At first glance the area appears to be like the woods surrounding the tavern.  However, the more one looks about the subtle differences become apparent.  The colors are less fresh.  The greens of the leaves are fading like they have suffered from frost.  There is no path and there are no sounds.

As one looks deeper into the wood, it is like looking into twilight then night.  There is blackness in all directions but one.  In that direction the blackness appears deeper, as it is offset by pin pricks of light as if from stars or far off windows.

[From the woods of the tavern]

She'd felt a bit of a ... drag this time.  At first she thought it was just because she was traveling with others, till she heard the noise.

Releasing her charge and the pesky orc, she turned to see Max and Tauri.  Her displeasure clear.

Do you always go where your not invited? She hissed at them.

<<From the Woods<<

Letting go of the woman, Aubria felt a bit dizzy. She looked around her, and something felt... far more abnormal than usual. Like being transported to one set of woods from another, which is essentially what happened. It looked familiar yet alien at the same time.

Aubria simply listened to the woman rebuke the others that had tagged along, and she turned to see a vaguely familiar blonde... and Tauri.

Oh great, she thought. Why does the punk have to be here? She glared at him, evidently not wanting him around.

Tauri found himself not welcome and enjoyed it immensely.
"Yes, actually. It's a passtime of mine." He smiled and folded his arms, still holding his gun loosely in his right hand. "Though-" He brought his left hand up to tap his chin -I fail to understand why you would leave some woods, just to go to some new ones." He was still smiling as he spoke, but after a moment of surveying the trees he added, "More depressing ones, too.".

Max grinned.  She was used to herself being the flipant annoying one.  But if Tauri really did make it a habit of going place uninvited, well then, perhaps he wasn't so bad. And that he seemed to be ignoring the others also elevated his status for her and she was rather glad she'd dragged him along.

Her attention shifted to the Orc. He was looking a little dazed, but she then he was an orc, she figured he'd catch up with himself soon.

You're world? She asked the woman, starting to look about.

Aubria gave Max a quizzical look, but said nothing to her, either. She seemed, in a way, like Tauri, but she didn't like or dislike her yet. She then asked the woman, "So why did you bring me here?"

She shook her head in exasperation, turning from those assembled.  When Max spoke, she snapped around to face them.

Her form altering before them.

Of course it's my world, you thing. She hissed, and  with a wave of her arm a ring of fire trapped the group.

Fine.  You all wanted to come along so badly... Well, here you are.  She stalked to Aubria.

Give it to me and maybe at least some of you will live. She demanded.

Aubria's eyes widened. She knew of some sorceresses that transformed, but never to make themselves uglier. The woman was still as confusing as ever.

"Give what to you?" Aubria hissed, now becoming slightly angry. She stood in a defensive stance..

The woman approached menacingly, You know full well what I want. She glared. Do not try to triffle with me child. She reached a knarled hand out, pointing one finger at Kelris, who still appeared dazed.

With a look, an unseen energy traveled from her pointed finger to the Orc. His body jerked and he fell over sideways.

Her eyes traveled to those assembled. Anyone else have something to add? Her attention back to Aubria. Are you going to give it to me or are you and your friends going to suffer?

Aubria stared at the fallen orc, then held up her hands in alarm. "Look, most of my stuff I left back at the tavern. I probably can't get you what you want anyways!" Mentally, Aubria checked to see what she did have on her besides her clothes- the disk hanging from her neck, one of her tools in her pocket, and the bag hanging from her neck. Somehow, though, Aubria doubted the woman wanted any of that.

Aubria warily eyed the ring of fire surrounding them. She didn't have a way to run, not now, and she had to force herself to remain calm.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:53, Wed 30 Dec 2009.

That was it.
Before this point, Tauri had been pointing the gun stiffly at the wicked woman with a fearful grimace, but whatever she did to Kelris finally snapped him. As the orc fell to the ground, Tauri pressed his finger down on the trigger and held. Everything around him began to vibrate subtly from the high-frequency waves the weapon was emitting.
His hand was trembling slightly, but even he didn’t know if that was just from the gun’s vibrations or from fear.

She humphed, sighed, rolled her eyes and was about to speak, when she felt the effects of the annoying man's gun.  She hadn't been expecting that.  Not from that one.  Of course, she hadn't expected those two to come along for the ride.

She let out a blood curdling howel and with flare filled gesture of her hand... disappeared. The ring of fire, however, remained.

Aubria felt odd vibrations around her and realized they must be coming from Tauri's gun. Despite her dislike of Tauri, she couldn't help but smile at him and nod in thanks. "Hey, could you turn that thing off now?" Aubria shouted at Tauri. She look warily at the flames remaining, thinking of how she could get rid of them.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:32, Wed 30 Dec 2009.

Well that was a little dull. Max sighed looking between those assembled.  She nudged Kel with her toe, the Orc groaned, so she both let up and left him alone.

So girly, what is it that she wants?  She asked turning her attention to Aubria.

Reluctantly, Tauri peeled his finger away from the trigger and the humming stopped.    After a moment in the moon, Tauri finally realized what had just happened. I didn't kill her, did I? He lowered his gun and checked the largest dial on its side. It's only at seven, so there's no way it could've made her vanish like that. Funny. He assumed it was some of the strange, impossible, magic stuff that was going on around here.
Impossible was just about right. So, if this wasn't possible, then it wasn't real, right?
A dream? Maybe, but probably not.
Hallucinations were more likely.
Well, just in case the wicked witch of my imagination comes back... He twisted the dial up a few notches, and then flicked at the safety before slipping it back under his belt.
"Better yet, anyone have marshmallows?" The warmth from the fire was aggravating, so Tauri figured they ought to get some use out of it.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:00, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

Aubria shrugged, flipping her hair back. "I honestly have no clue. Either she has the wrong witch or what she wants is back at the tavern." Looking down at the ground, Aubria realizes she recognizes a small withered plant at her feet. "Hey, that'll help with putting out this fire," she said partly to herself, crouching down and yanking out the weed, roots and all. It was frail enough that Aubria crushed it into a powder with her hands. Flinging it out at sections of the fire ring, including right next to Tauri, she mumbled, "Pyronius Reversum." Most of the fire died, but some sections still were lit weakly.

"Hmm...nevermind." Tauri said as the majority of the fire died, and the slightly cool air began to reclaim the area. Tauri shook a bit of dead whatever-it-was plant off his shoe before stuffing his thumbs in his pockets and tilting his head up slightly. With a teasing air of royalty, Tauri began to pace along a burned out section of the fire ring, following the arc of darkened earth with his simple black shoes.

Aubria rolled her eyes at Tauri, then knelt by Kelris. "Oh, I hope you aren't dead," she mumbled, checking for a pulse right under his chin. Guilt flooded through her, watering her eyes slightly as she thought about how she'd persuaded him to tag along.

The fire's disappearance is short lived.  After a moments hesitation, it flares back to life, it's flames higher and stronger than before....  It barely misses Tauri, whom presumably had the good sense to jump out of the way...

"He isn't." Tauri said, taking a quick glance at the orc before resuming his pacing.
Of course, he didn't resume it for long, as the ring of flames burst back into life, and he threw himself backward, landing hard on the dirt.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:20, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

For a witch, you don't seem to... um bright. Max growled.  Listen girly, this isn't your little home town.  The orc will be fine. He's alive.  Think.  What does she want?  What could she want? Max demanded more than a bit impatiently.

