August 23, 2003

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Courtyard - Montmouth Manor - Gaslight ...

Mazelike cobble-stone paths wind through the haunting watercolor landscape abreath with withered statues and rampant ruins tangled in the onslaught of rambling roses. Rabidly Romantic, the wilderness of grassy knolls and weeping willows is mirrored in a ruggedly-rimmed pool of murky water where a marbled statue of a veiled woman trickles lucid water from a Greek Jug into the bottomless basin. Shrouded in insipid shadows, the sprawling bulk of Montmouth Manor is a cornucopia of styles and watery lamenting colors fashioned with steep gabled rooftops, shingled walls, yawning bay windows and vigilant turrets that loom - subtly ominous - into the misted skies above. A breathtaking cast-iron wraparound porch - gloomily fringed with numerous entrances along the perimeter - creates a dizzying feeling of no beginning and no end - the spellbound epitome of a circle.

Brandon holds Riva's hand with a smile and bows his head, the pair are off in the corner now as Brandon just entered the room via shadow-walk. He makes his way towards the others.

Riva arrives filthy, smelling of things too long dead and of burnt flesh. Her face is coevered by a demonic helm, much of her exoskeleton fashioned armor baring marks of battle. She is mindful of long, sharp talons as she appears grasping Brandon's hand.

Arashi flashes a glance to Nash. He thinks for a long time, face tense "That's one version, what they tell me." he says, then looks back to his "thing-a-ma-bob".

Yosannah arrives from the courtyard, small piece of paper in her hand. She folds it along already worn creases as she looks around the room at each of the occupants in turn. The paper is tucked into a pocket and she purses her lips, moving forward to greet the group.

Scott simply stands near Arashi with his hands behind his back. His expression is stoic. Which, if you know him, is unlike him at all.

Ithius passes through the vast double doors and is greeted by the butler.

Riva sweeps hergaze, about the room, then retreats to a quiet corner and pulls out a trump.

Ithius peers in and spots people he recognizes, at least if they aren't mangled or some such.

You sense Brandon approches.

Yosannah glances over her shoulder at Ithius, as he arrives behind her, "I see I'm not the only one who must have received word for Lady Ada-Shazandra to be here. Anyone know what the hell this is all about?"

Scott answers Yo. "Unfortunately. Yes." He says no more, though.

Arashi says absently while he plays with his toy... "By the last breath of the fourth winds blow. Better raise your ears. The sound of hooves knocks at your door. Lock up your wife and children now. It's time to wield the blade. For now you have got some company."

Ithius hmmms, "pleased too see you as well lady Yosannah", he flashes a smile. "Vague notion.. here but seeing certain people here makes me quite suspicious about it", he steps a bit aside to let anyone else sneak in that might.

Arashi sits down on the Fainting Couch.

Brandon leans back on the couch Arashi is sitting on.

Nash waves a hand languidly, "Last time I was here there was beer to ease the apocolyptic strains of stupidity eminating from a party guest."

Matthew speaks up at last, "Would you care for refreshments, Lord Nash?"

Yosannah offers Arashi a curious glance but then nods at Ithius, "Yeah. I have no doubt we all have a sense - but what's so pressing?"

Nash grins shinily at Matthew, "From you? No thanks, mate. No offence - haven't quite gotten past your apparant loathing of me."

Brandon hmms at Matt, "Can you pull up a Rathorne Red?"

Matthew grins, teeth showing their sharp edges. "I was merely going to summon a servant from the Grounds to take orders."

A gaunt tragically tall and somber looking butler wheels in a vast expanse of a tray-cart, bedecked with a vast assortment of beverages. Although there is a notable lack of wine a variety of port, whisky, champagne, liqueur and - ah yes - ale and beer are available.

Arashi sings out... "Its the end of the world as we know it... Its the end of the world as we know it... Its the end of the world as we know it... And I feel fine..." He grins.

Yosannah looks to Arashi and furrows a brow, "Sir, you're singing isn't calming my spirits, if you don't mind."

Brandon turns and glances over at Arashi, laughs a bit. "Well, I could have picked a better local but if it must.." this a mutter as he glaces to Yosannah.

Arashi looks up to Yo and sighs, waggling his toy in his hands. "Sorry." he looks back down to it.

Nash prises himself out of his chair long enough to rescue a few bottles of beer from the cart. Most of which are instantly pocketed. "If this is what I think it is, everything that happens, is meant to happen."

Scott leans against the wall, a look of impatience on his features. He crosses his arms over his chest.

Riva frowns at the trump and gives up. She reaches up and with an audible 'creeeak-snap', twists her helm and then pulls it off, tucking it under an arm.

Ithius mmms, "well if anything it looks to be a gathering of people involved in something.. wither wittingly or not. I suspect we are about to hear a tail.. hopefully this is a fast shadow."

A bouncing blond maid struts in, smiling a dumb pretty pink-lipped smile. The girl jaunts over to the cart and collects a tray of assorted beverages. The maid curtseys before Nash, offering him a chilled beacon of beer.

Yosannah casts a gaze in Nash's direction before her attention is turned to Riva, "Riva, you look like hell. Am I to guess that the battle has started then?"

Arashi looks over at Riva. Peers at her for a few moments, before looking back down.

Nash waves the one unpocketed bottle, "This'll do me." he bites the cap off and gives it to maid before resuming his slouch and swigging.

Scott finally sits down with Arashi and Brandon.

Brandon's attention is captured by the blonde maid, hey he is still young even if he does have wrinkes.

Riva nods curtly. "It has. My forces are overwhelmed and forced to give retreat. Fortunately my second has things welll in hand..for now."

The maid curtseys and blinks, smiling with innocent worry at Nash's teeth. She struts her way over towards the Fainting Couch, tray of beverages in hand. The somber butler lingers by the cart, filling more glasses and looking bored like a good butler should.

Yosannah exhales audibly at Riva's narrative. Seemingly disappointed, "I don't suppose anyone expected this to be easy..."

Nash asks Riva, "Who were you fighting? The dead?"

Brandon takes a beer from the maid and smiles, "Thanks." murmerd to her as he rips the twist-top off. His attention then back to his couchmates not worrying about the others right now.

Yosannah mutters, under her breath, and moves away from the group now, "...if you'll excuse me for a moment..." it is not clear who she directs this comment to.

Yosannah stares at the image of Ryker...

Ithius watches Yosannah take a different location he then wanders by the butler and asks politely for a Rum and coke.

Riva murmurs, "It promises to be ugly, brutal, and thankless...but neccesary." she nods to Nash. "Unnatural shuffling corpses, yup. I'm never going to get the smell of rotting flesh outta my armor."

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "Ryker..." She mutters softly."

Brandon directs towards riva, "Club Soda." and that was that.

Nash nods slightly, "But does it count as the fourth? And Serpent bless the dead, they've been poorly used in all of this. So ignominious to be puppeted around when you ought to be laying still."

The image of Ryker eyes you, murmuring, "Yosannah." Before the connection is even fully established. A background of arms and armor comes to focus behind him. Attention then returns to something in his lap. "I see you're taking advantage of Ada's 'soiree'." A certain degree of vague sarcasm, there.

Riva says "It should. Death'sintimately tied to the other three. After all, the one thing War, Pestilence, and Famine all have in common is Death."

Butler blinks, "Rum and *coke*, sir?" Clearly the idea of coke makes the man ill. He wrinkles his long nose with tangible distaste. Meanwhile the maid smiles to the folks on the fainting couch, bending so her bosoms show as she offers them drinks.

Riva says "And I'm with you, it's an obscenity. I don't fancy burning my own fallen, but it's the only way to know they're not going to get back up."

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "Listen, I have no idea what's going on here." She swallows a lump from her throat, "But I'm not particularly comfortable with the crowd here either. I'd like to ask for your company." And then, "Please. I'm out of my element here."

Thog has arrived.

Matthew says "Tell them to play dead. WHen the enemy comes close, explode them. Bone fragments should do /some/ damage."

The image of Ryker mms, giving you a half-doubt, half-sympathetic expression. "Oh yeah? What about Nash? He's not enough?"

Nash says "It's hard to be hungry when you're dead, I'd have thought. Hard to war. Hard to be plagued. Tied and untied at the same time, seems to me. Takes a fair degree of counter-nature to invoke war out of a corpse and the others likewise."

Riva turns a narrowed gaze to Matthew, obviously thinking of eaborate scenarios for his own death.

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah sighs, "Ryker. Please."

Ithius hmms, "Well soda has no flavor but alas if you don't have coke.. then a lemon and a lime with rum on the rocks?"

Matthew shrugs his massive shoulders, wings rippling. "Or just set them afire and let their usefulness waste."

The image of Ryker exhales, relenting. "Fine, fine ... it'd be easier to watch from there than here anyway. It'll save me a headache."

The image of Ryker rises, returning his rapier to its sheath and moving to pick up a few things.

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah nods, obviously relieved. She waits for him to collect himself and then holds out her hand...

The Butler obliges, deftly mixing Ithius his drink. Still he looks unimpressed. The teenage maid gathers up her tray and heads for Yosannah.

Thog ambles into the room, his bulk pronounced even in the largeness of the room. He turns his head back and forth. Looking quietly. He doesn't stink.

Riva moves to secure herself some scotch from the butler, ignoring the presence of anyone else for the moment.

Yosannah reaches out her hand to some unseen presence...

Nash swigs his beer, nods to Thog.

Arashi looks up to Thog for a moment, then looks back down.

Ithius says, ""Thank you.. ", then turns and moves toward a random direction, "Maybe we'll find out what is going on.. for a moment."

Brandon glances at Thog, smiles and nods to him. He looks back to the couch.

Ryker grasps your hand and you pull him through.

Thog announces. Loud. "Thog see Lady!"

Brandon holds his hand back to Scott, giving him something.

Ryker glances over Yosannah after her hand is released. His other holds a long boarspear, 8' in length with elaborate scrollwork.

Yosannah runs her hand over her hair and releases Ryker's hand. She nods at him, saying nothing.

Scott rises from his seat and walks towards Ryker.

Ithius sips his drink then nods toward Ryker flashing a grin.

The buxom maid is awed. She nearly drops the tray at Ryker's arrival, then giggles ferociously and plunges the tray of alcoholic beverages towards Yosannah and Ryker, slightly spilling a few full glasses in her enthusiasm.

Yosannah crosses her arms as she regards Ryker, speaking softly with him.

Riva is filthy, reeking of rotting and burning flesh. Her armor holds superficial damage from recent battle. Currently she's waiting her turn for the butler's attention.

Ryker mutters, "Don't blame me if I end up putting my fist through Riva."

Brandon glances at Ryker and nods to Scott. He bows his head towards the Man, and then moves for Yosannah.

Arashi sits on the back of the fainting couch, his attention is mostly focused on a doo-hickey in his hands. He looks up and around, eyes narrowed as they look over everyone. They pauses on Ryker for a moment, then look back down.

Yosannah whispers to Ryker, "She have anything to do with that scar on your chin?"

Scott walks right up to Ryker with a faint grin.

Scott mutters to Ryker, "... man?"

Nash swigs from his beer bottle and murmurs tunefully, "He loves to fight, he loves to shout, 'cos that's what life is all about. He loves to kick and shove, push and punch, who says a troll can't love?"

Matthew flickers for a time and vanishes.

Thog booms! "Ada Chandra!" His head rocked back. He makes a belly roar. Calling for her.

Brandon glances to Thog as he arrives near Yo and the others.

Nash winces slightly at the volume.

The maid shrieks and cowers.

Riva glances over at Thog. "Well, loosing his gear didn't effect his voice any." she observes dryly, tone a bare whisper in comparison to the yelling.

Yosannah flicks a glance in Thog's direction and rolls her eyes lightly before turning her attention back to Scott and Ryker. Brandon's approach isnot lost on her.

Ryker mms, flicking a 'don't ask' look at Yosannah and stating, "No." The back of his empty hand rubs roughly against the healing marks on his chin, a nod returned to Brandon, slight, and a grunt for Scott as he stops before him. A fairly flat greeting, "Scott."

Ada-Shazandra has arrived.

Ryker merely waves off the buxom maid, uninterested.

Brandon smiles to Yo, as he reaches a close distance.

Scott replies to Ryker. "With that type of greeting, you'll make me feel like you don't like me anymore."

Ithius stands indolently watching Thog make a nusances of himself, sipping his drink he merely watches people.

Brandon wonders in a soft tone, "Any ideas what this is about?"

Ada-Shazandra emerges from the anteroom, carrying with her the fresh moist scent of the moors and the must of a long horse-ride. The lady pauses, one slender crescent of a brow bent, her jade green eyes brooding.

Ryker's voice drops. "They're decent enough. I'm not exactly enthusiastic to attend - don't take it personal. What about you?"

Yosannah shakes her head at Brandon, but indicates Ada-Shazandra's arrival.

Thog's small black eyes widen when he sees Ada. He drops to one knee in reverence and bows his head. "Ada Chandra! Thog sorry!"

Brandon nods in a soft tone as he arrives close, "Well could this be any more uncomfortable?" he then turns to Ada.

Scott whispers "I'd rather be doing something else myself, man. This looks to be a bust. The only saving grace is that Arashi and I found a spell to put a serious hurt on any Horseman. And I plan to use it. Tonight."

Yosannah regards Scott cooly.

Ryker taps a foot once or twice on the hardwood beneath his feet, grip on his deadly spear audibly tightening.

Ithius hmms, "well I won't discuse choas theory and attractors .. I'm curious what is going on though", he replies to Nash.

Brandon stands and leaves the Fainting Couch.

Riva's armored arms remain crossed, one talon tapping lightly on an arm as she stands still. Stinking, filthy, and battle-wearied she remains expressionless and silent as she waits for events to unfold.

Ada-Shazandra's solemn gaze is affixed upon Thog. A gloved hand swoops to her side - guided by impetuous instinct - yet find no comfort for the woman is unarmed, save for the lash of her riding crop, "Ladies, Gentlemen - it is most gracious of you to have catered to my whim. I, the dowager Montmouth, welcome you to my home - please do not be in a rush to tear it down." An enigmatically meaningful glance darts towards Arashi.

Ryker informs Brandon dryly, "They'll get more uncomfortable if I run someone through. And there are always at least some odds on that."

Ada-Shazandra's frown deepens. She stares at Thog.

Ryker replies to Scott, "Well, I have at least one sight to look forward to tonight, then."

Brandon smirks and motions to Thog, "No need to run that one through, just spike him with a mental bolt and he will be down for days."

Thog stays there on one knee with his head bowed.

Arashi looks up from his position, sitting on the back of the fainting couch, his strange toy thing in hand. He considers for a few moments, then looks back down.

Scott says "Oh, I got something special for the troll. I want him to live the rest of his days as a friggin vegetable."

Brandon mmms, "There is a rummor that he was castrated, but I don't know if that is true." he glances to Ryker, "Long time, how have you been?"

Yosannah offers, softly, for Brandon's sake, "It is true."

Ithius sighs, "well.. I guess.. things could be worse.. I knew I should have brought party favors", Ith and party favors.. hmmmm.

Riva gives a slow sidelong look to Arashi, or perhaps the thing he has in his hand. She frowns as something akin to recognition flitters over asian features.

Ada-Shazandra puffs out a thin waft of a perfumed breath through livid windswept lips. The tangled curls of her silken lashes lure over the tumult of her gaze,"Quite alright, Thog. Get up now and behave."

Ryker glances towards Ada, checking, but looks more interested in those around him, soon continuing his conversation there.

Nash swigs from his beer bottle, "Perhaps you'd care to enlighten those of us not in a huddle, Lady Ada?"

Thog stands up. His big head makes a nod at Ada and he stands beside the door like a guard. Once he settles, he's statue still.

Ryker gives Brandon a faint shrug. "I live." and then prompts more generally, "So just what has the troll done that warrants everyone's ire?"

Yosannah turns now, full attention on the Lady, arms crossed over her chest.

Brandon offers that to Scott, with a motion of his hand. "He knows the story better than me."

Scott turns to regard Ada.

Scott says "He raped and almost killed an elven lady that happens to mean a lot to me. That's reason enough."

Ithius turns toward Yosannah then the Hostess, he looks about now for a seat, he's sure this is going to be.. a long tale.

Yosannah humphs. Whether this is directed at Scott's comment is undeterminable.

Ryker mms, neutral about the idea. "Well. Raping is out of hand, granted, but many of 'almost kill' people on a semi-regular basis." An exhale, and he moves his attention away, looking for a place to sit. "Do what you have to."

Ithius seats himself on the same couch as Nash his attention going to the hostest.

Scott says with nothing but malice in his tone. "I always do, Ryker. I always do.

Brandon nods softly in agreement with Ryker, then looks to Thog with a soft sigh. "He is cleaning up Chaos very well, but if he needs to fall I guess I wont try and stop you. Not like I could."

Ada-Shazandra's exotic eyes rove over Thog, suspicious tangible within their glittering depths. The lady strolls stealthily forward, her crop rhythmically batting the open palm of her gloved hand, "Again," she breather, "Welcome. If you are here then you've some grief or cause regarding the Four Horsemen - granted they go by many names, but it is largely irrelevant what you call them. Unwittingly, I've sheltered a tremendous danger within these very walls." The dowager halts, ushering the trembling maid out with a swoop of her whip, "I've very little to impart on you this eve - but shall tell you what I do know."

Thog stands there.

Yosannah nods at the Lady's words, a knowing expression on her face. She shifts her weight to one leg, arms still crossed over her chest, fingers drum lightly on her arms.

Brandon leans back, his wings acting as a kickstand for his form as he does so. An audible pop comes from his neck as he twists it to the side, then he returns to listening.

Ryker flicks a glance at Yosannah, his right hand straying to his belt. He does nothing though, merely murmuring sarcastically instead, "If there is very little to impart, then why bother at all."

Aaron has arrived.

Yosannah casts a sidelong glance in Ryker's direction, brow furrowing lightly.

Scott says "No shit. But I'll tell you why. She loves being in the spotlight. She's vain as hell for a humble priestess or whatever the fuck she is these days. You can never tell."

The buxom maid scurries out, dazed. She unwittingly takes the vast assortment of half spilled beverages with her.

Yosannah shakes her head at the two men, "Shh."

Nash sniffs, "Hard to blame the Horsemen for this one. For a change."

Aaron comes up the staircase putting up some paper in his satchel. A map and perhaps a note as well. He tops the steps and glances about not sure what to expect.

Brandon almost starts to say something but stops at the Shh.

Riva's gaze unfocuses.

Ryker exchanges murmurs with Scott, the end of which earns just the briefest of breaks in his dour, displeased features. An agreeable smirk.

Despil appears, grasping Riva's hand.

Riva reaches talons forward.

Yosannah makes note of Despil's arrival. She nods lightly but remains mostly focused on Lada Shazandra.

Scott sighs.

Ryker watches Riva even before she pulls Despil through, considering before looking to Ada, eyes skimming others along the way.

Ada-Shazandra's lissome arms twine at the small of her reed-like back. Back and forth she prowls, each stealthy stride chiming with a jab of a musical spur. Her Anglican accent is melodiously thick, "Some of you are aware that my brother - Arion Yyvrael - took residence here in his illness - and for reasons that are your own to explain, some of you believed him to be a part of the hideous events plaguing Chaos. In truth - that thing was not my brother as a strategically placed bolt between it's eyes proved. It was some sort of shifted hybrid - a bloodbeast perhaps." The woman supply shrugs, "You've all wasted your time talking to a doppelganger."

Arashi continues to sit on the back of the fainting couch, playing with his toy. He looks up again, slowly looking over the room, noting new arivals, then looking back down.

Yosannah shakes her head at this information impartated by the former Prelate and runs a hand through her hair. She turns, shoulders and head, in Ryker's direction, question in her eyes and doubt.

Nash smiles, "I should have gone with my instincts and slapped it silly, then. Question remains, who made it - and where's the real goth twit?"

Riva recrosses her arms and her gaze focuses on Ada-shazandra, listening.

Aaron gives Nods as needed and then takes a seat on the bench, listening since he showed up late it appears.

Ryker states aloud, fairly flat, "Well - good thing I didn't waste much time talking to him, in fact."

Nash's question seems to be of interest to Yosannah as well as evidenced by the glance she offers to Nash and then to Ada-Shazandra.

Nash's question seems to be of interest to Yosannah as well as evidenced by the glance she offers to Nash and then to Ada-Shazandra.

Ada-Shazandra inclines her elaborately braided head gravely to Despil, pivoting upon her dapper heels to regard the motley gathering To Ryker she demurely replies, "Given that it was in fact an animated house plant it'd be in fact wasting it's time talking to you, General."

Ryker offers nothing to Yo, face neutral, if not cold.

Thog stands there some more.

Yosannah shakes her head, "Listen, let's just get to the point okay. Where is your brother, Lady."

Despil is quiet and listens.

Riva says "So-..we're supposed to take you at your word. How do you know this?"

Ryker's eyes stare in Ada's direction, lacking any warmth, no retort offered as other questions are thrown at her.

Ada-Shazandra's sinuous lips curl into a semblance of a benevolent smile, "Something - some collage of entities is dangerously near. I can not pretend to know what they are or who governs them It is entirely possible they govern themselves and pined for a distraught fool to be but a means to their end, so to speak." The eloquent curve of her left shoulder jolts into a comedic shrug.

Brandon nods, "Well that was worth finding this place for." he smirks and takes a drink from his beer.

Arashi scowls and looks up.

Nash says "You've notably failed to answer my questions, can't help but notice. Certainly concerning Arion's actual whereabouts - and Riva's point is also well- made, for all we know 'tis a houseplant telling us this, neh?"

Ryker looks over at Arashi, even though he doesn't face him, as if somehow sensing his attitude.

Ryker points out, murmuring, "Arashi is talking to someone. And apparently not liking what he's hearing."

Brandon extends his senses and hmms, he nods to Ryker. "Can you tell who that is.."

Aaron crosses his arms not happy with the answer either. He smirks a touch to Ada though and shakes his head.

Yosannah inclines her head slightly, gaze flicking at Ryker and then over to Arashi. She regards the man for a long moment.

Arashi continues to focus up to the air slightly.

Brandon hmms, "Perhaps I can force it closed, if we both tried to trump him.." this to Ryker.

Arashi turns and looks out to the room and says very loudly "Any one here care if Jack comes and joins this ... what ever it is?"

Ada-Shazandra inhales a flimsy sigh, the swell of her feminine chest heftily rising. The lady holds her breath, pensive, exhaling lushly as she drones, "I don't know, Nash. I only know what I dared to glimpse - sense via my personal magic. I shot the thing and learned of its true nature. Henceforth my investigations lead me to the cellar of this very house - an edifice built upon a series of ancient catacombs. I've scouted the vicinity eager to gage their nature, a floor plan, rumors - but discovered nothing - nothing except that whatever it is that you all seek lies beneath the floorboards of this Manor - including my brother."

Thog just keeps standing there.

Brandon turns to Arashi and blinks a few times, then shrugs back to Ryker.

Brandon says "Never mind I guess."

Arashi says without waiting for much of a reply. "I didn't think so..." he reaches out a hand...

Yosannah shakes her head at something and rolls her eyes. She sighs, trying to listen to the Lady, but is distracted at Arashi's interruption.

Ryker, hardly quick to jump at the idea of jamming Arashi, merely softly grunts as the outcome is decided for them.  

Ithius mms, "so basically in the labrynth beneath are answers and as yet more questions as well."

Riva murmurs. "As much as I enjoy respite from battle, the situation of my forces is dire and I'd rather be there unless there is something of actual usefulness to be gained. I know you love a show, My lady, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it is time for something more than claims none of us are equipped to verify at this moment. Do you perhaps have a proposal of action, my lady?" she glances at Arshi briefly after she speaks.

Nash squints at Arashi and mutters, "Serpent's teeth." and then to Ada, "Well, I've a willing blade, if you want it down there. It sure as hell sounds interesting."

Ryker, for his own part, explains, "Nobody knows where Arion is, maybe not even the 'goth twit' himself. Arion's trump, and probably Arion as well, is being jammed of a sort. It would be little use trying to reach him by most means."

Sylvie tilts her head slightly as she descends the stair, considering the gathering below.

Arashi drops his hand.

Yosannah nods at Ryker, "Nevertheless, Arion is the man of the hour it would seem. And you know I don't know how much time I have. I need to find him. Or at least try. What do we do?"

Thog takes a bit deeper breath. Lets it out in a low rumble. Keeps standing there.

Brandon offers, "I will do anything I can to help." this to Ryker more than the rest of the room.

Aaron gives this a thought. He waits for more questions to be answered though.

Scott shrugs, then wanders back over by Arashi.

Arashi nods and sits back form the connection.

Ada-Shazandra's slick gaze swerves over Riva's features, narrowing into steely incandescent slits, "Do not assume that this affair is held for *my* benefit, Major." She quips, intoning, "I sensed all four within those catacombs. I was warned by their host to keep away and am achingly tempted to do just that. However, if any of you wish to eradicate this problem, I am willing to provide a way down. I know not what you shall find beneath."

Ryker gives Brandon an approving nod, and Yosannah ... well, he considers for a short time, jaw working, nostrils flaring a little.

Riva's lips purse, jaw clenching. She turns slightly and lowers her head to murmur to Despil.

Ryker tells Yosannah, "Well. Lets go, then."

Despil leans to Riva.

Nash stands, draining his beer bottle and pocketing the empty. "I'm ready."

Yosannah nods at Ryker, seemingly relieved. She glances over her shoulder at Riva and Despil, "We might need help." She looks around the room at each of the occupants in turn.

Arashi goes back to looking at his toy.

Brandon lets out his hand, drawing forth the rainbows that everyone knows and loves as a trump power. He reaches in and pulls out a staff for him to lean on. To any who are knowledgable this staff holds sorcerous powers.. TO the others, it just has a few nice gems.

Riva nods slowly and murmurs more to her companion.

Ryker gives Yosannah a doubtful look, though consents to at least consider the others in the room.

Ithius looks at everyone, "anyone need any weapons?", he asks casually and mumbles, "other than me."

Brandon grumbles, "I wish I had walked the logrus BEFORE this."

Despil says "What are we likely to encounter? What weapons work here?"

Nash reaches under his shirt, poking about in there until he pulls out a trump. This he just holds a moment, before muttering, "Damn." and shoving it back under his shirt again. "Guns function down there or blades only, Ada? Or don't you know?"

Ryker frowns at Brandon, stating, "If you're powerless without it, you'll be just a impotent with it."

A shield appears in mid air, floating before Riva.

Thog reaches around the small of his back. His hand grabs the handle of his axe. He clips out of its holder and he wield it. It's a huge freakin' axe. Probably 4 feet across the blades edge to edge. He holds it one-handed. Because he only has one hand.

Ada-Shazandra's limber arms unwind from the small of her delicate back, lacing into an intricate knot over the swell of her feminine chest. The woman's faintly Oriental face is a vision of flawless tranquility.

Brandon nods, "Very true, it would only serve as an aid. But I see your point." he leans on his staff now.

Aaron gives a look to Ada on that last question from Nash. Still quiet and just listening.

Ryker merely says, "Good."

Riva reaches forward to claim the shield, nodding her thanks to Despil. Befor leaning it against her knees as she shoveds her helmet back over her hair, braid left to trail down her back. The helm seems to subtly shift and ajust itself as it fuses with the rest of her armor. After this, she buckles the shield to her arm.

Brandon twists his staff softly, and leans on it gently. He simply listens for the time.

Sylvie hmms softly, watching the group, listening attentively. "I definitely seem to have missed something," she murmurs to herself.

 Ada-Shazandra replies, "You are in Victorian Era England - guns do shoot - though they can hardly help you." The smile that taints her livid lips is perversely amused at Nash's inquiry.

Ryker's worn voice lifts again, "Anyone with actual combat experience will realize ... <he counts bodies in an eyeblink> eleven individual swords, walking blindly into potentially dire battle situation and following their instincts, will quickly lead to chaos. And I don't mean the ugly city at the end of the road."

Ithius sees none answer and asks, "anyone need anything.. so it's just one trip?" he peers about.

Ryker amends, "Eleven, considering all of us insist on venturing forth."

Nash says "You want to command, I suppose, old man?"

Brandon smirks slightly at Ryker and shakes his head to Ithius. "I am all for someone to come up with a plan.."

Thog rumbles.

Ada-Shazandra arcs an inquisitive crescent of a dark silken brow, "Are you all ready then? Splendid." The dowager strolls forth, motioning for Thog to follow, "Come with me, Thog. I've a job for you." She coos, opening a musty door near the anteroom and descending into the cellar.

Arashi has left.

Aaron shakes his head. "My aplogies....as much as a hand would help you all. Business calls me away." He sounds a bit aplogetic. "Serpent Bless those involved though. Or good luck minus you aren't that religion." He stands.

Ithius nods and says toward Riva, "I'll be bugging you in a minute," he says. He moves forward and vanishes, leaving behind a rapidly fading afterimage.

Thog follows Ada obediantly, stalking along after her.

Yosannah nods at Ryker and comments, "Listen, everybody. Most of you don't owe me anything but I need to get these things," She looks to Nash with a light smile, "Certainly some of you I am probably indebted to. But I'm asking for your help." She looks to each of the group in turn. 

Sylvie hms, "That sounds like a rather messy idea, Riva."

Riva nods simply to Yosannah. "You had my word, and whatever's required to back it up."

Ryker retorts to Nash, "You want me to command, I suppose, Chaosian?"

Nash tells Ryker, "I'm not, you know - and Yosannah, I do nothing for you."

Yosannah nods at Riva, thankfully. To Nash she seems to agree, "I know, Nash."

Nash stalks cellarwards.

Riva says "plan? Walk in the back and let the first eight take the suprises."

Ryker states to Brandon, "Armchair Generals command, Brandon. Frontline commanders lead and react. We have more need of the latter, this time."

Despil reaches into his jacket pocket for a moment.

Brandon smiles to Yo, and walks towards the cellar with his staff leading the way. Each step brings a click on the hardwood.

Despil says, "I suppose I count as non-sword, given that there's already eleven.

Riva glances at Despil. "I'd rest easier with you coming along regardless, my lord."

Despil smiles to Riva. "I presume there won't be much rest."

Despil mutters to Riva, "... cologne."

Riva says "Smartass, you try to focus while smelling like you rolled in zombie brains."

Riva opens her arms threatneing to embrace Despil, spioke and drying guts an all.

Despil just laughs. "Want your nose plugged? Come on, come on."

Riva moves to follow the others, sighing. "I don't like this." she grumbles irritably

Despil says "I don't either. If there's trouble, I'll start evacuating people."

Sylvie shrugs and walks over to the cellar door, ignored.

Ryker looks over at Aaron, judging.

Aaron tips his head. "Businness at the courts Good luck Sir. You're probably going to need it. Not like my youth is going to help much anyway tonight." This to Ryker.

Ryker growls quietly. Looking to each, "Yosannah. Brandon. You'll follow me?"

Brandon pauses turning around and nods to Ryker, "Sure..."

Ryker points out, "I wont feel guilt over anyone who gets in my way."

Yosannah nods at Ryker, "Yeah." And then more softly as they tred down the stairs into the cellar, "Yeah. Jesus, Ryker. What are we doing?" She is obviously concerned.

Ryker's lip curls at the word evacuating. He walks to the cellar then, merely replying to Yosannah, "Stay calm and keep your head up."

 

Thog's Cellar - Montmouth Manor - Gaslight...

This is a great big cellar. It's mostly empty save for a pile of what appears to be clothing in one corner, a straw bed on the floor in another corner and a few large barrels of ale. One corner also bares something of a weapons rack that's full of really large weapons, while other weapons are propped against the wall around it, all blades of various sorts.

Brandon pats yo on the back and smiles, "Fun.. Right?" he winks and steps down last, behind Yo and glances around.

Ryker moves a few steps faster, catching up with Riva and Despil, having a few words with them.

Ryker speaks with the two, deadly serious. He mutters to Despil and Riva, "... Differences... both... And... own... but... as... as... horse... time.... to... here, at... problem of Yosannah's.... follow... once,... sake,... not?"

Riva's eyes narrow and she frowns. She finally gives one curt nod and offers a taloned hand to the veteran.

Yosannah looks to the threesome as they converse. She swallows, strain on her face.

