RPG Ashes To Shadow

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]The deer jerked once, than collapsed, a spray of blood arcing up from its torn throat. Lacroix carefully wiped his scimitars off, and resheathed it. He motioned to Asandir, and they shoulder the deer and started back to camp.

Even before they got within earshot, they noted something was wrong. The world around them seemed indefinably strange, as if nature had fled. Asiding the vegetation around them, it seemed all life had vanished. The picked up their pace, and loosened their weapons.

Lacroix was the first to spot it. A pillar of black smoke, unlike woodsmoke, rising from the approximate location of their campsite. Then, a billow, and the smoke cut off. They dropped the carcass of the deer and started running.

When they arrived, Kinrade and Ryana were hurriedly packing up the tents. Before any words could be smoken, they motioned for silence. Unquestioning, the other two complied, and started. Within seconds, the four were off.

The thick forest masked any sign of peril that stalked them. Yet it was long moments before Ryana clarified.[/I]

Ryana: Raiders. The smoke was a signal.

Lacroix: Any signs on where the main group is.

???: Right here I'm afraid.

[I]The sarcastic voice was followed by a hail of bullets. Shouting and hooting, the rest of the band of savages swept in like a bloody flood.

The bullets suddenly stopped, as Kinrade left a gaping hole in the centre of the man's head. He dropped his rife and drew his kris knife, slicing the throat of a reiver with a battleaxe.

Lacroix's scimitars exploded out of a man's back, tissue and flesh coating the blade. A disengage followed by a backhand slash took the arm off another. His scream was cut short as Lacroix's trailing hand removed his head.

Ryana's quarterstaff swept in, bursting the sternum of a rail-thin raider with a long knife. Her follow up kick struck him in the temple, killing him instantly.

Asandir casually toyed with another, his reaper knives forming a wall of steel, as the last of them sought to pierce his guard. In midstroke, Asandir reversed his arm, and drove the barb into his neck. For a long moment, the hapless savage hung there, before gurgling his last, and falling into a heap that seemed boneless.

The four looked at each other, and continued on their way.[/font][/color][/I]

[DeathKnight]

[color=crimson]The rain poured down from above, drenching everything in it's path. Lightning brightned sky at times, flashing on and off, consistent with the thunder at times.

It is the first rain in a couple of years in the area, and the ground was counting it's blessings, taking in all it could. Dry streams refilled, and it even seemed like the water could heal every woe that plagued this planet. But that's just a wish from me, I guess.

Shifting his postion, Ken made himself more comfortable on the boulder- if that was possible on hard rock- and stared out, the rain washing out every impurity from his soul... or so it felt. He closed his eyes, taking it all into himself...

-----

Staring blankly upwards at the top of her tent, Narna quietly rode out the storm. Half-wishing something interesting would happen, she rolled over and let out a long sigh. Mak tilted his head to the side, and stared at her confused.

Grinning, Narna reached over and in a quick motion, ruffled up Mak's fur a bit. He rolled over onto his stomach in play-exaspartion, and wagged his tail, waiting for a tummyrub.

Suddenly, a roll of thunder boomed out of the heavens, startling Mak and Narna. They had almost forgotten about the storm for a second- But that was a loud wake up call. A few seconds after the thunder, lightning flashed down, striking somewhere nearby. Mak rolled over and whined a bit, shoveing his head under the covers, and trembling.

"What a guard dog..." She said slowly with a grin, and then slowly layed her head on a pillow, to watch the lightning dance, and listen to the thunder scream...

----

The last lightning strike was too close, even for Ken. With a quick hop, he landed the several foot down drop to the mud, and looked around him, taking in his surrondings. Nodding to himself, he took off in the direction of the camp.

Running through the woods, he dodged a quick treebranch as another round of thunder broke whatever silence remained in the usually tranquil forest. Lightning struck once more, thankfully not too closeby, and the storm's fury seemed like it would never end.

Dodgeing a large rock, he stepped out in the campsite- which was thankfully under several large wellfoliaged trees, so was somewhat dry. He grinned, knowing that his sister would be completely bored, and Nevri would most likely be sleeping- They had always wanted something to do, and at times like this, they didnt know what to do with themselves.

Walking slowly, he ducked down a bit and entered Narna and his' tent. Mak perked up slightly, still hideing under the covers, and Narna glanced up quickly and grinned at seeing her brother.

"Where have you been? I was starting to get worried."

"Just sitting in the rain... thinking."

Tossing Ken a towel from his backpack, she shook her head, "Honestly, I dont know why you sit in the rain so much."

"That's why I do it, and you dont." He said with a wink, and started drying off his hair.