Now Aubria was ticked at the blonde woman. She jumped up after affirming Tauri's words that Kelris was alive and shot at her, "I DON'T KNOW, OK?! I don't know why she singled me out, why she dragged us here, or what she wants! I don't even know how she knows me!!!" Aubria panted, digging her fingernails into her palms. "Nothing I have could possibly interest a sorceress anyways. It's all witch magic," she finished in a calmer, but still angry, tone of voice.

Max scowled.  She was rotten at this.  But she once had a job where she had to deal with a small child.  Once.  It hadn't gone well... but still.

Look. She said trying to be calm and not sound like she was ready to trottle the girl. Clearly She does think you have something that she wants.  Let's start at the top... what DO you have with you?  A little bobble maybe?  Some... What did girls call things? Some pretty ...hair thingie?

As long as the girl was not going to think of possibilities this was going to be difficult.  For a moment, Max considered focusing her attention on the fire, but for now, the fire was keeping them safe as much as it was trapping them.

Aubria huffed, then replied with a sigh, "I have my broom I fly on, a bag full of potions and powders, this powder that I have," she held up the one around her neck, "this communication disk of mine," she pointed to the golden disk around her neck, "and my wand." Aubria pulled out a wooden cylinder out of a deep hidden pocket and pushed a button on it, extending the wand to its full length. "Sorceresses don't need any of that stuff for magic like witches do. I don't even have any powerful gems that a sorceress would want to boost her power."

It was only when he gained enough breath to push himself to his feet that he realized that his backward thrust had not only gotten him out of the range of the flames, but out of the fire circle altogether, and now--with the flames even higher than before--all the others had become dark silhouettes behind a wall of flame.
"Hmm." Giving the heated plumes a wide berth, Tauri paced around the cylindrical flames, thinking on what he should do next. Being outside the circle didn't strike him as much better than being in it, assuming what the woman had said about this being her world was true. Wherever they were, Tauri wouldn't be able to find his way back home, or to the tavern, for that matter.
Some of the others here seemed proficient in this strange magic stuff, especially Aubria. One of them would probably have a solution to the location problem, if they could just get rid of this fire.
His gun was useless. It started fires, but didn't put them out. The only thing he could thing to use was water, but he wasn't even sure it would work on this magical fire.
Still, worth a try, wasn't it? Still skirting about the edge of the fire ring, Tauri began glancing around the trees, looking for a stream hiding among the darkness.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

Alright... She frowned, thinking and went to turn to Tauri to ask his thought.

Max swore realizing where the man was. This is worse than baby sitting. She muttered, and tried to take a calming breath.  She had an out cold orc, little miss muffet and now Smartass the missing.  And to top it all of fire.

Hey... you... gun boy. She shouted over the flame.  What do you see?  She called over, hoping that he was standing in a stream and mentally reviewing the list of items Aubria has mentioned.

"Not much, and nothing to use on the fire! This really is a weird place." Everything looks dull. Tauri thought as he ran his finger down the trunk of a stale tree. And dark.

Max sighed again and looked around.  Why had she followed them?  She could have stayed back at the Tavern....  She could transform, but ... no that was not needed.

Can you walk through it? She called over the flame to Tauri.

Alright... She looked at Aubria.  What does your ...communicator communicate with? She asked and walked over to the flame, but not real close.

"The fire? You've gotta be kidding!" Tauri was sure the CEA had some sort of suit that would weather the flames, but Tauri's body certainly couldn't. Rangeproof vest? Check.
Flameproof? No check.

Aubria snickered and was glad to be rid of Tauri, at least temporarily. She wasn't sure if this other lady was much better, though. Something about her seemed unnatural to Aubria.

"Oh, I can use this device to communicate with anyone I know," Aubria replied simply, holding the disk on her palm. "I usually use it to keep in touch with my best friend Sami and my mentor." Aubria kept a curious eye on the woman as she waited for a reply.

Max scowled.  That didn't seem worth while for their host.  She turned again to consult with Tauri and remembered he was otherwise occupied.

Okay... think, she told her self.

Alright.... Pi... She pasued, glancing at Aubria and growled in exasperation again, Pee on it. She shouted to Tauri and turned her attention back to Aubria.Alright, so you got this communicator... and some dust.  And a broom....  You got any jewlery?

Tauri laughed at Max's comment, and somehow, that tossed the whole situation into perspective.
Home was soooo terribly dull compared to this, so really, who wanted to go back? Surveying the surrounding forest again, he noticed something odd. In a single direction, the black seemed impossibly dark, as if some scientist should photograph it and give it a whole new name. Just one more thing for the kids to learn. That made him smile even wider. Since, as far as he could see, he was isolated from the others, he might as well go for a little explore.
In what direction?
Well, the only one that was different, of course, and that would be the darkest one. So, weaving his way between the tree trunks, he began walking toward the pitch, occasionally looking back to keep the dampened orange glow of the fire in view.

"Not on me- oh wait! I almost forgot." She pulled up her wrist left wrist. There was a thin band made up of black, white, and orange embroidery thread. "This bracelet my best friend made for me; I wear it all the time. It has no magical properties, though, so I doubt the sorceress would have wanted it." She pulled her sleeve back over her wrist. Looking around at the circle of fire, she asked the blonde woman, "Any ideas of how to get out of this thing?"

Max took a deep breath, watching Tauri start to go wandering off... and Aubria show her some twisted rope.  She let out a gust of air, actually wishing the orc would wake up.  She was babysitting.

I'm working on it. She snapped at the girl.

Then going to stand as close to the fire as she dared, she yelled to Tauri.  HEY, GUN BOY?  A break in the fire wasn't just for you... Come back here and try it or when we get out of here, I'll try my best to make sure you won't be able to try it for a very long time! She yelled into the dark, torn between hoping the guy heeded her words or got eaten by some giant magical being.

Shaking her head, Aubria muttered, "Geez, you don't have to be so irritable, lady." She looked around on the ground, but while she did know the kind of grass she was on, she didn't see any other plant that she was aware of that could help her put out a fire. Heck, there weren't any other plants besides the grass.

Aubria sighed, weaving her fingers through her hair. Her mind sorted through the numerous spells she had stored up from years of training. Applying them was going to be much harder than usual, to say the least, since she didn't have most of her materials. Maybe if she could make a step ladder or something...

Then her eyes rested on the blonde. She smirked, almost evilly.

Aubria backed up to the edge of the ring furthest from Max, then began to sprint. Her wand still out, she pointed at her feet and muttered a single word. When Aubria jumped, an invisible force pulled her higher. She landed on the blonde's shoulders and jumped again, arching over the ring of fire with her own momentum.

She landed on the other side with a grunt and rolled further away from the ring of fire, putting out a small fire that had started on her stockings. Several feet from the fire now, Aubria lay on her back panting.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Thu 31 Dec 2009.

Tauri hadn't progressed far, and stopped when he heard a grunt that was closer than the rest of the voices. Normally, he was pretty sure such sounds would be lost among the tweets of birds and the rustling of leaves, but this place...this world was oddly silent.
He spun on his heel, resisting the urge to pin his arms against his side. Instead, he folded them loosely and transferred all his weight to his right leg, and with a casual smile, ran his eyes over the fire once again. It was only after a minute of staring at the flames that he realized someone else was outside of it, sprawled out against the ground. Momentarily, his muscles tensed and his eyes widened. Who else could be out here? Hadn't all the others been trapped inside the ring?
Unless freaky flame lady was making a comeback. Almost reluctantly he drew his gun a second time.
Max had called him 'gun boy', and that wasn't who he wanted to be, but if that 'sorceress' was around again he'd give her another dose of high frequency waves. Much to his chagrin, it was only Aubria, and he rapidly put the gun away again.
His eyes traveled from the woman to the fire. Woman. Fire. Woman. Fire.
"How did you get out of that?" he asked with a simpering expression. He noted her singed stockings, but imagined she'd be more burnt than that if she'd simply bulldozed through it.