Ryker matches the gesture, taking Riva's hand in his own heavy gauntlet. "Thanks."

Ryker looks to Despil and mutters to Despil and Riva.

Despil says to Ryker, "I'm here for the same reasons you are. Lay on, MacDuff."

Arashi plays with his toy while Scott redieas a spell.

Riva whispers "Yosannah, it'll be alright. I gave my word, anything you need. I meant it."

Nash's eyes have picked up a glow, reflecting light from Brandon's magic in a sulpherous yellow as he looks around from his position near the bittom of the stairs.

Ada-Shazandra taps the tip of her glossed boot on a spot of the damp dusky floor, "Thog, I've got a wonderfully trollish task for you: be a dear and punch a hole in your pungent and rather damp lodgings." She teeters back, only a tip-toe pointed to the favored spot for Thog to bash.

Yosannah blinks, eyes having to adjust to the light. She nods at Riva and begins to study their surroundings.

Brandon draws his fingers to the end of the second circle. The circle is two dimensional and then slowly spins forming a 3d ball of light. It glows a soft light blue. It floats in the air moving to anyone who has any sorcerous power and the will to move it. Right now it is controlled by Brandon.

Ryker nods to Despil, once. His eyes find Arashi, then Nash. He moves to the first, beginning a similar muted conversation with the man.

Ryker mutters to Arashi, "Arashi.... didn't... you... best,... to follow me..."

Thog looks at Ada's toe. He growls. Puts his axe against the wall and kneels. He raises his big fist and with a roar, slams it against the floor once. Large cracks form around the point of impact. He raises his fist again and brings it down again. And again. And again.

Brandon winces at the first hit, but gets used to it by the second and third. He simply watches on, moving the light a bit forward to spill ambiently over Thog and his beating.

Scott gets pulled away by an instant logrus tendril.

Ryker frowns momentarily, deep expression that doubles the wrinkles in his face. He looks up, squint so deep his eyes are almost closed.

Arashi mutters to Ryker, "... hear... you said up stairs..."

Nash likewise watches the floor-beating silently, standing a little apart, his claws extended, one set drumming the hilt of his sabre lightly.

Ryker's left hand, empty, fists. A heavy snort and a grunt, acknowledging something. Frown fading to merely that dourness that looks natural on him... more natural than any smile. Eyes drop back to Arashi.

Arashi looks at the dissapearing Scott and yells "Shit!"

Ada-Shazandra pounces backwards, shielding the shimmering oval of her face with the crimson sleeve of her jockey jacket. Brilliant almandine orbs of incandescent jade gleam jewel-like, shedding beams of illustrious light onto the cavity carved by Thog's ruthless hammer on the ground.

Ryker glances at the empty space Scott was currently occupying as well. He looks disappointed for a second, but shrugs it off, refocusing on Arashi.

Yosannah stands near Brandon, watching as Thog pounds into the floor. She reflexively steps back awy from the creature as the pounding continues.

Arashi's narrow and anger burns in them as he stares at the empty space where Scott was.

Ryker summarizes for the man. He mutters to Arashi, "I'm leading.... else... We're gonna try to... and stay... or... you in..."

Riva frowns, but remains still. She takes time to losen the latch on her sword before resettling.

The sound of the troll's massive fist beating against the stone reverberates deafeningly in the enclosed space. As the pit of crumbled rock deepens a definate sound of hollowness is revealed...a second set of echoes much deeper that the those produced in the chamber.

Despil says, "Ryker, I'm following Scott with Logrus."

Thog brings his fist into brutal contact with the floor a few more times until a hole begins to form. The force with which he slams his fist into the stone sends shards and pebbles flying this way and that. Finally, there is a hole large enough for most everyone to get through. He stops. Looks at his hand which is bleeding. He just grunts and stands. Looks at Ada.

Brandon flicks his wrist and sends the light orb to rest in the center of the hole so anyone can look down. He steps forward and glances himself.

Yosannah leans over the hole, and mutters to Brandon, "Can you see anything?"

Nash glances over at the expletive, then looks back to the hole. "Much of a drop? Rope might be wise, for coming up fast again if we've a mind to."

Ryker looks over at Despil, and nods his assent. "If our trumps cease to function - which they might - you can walk to Riva, yes?"

Despil says "Yes."

The hole is indeed large enough for everyone to get through singly except of course for he who made it, Thog being much to large to fit more that a heavily muscled leg in there. It drops into utter darkness, indefinately deep.

Ryker files that away with the slightest of nods, and looks to Arashi for an answer.

Ada-Shazandra nods brusquely to Thog, "Splendidly done, Thog. We shall assume you've redeemed yourself. Come here." The lady pats the taut slope of her hip, her gloved hand elegantly splayed.

Brandon sends the orb a bit lower and peers in.

Arashi looks at Ryker for several very long moments, his anger building and building, then he swings his head, very hard, slamming it into the wall. He repeats this a couple times until he breaths easier. "Yeah, sure." he says to Ryker, ignoring the blood flowing from his scalp.

Thog takes a half step toward Ada. Looks down at her. He might be bowing his head. Growls softly.

Brandon mmms, "Im thinking about 30 feet, a drop into a ...." he peers a bit more pushing the orb down. "Lava?.. tube, it is angled downwards.."

Arashi says "England doesn't have volcaenos."

Yosannah questions, "Lava tube?"

Brandon shrugs to Arashi, "You look, its a lava tube.." he nods.

Arashi looks at the tube.

Ryker looks skeptical at Arashi's actions, but accepts the man's obedience with a firm nod. "Excellent."

Riva says "Glad I wore my armmor here."

The luminous light of Ada-Shazandra's eyes fades with the gallant dip of shadowy lashes. Idly, the lady twirls the slim stem of her crop between her leather-clad fingers.

Ryker points out, "I can grab some rope."

Brandon nods, "Its an old lava tube, empty now but it goes downwards..."

Despil says, "Scott's safe. Let me take a look down the tube."

Brandon steps to the side, but maintains a visual link with his light. He tweaks it a bit and turns up the volume for more help.

Nash says to Ryker, "It would be wise. I'm sure we can all get down and up again under our own steam, but not all of us as fast as rope allows."

Ryker assures Despil, "Logrus at will. Just ... " both delicate, or perhapsdiplomatic, yet with the underlaying firmness of an order, "Be very careful who, or what, you touch with it."

Yosannah turns her head and looks to Despil over her shoulder. She smiles at him and nods before turning her attention back toward the hole. She leans over, resting her hands on her knees. "What can you see, Despil?"

Ryker indeed claims some rope after a few seconds of concentration, pulling about a hundred feet of nylon help out of sparkles about his hand.

Despil says, "I'll do it from here, Brandon." He sends an invisible lens down there and says, "Taking a look...."

Brandon nods and holds his light right where it is.

Riva Stand obediently by.

Arashi, as he's not needed, goes and hangs out off to the side.

Ryker looks for a suitable place to tie the rope off ... he decides to make use of one of the large barrels of ale, finding the two heaviest. Putting his spear aside, he calls over for Riva to lend him a hand, and proceeds to maneuver one of the barrels closer to the edge of newly created hole.

Thog grunts at Ryker and holds out his hand to him. "Thog hold."

Ada-Shazandra yawns. For a moment all emerald light fades from her slick eyes.

Despil says "Long spiral, very dark. About a hundred meters, and then something lit."

Riva lifts a large barrel and carries it with staggered steps to where it's needed.

Nash grins chrome at the Troll's comment, gaze flicking towards Ada for a moment, then back to the hole.

Ryker pauses, eyeing the large creature. Attempting to keep it simple, he asks him, "Are you going to stand here for hours, holding this rope until we return?"

Thog stands there with his hand held out. "Thog stay." He rumbles.

Brandon glances to Despil as his orb arrives back near him. "Any idea what it is?"

Yosannah stands from her crouched position to regard Despil.

Despil says "Vertical shaft. Very bright."

Nash says "It's a helter skelter straight down to hell."

Brandon hmms, "Would it be a save slide, after the drop or do we need to find another way down?"

Ryker debates, then relents, handing one end of the rope over to Thog.

Yosannah considers Nash's words, not being able to contain a light, agreeable smirk.

Thog twines the rope around his hand. Goes to the side of the hole. Drops one end in. Stands there holding the rope. Statue-like.

Ryker looks to Brandon, debating a second. He moves to the man, murmuring something in his ear.

Ada-Shazandra's slim gaze sifts over the knotted rope that passes from Ryker's small hands into Thog's enormous ones. Kittenishly she smirks, shaking out her elaborately braided hair, a crescent of her gloved thumb raking a thin ebony wisp behind the seashell of her ear.

Brandon nods sternly to Ryker, he glances around the room with a scruitinizing gaze.. He ignores everything else for the moment.

Nash rakes a set of claws through his hair, "I'm not afraid of hell. Let's stop pussy-footing about and get down there, neh?"

Arashi looks up and asks Ada. "Hey, Ada, how do we know you're really you?"

Ryker moves toward the hole, wetting his lips and looking down for the first time.

Riva's talons drum out a beat on her shield. "It's like going back home. Wjhee-hee." she murmurs dryly. "I'm with the purple-haired freak, though."

Yosannah crouches next to the hole, watching Ryker, "Be careful, eh, Ryker."

Brandon continues to examine the room, he hands off the light to Ryker should he take it with his mind.

Ryker looks to Arashi, then checks Ada, staring.

Thog just stands there holding the rope.

Ada-Shazandra touches the pale pink tip of her tongue to the curve of her livid lip, her eyes blazing, the refined ridge of her jeweled nose wrinkling, "You don't." she calmly coos.

Brandon chuckles, "And that is how I know its ada." he looks back around the room.

Despil says "Okay... Light's brighter as we get into it. I don't know if it's so bright it's not safe yet. But there's some suspended platform there."

Ryker offers a better answer. "I checked. Though my own means. It's her all right."

Ada-Shazandra rolls her eyes.

Arashi nods, then pats himself over. He pulls out a pack of smokes and lights one up while he waits.

Brandon conent with his memorization of the area and then backs to Despil with a raised eyebrow. "What do you suggest? Your the only one that has been down there, in essence."

Yosannah doesn't seem to pay much attention to the banter between Ada and Ryker, instead she says, "Take your time, Ryk."

Ryker reaches the short distance for the rope. His other hand reaches for his spear where he left it, and with a simple sorcerous command, it flies the short distance to his hand. Ryker drops it down the hole, listening it to fall, hit, and slide, the sound diminishing.

Arashi flicks a smoke to Riva, aimed so she can catch it easily.

Ada-Shazandra's rolling eyes settle upon Arashi. She takes a step towards him and nudges an arcanely sharp elbow into the youth's ribs, "You owe me a new porch, but i'll settle for a cigarette."

Thog looks down into the hole.

Arashi nods to Ada and gives her a smoke, too.

Despil says "Ah. Here we go. There's a spiral staircase around the outside of the shaft."

Riva claims the cigarette, and looks around for a light.

Nash glances around the gathered. "Anyone object to me heading down the rope? I promise to scream usefully if something starts eating me. Unless you're itching to scream first, old man." this last to Ryker.

The sounds in the tube echo both upwards and down, feeding back doubly...trebly, distorting loud speech though not so much as to make normal conversation unintelligeable.

Arashi takes a drag and says to Nash. "In case of emergency, please use the stairs."

Ada-Shazandra snatches the stem of Arashi's cigarette and pensively rolls is between a gloved thumb and forefinger, the pale pillar of her neck craned towards the gaping hole in the cellar floor.

Arashi passes the matches to those who need them.

Ryker lowers himself over the edge and proceeds to climb down, his answer to Nash. He mutters sarcastically as he starts to lower himself, "Don't say I stood in the back, letting the cannon fodder soften the blows."

Ada-Shazandra lifts a grateful palm to Arashi, declining his generous offer of matches.

Riva chortles at Ryker's comment and acceps a match from Arashi.

Brandon smirks softly and watches the going ons. He holds his orb above the hole illuminating the area better. "Despil, what else do you see?"

Thog's muscles barely flex when Ryker's weight pulls against the rope he's holding.

Despil says "It's bright. Very bright."

Yosannah reaches for the rope, as if she means to follow after Ryker.

Ada-Shazandra shivers, the chill sudden and violent. Instinctively the lady veers for the stairs, "Cheerio, then and good luck." She whispers, her lavish accent shocked by a rasp of a whisper.

Ryker goes down, hand over hand, with ease. His voice echoes firmly out of the hole, "Riva comes next, then Arashi, then anyone else."

Brandon smiles to Thog, "Thanks for holding the rope big guy." He moves to take his place in line, wings staff and all.

Yosannah exhales softly. She retracts her hand from the rope and looks to Riva.

Riva pauses long enough to shorten and blunt talons that serve as fingers before grabbing the robe and sliding down in a steady series of short controlled slides.

Ada-Shazandra pauses by the stone stairs, the cigarette compulsively rolled between deft fingers. Harshly, the woman swallows, rabidly blinking as she glances to glimpse Ryker slip into the fathomless depths of the tunnel.

Arashi says "Bye-bye, Ada. Enjoy the encroaching Apocolypse."

Despil says "I'm trying to see if it's safe in all that light. It's like being in a star or something."

Nash wrinkles his nose, lurking near the rope with barely restained impatience, "He needs a slap. Definitely."

Despil hmmms. "Bright but not hot. But bright enough that it might as well be dark."

Ada-Shazandra's haunting jade green eyes meet Arashi's diseased gaze, You do not understand' she mouths, though no hue of sound spurts forth, velveteen words lost in the darkness.

Yosannah offers, "You're next, Arashi. Let's go."

Thog growls softly at Brandon. With each new bit of weight on the rope, his muscles tense a little more, but his grip seems like iron and doesn't appear even close to moving.

Despil adds, "Cave temperature. Nice effect. My compliments."

Yosannah looks to Despil, "What?"

Brandon smirks and nods, "I will remind you to tell them that, if we find anyone."

Despil says "That shaft is so bright it might as well be dark, but not hot. I'm going to shift, anyway."

Arashi looks to Ada for a moment, then shurgs and looks away. He walks over, crushing out his smoke and pocketing the butt. He pulls a pair of gloves from he back pocket and pulls them on. Some people still have actual skin on their hands, after all. He hooks his toy to his knife belt then takes up the rope. He looks back to Ada. "Perhaps you should've explained it better, then." he says, then looks to the hole, taking a repelers stance, waiting for it to be clear.

Ada-Shazandra's footsteps echo hallow within the eerily lit cellar. The dowagerstares - eyes aghast - affixed upon to hallow within the floor. Clip. Clop. Chime - her spurs rake the stone floor as she skids to a willful stop by the cavity. Glazed, her face seems tragically pale and doll-like within the gloom.

Nash tell Arashi, "Move your arse, boy, or step aside."

Riva is well down the rope by now.

Ryker's voice, growing increasingly distant, echoes Nash's. "Let's go!"

Arashi looks to Nash as some voice in his head was speaking to him. He steps away from the hole. "ok." and lets Nash go next.

Despil starts to shift...

Brandon holds the light in place, he waits for the others.

Despil appears to be taking up the rear or close to it.

Nash nods to Thog as he grasps the rope, easing his weight onto it and slithering downwards without hesitation.

The scales on Brandon's hands consume his fingers and the palm of his hands aswell, all the while he waits.

Yosannah moves next, after Nash. She lowers herself over the edge of the hole. She obviously must exhert more effort then the others to manage, but she seems to be holding her own.

Arashi seems to regain more of his awareness again and waits in line for his next turn at the rope.

Lucid moisture drops uncannily from Ada-Shazandra's radiant enraptured eyes. The condensation splats upon the butter-soft leather of her dusky glove. The woman lures her own palm to the tip of her gemmed nose for inspection, more tears pooling into the leather.

Brandon ushers Arashi forward, and takes up after him. The light globe follow shim into the hole...

Riva's armor subtly shifts to meet it's wearer's needs. The mask alters to cover the eyes, then hardens to become a dark-glassy lenses over her eyes.

Riva's talons shortly resume their usual shape, slowly

The entrance to the shaft is 100 meters away at the end of the lava tube which is hiked down easily enough. After a curve lit only by Brandon's light, there is an opening at the end that is lit from beyond.

Brandon works his light to be in the best possible place, while still managing to keep his wings tight enough around his form that they don't hinder him all that much.. They will however prove a problem should the passage get any narrower.

Riva follows quietly along.

Nash watches his footing as he descends, frowning slightly.

Despil has shifted into a form that is a humanoid, whirling mass of darkness.

Yosannah moves steadily down the shaft, though the trek is obviously trying for her.

Ryker waits for the others to finish climbing down the rope, for everyone to be at least near in line, looking ahead as if trying to judge to invisible intentions ahead. When the others are ready he walks on, leading the way down the lava tube towards the opening at the end, his spear back in his right hand, held at aforward angle.

Brandon shoves the orb forward towards Ryker, as if to help somehow in not stumbling into an unseen pit or the like. This does however leave the back rather dark.

Arashi pauses to look at his toy. He Hmmmmmm's, then looks foward for a moment before continuing on.

Brandon's light seems to be providing adequate light to expose any obvious treacherous footing.

Yosannah licks at her lips, wetting them, breath coming quickly after the excursion down the tube. She looks to Arashi, "What is that thing?"

Despil says, "If you mean me, it's Despil."

Riva's head turns as she takes note of her surroundings. She stays in step behind Ryker.

Yosannah chuckles lightly, mood lighter, "No," she points at Arashi's 'toy', "That."

Nash looks down at the ground frequently, remarking, "Whatever we're walking in it's rock solid at any rate. Got to admire good workmanship."

The passageway proves to be of little difficulty to any of the party, the light proving more that sufficient to the need.

Brandon offers to Yo, "It has sorcery on it, I know that." he nods to the toy and nods to Nash. "Yes, once more we will give them our compliments." a soft chuckle.

Arashi holds his toy up a little "Hmmmmmmm... This? Its mine." he says, almost becoming Golem in his posessiveness of it, then relaxes "This is what the underpowered design when they put their minds to the task." he sighs and looks to it again "Its a Horseman detector."

The length of the tube passes quickly even proceeding cautiously. Soon, the mage -light starts to fade, washed out partially by the light emitting form the end of the tunnel

Yosannah chuckles at that, "Horsemen detector." She points at the object, "That?"

Nash tells Brandon, "I've an aversion to plummeting." and to Arashi, "How does that work then? Does it detect fickleness?"

Brandon gives of a shark cackle of a laugh at that and keeps walking. His staff clicking to the side of the wall at times when he moves.

Ryker speaks with Riva, his tone quiet in the manner of not wanting to advertise his presence, and a harsh whisper back at the others insists they do likewise and keep their voices low. To Riva, "When the fight comes - and I'm confident it will, I want you up front with me. We keep the sorcerous types in the back, for added offense and defense."

Arashi pauses again and looks at the toy. He nods to Yosannah "Yeah. This." he looks to Nash and shrugs "Only if they're fickled on horsemen. It looks like we're nearing one, too."

Yosannah stops and turns to regard Arashi and his 'toy', "What?"

Riva nods and falls into step beside Ryker when the terrian permits. She remains pensively silent, demonic mask on her helm hiding any expression.

Between Ryker's talking of battle, and Arashi's last words Brandon's eyes go distant and raises a Trump Defense.

Yosannah calls softly to Ryker, "Ryker, wait."

Arashi pauses and sighs "We've got a ways to go still..." he holds up the toy and looks at it, just to be sure.

Ryker frowns and turns his head as Yosannah's voice rises. He comes to a stop, looking a little annoyed. "Keep your voice down. What?"

Nash smiles, "Just one? That's good news." Still moving forwards until he's level with Ryker and Riva.

Yosannah points at the item in Arashi's hands. After a moment she reaches for Arashi's shoulders and pushes him forward toward Ryker, "Show him, Arashi."

Riva haults "I know." her distorted voice comes through. "He spoke to me about making it."

Ryker states, "I was listening. I already knew one was already in the area, though I didn't know how close." To Arashi, "Just give a mention when we're about to step on one, eh."

Brandon dosn't enjoy the cramped spaces with his wings and large staff. "Ok, point made. Thank you Arashi, lets keep moving..."

Arashi doesn't look like he enjoys getting hauled forward. He looks to Ryker "That was my intention." he shakes his shoulder free "They're all down here."

Yosannah sighs and begins to trek forward again.

Ryker agrees with Brandon's suggestion, merely giving Yo a look and walking on, only stopping next when they reach the delicate end.

Sunlit Shaft...

Above as below there stretches the interior of a column built up of rough-hewn stone about 80ft in diameter. The broken stone circle of wall, fractured enough to allow easy enough climbing for one skilled in such a thing, is beveled sharply ne a narrow series of steps that twists in both directions in a wide spiral. The steps themselves are treacherous at best, offering only minimal room for even a single person to traverse them. At the top of the shaft blinding yellow-white light pours downwards, too bright to look at comfortably. The light passes through the shaft only to merge into inpenetrable darkness below. A faint scent of damp and stagnation rises from the depths while above, the brilliant light is broken only by what appears to be a disk of sorts about half the shaft's width attached to the walls by long chains.

Nash squints against the light, shading his eyes with a hand and looking dubiously at the way ahead. "Eh ... Joy." he pauses, his expression of doubt not clearing any.

Arashi begins hum and murmur a little song as he drifts back towards the end of the party.

Ryker doesn't look too thrilled either, carefully trailing his gaze up along the spiral. Judging.

From the landing the long spiral of stairs goes both up into the light or down into darkness....

Ryker asks, "Brandon. If someone fell, could you catch and carry them?"

Brandon mmms, "One, yes.. Two... Possibly, three no."

Arashi stops and plays with his toy, aiming it upwards, then down wards.

Ryker looks around. "Everyone hear that? Only one person is allowed to fall at a time, though lets try to stick to the stairs."

Nash sniffs thoughtfully, "I weigh a fucking ton. I don't think I should use the stairs."

Riva says "With the armor I'm no light load either."

Arashi Hmmmmm's.

Brandon is all the way at the back, "How far down is it Ryker?"

Ryker glances down at his own heavy half-plate, generous lips twisting thoughtfully. His hands making a flapping gesture at Nash.

Arashi turns around slowly, pointing with the toy.

Ryker instructs Nash, "Sprout some wings."

Yosannah slides a hand to her neck, scratching at the scar there absent-mindedly. She looks at the stairs, considering the the inevitable question that must be facing them all.

Ryker adds, "Maybe some pretty red feathers."

Nash says "Tell me up or down and I'll try the way of the creeping tentically thing, neh? I'm not the world's best flyer."

Brandon smirks, and spies Arashi then turns his head around wonderingly. "Arashi.. What does that thing say?"

Nash says "Pretty red feathers, my arse."

Ryker relents. "Whatever suits you best."

Ryker turns his crimson eyes on Despil. "If you could be our forward scout, I'd appreciate it." Then on to Arashi. "We're hunting Horsemen. Any suggestions?"

Arashi says "It says Famine is the same distance from here."

Yosannah asks, "And the others?"

Ryker prompts, "Up or down, Arashi?"

Arashi shakes his head "Readings are still low."

Yosannah fidgets with a strand of hair and bites at her lip, "Pick, Ryker. That's the best we're gonna get."

Nash nods and takes a few steps back and away from the group, breathing more deeply as his skin begins to warp and undulate, bones crumpling as they soften, clothes flickering with ensorcelments even as they're absorbed into explanding flesh, tentacles sprouting as the mass spreads into a pale and fleshy octopus-like creature called: Tentacle-Thing

Arashi says "The readings stay the same, Ryker." he looks to Despil "Is the reality curved here?"

Despil says "Let me check."

Brandon is growing iritated as the standing still is giving him a cramp or something. He leans against the side wall and just waits trying to get comfy.

Despil says "Let's say a maybe on that, Arashi. A definite maybe."

Ryker takes a minute to make up his mind, and then states, "We'll go down, careful as we can manage. It's easier on the legs. Brandon, if you can fly a little down below us, that will be a good safety net, and maybe allow us to pick up the pace a bit."

Ryker says "I'm sure you all don't want to be down here any longer than you have to."

Brandon nods, "Got ya, lets move then. This tunnel hurts my back and I need to streach my wings a bit.

Arashi nods "My reading is fluxuating, too." He sighs "Ok. Either reality is tweaked, letting him somehow be all around, or maybe we're inside him, or going inside him." shrugs. "One way is as good as another, Ryker, based on this, I'm afraid."

Yosannah mutters, "Amen to that." As they make their way down she reaches a hand into her pocket and fishes out what appears to be a hair tie. She begins to pull her hair back and away from her face. "If that's the case, then he already knows we're here. Maybe we should just call him out, Ryker."

Riva says "Well, seems we can't go wrong, so trust your insticts, o-fearless leader."

Tentical_thing flobbers closer to the edge, its limbs feeling the walls and pulling it up onto the ceiling and then out to the main chamber wall. It's hissy breath, coming from multiple gaping holes in the thicker tenticles as it starts aninitially cautious decent downwards, spreading itself out.

Ryker keeps the lead, steeling himself and walking onto the stairs. He's only human heavy, at least, medium-build plus a bit of metal.

Ryker does indeed choose down, walking on at a cautious but steady pace.

Tentacle_thing asks in a distorted, reedy voice, "None have intent to harm the spirits, just the thief, yes?"

Arashi waits his turn. He looks to Yosanna, pointing the device at her for a moment, then away. He thinks and nods a moment to himself.

Ryker explains, "My intent is to get Pestilence. I don't care too much for anything else, one way or another."

Yosannah seems about to comment to Ryker when Arashi's actions catch her gaze. She furrows her brow and regards him, "Hmm?"

Ryker adds, "As Ada pointed out earlier, in her manner, I'm not sure my blade would do much against a spirit anyway."

Riva says "I have to get them all, or at least Pestilence and Death...though I'll do it myself if everyone else has had enough fun."

Brandon pushes forward as slowly as he has to but he is determend to get to that damn staircase.

Tentacle_thing says nothing else for the moment, all it's attention apparantly focused on co-ordinating its many limbs and not peeling off the wall altogether.

Arashi looks to Yos, then diverts to Ryker. "We lost a big ace when we lost Scott. And I lack my mom's ability to directly kick spiritual ass, unfortunately."

Ryker's boots are loud as he descends down the diameter of the shaft, his inside hand training along the stone wall, his outside keeping a tight grip on the spear.

In order the group enters the shaft proper, threading down the treacherously narrow band of stairs.

Ryker offers, "It was disappointing to be sure, but we'll just have to manage best we can. We have a fair amount of muscle here, physical and mental. I like our odds, myself." To Brandon he now gestures ahead, "Fly on."

Brandon steps to the edge and whews, he steps out and flutters up a bit streaching his wings making a comfortable place in the chamber. He works like a humming bird, up and down strokes counteracting themselves making no wing. He starts to move downwards slowly, not wanting to get to far lost from the group. He gets under and to the side a bit from the group, his own flying a natural habbit now he prepares to catch anyone should they fall through.

Arashi works along the stairs carefully, murmuring to Yo as he goes, "You're Yosannah, aren't you."

Yosannah nods at Arashi, but says nothing in return.

Riva follows a few steps behind Ryker.

Tentacle_thing's tentacles add a soft, slapping rhythm to the decent, the thing muttering low cautions to itself as it goes.

Arashi nods in return and says nothing more.

Despil is quiet as he follows down the stairs.

As Brandon launches outwards in a graceful arc, there is a momentary pause as his wings stretch outwards. And then, with absolutely no warning, he is wrenched out of the air downwards with terrific force, vanishing from sight nearly immediately.

Arashi, from time to time, gives a little signal to anyone that may be behind him, noting that he is pausing a moment to look at his toy.

Yosannah gasps a sharp intake of breath as Brandon disappears.

Brandon makes a shocked look as he is swooped downward. "Shit!" he calls out to the group, is voice fadding as he falls from sight.

Tentacle_thing freezes as Brandon hurtles past, emitting a reedy noise of alarm. "Eeee!"

Arashi looks out to where Brandon was, his hand reaching out too late.

Riva tenses and jerks as if to spring into action, but alas she's helpless. She calls back, an urgent appeal. "Despil!"

Ryker frowns, stopping as his eyes trail Brandon. A curse under his breath, and he immediately begins to concentrate.

Arashi murmurs "... Brandon..." as his fingers close on empty air. He lowers his gaze.

Despil just growls, "Yeah." But he is leaning to look for Brandon.

Tentacle_thing's lower tentacles start to move downwards again, although the higher ones remain clamped, causing the thing to look decidedly elongated. It stops once it reaches it's apparant stretch point, looking tense.

Arashi sighs and looks back down the way Brandon went. He points the toy that way, watching the readings.

Ryker, mere seconds after he stops, braces himself against the wall, back to it, and extends his left hand, commanding sharply, "Grab my hand!"

The hand of Brandon comes into existance reaching for Ryker, there is a sharp as Brandon and Ryker clasp in contact.

Riva watches tensely, ready to grab Ryker if there's a need.

Despil swears angrily, "-Ser-pent!" through clenched jaw, logrus tendrils working to pull Brandon back onto the staircase.

Tentacle_thing contracts a little, one limb waving outwards, seeming to look eyelessly at the group.

Ryker's knees bend with the pull as he establishes a physical connection to Brandon through sudden sparkles before him. A deep grunt, left arm flexing, his spear held in the other and used as a half-assed extra brace upon the stairway. His knees bend so much he's jerked down to a crouch, and his position is precarious. But he looks to hold something.

Despil shudders for a moment and growls wordlessly.

Yosannah yells, "Help them, Riva!"

Riva wraps her arms around Ryker and leans mightily back, pulling.

Brandon's arm flexes aswell, and pulls himself half way up, shoulder in view now sparkles forming down his body as he works his way up into another space of Reality. Once his face comes through it has an obvious mix of fear and determination warping the scales there in.

Ryker wastes no time, attempting to rise with the help of Riva and pull Brandon all the way through. Manipulating him to the narrow space before him on the stairway.

From one falling angel a cascade begins. The stair beneth Ryker crumbles even as his hand scrabbles for purchase. Riva's flooring also gives way almost immediately and Brandon's inertia downwards hovers them on the brink on all three tumbling.

From somewhere above come the echoing remnants of a woman's anguished scream...

Yosannah begins to slide backward, instinctively as the ground becomes unstable. She seems to reach a hand in Despil's direction, "Despil... what's happening..."

Ryker doesn't let go of Brandon, whatever he does. A loud curse, feet scrambling as they lose purchase. His spear is quickly abandoned from his right hand, which makes a last ditch attempt to grab something, anything.

Despil reaches for Yo's hand to pull her back to where he is, safe ground.

Arashi balances himself on the stairs as best as his training allows, securing the toy to his belt in order to free up his hands.

Tentacle_thing extends a second tentacle, these two waving around outwards, the other tentacles quivering slightly as they take up the strain.

There is a moment of deja vu, an echo of Brandon's initial flight as he reappears in the trump effect fully, and then, with the same rapidity as before, Ryker, Riva and the winged man vanish into the blackness....

Arashi says with a bleak matter of factness "I think someone is hungery..."

Yosannah's gaze darts about, breath coming quickly as evidenced by the steady rise and fall of her chest.

Tentacle_thing waves its tentacles uselessly in the air a moment before clamping them back to the wall, hissing. After a moment's reflection, it crawls and drags itself towards the gap in the stairs, clearly meaning to act as a bridge - albeit a squishy one.

Yosannah urges, "We need to get off of here!"

Despil hisses, "Damnit."

Arashi murmurs "Fuck."

Yosannah tugs at Despil's hand, trying to make her way toward the make-shift bridge that now covers the gap, "Despil, come on."

As if in response to Yosannah's urging, another chunk of downward stairs crubles to fall out of site.

Arashi says in response to Yo's comment "Would now be a bad time to repoint out the possiblity we're inside Famine?"

Despil idly says, "No, no, feel free to say that." He Despil nods and growls low in his throat, still irritated.

Arashi says "Ok. I think we're metaphysically inside Famine, and this is possible his mouth or throat."

Tentacle_thing makes an odd sound that resolves shortly into burbling laughter.

Yosannah is moving as quickly as possible, making evory effort not to stray from the edge of the stairs, "Duely noted. Let's go." She yells, "Nash, come on!" as they cross over his form and to the other side of the bridge.