She sighed with a smile, and sat down, taking a pillow and resting it in her lap. She rested her hands on it, and watched Ken try to dry the mess that was his hair, and laughed a bit.

"Shut up. It isnt my fault I have kinda long hair."

"Then who's fault is it, brother?" She said with a wink, getting him back.

He frowned a bit, and changed the subject quickly. "How is Nev?"

"Asleep in her tent. I dunno how she sleeps in this godd*mn storm. F*cking miracle if you ask me." She said shaking her head.

Chuckling, Ken cracked his knuckles...[/color]

[Mitch]

[color=red][i] The Earth seemed to be shaking. Only it was much more than shaking, it seemed more like crashing. The goverment had called into action all remaining marines to take what was left and try to make it into something. It seemed to Gurthang that they had no chance against this so called alien race. But chances were to be taken, he supposed. The fighting had grown steadily more intense, as the Earth became more and more destructed. It seemed like the planet was going to become nothing at any second. Flame spewed out of the ground in intermmitent intervals all around. Smoke hazed about in an unending blindingness. Lava oozed all around creating a heated soup of liquefaction. And as Gurthang ran closely followed by his comrades, he could only feel fear. The fear ate into him, becoming one with his mind, robbing him of all other thoughts. The fear seemed to control him, mimic him, make him him. And as he glanced about, he could see it on his comrades' faces. The fear was all around him. Unable to dissapate. And the only thing they could do as they approach the destination was talk, talk to ease the fear's grip.

[b]Srgt. Becker:[/b] I know we haven't a chance. But you's men's gotta give me's all you's got's. Is that clear?

There was a peircing silence, then they reluctantly spoke up:

[b]All:[/b] Yes, sir!

They all said, but the fear was still there. Gurthang could feel it, he could taste it.

[b]Srgt. Becker:[/b] Ya men see's over that there hill yonder? That's where the main fightin' is goin' on. Ready ya weapons!

As they approached the hill, the rumbling of the ground increased. It was shaking so badly that Gurthang stumbled and almost fell. Once they reached the very top of the hill, they finally saw death staring them in the face.

[b]Srgt. Becker:[/b] Get ya weapons out, men! I know it looks bad, but ya can do it! Goooooo!!!

With that they all quickly pulled out their automatics and ran down the hill.

Gurthang could barely believe his eyes. It seemed the reports of the aliens had been true. A gigantuan ship edged the sky. It seemed to be bigger than the entire earth. And on the ground he could see numerous amounts of the aliens scattering about, firing at what little resistance remained. Gurthang knew for certain he would probably die. He was very certain. But all he could do was carry out his duty. Even if it meant death. The shaking down on the battlefield was even worse. Gurthang could barely keep himself in balance it was so bad. The smoke and lava was also worse. His vision only allowed him to see a few inches ahead of him. He spotted an alien and began firing:

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Die you bastard!!!!!

The thing turned around as Gurthang let bullets fly like a swarm of bees from his gun. The bullets instantly obliterated the alien. And as he was walking over to the downed figure, a big moutain of lava edged out of the ground directly by him. He reacted, jumping out of the way. But it wasn't quick enough. A chunk of lava hit his arm as he hit the ground. Before he hit the ground he could hear that same fear finally coming outside. The fear seemed to be laughing at him, giving him a sour taste of bitterness in his heart. He didn't want to die. That was his last thought as gravity did its principle. He felt a brief moment of pain. A numbness which edged deep into the recesses of his mind. Then there was only a long blackness, blackness so black he could only hope to see light. Darkness... [/color][/i]

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen][font=gothic]My first RPG in what has to be about a month now... excuse me if I totally ruin this. And sorry for butting in like this, but I was invited, after all...
[i]
Csi awoke with a pounding headache to the sound of her name being called. She sat up quickly, looked around, and then vomited as a result of the spinning ruins around her. When she had emptied her stomach and cleared her head, she opened her eyes once more and looked about her.
The ground was strewn with rubble, dead bodies and twisted wrecks of vehicles and buildings. A boeing 767 lay ploughed into the soil beside her, she wondered how she had slept through that one. Once her surroundings had been revealed to her sore eyes, she inspected herself revealing many bruises and cuts, but no serious damage, and got up.
Thinking back to where she had been last, she remembered playing croquet with her brothers and sisters in her back yard. Her boyfriend, Miak, was sitting under the shade of a jacaranda tree, painting the scene with watercolours... and that was it. Heat, light, darkness, cold. Silence.