Looking up, Aubria glared at the punk, her fingers twitching against her wand. "Miss Blondy makes a good ladder," was all she said as she sat up, then jumped up so she was standing. Her wand was pointed at the ground in her hand.

Well I'll be damned. Max muttered a bit surprised, but not the least upset.   In fact she grinned and looked at the orc.  Okay, now what? She asked the knocked out form.  She could go after them, but she wasn't really inclinded a that moment.

After all, she'd followed them earlier and that hadn't worked out so well and those two weren't seemingly all that safe.

After contemplating this for a few moments, she went back to the orc, streched out and using Kel as a pillow lay down.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:12, Fri 01 Jan 2010.

Tauri’s smile became more genuine. ”I’d bet that was fun.” Hopefully Max doesn’t mind too much. Tauri wondered how he’d react to being used as a ladder, but decided not to dwell on the the concept.

Only a half-smile appeared on her face. "I enjoyed it," she replied, fingering the ends of her hair. "She's rude anyways," she added softly.

Tauri shrugged, still smiling. "I'd never heard of stepping on people, just because they were rude. Though..." He squinted through the flames, trying to get an idea of what Max was doing. "I guess it had other benefits."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Fri 01 Jan 2010.

"Indeed," Aubria replied with a simple nod. She looked past Tauri and into the deep blackness. It didn't bother her much; she loved black, and she fared fairly well in the dark. Without another word, she began walking down the dark path, away from Tauri, and further away from the blonde.

Tauri turned to jog after Aubria, the same way he'd been going before he'd headed back. "Does it look darker there-" he pointed at the black patch "-to you too?"

"Yes," Aubria replied flatly, keeping her eyes ahead of her. "That's why I'm going to investigate." Normally she'd be smiling in a sly or cunning way, but since Tauri was her company, her face remained flat and stoic as she walked.

"Just leaving Max and-" Tauri fumbled his tongue about for a second, almost saying 'orkie', but catching himself just in time "-Kelris in there?" He tossed his arm in the general direction of the flames. "Or do you think there's something up ahead-" His arm arced forward now, like the pendulum of some lopsided clock, to point toward the darkness "-that would help?"

Aubria stopped in her tracks, then turned to face Tauri. "I don't care what happens to Max, quite frankly," she said coldly, presuming that was the blonde's name. "Kelris, though, I do. I'm going to find something to take us back to the tavern and, if I can, to help Kelris revive from whatever that sorceress did to him." She turned around and continued walking.

In spite, or maybe because, of Aubria's hostility, Tauri continued following her. He'd been planning to go this direction, anyway, and it would probably be more fun with company.
Aubria's, in particular.
He wasn't stupid, he could tell she disliked him, but she wasn't the first and certainly wouldn't be the last. Receiving contempt was part of his daily routine, and he was given it from most everyone he interacted with.
No, it wasn't that he wanted to be hated, he'd just become so accustomed to it that  he didn't care whether one disliked him or not.
So, in spite of Aubria's obvious social queues of distaste, he'd follow her.
More for kicks and giggles than for anything else.

Looking back at Tauri, Aubria held back a retort telling him to get away. Being out by herself without the majority of her spell components wasn't the smartest idea for a witch, so Aubria said nothing, silently allowing him to accompany her. He'd at least be her backup in case she ran into any creatures, even if she didn't like him personally.

As she walked, she wished she'd worn a longer dress so her striped stockings could be hidden, but then dropped the thought. She remained stoic as she held out her wand and muttered, "Luminous." A sphere of light appeared on the tip of her wand, and she held it out in front of her as she continued forward silently.

Materializing in the ring of fire, she looked about, a smile coming to her slowly.  Her eyes then held on the prostrate figure of Max using the Orc as a pillow.

Well, well then Pest. She loomed over the figure.  Not the two I expectected to find. She smiled. But I guess vermin find each other. She looked about. They left? Gone off 'exploring? She smiled down at Max.

Tauri heard Aubria mumble something, and her words kindled a glow into life on the edge of her wand. The light slipped along the trunks of trees, bringing the terribly dull hues of this world into a sharper clarity.
"If I were creepy Ms. what's-her-bucket, I'd stay at the tavern, or go somewhere happier. This place is kinda...drab." Boring, empty, colorless. Boy, I feel at home already.

Max opened her eyes slowly, staring up at the ugly woman.  Yup. She answered and started to close her eyes again.

"Indeed," Aubria replied flatly, walking along. She was still reluctant to converse with the punk from the future.

Suddenly, her gut instinct told her something was wrong. She looked back at the distant ring of fire- and broke into a run away from it.

She nodded and looked out into the blackness the spot of light like a homing device and smiled again.  Good. She laughed  and seemed to be making to leave.

"Woah! Hey, wait!" Tauri accelerated his pace to match hers, and then exceed it so he could catch up to her. "I didn't say anything that stupid, did I?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:23, Sat 02 Jan 2010.

"No, it's not you," Aubria said in a hushed voice as she ran. She whispered a word, and her light went out. "I think someone's following us." Her magic senses weren't wrong on that, she was certain.

Tauri spun his head around to look behind himself, nearly veering into a tree as he did so. Quickly, he righted himself and drew level with Aubria.
"What makes you think that?" he hissed, his voice lowered considerably.

"I sense a magic-filled presence," was all Aubria had the breath to reply as she concentrated on running.

Max hesitated for a moment, her eyes going to the spot of light in the distance, suddenly gone.  Hey... What does she have that you want? She asked, curious.    She didn't really expect an answer, but maybe a clue.

The woman turned to Max, studying her for a second.  She could sense Max wasn't human, and as such all things indicated that neither was Max all that sympathetic to the species.

With a glance out to the darkness where the light was now gone. She smiled and chuckled.  I want vengence. She answered the blonde, figuring she could understand that. My family has been wronged by her too severly to ignore. Anger flared in her eyes as she seemed to be remembering And she so cavalier... she hissed, staring into the dark, all but forgoting she was talking to the Pest. It's with her, I can sense it.

With that she seemed to remember Max and return her gaze to the other with a smile. She has a particular object that would help me to that end. And I WILL get my reward. And with a snort and dramatic wave of her arm, she disappeared as suddenly as she came.

Suddenly, Aubria skidded to a stop on the dirt path. "It's gone," she whispered. "And I think I figured out what that sorceress wants... But I don't have it on me, I don't think." She shook her head and walked on as fast as her brain was scouring through her memories.

Who goes there?  A soft wind blew.  I smell... huuumon.

Freezing, Aubria stuck an arm out in front of Tauri. "What the heck was that?" she breathed, gripping her wand tighter. What the voice had said sounded like something a giant would say, but the voice itself... was eerie. Like a spirit. Like the one that haunted her nightmares. Aubria shivered at the thought.

Instead of responding, Tauri focused his attention on more important things, namely pulling his gun for the umpteenth time and sweeping it around to point at the surrounding forest.
They were being chased around by all sorts of fantastical beings.
Not terribly high on his to-do list, and more and more, this entire setting was beginning to feel like one of his military missions. A different planet, different people, and a mass of things out to kill him. Yep.
Almost subconsciously he began to act accordingly. His face had frozen itself in a resolute expression, and his stance had become straight and formal, rather than his slouched stature of normal times.

A blinding, hot flash of lightening hits a foot before where the two stand.  The booming voice echos, You do not belong here.  Return.  It is at once an order and a final warning.