Tentacle_thing waits until everyone's across before it points out, "That was Ada that screamed, wasn't it?" slapping tentacles downwards anyway to follow. "Should I come or go check?"

Arashi nods "It was." Arashi looks around more as he decends, contemplating where they are at.

Yosannah shakes her head as she descends, "We're going to die if we don't get off..."

Despil says "Then we should move at all due speed."

Tentacle_thing says "But if Arashi is right - my old friend's stomach is the last place we want to be." it pauses, starting to reverse direction. "We should head instead for the light ..."

Yosannah slows her descent and looks over her shoulder at Nash, and then to Despil. Panic makes the lines in her forehead, "Guys... we can't linger, whatever we do. Despil?"

Despil says "I can pull us up. We should not split up from the people who fell and they may need assistance. If someone wants to trump one of them, please say it aloud whom you are trumping."

Arashi says "I have a trump of Riva. I can do her."

Yosannah nods, "Hurry, Arashi. Please."

Despil says "Then I'll not grab her like I did with Brandon." He sounds more peeved than he usually does.

Arashi nods and pulls out a trump. He focuses on it...

Tentacle_thing starts to move upwards with more sense of purpose, tentacles groping, "Ryker is with them." it sounds confident about this.

Arashi says "They say they're ok. They're in a sewer."

Despil says "Do they have recommendations? Or requests?"

Arashi says "I'll try. Contact is bad."

Despil must be in a better humor, because he says, "Don't tell Riva it'll make her smell better."

Yosannah feels a tingling sensation in the back of her head. Ryker attempts to make contact with her.

Yosannah looks between Arashi and Despil. She asks Despil, "Should we go to them...." Her gaze begins to glass over...

Yosannah has established contact with Ryker.

Despil says "We should not split up."

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "Ryker!!"

Arashi looks over and puts his trump away. "Rykers on the phone to Yosannah."

The image of Ryker is there, but intermittent, like a bad phone connection. A lot of static, a times flickering out of sight. His mental voice is calm but firm. "Yo we'- ... we're intact ..."

Tentacle_thing pauses in it's upwards creep. "Well? Up I go, at any rate. Who will follow?"

Arashi says "Lets get a tact report from down below first."

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "Ryker!" she yells, "What ... want me.. ?"

Yosannah yells, apparently not hearing Nash, "Ryker! What do you want me to do?!"

Tentacle_thing taps a tentacle against the wall.

Arashi looks to Tentacle Thing. "Welcome to team effort."

The image of Ryker's image, coming flashes, looks wet but in one piece. You catch mention of sewers, nasty, and something being weak.

Yosannah yells again, "Ryker!!"

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "Ryker!!"

Arashi says "Isn't there somethign we can do, like all focus in on the call to help get a better reception?"

Tentacle_thing says thinly, "My usual companions are more decisive."

The image of Ryker's image becomes even more faint, and you get the feeling he's saying much more than you hear. At most you catch something about Nash and following, and then the connection is gone.

Arashi looks to Nash and says "Well, that's the problem. Those are your usual companions. This is a motely crew."

Yosannah shakes her head, eyes focus, "He only said something about following Nash. I guess you should get us up, Despil. Hurry."

Despil propels himself back across the gap, flying through the air. "Whoever is not trumping, hold out a hand."

Yosannah reaches her hand out to Despil.

Tentacle_thing starts creeping up the wall again. "Yes, let us hope it remains motley and not dessicated."

Arashi reaches out a hand to Despil, and asks "Why are we currently going up?"

"Just do it!"

Despil pulls Yo up to where he is, then -- Arashi, then Nash.

The group begins to ascend, as fast as they are able.

Arashi sighs as he gets no answer, muttering "First we're going down, then we're going up... neither are probably the way to go..."

Tentacle_thing makes odd little wheezing noises as it goes upwards, saying unevenly, "Better the head than the bum."

At the same time, in the Sewers of Pestilence...

Step ye into a labyrinth of slime-rotted stone and fetid waters. Echoes fill the silence of these age-worn tunnels; the groans of creaking wood and rock under stress, the skitter and many-footed things, the fluidic reverberation of water and any number of nameless other sounds. The walls, coated and caked as they are, were once highly decorative, motifs of gargoyles in vivid array seeming to move under any light refracted off the waters of this place. At the intersections, large cistern-filled rooms gape darkly, their cardinal points watched by the visage of stone faces whose gemlike eye pulse with a dull glow.

From out of the dark recesses of an arched ceiling three shadowy figures detach, falling, to land with a resounding splash into a deep cistern of stagnant water.

Ryker quickly scrambles to extricate himself from the cistern, wasting no time.

As Brandon splashes into the water he almost immediately uses as much strength as his wings can muster with his dislocated shoulder to push up and out of the well. He shakes off like a dog.

Riva lets go of Ryker, having had tightened her hold when she lost her footing. She rises and grumbles irritably. "And I thought I couldn't be made to stink any worse..."

It takes Ryker a moment to orient himself, long hair a wet mess upon his face, leather, padding, and trousers annoyingly wet beneath the armor. A quick check follows of his weapons, all secure, followed by a quick check of his surroundings, wary of any new faces.

Brandon flutters there and reaches over to rub his shoulder working it for a moment, he glances around as well. "Well, that officially sucked ass." he says very sarcastically, "What do we do now?"

Ryker, his voice as dry as his body is wet, "Did I hear Nash complimenting the workmanship of that tunnel?"

Riva says "I hope not. Shall I try to trump Despil or someone and try to get back?"

Ryker holds up a hand for Brandon to remain calm, soon rising, brushing hair out of his face, and trying to regain the straight posture of a leader. "While the fall was unforeseen, that we would run into some surprises is not. Hence my initial statement about commanding and leading." He seems a little smug about that fact. Just a hint.

Ryker glances at Riva, then decides, "Best let me trump Yosannah or Nash. Trump and Logrus don't work so well."

Riva nods once, gaze roaming.

Brandon nods a bit and looks for a place to land softly, he does so and starts to wiggle his wings while looking around...

Ryker sends his concentration elsewhere, replying on Riva and Brandon to keep an eye out. Absently, he stretches and massages his left arm, a little sore from the sudden jerk Brandon put on it.

Riva's eyes unfocus. "I have a call..."

Brandon starts the working of a light spell again, this one larger than the first. He lets the area glow around him for a moment nodding to Ryker; working his own shoulder as well. Brandon glances to Riva, "Who is it?" he asks as if she could know such a thing.

Riva says "Arashi."

Ryker pauses his effort, looking at Riva.

Riva says "It's staticy, I can't tell if he can hear me."

Brandon mmms and moves to her offering a hand to her shoulder in order to assist.

Ryker points out to her, "He should save his energy. Ignore it - I'll probably have more luck with Yosannah, being an artist and strong in mind."

Brandon pushes the trump in harder, trying to clear things up a bit. He glances at Riva as she ends the conversation, "You understood that?" Brandon's light helps a bit, casting glints off the disturbed water which reflect on the carven walls and ceiling.

Riva says "I think he was asking if we needed help. I told him Ryker was trying to call Yo, and that we're ok." She adds, "in a sewer"

Brandon nods, "Well you got more than I did." he turns to Ryker, "How is it that Trumps are . . . staticy here.." he wonders extending his senses while still rubbing his arm.

Ryker doesn't answer, concentrating hard to exclusion of anything else, a deep knit to his brow.

Riva scans the water and their surroundings carefully.

Brandon uses his light and moves towards his staff. He picks it up and shakes it off, as he does so he looks around moving the light a bit.

Ryker exhales, beads of sweat already formed on his brow. "Damn this place." He takes a relaxing breath, shouldering half slumping. "I had a feeling this would happen."

Brandon nods, "Trumps have stopped working, right?" he attempts to summon a trump defense. The defense comes up fine to anyone who could sense such, Brandon simply hrms.

Ryker wipes his brow and looks around anew, as if worried things might have changed in the interim. "Not stopped, they're just being interfered with. I can make a connection, but not a full one. Not enough for physical contact, and it took all my effort just to maintain what half-assed contact I did have with Yosannah. And that's an impressive feat right there."

Riva looks around slowly and frowns. "I feel like I'm being watched, and it's making my skin crawl. Ryker, you're the boss...pick a direction and let's move. Sooner done, sooner we find a way outta here...though I'm not even gonna pause to speculate how we *got* here."

Brandon glances straight up, and moves the ball of light back the way they fell in.

The eldritch light from Brandon's spell lights up more than the water, catching the dour faces of the gargoyle sentinels that line the cistern, their gem-like eyes pulsing dully in the glow...

Ryker shakes off some excess water, and peers back into the cistern. He repeats his earlier trick, extending a hand, and his metal spear is drawn from out of the water into his hand. "Handy, that." He looks in every direction, attempting to tell if one differentiates from any other.

Brandon glances up and hmms, no visible entrance at all as to the way they came. "Yes that is a good question, how did we get here." He hmms and thinks for a moment, "Alright boss-man, pick a direction lets move."

Ryker closes his eyes a moment and puts a hand to stomach, as if listening. With a vague grunt he opens his eyes shortly after and starts in a direction, walking with confident strides. He remarks, "Lets hope the space here is finite, if not small. Otherwise we'll have to find some bread crumbs."

The water, even sloughed off, seems to cling with an oily slime impossible to wipe off. Brandon's light catches more still, flickering pairs of tiny red eyes that are there and then gone before the light can fully reveal their source.

Brandon nods to Ryker, head snapping towards a pair of eyes. "What the..." mouthed out but not spoken, he brings the orb along with him keeping his wings close.

Riva looks as well, frowning. "Here's to hoping. Right now, I'd be happy to get away from the eyes." she sloshes forward, glaring hostility around her.

Brandon squishes his nose, "And the smell." he grumbles walking along.

Riva says "Shift your nose off, oh mighty Chaosian."

The passages are between 10-12 feet wide, a fairly deep channel filled with the water running down each of them with, dry walking room several feet wide on either side. The ceiling are of decent height but arched inward.

Brandon smirks, "Good idea." he says but doesn't actually do it.

Ryker doesn't let the disgusting water get to him, or seem to, perhaps having faired through worse before. His grip on the spear shifts, holding it horizontally now with a lighter grip, ready to throw. Before long he starts tossing out commands, still walking. With a gesture to the other side of the nasty river that runs through the sewer, Ryker states, "Riva, if you can jump to the side, it'd be better for each of us to have a side. Room to fight. Brandon, you'll best a few feet behind me."

Ryker's spear isn't ready to throw, but held at thigh level, merely more ready than before. Not over his shoulder.

As if in response to Ryker's statement, a low chittering roar comes into awareness down in the dark of the passageway ahead, growing in intensity...

Riva jumps to the other side and follows across from Ryker, pulling her sword from its sheath finally.

Brandon nods, "Works for me." he steps back a few feet and takes up position and starts glancing behind him at times. With the roar he begins the workings of a spell as they walk murmuring.

Ryker's footsteps stop at the sound, the echoing lingering on a little longer. He guesses, displeased, "Rats. Usually a given, in sewers." After a moment he amends, "Maybe a lot of rats..."

The sound grows louder, irritated bursts of squeaking punctuating the splash and patter of feet...

Brandon nods working the ends of his spell together after a time he rests the spell on his staff's red jewel. Ready to unleash at any time.. He pushes the light orb in front of Ryker and Riva attempting to see.

Riva sighs and rotates the sword a few times, as if loosening her wrist. She slides out of her shield and abandons it. Covered heat to foot by armor, she doesn't seem overly concerned.

Ryker orders, "Brace yourselves." His grip on the spear tightens, but he doesn't really look to ready to use it. "I don't really like our odds against a hundred plus rats. Not with weapons. We won't be fast enough. We'll probably have to grit our teeth and let them run past and over us ... hug the wall, stay out of the water." He glances at Brandon behind him. "Unless you have a flame thrower handy?"

The first one comes into the light, not tentatively, but as if hell were on it's heels. A moment later, hell arrives in force. Rats. Thousands upon thousands of them.

Riva sheaths her sword and presses against the wall.

Ryker follows suit, back to the wall once again, spear sort of bracing at an angle. Louder, "Avoid bites if you can! Probably have rabies."

Brandon shakes his head, "Nope, water!" he thrusts his staff forward pointing between the pair as he unleashes his spell in all its rage. The water under Brandon's feet rises and almost multiplies as it flies towards the rats in a wave of scalding heat.

Riva says nothing, pressed flat against the wall, opposite of Ryker.

Ryker is a few feet ahead of Brandon, sharing a side of the sewer.

The screaming of flash cooked rats is terrifyingly loud. But as the super-heated water strikes the wall of furry bodies it is rapidly overwhelmed, enveloped and then the rats are on Brandon in force, slamming into the two other armored forms with tangible force but far less than would be had they not been pressed to the walls.

Riva digs talons into the wall to anchor herself.

Brandon attempts to roll to the side with Ryker after he lets his spell go, not wanting to get a mouth full of rats.

Fast as he may be, it is not quite quick enough to avoid the brunt of the beasts and Brandon is carried backward as surely as if he was caught on a wave made flesh.

Ryker's strong legs take the initial impact, his stance wide. It's a precarious position he's in, the weight of his armor helping, his center of gravity strong, but his footing, assaulted by water and rat, threatens to be knocked out from under him.

Riva's talons slide on the grimy walls, issuing a irritating screech that's lost on the racket. So involved in her own plight, she's unable to assist or perhaps even notice Brandon's plight.

At the last moment Brandon leaps up instead and barrel rolls, angling his wings to take the brunt he shoves his feet up into the top of the shaft he lets the rats and water slide under him.

As suddenly as the onslaught had begun it ends, the last of the rats trailing into the darkness, leaving a wake of drowned and steam bloated furry bodies. Brandon's desperate maneuver pulls him out of the main thrust of the wave however; momentum nevertheless taking him hard into a wall, a blow his outstretched wings manage to brake against fairly effectively.

Brandon lands on the sewer floor and rolls over standing up. "Well, that worked better than I expected." he grumbles and moves back towards the pair. He massages his wing a bit. Brandon speaks sarcastically of course.

By the end, Ryker isn't standing anymore, and he's actually about forty feet down the tunnel, having fallen, gotten back up, slipped again right at the tail end. A lot of scrambling in there. Afterwards, he's on his back, catching his breath for a few precious seconds.

Riva glances back, managing to have remained put. She calls down to Ryker, distorted voice echoing oddly. "You alright, oh fearless leader?"

Brandon offers Ryker a hand up being closer than Riva. "Sorry about that, it was all I had."

Ryker climbs to his feet with Brandon's help, shaking himself off once again. Riva merely gets a dirty look. He promises, "If I have to start casting spells myself, someone is going to regret it."

Riva says "Ooooh, I'm sure they're quaking." she waits for the pair to catch up and resumes walking. "Wish I had kept my shield."

Brandon chuckles a bit, and starts to work on another spell to hang. He just takes directions. Murmuring to himself he makes motions with his hand as he walks.

Ryker resumes his trek as well, catching up with Riva. He manages to keep his ire and frustration under control, though a small scowl lingers on his heavy brows.

The water stills once again, the stench of boiled rat in this particular section not overly pleasant.

Ryker tries to breath through his mouth.

Boiled rat, zombie guts, sewer stench; Riva's all ready for a date by now.

Brandon starts another spell walking along, "Damn Rats." he says eventually. Other than that he stays quiet.

Riva glances at Ryker, then picks up the pace, anxious to move.

Ryker resumes his trek as well, catching up with Riva.

The passage continues in either direction; ratward or anti-ratward. There seems little to distinguish between the two, even the bodies of dead rodents floating away on some mild under-current.

Ryker leads the two ratward, the original direction they were heading.

Brandon ends his spell. The silence is strange, he just walks along catching up to the others.

A turn and then another brings into view another cistern room lined with gargoyle faces, their gem eyes pulsing dully in the magelight.

Riva's gaze goes unfocused. "Despil just called, they're going up....lost the connection." She pauses and looks around. "Don't TELL me this is a maze."

Ryker surveys the room, treating it like a new one. A mind keen with images, an artist who knows life is in the details, lets his gaze roam over every corner of the room, from wall to ceiling.

Brandon arrives and starts to do the same, however he lets Ryker do this mainly. He adds in there, "It took them that long to figure out they are going up.." he smirks, "Well ok then.."

Ryker admits, distracted, "Sounds bode too well if they're still in the stairway."

Riva looks around, face hidden and voice distorted but it's obvious she's becoming weary and frusterated. "Maybe I should have bagged some rats...we may be down here a while."

Slime covered carvings, rather good...assuming you're into that sort of thing, but oddly distorted by wet mossy growth coat the walls and ceiling. There seems to be no discernable patterns here, just the gem-glinting eyes that seem to follow your every movement as such things are wont to do...

Ryker mentions, "I was hoping Despil would walk through Shadow to us, if the trumps failed. And I anticipated they would."

Riva says "Maybe I could try to trump him again..."

Ryker further notes, "On the plus side, the fact that the trumps are functioning so poorly means that Arion is in the area. Somewhere deeper, if the degree of static is any guess. But here nonetheless."

Brandon nods, "Same here." to Ryker, he moves to look over some of the patterns, moving his light closer.

Riva says "So, onward..." she looks to Ryker. "You going to be able to tell if we're just walking circles?"

Ryker tells Riva, "I think you'd going to need to conserve every drop of energy you have, but if it'll make you feel better, go ahead."

Brandon leaves his inspection, after a good long look. He moves with his light back towards Ryker. "Lets move." he agrees.

Ryker pulls at an ear, rubs his jaw, and spares a minute for deeper thought. Deciding something, he walks to one of the walls and grips his study spear in both hands. "Hang on."

Riva's head turns to follow Ryker's motion.

The spear is drawn back, and risking a chip to the extremely sharp metal point of his spear, Ryker takes a healthy jab at one of gargoyle's eyes.

Brandon blinks!? "What are you doing, Ryker? You want to wake it..."

The gem falls away easily, falling towards the stagnant water.

Brandon lets out a soft sigh, and glances towards the gem.

Riva watches in silence.

Ryker drops to a knee, a hand slapping down to catch the gem before it hits the cistern, picking it up.

Brandon mmms just watches for a moment longer, "Can we be going now?"

Ryker's armor starts to noticably rust around the edges.

Riva says "Ryker, Drop it!" She moves towards him.

Ryker groans, his straighter knee giving, and his hands suddenly making fists.

Ryker, either of his own reflex or Riva's command, jerks his hand to the side, tossing the small gem into the water. There is a look of pain on his face, back arching some ... discomfort that is quickly growing worse.

Brandon turns back in time to just notice this, he starts to move quickly for Ryker.

Riva grabs Ryker as he begins to fall, distorted voice urgent. "Brandon, can you you help him?" he lifts him clear off his feet.

The splash of the stone into the water sounds like a death knell. The leather and cloth parts of Ryker's armor start to rot and fall apart.

Brandon moves to Ryker and slaps him on the forhead sticking his hand there he attempts to force his mind into the man.

Whereas normally Ryker is violently averse to mental attacks, if not just violent about people touching him in general, he does nothing to stop Brandon. He looks. What is happening to his armor is happening to him, on the inside, violet eyes soon locked shut in pain, legs curling up.

Riva cradles Ryker gently, issuing a helpless hiss of frustration.

Brandon shakes his head, and starts to work on Ryker quickly. Trained in this already he has seen it before, forcing his mind into Ryker he goes to the point where the decay of his cells is moving and like a fire trues to start and work it out of him from the base out. He moves with speed and efficiency, perhaps this could be something he is useful for...

Brandon shakes his head, "Nothing, Pestilence is too strong, I can't combat it." he steps back and thinks quickly. "Look for the red drops that Yosannah wears. That is what we need."

Riva shoves Ryker at Brandon. "Hold him." she commands as she looks around the walls frantically.

Brandon glances around and gasps, he utters some words as his eyes half flutter closed, his awareness plunging into the depths. Moments later the dripping red gem emerges from the dark cistern. Without touching it, he raises his hand and uses his mind to move the gem back towards the place where Ryker took it from, "No its here! Like this!" he lets Ryker slouch and works on setting the jewel back in the eye with his mind.

Ryker, for his own part, does all he can do to endure it. He's known to have a good pain threshold, a veteran of untold number of WEB brawls ... but he's prone at the moment, a picture of suffering.

There is a click as the gem fits neatly back into place. Ryker's breathing immediately eases...only moments before the decay of his failing flesh increases dramatically. In moments, Ryker simply disintegrates.

Brandon gets the gem set and turns to where Riva and Ryker are. His eyes shoot open when Ryker goes poof and gasps. "Holy shit!" he turns around in circles looking for something, anything of a trace of Ryker.

Brandon watches Ryker Crumble as he resets the gem and glances at it. "I need to get me one of those." he sighs, and reaches into his pockets.

The remains of the powerfully built man melt through Riva's fingers not unlike the slime that coats the walls, and not less pleasant smelling. Liquified rust runs like blood into the dark waters to pool momentarily before slipping into the depths.

Riva just stares at her arms where Ryker was, going very still with shock.

Brandon pulls out a very black trump deck and opens it. He shuffles it through and takes out Ryker's trump checking for coldness.

Riva is still. Oh, so very still. She rumbles which turns into a distorted cry and rumbles into an enraged howl of rage and frustration, her mask amplifying the sound hugely. "ALRIGHT You (censored for content. Assume it's insulting), ENOUGH! C'mon, you want a piece, come and GET IT!"

Brandon nods to Riva, "He is alive." he puts the cards back in place and offers her his hand. His face stern with business now; that pissed him off. That fact established, Brandon summons Ryker's spear from the watery depths with a word and gesture, silently preparing another spell as the spear drifts to a rest at the lip of the cistern.

Riva lowers her arms. "Wha-how?"

Brandon shrugs, "I don't know but his trump is still cold. So he is alive." He turns to the gargoyles, most exactly the eyes there in. "That is amazing..." he looks to the woman, "Are you alright?"

Riva nods once curtly. "Yeah." she looks around and considers. "I'm hesitant to mess with the stones, Ryker's...whatever the fuck that was, didn't look pleasant. What do you make of this?"

"Pestilence." Brandon nods, and looks at the stones. "Well, from what I can tell we have two options. One, follow Ryker the way he checked out. Two, keep walking." Brandon moves to where Ryker's spear lays and picks it up now staff and spear.

The prevalent echoes contain the skitter and screech of rat-language in the dank darkness. Closer? Or simply more apparent after the recent run-in with the swarm.

Riva considers the room, body and head turning as she considers the room and it's details. "I'm taking the flamboyant way out, then. I'm not playing the rat in the maze trick." she turns her helmed head to him, eyes hidden. "You up for playing lemming?"

Brandon nods, "Well from what I can figure he is safe, so I say lets get rid of this crap with the rats." he moves to take up position near one eye, motioning Riva to the other eye. "If we don't pull the eye out, and just touch it we will go though. I think if the eyes are out we will die, but if they are in.. We go to where ever Ryker is."

Riva mutters under her breath. "Serpent protect me and ancestors preserve me." under her breath as she reaches Talons to try to edging one of the jeweled eyes of the carving from it's statue.

Brandon holds both the staff and his spear, he reaches out with his staff hand and touches an eye with one outstretched fingers. "Serpent Guard us." he closes his eyes and makes contact.

There is only the ever present drip echo of water in the cistern chamber, the gems hard and unyielding to the touch. Nothing changes.

Riva frowns. "That was anti-climatic." she looks at Brandon. "You have the one he touched, right?"

Brandon opens his clenched eyes, "Damn after all the dramatic build up too." he nods to the one he is in front of. "That is this one. I put it back in." He hmms, and looks around for some soft of cloth.. Not finding any he rips his shirt and makes a square piece.

Riva says "what are you doing?"

From the four walls of the chamber a quartet of grotesque stone faces leer silently at the pair, 8 gemmed eyes glittering mockingly in the conjured witch-light.

Riva says "Gimme the spear."

Brandon thinks for a moment, and puts the cloth over the eye. He turns to riva and hands the spear over. "I was going to try and break the eye without touching it."

Riva hefts the spaear and strikes at one of the jeweled eyes with a thrust of immense force.

Brandon watches for the time being.

There is a loud CHINK as the spear turns away against the hard edge of the gem to smack into the stone wall. With a whisper of speed and a glass clink the gem spurts out under the force of the impact, impacting a side wall and ricocheting into the water. Brandon turns to the water where the ripples form from and starts a slow arc with his hand. He mutters a few ancient words of sorcery working his spell to find the gem. "I'll find it, hang on."

Riva sighs. "Sorry." she mutters.

Brandon lets his spell fall making an arch of blue as he lets it fly from his fingertips. He uses his senses then with the aid of this spell to find the jewel.

Riva groans softly and folds a taloned over her stomach. While she's still able, she wills her armor to shift back away from her face, sloughing down her shoulders and necks into a gorget.

Brandon lets his spell out and reaches for the Gem, working it up to the air through the dense water takes a moment longer than he wants. He steps turns, moving quickly through air and brings it to him.

Riva drops to her knees and doubles over. "Shiiit." She grits through her teeth before retching. Riva grits her teeth and focuses her will on the task of at least keeping her nose, mouth, and eyes clear, forgetting about style or function aside from making sure her face is bare. She cries out in pain and curls up on her side, dropping the spear.

Brandon is eerily un-distracted by Riva; he brings the gem to him and turns it to face the socket. In one quick and fluid motion he touches the gem and forces it into the socket with his hand and mind.

Riva torques and writhes, clutching her gut for a moment more as the gem clicks into place. And then with a horrid familiarity her body starts to rapidly dissolve.

Brandon watches Riva dissolve, running his fingers over each other- he is obviously not dissolving as well. He hmms and looks to the gem.

Brandon steps closer, and starts a spell. He waves his hand in a squiggly, then a triangle he murmurs softly.

Brandon places his hand over the eye of the gargoyle, and lets his spell off. He works at dislodging the gem very slightly so that he doesn't loose it and die. He isn't trying to pull the gem too far out either, just enough so that it has to be put back in. Once it is out, should it come out he instantly pushes it back in with that hand and his mind making sure he gets contact with it. He holds his staff strong.

The click is audible as the stone pops free easily. Immediately Brandon's vision starts to swim, a faint bout of queasiness setting in.

Brandon remains focused, working perhaps with the Logrus training he has already gone into. He pushes his attention away from his pains and into the gem working it back into the socket. His hand rolls forward in a physical attempt to push the stone into the hole.

Nothing is witness to the grisly scene that follows; except perhaps the countless shifting eyes of the rats that lurk just outside the light. As the stone clicks back into place the man staggers and doubles over, his head wrenching up with lips peeled back in a silent scream even as the flesh starts to fall from his bones. It's over with incredible rapidity however, only the splashing of falling tissue into the fetid water remaining to the greedy spectators, who swarm forward even as the witch-light flickers out....

Sunlit Shaft of Famine...

The entrance comes quickly enough, revealing the bedraggled, crawling figure of the Lady Ada-Shazandra, her clothing torn and bloodied.

Yosannah squints at the figure in an effort to determine if the lady is conscious.

Ada-Shazandra crawls. The process is tedious to say the least and dreadfully demeaning, accompanied with a flurry of wicked curses spouted from lips too fair to be acquainted with such lurid vocabulary! Drearily the woman makes her way - snake-like - slithering upon her belly - her immaculate clothes dinged. The infinite flexibility of a skilled sifter aids her in her slip-and slide journey towards the light.

As they near the woman, Yosannah calls out "Ada! Jesus, Lady, what happened?"

Tentacle_thing pauses in it's upward treck, waving a tentacle or two in Ada's rough direction. "That's Ada?"

Arashi says "It looks like Ada."

Yosannah pauses abruptly, gaze looking from Nash to the figure of Ada-Shazandra, "Nash? What do you mean?"

Tentacle_thing says "She tastes bloody ..." a tentacle waves, "I'm not really /seeing/ right now - what happened?"

Yosannah shakes her head at Nash, uncertain, and moves toward the woman, kneeling before her, "Lady?"

Ada-Shazandra snaps her fanged pearly white teeth at Yosnnah, "I isss fine!" The woman coils into a sitting stance, cradling a viciously bloodied leg in her hands, "Go on! I should not be here - he made me fall! I'll venture no further - go on!"

Yosannah shakes her head insistantly, "Ada, No. Did Arion do this to you? Where IS he, Ada?"

Arashi looks his companions, then to Ada "You heard the lady." he looks to Ada, considering her for a few moments. He brings up his toy and aims it at Ada.

Stranger still than fiction, something dims the light above momentarily but for a moment....

Tentacle_thing waits a moment, undulating gently against the section of wall its plastered to.

Yosannah flicks a glance upward, eyes narrowing in an effort to ascertain what might be occuring up above.

Arashi says "Ada, why don't you trump back up?"

Ada-Shazandra shrugs askance from Yosannah, whispering, "Arion's no different from you, or me! I am merely the only vaguely familiar thing for him to cling to! I'll go no further! Serpent knows I did not wish to come this far! Now leave me - and do your best to shelter my brother!"

Yosannah nods at the Lady and speaks to her in hushed tones, "Then tell me where to find him, Lady. Please. I promise I'll do what I can. Help me to help him." to Ada-Shazandra.

Arashi watches the hushed conversation, then asks "Despil, is that Ada?"

It is as is the night sky had reversed, dark spots growing more distinct against the backlight. And the squeaking....

Despil eyes Ada for a moment, and nods, "I'm sure of it."

Arashi nods "ok."

Tentacle_thing twitches a bit, "What's happening? Something's different."

Arashi says "Yeah, the lights shifted." He asks, smiply, glancing up again. "Do we have time for this?"

Tentacle_thing starts to make his way upwards again, saying, "We should hurry. Something's happening."

Despil says, "Lady Ada, we are attempting to get your brother back, and we must hurry. Do you need medical help?"

Ada-Shazandra's eyes look tangibly pained as she snaps, "I know not - this is all *your* fault! YOU brought this on us! Coaxing me to mercy - pawning me to pestilence! Where is he? YOU tell me!" The lady lolls forth, grasping at Yosannah's lapels with tattered leather clad knuckles, "Give me back my brother!"

Yosannah's hands reach for Ada's, covering hers with clammy fingers, "Get off of me. You're insane!!"

Arashi nods to TT, then looks to Ada and Yo again, exclaiming "She's also poisonous, Don't touch her!"

Yosannah is unable to pull away from the woman, lacking leverage as she is on her knees. She cries, "She won't... listen, Despil, get her off of me!"

Punctuating the lady words the first form glances agains the stairway not far above with a wet sound of breaking bones and an cut-off screel of agony. A moment later the downfall becomes a torrent. Rats...

Ada-Shazandra relents allowing Yosannah her freedom. The woman rolls back, clinging to her injured shin in a burst of fresh agony.

Tentacle_thing gets rat-studded as he moves, the critters embedding themselves in his soft form as they hit and only slowly being expulsed. "Bloody hell."

Arashi looks to Ada, and says sternly "Ada. Go back to Montmouth." bashing rat bodies away as they fall. Arashi sighs with no response. "Up." he says, and starts going, despite the fall of Rats.

The torrent slams down on the party, nothing strong enough on impact to carry anyone off the stairs but enough of them hitting the stones to soon coat them more than a little slickly with crimson.

Yosannah scurries away from Ada, kicking and crawling toward Despil as she swipes the rats from her body.

Arashi grimaces but endures, calling out "Despil, can't that logrus thingy of yours shield us from this mess?"

Despil looks to Ada and says, "I'm getting you to safety, Lady." Ada vanishes, and is transported to her manor. Despil follows and says, "One sec."

Tentacle_thing creeps upwards, every now and then plucking a rat out of itself with a tentacle and hurling the unfortunate critter away. Most of them just ooze out and fall after a few seconds.

Despil puts a Logrus shield in front of the group, after getting Ada out, to cow-catcher-push rats aside as they go up.

Yosannah kicks at a dead rat and begins to stand, moving behind the safety of Despil's shield, "She's out of her fucking mind..." She shakes her head, "Now what? We came up here for this?"

Tentacle_thing keeps going up. "They're coming from somewhere."

Arashi makes sure every step is secure as he goes. Wearing the traditional waffle stomper, bane of frogs everywhere, his traction stays good as what can't be kicked out of the way is crunched underfoot.