"Csi, Csi... Where are you? Yonna? Mum!" A voice sounded from close by. Csi stood and peered around her in the bright light. A person wandered the wreckage fifty metres to her left. She ran towards it as fast as she could without spraining her ankles, stumbling in the mountains of crushed cement and twisted steel. As the figure came into focus, she recognised it as her little sister Danna, and she swept her up into her arms. Danna screamed and then gasped as she realised who it was, hugging Csi tightly and sobbing desperately. Csi sat in the ruins, still holding Danna, and cried with her. Footsteps crunched towards the pair, unheard by the sisters.[/i][/font][/color]

[The Unholy Newt]

[i]Rek heard the thinder of hooves from nearby. From the east he could see the dust being kicked up by many horses. Above the dust he could see the glinting of steel. He felt panic rise up in him.[/i]

Rek: MARAUDERS!!

[i]He knew his small group had no chance fighting off the marauders and their only chance was flight. He kicked his horse into a gallop and signalled the others to follow him. Arrows flew past as they tried to escape. If he could get back to camp he had enough people there to fend the brigands off. But camp was so far away . . .[/i]

[Mitch]

[color=red] [i] Gurthang's eyes slowly creaked open. He stood up slowly, viewing the desolation. Bodies lay strewn about, populating the ground as if they were lifeless puppets. Gurthang could barely believe he was alive, so much that at first it seemed that everything that had happened to him up to this point seemed like it was just a dream. But it wasn't, certainly it wasn't. He looked up towards the sky. The giant ship which had edged the sky was gone, now replaced with a thickly flowing smoke which caused the usually sun lit sky to be an unwelcoming, vapid, gray. The air smelled faintly of smoke, just a hint, but something more. Gurthang stopped looking at the sky, realizing his fear was gone, now replaced with a sense of dreariness and loneliness.

He looked at the crackled ground, and spotted his automatic. He bent down and picked it up, examining it. The bullets were gone. Finding it useless, he threw it back onto the scornful ground, and proceeded to search his marine uniform. His hand hit the cold steel, and he yanked the weapon out of his pocket, placing a small dagger into his hand. He then decided he would search for any survivors, so he began to walk a slow walk. Soon thereafter he heard a faint rustling sound which caught his attention. He walked towards it, identifying the maker of the noise. It was a marine. The man slowly got to his feet, wobbling unevenly. The man began to lose his balance, and fell forwards. Gurthang caught him, gazing into the man's hazy, dream-like eyes. The man looked like he had been through hell and back. Which, Gurthang supposed, was partly true, at least. It looked like he had gotten as much luck as Gurthang, though.

[b]Gurthang:[/b] You okay, man?

The man's eyes sharpened upon Gurthang speaking, a sharpness so sharp that it looked like it could have been pain. It probably was, too. As the man's eyes glared sharply at Gurthang, his mouth began to move. Slowly at first, as if warming up, then faster.

[b]Man:[/b] I'm fine.

The man said, articulating succinctly.

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Glad ta hear it. What yo' name?

Again the man's mouth opened slowly, then moved faster.

[b]Man:[/b] Name's Illuvatar, call me Ill if you'd like.

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Gurthang here. Nice ta meet ya.

Gurthang swiftly held out a shaky hand, and Illuvatar stolidly accepted it.

[b]Illuvatar:[/b] Nice to meet you, too. So you're a marine to, huh?

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Sure as sam hell am.

[b]Illuvatar:[/b] Sure was one damn hella fight, wasn't it?

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Sure as hell it was. Thought I'da be dead right 'bout now. I'd be damned 'thout luck. So, ya think dere's 'ny survivors other'n us?

[b]Illuvatar:[/b] There has to be. Hell, it's worth a try. Let's check around. You go over there, and I'll check 'round here, all right?

He said, pointing.

[b]Gurthang:[/b] Sure. We checks back in half'n hour, 'kay?

[b]Illuvatar:[/b] Yup. Half an hour.[/color][/I]

[Onix]

Tao creapt around the wall, gazing at the small band of humans. His eyes narrowed as he looked on at their joyous faces. He looked up and locked eyes with Zi. She was in the opposite alley, poised for the assault. It would be quick. These people were stupid and young, with no fighting ability whatsoever. But still, it was a fight. Tao looked over to Malekith, who was at his side. He needed Malekith to do this perfectly. The stern Daemon was the only one of their group who was adept at spellcasting. And then, Jake walked out of the alley. His job was to distract the people so they would never see it coming. He was the most comfortable with humans, therefore he was the best for the job. Jake started to chatter about something with the humans. The chorus of laguther rang out in the nearly empty road. Tao grabbed the hilt of his blade and prepared to strike. Malekith started muttering under his breath and purple smoke started to float towards the sky. Clouds formed and soon the blanketed the night, casting the world into pure black. Tao swiftly dashed foreward, blade drawn, and cut down the first person. Blood spattered the cobblestones and a girl shrieked. Another person yelled, and Tao assumed Zi had killed another. He heard Jake leap and tackle one to the ground. A flash of purple showed that Malekith had struck one down. As the clouds parted, four bodies lay broken on the ground. Jake wiped a trickle of blood from his lips.
Tao: Pitiful.