Aubria stared at where the lightning had hit the ground. "Uh... No offense, great spirit or whomever you are, but we can't leave this place, not until I find some salt." She still had a death grip on her wand. poised in case anything happened.

As the lightning struck, Tauri's head and weapon snapped upward, and he began searching the sky for the attacker.
"I doubt it cares whether or not you can properly season your steak!" Tauri snapped, still looking for the voice's source through the itty-bitty sight on his gun.

Aubria glared at Tauri, but said nothing at first, looking around for any sign of the person that had spoken. Then, she whispered while looking upwards, "Salt is the main portion of the spell I use to travel around places. If I could get enough, I could get us back to the tavern.

Though it might not have seemed possible.  The area grew darker.  A slight wind started to stir.  It seemed to be pushing at the two people to go back the way they came.

"You wouldn't happen to have a night vision spell on hand, would you?" Tauri said as his eyes involuntarily narrowed into a squint to compensate for the loss of light.

Max snorted as the woman had disappeared again.  The ring of fire still surrounded her and she poked at the Orc.  He was still unconcious.  Given all things, she still saw no immediate threat that warrented any urgency to find the portal and she assumed it was probably on the outside of the fire ring.

Perhaps that was why the old bitty had set it up to begin with.  She peered out through the fire in the direction the other two had gone.  She'd not heard any screaming yet, so she figured they were both still alive.  For a moment she again wondered if she should go offer them assistance, but she was not feeling particularly generous.

Thus, she poked a few more times at the orc and settled in using him for a pillow and enjoying the dancing flame.

Aubria shook her head, but then realized he'd be hard pressed to see her, so she murmured softly to Tauri, "No, I don't have any of my spell components with me." She began walking forward despite the light wind. "I can't do very much without them."

He followed the direction of her voice as it began to fade slightly, and as he walked, he felt the bumps in the ground beneath his feet where the lightning had struck. Yeah, this is brilliant. 'Let's, in our helpless and blind state, head in the exact direction that the freaky, lighting-shooting voice told us not to. That makes loads of sense. In spite of these thoughts, he continued following Aubria, because he couldn't think of anything better to do, and at least marching into death was more productive than being stuck in a ring of fire.
Funny, he'd never viewed death as productive before.

From the dark void, an amorphous form seems to be coming towards them.  It's mass slightly darker than the rest.  As it approaches it gets larger seemingly at first the size of a army tank, then an airplane carrier, a skyscrapper, or something larger.  Tthe breeze is blowing stronger and a plusating throb can be heard and felt...

As if communicating telepathically as the creature gets closer, the two humans sense a message.  It is not clearly heard or seen, but known... the message:  Mine.

Aubria froze in her tracks. What the- I can't see what it is! she fumed silently. Then its message reached her mind, and Aubria was totally at a loss as what to do. She took a single step backwards.

"What's yours?" Tauri yelled back, doing his best to calm his shaking hands and pounding heart. He'd learned that when working with aliens one should know when to stand their ground, and when to run. He just wasn't sure which to do yet.

Studying the dark mass ahead of her and Tauri as best as she could, Aubria was at a loss as to what to do. Finally, after standing there a moment like that, Aubria pointed her wand towards whatever it was and shouted, "PYRONIUS!" Two fireballs, one right after the other, shot directly towards the dark mass ahead of them.

"Hey! HEY!" Tauri yelped, pushing Aubria's arm down slightly. "Why are you shooting it? We don't even know what it wants!" True, the thing had a menacing presence, but Tauri still couldn't be sure that it was out to get them.

"A witch can never be too certain about a forest creature's alliances, if it has any" she replied simply with a half-shrug, merely glancing at him before turning her gaze forwards again. "It would attack us even if I didn't use my magic."

Tauri glowered. "You're right, you can't ever be too sure, so shouldn't you at least find out what it wants before you start blasting at it?" In a spurt of annoyance and irrationality, he lowered his gun and spun the dial all the way down to 1. There are far too many trigger-happy people in the world already.

The fire seemed to fly into nothingness as if it were falling into a bottomless pit, growing smaller or dimmer as it went, hard to know.  The breezed picked up some and that same odd kind of communication came to them.  Another word this time: Hungry.

"Right." Tauri said, brandishing his gun about in a frustrated way and taking a few steps back. "Now, I say we run." He didn't bother shooting at the monster, as his weapon had effects that were very similar to fire, even at its highest level. Plus, he couldn't use it at full strength because of his earlier use of it against the creepy sorcerer lady.

"Back towards the ring of fire?!" Aubria whispered in shock. "No way, I bet that sorceress will come back there." Stepping backwards, she said, "I'm going to find a different trail." She turned around and began walking in that direction. She half hoped Tauri wouldn't follow her, since his presence was only tolerable, but she figured he would anyways.

Max had been dozing, but a breeze made her stir.  Then she felt something... something big.  Something unpleasent.  She rather doubted anything those two silly humans had with them could do anything against THAT.

She sat for a moment.  The orc was still out cold.  Should she go?  She weighed this. The question was not should she go... the question was should she try to help Aubria and Tuari.  She frowned considering this.

Gazed at the fire.  It was starting to die down.  Never leave someone unattended right? She grinned and lay back down using the orc as a pillow again.

"You talk as if you know her." Tauri said quietly, turning to follow Aubria, but sparing many a glance for the dark mass of...whatever it was. "The sorceress, that is." This is just great. I've popped right into some twisted fairy tale.

Aubria just kept walking, saying nothing, her eyes on the ground mostly. Then, she finally said, "She implied I do know her, although I don't think so. At least I know her kind."

As the two walk away from the dark void, their spirits seem to lift.  The light starts to come.  The more they walk, the more sky becomes the bluish black of pre-drawn.  The sky a blue and all else a black silhouette.  Despite the darkness, there is no overwhelming menacing feeling.

Aubria sighed in relief. "It must be growing closer to morning," she said softly as she walked. "Let's see..." She veered off and took a smaller trail branching off to her right, her curiosity kicking in.

[From the Tavern]

Spinning around with a hiss, just out side the slowly dying ring of fire, her fury was apparent when seeing Cinder.

How dare you!  How dare you?  Have you come to save that little brat? Or her friend? She railed.  You won't. You can't.  Take the pest and the beast - leave. Stay out of what you know nothing of. She hissed.

Turning his head at the sudden glare of the fire he quickly readjusts his eyes to their normal shape, but he smiles at the ring of fire.  He crouches down a bit as his hand moves towards the fire.  "Bitch, you got no idea what I can do."

With only a gesture he refocuses the ring of fire, causing it to trap himself and the witch and increasing it's intensity.  He draws out the flechette pistol but leaves it pointed at the ground.  "Why don't you tell me what you be talking about."  It is not said as a question but an order.

Watching him work the fire, she is clearly taken aback.  With a strong hiss and a quick sweep of her arm, she disappears, leaving the man alone.

She sensed someone using magic, specifically related to fire. Aubria spun at a ninety degree angle, the ring of fire's light piercing through the trees. Quickly she ran through the thick forest until she could observe the now moved ring at a safe distance. There were two people inside; one she could vaguely tell was the sorceress, and the other all she knew was that he was male. She wondered what the sorceress would want with him.

Standing up straight and looking around in a bit of surprise, Cinder shakes his head.  "Gou neong yung de."  The words obviously a curse of some type.  He again moves his hand, drawing the fire up and into the palm of his gloved hand.  He uses this to light another cigarette that he draws out of his pocket.

Seeing the predator woman using the orc as a pillow he has to laugh.  "What the frag just happened?"