Despil keeps steamrolling us a path. "Let's keep our minds on the objective."

Yosannah nods, "Fair enough."

Tentacle_thing says "Rescuing the horsemen."

Arashi says "Never been any place else..."

As suddenly as the onslaught had begun it ends, the last of the rats triling into the darkness, leaving only scattered broken bodies in places where they had managed to remain on the narrow stairs. Eyes peering upwards are caught once again by the full light of the sun that fills the shaft's top.

Yosannah inhales slowly and exhales audibly, "Thank god... How much further do you think. Before something far worse is dropped on our heads."

Arashi points his toy around, then at himself for checking measurements, before saying "Far enough to make it annoying."

Despil says "If I can drop the shield, I can scout ahead with logrus."

Yosannah nods, "Seems safe enough. For the moment anyway."

Arashi says "Oh. We're on the right track."

Tentacle_thing feels it's way up another patch of wall, saying absently and wheezily, "If we're heading towards thoughts, the loftiness seemed to vary wildly depending on the day."

Yosannah looks to Arashi, "You're sure this time? Last time it was everywhere and no where?" She mutters, ".... that damn thing probably isn't even working for Christ's sake."

Oddly enough, the suspended platform which before the rodent storm had seemed unattainable in height seem to have gotten a bit closer. Enough to be heartening. Even against the glare the definition of the chains gains solidity.

Arashi stops, turns and holds then toy out for Yo to read. "See, point it down, and the readings stay like that, point it up and travel higher, and the readings go up. We didn't scout up and see before."

Yosannah lifts her hand to her eyes in an effort to shield them from any light, she squints at the platform in an attempt to get a better look.

Tentacle_thing crawls, slithers and hauls its bulk up at a steady rate, wheezing fairly constantly by now, voice whistly, "I hope what we need to do becomes self evident when we get there ..."

Arashi turns and continues on up. He pulls a pair of sunglasses out and slips them on. "It probably won't."

Entering the plains of War...

Desolation marks this spot echoed in the cries of the wind that tears mercilessly over the blasted plains, carrying battle cries and screams of agony with equal abandon. The air and sky are blood-red, iridescent with phosphorescent crimson and wavering with tangible heat. The terrain is sparse and tormented, consisting primarily of shattered stone hills and broken passes. Scattered about are dark pools of what might be water but whose true composition in this light could be nearly anything. Off to one edge of the battlefield, the shadow of a huge forest looms, the trees broken and in some cases, visibly burning. Over this wasted plain a battle roils endlessly. There seems to be four armies whirling in a myriad of tactics. The banners carried are of simple device and color, primarily Red, Green, Black and Yellow. The creatures bearing these symbols are as varied of appearance as the tactics they wield.

A gasp of sharply indrawn breath partially sucks in darkly polluted water, producing a harsh sputtering cough as you wrench upright to sit hacking on the edge of a stagnant pool. The pain, except the burn in your lungs, that was excruciating but terrifyingly numbing at the last is miraculouly gone. Clothing and armor seems restored....if a bit sodden.

Ryker spares the time to catch his breath. Recover, both physically and mentally, as he spits, trying to get the taste out of his mouth. Snorts, trying to get the same out of his nose. An arm reaches, pulling him halfway out of the pool and allowing him to roll safely to his back, head clear of the water.

Ryker mutters dourly to himself, "I'm starting to regret this." eatures; things composed it seems primarily of scales and tentacles, crest a nearby torn hill in fighting retreat. Their pursuers- tall, cat-like creatures who bristling fur seem to alight in the hazy air- methodically outrun and hack them down until at last the banner falls, the last tentacled thing half-falling into a nearby pool apparently in the line or the goal of the retreat.

Ryker's eyes remained closed for a precious few seconds, even if they catch the sound of battle cries and war. When they open, he begins to gather himself, again both physically and mentally, eyes staring up at the sky while ears distinguish and processes what they hear, and hands check on the status of his armor and weapons. With an audible curse he realizes he left his enchanted spear behind, reflexively dropped in the midst of his spasms. A sigh hinting more at mental weariness than bodily, and rolls, pushing himself to his feet and allowing his eyes to join in the effort of analyzing his new environment and situation. They find the nearing skirmish quickly enough, prompting Ryker to drop back to one knee and reach for his sword and shield.

The conflict is over even as the forces crest the hill, only inertia, it seems, carrying the defenders farther than death ever could. The feline creatures pause a moment to check for survivors and one, marked and heavily muscled, turns it's golden-green eyes to the crouched figure of the dripping man not more than 50 yards away. Already the reds are reorganizing, lean runners scouting out the flow of other battles. Each creature wields a red banner on its back in the manner of old earth samurai. Ichor stains their fur and what appear to be still smoldering acid-burn marks.

Ryker quickly weighs his opinions, a slight frown declaring he's not happy with any of them. Even as he gets his rapier and shield free, he drops both in favor of pulling a slim throwing knife from the scabbard of his sword. Not hesitating a second once his decision has been made, he rises and steps forward, launching the knife forward in a strong overhead throw, sending it end over towards the muscled cat's throat.

With a note of surprise the feline creature swats at it's throat at the encroaching, whirling item with incredible speed. But the surprise in it's widening eye belies it's own alacrity as the blade buries itself in it's corded neck. The shock of pain fills its slitted eyes wavering at the last to a bewildered confusion. Gagging it falls to a knee, it's compatriots turning as the movement and sound grab their attention.

Ryker follows the throw with a forward motion, going with the momentum to fall to the ground, hands catching him. Flattening himself, he makes an attempt at least at playing 'possum, lying prone on his face, arms and legs spread out, hoping it did it before the others turned their attention. On the edge of the pool, one arm actually in it, his eyes face the body of soldiers, through the barest of slits between his calmly near-closed eyes.

The cat men lose little time assessing the situation, scouts closing into the main body at a guttural howl of another stocky figure near their dagger-fallen companion. This one; grizzled and missing an eye, points with some accuracy in your direction and dozens of keen eyes follow his direction. Then, with a combined roar and leaping charge, they are off in your direction at speed.

Ryker sighs, the jig up almost before it started, quickly pushing himself back to his feet. Flatly, "Fuck me." As he attempts to backpedal two steps to where he dropped his shield and rapier. The man has it in mind to flick a suspicious look up towards the sky and state with heavy disgruntlement something along the lines of, "Can't give a guy five minutes to collect his thoughts, eh? Dirty." But instead he doesn't even have time to finish the idea, let alone the act, as the creatures are on him before he expected. Thoughts of melee, of offense and defense, fill his mind then; that and getting his equipment back in hand. He turns and dives for the sword and large shield, the creatures at roughly 15 yards then, closing to an alarming 5 by the time he's rolled forward to his feet, hands full. With a loud battle cry, he turns to face the enemy, the determination of a veteran warrior on his middle-aged face, a man who knows it's time to kill or be killed. As the kite shield and rapier are both swung around to bear, Ryker is already under assault, the first cat cutting along his less armored ribs, the left side, only chain mail there to protect him. A lucky swing timing on his shield blocks a follow up with the front-runners second weapon, and the same goes for his heavy gauntlet on the right arm, meeting squarely with a cat's clawed paw. Lacking initiative, he has no chance at a counter-attack at the beginning, as more following the front two.

It seems impossible to deny, the end at last embodied by a pack of half-feral cat creatures on a barren windswept plain. Perhaps the only true way for a warrior to fall, with none to witness and none to mourn. A random hope that they would either leave you un-devoured creeps into the unpleasant parts of your mind, or if not that, at least believe they were gaining strength from the fool who sought to face them all alone. The thoughts pass by with the swiftness as the feline warriors sweep by, buffeting you with the force and speed of their passing, the last of them able to react to the sudden presence in their midst and veer away. They pass you, a bit battered and scratched in passing but nothing else, the wounds sustained incidental to...in surprise...being unable to turn bodies and blades away. You might as yell have been a suddenly sprouting tree for all the notice paid you.

Ryker doesn't accept his death, at least not yet. He allows only minimal thought for it at all, only what forces its way into his mind. The rest is hand-eye coordination, not only reaction to the present but planning of the future, or five seconds into it; all that matters in the heat of battle. He is well armored, but it's far indestructible or impenetrable. The surprise on his face is undeniable as the creatures veer away, and even then it's almost as if Ryker doesn't believe it, standing there on the verge of action, the very precipice of it, mind searching for explanation, for a flanking tactic, for anything.

They pass and continue, dust rising in the wake of clawed running feet, ranks closing the same skirmish formation they used on their approach. Following the path of their progress a sparse forest of black bannered poles rise in the near distance, wheeling in a floating array poised above head level as presumably their black-garbed wielders turn to face the onrushing felinoids. A sudden watery splash sounds off in the pool to Ryker's immediate flank however, an event perhaps almost welcome in his questing bewilderment.

Ryker's guard sags a little as he turns to watch them run on, determination replaced by a measure of regretful disappointment, now. Turning sharply at the splash, his rapier is again brought to bear, shield raised back up, squint as wary as the rest of him.

Riva sobs for air, wheezing even as she forces her frame to rise, adrenaline caused by pain giving her a temporary edge over the ache of her lungs. She yanks her sword free of its sheath and turned her helmed head in the attempt to desperately profile the situation.

Ryker relaxes upon spying Riva, a look of relief that is gone by the time her eyes find his face. A quick, "Relax Riva, you'll be fine." is offered as Ryker turns a slow circle, appraising not only the new battle the other directions on the barren plain as well.

Another drowned set of splashes resound amidst the wind carried cries of this place as Riva's hand, setting down into the pool for support, lands onto a writhing body just beneath the water next to her. Brandon.

Riva nods as her breaths become more even. She strides towards Ryker, sword in hand and masked head turning as she too takes in their current situation. Her cape has managed to survive the series of misadventures and clings soggily to her frame.

Brandon gasps for breath as he arrives, coughing violently he gets up to his knees. In one hand his own staff, in the other is Ryker's spear. He starts to pant heavy eyes closed still as he looks to the ground, starting to crawl towards anything dry.

Ryker lets Brandon get his bearings, looking a little pleased at noticing his enchanted spear. The rapier is returned to its black leather sheath, his eyes continuing to search while he catches up with Riva, "Did I miss anything new?"

Riva says "Just us deciding to follow your ingenious lead, Fearless leader." her demonically distorted voice reports. "Are we late for the party?"

Brandon eventually moves to stand, shaking off slightly and moving for the group. He is silent, face stern this adventure taking the youthful remarks from him. He stops the spear into the ground for Ryker to get when he pleases and starts a spell once more.

Not too far off, the cat-things are have now engaged the dark mass of black armored figures. Unfortunately for the former unit, the chitonous shells that protect the latter seem more than adequate proof against the feline fang and talon...and only slightly less effective against the hand-weapons carried by the minority.

Ryker nods, confirming, "Late, but I doubt it's over." He waves to nearby bodies, only a short ways off, scattered over a mild area. Dead groups of green bannered creatures composed mostly of scales and tentacles. "Those are already taken care of." A gesture in another direction, towards some moderate distance where two armies currently clash. "I scared the reds off, and now they got their own hands full."

There indeed seems no end to either combat or combatants, the blur of colored banners and war cries coming from all direction at varying distance to hang in the hazy air

Ryker, physically, looks just fine, his armor and equipment, much like yours, fully restored. And though he's starting to look a little tired around the eyes, he lacks visible wounds.

Riva says "Your exit looked like so much fun, Brandon and I fought over who got to ride next." Quips in chipper tones and looks out over the force. "Whee-hee, from one war to another." she glances at Ryker and offers. "If it gets thick, I can take the point and try to blunt the force some, We stick close I'll still hear you."

Brandon nods looking around at the place for a moment while stretching his wings to the sides slightly. He takes the time given by the other two and starts another spell, only speaking before hand. "Ryker, do you know how well Elemental Magic is working here on a large scale. Like... Earthquakes?"

Ryker leaves his spear stuck in the ground where Brandon stuck it, confident that none of the battles in the area threaten to spill over to the them at least for the immediate future. Turning to face Riva and Brandon, his tone is serious, worn features tight but his eyes still bright, gold flecks churning within the violet color. A nod for Riva's words, agreement, and a shrug for Brandon's. "I haven't used much sorcery yet, Brandon, or taken the time to get a sense of the place, so I can't say either way. But from now on I want you to think twice on your castings. There is no harm in being prepared, but Riva and I should be able to give you the time you need to pick the most effective spell, offensive or defense, if it ever comes to an open fight." He wipes at his face, feeling dirt there but hardly getting all of it. "It's important that you're not spent when it finally comes to a show down. You need to pace yourself."

Riva's eyes go distant in concentration. Her armor again begins to shift, horns and mohawk of her helm melting away, and the cloak absorbing itself into the body of her armor. A few more moments the armor writhes and moves until it gathers on her left arm. Once a large lump is formed, it begins to flatten itself into a makeshift shield.

Brandon nods to Ryker, thinking his advice through. "Alright, I just don't want to be caught casting while something is basing my head in. But I will try and make things a bit more exact." he glances over the armies, humming softly at them. "So, what is our next move? It seems we are once again in a place that has no known way back to where we were. Seems to be a theme."

A shadow crosses where you stand with a rush of hot air as a squadron of winged things drop out of the sky at a steep dive, only to pull sharply level and angle off with gleaming talons and wickedly-hooked beaks towards a swirling mix of Yellow and Green bannered forces. As the pull away the bird-things. As they pull away gnarled riders are seen clinging to their backs, their black pennants fluttering loudly in the wake of their speed.

Ryker waits until Riva is finished and he has her full attention again before answering Brandon's question, or perhaps he's just continuing with his previous train of thought. While her armor shifts, he scans the horizon in all directions again, catching sight of the airborne soldiers. He half-ducks, reflexively, watching them move on. Once Riva's finished, he clears his throat and picks up, "Like I said, it'll be Riva's and mine's priority to keep you safe, give you the time we need. If the numbers are small or their direction narrow, Riva might do it on her own and I might come up with something myself. We'll have to see how our next challenge comes." he thumbs his nose, sniffing. "Which leads me to my next point, as Brandon notes, there is a theme here. A pattern. The fall in the shaft /should/ have killed us, by all rights. Same for the bone-wrenching pain of the gargoyles. But they didn't. Even those creatures that just flew by as we stood here in plain sight should have attacked, but didn't. This is starting to look less and less like a physical trial, and more like a psychological one."

Riva says "Why don't you take my right flank, and Brandon can follow behind us, if it gets thick?" she nods and murmurs, perhaps not making sense to anyone but herself, "Damned mind-games. I'm hoping we don't have to die at each level, since that seems the common tie between the horsemen."

Brandon nods to Riva and smiles. "That will work well." and then, "Agreed, this dying and then waking up again in a new place is so. Well, yeah." he glances at the people around. "It is as if we aren't even here, or they can’t see us or something."

Ryker says "Right, though I'm starting to think it's more like they aren't here. Who is to say we really fell in the shaft, or that the rats were real. It could have just been Brandon's back surge of water that hit us." He points off to the side. "Now, when I first got here, one of those cat creatures saw me; looked right at me. And I nailed it in the throat with a knife and watched it die. So what we have here is nothing so simple as an illusion ... or at least, not a simple illusion. At the very least, our enemy is in our minds ever since we stepped into that cellar." Ryker's nostrils flare and his jaw tightens. "And that is more dangerous than any physical threat."

As the mounted bird-things near the conflict, a nearby hillside erupts as swarms of insectile creatures burst from it in an explosion of rock, apparently from tunnels beneath the terrain. Caught off-guard, the aerial cavalry banks off wildly as the tawny-metallic dragonfly's plow into them in mid-air, razor-sharp mandibles ripping feather and flesh alike. Golden sigils are etched in the carapaces of the new arrivals, dull in the hazy air.

Riva sighs and mutters. "Not entirely unlike the mess in Hell's Kitchen, then. Damn it all." she mutters and looks at Ryker. "I almost wishes you'd just whispered that in Brandon's ear. blissful ignorance an all. So." she looks around. "Game plan..."

Ryker watches the new shift of conflict, but he's looking less worried about it now.

A set of freshly suffered parallel gouges along Ryker's flank stand as a silent challenge to the man's statement...

Brandon glances and nods, "Well, we have to options from here. Or well, three. One, stand here and see what happens. Two, fight... Three try and go into where ever those bugs came from."

Ryker states, "Our goal is Arion, and to get Pestilence back to Yosannah." His hands encompass the battleground. "Obviously we're surrounded by War at the moment. And it seems logical we just left Pestilence's playground, unfortunately." A frown at the new dragonfly creatures, half-thought half-concerned. "Of all the horsemen, War, Pestilence, Death, Famine, I feel most comfortable on this ground, weapons in hand. I'm worried though we could fight all day and make no progress, just like we could have walked those disgusting sewers for hours and hours and probably finding nothing but water and rats."

Riva says "I think we'll find them in one spot, or at least everything has suggested that they're all together. my priorities are both Pestilence and Death, if not all four...especially if the clues are right." she scans the scene. "And you're right, I'm sure, about fighting...but we have to make some action. Standing here will get us no where, and eventually food and sleep are going to become issues, so we should try to press forward. The most obvious exit seems to be the tunnels."

Their red-bannered felinoid attackers now cut to ribbons, the black carapaced warrior...things are unexpectedly driven back by a surge from a nearby pool as an array of green-gray splotchy tentacle whips out to snag those closest to the water and hurl them crushingly into trees which shatter under the impact. The black unit holds a moment but them breaks for the forest cover as a twin column of bipedal amphibians swarm out of the water towards them amidst the cover offered by the thrashing tentacles, their bristling tridents streaming emerald bands.

Brandon nods, to Ryker. "Agreed." this about the traveling for hours, he then scans to the tunnels. "I wish we could see down the tunnels, before we entered them." he peers at it, then the battle around. "But Riva is right, standing here will do nothing good. It doesn’t look like they are going to come to us." he glances at the sound of a crushed warrior. "Definatly not, that way.."

Ryker states, a hint of frustration but resigned to his fate, "It was a fell blow for the group to split up, and Arashi's device would be handy at a time like this." His eyes roam the area as he tries to make up his mind, a difficult prospect and no easy choices at hand. Eyes jump from army to army, creature to creature, hill to plain to forest. His military mind has cataloged many of the types of soldiers by now, and the various terrains. Thoughtful, "Tunnels ... Hmmm, I'm growing sick of enclosed placed, but open ground does leave us a lot of room to be flanked ... " He points to the dying felinoids and the battle around them, remarking, "... you know, there four colors here. Four armies. Perhaps one for each of the horsemen."

Riva frowns. "I don't like it any better than you do, but you're getting tired and that way I can take the brunt of whatever...not to mention I don't understand what we're supposed to do here. " she pauses and notes colors "Wait, Red, Green...It might be." she looks at Ryker, "At the risk of sounding stupid: so?"

From far off comes the blast of a cry that sets even the dust at your feet a-tremble, followed by the equally stunning reverberations of what could only be immeasurably heavy footsteps. Rallying calls quickly turn to screams of the dying as the sound of snapping bone and breaking weapons carries over you on the harsh wind.

Ryker rubs his jaw, gaze searching the fields. He assures Riva, "What I'm getting tired of is spinning my wheels. I wanted a minute to think, and now someone is being gracious enough to give it to me. I'm inclined to make use of it. If you can't bend your mind to un-puzzling our situation, then at least keep quiet and don't break our train of thought ... and then he feels the rumbles and lets loose a disgruntled curse. "So much for that wish."

Riva rolls her shoulders and mumbles. "Oh, that can't be good. Or Small. I vote we haul ass to somewhere we're less likely to be squished if someone DOES happen to take notice of us. Any takers?"

Brandon hmmms glancing around a bit, "Sure, just start running. It's not like I am going to just stand here alone." he smirks a bit and looks to the pair in general.

Tentacles sink back into the pool near the forest's edge, their wieldier either unable to survive on land or too large to pass through whatever opening it was attacking though. The mer-creatures turn off at the tree line despite their obvious speed advantage over their fleeing heavily-shelled prey as the last of the latter lumber out of sight.

Ryker raises a hand for Riva to hold, brow etched in thought, "Wait. I'm close ... the pieces are in my head. The significance of this place. We can choose where we want to go, who we want to seek. I just need to fit it all together." He gestures then to the pool that they all arrived through, "Besides, I think we have our quick escape right here."

Riva nods and keeps her eye on the events and her sword in her hand.

Ryker points out, "We came out of the water when we arrived in the sewers. It's possible this pool, or any of the others around here, lead right back to it."

Brandon hmms and glances to the woods, "Why . . ." he points, "Look, they don't follow. Why not?"

Ryker further muses, eyes distant, constantly watching the battles around. "Maybe because nobody is supposed to win. It's not supposed to end." Eyes flick at the pool just briefly. "I'm going to peg Pestilance as green, since the amphibious troops came out of the pools as well."

Riva says "Maybe because something bigger is heading this way? We don't want to go back, do we?"

Brandon continues to look around, hmming. "No something.. Something bothers me about this landscape. I just ... can't put my finger on it."

Ryker tries to help Brandon. "Me too, but what do we have ... a ruined forest, the plains, these pools ... the holes in the ground, they're spewing troops, so perhaps they count too." He squints so deep his eyes are almost closed, nodding to himself. "Yes ... yes, like I said, this is war." He points at the various armies. "A good war never ends. A good war nobody wins."

Brandon nods, "Well." he continues to look, "I guess nobody should win, 'cause nobody is going into each other's area." he sighs and reaches down to the soil and starts to rub it between his fingers.

Riva rocks back and forth on her heels, keeping her mouth shut.

Ryker licks his teeth then gnaws on a lip, attention turned inward as he tries this piece against that, thought to thought, trusting his back and their immediate safety to Riva's eyes. "Yellow is the underground, the tunnels assuming they lead somewhere. The blacks hit the forest." He refocuses, looking about yet again, "The reds ... where are they coming from? Those stone hills? If the reds have the plains, I'd guess them as War's troops."

Brandon nods, "Then if we have been to pestilence, and this is war. I say we either go underground or into the forest. They have to be part of the final two horsemen that block the way to Arion."

As the mer-creatures turn to slither towards the booming on the horizon, plugs of stone and rock topple over from an area between the broken forest and tentacle pool. A swarm of wriggling worm-like larvae pour out of the cracks in the ground, cutting a path towards the remains of the felinid warriors. As the reach them, they gorge, consuming the bodies with sickening speed and growing at a grotesque rate until eventually they start to burst open. Membranous husks of skin fall away as giant pale-yellow wings unfurl. Bronze armored moths the size of lions with a wing-span to match.

Brandon offers to Riva, "If they were going to hurt us they would have its as if..." he spins around motioning. "It is all one giant puppet show."

Ryker pulls on an ear, scowling at his inability to put more pieces together. "I think Brandon has it, we check out new territory, forest or underground. Lacking a direct route to Arion, or sadly even an idea of what is forward progress, I'm inclined to make our goal finding Yosannah and the others. I think Despil's mind, or at least Logrus, would be useful for giving us a bigger picture, and perhaps Arashi's device is the only sure route to the horsemen themselves."

Riva nods and murmurs. "None of which we have, just you both's detective skills and my stunningly good looks. I'm all for finding the others, and right behind you."

Ryker merely snorts, eyes moving to the first tunnel that the dragonflies busted out of.

Brandon shakes his head, "Damnit, what are we missing!" he growls and looks around, ignoring talk of finding the others.

The red-flagged bird-riders scatter to the winds, their defeated littering the hard-cragged surface of the plains. Glittering golden the dragonfly creatures fall with ravenous greed to feed on the ragged remains in a carrion cloud not far from the tunnel mouths from which they emerged.

Ryker yawns his spear from the ground with a jerk, finally. Eyes gauge, forest ... tunnel ... "Let’s go with the tunnel." He states. "See what or who we find, and at least who owns yellow army. Hopefully the knowledge will be worth our next round of suffering."

Riva nods and begins to move that way in long strides, not raising her shield or blade until there's actual call for either motion.

Ryker starts walking towards the tunnels, slow at first, still debating the method of entry with the dragonflies too close for comfort. "At the moment, all I have is to try to rush past them. To be honest, I'm starting to think standing by this pool is a mistake, and fear tentacles flying out of it at any time. I'm open to suggestions."

Brandon peers at them, "Down seems like a logical choice. Lets go." he twirls his staff and moves to follow like a puppy.

Riva says "Let me stand between you and Brandon and the most likely angle of danger, and we all run?"

The distance to the tunnel-ridden hillside is not far even at a cautious pace. The bones come first though, still marked here in there with strips of clinging muscle and tendon and gouged with mandible scars. Inedible even to the carrion feeders, broken feathers are strewn everywhere, the less blood-soaked of them more often than not tossed around directionless by the violent winds. Littered amidst the remains are smaller bones, the riders no doubt, and their accoutrements; poles affixed by mostly red sigils of curious design and, perhaps of more interest, long barbed lances also marked at the joint of head to shaft with crimson streamers.

The bare fingers of Ryker's left hand rub together, itchy. He shrugs under his armor, adjusting it, will a little twitch at the slight pain in the wound on his flank. To Riva, "Lacking better options, sounds like a winner."

Ryker stops besides one of the banners. Not his first time getting a close look at one, thanks to the felines, but the first time he's been able to look and think at the same time, memorizing its pattern, looking for any significance. "...maybe..." Comes a distracted answer to Brandon while he bends over to pick up a barbed lance. An extra weapon couldn't hurt, certainly. "Brandon, you keep mentioning Yosannah's jewel. What is it, exactly?"

The swarm of dragonfly-things intensifies as the food supply decreases and more fly up to join their fellows in a buzzing frenzy.

Riva says "Pestilence left her with numerous diseases, to survive she has to wear a necklace of red gems that counters it somehow."

Ryker nods some, though doesn't seem to find a lot of significance in it.

Brandon nods to Riva, "Or that, like I said I just know that it had something to do with pestilence." he looks at the design as well.

Riva says "What I know about the jewels: I have heard reports of three. One Red, One Green, One Yellow. What they have in common: they have all been used to seduce the horsemen from their original hosts."

Ryker mmms. "Now we're learning something. Anything else?" Aside, to Brandon, "If you cast the spell on anyone, save that one for yourself."

Brandon nods to Ryker but doesn’t speak.

Ryker remarks, "I think we can safely assume there is a black jewel out there as well."

Riva says "Actually, I'll square for you. I think all four horsemen are trapped in a yellow gem. I think Arion...who might be looking like an Albino, will have it on him...when we find him."

Brandon wonders, "Why is that, why the yellow Gem?"

Riva says "Who knows? At first it was red, then I learned both the green and red gem proceeded this."

Ryker is silent for a time ... thinking, thinking, the crimson bannered lance gripped so tight in his left hand that his knuckles whiten. The lingering scowl of his, the general dourness, steadily deepens as Riva and Brandon speak on, discussing the gems. Ryker doesn't seem to be really be listening anymore after his last statement. Generous lips purse tightly, his own spear dropped as he bends again, this time to take up a nearby red banner.

Brandon glances at Ryker, and picks holds his staff in one hand as he moves to pick up one of the same lances from the ground. "Tell me this is going to make me dissolve."

The booming in the distance is not so distant anymore as the tides of battle sweep combatants across the wind-scoured plain. Out of the haze comes the silhouette of something so massive as to make the mind rebel. Flying things swarm about its several heads and clots of creature launch repeated offensives against the multiple legs and threshing tail.

Ryker lifts the banner high, and will a sudden fervor he yells, "It's not over! Victory will be ours!" The lance then is lifted as well, his eyes wide, his worn voice strong and filled with passion as he emits screech that could wake the dead.

Riva steps back, clearly startled by this. She looks to Brandon, face still covered by a demonic mask. "I guess the key is the banners. I guess the key is to pick one up and fight for it."

Brandon mmms, holding the staff in his hand for a moment. Flexing around it he grins impishly and spins his staff once evening things out a long weapon in each hand. He glances to the battle grinning impishly. He hears nothing of what Riva says, his gaze affixed to the spear.

Riva stoops to claim a banner in her free hand.

Ryker calls, "Together we will avenge our fallen brethren! None shall remain beneath the strength of our weapons, the force of our fists!" He spins the lance in his hand, his wide eyes searching the skies. Waiting ... in the meantime he attempts to fix the leather straps of his red banner to the back of his armor.

The alien cry ripping from Ryker's lips shatters the sky, to be almost be echoed by another far off. The dragon-fly things, startled by as if by the appearance of an apparition, swarm up away from the killing field, regrouping... reassessing. Out of the haze the gargantuan cross between a hydra and a spider becomes more distinct; it’s myriad of red-bannered riders firing flaming arrows with deadly accuracy from the large platform affixed to the back of the behomoth.

Brandon slams his staff into the ground, and cackles at Ryker. He leans his form back and twirls his spear in a few short circles, grinning at Ryker he nods and states aloud. "Together we will ride! Come!" he points to the large beast, "AT ARMS!"

A startling transformation takes place amidst the alien trio standing amidst the bones of fallen wing riders. Not one of flesh or form but evidently of spirit alone as one after another they retrieve crimson banner and lance from the slain and eerily lift their voices to the heavens in blood-wrenching cries. From the distance come the replies, carried over the reeking wind. A cloud of golden dragonflies, mandibles dripping with the ichor of enemies, hover nearby poised to strike at the small band before reinforcements arrive. The tide of war shifts beyond however, and a massive confrontation involving an unthinkably huge multi-headed and legged dragon-thing mounted by red-bannered flame archers and countless forces of yellow, green and black sigil creatures sweeps towards them, distracting the insectile yellows into the fray. The three stand sentinel waiting though, blood-scented air filled with the cries of the dying riffling through their hair and clothing. As one they close their eyes and turn faces upwards into that punishing wind welcomingly, the buffeting touch a familiar feeling of power and speed; the sensation of air in flight. Moment’s later three great black-winged birds plummet from the sky to land heavily amidst the scattered bones and debris and, with a triumphant cry, the three riders mount and are off...

The platform of Famine...

Yosannah inquires, now irritable, "Nash, what the hell are we looking for up here?"

Tentacle_thing says "Famine's mind."

The difficult climb does not relent but the platform definately become more distinct as the steps pass by breathlessly. Not too long now will bring all level to the now fully apparent massive chains from which is hangs.

Tentacle_thing wheezes, "To tell it what's happening."

Yosannah shakes her head as she climbs "What? And just what on Earth would that be?!"

Arashi listens, but doesn't say anything. Instead he focuses on some thought.

Tentacle_thing feels up and up, tentacles nearing the chains although he seems largely unaware of their proximity, "We tell it ... everything - and it will know what ought to be. Death knew."

Yosannah stops know, obviously fustrated, "What. What are you talking about?" She looks to Despil with an expression that asks, 'Are you kidding me?' and then back to the squid-like Nash, "Nash, Ryker, Brandon and Riva could be dead for all we know, and we're following you so we can have a chit chat with Famine and tell him that he should learn to play nice?"

Nash stops, then that requires a bit more tactics on manuvering.

Tentacle_thing continues up undaunted, "I didn't come along to kick any horseman ass. Ryker can look after himself and the others - he's too mean to die."

Yosannah stops, turns her back on Arashi and Nash as they continue to climb. She addresses Despil, "Let's try again. This is nuts." She reaches in her hand and fishes out a few trumps. Settling on one she begins to focus...

Despil says "I'm trying Riva. I'll even use the actual card."

Yosannah shakes her head, obviously unsuccessful, and tucks Ryker's card away, "Here, let's try Riva together. I can't get Ryker."

Despil leans the card to Yo.

After a moment of concentraton, Yosannah pulls away from the card and shakes her head, obviously unsuccessful. She mutters, "God damnit."

Arashi murmurs back "Its damned. 50 dollars please."

Yosannah throws her hands up and looks to Despil, "What do we do?"

Despil says "Plan B looks increasingly good."

Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest and inquires, "Plan B was what again?"

Tentacle_thing has continued to climb throughout.

Arashi keeps on climbing.

The stairs continue up past the chairs as the party crests their level. Slightly below the stone disk of a platform hangs, it's surface set with various objects and what appears to be three leanly built wolves....

Despil says to Yo, "I'll look for them."