[Guest cloricus]

[quote]Check your calender. It's 2017, 13 years after the attack.[/quote]
Did I read it wrong, why are you all playing from the time of the attack not 13 years after it?
Oh well, follow the crowd...

Research Centre X91a [Secret.]

Collin sat quietly in the back of small bands moded apc. Eight standard plasma screens watched him from the sidewall of the vehicle. Two where split in to fours showing eight of the centres security cameras, two others where monitoring the servers inside the building watching to see if any thing was wrong or if they had been spotted. Another was connected to the net sitting on good old google.com waiting for search terms to come through. The remaining three we're scrolling data on the things they where stealing, or as they had agreed, "long term borrowing..."
For once Collin was not watching these screens or the slat tops or palmtops, he was just starring at a live feed from CNN.com on the laptop.
"Um guys, you may want to see this..." He said as he patched the link into his three friends in side.

Inside -

The three of them stood still just looking at the feed.
"Well, I take it this means it's not a publicity stunt..." Ado said jokingly to the group as he turned to face them, but the looks on their faces quickly shut him up.
The feed went dead...
"Collin what?s going on out there...?" Noe whispered in to his wristwatch, realising they where still in a base that was watching for any thing out of the ordinary.
"Keep going with the mission." Collin replied.
The group continued as planned.

Outside.

Things where getting odd out side, the ground was shaking slightly and the sky was getting darker even thought it was only four in the afternoon. None of the sats that Collin usually hacked in to where working, in fact nothing in space was working. Which would of been bad for any NASA, Chinese or Russian guys up there.
Collin could see the group in one of the cameras so he brought it up to full size and followed them, by this time they had expected to be found out so they hadn?t bothered with planning to take out camera?s. Still the base had not detected them so Collin started to look through their systems to find out why. Nothing. He brought up a camera in the control room, which was empty, zoomed in to the auto sensor, ?Out of Order? a small yellow stick it note read.
?You?ve got to be joking.? He thought to himself, to the group he said ?Guy?s you?ve got a free run, there systems are down!?
He went back to the security screens ignoreing every thing happening outside.
The group inside reached the door to the lab and opened it. The people in the base never thought any one would get this far so they never bothered putting locks on the doors.
Some thing court Collins eyes, there was an error in the master server the locking systems where failing.

Inside ?

Klaxons were going by now and screens were on the blink all over the place. The three men got to the bench and the pc they were looking for.
?DL all the stuff on this pc? Frog said throwing Ado a teradisk ?and grab this, this and that.? Pointing to several things on the bench to Noe.
?Done, let?s get out of here,? Ado said ejecting the disk and wiping his fingerprints.
As they we?re turning for the door Collin told them to draw their weapons, he was seeing some odd things on the screens.

Outside ?

The odd things on the screen had forced Collin to warn the three and get them to upholster their weapons, he hated doing that. He watched closely as the men got closer to the door. He then started packing all vital things in a brief case as he usually did in case he had to abandon every thing in a hurry. He packed every thing except the systems needed to watch the security camera?s, he didn?t trust what ever was in there.
They where about six meters from the main door when his camera went blank, not black just blank. He was about to enquire as to what had happened when it came back, Ado and Noe where firing in to the hopefully dead carcase of some unknown creature, in fact it didn?t look odd at all to him. He quickly remembered seeing some thing like it in an old colour movie Resident Evil. The part he didn?t want to see was Frog on the ground with a bite mark across his shoulder. Ado grabbed Frog and started dragging him towards the door while Noe kept his firearm aimed. That was all Collin need to see he grabbed the suitcase ignoring the remaining equipment and leapt out of apc running for the door, pulling out his desert eagle as he went.

Inside ?

Ado had Frog out the door and Noe was firing at a quickly advancing mob of creatures. His ammo ran out, he looked over at Ado and they both looked back at the door not bothering to run. The creatures hit the door and a massive blue force field sprang in to action around the whole base, the creatures were smashed back like an RPG had just hit them in their heads. With that Ado and Noe turned grabbed Frog between them and ran like hell towards Collin who was running towards them.

Outside (The group of three) ?