Good, she's gone, Aubria thought with relief as she saw the woman's figure vanish. She risked herself to step closer to the ring of fire and was taken aback when she saw it, or at least part of it, vanish. Suddenly she recognized the man in the center of the ring of fire with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. "Cinder!" she exclaimed in astonishment, walking slowly towards him. "What the devil was that? And how'd you end up here?"

He turns rather slowly to face the young witch, drawing the rest of the flames to his hand and crumbling it into ash.  "I be magi.  Fire is one sphere I control." He glances around for a moment before answering her second question.  "I here cuz that crazy old bitch done drug me here."

Sighing, Aubria nodded and replied, "I wish I could use fire like that." She smirked at Cinder. "Yeah, the lady's got issues. Claims I've got something she wants, but I don't. Nothing on me has magical value to her. Not even this, really." Her finger taps on the orange jewel in the center of the golden disk hanging from her neck.

Max stirred with the commotion. Opening her eyes slightly, noting the old witch was brief to stay, she recognized immediately the other one.  Great, she thought.  Just great.  She pretended to stay asleep.  But noted at least the man had eliminated the fire.  She wasn't sure if that was a good thing though.

She figured she'd wait for the crowd to die down and then search for a way back.

Looking from the witch and pretty boy to the predator woman and orc on the ground he just shakes his head and reholsters his fletcher.  Even as he spoke to the witch he didn't turn his back on the one called Max, she was too much of a predator to ignore, even when she was feigning sleeping, especially when she was feigning sleeping.

"Eh Ghatina, you say you got no clue what she wants?  Did ya try askin her skank ass?  She seems pretty determined to get you... and your little dog too."  His voice changes to a high pitched squeal at that last.

Aubria rolled her eyes at Cinder's imitation of the stereotypical witch. Stupid Wizard of Oz movie... she thought with a groan.

"I did ask her, but she wouldn't answer me!" Aubria retorted, slightly annoyed. Calming down quickly, she added, "She talked to me as if I should already know what she wants, but I don't." She ran her hand through her brown hair as she sighed, looking at the ground slightly.

He looks directly at the two figures that appear to be sleeping and turns to Aubria.  "Hey, bao bei, what happened to them?  Why they be lying there."  He looks back down at the two on the ground.  "Perua, wake your ass up."

Max gave a low growl deep in her throat.  This man was a definate pain in the ass.  And she thought she'd never see him again, just her luck.  Opening her eyes, she gazed up at him lazily.  She didn't know what he'd called her, but she was sure it wasn't nice.  She debated a second, between two courses of action.

Stretching leisurely, she sat with a contented smile and sigh, like she'd just awoken from the best nap ever.  Well, hello, to you too. What do you need me for, Fire boy, that you must be going on yelling about it?

Aubria laughed softly to herself as she listened to the exchange between Cinder and the blonde. Quite frankly, Aubria thought the woman deserved what he said. "Max, evidently, was taking a nap, and Kelris was knocked unconscious by that sorceress," she explained to Cinder. "I know you used your powers on me once when I blacked out. Do you... think you could revive Kelris?" She fingered her skirt slightly anxiously.

He smiles down at the predator, throwing her a wink.  "Max xiao jie, just making sure ya aint dead."

He glances at the young witch and back at the orc shaking his head.  "You be human, n I know human.  He aint.  If I try ta fix im and he be too different, I could geek em."

The whole time, he keeps one eye on the predator woman, he pulls a zippo out of his pocket and flicks the wheel.  This fire he directs down to the ground in the middle of the clearing, causing a column to rise up, shedding enough light for everyone to see normally and giving him a ready source for further manipulation.

She gave Cinder a false smile, I'm so glad you care. her tone snide.

So why are you here?  Why are you both here? She scowled. I thought you went off to follow your heart or something. She snorted looking at Aubria.

"Please, that's so childish," Aubria shot at Max, rolling her eyes. "I was going to explore the place for a way to get back to the tavern, or to find some salt for me to create a spell to teleport back."

Pushing some of her hair behind her ear, she then turned and said to Cinder, "Orcs don't have the best reputation, true, but Kelris is different, I can tell. Besides, we can't leave him for wild creatures to devour." She held her hand towards the unconscious Kelris to emphasize her point.

He turns to face the reclining woman and hunkers down his own smile as false as hers.  "Don't mistake interest for compassion.  If ya like, I can put the ring back... but I done thought ya no like fire."

Only partially turning his head towards Aubria he talks in a much more casual tone.  "You no understand what I sayin.  I spend big big time studying the human body.  I know how everything be workin.  Fur you earlier, I adjust oxygen sorbtion, increase blood ta yur noggin.  No prob to do surface things like fix cuts or melt his eyes, but inside...  If his body be too different, I treat him like human and gack his sorry ass.  Kill him dead dead."  He shakes his head.

"Oooh, now I get it," Aubria said with a slow bob of her head. "Yeah, that's not so good..." She glanced between Cinder and Kelris, mentally comparing the two. The orc had several major physical differences from the human man, that was obvious, but internally... That was a bit harder to work out. "To be honest, there doesn't seem to be too much of a difference between orcs and humans. The only main differences I see are Kelris' skin color and his tusks." She held her hands up as she continued, "Don't take my word for it, it's just what I think."

Max snorted at them.  The chick was now caring about the orc, she didn't seem to care when she went wandering off.  She shook her head.  At least the male understood somethings.  Actually, 'I be preferin' the ring of fire.' She mimiced him a bit, then spoke a bit more seriously.  Best would be a ring of fire with a 2 meter opening. She met Cinder's eyes, but spoke to Aubria.  To keep the wild animals away.

She sighed glanced out to the dark and then back to Cinder. Stuffs out there that's not friendly. I can sense it. She said to him seriously.

Without looking away from the predator woman he talks to the witch.  "He may be an ugly chse, but I aint gonna gack him without cause."

Standing up and turning to look around the woodline, he draws his trench coat aside to offer easy access to the mini gun.  "I be gettin out of this place, ifn any yus wants to come along fall in behind me."

Max snorted and rolled her eyes again. Yeah.  She did a great job of that earlier.  She glanced around.  She didn't like this man, but he was not dumb and while confident that she could best him, she was equally confident he would pose a challenge.  Thus, there was no need to challenge him unless necessary.

When she came with us and when she came with you, it was not in the same spot. I don't think the portal is stagnant. She said to Cinder with a glance at the others, not sure if they would follow or not.  She made no attempt to move, but watched, ready.

Aubria nodded, saying, "Alright, I'm coming with." Glancing back at Kelris, she added to herself, When I get my stuff back, I'll come back to help him. She turned around and drew closer to Cinder. When Max said the portal probably wasn't stagnant, Aubria replied matter-of-factly, "Of course it probably isn't. It's difficult for a magic user to place himself in exactly in the same spot of a location twice because of the shifting land."

The fire spit and crackled a bit, but the area was quiet.  To one side, the deepest dark still loomed.  To a third, the dark was slightly less dense and in the distance the spots of light like houses still flickered.  But in the other third of the sky, the dark was lighter.  The blue of pre dawn, but in all the time they debated, the light had not changed in that direction.

He knew Aubria was on board for getting out of there and this playboy as well would follow along, it was Max he didn't know about. "Ya just gonna lie there or ya wana join us?" His eyes narrow as he looks at her and makes a calculated decision.  "We all be doin better if ya be wit us, all of us, including your bad ass self."

He stands up straight and starts to look around, pulling out the .22 mini-gun and chambering a round.  He checks the battery and runs the barrels for a second.