Yosannah exhales and takes a step away from him to regard Arashi and Nash. She makes no effort to join them, but waits on Despil's efforts.

Despil takes Yo's arm. "Walk me along. I'll look for them."

Yosannah nods and complies, following after Nash and Arashi with Despil in toe.

The platform hangs from four chains in the wall. The stairs intersect the chains. 20 feet of each chain and you're at the platform from the wall. One it is a large wooden table, roughly hewn, with what appears to be a small barrel and a collection of other vessels. Serving plates are piles with meats, fruits...the smell now that you are above them is enticing. The beasts half lost in the glare indeed look like wolves, though very guant. One is gray-furred, another coppery and the third fur is mottled and discolored. Each wolf stand by one of the chains (the 4th runs to the stairway), and at the end of each chain is an aperture in the stone just large enough for a wolf to pass though.

Tentacle_thing pauses, waving a couple of tentacles as he gets just above the platform on the wall.

Arashi follows up behind Nash and looks across the platform.

Tentacle_thing sounds incredulous as it says, "Wolves?" groping around, finding a chain and starting to ooze along it towards the platform.

Arashi looks at the wolves and the setting, then aims the toy at them, though he thinks he already knows what he will see. He walks forward more onto the platform, holding his toy at the wolves, watching the colors.

Yosannah still holds Despil's arm, not certain if he has completed his efforts at searching for Ryker and the others. She ask's, "Arashi, what do you see?"

Despil shakes his head as his focus returns to matters at hand.

Arashi Hmms. "How apprapro. Wolves. Guant, hungery wolves."

Arashi looks to the 'other vessels' on the table.

Tentacly_thing gropes along the wall and wraps his tentacles around the chain near the stair, starting to ooze along it cautiously.

Yosannah furrows a brow at the platform and the creatures come into view. After a long inhale and exhale of breath she slides her hand from Despil's arm and begins to climb up the stairs toward the platform. She sizes up the chains and then looks back to Despil, "I'm going over. It seems to be the only choice we have."

Arashi follows up behind Nash, looking out over the chain and to the platform beyond it, noting the details of things there.

The wolves pace or curl in place, never really leaving their posts where the chains intersect the platform. They seem uninterested in the spread of food and other refreshment laid out nearby.

As Yosannah nears the chain that extends from the platform to the party, she glances over her shoulder at Despil in an effort to study his expression, seeking out any thoughts he might be wearing on his visage.

Tentacly_thing starts to sprout snail like eyeballs on stalks, a thin film over each orb. His expression is something of a mystery, except perhaps to other tentacle things.

Despil says "Ada's coming up to meet us folks, from the lava tube..."

Ada-Shazandra limps garishly, her murky silhouette rustling with the sensual creak of tight leather as she clumbers up the stairs, her lithe weight supported until the rigid rod of a wooden cane. Her crippled stride is abreath with tangible determination, her path lit with a pair of luminous jade greeneyes - bereft of pupils they shine eerie and lamp-like - fading into exotic dimslits beneath the dazzling glare of the artificial sun.

Yosannah pauses before the chain that extends from the platform to the group. She turns to regard Despil, "I thought you sent her away?"

Despil says "She's got legs."

The dispersed pack seems nonplussed by the invaders, though they -do- obviously notice them.

Arashi looks to Nash "Are you going the rest of the way?"

Yosannah looks to the chain before her and then back at Despil, "Can you keep her from getting to us, Despil? We don't know if she's stable, and we don't want to hurt her if we can help it."

Arashi moves onto the chain, After Nash is all the way across, working his way carefully as he can.

Despil says "I could, but it would hurt, and at some point she's responsible for her own safety."

The mottled wolf slumps in a lazy curl, panting. One of it's eyes is yellow clear, the other milky-white and blind. Congealed fluid leaks from both...

Yosannah exhales and nods at Despil, "Fair enough." She follows after Arashi, over the chain, to the platform and toward the first creature.

Arashi makes it to the platform, steping to the side of the tt. He brings his toy to bear on the wolves and the dinner setting.

Tentacly_thing waves a few tentacles around, asking, "Why are there three wolves?"

Ada-Shazandra clambers to a halt, her peculiar eyes awash with the milky white veined texture of flawed jade. The refined ridge of her jeweled nose wrinkles, chiseled nostrils valiantly flaring. The woman scours her surroundings - her lavish eyes achingly slim. "Quaint." She coos, rasping a tepid lilt of a laugh. The lady climbs once more, her gradual pace dragging her upward.

Despil says to Ada, "Welcome back, Lady."

Arashi says "The fourth I think is the diner setting. I think that's Famine, or his representation. The others are..." pointing to the mottled, the copper and the gray wolf in turn "...pestilance... war... death..."

Despil says "Why do you pick them in that order, Arashi?"

Tentacly_thing casts one eye at the approaching Ada and the other towards the table. "You said there was one here, not all of them ... and why is Famine different?"

Arashi says "The mottled is a sign of sickness in wolves. Dieased. grey is the sign of age and time of winter for the wolf, the time of death. Copper, blood and violance, the stink of conflict. War."

Despil says "Not a bad rationalization."

Ada-Shazandra rests some twenty paces from the motley crowd, her ephemeral murky figure leaning heavily upon the stem of her walking-stick - glowed palms folded dapper. A sinuous relic of a smile bathes over Arashi, her wintry demonic eyes skidding passed Despil as they set upon Yosannah.

Arashi looks back the way he came then to the table. "Could be that Famine is in dominace right now. Could be we've passed through Famine to enter into this nexus of sorts, and this is the Famine scape. But in any case, the reading isn't 100%. There's still more." he sighs "Further investigation requires I get closer. Which I kind of want to do so I can see what's in that barrel and in those vessles..." said the stupid man before Chtulhu ate him.

Ada-Shazandra laughs a dim hue, shaking out her elaborately braided ebony head.

Yosannah looks over her shoulder at the Lady and regards her cooly, green eyes narrow. She mutters to Arashi, "Go then, Arashi. Before Ada does something we're going to regret."

Ada-Shazandra's livid lips smear shut, a crescent of an imperial brow arched provocatively at Yosannah.

Tentacly_thing asks, "What are your interests, Arashi?" both eyeballs focusing on him again.

Despil says "I can check those out for you, Arashi, if you want."

Yosannah nods, repeatedly at Despil's suggestion.

Arashi nods and begins to move closer, keeping an eye on the wolves as he nears the table, toy outstretched. "What do you mean?" he says to Nash. To Despil, he nods. "That would be good. More eyes, faster searching...." he closes his and thinks, rubbing his hand to his head "... one, there's nothing wrong with me... two, there's nothing wrong with me... three, there's nothing wrong..." he pulls his hand down. "We should call out what we find. But avoid clustering... making one big target."

The wolves stir restlessly. To the right the mottled lupine whine and scrapes the floor. To the left the grey wolf sits aloof, yellow eyes pulsing with some inner light. Across the table and platform the red wolf crouches, baring teeth and growling.

Tentacly_thing winds his tentacles around each other, shuffling nearer the table a little. "I have no fear for horsmen - what do you fear?"

Something catches the corner of Ada-Shazandra's keen almandine eyes and the lady bends down, brushing a meddlesome speck of debris from the ankle of her immaculate knee-high boot.

Despil says "Arashi, there's food and drink in the containers. And looking over the wolves, I support your hypothesis on their identity."

Arashi nods and says, still closing to the table "Yo, do you have anything you'd like to add. Any insight?" he asks, pointing the toy toward a plat of food, intending to work his way through, one at a time, watching how the colors change.

Despil says "It's amusing that we have containers of food and famine is missing."

All the wolves watch, and wait apparently, but do not leave their posts. The animals do not bar access to the other chains however, standing to the side with some even measure.

Yosannah nods as she hears Despil's comment. She begins to make her way toward the mottled creature, hand outstreatched much like one who intends to pet a domestic pet. She reconsiders and shakes her head at Arashi to indicate 'No'. Instead she changes her direction, heading toward the table and reaching for the food.

The mottled wolf whine a little at the woman's approach, a sound born of desperation and not a little pain. It hunkers down even more as she turns away.

Tentacly_thing makes a peculiar burbling noise. Eyeballs tracking towards Yosannah. "Are we not here to rescue?"

Yosannah considers Nash as she reaches for the food on the table, whatever is nearest her reach, "Depends on your perspective, I suppose." With that she grabs a delectable from the table.

Arashi looks to Yo. "Um... wait... wait... hold on..."

Despil says "What's the other perspective."

Hearing the whimper of the suffering animal Ada-Shazandra instinctively unslings the curvaceous span of her crossbow. Suddenly, the woman pauses, dizzied by some intangible breeze. The pale pillar of her throat ripples with a jagged swallow. Alas, she is momentarily disoriented.

Tentacly_thing unwinds his tentacles, snaking one out to wrap it around Yosannah's wrist.

Arashi looks between his companions in this. "Look. What makes you all think they need rescuing? They're the ones orchastrating all of this to begin with. Everything from the first plauge in chaos up to the upcomming battle. This is their doing. Their plan."

Yosannah's hand is jerked backwards, halted by the grasping tenticle. She flicks a glance in Nash's direction, "Let Go." She lifts her chin in Arashi's direction, "Arashi's perspective. Do you want what he wants, Nash?"

Tentacly_thing snakes more of his tentacles out, the rest of them just waving about at a further reach at the moment. "What /do/ people want here? Even supposing what he says is true - Three of the spirits are my friends, off and on and I'll stand ... splurge, between harm and them if I have to."

Despil says "What does he want, Yo?"

Arashi looks to Nash. "Dude, get a grip. Your friends are the hosts, not these... entities. What care would they have of you, of any of us, save a tool and lacky."

Yosannah shakes her head and shrugs her shoulders. With her free hand, she reaches up toward the item of food in her seized hand and tosses it toward the mottled wolf.

Arashi curses in a far more 'earth' like manner, then dives for the tossed food, to keep it from the wolf.

With a moist bounce the piece of meat slops in front of the mottled wolf, the intervening tentacle a hair late It sniffs the morsel and then backs away a little, licking its chops nervously. The lady Shazandra skirts the laden table and head towards the coppery wolf, who growls at her menacingly but makes no overt effort to stop her progress towards its chain.

Yosannah tugs her against Nash's grip in an effort to break free. "Enough. Let me go." She regards the mottled creature. Noting it's lack of interest in the food with a curious expression.

Inch by aching inch, Ada-Shazandra creeps blithely towards the hallow guarded by the warlike wolf, her loaded ornate crossbow clutched within her wary grasp. The weapon impairs her progress, though already the shadows from the gaping maw of the tunnel shroud her crippled silhouette.

Tentacly_thing lets go of Yosannah, moving to pick up the thrown scrap with the tentacle that so narrowly missed it. "Then stop chucking bits of my friend around, you hag." One eyeball wandering to note Ada's progress. "And what's nora batty up to?"

Moment by moment, the lady of Montmouth shimmies up the chain past the copper wolfs. It stops growling as she passes, pausing to groom itself.

Despil says, "People."

Yosannah moves toward the Mottled wolf, hand outstreatched, intent on reaching the creature this time.

Arashi sighs as he now notices Ada moving up the chain. "Maybe if I'm quick, I can kill them all... no, then I'd have to carry all the bodies back... shit." sighs again. "Despil, any chance of dragging her back here?"

Despil says "Yo. That food -is- Famine."

Tentacly_thing flobbles even closer to the table and with his multi limbs starts to gather up the various foodstuffs. A hollow is beginning to form in the fleshy lump in the middle of the tentacles. "Are the wolves also quintesentially the others or is there a difference with them?"

Yosannah nods at Despil, seemingly in agreement. She notes Ada with interest and begins to mimic the Lady's actions. She moves past the mottled creature, if it will allow, and starts to climb the chain behind it.

Arashi says "We're too late, Despil. Most of us are off on our own little personal crusade here and can't give a rats ass about if their actions will Get us the fucking hell killed you stupid fucking &@#$!" he screams at Yo, then sighs "I feel better now."

Yosannah's apprach has the mottle wolf cringing. As she passes by, it offers her a disappointed whine.

Ada nears out of armsreach of the copper wolf's end-of-chain. The archway there dark and unfathomable. Engulfed by the cavernous blackness of the tunnel, Ada-Shazandra's reed-like frame slinks into the fathomless darkness.

Yosannah ascends another chain than Ada, aside the mottled wolf.

Despil folds his arms and says, "That will be enough, Arashi."

Yosannah arrives at the archway at the end of her chain, paying no attention to Arashi's outburst. She peers inside the darkness.

Despil says "What are you up to, Yo?"

Arashi looks around at every one else, then to Despil. "Well, from the man who stands there with his arms crossed, I gues it is." he looks back "Now we've got Ada down the throat of war, and now Yo down the throat of Pestilance. So, Depil, tell me, as its enough.. What is the fucking plan? Because we're kind of screwed currntly with everyone going off on their own path here."

Tentacly_thing starts dropping the solids into the hollow he's created in himself. The liquids requiring more care, he sacrifices pieces of his matter to form a water-proof skin over the vessels before dropping them in too. "She isn't telling us anything. It occured to me that the reason Famine is different here is because we are still within Famine. Through those portals may lie more of the same for the others."

Despil says "Is that bad, or good that they're doing that?"

Yosannah offers to Despil, pointedly ignoring Arashi, "I don't know. It's dark." She closes her eyes as if in an effort to concentrate, muttering a sorcerous incantation she extends her psychy outwards and into the cave. After a moment, she shakes her head, "I thought I'd feel something but..."

Despil says "Arashi, my ability to stop Ada is somewhat limited at the moment."

Arashi says "Well we'll never know as they're doing it. And if they are, it'll probably spell the end of chaos. Nothing like empowering the destruction bringers." shakes his head "Do what ever it is the fuck you guys are doing. No common sense will stop you."

Despil says "Do you have a plan, other than swearing and being insulting to women?"

Yosannah looks to Despil, still ignoring the ramblings of Arashi, "Despil, Ada's moved off into that other tunnel, maybe I should follow through with this one."

Despil says, "Yo, I have no idea what's the right or wrong thing to do here."

Tentacly_thing seals up the hollow over the elements of Famine, "Do I need to take the table as well, Despil?" and to Arashi, with the most hideous grin imaginable from what passes for the things mouth, "Have faith."

Despil says "Let me check, Nash... The table, Nash, is irrelevant."

Arashi says "Is it a crime to be insultive to the careless? No. Do I have a plan? I was never given a chance to make one up. What do we have? A bunch of people doing their own thing."

Despil says "Yes, it is, Arashi. During times of crisis, one needs one's calm more not less than others."

Arashi says "Fuck Faith. The old Famine told me what's going on and my reserach points to what is going to happen."

Despil says "And what is that?"

Arashi looks back to Despil, his face growing tense and anger "Well, calm is currently hard for me..." he stops and slams his fist into his head sevearl times until it swells and bleeds, finally relaxing "... They're the doom bringers..." he says, calmly "Don't you guys get it. No one kidnapped them."

Despil says "Why don't you tell us?"

Tentacly_thing says "Thanks. Right - plan? I think we should follow the madwoman - she may mean harm. And Arashi, if it is meant to be, do you think we could stop it?"

Yosannah bites at her lips as she slides back down the chain and toward the platform.

Arashi answer Nash first "Yes we can. The book o' the snake says they're testers. This is the big test. We're supposed to stop them. My guess is to show that Chaos is still worthy to survive." he sighs and looks to Despil "They've gathered themselves into one host, a puppet, a slave. All that's been happening, the plauges, the blights, the crop loss, they're doing it for themselves. They've grown weak over time, this is how they're repowering themselves. Recharging. Fully charging."

Yosannah mutters, "I'm not hearing anything I personally didn't already know..." as she arrives at the platform. She then moves toward the mottled wolf as Despil and Arashi converse.

Tentacly_thing starts to meander towards the chain Ada took, "Supposed to stop them in what fashion, though boy? End them altogether? That I will not do. Get them back out there instead of crammed together? That I'll do."

Yosannah nods at Nash's words, in agreement it would seem.

Arashi sighs and looks to Despil "See." he motions at Despil. "Yo already knows what they're doing, and what's to come. Nash there, he wants to help facilitate it."

The mottle wolf whines and slinks away, folding into a tighter ball of misery without ever actually leaving its 'post'

Yosannah reaches out a hand to the creature, gently, toward it's muzzle.

Despil says "Yo, I'm here for you. What say you?"

Tentacly_thing starts to slither gently past the copper wolf, "Chaos stands or falls on its own merits or folly. Not on mine or yours."

Arashi sighs and shaks his head. "So why am I now inclined to continue helping with this mission?"

Yosannah chuckles as she attempts to entice the sickly creature into contact, "You know what I am hoping to do, what I need to do. And to that end, I say we follow Ada. As far as Arashi goes," She doesn't look to Arashi as she speaks to Despil, "Can we stuff a sock in his mouth for now."

Arashi flips Yo off. "Fuck it." he turns and heads back the way they all came.

Despil says "Leave the machine, Arashi."

Arashi says "Fuck you. My machine. My creation."

Despil says "No, I made it."

The patch-work wolf, obviously ill, pulls back, unwilling to make contact.

Yosannah glances sidelong at Arashi and Despil, obviously not worried about Despil's ability to handle the 'situation'.

Despil says "If you want the machine, you'll stay, Arashi."

Arashi says "Give me a good reason to stay. So I can watch the three of you end the world? I'm not your fucking slave. I'm not your little lacky."

Tentacly_thing swivells one eyeball back towards Arashi and says, "Will it be any better waiting out there? Wondering? At least with us, you can curse us in person."

Arashi says "I'd rather actually kill all of you right now."

Yosannah begins to slide away from the creature , brow furrowed and visage tense. She does mutter, however, for Arashi's benefit, "Arashi, you're lucky Despil doesn't tosss you into the Abyss. Shut your mouth for a minute."

Tentacly_thing says, nonplussed, "I've often felt that way about Yosannah, but I know my limits - so one works around what one has to work around and with what one has to work with."

Yosannah smiles at Nash and says, "Touche."

Arashi says "Yo. What about I throw you in, instead, eh?"

Yosannah rolls her eyes "Please child. Despil. I vote for taking the damn machine and going up that chain. If he joins us, great. Otherwise, I'm done toying around."

Arashi takes the device and closes his hand around it. He gives a squeez, testing it. He nods. "Good enough." he sighs "Remember, this child figured all of this out on his own. That makes me smarter than you. Try and take the device and I will destroy it. End of subject."

Tentacly_thing grunts, "Hurry up is what we need to do before Nora Batty gets too far ahead and does something hatstand." and it resumes his tentative progress towards portal Ada went through.

Despil says "How about we come to a deal, Arashi? Here's the deal. You come back here and help us finish this, and I let you live."

Arashi looks over to Nash, sighing, and obviously agreeing with his sentiment. "Despil. I'm already prepared to die. Try again." For a moment, it looked as if he was going to relent and join, but then the threat triggered an equally rebelious response.

Yosannah moves as if she means to follow after Nash. As she does she mutters, "Sounds like a fair deal to me, Arashi. I'd take it."

Tentacly_thing says "How about everyone stops willy waving and gets their rear in gear?"

Yosannah follows after Nash, post haste. "I'm come'n, Nash...."

Arashi looks to Despil "I can only pray that something kills all of you along the way to stop your madness." he turns and heads for the war chain.

Despil has a tendril near Arashi, and is getting it near the machine. It's invisible. "Arashi, please. Help us with this?"

Yosannah and Nash arrive at the entrance to the tunnel, "You see anything through there, Nash?"

Tentacly_thing slips a few tentacles through the portal, "Tasting ..."

Yosannah mouths the word, 'tasting' and shrugs, looking over Nash in an effort to peer in herself. She then glances back over her shoulder to regard Despil. She calls down the chain to him, "Despil, we should get going here."

Tentacly_thing says "Strange ... dusty - hot - but I couldn't tell you rightly what it is." it starts to wriggle itself through the gap being careful for its load."

Yosannah follows after Nash, groping as she moves into the tunnel.

Arashi looks to Despil, then waves his hand around himself "Where is it?" he does it a bit more, then stops. "I came here to save chaos. That's my plan. Not to get them their friends, I'm not here to save myself from some super virus. You can kill me and take this. You can take this and leave me. Or... I'm going to continue along, and do what I need to do, and you can do me the favor and not stop me."

Despil says "Let me float us across."

Nash and Yosannah enter the tunnel...

 

The Windswept Plains of War...

Desolation marks this spot echoed in the cries of the wind that tears mercilessly over the blasted plains, carrying battlecries and screams of agony with equal abandon. The air and sky are blood-red, iridescent with phospherant crimson and wavering with tangible heat. The terrain is sparse and tormented, consisting primarily of shattered stone hills and broken passes. Scattered about are dark pools of what might be water but whose true composition in this light could be nearly anything. Off to one edge of the battle-field, the shadow of a huge forest looms, the trees broken and in some cases, visibly burning. Over this wasted plain a battle roils endlessly. There seems to be four armies whirling in a myriad of tactice. The banners carried are of simple device and color, primarily Red, Green, Black and Yellow. The creatures bearing these symbols are as varied of appearance as the tactics they weild.

The riders are a gnarled and wizend race on the whole, yet something falls short of genralization. In the lead 3 riders...much larger than the others, wing forward in wild abandon....

Pulling away from jsut overhead of the newcomers who have passed from the dark confines of stone into the hazy bloodred air a flock of massive, black-winged mounted bird wheel by, scarlet banners fluttering wildly from their backs.

Yosannah cowers lightly, emerging out of nowhere and wincing at the creatures overhead, "Nash... what the hell..."

Tentacly_thing emerges, appearing to have spouted two snail-like eyes along the way and put on weight too if the increased bulk of the 'body' is anthing to go by. He quickly pulls himself to one side, tentacles and eyeballs shrinking back from the hot and dusty air.

Yosannah turns, full circle in an effort to ascertain their location, "... where the hell are we..."

With a valiant effort of will over her diminished body, the lady Ada-Shazandra rises from the ditch, incandescent jade green eyes ruthlessly glaring at the advancing threesome of winged steeds. Her crossbow is held fast - propped - though she in impeccably still.

Ada-Shazandra watches the riders - wary and still, her gaze scrutiny incarnate.

Tentacly_thing stays low to the ground, eyeballs darting left and right. "Of course, this is probably a bad form to be in the middle of a War ..."

From just ahead the newcomers, a leather-clad figure rises from the dust facing away towards the direction of the fleeing avian-creatures. A crossbow, draping a veil of rust-tinged sand, angles up at the aerial calvary, at second glance obvious cocked and ready.

Yosannah furrows her brow at the sight of the Lady. Her gaze passes from the woman's posed form to the three riders. She nods at Nash but then begins to gesture with her hands, delicate patterns traced with her fingers reaching outward, voice muttering softly. Inaudible. Behind her, Despil and Arashi appear.

Ada-Shazandra lifts up her gnarled cane and rams the thing into drier ground, limberly hoisting herself up out of the ditch. The woman clambers forth, some twenty feet from the motley gathering. One hand deadlocked along the stalk of her bow, the woman moves - limping - towards the burning forest.

There is a stir of dust and wind and two more figure step from the haze into view next to Yosannah and the many-tentacled thing beside here. In Arashi's hand the machine he carries dismantles into components with no forewarning, pieces of it falling into the dust at the man's feet with nary a sound audible over the tearing winds, crimson light gleaming against the pieces as they fall....

Tentacly_thing tracks his gaze over Ada and calls out to her, loudly, "Ada!" his voice a rattling, liquidy roar.

Over the battlefield the sky begins to rumble as gray-green nimbus begin to form, dark and brooding. Yosannah's chanting is rhythmic but then quiet. Slowly at first - a trickle from the skies. Then, abruptly, a downpour of gelatinous acidic droplets begins to gush down from the heavens over the area of the flock and the three Riders.

At the edge of vision a flock of black-winged bird wheel upward, red banners snapping in the wake of their passage. The lead three seem somewhat, larger than the rest, but the distiction is soon lost to distance and atmospheric haze.

Arashi kicks at the pieces. "Hey, Despil, you can have it now."

Despil replies to Arashi, "Thanks." He looks around to get bearings and see what he can do to help.

Arashi steps away from Despil and the others, moving to the side to observe the details of what is now before him.

Ada-Shazandra looks over a windblown shoulder at the wreathing mass of tentacles she knows to be Nash. The lady waves to the thing, the hand tat clasps her crossbow arching through the smothering singed air with a benign gesture of stubborn determination.

Yosannah falters lightly and shakes her head, blinking once or twice. She looks out over the battlefield to regard her work for a long moment.

Ada-Shazandra scrambles forth gimpishly straddling the terrain towards the forest.

Arashi nods, comming to some conclusion, then starts walking on, following in Ada's direction, his gaze following the three birds.

Despil asks, "Where should we go, Yo?" but he's walking after Ada.

Ada waves to Nash with her crossbow and creeped forward. She's injured, so clearly NOT very fast but determined.

Tentacly_thing starts to move after Ada as well, looking awkward on the dusty horizontal, calling after her, "What are you doing? It's like travelling with gerbils and my tentacles are getting tired."

At that point the rain of acid hits, though the efects seem mostly localized on the retreating flock. From the forest bursts a horde of heavily armored, black-carapaced...things. They seem to follow the movements of the avians as the emerald rain hits them all, sending both forces scattering in apparent confusion.

Yosannah jogs afer Despil, shaking her head, "I don't know, but it's clear Ada has an agenda. And she doesn't look quite right to me if you take my meaning." She looks over her shoulder as the acid rain falls on the flock and shakes her head, pointing, "And I'm not sure I did much out there with that spell. No real damage. Seems to have confused those creatures for a shor time more then anything else..." And then, as if an afterthought, "That's not the army that Riva was supposed to lure out, is it? This reminds me of Anthuran."

Ada-Shazandra seems reluctant to engage in meaningful banter, her crippled form stuttering stubbornly towards the woods. Yet as the carapace-creatures emerge and the lady stumbles, perchance deliberately, splaying her lithe form against a span of naked-raw bloodied earth.

From high above in the sky a shadowy form comes into view, this creatures massive wingspan blocking light making a simply massive birdshaped dark space on the field below. He Holds a red spear, his staff once held has been abandoned somewhere on the ground. From his back flaps a crimson banner. He swoops down to the field kicking and stabbing a beast that is engaged with another redbanner-bearing beast. Stabbed all the way through, he kicks it off his spear and lets off a dragon's roar to the air, filling the air. His clothes are covered in blood and his face has an impish grin as he scans around the field for another combatent. He takes flight towards one, speedy with his spear pointed right for its back. Should the rain hit it bounces from his clothes, not obsorbing like the blood. Where it hits his scales it slides from them.

Arashi looks at the beats, sighs and mutters to himself, then keeps on walking.

Yosannah stops, abruptly and points to the creature in the sky, "Despil, look."

Despil looks up where Yo points. "Is that War?"

Yosannah calls out to the creature, "Braaandon!!" She cups her hands about her mouth in an effort to amplify her call. She shakes her head at Despil.

Arashi calls back "I belive the battlefield itself is war."

Ada-Shazandra rolls onto her back - propped along the stony ridge of the trampled ground. Moist tangled lashes blink rabidly against the soot of sullied air. Her bow is propped a jagged stainless steel bolt aimed at the grinning atrocity that once was Brandon.

Despil adds, "Or -- Ah. Not Joachim."

Yosannah shakes her head at Despil, "No, I think it's Brandon." She calls out again, "Braaandon!"

Tentacly_thing glances towards the red-banner champion with one wary and interested eyeball, the other regarding Ada's fallen form as he drags himself closer to her. "Something fucked up right here alright ..."

The disoriented black-shelled things seem to be reorienting, targetting the few feathered and beridden beasts that have faltered and fallen. The majority of the avian force regains a modicum of unity as the acidic rain begins to fizzle out.

Another of the larger riders, heavily armored, seems to fair decently under the rain, a large shield held by his left forearm and protecting his head. It's too far away to tell exact details. Lance in hand, trailing red from a streamer, its often in the front, skimming the ground. The lance is trailed beneath with a slight lean to his strong mount, the weapon used more like a bat, striking from behind, from the side, always at heads. Grazing, stunning, killing. A long main of wild hair trails behind, dirty grey armor covering half its humanoid form, dull chainmail the rest. It controls the mount expertly, left, right, swerve and dive, merciless and effective in its killing.

Yosannah takes a step backwards as she regards the second rider. She shakes her head, "Nash might be right, maybe we should get out of here... If that was him, there's something wrong now..."

A demonically clad figure clutching a red banner which matches spikes upon it's armor barrels through lines of it's foes. The figure is covered in the blood and guts of it's victims, mowing over those who get in the way with vicious ferocity and brutal strength. It's knees bent to make the most of it's shield as the warrior presses forward without fear, driven by the scent of blood yet to be spilled.

Despil says "We're in something that's not quite Anthuran. I'd guess we should get you to the one that's the Pestilence tunnel."

Ada-Shazandra shoots - a stinging bolt of her crossbow aimed to pierce the cusp of Brandon's right wing.

Yosannah nods at Despil's words, still backing away from the sight, "Yeah..." And then, "Despil.. that one over there. Do you recognize her?"

Arashi turns around and looks back at where they all came through.

Despil says "Riva."

Tentacly_thing reaches Ada, tentacles swarming over her bow and draw hand as he says to her, "Ada - Have you gone potty, or is there something you ought to be telling me?"

Yosannah furrows her brow, "Then the last one. That's not Ryker, is it?" She glances sidelong at Nash as he attempts to converse with Ada.

A wince, as Ada's bolt strikes through the figures wing. Blood, muscle feathers fall to the ground and . . . yes Brandon cries out in pain. "AHHHHHRRRGG!" he falls to the ground as he was in midflight, and tumbles forward towards Yosannah completly passing the man he was aiming for. He lands on his wings, face up. From there he takes a moment, stands and looks horribly pained but that dosn't stop him. Ignoring his close contact with the others he kicks hard to another combatent and strikes it down with a blow to the side of the head with the spear.

Ada-Shazandra greedily clings to her empty crossbow, coiling fervently away from the froth of writhing tendrils that are Nash. A hostile hiss is whispered to the mesh of quivering tentacles.

Brandon lets his foot fall in place after the spear strikes, and uses his free hand to secure the banner on his back.

Yosannah looks from Ada to Brandon, "Despil is that really him?" Before he can answer she begins to move in Brandon's direction.

Tentacly_thing retracts his tentacles, He mutters to Ada-Shazandra, "Shooting people at... they're... should..."

Arashi looks around, not paying attention to brandon. Instead, he seems to be tracking and nodding.

Ada-Shazandra emits a banshee of a frustrated scream, "The flag - Serpent! It'sbut a game of capture the flag!" The woman writhes, her anguished body gracelessly flopping like a fish out of precious water as she struggles to regain her balance and - fails.

Killing. On and on with the killing. Particularly the two larger riders still in the air, assaulting the black-shelled things. They stick out more because they're better at it, so much so, than because of they're somewhat different figures.

Several of the mounted warriors, mostly gnarled and twisted goblinish things, wing down to check on the status of they're fallen comrade while on ehte fringes a hand of carapaced warriors break off from the main group to punge that direction, towards Brandon...

Tentacly_thing begins to shift again, tentacles starting to meld together, pushing his form upwards, his voice modulating and cracking, "Help me and I'll help you."

Ada-Shazandra abandons her feeble attempts to rise, commanding the Tenctales at her side curtly, "Lift me up!" Her Anglican voice is somber and sure, a fresh bolt slipped into the slat of the lethal crossbow.

Yosannah furrows her brow at Ada's insistance. She wets her lips, indecisive for but a moment but then bolts toward Brandon, attention focused keenly on the banner at his back.

Despil says, "That's Brandon, all right. Brandon, snap out of it. Want to bet we have Ryker around too?"

Arashi looks around again. "Some one needs to get that banner off of his back. Its controling him. I belive."

Tentacly_thing's merging tentacles twist, some of them thickening and bunching and others thinning as they seperate out into pale, thin fingers. There's a flickering and flashing of ensorcelments as clothes seem to seep out of the emerging form. He falls to what are now knees of a sortand offers a limb to Ada.