As they where running a massive explosion and blinding light above them forced all of them to look up as a large 747 type of plane started to fall out of the sky, but they weren?t watching the plane any more they where watching one of its engines fall straight towards the apc. It hit and a massive explosion followed throwing Collin forward on his face, he got back up and the group of three meet him.

Outside (All together) ?

They just looked at each other and then swapped who was carrying Frog and ran for the near by woods where a back up vehicle was waiting.

---
Um 1038 words, opps? Oh well, one thing the 747 type plane has nothing to do with Ravens post, you can make it part if you wish.
Sorry if it sucks, and I only found 6 spelling mistakes so there must be allot more...

-Lord Epssy

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen][font=gothic]Dammit, sorry about that. Oh well.
[i]
Csi fell quiet as the crunching sound came into her awareness. Danna still sobbed heavily, unaware. Before Csi had a plan of action, a second pair of arms encircled her and she turned to see Jen's dirty, tear-streaked face peering at her own. She gasped and hugged Jen tightly, nearly dropping Danna.

After three days searching the ruins, they had uncovered countless dead bodies, many of which were friends and family, and no more survivors. Danna had uncovered their mother's body, Jen had found a finger neatly severed beneath an ornate, silver ring. He gave it to Csi, it was her boyfriend's. The ring was an engagement ring.

They had gathered all they could carry and set off, southward, in search of survivors. They had found many, in camps, alone, some hostile, some welcoming and friendly, some hysterical and deranged. Often they camped alone or with strangers for up to three months, but they had been travelling steadily southward for thirteen years now, and were unaware of what they were searching for. So far, all that had been uncovered was apocalyptic residue and extreme sadness.[/i][/font][/color]

[TrickyNicky]

Ok, I've never done a team RPG before, but I'll give it my best shot...

Gabrielle: What are we looking for?
Zachary: Nothing....
Trixie: Then why are you going like this? (looks all around her in a very exaggerated way)
Damien: He's looking for sumthin' all right. I reckon he's dropped his brain somewhere in that bush. (points to a bush nearby)
Zachary: Can it, Lucifer.
Damien: I'm not Lucifer! There's more than one devil, you know! I'm a humble minion!
Zachary: You??? HUMBLE? Ha!
Gabrielle: This is...
Trixie: Going absolutely nowhere.
Gabrielle: ...
Trixie: Gaby?
Gabrielle: (Damien and Zach are still bickering in the background) ...I have a feeling we're supposed to be somewhere. I don't know...
Zach: (whacks damien with his Kendo stick)
Damien: Ow!
Gaby: WILL BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP????
*silence*
*blink*
*Sweatdrop*
Gaby: Thank you very much. Now, what we need to concentrate on is getting somewhere SAFE before we all die of Pneumonia!
*silnce*
Damien: ...it was his fault...
Zach: Was Not!
Damien: Was too!
Zach: Was not!
Gaby: Right, that does it! (slaps both the boys hard and fast)
Boys: *cry*
Trixie: Wow, that was so cool the TV people showed it from three different angles!

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson][I]Lacroix and Ryana dropped back slightly, covering their back trail. As they raked pine needles over their tracks, Asandir and Kinrade galloped back to meet them.[/I]

Asandir: There is another bunch to the north. A much larger, nastier looking bunch.

Lacroix: Nothing is ever easy. Fight or flight?

Kinrade: They'll run right into the forest.

Lacroix: Then we'll burn it down around them should the situation warrant it.

Ryana: That should do a good job of flushing all the ferals out...

Lacroix: Which is just what we need, I know. Can everybody leave off my pyromania, and or my aggressiveness, just once.

Asandir: What happened to your vaunted sense of humour?

Lacroix: Wait till those raiders get here. You'll see some real fun then.[/font][/color]

[TrickyNicky]

As Damien and Zachary decide to stop fighting, a it starts to rain.
Zachary: Damien-
Damien: It wasn't me this time! Honest! Maybe it was Gaby!
Gaby: Nope.
Trixie: Earth to everyone! Maybe it's just ordinary rain???
Damien: No, it's definately Gaby.
Zachary: What's that in your hand, Damien?
Trixie: It's a rainstone! Damien, what was the point in making it rain???
Zachary: Maybe he's allergic to normality and we wants to get rid of us by drowning us!
Damien: I am getting so SICK of you...
Gaby: Seriously Damien, give it here.
Damien: No!
Trixie: AAAAIIIIEEEEEEEEE! *Jumps on Damien and grabs the rainstone*
Trixie: MAUWHAHAHAHAHA! So there!

This looks senseless, but I promise it's going somewhere.