Wordlessly Tauri took a couple steps toward Cinder, assuring himself that this man, too was competent and indicating that he would come along for the ride.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he still believed that this was a dream. It was simply too surreal for it to be anything else, but as time wore on he found himself more inclined to believe it to be reality. My dreams are never this...complex, anyway.

She glanced around not likily any of the options that presented themselves.  But she was getting restless. I'll come with... at least for a while. She shrugged nonchalantly and stood.  She glanced down at Kelris who was still out like a light.  We should leave him. She said matter of factly.

With a nod to Tauri and Max he glances down at the orc.  "I no fraggin know him.  Unless someone wants to and can carry his fat ass, I no see any choice."

He looks into the darkness and his eyes change in shape and structure, adjusting for the light.  "I kin lead us through this, but I cant see the portal.  Kin any of yuz?"

"Please tell me you're kidding. Even I'm not that heartless." Tauri said, and then frowned in Kelris' direction. I guess that's what makes me different from all the other CEA members. I actually care about what happens to other people. The concept made him proud. Plus, the ork didn't look too heavy. Certainly enough to cause a bit of trouble, but the boy couldn't weigh more than the equipment Tauri normally packed around. He walked over to the ork and hoisted the limp form onto his shoulders. Then he straightened himself and walked back to where he'd been before with steps that were obviously heavy, but lithe enough to show that the burden of Kelris' body was one Tauri could handle.

He grins at the predictability of the man.  He wasn't going to carry the slab of bacon, he needed both of his hands free.  With that taken care of, he takes the glove off of his hand, showing a low burning almost invisible blue flame.  The column of fire dies down and he turns to look at the others, his pupils slits and reflecting the light.  "I'll take point.  Keep all light hind me."

He looks at the three different directions debating on which way to start. "Which way?"

Tauri glowered in Cinder's direction. I hate acting like an adult, really, I do,  but with this crowd I don't have much of a choice. Stupid...
"Eh. You choose, Mister High-and-Mighty. I don't see the point. If we're stuck on a different world, what does it matter where we walk on it?" As soon as I get out of this mess, it's back to the beer, and no pills. He might've even tossed the canister away to prove his point, but both his hands were busy steadying Kelris.

Max watched the scene unfold with mild amusement, and fell in behind all others.  It was less that she cared about protecting these snippy ones than she didn't want to get glared at by Cinder, who would be the one who knew. Plus, it allowed her to be as far from him as possible.

Hey girly, you two wandered off once already, what'd you find? Anything helpful? She called to Aubria.

Smiling gratefully at Tauri, for once, she turned back to Max and replied, "There's some sort of creature down the darkest path. It said it was hungry, so... I don't think we should go down that way." As she took a step forward, she noticed a slight sound she hadn't heard before- a light clink from inside her golden disk. "That's weird," she murmured to herself as she held the disk horizontally and opened it. In one half was the sand her disk ran on when it communicated with others.

And on top of the sand was a diamond-looking gem about double the size of the usable end of a hammer.

Aubria's eyes widened. "Uh, I think I just figured out what she was looking for," she said in a normal volume voice to the others. "And I am so dead in more ways than one."

He doesn't even glance back at the others as he starts to move out towards what might be some kind of settlement.  He holds the mini-gun securely and scans the darkness, his eyes absorbing every last little bit of light.  He doesn't look back as he talks.  "No more noise  less you see sumtin.  And if'n ya give me any more lip pretty boy, I'll seal yur damn yap shut and pop yur blinkers."

Well, then. I consider my fate sealed. Tauri was tempted to stick his tongue out at the man, but couldn't suppress the odd feeling that he'd notice, even behind his back. He even considered telling the man to pop his own 'blinkers', but decided that, too, was a foolish choice, so he had to satisfy himself by merely rolling his eyes and adjusting Kelris' weight on his shoulders.

Closing her disk with a small click, Aubria turned to look at Tauri with the orc across his shoulders. "Here, let me help you carry him," she whispered, walking over to him and taking one of Kelris's arms. She hefted Kelris until she was supporting him under one arm and shoulder and Tauri was with the other. Aubria noted that Kelris was rather heavy and was mildly surprised that Tauri had been able to support the orc's weight.

Max rolled her eyes, not that it could easily be seen, but said nothing. Falling in at the end of the group and keeping an eye out from behind.  She would not have traveled toward what looked like a settlement, but then she had not volunteered to go first.  Of course, upon reflection, she had not volunteered for any of this exactly and found herself immediately a little more sympathetic to the silly young ones.  They did not seem used to such circumstances and her dislike of Cinder made her a bit sympathetic for the moment.

The surroundings are dark.  A slight breeze blows and there is a musical quality of it in the air.  A sound that reverberates like a series of gongs.

"What's that sound?" she asked softly, fairly certain none of the others knew, either. It seemed to her rather... eerie, yet peaceful. She couldn't make heads or tails of that fact.

He has to grin a little at the silence behind him.  A little grunting but that couldn't be avoided.  Having that woman Max behind him did bother him a bit, but again... unavoidable.  The noise of chimes was somewhat creepy, but he didn't slow and didn't bother wasting words responding to Aubria.  Continuing to move towards the possible settlement but angling slightly towards the sound.

A shimmering appeared before them and a figure appeared as if forming from the mist.  As it became solid, it was an adult woman, though she was not old.  Her hair was a mass of black curls and she wore flowing robes.  Fluttering around her appeared to be bright colored moths.

Ohmygawds. Her voice had the nasal grating quality of squawking sandpaper. I cain’t believe yous are wandrin’ thru the woods.  Don’t you folks know? It’snot safe out here, hon.  Yous guys need to come in. She nodded for emphasis her arms folding across her chest.

"Come in where?" Aubria asked the woman, looking around. As far as she could tell, there weren't any buildings. This woman seemed kinder than the sorceress. "And..." She paused, then decided not to ask her other question. She shifted Kelris's arm slightly, adjusting to his weight.

Leaning forward to whipser to the girl, Tauri and the out cold orc, I don't like this. She said. Never trust one who befriends the butterflies.  They're... flighty and disloyal. Useless in a fight. She growled.

"Well..." Tauri shifted his arm on Kelris' back so he could turn his head toward Max and return her whisper. "She hasn't tried to kill us yet. That's a plus, but if she does decide to, hopefully she's as--how did you put it?--useless in a fight as the butterflies."

Where? The house of course. She turned and there in the same shimmering way, a brick town house appeared.  Warm welcoming lights in the window, the door left open.  The smell of food and the sound of music wafting from within.  C'mon. She she gave a toss of her head.

Wait! The voice screched and the woman appeared behind the group.  She was still looking like an ugly old hag.  They are mine.  Give me what I want and I shall help you back.  Go into that witches house and it will be certain death. She glared.

After a moment, he voice softened and she spoke to Aubria, You don't want anyone hurt, do you child?  Just give me what I want and all will be well.

"Oooooh, no, I'm not giving it to ya, lady," Aubria shot at the hag sorceress, adjusting Kelris's weight slightly on her shoulders. "I'm not giving you all that power so you can cause chaos and havoc!" With her free hand she clasped her golden disk protectively. The jewel is far too dangerous in the wrong hands, she thought with determination. Mentally she prepared to hand Kelris off entirely to Tauri and fight the hag if necessary. "Cinder, Tauri, we gotta head inside the house," she whispered lightly so only the two men could hear her.

He stands up, facing neither and both of the witches.  He raises his hand into the air.  The sudden flare of light is almost blinding as the flame on his hand kicks up and turns white hot.  Heat radiating can be felt by all.