The wild haired warrior is one of those who break of from the main skirmish. Initially, to pursuit those who seem to be retreating. That doesn't appear to be allowed, retreat. Certainly no surrender is apparently. Cracking heads from behind, its mount's claws tear backs, it flies past them fairly soon. Faster, more agile. It comes on a wind towards the downed brother. Its brethren. A strong form, skimming the ground. Quickly becoming more visible, a hawk nose and strong jaw. Heavy gauntlet on the right hand. Quickly becoming too visible ... too close, red banner on its back, violent intent like a banner upon its body.

Ada-Shazandra coos husky to the shifting amorphous blare of tentacles beside her, "They must have take up the banners - touched - do not touch..." Lifted up by Nash she cocks her wicked bow at the banner holstered at Brandon's back.

The red-horned demonically masked warrior mercilessly guides it's mount strait into a cluster of opposition with a loud roar of challenging, volume intensified by the mask so that the bone-chilling sound carries on the winds. It guides it's mount with it's legs, leaging one hand free to carry the banner, the other a bloodied lance.

In the roaring heartbeat of the tearinf winds a myriad of things happen simulateously. Yosannah clambers over Brandon, snapping the pole which is fastened to the banner at his back, at which point, lance in hand, he turns away from here mindlessly as the black-carapaced beetle-things swarm over them both. Ada, her crossbow aimed towards the fray, wavers in her aim...losing her original target. The banner inexplicably breacks and flutters from Riva's back...the event having little efect on her charge into a tightly packed pahlanx of onyx scarab-beasts, momentum scattering them as her lance brushes them aside.

The touch of the wooden banner pole is smooth and well-formed, fitting easily into Yosannah's hand, oddly...familiar. The ribbons flutter in the wind, slowly stirring something in her heart of hearts. Pride. Arrogance. The taste of victory in the blood of her enemies. There on the ground, the banner of her brothers. Rage, sudden and pure. Fallen, but not all of them. Together she will wing from the heaven's and destroy all you oppose you! Victory!'

Nash's eyes suck backwards into his hardening head, a spray of purple hair spilling out of his scalp and bristling from chin and upper lip. He looks about as usual now, if you ignore the impressive beer gut. He catches Ada deftly enough, although he doesn't seem wild about the duty.

Ada's well-aimed bolt sails true, only to be lost amidst the sudden insectile swarm. One heavily shelled creature faters and staggers from the melee, it's thorax cracked and dripping by the legth of wood and steel penetrating it.

Arashi continues walking towards the forest, eyes peering at the tree's, trying to decern their condition.

Ryker and his mount reach Brandon and Yosannah seconds later. Out of the acid rain and needing an extra hand, the shield has since been shrug on its long strap back over his shoulder. There is wild abandon on his face as he swoops by, reins draw back just enough to allow him to grab Brandon by the upper right arm. An iron grip, enough to hold and jerk him along, swinging him to the sit behind Ryker as he wings away.

Despil concentrates on the rider that is Riva. When her banner comes free and she continues, he hrms and curls his lip. To anyone who's listening he says, "It may be necessary, but it's not sufficient. I'm going for the lance next."

The Demonic Figire, crows in delight... Ada-Shazandra skids upwards, her resilient tattered breadth jutting up into a seated stance, mercilessly using Nash for support. Viciously, the woman nips upon the tender swell of her livid lower lip, methodically reaching for a novel bolt - loading the maw of her fierce crossbow.

There is another wooden report as the lance shatters in Riva's hand, her mount veering in no small amount of surprise....

Brandon slides easily away from Yosannah as if she wasn't even there. He situates himself behind Ryker and props his spear for stabbing.

Nash watches the riders fighting with the same expression as a boy looking through a chainlink fence at all the other kids playing. He snakes one hand behind his back under his coat, bringing out a pistol and murmuring, "Looks like fun, anyway ..."

Fingers clutch at the banner pole as some unseen force appears to seize Yosannah's will. Lips curl in a snarl as her free hand dips into the inner recesses of her jacket pockets and pulls forth a small iridescent glass sphere that is 3 inches in diameter. Within, is a swirling blue-green haze.

Riva's demeanor changes suddenly. She now clutches for dear life and decides to bail as she finds herself on a strange creature. She falls from a respectable height, likley giving her plenty of time to rethink the widsdom of jumping off her mount.

Ada-Shazandra scans the sullied skies with a keen and feral eye. She takes a lengthy time to aim her deadly bolt - the pinnacle of Ryker's lance bulls-eyed by her foreboding shot. The woman squints.

Jumping from a flying mount may not be the wisest thing, but as Riva does, she doesn't plummet, she more drifts to the ground, landing near the group of people-- Despil, Yo, Nash, Ada, Arashi, etc.

Ryker manipulates his vicious mount, sweeping around in a graceful parabola, lance shifted to his other hand. Opposite Brandon's. He's coming around, unceasing as long as enemies are left alive on the barren plains. Mere feet about the ground, mount's legs tucked up, Ryker and Brandon come for the knot of black creatures around Yosannah. Two hands on the lance. Coming in fast...

Arashi has moved on beyond the group, continuing his own recoming.

From the tightly would crossbow held cradled in the in the Lady Shazandra's hands a single bolt rips forward towards the beast bearing what should be Ryker and Brandon. Unfortuantely for the latter, if that was her target, her aim was dead on. The powerful bolt catches brandon in the left breast as the great bird wheels, puching even though his enchanted armor and into the flesh beneath.

Riva finds her rapid progress to the ground haulted, then slowly guided down until her feet gingerly make contact with earth. She doesn't spare long to ponder her good fortune, just turns her head around to get her bearings and sprints away from battle in distance-eating strides.

Ada-Shazandra glares, peeved, "He owes me money!" she retorts.

The globe in Yosannah's hand swirls violently. A whirling vortex of blue, purple and grey mist. Surrounded, she lifts the glass globe over her head and brings her arm downward, thrusting the item into the ground and shattering it at her feat. Slowly, a cloud begins to billow forth, spreading over the creatures.

The bolt strikes, sending Brandon /flying/ off the back of Ryker's mount. His arm shoots open letting the spear fall to the ground as he rolls forward. He lies partially away from the main battle, looking towards the sky. He dosn't move.

Nash watches Arashi go past and starts to get to his feet, saying to Ada, "Pardon me - got another nutjob to keep an eye on. And if he owes you money, you need him alive, neh?"

Ada-Shazandra rather reluctantly reaches for the leather sheathe strapped between the statuesque blades of her shoulders, intoning crisply to Nash, "Precisely my point." The lady loads yet another bolt into the crevice of her crossbow.

Ryker's mount is a little slower with two passengers ... and then suddenly lighter as he loses weight. Nary a glance from the battle-crazed warrior, as if nothing was lost, he drives his mount on. With eyes only for the enemies, intent only for battle, his approach is lined up to hit those around Yosannah. And even as the cloud billows forth around her, he doesn't swerve away, crashes through. Targets already burned in his mind. He comes out of the other side of the growing cloud in a blink. Once more, he's gained passengers, two of the smaller creatures on the end of his lance, impaled, supported by his two handed grip on the shaft.

The noxious cloud moves closer to the companions. The blue-grey mist begins to billow over the creatures surrounding Yosannah but doesn't seem to have any effect. She screams as the creatures claw at her, gashes cut into her flesh.

Purhaps unsurprisingly, the ebon-shelled dcreatures seem mostly uneffected by the cloud emanating from the woman in their midst, though it's difficult to tell as the last oversize rider smashes into them all, plucking too of the crawler-beasts neatly off the ground with the end of his lance. The man's mout immediately starts to destabilize as the extra weight pulls it off-balance, screaming it's confusion and complaint despite the rider's prodigious attempt to hold all up. Then the lance shatters and the dead things fall, the bird tumbling wildly at the weight shift a moment before the banner at Ryker's back shatters as well.

Arashi turns from the forest as he's made a determination and heads towards the pools of water.

Despil says to Riva as she lands, "Welcome back." He says, "Let's see what happens if I do this the other way." As Ryker starts flying toward Yo, his lance explodes into a plume of shards, as if it hit something.

Nash draws back the hammer on his pistol, following Arashi and trying to stay out of the way of the fight, "Hey, kid. Don't forget your apocolypse assister."

Riva stops as she finally returns to the group, leaning over with taloned hands braced on her knees as she tries to catch her breath. "I...could...just..kiss you, my lord." she pants, voice distored through the weird device in the maskpeice of her helm.

Ada-Shazandra lolls forth, her bow cradled low as she pulls the rigid stem of her cane out, lumbering onto her feet. The woman's balance is jaggedly slanted - one botched knee bent as she aims askew at Ryker's whirling steed: the bold set indeterminably.

Brandon continues to lay where he is, the bolt from ada still lodged in his shoulder.. He wakes up..."OOOOOOWWWWW!! That realy fuckin hurt!" he screams out to the wold.

The last oversize rider smashes into them all, plucking too of the crawler-beasts neatly off the ground with the end of his lance. The man's mout immediately starts to destabilize as the extra weight pulls it off-balance, screaming it's confusion and complaint despite the rider's prodigious attempt to hold all up. Then the lance shatters and the dead things fall, the bird tumbling wildly at the weight shift a moment before the banner at Ryker's back shatters as well.

Arashi continues on. If Nash is going to shoot him, he'll have to do it in the back. His course, avoiding the fighting and too the pools of water.

Despil smiles at Riva's words and says, "What's stopping you?" but his concentration remains on Ryker and stopping him.

Riva says "Well, this mask for one..." she turns at Brandon's screem and moves to retrieve the man. "Brandon!"

Nash trots to catch up with Arashi, pistol still loosely at his side despite the hammer being back. "You know, if you're planning on destroying them, I'll have to drop you, right? I mean, I'll try not to kill you, but you'll have to be stopped."

Arashi ignores Nash for the most part, only saying "We've already drawn our lines. You're going to try and destroy the cosmos and I'm going to try and stop you."

A ways out nearer the further pools that border the borken wood Arashi wanders. A few more steps and the array of tentavcels waving blindly near a copse of blackened trees wavers, stirred by the nearness of the invader perhaps. Thickly viscous as strand of slime-coated muscle they begin to unravel from the pool that houses them....

There isn't a lot to be done about an out of control aerial mount, tumbling, his own inertial in flex, his mind disoriented as perspectives shift and holds arereleased. Legs reflexively tight, both bird creature and mounted warrior crashed into a burn, a lip of dirt. A speed bump. It's messy and noisy, easily forty yards from the main gathering of Yosannah and others. A dust cloud rises, slowly blowing away from the sight.

Arashi stops as the denizens of the pool stir. He squats down and sniffs the air near the pool, though the current environment may impead that.

Brandon just stares at the sky, mainly in shellshock right now. "I don't think I have ever killed someone before that.." he looks to Riva...

Ada-Shazandra avers her hostile crossbow, gradually pivoting upon a jagged spurof a heel, whispering with an audible rasp of condemnation, "There is no sin, but stupidity!" That said the woman limps forth towards the blackened trees, a war eye sloping past Arashi and Nash as she levels with the pair.

Nash smiles, "If I thought you were right, I wouldn't be doing it, would I? And the old famine is my best buddy, so it's not like I'm uninformed. Damn kids, always so sure they're right about everything - hey, cool - tentacles! Way forward, or certain death?"

Riva sighs and offers taloned hand. "They probably weren't real, Brandon. Get up, there's time to be traumatized later. Get up." she commands.

Arashi says "I can't tell if the water is stagnant or polluted, from here. The sky, the tunnels, the forest, and these pools are the next ways forward."

Brandon sits up, and pulls the bolt from his shoulder with a horrible face. "Ohh Ahh, Ehhhh!" it comes out and falls to the ground. "Where is everyone?"

Ada-Shazandra turns. The lady says nothing, stepping rather swiftly for her gimp and wounded form into the blue blaze of tall trees - intent on breaching the wilderness.

Riva looks around and mutters. "Question is: where's our Fearless Leader?"

Brandon glances around.

As the dust slowly clears, Ryker and his mount are a tangle. Some mild distance away, neither are currently moving.

Arashi says to Nash. "Test your gun on something. I'd rather you have something that works to shoot them with when I go close to that pool."

Nash tilts his head towards Ada, "She seems to know where she's going. Or not. Either way she's making progress." he shakes his head slightly, "Either it'll work or it won't - ain't like I haven't been in that situation before. Ada's headed into the trees, you saying the pool is the only way?"

"Pool leads to Pestilence, that's how we ended up here." Riva says as she trots over towards where Ryker and mount landed.

Arashi says "No. I just want to make sure I know which horsemen we're gong into next..." he looks over to Riva and nods. "Ok. That answers my quextion." He gets up and follows after Ada.

Brandon looks for Yosannah as he stands up.

As the companions focus on Ryker, Yosannah remains amidst a swarm of the ebon-shelled creatures. She clutches a broken lance in her hand, stuggling against the foes as they overcome her, hand outstreatched as one of the beings swipes a gash across her midsection.

Despil finally notices Yo, and sighs dramtically. He sends over a tendril to explode her lance.

Ada vanishes between thickly forested underbrush, neatly skirting the blindly quivering tentacles of the nearby pool and the pair of figure that stand jsut out of reach of them.

Nash murmurs, "Do you /have/ to?" as he follows Arashi and Ada.

Brandon moves, running/limping to Yosannah.

Riva reaches Ryker and moves to collect him, taking care to move the mount off him and make sure he's not gripping the banner or lance.

Arashi mutters to Nash, "Have..."

Despil says "Yes, I have to. I'm here to help her."

Arashi oh's and mutters some more.

Ryker has no banner or lance. He looks unconscious, currently, a nasty lump on his head. His left arm is bent at an unnatural angle.

Arashi mutters to Nash, "And... her... you, is to... everything..." He sings as he walks along "... and its the end of the world as we know it... its the end of the world as we know it... its the end of the world as we know it... and they don't care...."

There is a muffled explosion of wood splinters, perhaps a tad overdramatic and then suddenly the black-shelled creatures are milling aimlessly, parting as a ebon tide to expose the tattered figure of Yosannah. Weary, she falls to her knees, hands before her in an effort to hold her weight up.

Nash rolls his eyes. "What did Ahriman say to you? Word for word. Exactly?"

Riva is gentle in her treatment of Ryker's form, craddling it protectively against her armored bulk before turning and hualing butt back towards those gathered.

Brandon hobbles up to Yosannah and moves to catch her as she falls, "Hey, hey you ok?"

Arashi mutters to Nash, "... lets... the... doesn't know... is.... will... stray... from the... That... all... That they... weak and... recharge. That...to... together..."

Yosannah reaches out a hand to Brandon, clutching at his arm in an effort to stand. "I'm okay. What about you? What happened?" Her free hand is clasped at her midsection.

Nash nods, "And? Where's the apocolypse?"

Arashi mutters to Nash, "That's... surrprised... can..."

Brandon holds his form there and allows Yo to climb up his punctured form. He puts an arm around her waist and moves towards Despil. "Well, where shall I start?"

Arashi mutters to Nash, "Other... all..."

Yosannah says, "How 'bout, what happened to you guys? And where's Ryker?"

Despil looks around for anything else someone's missed. He calls over to Riva, "Riva? You need help with him?"

Nash makes a pfft noise, "So the end of the world is all your theory - so don't try to bullshit me Arhiman told you it was going to be the end of the world, because he didn't."

Riva approaches the gathering, raising her voice to be heard. "He needs help, someone help me out here? Where did you all come from? Where'd Brandon run off to?"

Arashi mutters to Nash, "I..."

Brandon nods, "We ended up in a pool of water, then walked around some sewers. Disolved from a red eye'd thing.. Would up here, and picked up the banners." he points to Ryker, "Over there."

Arashi mutters to Nash, "... you... off... your friend quest, answer this one queston for... which..."

Yosannah looks to each of the companions in turn, obviously attempting to reconcile their current situation. Nash's outburst to Arashi is not lost on her, but her attention goes to Riva and Ryker. She leans against Brandon for support.

In the distance a pounding reverbration shakes the ground...something big. Very big.

Arashi is headnig off with Nash towards where Ada went.

Brandon leads Yosannah away from the battle, and hmms yelling out. "Lets go guys, we need to move!"

Despil starts heading to Riva and Ryker and swears under his breath as the ground starts to shake. His attention goes in that direction.

Nash glances around at the pounding noise, squints and calls to the others, "Hurry it up! Carry the old fart, I'll have a look at him in the next madness zone if one of you can get him conscious." he glances at Arashi, "What?"

Yosannah asks, perhaps of Brandon, "What was that? Earthquake?"

Ryker remains unconscious, beaten and battered. There are flesh wounds all about him, from head to toe. His dark hair wild and sweat, strands of it all over his face. Most notably there is a bump on his head, and gash on his back, and after some staring, an obviously broken left forearm. The chainmail there has been torn, only dangling by a few chain links on the inner arm.

Brandon shakes his head, "Big wiggly thing." ever the way with words, "Has archers on its back I remember it from when we started this."

Riva says "I don't know, but I don't want to find up. I'm with the pruple-haired freak. Where're we going next?"

Arashi mutters to Nash, "... is... purpose... fully powered... creatures set...the..."

Brandon adds into his yell. "Well Ada vanished into the woods, lets go that way."

Arashi has vanished into the woods, too.

Nash says to Arashi, taking a step or two onwards, "Keep you fiesty, of course. Stop you all from turning into flabby-butted complacant wimps."

Yosannah notes the seriousness of Ryker's conditions now as she and Brandon near Despil and Riva, "Dear god. Is he gonna make it?"

Riva shrugs carefully. "He's a tough bastard, I'm sure he's survived worse. C'mon. I want to get someplace more sedate and get Ryker looked at." she whisles some tune that might be 'it's to grandmother's house I go'.

Arashi mutters to Nash, "... fistey,... would suggest... I follow... my plan,... to... me... to do."

Riva turns and wanders towards the trees, leaving people to follow.

Arashi mutters to Nash, "... its... stop..."

Despil says "We got a large thing coming. I don't think it's after us, but we'd be just as dead if it squishes us."

Brandon nods to Despil, and starts to motion Yo towards the woods with the others.

Yosannah nods, seemingly in agreement, and follows after Riva with Brandon's assistance, hand still clutching her stomach.

 

Death's Winter Wood...

A bleakly white-capped landscape of skeletal trees bereft of leaf or even much life, their blackened trunks stretching up into an overhead haze stark where they peek out through the blanket of snow that carpets everything here. The occasional ghostly four-footed shape flits with near invisibility between blinding dunes, wolves of the silent frost. Occasionally, a roughly dressed villager wanders in from one apex of a rough crossing of two roads, gathering the sparse fallen deadwood. Amidst the occasional flurries and haze thin plumes of smoke rise up from each of three horizon-ward directions, barely seen through the trees nor smelt over the heavy scent of ice.

Riva looks around, pausing. "Nash, can you take a few minutes to check on Ryker?"

Ada-Shazandra frowns, poised at the crossroads, her steely gaze impaled upon the burdened back of a retreating peasant. Her imperial silken brows turbulently knit, as she intones for once bemused "Starve!? I've been there already!"

Several things sharpen in perspective as the broken trees give way to white-tinged limbs and boughs, a handful of steps bringing the full blanket of winter to the wood. Underfoot the snow, knee-deep at times, crunches in that odd juxtaposition of wet and dry noise. Emerging into a vague clearing of sorts, a crossroads is visible where the snow has sunken and partially melted into hard-packed roads, its spokes heading off at right angels to the cardinal points. The Lady Shazandra stands not far from either the emerging party nor the crossing of the paths, her lashes lowered thoughtfully as she peruses the retreat of a non-descript peasant headed away down the westernmost(?) road.

Arashi follows up near Ada, leaving his converstaion with Nash for another time. He looks to the paths and the four points of smoke rising to the horizons.

Riva cradles Ryker gingerly, hoping her solicitation for medical aid is responded to from someone within the party.

Ada-Shazandra turns, the tip of her gnarled contorted cane leaving dramatic imprints within the downy snow. Frost lightly powders the curls of her tangled black lashes - sifting flakes of white through the tousled length of her elaborately braided ebony hair. Regarding the motley gathering with a cool clinical eye, the woman limps laboriously towards them.

Yosannah's right arm is clasped about her midsection as she treks along, supported by Brandon. The winged man falters, falling to one knee and bringing the girl to the ground with him as she mutters, "Brandon? Brandon?!" From her knees she calls out, "Despil!"

Despil nods to Riva who currently aids Ryker and hurries toward Yosannah and Brandon.

Riva says "Ok, I hate to sound like I'm not a team-player, but I need my arms free and Ryker needs some first aid."

Despil kneels before Yosannah and rests a hand on her shoulder before leaning near Brandon, after a moment he nods, thoughtfully, "Fatigue, Yo. He'll be okay." He looks to her as her hand clasps about her stomach, "What about you?"

Riva continues to crandled the prone form of Ryker carefully, perhaps even showing a hint of concern

Ada-Shazandra exhales a waft of frosted air through the sparrow-curves of her flaring nostrils, the clear gem piercing her fine nose brilliantly glistens. The lady looks down at Riva, "Wake him up." She quietly intones, her tone chilled, "We shouldn't tarry."

Ryker remains unconscious, but his breathing is measured. The lump on his head is slowly swelling, a bullseye on the left temple.

Arashi sighs and looks around. "Winter seasons. Time of death..." he hmms, looks to the four points. "three to a horsemen, one to...?" his begins to focus on the woods and the stalking, near invisible wolves, trying to see if there is one path less guardered than the others.

Yosannah holds out her hand to Despil, it is covered with blood. She forces a meek smile, "I'll be fine. Probably just looks worse then it is." She winces.

Despil nods again at Yosannah but asks of Riva, "Perhaps I should stay here with Brandon. Ryker as well if needs be."

Nash is murmurs and mutters so much he sounds like a babbling brook, a disgruntled annoyance on his face as he retraces his step back to the group and Ryker. He stuffs the firearm away for now in a handy spot. "I'm coming you mules. Old man thinks I'm his personal physician."

The wolves may as well be ghosts, flitting just outside the edges of awareness. They seem steer clear of the paths however, melding in and out of the dunes and trees....flickers of suggestion. Several peasants forage for wood and dig in the snow, perhaps for plants. They do not seem to be working together and ignore wolves and the new come strangers alike.

Riva says "He's got a good bump on his head. I don't know if I can wake him." that doesn't stop her from trying. She shifts him against her and pats his cheek carefully with talons, muttering. "If you don't wake Up Ryker, I'll give you a big slobbering kiss ight on the mouth...c'mon, wake up..."

Ada-Shazandra frowns, the fine curves of her crescent brows knitting into a rabid tempest. The frigid breeze laps loose strands of long black hair across the woman's faintly Oriental face. She waves Riva off with a tilt of her ornate cane,"Very well, major. Free your hands. I'll rouse him."

Arashi rubs his chin, considering the pesants, then moves closer to them, looking them over for any descerning or defining marks or signs that may give a clue about them.

Yosannah inquires of Despil, "Can you watch over them and stay with us?"

Despil nods, matter of factly, "Of course."

Nash stops besides Riva and Ada, hands on his hips and the most dubious of expressions on Ada. "Lets not forget our bedside manner." With a squint at Ryker, he offers, only half-joking, "I sort of prefer him this way myself."

Ada-Shazandra's snow-laden lashes droop. The woman shrugs her battered leather-clad shoulders, clambering away from Ryker, Riva and Nash. She wastes no precious breath on words - her concentration bestowed entirely on the gimp movements of her crippled body.

Riva releases Ryker as instructed, turning her helmed head to look over the gathered part and their new setting now she's free of her burden. "Must be....Death?" She glances over at Brandon with Concern, but it's brief as she turns to absorb the whole of their setting.

Despil rises from a crouched position next to Brandon. He offers a hand to Yosannah, helping her stand as well. With little more then a flicker of his gaze to Brandon's sleaping form, the winged man also rises from the snow covered ground. As Despil and Yosannah approach the rest of the group, Brandon hovers in the air behind them, following after.

Yosannah offers to Riva, "We've already seen Famine, so that would make sense. Don't suppose you guys had a run in with Pestilence yet."

Nash rubs his hands together and resigns himself to reviving Ryker, kneeling besides him and taking Riva's place. "I suppose we are getting low on testosterone." Eyes scan Ryker. Without even having to touch the man he declares, "Fractured left forearm. At least a mild concussion." He leans left and right, lifting one side of Ryker, checking his flank. "Nasty little gash."

Ada-Shazandra reaches Arashi, scrambling to a graceless stop by the ominous crossroads. The arcs of her imperial brows steeple to a gothic frown. Her black-clad bird-boned body leans heavily upon the stem of her gnarled walking-stick as she calls forth to a passing peasant, "Hail, how fare you?"

Riva says "We did. It's where we came from when we landed in war. You didn't miss much, but I don't think we're going to find what we're looking for in these places. I'm not even sure they're real..." she glances at Ryker. "Well, in the sense that's to our advanatage. Give people a few minutes to get on their feet and lets go..." she scans directions."

Despil offers, in response to Riva's comment, "No, I can concur with that." He furrows his brow, "I've been studying each place as we have passed through. It's as if each is contained in a larger, singular sphere."

The appraoched peasant, a middle-aged woman with a drawn expression, turns to face Arashi inquisitively. Her dirty hands wring in the undyed rough cloth of the blanket serving as her shawl, bits of green plant peeking out from grubby fingers. In a quiet voice she intones, "I am sorrow...my sister stole my husband. I will poison them both with the the herbs I seek." With that she turns and lumbers off northward.

Yosannah offers to Riva as well, "Famine didn't put up much of a challenge either. Unless we were missing something." She thumbs over her shoulder in Nash's direction, "But Nash packed Famine up and is carrying it with us."

Arashi notes the old womans progress, noding quietly, then approaches another peasant, greeting him or here as well.

Riva nods. "That makes sense. What we need, is to get out of here. What we're looking for will be found in one spot...outside of here, I'd wager. Death is the common amoung the other three-so maybe we can get out. Anyone has input as to which direction we should head, I'm all ears."

Nash wastes little time, his right hand tightly gripping Ryker's broken forearm. The pain of it is enough to stir Ryker even in his unconsciousness. Nash's other hand goes to the forehead, resting flat on it as his eyes close, other senses taking over. It takes some effort and time, realigning bone and removing the swelling from his head.

The next peasant carries nothing, straightening with a weary expression. "I am sorrow...there is no looking anymore. I can find nothing." WIth that he shuffles out along the southern road.

Yosannah nods at Riva, but throws her hands up in the air in response. She looks down each of the crossroads in turn, searching for an indication.

Brandon stirs softly, murmering to himself. He grumbles at something as he begins to wake.

Ada-Shazandra looks up sharply, the pale pillar of her neck arched vividly back. The woman grasps the taut breadth of her collar, sheltering her pink-frozen skin. "The peasant I spoke to," she coos, musing at the dour skies, "Told me of his starving children and retreated westward." The lady shifts her wounded balance, pointing obliquely in the direction where the aforementioned man had gone.

Arashi nods to Ada. "West, North and South so far. We should try a couple more and see if we can get an East."

Despil reaches out and touches Yosannah's arm. As she looks to him, he nods toward Brandon, "He's awake." Logrus tendrils lower Brandon softly to the roadway.

Yosannah kneels before Brandon, still clutching at her stomach, "Brandon?" she intones softly, "Brandon. Hey, you with us."

Brandon runs his hand over his face slowly, eyes opeing a bit more.. First sight, Yosannah. He smiles. "You ok?"

Yosannah offers to Brandon, encouragingly, "Yeah, just a scrape, don't worry. You, on the other hand, gave me a fright." She holds out her free hand, "Think you can stand?"

Nash finishes his effort with Ryker. "Well, that should hold him for now, the old goat. He's not /too/ banged up, and at least he hasn't lost much blood. That would be the real pain to deal with, here." He glances around, suddenly realizing his talking to himself as the others huddle. An annoyed frown and a heavy exhale as he digs in a pocket for a small vial. Purposely to himself this time, "Misfits, kids, egos. It's a wonder I still get out of bed."

Over the next few moment Ada and Arashi set about questioning several of the peasants. "I am sorrow..." the first speaks through chattering teeth. "The well has dried and we are thirsty." He turns and moves West carying several moderately sized balls of packed snow. The next peasant; "I am sorrow..." It is a young girl, gaunt and coughing. "My mother is ill and I cannot find herbs for tea." She turns and trundles miserably...east.

Nash sticks the smelling salts beneath Ryker's nose.

Ada-Shazandra inclines her ravaged head to Arashi, leaning her frayed figure against a gaunt limb of a nearby tree. Somber lashes seal over the wary orbs of her brooding jade green eyes, moist from the snow and clinging to the blushed curves of her lofty cheeks. She descends into a dizzied, tangible reverie.

Brandon grunts, sighs, and sits. He moves to his feet slowly with Yosannah's help. "So, how long have I been out?"

Riva stands and observes, letting the wounded get up and get their bearings.

Yosannah smiles at Brandon, "Not long. Twenty minutes or so."

"Hunger and thirst to the west. Sickness to the east. Revenge to the north and loss to the south." he nods more "Want to try a couple more or have a couple an idea." he asks Ada.

"Yo," Despil says as he stands near Brandon and Yosannah, "The wolves are much like the ones from the platform. Not the same three creatures, but very similar."

Yosannah nods at Despil and then calls, "Nash, how's Ryker."

Brandon nods, running his tongue over his lips as he looks around. He then glances to Depsil, "Thanks for the lift." he closes his eyes for a moment reaching for something perhaps.

It takes a mere two seconds for Ryker to react to the pungent smell, startling away with a jerk, violet eyes wide. Instictively, his right hand goes for his sword while his left aims a punch at Nash's jaw, hovering over him. Nash blocks it without too much difficulty, only a curse, echoed by Ryker as he yelps and jerks his left arm back. Nash steps back while Ryker pauses and gets his new bearing, snapping at him, "I just set that arm you nimwit."

Nash stands, informing Yosannah sarcastic, "He'll live ... lucky us."

Arashi's words take time to lull the lady Ada-Shazandra back to her weary senses, "Indeed - ask again." She intones, eyes somberly closed, her pained body nestled between the limber crutch of a withered tree and her cane.

Arashi considers the peasants and the roads, then asks some more, listening to what the north and south may have to say.

Despil offers Brandon a nod.

Brandon holds his hand out, reaching for something but never quite makes it. "Damn illigal trump connections, blurring out my picture." he opens his eyes and looks to Yo, "Where are we, and what is going on?"

Ryker indeed needs some time to get his bearings, to him the memory and feelings of battle still fresh. He remains prone for half-a-minute, right hand gripping the hilt of his rapier, left protectively against him. A few things are murmured to himself, eyes searching around, checking facing.

Yosannah smiles at Nash though the activity between Arashi, Ada and the locals is not lost on her. She offers Brandon a light squeeze on his arm before she moves to Ryker, "Dunno. If we're looking for Death, seems, by Ada and Arashi's questioning of the locals, we head south," She points south to indicate where she is refering to, "to find Death. Is that what we're looking for? Or are we already here?"

Riva says "That's what I'm thinking. That's the only place none of us have already been."

Arashi taps his chin, thinking over the themes and all the identical introductions. "I am sorrow... regrete... things unfinished, deaths unavoidable and deaths that could've been avoided... death by famine, death by plauge, death by violance... and number four." he looks south "Ada? What's your opinion of South?"

Brandon rubs his head, visably distracted by something deep within his mind. He glances around, thinking perhaps or just trying to get a grip on waking up, not a clear difference.

Ada-Shazandra peals her lithe ragged form from the crutch of the numb tree and hag-like crumbles forward to the crossroads, the sturdy cane zealously substituting for the broken stiff leg, "Once more into the breach, my pet." She lilts to Arashi, passing the youth, headed south.

Riva frowns and shifts. "Oh, maybe it's not right. No, we're...Damnit." she looks around, squinting. "Stop. Stop. Stopstopstop." she rants quietly.

Brandon nods and waves his head, "Yes, stop.." he mutters, leaning on his frontward leg he looks around. "What.. Hrm.." his eyes dart all over the place.

Arashi says, with a hint of annoyance, his eyes narrowing for a moment "I'm not your pet..." but he bites it back quick enough, taking a moment to breath, then starts on with Ada, heading south.