[Yoda]

[COLOR=firebrick]Craig trudged on through the thick, muddy path, following the river as best he could through the valley. He had picked up on several sets of footprints, the boot markings matched those of American Army boots. Valandra and Ryo were quite a way behind, trying to find an isolated spot to camp. His feet were very light upon the ground, even if the mud was thick enough to make him sink upto his knees. As Craig rached the end of the valley, a rockface appeared, which blocked his view out to the East. The rockface wasn't a natural formation, the unstable ground must have ripped it out of the Earth's crust. Craig quickly and nimbly scaled the small rockface, and peered over the top. He saw a village, very small and rippsed apart, many of the buildings charred beyong repair. He also saw the gorup he had been tracking entering the town.

[B]Craig:[/B] Shít, smokers.

Smokers were groups of people native to this particular area. They were basically the local people who had grouped tgether, and had then been sent of to find food and get ammunition. This basically meant they killed whomever they came across, and if they had valuable items, they were stripped of all items they had, and then eaten. If they had nothing of value, they were still eaten. Craig had managed to track them unnoticed for 4 sunsets, and Ryo had covered up their own tracks well enough, but if another group of Smokers was tailing these, then Craig's group was trapped. Fear suddenly swept over him, not for his own safety, but for the lives of Valandra and Ryo. He leapt off the rockface, landing in a crouch on the muddy floor, and leapt into a sprint. His feet vicously kicked up mud in his tracks, covering most of the prints made by the smokers.

Within 10 minutes he had reached the place where he had left the others. He felt relieved when he saw no sign of fresh prints, or any sign of a struggle nearby. He climbed over the small mound of grass that lead down towards the river, and leapt all the way down the banking, landing on the pebbled ground next to the river. He looked about catiously, when suddenly he heard a voice.

[B]???:[/B] Hey Craig, b'here buddy.

Craig turned towards the banking, and saw a small opening near the base. Ryo's head was sticking out of the hole, which had previously been covered by ivy.

[B]Ryo:[/B] Get in here!

Craig walked over to the opening, and started to crawl through. He found it quite a tight squeeze, heaven knows how Ryo managed to get in the hole. The thin gap carried on for more more than 2 feet, and then in opened out into quite a decently sized cave. Ryo had moved towards the fire and was tossing more kindle on. Valandra was sitting in the corner staring blankly at the ceiling.

[B]Craig:[/B] How did you manage to find thise place?

[B]Valandra:[/B] Luck. What did you find out?

[B]Craig:[/B] Well, it looks like we've been trailing smokers since we left the woods. The valley ends in about 2 miles, and there's a small village about a mile towards the East from that point. That's where the smokers are staying is my guess.[/COLOR]

[Ravenstorture]

[color=darkgreen][font=gothic][i]
Csi, Danna and Jen had been travelling for three days straight now on a horse swapped from the last camp they encountered. They would have taken two when the camp was raided and they fled, but food was hard to find as it was, and it was better with only four moths to feed. Csi was contemplating this and regretting the option taken when she heard a noise that stirred distant memories of a normal life. It was the sound of a baby crying. Danna heard it too, and so must have jen because he immediately turned towards the sound and ran. Ducking out of our sight behing a juniper bush, he reappeared holding a baby swathed in rough, blue material. I groaned, contemplating bashing the darn thing's head in with a rock and feeding it to the river, but Jen, surprisingly, looked quite attached to it, and was making me feel guilty of such barbarious thoughts, simply with his actions. But the world had hardened me.
[/i]
Jen: Boo.

Danna: What?

Jen: I'm calling it Boo, after a charecter in a book that we were reading at school before all this happened.

Csi: We can't keep him - her - it... we don't have enough food, and I am not producing milk.

Jen: We'll get by somehow...

[i]He seemed so happy about it, it was a contrast to his gloomy self. Csi blinked hard and forgot about Boo. Boo was female, and fitted nicely into a harness that Csi taught Jen how to contruct, simply consisting of a length of material wound around Jen's back and shoulders. They continued onwards, eight pounds heavier.[/i] [/font][/color]

[Guest cloricus]

"What do you mean they GOT Jayo and Jon" Frog screamed in to his headset.
Collin and Ado swung around to see Frog who was pulling up records on the console as he was allotted to do but obversely distressed.
"What?s happened?" Ado enquired.
"Noe say's Jayo and Jon were eaten, alive..." He replied.
"Where's Noe?"
"On his way back with the borrowed items..." Frog turned back to his work.

It had been 13 years since the attacks and a lot had happened, many people had passed through their little group and died or moved on. The original four had stayed together all be it that Frog had mutated from the bite from a Kilo. (The name of the creature that bit him 13 years ago, the name was stored on the pc they hacked.) Jon had been in their group for about 6 years now and had been there the longest of any drifters. Jayo only three months. The hidden supply bunkers that they had build over the time where all still hidden and under their control.