"No fraggin way hag.  If I sees ya again, I teach you whole new world of pain for I rip out yur heart."  There is another pulse of heat and flash of light as he extends his hand towards Marci, the bones of his fingers breaking through and forming claws.

The gun may be frightening, but he could do oh so much more damage with a touch.

Fools. The woman hissed and shrunk away.  Then looking at the other and back to the group she laughed.  An evil, gleeful laugh as she shrunk back away from the fire, allowing them  freedom to enter the house if they were so inclined.

"C'mon, punk, let's go," Aubria whispered to Tauri, poking his foot with hers and gesturing towards the house with her head. The hag sorceress's laugh creeped her out, and she trusted a fellow witch, if the sorceress had correctly called her such. She began walking slowly towards the house, she and Tauri carrying the orc still.

Looking at the other resident of this world, Cinder shakes his head.  "No, I don't trust dis one neither."  His hand balls into a fist, the claws digging into his own hand.  Drops of blood sizzle and evaporate in the heat, leaving a sickly sweet smell in the air.

He steps towards the 'woman' and sizes her up.

This woman has watched the proceedings with a hint of a smile.  With Cinder's approach, she draws her self up taller, but her arms stay folded across her chest and she remains in a crooked stance.

We was just settin down to dinner.  I bet yous hungry.  Nana's a good cook. She spoke to Aubria.

"That would be good, thank you," Aubria said to the woman with a nod after glaring slightly at Cinder. She trudged forward a bit more, still slow as she and Tauri were weighed down by Kelris. "Our friend Kelris here," she shrugged her shoulder to gesture to the orc, "also needs care- he was knocked unconscious by that crazy sorceress lady." Aubria still had a hold on her communication disk as well as supporting the orc.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:24, Mon 25 Jan 2010.

The woman smiled and stepped aside,  gesturing for Aubria and her friend and the orc to enter.  I'm not surprised. She cast a triumphant smile to the old hag that had shrunk back, but was not gone.  She met the other's eye for a moment. Don't you worry none. She glanced to Tauri. There's a room yous can put him in, with a nice soft bed inside on the left.

Max caustiously took a few steps forward watching Aubria and Tauri heading up the townhouse steps. Fools rush in... She muttered.  Glancing at Cinder she stepped up nearer him, but she wasn't too happy about being too near him. This is bad. She said matter of factly, still not sure if she was going to follow or not.

Tauri had taken a couple baby steps toward the house, mostly because Aubria was walking that way, which was pulling Kelris' arm against his shoulder. At the same time, he was thinking on Cinder's comment, and Max's, when it came. So far, everything he'd encountered in this world had been hostile, and he wasn't sure there was enough evidence to assume that this...whatever she was...would break the pattern. She seemed nice enough, but so did a Venus Fly Trap to a fly.
"Aubria," he said quietly, stopping his progress forward and hoping she would do the same. "Are we sure we can trust her?" Heck, the lady herself and her house might just be another clever illusion, courtesy of the warty wicked witch.

"I..." Aubria paused, biting her lip. "I just have this sense about things. Attuned to magic and all that jazz," she replied to Tauri, stopping in her tracks when he did. She looked up at the seemingly kinder woman and said diplomatically, "It seems that my party does not trust you like I do. Is... there a way that you can prove you are not like... evil?"

The woman looked at the assembled crew, her eyes squinting.  The moths which fluttered around her gave off a sronger glow, and hovered a bit further away.

I offered ya my home, food... I ain't got nothin' to prove to yous! She snorted glaring at each being assembled.   I ain't makin' yas come in.  I offered, yous can accept my hospitality or not. She huffed with an indignant shifting of her shoulders.

You KNOW what I want, girl.  And you KNOW it is rightfully mine.  That witch is not your friend. Give me what is mine, and I will send you home. The woman called out from behind.

"Tauri, take him, get him inside, now, Aubria whispered, slowly sliding Kelris's arm off her shoulders. She slipped the gem out of her disk, along with some of the sand inside it, and faced the old creepy hag. Instead of replying, she closed her hand with the gem inside it and placed her other hand palm down on top of it, fingers outstretched. "Nice try, demon spawn... JUPITIOUS!" she shouted fiercely. Lightning shot out of her fingertips directly at the sorceress hag.

The spell from Aubria flew thru the air and then stopped, almost as if it hit a force field and disappeated.  Fools, the woman muttered.  I speak the truth... and yet you trust her?  You will get what you deserve. She snorted.

Max gave an exaggerated sigh.  She leaned a bit closer to Aubria in order to speak quietly, What do you really know about either of these two? She asked.  You think you figured out what the ugly one wants, but do you know why she wants it?  Is it really hers?... I don't mean to question your witchy-ness. She smirked at that, But it seems to me you might be a bit quick to take action here?

"It's not hers, I need to return this gem to the Council," Aubria said quietly in annoyance. Only Cinder and Max could clearly hear her. "She has evil intentions for the power that can be unlocked with this stone, and believe me, it'll make her powerful beyond belief. I've barely scratched at the amplification abilities the stone holds." She still held her hands in the same position and shouted a new spell.

"TERRIUS!" Boulders the size of smart cars hurled themselves at the hag from, verging in at all sides.

Sparing a glance at the new witch woman he shakes his head.  "I no trust yur skank ass but at least ya aint fugly."  He turns towards the hag and starts to walk slowly towards her.  "I told ya wat I be doin to ya."  He lets the gun drop to his side as he approaches her, ignoring the boulders flying around.  His eyes glow with their own fire and his body starts to spasm slightly, as he makes more minute adjustments.

The old woman sighs and shakes her head.  You know so little, foolish girl.  But then I suppose I was young and foolish one day.... How I got to be here. She snorted.  The rocks flying past her, but she made no attempt at retaliation.   If anything she looked sad and resigned.

"Yes, I know little," Aubria said calmly, lowering her hands and replacing the gem within her disk. All the sand she'd been holding had vanished, and she still glared at the hag sorceress. "That is why I travel- to learn and see new things. But, as little as I know, this I know for certain: You can never have this sunstone, for I need to return it to its rightful place where it can never be found."

Now the woman's eyes showed anger clearly, It's rightful place?  It's rightful place, little girl is with me!  Her upset was clear as she glared at Aubria and the entity behind her.

That stone was stolen from my family long before you even existed.  The self aggrandizing, selfish justifications for the theft have caused my world to be... THIS! She tossed a snort and her hands gestured.  The darkness to reign in fear and chaos, creatures like THAT one. She pointed to the woman in the door way To work their evil.  Rightful Place! She spit.

And you are no better than the rest.  You travel She said snidely, But you don't even try. You "see new things" but only with your blind eyes.  So you learn nothing. She shook her head in disgust.

I would not mourn what is about to happen to you if it did not mean the fate of this world will be sealed forever... because of the pettiness of a little girl who thinks she's so worldly and knows it all. The anger was fading to sadness.  Certainly not for the girl, perhaps for the others, though it would be their choice to follow, but a despire of self pity.

Aubria simply stared at the woman with wide eyes. "That's a lie. The stone was taken from a sorceror of my own world centuries ago because he corrupted the stone and tried to cover my world with darkness and demons! It's not even a genuine sunstone anymore!" Placing a hand over her disk, she murmured, "Come to think of it, I'm rather surprised that I was able to do anything with it."

Suddenly, the orange gem set into her disk began to glow slightly, and Aubria thought, Oh, shoot, Zahura must be trying to contact me. I am so dead, whether by this hag or Zahura herself!

Silently Aubria hoped that Cinder, who appeared as if he wanted to attack the hag, would attack her soon. She figured that would simplify the situation by a lot.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Wed 27 Jan 2010.