Ryker groans a little and holds a hand to his head, sitting help. "You know, I kind of have a funny feeling, but that might just be the concussion." He wets his lips and pauses, checking. "Yeah, I'd my money on the concussion." A squint at Nash. "You had to leave me with the headache, huh?"

Brandon falls to a knee, clutching his head... "Ahh no.. Stop!" he shakes his head, and almost starts to cry. Brandon is debatably speaking to himself.

Nash frowns over at Brandon, either disapproving or pitying him. For the moment he sticks with the larger group, and remains silent.

Riva beats at her helmed hand with a fist. "Stop!" she screams viciously, distorted voice gaining a fevered pitch.

Despil kneels before Brandon, regarding him, studying him, brow furrowed in concentration.

Ryker squints over in Brandon's direct, then winces on his own accord. Moves to rise, but he's unsteady, and his eyes look haunted. "Death. That was a lot of death." His jaw tightens, using Yosannah he makes it to his feet, whether she actively helps or not, but the troubled expression remains, even without looking to Brandon.

Arashi doesn't stop, either, save when Ada stumbles, his body's instinctual reacation grabbing her quick to support her... then a moments laters curse. "Shit." he looks to make sure he hasn't touched the woman's actual skin or person, then helps to right her.

Yosannah strains as Ryker rights himself against her. She reaches her free hand out to him in an effort to help pull him up.

Despil reaches for Brandon, clasping his hands about each of the boy's shoulders, "Brandon." He jostles him slightly.

Brandon clutches his head, putting it between his hands and looking stright down into the ground. "I had no controll!" he starts to scream at himself. "It's not my fault. Your not real!" he twitches at his neck three times violently and uncontrolled.

Nash takes a passive role, turning his attention to the area. Checking. Waiting on something new.

Yosannah mutters under her breath, obviously unable to do much, "Jesus..."

Arashi and the lady beside him traverse the road a bit further, their presence suddenly obscured by a flurry of snow falling from the trees overhead. When it clears, they are no longer visible.

Riva turns and moves to Brandon, backhanding the man with care of talons and restraint, "Brandon!"

Ryker's tanned features are tight, but he's quickly gathering himself. Posture straightening. Eyes more focused, brighter. At the others, "Ahem. Anyone know if Brandon's ever killed before?"

Yosannah shakes her head, uncertain, "I don't know. I don't think so..."

Brandon smacks his face into the ground and is out of it. "Thanks." he mutters slightly laying face down.

Despil looks from Brandon to Riva. He shakes his head and stands, stepping away from the winged man, "We need to move on. It would seem that Arashi has already gotten ahead of us."

Ryker explains, "He's got some ugly memories going through his head. I've got the same burning in mind, unnaturally vivid. It was nasty on that battlefield." He swallows, even affected as a veteran. "Perhaps as nasty as I've ever been in." He looks on the boy with pity, now releasing Yosannah's support with a murmured thanks.

Riva says "He said he'd never killed anyone before." she murmurs, now offering Brandon her taloned hand as assistance to stand. "But it's still not the time to dwell on the neccesity of it, even if any of this is real." she nods to Despil, voice gruff and hjarsh even through the distortion. "I know. But there's something wrong, and I don't know what. I ain't eager to go rushing off."

Brandon rises to his knee, and just looks at the ground for a moment. Perhaps still shake, perhaps ashamed it affected him so much, probably both. He eventually stands with riva's help, eyes red tears still marking lines down his face but he dosn't speak only moves on with a limp.

Yosannah exhales audibly and nods at Ryker. "Let's go then." She begins to make her way toward the South trail.

Ryker offers Yosannah a sarcastic, "Hi, nice to see you again too." Stepping in pace beside her.

A smile escapes the corner of Yosannah's lips, though he might not see it. They move on.

Nash does an admirable job of remaining aloof of the drama. "I'm stuck on this ride without a steering wheel, but that doesn't mean I have to get out and push."

Riva assists Brandon with walking, and follows reluctantly behind the rest as she calls out. "For the Record: There is something really wrong here."

Brandon shakes his head, "No.." he looks around, eyes widding at Riva. He nods,"Yeah." he looks around, "Wait stop, just for a second.."

Despil makes an effort to assist Riva with Brandon if needed. He pauses in compliance with Brandon's request.

Yosannah halts and turns to regard Brandon and Riva, "What's up you guys? What is it?"

Ryker seems inclined to stop as well, be he stays silent for a minute, his focus internal. Lips pensive.

Riva says "I don't know, but I think the rest of you all are about to really fuck up." she looks at Brandon, then Ryker. "We're going to end up going in circles like this, aren't we?"

Brandon points to Ryker, "You know it too.." he looks to riva, then to Despil. "When you came to the battle field, where did you enter from?"

Ryker glances momentarily at Riva, and he can't say no. A tongue poking his cheek, his left remains at an angle, resting within the notch between sword hilt and hip.

Yosannah glances sidelong at Ryker, his pensive quietness obviously disturbs her as uncertainty is visiable on her face, "Uh, a tunnel. From what we believed to be the inside of Famine."

Ryker looks to Yosaannah and then Despil. Voice growing stronger, "I don't know how long I was out, or how much Yosannah and the others have accomplished. Before I was caught up in that eternal battle I was really on the verge of figuring some things out."

Ryker states, "I wouldn't mind being caught up."

Yosannah furrows her brow and nods at Ryker, "Okay... Uh.." She shakes her head in an effort to recall the events, "When we lost you guys we went back up the stair well. We came upon a platform that hung suspended from large chains." She looks to Despil as she tells the story.

Despil nods quietly.

She continues, "There were three wolves on the platform that seemed to represent War, Pestilence and Death. And a table covered with food." She points at Nash, "Which Nash put in his bags."

Nash, for his part, looks somewhat a bit exasperated. But he doesn't complain, and as he drops into a comfortable sitting position he merely remarks aloud, to nobody, "I'm going to take five. Poke me when someone has a clue."

Ryker glances then at Nash, who merely pats the bags.

Yosannah adds, finally, "And, just off the platform were three tunnels where the chains ran to. We went through the tunnel that seemed to be guarded by the wolf that represented War." She shrugs, "And we ended up on the battlefield with you guys."

Ryker nods firmly to Yosannah. "Thank you."

Riva hisses out a breath. "That's not the way. Infact, none of these are, I bet. One big freaking maze." she gritts her teeth. "Got to be another way out of here."

Brandon pinches his upper lip, thinking for a moment. He looks to Riva, "I think so." he looks to Ryker, "But /do/ be carefull what you /touch/.."

Ryker eyes Brandon. A vague gesture, "Apologies. In my defense, I didn't command anyone else to follow suit and pick up a banner too. A piece of advice: When the commander goes down, don't be a lemming."

Brandon shrugs, "Not all your fault." he admits, "Ryker, look around you. Why does this place seem so . . familiar."

Brandon mmms, "Wrong word, but I can't think of the right one."

Riva says "If we'd done that, we'd never have caught up with you. And might have missed the others entirely. It worked out. Now we just have to chew a whole in a wall." she looks around and mutters irritably. "I've had enough of this fun."

Ryker eyes back to Brandon. "I get what you're saying, Brandon. I feel it too."

Ryker looks to Nash. "Hey Cragvale, you got a splint for me, or are you gonna make me use my own underwear?"

Riva says "Ryker, give me your hand." She offers a taloned hand.

Ryker eyes Riva. "Why?"

Riva says "My armor can act as splint and sling, and it'd be less flimsy."

Ryker huhs, a hint wary, but takes her hand. In the meantime, Ryker asks Yosannah, "Did they catch you up on our fun?"

Brandon hrms, "I heard something about the villagers, someone tell me what is up with them."

Riva gingerly takes Ryker's hand belonging to the injured arm, and the substance begins to crawl up the man's limb.

Brandon blinks?! A moment of enlightenment uppon him perhaps.

Yosannah shakes her head at Ryker and then looks to Riva and Brandon, "No, they didn't. Hold up a minute, Brandon. You guys tell me what happened to you now."

Brandon shakes his head, "No wait, how did you get out of your place and into the battlefield. Did you pick something up, or touch something.. or disturb something.."

Ryker obliges her. "If you had Famine's tunnel, then we had Pestilence's. And it was all kinds of nasty. We spent some time there, but it looked pretty empty and fruitless." He mentions, jaw a bit tight as he recalls some pain, "We used little red gems to transport us from Pestilence to War's battleground."

Yosannah shrugs at Brandon, "Not really. We just walked through a tunnel. Not asingle bit of resistance." She ponders for a moment, "Though, we did take what we beleived to be the representation of Famine with us."

Ryker prompts Yo, "What does it look like?"

Riva's shield shrinks into a lump, and oozes sluggishly down her arm onto Ryker's into a splint and sling, protectively surrounded the injury and supporting it. It then begins solid and hard. There's a slight *Pop!* and she seperates from Ryker, leaving a seamless sling and solid protective splint/cast. Her armor slowly settles into place, sans shield, horns, or cape.

Yosannah shrugs her shoulders at Ryker, "Food. It was a table full of food." She points at Nash, "He stuffed it all in his bag."

Despil shakes his head, "I can't see what is beyond these roads. Which has been typical for me througout. I can't see beyond our current location."

Ryker glances at the 'South' road, and then again, scratching at his cheek. "Huh. I wonder if maybe we should have collected something from Pestilence's sewer. Some nasty water." His lip curls a little. "A rat. I had it in mind to collect one of the gargoyle's red eyes ... ahem, but that proved a mindnumbing bad idea."

Ryker adds, again looking South, "For some reason, every time I look that way, I think of Mariko."

Brandon thinks, "Well, you walked. Or crawled, into the battlefield and walked out of it.. We just sort of appeared there, and walked out.." he hrms, "We got to pestilence by falling, and then got out of it by removing the eye of the gargoyle eye. Perhaps we need to remove something here, or . ."

Yosannah considers this, "So, three stones, three red banners, famine and three tunnels. And no Pestilence?" She regards Brandon, wondering what he might be getting at.

Riva turns to face each direction, pausing each time for several long breaths.

Ryker answers Yosannah, "I haven't noticed any sign of her." He looks around. "I don't know how we got here, but if we went back to the battlefield, we could return to her sewers." His tone tells how enthusiastic he is about that.

Ryker admits, "I do think the gargoyles eyes had a significance. We got too strong of a reaction for them not to, really. Maybe we were just going about it the wrong way." He nods at Yosannah, "Maybe the gargoyles would react more favorable to Yosannah, here."

Ryker thinks to check his forearm, eyeing it critically. A quick, "Thanks Riva." is offered.

Yosannah shivers now, for the first time since they arrived in the snow ladden landscape. Whether this is in reaction to the weather or Ryker's suggestion is unknown, "Hmmm."

Riva growls in frusteration. "Wrong. All wrong."

Brandon taps his foot, thinking grumbling. "Something.. Argh, no something is different, the pattern breaks." he thinks, "I keep going back to the way I was instantly shoved down when I took flight.. Then we went from pestilence to War with out much of a problem then we had a disaster. What was different in war..."

Yosannah shrugs, "I dunno guys. It seems each time there were three ways out. Here we have a fourth. And it's this fourth path you're not comfortable with."

Riva grunts and paces, thinking heavily as her breath comes out in thick steamy plumes. "No, It's not that."

Ryker leaks some more authority into his voice. "I do think Riva's right. These areas, all of them, have the qualities of a maze." He gives his own body a significant look. "And each one is wearing us down a little more. I'm not sure just keeping our feet moving is gonna get us anywhere."

Brandon murmers to himself, flight.. fall. Removal, replacement.. "Thats something! When I flew, I fell.. When we took the eye we had to replace it to leave. Remember Riva?! Then when we /picked/ up the lances we had to /drop/ the lances before we could move on.."

Ryker looks around this area, as if searching for new inspiration. Brandon quickly regains his attention though. He admits, "Kid's got a point."

Riva looks at Brandon. "Cause and effect?" she mumbles helplessly, clearly not entirely on the same page as Brandon.

Yosannah shakes her head, "But that doesn't explain what happened with us in Famine. We didn't have to do anything to end up on the battlefield."

Riva says "We are missing the big picture, not seeing the forest for the trees..."

Brandon hmms at Yo, "Could that be because I already fell?"

Ryker points out to Brandon, "I'm not sure what it gained us though." Frowns a bit, amending, "Except, Brandon, Riva and I seem to have a sense of things in here that the rest of you don't."

Yosannah considers, "We took the food. We went in the tunnel. How does that square with your cause and effect, Brandon."

Brandon thinks, "If you didn't take the food, the tunnel would have led for ever?"

Ryker mentions to Yosannah, "Just because you did it, doesn't mean you did it right." He suggests, "Perhaps you were suppose to take that food and feed it something. Feed it to a wolf."

Nash finally chimes in, "I hate this word 'supposed' to. Like we're obligated."

Yosannah casts a glare at Nash with Ryker's suggestion, "I tried to do that. Nash stopped me."

Riva paces. "The point...what's the *point*?"

Brandon nods, "So just run with me here. What could we do here, that would cause an effect?"

Ryker spreads his hands. "I know we're doing a lot of guessing, but let's calling it brainstorming. It'll make me feel more productive."

 Nash sticks his index finger in the air, twirling it a few times for Yosannah's benefit. He quickly points out, "Just because the Messiah here says it, doesn't make it fact." He eyes Ryker, meaningfully.

Yosannah exhales and rolls her eyes.

Riva says "I'm with Fearless Leader. It's a safe assumption wandering around will get us no where we want to be. We need to know what's going on. Without an accurate assessment of the situation, we're not doing anything but stabbing blindly. Does *anyone* have any idea of what, exactly, is going on?"

Brandon moves to touch a tree.

Ryker steps back and turns, spreading his hands to encompass the entire area. "What's going on here is we're being manipulated. We're not /alone/ here. We haven't been since we stepped in that cellar." He looks up at the sky, as if trying to stare at god. "The horsemen are here. Arion is here. And probably someone else." He drops his violent squint and looks to the others. "But all this, every area, is just slowing us down. Keeping us away from the center. Tiring us, wearing us down. I know, because if I was holding all the cards, that's what I would do."

Yosannah blinks, "Wait a minute. How many stones?"

Brandon turns to Yo, the tree does nothing.

Yosannah asks again, "Three stones?"

Riva says "I've heard of three. One red, one green, the other Yellow. Why?"

Yosannah says "Three stones. Three flags. Three tunnels. And each time Despil thought we were inside something larger then our location." She looks at Despil and asks, "Yes."

Despil nods, "True."

Ryker corrects Yosannah, "Four flags." He flicks his fingers, "Red, Black, Yellow, Green."

Brandon agrees with Ryker, "Four flags."

Yosannah notes, "You only took three. You were carrying three on the battlefield. One for each of you."

Ryker says "Took? We didn't /take/ any. We picked up red, for awhile. Borrowed."

Brandon shutters for a moment, closing his eyes.

Ryker ehs at Yosannah, not seeing it. "That's only because there were only three of us. If everyone else had been there, there might be nine of us with bannersand lances out there."

Riva nods in silent agreement with Ryker.

Yosannah shakes her head, "You're not seeing my point. Three exits each time. Except here. Four roads. Why here?

Ryker suggests, "Four roads for horsemen."

Brandon hmms, "Thats true. Except in pestilence, or perhaps there could have been if we waited. The pools, the tunnels and the forrest. But I just tried to trump my staff, and it didn't work. It is like we are in a big jar.." He points, "Ryker try and trump something up, like a staff or some object you drew.. I know you have one."

Ryker reminds, "Four flags, one for each. Red for War, Green for Pestilence. You're saying you came from the tunnels, so Yellow for Famine. That leaves Black for Death."

Riva flexes her hands and remains silent in deep thought.

Brandon sighs. "Where is the black jewel then?"

Ryker obliges Brandon, shrugging after a few seconds. "It's the same as before. An image comes to mind, it's there, but I can't complete the connection. Nothing physical."

Brandon nods, "Exactly, we are /still/ in the jar. That is proof."

Ryker begins to get refreshed, his thoughts picking up where they left of, before that seemingly lifetime of battle. And as he remembers, he checks around with a frown. "Damn it all, I lost my spear again. Rade is gonna murder me."

Yosannah lifts her hands to her face and rubs at her temples and her eyes.

Despil tilts a knowing expression towards Brandon as he comments. "More than one jar...to be precise."

Brandon stands there for a good long while before saying. "Ryker, Death led here.. Famine led to the tunnels and the pools led to Pestilence. But the red, they represented war and were in the middle." he nods, thinking again for the moment. "I think we need to be there, in the center. War's realm is in the center."

Riva nods slowly. "That'd at least match my vision."

Ryker glances at Brandon, easily nodding. "The same thing was just running through my mind. We were trying to map this maze, before we got drafted." He admits, "I didn't notice the Reds coming from anywhere, though we didn't scout that well or far. And maybe it's not just a coincidence that the Reds were the first ones I saw - and killed - upon arriving. The first banner at our feet."

Riva nods slowly and frowns.

Nash points out, "I don't think Ryker is either."

Yosannah shrugs, "But we had to end up here. When we were at War, what other options were there but to come here?"

Ryker answers, "Go to Pestilence. Back to Famine. Stay on the plains. We could go back to Pestilence, the pools, the tunnels, and woods."

Ryker frowns, looking around. "What happened to Arashi." Concern. "Dead?"

Yosannah shakes her head, "I don't know, he followed after Ada."

Nash tisks and shakes his head. "Fate worse than death."

Riva says "Where'd she go? south?"

Yosannah nods at Riva.

Ryker frowns deeper. "Ada is here?" He points out, "I as hoping Arashi's little horseman sniffer might lead us better directions."

Riva says "She was. She's dissapeared."

Ryker shakes his head some, and starts to look around again. "Why don't we take a deeper look around, or even explore, while we're around Death. If nothing pans out, we can head back to the plains of war."

Despil nods, seemingly agreeable.

Riva nods and sighs, as if not having much hope of any of this panning out. "There are villagers, so there has to be a village, right?"

Ryker, dubious, "Maybe. But yes, we have villagers. We have ... wolves." His keen squint searches and h admits, "Where there is smoke there is fire, and where there is fire there are people."

Brandon sighs, "Then lets walk down the south path then, towards the fire. Just incase that /is/ the way we are supposed to be going."

Ryker points out, "But once again, things here are ignoring us. Not seeing us. Just like on the plains."

Riva mutters. "But it's not. Maybe we're not supposed to leave. There is something. Here. Missing."

Nash sighs and rises. "There you go with that word again, supposed."

Riva says "That we're missing."

Brandon blinks, "Wait a second, the wolves.. Did they look like they were looking at you, Yo? And Ryker, those rats.. You think they would have bit us or just trampled on by?"

Yosannah nods, "The wolves pretty much ignored us." And then, "Rats? We saw rats too."

As if on cue a pair of wolves ghost through the trees, startling a rabbit that bolts past a peasant who pauses in his foraging to dive hungrily for it before noticing the wolves...

Ryker states, "Probably gone on by. Like I said on the plains, a lot of our troubles are psychological. Even the war ... Brandon here looks something short of a hardened shoulder, but he survived. The place is real ... our wounds are real. But our problem, our maze, isn't a physical one." He stops to watch the scene. With a tone that hints at weariness, he remarks, "More killing."

Brandon diverts his eyes, looking to the ground.

The peasant freezes as the wolves stare at him for a moment before vanishing back into the trees. After he's sure they are gone, the peasant tries to find the rabbit again.

Ryker further comments. "Hungry wolves. Hungry peasant not to notice the wolves. Are sure this isn't Famine instead. It makes me wonder just how much the horsemen are at odds with eachother."

Riva says "What do you mean?"

Brandon shakes his head, "Ryker, war is in the middle on the battle field. Death is in the middle here?"

Riva says "OR maybe Death's the common theme? It's the one thing that all have in common."

Ryker looks at Riva, a little bland. "You saw that battlefield. It wasn't a bunch of Reds fighting Reds. It was every color at war with every other color. All four horsemen battling. If we're going to get away from the physical and assume symbolic meanings, I'd say that means to some degree the horsemen are at odds."

Riva mumbles under her breath, still pacing restlessly. She's warn a long trail in the snow. "Alright. So, where does that lead us? Are we supposed to find a way to reconcile them somehow?"

Brandon hmms, and starts moving his good arm and muttering. He looks for a starving forager.

Ryker shakes his hand and clears his throat. "We are missing something, but it just isn't coming to us. Someone mentioned we're not seeing the forest for the trees, and they were right. Come on." His mind made up, he starts towards the South. "If we see more of what there is to see, it may show us more of what we're not. Everyone keep there thinking caps on. Lets see if we can't trip over a horseman."

Ryker orders Brandon, "Do your thing and catch up."

Yosannah runs her hands over her hair and follows after Ryker.

Brandon completes his spell after a moment, and points to the rabbit hunter. He lets loose a black bolt from his hand and sends it soaring right at the figure.

Riva sighs and mumbles. "Last time I headed this way I had a vision and bad voojoo feeling..."

After a long moment of reflection, Despil follows after as well.

Yosannah casts a glance over her shoulder to regard Brandon's actions.

Nash is already ready and merely falls in line once more, brushing off his pants. "I knew sitting down would be the only smart idea that would be hatched."

Ryker looks, but keeps walking. He does gain some wariness, right hand gripping his rapier.

The spell catches the peasant amidship, ripping him open like a wet bag of garbage to spill over the snow. He doesn't even get a chance to scream. There's an odd wooden noise as Brandon slowly starts turning into a tree...

Riva says "Woath. Ryker!" She watches, eyes wide.

Brandon blinks, looking in either way. "GUYS! I figured it out!!" he looks at his feet, trying to move them.

Yosannah stops then and turns to regard Brandon. She winces and peers at him.

Ryker stops and curses, running back to him. "Braaaandon, now what have you done."

Arashi stumbles out from the southern path into Ryker.

Riva says "He said he figured it out, He killed someone. I don't think this is what victory is supposed to look like though."

Arashi stubles out from the end of the south road, his eyes streaming with tears and haunting.

Despil and Yosannah run after Ryker, heading toward Brandon.

Brandon's efforts get him nowhere, the bark crawling from the ground to spread over his legs, wooden tendrils reaching to grasp at his hips...

Ryker has good reflexes. Unfortunately, Arashi catches him on his left side, where he lacks the ability to fend Arashi off. With a grunt, he's knocked off balance, sliding into the snow with his right arm protecting him.

Brandon struggles more, "Riva! Put the gem back in the socket or something!"

Yosannah is forced to a halt so that she might avoid a collision with Arashi and Ryker.

Riva looks paniced. "What gem?!"

Ryker growls at Arashi, fighting to regain his feet with one arm, the snow slowing him down. He yells at Riva, "Cause and affect."

Brandon bats at himself and his trunking. "Like in Pestilence." the tree form growing up his chest now. "Undo the affect."

Nash offers helpfully, searching for something useful, "A wood-axe ... Termites..."

Brandon gaahs, and yells. "I look like Magnus!"

Ryker points out, on his feet again, "That's no way to encourage me rescuing you!"

Riva touches Brandon, desprately. "I can't unkill someone, Brandon! HOW?"

Ryker sends an order at Nash, but it sounds like he's groping, "Nash! See if you can heal that peasant he ripped open!"

Yosannah weaves around Arashi and Ryker and makes it to Brandon, "What gem, Brandon?!"

Brandon starts to answer, but goes into shock as the trunk moves up his body and starts to consume his shoulders.

Nash gives Ryker a withering look. "What with? Sellotape?"

Arashi regains his bearings and looks around at the commotion.

Riva watches Brandon change, expression tormented anguish.

Despil goes over to the peasant, himself.

The bark is encroaching on Brandon's torso no, entiwing internally with his longs, making it hard to speak...or breathe for that matter.

Ryker waves at Nash, searching the area himself, "Just try."

Despil says "How good are you at shifting, Nash?"

Riva says "Damnit, hurry. Or someone gets to follow him!"

Ryker frowns as he spies a villager collecting fallen deadwood.

Nash says "I'm one of the best there is." he crosses to the dead peasant, "Bringing back the dead isn't a trick I've learned yet though." he puts a hand out tothe corpse, or at least a bit of it asking generally, "Anyone tried stopping the shift yet?"

Ryker explains, "No, once again that sounds like your department."

Yosannah urges as she and Riva stand before Brandon, "Whatever you're gonna do, do it fast."

Arashi sighs and thinks, concentrating.

Ryker looks a little out of ideas, mind groping as much as his eyes do.

Nash says "Shhh."

Brandon starts creaming incohenrently, a sound mercifully cut off as his lungs are overwhelmed by vegetable matter.

Riva whimpers. "Please, someone do something NOW?!" her hand remain on Brandon as he becomes a tree.

Ryker turns slow circles, looking.

Nash says nothing for several long seconds, then says to Despil, "Can you push him together for me?"

Despil mutters to Nash, "... I'm... around... see... can't..."

Ryker guesses, "Kill a peasant, feed a wolf? If this place is about death, and Brandon just killed something..."

Riva blinks and looks to Ryker. "Wait...try it?" she looks at what's left of Brandon's horrified expression and relectantly abandons him, marching hastily through the snow to Nash and Despil. "Give me a hunk of non-vital flesh."

Brandon's eyes bug wildly as the oxygen and blood slowly slip form the non-vegetable parts of him. The change -does- seem to be slowing however for reaosn not immediate apparent.

Nash puts his other hand on the corspe, murmuring, "This might sting a bit." his gaze becoming altogether distant as parts of the body start to undulate, blood bubbling up and some of the cuts starting to melt together after ejecting foreign bodies.

Yosannah remains with Brandon, muttering softly, "... hold tight, Bran."

Ryker's right hand goes to the back of his neck, the gauntlet squeezing..

Despil says, "I think Nash and I figured this out."

With an agonizing crawl measured only in the increments of blue that color Brandon's oxygen-starved skin the bark crawling up his body begins slows....stops...and finally reverses direction.

Ryker doesn't distract Nash, and his concern for Brandon, like his tone, lowers.

Nash stays perfectly still, breathing a little heavier as the peasant's body writhes beneath his hand. Bones snapping and skin crawling as the damage slowly unwinds.

"Oh my god." Yosannah looks over her shoulder at Nash and Despil. And then to Ryker, "It's working..."

Ryker is just a little about calm now, even, pointing out, "Nobody has died yet, inspite of our best attempts."

Riva whimpers around, a hysterical giggle of glee issued.

Despil chuckles at Ryker's comment. "I think we're managing it." He continues to peer over the self-assembling peasant.

Impossibly, after a moment where Brandon's eyes start to tilt upwards to display only white, there is a sudden shallow intake of air...then another slightly less shallow as the bark recedes past his chest.

Ryker nods at Despil, turning his attention to the nearby Arashi and giving him a nudge. "In the meantime, where have you been?"

Arashi says "In the sarrow of things lost."

Riva trots back over towards Brandon, relief flooding her features.

Nash takes his hands off the peasant,who's definitely breathing, if unconscious and still looking somewhat battered.

Nash's hands are shaking, sweat dripping off the end of his nose, murmuring, "Field medic want to take over?"

Ryker nods at the man. "Find anything useful?"

Yosannah reaches out for Brandon, prepared to steady him as the bark recedes.

Arashi says "There's nothing useful." he looks around "Ada's still in there, though."

Ryker calls over at Nash, "I think that's you too." He encourages, "Way to be a team player."

Riva sighs and mutters. "Someone should go get Ada-shazandra."

Ryker frowns some at Arashi, glancing from where he came with a rumble in his voice.

Despil nods and says, "I'll go get her."

The recession of the wood is more rapid now, falling off Brandon in flakes and chips. His knees, bereft of their earlier stiffness, sag as he starts to fall.

Despil says, "Someone keep Brandon from falling over."

Riva looks at Despil, concern obvious. She sighs. "I was fixing to volunteer, I'm no good here...but maybe You'll be less likely to need rescuing."

Ryker considers Despil's offer, and then nods an agreement. "She'll just fight me. Feel free to use force."

Arashi says "So..." he looks around "How did you manage this one?"

Ryker says "You can blame me."

Despil smiles to Riva. "Come along if you like." He starts heading off where Ada and Arashi went to.

Nash frowns, "Someone should do something useful, yes. Am I the only shifter? Are you all Chaosians?" he starts to do more mundane things to the peasant, using bits of the man's clothes to bind up the worst of what's left. "Stuck here with a bunch of Chaosians who can't shift ..."

Despil says "I just can't shift other people, Nash."

Riva frowns after Despil, debating.

Ryker slaps Arashi lightly on the back as he heads for Nash. "Stick with us, hmm."

Arashi says a bit louder "Um... how did you manage to get me out?"

Brandon falls into Yosannah eyes closed.

Riva says "Despil, wait?"

Despil stops and turns around.

Ryker informs Nash, "We're not all Chaosians. Some of us are worth something."

Yosannah let's Brandon fall into her arms, she slowly lowers him to the ground, laying him in her lap. She smiles as she strokes Brandon's hair - perhaps at Ryker's comment.

Brandon is perfectly content there, sleeping or ... something of the sort, he is alive however always a good sign.

Riva frowns and looks to Ryker. "Arashi showed up just as Brandon did that. I don't think it's coincidence. Cause and effect."

Ryker stands next to Nash. A glance at Arashi. "That's true."

Nash mutters, to himself in a tetchy manner, thumbing up one of the peasant's eyelids and saying more loudly, "We're going to need to take this one with us and look after him a bit. I can get him on his feet, but if I do that, then you're going to need to look after me a bit, because I'm jiggered, man. Much more of this and my body's gonna eat Famine without even asking me about it."

Arashi shrugs as his questions are ignored and walks around, trying o piece things together himself.

Riva says "Nash, are you up to patching up another one?"

Yosannah inquires, "You're not thinking of killing another one, Riva, are you?"

Ryker informs Nash, "I'm not so certain we shouldn't kill him again."

Nash turns slightly to give Riva much the same look he gave Ryker earlier. "Am I speaking some foreign language?"

Riva glances at Yosannah. "This is a peice of the puzzle, Yo. We have to get Ada back, and this is how."

Yosannah offers, to the group, "He's coming around you guys." She smiles down at Brandon.

Riva says "But Nash is tuckered..."

Brandon blinks, "That is the second time.." he says in his deep voice, "That you have been above me when I woke up, we have to stop meeting this way." he grins at Yo and just lays there for a moment.

Despil says "Nash, do you like rabbit?"

Ryker reminds Nash, "While you guys seem to have taken the elevator around this place, the others and I have been taking flying leaps. Dying, more or less, more more than less."

Ryker says "We fell down the shaft. We disintegrated."

Nash shifts his gaze to Despil, "Desperately - but is eating in Death wise?"

Arashi looks around then says very loudly "Who here knows CPR?"

Despil says "I don't know. I'm considering that."

Riva says "I do."

Yosannah offers Brandon a soft smile, "Can you stand?"

Despil says "Anyone think I shouldn't go after Ada now? What's the problem, Arashi?"

Brandon raises his hand, "Turned into a tree.." pointing up with a finger and rolls to his side attempting to get up.

Nash says "I gave Hank CPR once. Took me a week to get the taste out of my mouth ... and yes, rescuing Ada would seem to be the thing to do."

Riva sighs and mutters to Despil. "You could wind up doing CPR. If we can almost kill someone...we can get her back here.

Arashi nods "Good." looks to Despil "A life for a life. Someone gets to suffercate me to death... then be quick and bring me back."

Yosannah offers, over her shoulder to Nash, "Maybe we're not in Death I don't think." She points at Arashi, "Maybe death is where he went with Ada."

Ryker shakes his head, correcting Yosannah, "I think we are in Death. These places aren't just one area, necessarily." He points towards the recovering peasant. "For a minute, that sure looked like Death to me. And it sure got a reaction. Just like picking up a banner on the battlefield got a reaction."

Brandon stands, looks to the sky and yells up at it. "I have been thrown down a shaft, almsot drowned by rats, disintigrated, killed thousands of people, and now almost turned me into a tree!" he dosn't seem to be talking to anyone in general. "What more do y?! Huh!" he laughs and falls to his butt sitting down once more.

Ryker frowns some. "And attempting to steal a gem from Pestilence got a reaction."

Yosannah asks Ryker, "Then where the hell did Arashi and Ada go?"