Noe knocked on the back of the apc.
"Ado, ident him and let him in." Collin directed.
Collin had become the half leader over the time and every one seemed to listen to him a bit more than any of the others.
"Noe where are the bodies?" Collin said.
"Nothing left..." Noe said with slight greave in him voice.
"K Let's get back to bunker 13"

"Bunker 13" was really about the sixtyth bunker that they had but they decided to call it bunker 13 because it was their primary HQ. There were different entrances which they rotated through, but no one would even care if they found an entrance, this area was more stable than other area's.

The main entrance was through a burnt out building and on the back wall was a door, open the door and you would find a trap door, open that and you would find a brick floor. The floor was not real tho, one of the best holographic and force generators mixed together and if you had a DNA sequence that was in the main computer jumping in to it you would find your self in the underground base.

-TBC
-Lord Epssy

[TrickyNicky]

That night, Trixie crept over to where Damien was sitting behid a bush. The rain had started up again, so she had a feeling that Damien was playing about with the rainstone again.

Trixie: Damian-
Damien: What?
Trixie: Why do you want it to rain?
Damien: .....
Trixie: Well?
Damien: Just p!ss off, kid.
Trixie: I'm eight. I'm not that kid-ish. Look, what you're game with the rain and everything?
Damien: None of your business, shortie. Why don't you just take your blue little self off to bed. It's way past bed-time!

Trixie sighed. The rain was up to her knees. She swung herself up onto a tree and tried to somehow balance. She threw a stone at Gaby to wake her up.

Gaby: What? Who's that?
Trixie: It's just me. Damien's up to something. Can you go talk to him?
Gaby: 'Kay. Where's Zach?
Trixie: He went into the thicker part of the woods to get some wood. He'll not have much luck, though, not in this weather.

Gaby got up and wandered off. After a few minutes, Gaby and Zach were still gone, so Trixie jumped off the tree branch, landing in rain up to her waist. She peered over the bush and saw Gaby standing facing Damien, her eyes wide and glassy. Damien nodded to her and she walked off into the forset.

[TrickyNicky]

Trixie couldn't believe it. Of all the low-down things he could do, hypnotising Gaby was the worst. But when was so interesting in the forest? Why did he want Gaby in there?
Suddenly, she felt horribly ill. [i]Zachary[/i]. Of course! It all seemed so obvious!
[i]The rainstone makes it rain as long as the holder wants it to. Gaby is an angel, Damian is a Devil, and I'm a pixie. We can all use magic to get to safety. But Zach's only human, and not a very old one at that. He can't do anything like that![/i]
She looked back up to see Gaby standing in front of Damien again. He nodded at her and she nodded back. Then Damien said, in a business-like way, "Now sleep. When you wake up you will be back to normal."

[TrickyNicky]

Hey, I'm the only one still participating in this story? What's happening?

*Goes back to Big Brother where she belongs*

[Guest cloricus]

Harlequin, your move; you need to give the story some direction.

-Lord Epssy

[The Harlequin]

[font=gothic][color=crimson]OOC: Oh for christ's sakes people! Are none of you able to carry out your own storylines? I specifically said that that would be an integral part of this rpg. I haven't been posting much due to internet problems, and you all took that as a signal to follow my lead? Your storylines are your own for the moment. If you can't deal with that, you shouldn't have bothered joining in the first place. And Faris, I know it's frustrating, but don't double, much less triple, post.

IC: [I]The four looked edgewise at the raised cloud of dust. Lacroix sighed, turned and beckoned the other three. Without words, they turned and disappeared into the forest.

The reivers were quickly off in another direction. Still, the four moved cautiously, using every quirk of landscape for cover without sacraficing speed.
The keep moving steadily until dusk, before setting up another hurried camp. Their low fire burns steadily into the night. Given the circumstances surrounding today, they eschew a sentry.[/I]

Lacroix: What next?

[I]The comment caused a slight shuffling, but no real reaction. The four moved through life with barely a purpose. Ryana stirred, and looked away to the North. Unbidden, the gaze of the others followed hers.[/I]

Asandir: Why not? We've yet to explore the area, and this place is getting a little crowded.

[I]Still wordless, they retired, content with the knowledge that monotony would not yet become part of their existence.[/I]

OOC: I know it's crap, I'm busy.[/font][/color]

[TrickyNicky]

Yeah, sorry about the triple post, I was kinda trying to keep the post alive, but it seems to have crowded up again so...

