I]Alastuin runs off down the tunnel once more, not waiting for the others to follow.[/I][/color]