Riva says "Right now, We need Ada. Unless someone has a better idea, I'm going to test Arashi's resolve on his offer."

Arashi says "Into sorrow. So... who's up for killing me?"

Arashi looks to Yo, then Despil, then Nahs after saying this.

Nash takes off his coat, putting it over the recumbrant peasant as he asks, Arashi, "Why do you need killing?"

Riva says "Or, nevermind."

Despil looks over to Riva and Arashi.

Arashi says "Or... I can kill myself."

Brandon lays back and continues to laugh, slowly turning into a chuckle and then just snickers.

Riva says "C'mere, Arashi. I promise to be gentle."

The sky turns a shade darker, a drop in the temperature corresponding to the onset of whatever passes for night in this place...

Ryker attempts to regain some control. "Arashi, put yourself on ice for a few." He points over at Despil, then Riva. "You two come with me, we'll go get Ada."

Despil says "Suicide might keep you from turning into a tree, Riva."

Arashi says "To get Ada back..." he looks to Ryker "You lose all senses in there, save sorrow, unlimited sorrow. You don't get to come back on your own."

Brandon says aloud from the snow. "Just slice the wrist of a person that lives here.. Something easy to clean up.."

Nash looks to Despil, "Can't find and fetch her with your squiggly, I suppose?"

Ryker glances down the path, then at the others, thoughtful.

Riva says "I don't want to end up needing rescuing."

Despil replies to Nash, "Not yet. It's not been working so well inter-place."

Riva says "And Brandon's right. it'd have to be a local."

Ryker says "I like Despil's idea about a rabbit. I suppose if killing something doesn't work, /then/ we can go after her on foot."

Yosannah stands now, near Brandon, "Ryker, this is a bad idea. Try the rabbit first."

Nash looks faintly pained. "I could eat a damn horse, but I don't fancy being a tree ..."

Ryker says "Yeah yeah."

Riva says "I volunteer being the next to kill."

Riva says "After all, not like I can heal, use magic, or am the fearless leader."

Ryker's hand grips his gun, but pauses as Riva volunteers.

Brandon cocks his neck to the side, and looks up at Yo with a smile. He sits up, and then just stands up.. No words, he is just.. there.

Nash says "On the other hand, I might - might - be able to fight off the involuntary shift ..."

Brandon shakes his head, "No Nash, I tried to do it to Ryker in Pestilence. Dosn't work." he dusts the snow off himself.

Despil looks over to Nash. "Good idea."

Ryker's jaw works. Violet squint on Nash. "I'd prefer the sure thing. You have the energy for a rabbit?"

Nash says "You're not going to let me eat it, are you?" he sighs, "Yes, a rabbit I can do. You're buying me dinner when we get out of here."

Ryker says "Don't eat it, just heal it." He nods sharply at Riva. "Go hunting."

Riva sighs as if bracing herself and scans around...She moves a few feet, stealthily as she draws her sword.. She starts a rabbit from a hollow of a tree, lunging forward to skewer it with her sword with a triuphant. "Gotcha!"

Brandon just stands now, and murmers to Yo, Brandon whispers "So, enlighten me.. What is going on?"

Despil says "You know, I could just pop one here."

Nash says, "I understand." running the back of a hand over his mouth. Not shaking anymore but starting to look distinctly predatory as he crouches there, eyeing you all up.

Yosannah converses with Brandon "Arashi appeared when you killed the peasant. Theyr'e thinking that another death here will return Ada."

Brandon ohhs, and nods. "Gotcha, how long was I a tree?"

"Seconds. A few minutes."

There is nothing for a moment but perhaps dissapointment as the rabbit twitches ont he end of Riva's blade. Then it begines out of no where...going -far- more quickly as the rabbit's tiny heart quickly sheds it's life. Before anyone can react Rive is half-covered in ravenously writing vinelike tendrils that bore through her flesh mercilessly.

Riva screams, her mask adding volume and resonance.

The scream starts to choke off almost immediately...

Nash leaps to his feet, bounding over to Riva and grabbing the rabbit from the end of the sword, pulling it free of the blade.

Riva's masked face gives strangled gurgling gasps.

Brandon winces at Riva, knowing the pain.

Nash holds the rabbit in both pale hands, closing his eyes as his fingers worm into its fur.

Ryker remains calm, though a frown of concern touches his face at the speed of the transformation.

Despil says "I'm giving you a hand, Nash."

Ada-Shazandra appears along the southern path. She stumbles and sinks into the snow, her weary wounded limbs caving in like a puppet with abruptly sheared strings. The lady lapses into the snow - a curious transformation: her elaborately braided ebony tresses are unbound and wintry-white - lofty cheeks highlighted with the streams of shimmering tears.

Ryker spies Ada quickly, having been waiting for her. Confident strides take him towards her, covering the short distance.

Horribly, the whiplike woody vines already start to weave through Riva's hair. She hasn't even had time to realize she can't breathe anymore yet.

The Rabbit twitches in Nash's hands, the dripping of blood slowing and then stopping. One of the rabbit's hind feet vibrates sporadically.

Arashi waits off to the side, watching, impassionatly.

Clawing at Riva's lips the vines finally tremble as if resisting their inertia is difficult beyond measure. Then, with a measure of rapidity not quite equal to their advance, they begin to fade down her body.

Ryker kneels besides Ada, checking.

Yosannah crosses her arms over her chest and treks toward Riva, prepared to assist the woman as her form returns to normal.

Ada-Shazandra's leather-clad hand quivers, frail fingers greedily sealing over the hilt of her cane. Wild-eyed and windblown she begins to draw rhythmic rounds with the cane's poignant metallic tip in the downy snow - the circles looping, looping and looping with obsessive precision. In a haunting melodiously subdued tone the lady sings, "Ring Around the Roses, A pocket full of Posies Ashes, Ashes - We all fall down. We All Fall Down."

Despil says "She must have been in Pestilence."

Nash opens his eyes as the rabbit starts to struggle weakly in his grasp. A single word staggers out of his mouth, "Ne-cro-mancy." one hand stroking the rabbit's head.

Ryker gives Ada a heavy nudge with his hand.

Ada-Shazandra's mesmerized hand orbits the devastated snow, the cane's tip metrically etching the same sphere over and over. Cold unbearably wide unblinking eyes cry a flood of iced tears, her voice a distillation of all human eloquence, "Hide and seek, says the wind, In the shade of the woods; Hide and seek, says the moon. To the hazel buds; Hide and seek, says the cloud, Star on to star; Hide and seek, says the wave. At the harbor bar; Hide and seek, say I. To myself, and step. Out of the dream of wake. Into the dream of sleep." Livid lips seal into a musical hum.

Riva sways dangerous as the vines that were rooting and supporting her pull away, living her limp form without support.

Brandon just watches the going ons.

Despil props Riva up with Logrus and then lets her set down gently to the ground.

Ryker debates, and then reaches a little, giving Ada a mild slap. Just short of leaving a mark.

Arashi sighs and says to Ryker "Don't forget not to touch her skin."

Brandon asks Arashi, "Why not?"

Yosannah reaches for Riva in an effort to lower her slowly to the ground with the aid of Despil's Logrus tendrils.

Arashi says "Because she's poisonous."

Despil says "She's poisonous."

Brandon huhs, "Never noticed that. Never touched her either however.." he shrugs and looks around, "Alright, we are all back. I can safly say we /don't/ kill people, as well as we /don't/ follow the paths." he nods, Proud of himself with that deduction.

Riva doesn't fall, and stomps the ground hatefully. "Die, little fuckers." she stomps and kicks viciously. "When Ifindyouyouworthlesspeiceofdung,I'mgoingtoeatyourgeartstraitoutofyourchest!!"

Yosannah raises her hands, defensively, palms outward as she backs away from Riva, "Hey, now. At least you're okay..."

Riva howls in fury and kicks snow and punches a nearby tree as she continues to let off steam and curse.

Ryker snaps at Riva, "Calm down. Save your energy. We'll need it."

Brandon winces at Riva, "Eww." is all he says.

Ada-Shazandra's tear-stained face is a vision of flawless serenity, though she falters and falls backwards into the snow, the woman uses this shove organically - paying Ryker no heed, but grinding her cane into the wet snow and clambering with agonizing effort to her crippled feet. "How many miles to Babylon? Three score miles and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes, and back again. If your heels are nimble and light, You may get there by candle-light." The lady chants.

Arashi fishes out his lighter and cigarettes and tries to light one up while he waits and thinks.

Ryker sighs and shakes his head, turning once more towards Nash. "Nash! I have another patient." He leaves Ada as it becomes obviously she's physically fine and there's little he can do short of knock her out.

Brandon starts looking around, while all this is good and well we still need to find a way out. Brandon is looking for such a way.

Ada-Shazandra limps forward, heavily leaning upon her gnarled cane - white hair flowing like a sorrowful banner in ethereal whorls behind her. The woman jumbles along the eastern path.

Nash says "Necromancy is Death's magic." he turns to look at Ryker. "I'm not a psychiatrist, Ryker, I spent three years as an outpatient of BanSun asylum, I'm unlikley to be able to help her. And she's off again."

Arashi looks back down the south path and hmmmm's.

Brandon points, "STOP HER!" this to ada. He smirks at his own voice then.

Ryker frowns at Nash and Brandon, and then spins, eyes hard on Ada. "Oh no you don't." He takes three long steps, gauntlet reaching for the back of her neck. Like he would a cat.

Arashi nods "She's going to pestilance."

Riva wheels and sprints off after Ada-shazandra, after pausing her ranting long enough to look at Brandon and follow his gaze. Long legs give her considerable speed, even in such deep snow as she plows towards Ada-shazandra. Riva slows when she realizes that Ryker has the situation under control.

Arashi says "Don't. Just don't. Ok?"

Ada-Shazandra is grasped by Ryker, whispering mutely.

Nash stands and crosses to the peasant, checking over the man. "All these places are different from Famine. I wonder why. It was different on the platform too. I wish I could think it all together, I know the answer's staring me in the face."

Brandon nods to Nash, "That is about how I am aswell."

Ryker is firm, but not harsh. He attempts to use his grip to turn her, lead her back towards the others, back towards way back to the battlefield. He explains to Ada, tone leaving no argument, "You haven't - we have. I don't what fool thought possessed you follow us down into this hell, but I can't afford to be chasing you around. Or have others doing the same. I need everyone. So you're coming with us."

Ada-Shazandra's broken emaciated figure is kittenishly limp within Ryker's clutches - her evocative cane pointing vigilantly east, as she mimics the voice of the peasant girl who ran down the path with eerie perfection, "I am sorrow - my mother is ill..."

Riva wades wearily back to the group, and allows herself to fall into an easy sprawl in a bed of snow staring up at the sky.

Ryker reminds Ada, "You went down Death's path, and couldn't escape without us." With a hint of curiosity, he asks the woman, "Did you gain anything from it?"

Brandon moves to stand over Riva, towering at the moment. "Yeahp.." he nods to her.

Nash says "Ada is looking for Arion. Perhaps she knows which way he lies?" he points to the path Ada was trying to take. "Perhaps?"

Riva tisks and talks to herself. "Can't see the forest for the trees, The big picture, the writing on the wall. could it be the answer, the answer to it alllll?" her armmored feet twitch rhymically.

Despil says "We haven't been to Pestilence, yet."

Ryker's generous lips purse as he consider Nash's suggestion.

Ada-Shazandra's uncanny eyes affix upon Ryker - impaling his with moist orbs of woeful jade, "It is a circle - Ring-Around, no maze - cyclical as each morphs into another - regardless of order: Famine, caused War and with War came Death and left behind it Disease - I must complete the circle."

Yosannah inquires, "You mean we have to go through each horsemen's lair to get out of here?"

Arashi raises an eyebrow to Yo's question then turns from her. "Pestilence is the only way Ada and I haven't gone yet. The path out of the horsemen and into Arion must be around there. It started off with the sickness so that is where it may end, too."

Ada-Shazandra eyes Nash, Deftly poining South.

Yosannah nods at Arashi, "He's right. I haven't been there either."

Despil says "Let's go, then. Everyone up for the trip?"

Ryker's hand remains on the back of Ada's neck.

Brandon murmers, "Ohh yay." he smirks.

Ryker doesn't actually lift her off the ground, just keeps her in place. Standing.

Nash stands, collecting his coat from the peasant, "Well. Hopefully he'll live. And yes, let's go - death always makes me nervous."

Riva trusts her taloned hand expectantly to the nearest person.

Ryker lifts his left hand at the wrist a little, weak, a slight motion. Sort of hold.

Riva sighs and hauls herself out of the snow bank and shakes herself to loosen snow.

Brandon moves and helps Riva up, and then sighs walking with the others. "Damnit I hope we don't end up all in some sort of trance.. Like /last/ time." he smirks softly.

Nash pulls his coat back on, watching Ryker.

Ryker looks over at Brandon. "I guess nobody has been to every plane, have they? They haven't been to Pestilence, but we haven't been to Famine."

Riva says "I'm beginning not to care, as long as someone doesn't wake me up until they've solved the riddle." she nods to Ryker. "So, we have to split again?"

Brandon shakes his head, "Lets stick together damnit, we can go on two trips."

Arashi says "I don't think so. I think you've already been to Famine. The stairwell, remember?"

Ryker shakes his head. "No more splitting." At frown at Ada, and he releases her neck. "We'll lead the others to Pestilence."

Yosannah nods her head, "You can tell us what you did, and we can guide you through Famine if it's needed beyond the stairwell."

Brandon ohs, "Yeah, we were there. For a second before I got shoved down."

Riva nods and follows along then.

Ryker huhs. "I hadn't realized the shaft was famine. But, our view of it was a pretty short one."

Nash says "Perhaps we're already tied together enough that we all have to make full circle."

The road is icy but not treacherous. After 30 steps or so a light snow begins to waft down, partially obscuring the path and the party from each other...then, suddenly, all is white...

Ryker follows through, leading the others down the road, staying at the front and likely warning Ada to keep behind.

Ada-Shazandra's crippled frame hobbles forth with the aid of her gnarled cane - astride Ryker.

 

The Ancient Sewers of Pestilence...

Step ye into a labrynth os slime-rotted stone and fetid waters. Echoes fill the silence of these age-worn tunnels, the groans of creaking wood and rock under stress, the skitter and many-footed things, the fluidic reverberation of water and any number of nameless other sounds. The walls, coated and caked as they are, were once highly decorative, motiffs of gargolyes in vivid array seeming to move under any light refracted off the waters of this place. At the intersections, large cistern-filled rooms gape darkly, their cardinal point watched by the visage of stone faces whose gemlike eye pulse with a dull glow.

The cold dankness of this place in as uninviting as the grave, a watery stagnent smell cloying even your pores. Yet amidst the slime and much the Lady Shazandra stands with a triumpahnt light in her eyes. Of Ryker, Brandon and Rive there is no sign...  

Yosannah feels a tingling sensation in the back of her head. Ryker attempts to make contact with her.

Ada-Shazandra's crippled frame hobbles forth with the aid of her gnarled cane, "All but blind, In his chambered hole, Gropes for worms, The four clawed mole."

Nash looks around. "I guess they'll be along later if they don't do anything dumbass in Famine."

Yosannah holds up a hand to the group, "Hold on... I'm getting a call..."

Yosannah has established contact with Ryker. She blinks a few times...

The image of Ryker is scowling. "Where did you people go!"

"Hunger and thirst to the west. Sickness to the east. Revenge to the north and loss to the south." Arashi nods more "Want to try a couple more or have an idea." he asks Ada.

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah says "We're in a sewer... Ryker, how the hell are you able to call me? Where are YOU?!"

Yosannah mutters some someone, "We're in a sewer... Ryker, how the hell are you able to call me? Where are YOU?!"

 Nash hmm's. "Perhaps we need to go through here to get to them?" this question directed more at Ada.

The image of Ryker shrugs. "Somewhere new."

Ada-Shazandra turns to a grungy wall, rampant gleaming white tresses vividly lustrous in the dour glum of the room. A single gloved hand reaches to touch the glazed ominous eyes of a gargoyle as she sings, "All but blind, In the evening sky, The hooded Bat, Twirls softly by." 

The image of Ryker states, "Apparantly we're done with the circle, but you guys aren't. I'm not inclined to play bythe rules anymore however, and my trumps are fully working again."

Yosannah holds her hand up to the group again in an effort to quiet them.

The image of Ryker orders, "Grab Despil and Ada, I'm pulling you all through."

The image of Ryker says "Brandon will get the others."

The image of Ryker offers to pull her through.

To the image of Ryker, Yosannah nod, "Okay. Hold on."

Arashi holds his hand out to Nash. "Nash, lets go for a ride."

"Despil, Ada. Guys, give me your hands, Ryker's get'n us out of here."

Yosannah takes the hands of the companions....

 

Web of Chains...

Here lies the nexus, a hubbed myriad of cavernous tunnels, hungry pairs of feral eyes and the dead skeletons of runes flashing by peripherally in the shadows of nook and cranny. Pulsing bulbously in the center of this roughly open space a figure hangs suspended, tissue and will stretched to terrible limits in a vivid recollection of a splayed dissection subject, membranes stretched outwards in a plasmic star, their points twisted into chains the fade from this reality into countless others. It is as if something vaguely octopoidal in nature were reborn as a puppeteer of unfathomable dimension. Of essence flesh is shaped, colored deadlights of multiple souls dimly pulsing at the heart of the thing.

Nash wipes his hand off on his shirt vigourously as if it were contaminated.

Ryker gives Yosannah's hand a reassuring squeeze, then releases it and turns his squint on what there is to see. He states, "I'll be damned if I'm losing you people again."

Brandon pulls in his staff that he left on the battlefield. He spins it and looks around.

Yosannah slides her hand from Ryker's, "Where are we? How did you get your trumps to work?"

Ryker admits, "Nothing I did."

Nash murmurs, "How wonderful." as he looks towards the suspended figure.

The room is oddly lit by trump effect at the mass influx of people, the web of pulsing flesh in the center eerily highlighted by the combination of that and the 4 pulsing stones that hang suspended in the body of the thing....

Riva has taken a few steps towards the figure, squinting.

Ada-Shazandra's glossed empty crying eyes passed Riva, scouring her surroundings, "All but blind In the burning day The Barn Owl blunders On her way."

Yosannah's follows Nash's to see what he is commenting on. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing escapes her lips.

Ryker realizes, taking a cue from Brandon, "But while I'm at it..." Ryker brings his own images to mind. His own weapons. Before long, his right hand reaches, pulling an elaborate longsword out of the sparkles.

Nash steps towards the figure, looking up at it with open admiration. "Razorface would love this."

Riva says "Nash, you are one *sick* puppy."

Brandon waves the sparkles off his staff, smiling to Ryker. "Who?" he wonders, as a trump defence is the next order of buisness.

Yosannah reaches a hand to her back and under her jacket. A silver glock is retrieved.

Ryker directs, "Riva, catch." He tosses the longsword at her.

Yosannah points to the figure, "Despil, the stones..."

Arashi slips his hands into his pockets and walks to the side of the group, looking at the set up, eyeing the details.

A sound gathers, or perhaps a thought, something that reverberates through this cavern of blood and stone like the shadow of an echo. A half-face turns towards the invaders, the semi-recognizable features stretching to inhuman measures. A single black eye floats amidst the composite of angularity and amphomorphism, glittering with a swirling miasma of starry points. "Hoooow?" It intones. "You...muuuust....gooo. Cannot...protect..."

Arashi looks up to Arion, considering his warning.

Despil says to Yosannah, "Is one of them your stone?"

Nash points to one of the stones. "That's what was taken from Hank. Yes. Keep an eye on Arashi for he means them harm."

Ada-Shazandra moves forward to the suspended figure, her pained shape tragically bent - slanted against the support of her elaborate cane, "And blind as are These three to me, So, blind to Someone I must be." Her words are a relic of a tender rhyme, doll-like white lashes feverishly trembling.

Arashi flips Nash off.

Brandon shifts his eyes to Ryker at the things Warning, and then looks back.

From everywhere reality trembles, the presence of the horsemen nearly overwhelming. The stones floting in protoplasmic array are linked by membraneous threads in mimicry of the chains of metal and flesh that spread from heart to walls, ceiling and floor.

Riva catches the sword deftly and nods her thanks to Ryker, her attention quickly claimed by the room as it speaks. She murmurs. "I have to see them all safely restored to their hosts." she murmurs, firmly.

Ryker meets Brandon's gaze. "You remember when I told you earlier to save your spells for the end? Well here you go."

Brandon simply smirks.

Yosannah reaches out a hand as if she means to steady herself as reality quivers.

Nash draws his sword, stepping back from the suspended figure slightly and looking back at Arashi and across the rest of you.

Ryker's stance spreads, steadying himself. He draws his own gun, though the effectiveness of it shows as doubt in his face.

Brandon draws his hands up, and hrms not starting a spell just yet.

Ryker points out, "I'd like to lead, but to be honest I don't know where we're going here. Do we need to get those stones?"

Yosannah says, "Despil, if you can remove them without hurting Ada's brother..."

There is a silence filled with a terrible...draining, as if something was taking a breath that drew away awareness as easily as air. The cyclopean eye regrads the arming process, strain threatening ito tear it's cohesiveness back into the mass as tendon and muscle ripple noticeably along the lines of chain. "Not...tooo...late. Caaaan't stop them fooreverrrr...."

Despil says "I'm taking a look."

Yosannah looks to the Lady and then to the figure hanging before them.

Riva keeps sword in hand, but doesn't seem inclined to use it just yet. "If we hurt him, I think the odds of us exiting the room alive might be slim." she looks to Yosannah. "Do you know if they're many, or one?"

Ada-Shazandra levels her lithe self by the black stone, intoning with a glint of chilled vengeance to her fine Anglican accent as she lifts her cane up - aimedto crush the stone - "A rise, arise, a rumble, The rats are at the pies! It doesn't matter,They'll get all the fatter, And I will not arise."

Arashi stands to the side of the group, arms crossed, watching Arion and not paying much attention to the others.

Yosannah shakes her head at Riva, "At the moment, they are one within him. Dividing them again might suit everybody's ends. Maybe even Arashi's. Certainly would suit mine."

Brandon just looks to Despil.

Despil says "Anyone object to my removing them? Say so quickly."

Arashi says "I object."

Riva says "No, Get them all, before Ada hurts them!"

Nash says "Take them out."

Brandon dosn't speak.

Ryker frowns, looking at the division. "I hadn't realized we had mixed motives,here." He keeps a distance from Arion, nothing far, but at least a few yards. "People do what you have to. Brandon, Riva, and I will do what we can to hold off the new nastiness I have a feeling is about to come upon us."

With a calming breath, gathering what energy he has left, Ryker brings his own trump image to mind, creating a loop.

With preternatural speed that belies her crippled demeanor Ada tracks the stone even as they begin to rip out of the main body of the thing. Flesh parts wetly as a low scream of pain and rage starts to build of in the back of the carvern somewhere. Her cane swoops down in a dizzying arc, here eyes awash with a million tears, her livid lips sinuously smiling as thi tip catches the white stone shattering it inside the monstrosities body as the others are pulled free.

Realization falls over Yosannah's face as the Lady send the white stone shattering inside Arion's body, "Ada! No, do you know what you've just done!"

Nash winces as he watches.

Brandon draws his hands back, swirling them in soft circles as he murmers starting a spell just incase.

The cavern erupts in a roar that shakes stones loose from the ceiling to fall freely. "nnnnnNNNNnnnnNNNoooOOOOoOOOOOOOO!!!" The sound is deafening, almost covering up the explosion of rock where taut chains sanp free from their bearings, glowing with tendrils of twisted energy.

Yosannah brings her hands up over her head in an effort to shield herself from the falling debris, weapon still clutched in her hand.

Riva moves forward in attempt to grab Ada, her own cry of anguish as she realized one has been destroyed. "No!"

In movie-wannabe style Brandon states. "Oh shit." he ignores the spell and rises his wings up over his head, blocking the debris.

Arashi skips up behind Riva and kicks her foot as she runs.

Yosannah calls out, "The other three, Despil. Crush them, hurry!"

Nash moves after Arashi, his sword singing through the air as he takes a swipe at the back of the young man.

Despil pulls the others, still floating in the air over near him, a hand going up instictively over his head, Logrus going with him. He looks over to Yo for a moment, and then crushes the stones with Logrus.

Ada-Shazandra stumbles vehemently backwards, her porcelain pale face sooted with unearthly debris - yet her crossbow is in her hand - cocked and loaded and desperately seeking to target the green stone.

The destruction of the other three stones fills the chamber with subtlety of a supernova, blindingly enough that even looking away is of little help. The power fades almost immediately from the barbed and whipping chains and they begin to fail in a deadly rain of bladed, metal tendrils, bringing down more rock with them.

Riva grunts and her stride skips a beat, but isn't stoppedas she reaches for Ada, to catch/drag her near. "C'mon, they're destroyed, C'mon!"  

Arashi's leg goes flying off at the knee.

Ryker looks grim. Taking more of a bystander role now, he drops his gun and grabs his kite shield off his left shoulder, holding it above both his and Yosannah's head as he closes the short distance to her. He takes a few medium-sized rocks on the way, and the mental defense is dropped as it takes all his concentration to keep his feet and keep the physical protection above them. As for the stones and Arion, for now all he does is watch.

Despil says, "I'm getting us out of here..."

Ada-Shazandra hisses to Riva, the spurred heel of her healthier foot kicking out at Riva's face, "Bane! Foolish barn owl!" Her cocked crossbow points at Riva's eye - though she lies on the curve of her back.

As debris continues to fall about the group, three forms begin to take shape, hovering about the room. One, in particular darts toward Yosannah, pausing before her it begins to take a more vivid form. The gaze of this fallen seraphim is a vivid miasma of murky blackness; an empty vortex of dark swirling cumuli-nimbus peers out amidst a mane of wild midnight hair. Ashen feather wings flutter rhythmically about the transparent figure that floats before you, skin-tone a hew of gray and blue that is somehow both intriguing and repugnant. Pestilence's smooth bare form is covered in zebra like stripes that meld into scaled, leather elbow-length gloves and thigh-high boots. Behold, the first Rider of the Serpent.

Arashi trips and stumbles, blood flowing profusely down his leg.

Riva's sword swings swiftly to attempt knocking the crossbow away even as she attempts to grab the flying foot, better to drag the insane woman out by the foot.

Yosannah reaches a hand up to the pendant at her neck and rips the necklace free.

Ryker fights back an impulse to protect Yosannah from what he soon realizes is Pestilence. Even with a broken forearm, his left hand fists through the pain.

Pestilence offers Yosannah a grin and then, abruptly, plunges into the woman like a fish into water. Yosannah is thrust backwards and falls to the ground. The creature vanishes within the woman.

Brandon moves over Yo, guarding her from the rocks with his wings.

Ada-Shazandra holds a death grip on her bow, her broken body flailing at Riva's attack. The woman breathes out a cold waft of tepid air and strategically goes limp, the smile that cruises over her uncanny lips profoundly unsettling.

Riva too get a frown of concern as she struggled with Ada, but again he doesn't act, trusting she can handle herself.

Nash seems satisfied that Arashi is down and simply stands watching him until one of the forms hovering the room begins to circle him, becoming clearer as it does so. A pale cadaverous man with eyes so sunken they look like sockets, lips drawn back from it's teeth and wild hair whipping about it's head. Behold, the second Rider of the Serpent.

Nash stares at the skeletal spirit, his expression shifting from awe to a delighted grin. As he reaches a hand to touch the spirit's sunken cheek, it cackles wildly and in a rush, leaps into Nash, mostly shooting up his nose in long streamers. Still grinning, if slightly more rictus-like, Nash falls down.

The cavern does not let up it's stone rain, the jagged rocks intermingled with flaps of gelatinous flesh that fall wetly even as they are crushed and lacerated by the earthy precipitation. It is quite apparent that this place will soon become a deathly trap, the massive thing that was/is Apocalypse/Arion thrashing madly amidst the debris, bringing down even more a top itself.

And soon enough Ryker has his own concerns, a half step taken back as another form takes shape, two points of red light staring into Ryker's crimson ones. The arms and armament of battle shimmer into existence, chain and leather and plate, sword and knife and gun. Its expression is greedy, long dark hair and dirty skin. As if it just crawled out of an eon of battle, its armor damaged, torn, and its sword, held in an iron grip, is notched and chipped. Behold, the third Rider of the Serpent.

Yosannah shakes her head as if clearing her mind of a dream. She reaches out a hand to Brandon in an effort to stand and take cover near Despil. No sign of the creature on her person.

Brandon lifts Yo up, and moves to Despil.

Ryker, unlike the others, did come along to pick up passengers. Has no intentions of being a taxi. The shield he holds is hurled at the thing as he quickly back pedals, passing through without effect. Ryker draws his rapier, white teeth bared, eyes almost squint shut, neck muscles strained as he yells, "You can find another host, demon! I'll die before I have another one of you-" Whack, and Ryker takes a rock to the head, falling back. Daze, there is little he can do as War charges him with a battle cry, crashing into him. Literally.

Nash sits up, hand groping for his fallen sword. He looks a trifle startled, hair every which way and the paunch he'd been lugging around has started to flatten.

Riva moves to retreat back towards the others, keeping a hold on Ada's food and trying absently to try to avoid slicing her.

It no longer rains but is torrential, stones turn into slabs and boulders larger than men. The thrashing blob at the heart of the chamber trembles in apparent death throes, the movement turning to faint quivers and then...nothing. Behold the fourth Rider of the Serpent, No more.

Time is short now as it becomes decidedly unhealthy to remain.

Despil swirls Logrus around to transport everyone. He looks around and says, "Let's get out of here, folks..."

 

Gallery - Montmouth Manor - Gaslight...

Yosannah looks about the room, disoriented, "Is everyone okay?" Her gaze falls to Ryker, "Hell..." She scurries over to the man.

Brandon stands there, his wings fold back over him. The blood has dried on his clothes, the holes still in his body and wings. He dosn't speak, his eyes are heavy and dark as he looks around at the others.

Despil looks around, counting noses.

Ryker still grips his rapier tightly, much as War gripped his enormous sword. Blood pours from a gash on his head, running down into his face. Eyes wide, he's kept his consciousness this time, but he remains prone, jaw locked.

Nash starts to get to his feet. "We're missing people."

Ada-Shazandra writhes with a wounded grace out of Riva's hold, her smeared tear-stained face a vision of radiant serenity. Powder white lashes quiver - veining the genuine nature of her exotic almandine eyes. Her words pour forth with chilled bliss, "Do not I, Time, cause nature to decay? Do not I, Time, take his life away? Do not I, Time, cause death take his say? Do not I, Time, every thing assuage?"

Yosannah looks about the room, "Arion? What happened to Arion?"

 

Two Minutes to Midnight...

The doomsday clock, so near the chime of obliteration, suddenly stopped as thunderstorms swept over torn Anthuran. Without word or warning the massing dead paused as a communal shudder ran through their ranks. Then, as though their marionette strings were abruptly cut, they began to fall to the rain-slicked earth. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. In a silent rippling wave that carried from the ravaged shadow to those surrounding it and further yet- through chaos proper and the fringes beyond- the walking corpses collapsed in droves to litter the streets, leaving embattled citizens dazed and relieved at the ending of the mindless hordes.

Daybreak. The fallout of the following day as the arduous process of cleaning up and reburying the scattered bodies begins. A point of wonder as fields dead and diseased are cleared, tiny green shoots of plants already showing themselves, straining with the all the vigor of life upwards towards the newly rising sun...

 

The next day - Pestilence Redeemed...

Word spreads quickly. But then again, doesn't it always?

Two women.

One, a wiry frame balanced by broad shoulders, modest feminine curves and a myriad of weaponry about her person. Gray hair streaked dark blue and an Asian visage. The other, with long auburn hair and eyes like an empty vortex of dark swirling cumuli-nimbus peer out from a blank stare. Her movements and gestures are notably deliberate - right down to the very acts of breathing and blinking. As if these normally instinctive actions would not occur but for her will that they do so.

Throughout turning's last the two women were seen about the Courts among the sick and weary. The first watching over the second. And the second greeting the sick, taking their infirmity and disease as her own - even those ailed with Blood Fever. At turning's end, the first woman lead the other out of the Courts as they vanished in a rainbow sparkle...

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