Trixie waited untill Damien had gone to his own spot to sleep, then she shook Gaby awake. "Gaby?"
"This had...better be good," Gaby moaned as she sat up wearily.
"well it is fairly important. I think you just murdered Zach.
Gaby looked confused. "What?"
Trixie told Gaby what she'd just seen.
"I think Damien sent you into the forest after Zach and I think you've hurt him without realising," Trixie concluded. "Get up, come on!"

[Onix]

Tao looked down the old, decaying street. A moldy bride creaked and moaned over black water. He smiled. It was the perfect deterrant for humans, to keep them away from his home. He quickly sprung over the bridge and landed in a crouch on the other side. His associates followed suit. They slowly walked to the old, burnt down mansion that served as their home. Tao swung open the door and was shocked. The ground was littered with pieces of cloth and wood, the curtains were shreded, furnature shattered. Someone had been in their home. Someone very powerful, by the looks of things. It couldn't be any ordinary human. IT was a tracker. A demon hunter. Someone wanted Tao and his comrades dead. As they charged up to their rooms, and second shock met them. Appearently this person was schooled. There were no crosses, no silver, no garlic or any thing like that. Instead, there was a simbol painted on each door in white. It was an M, but not an M. It was disjointed with and X behind it. It was the simbol of the most hated being in all the Nether-World. No being from the Nether-World could cross it. It was the simbol of Makall.
Tao: Clever one.
Malekith: Very.

[Mitch]

[color=red] Faris, have you ever heard that people have lives? DOn't worry, tonight I'll write on up more of my story...geesh. I mean just because people are busy doesn't mean they don't care about this RPG...:shifty:[/color]

[Guest cloricus]

I've heard if them, lives that is; but I haven't botherd saveing up for one, to only one I could get for the money I have would be a bum in the gutter!!! I think I'll wait for some better model to come out at a cheaper price; tho Geek suits me fine atm tho.
And as for macboy, PPPPFFFTTTTT.
I'll get to righting some thing but since there is no story line it might take awhile say tonight...

-Lord Epssy

[liamc2]

OOC: Late, I know, short, I know, but I signed up ages ago and found myself in wanting of something to do. So nyeh!

S?thinay slashed his blade against the boulder in front of him for what seemed the thousandth time. The short sword clanged off it, sparks flying past his eyes. Another minute crack ran along the lengths of the boulder and a few specks of dust drifted from the rocky tunnel ceiling. S?thinay panted, trickle of sweat dripped off his chin. There was no way they would be able to get through to the city, the boulder remained as impregnable as ever. He sighed and sheathed his blade. The only thing to do now was to see if any of the other tunnels had not been blocked. He turned and walked down the finely carve stone passage to where Lal'aith crouched.

Lal'aith ran her hand down the face of the fallen once more, muttering the whispered words of remembrance before facing S?thinay. She smiled and stood, running a loose wisp of hair behind her slightly pointed ears.

?They?ve gone to a better place,? she said, ?but if we do not do something soon, I fear we may not be too far behind them...?

S?thinay looked grim, ?There isn?t much we can do, with the disturbance in Gaia?s core the serpents will have been disturbed from their sleep. A party of two is no match for a fully grown reptile and you know it. It would be in our best interests to go against our laws and head for the surface.?

?But...no one has journeyed up there for centuries, it is taboo...?

?Gaia is angry, do you not think it an omen that all the passages to the city to be blocked? Thirteen years since the unknown occurred, do you not think it an omen??

Lal?aith was silent.

S?thinay knelt down and retrieved a steel, engraved, longbow from one of the fallen. He muttered thanks under his breath and picked up the bulky quiver of brass shafted arrows. Lal?aith followed suit on the other fallen archer and led the way back out of the blocked tunnel.

~~~~~~~

A river of fire flared beneath the rocky crevasse that Lal?aith and S?thinay were climbing. They could hear the chattering of imps all around, already the little demons had loosed their poison darts, but the strong armour that the two wore gave them protection.

S?thinay heaved Lal?aith up onto a protruding ledge for a rest stop. As they both sat, checking their surroundings, a hailstorm of metal flew towards them, missing by only inches. S?thinay slipped his bow off his shoulder and loosed three arrows across at the small squad of meat eaters. Lal?aith slipped an arrow from it?s hold and muttered rasping words as she held the head in her palm. She fitted the arrow onto her string and loosed it on the imps. The arrow streaked, reflecting the fire beneath while glowing with an ethereal glow of its own.

The arrow pierced the breast of one of the creatures and unleashed a storm of blue bolts. The remaining imps, disorientated, fell screaming into the depths of the river below.

S?thinay smiled at Lal?aith and began the arduous climb again to the surface of the broken earth.