Cinder continues to walk straight at the hag, no obvious changes are made to his body but he does make a couple of twitches and he starts to move faster, much faster.  Closing the remaining distance at a very fast sprint.

Max watched the scene unfold.  Wait. She said to Cinder, catching up with him in long fluid inhuman movements.  Coming to almost block his path, she cast a glance in both directions at the witches, and spoke to him softly,

His hands appear to be shaking and there is a near maniacal look in his eyes but he stops.  "I no trust none of them, nor you."  He looks at the old hag, his body barely able to contain what is happening to it, heat is radiating from him in waves and not just his hand.  "YOU! TAKE US BACK NOW!!  THEN TALK TA THE WITCH!!  IFN WE AINT BACK TA THE TAVERN, I WILL GEEK YOU!!"

Max winced at the heat coming off Cinder. Why me? She hated heat. Hate fire. Hates smoke most of all and it always came as a package deal.  She shrunk back away from him, thinking it was highly unlikly the girl was going ot give up the stone or the witch was going let her go.

I have no issue with any of you... Nor do I care about the girl.  I just want what was rightfully mine.  She glared at the crazy man.

Your door is there. She pointed to a spot in the wood, the darkness seeming to shimmer a bit.  You are all free to leave, but not her. Not with the stone.  She leaves the stone and she can go too.

Nooooo. The scream came from the other. Yous can't leave. It... it would be bad to leave.  Come in the house...Don't believe her.  She's... she's crazy. She stammered, sounding worried.

He turns towards the prettier of the two hags, the gun coming up.  The trigger is depressed for about a second but the sound is deafening and a foot of flame bursts from the front of the gun as nearly a hundred rounds chew up the ground in front of the creature, spraying her with dirt and broken branches.  "Shut yur damn yap."

Turning back to the old hag he keeps one hand on the gun and the other extended away from his body.  "No talkin deals till we all be back.  Try n convince er there."

The woman watched her counterpart flinch at the gun fire with a small degree of satisfaction, then turned to the firey one who seemed to have taken charge.

I can't.  The stone must be returned to me here, in my world, or it will not work. She answered appearing to be honest.

I don't know what you are, but her people stole that stone from me and mine long ago.  They have been greedy and arrogant.  Like her, they don't think of anyone but themselves.... She shook her head.

In case you've not notice, this world. MY world is in harm.  I have nothing else to loose.  This is not a neogation... The old hag, took a step closer to Cinder, despite the great heat that was radiating from him.

A clear popping sound was heard as whatever magic she had employed to protect her was broken.  This is NOT a negotiation.  And if you kill me, without the stone, you have only served to end my suffering and seal a curse on that wretched girl and her kind.  I want the stone.  I need that stone.  We must all do what we must.

She took a step closer still.  I have no issue with any of you, but the girl. You are free to leave.  She is free to leave when my people's property has been returned to me.

The orange gem on Aubria's disk faded, but Aubria was unable to feel calm about that. "T-the stone is corrupted," she stammered out. "My mentor and the strongest wizards and witches of my world have tried to change it back, but none of them have been successful. I doubt you can change it back into a true sunstone." Looking between the unconscious Kelris that Tauri still carried, the mage Cinder, and the hag sorceress, she continued shakily, "Now all it's good for is to cause destruction. It used to carry light, but now it refuses to. It's a darkstone now, and it needs to be hidden away or destroyed."

Now looking at her fellow witch, her eyes panicked, she asked, "Why exactly do you say we can't go back?"

The old hag, now ignored Cinder and took a step toward Aubria. Foolish girl, it is corrupted for you, because it was stolen from it's rightful keepers.  It is not corrupted here, THAT is why it must be returned to me here, in my world. She shook her head as if humans were really the most impossible of species.  They never paid attention.

If returned to me, here, it will be able to return to it's purpose.  Take it with you and it is corrupt and will curse all it comes near.

I said you may all leave but you, Little Girl.  You may leave when you have returned the stone.

The hag looked at Cinder then back to Aubria and thought for a moment.  If you all believe in this one's abilites so much, She glanced at Cinder then back to Aubria, Give me the stone, here, now, let it restore itself and see.  If it does not, they that one may let loose his flame.... She paused and glared back to the pretty witch still cowering in her doorway. Or do you wish to go be dinner and seal all our fates?

Max looked between all assembled, assessing, judging.  Giving Cinder a wide berth, she stepped up to Aubria, speaking softly so only the girl could hear,

Cinder glances at Aubria, at the butterfly woman and the old crone.  "I be goin through that portal in a minute.  If n any of yuz wana join me, no one be stoppin ya."

          "Cinder, a favor." Tauri finally spoke. It had taken him this long to find a reason, and as it was, he was absorbing all the information he could as he listened to the two women of this world debate. "Bring Kelris with you, back to the tavern, see if someone there can help him." He figured that even if the old hag was lying, Kelris would be safer with Cinder than with anyone else, regardless of where he was. Tauri trusted Aubria more, but without her 'spell components' or whatever she'd said, she didn't seem to be confident and calm enough to handle it well, and since this whole conflict seemed based around her...well...
         Yuck. Choices. He hated them, loathed them, because every time he had to make an important one, it seemed like somebody else's life was at stake. Tauri was perfectly pleased to goof around and call people names, but when lives were at stake, which they might be at that point, he became a different person, and it wasn't someone he liked. He became just like all those other military thugs. Direct, to the point, and with no personality whatsoever. All in all, a person that certainly wasn't preferable to his normal self.
Or at least he thought so. Many of his fellow CEA members believed he should behave like that more often, 'be responsible for once', and whatnot.
          The mere thought of it made him want to kick something.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:10, Mon 01 Feb 2010.

Nodding slowly as Max talked to her, Aubria began to debate with herself about the issue. Based on what she'd seen the stone do in the past, and based on what the Head Wizard of the Council had told her and Zahura back home, the stone couldn't bring light anymore because the sorceror Erin had corrupted it. On the other side of the issue, though, she did realize her magic worked slightly different here- and she needed to get back to the tavern where the rest of her components were. She then mumbled something back to Max.


With the stone in hand, Aubria looked over it, her eyes widening suddenly. She then realized she wasn't sure that she, in reality, had the sunstone. She couldn't tell whether she had the sunstone or the less-powerful enhancer diamond- both were cut exactly the same. Zahura would know the difference, but Aubria didn't remember what the difference was.

With a sigh, Aubria looked at the hag witch, a name forming in her mind. "Alright... Marcy... you can have it." Then she flung the stone over the hag's head; it soared until it hit something hard, like a tree or rock. "If you can find it!" With that, Aubria bolted for the portal, slowly remembering where she had seen the sorceress before but not bothering to thing about it. She waved to the others to leave with her.

Noooooo. The butterfly witch screamed, starting to take a step off the porch, but shrinking back, as the location of the stone began to glow with a most powerful light.  How could you, you stupid, stupid girl. Her voice was shrill and held a fierce anger.

The old hag smiled, watching the rock sail over her head with the thump as it landed.  The stone had begun to glow mid stream, and was only growing stronger as it landed on home soil.

Moving quickly, the old woman hurried to the glowing orb, and picking it up, swallowed it.

For a second, there was an explosion of blinding light that seemed to come from everywhere.  It faded as if the sun were finally rising, the colors of the foliage, slowly regaining color.

The woman stood slowly, no longer the old hag, but a being of pure white light.  It shimmered off her skin and her hair.  Her eyes the pales of blues, such that they too appeared to be the color of ice in winter, and she smiled.

Looking up at the sky, where now a bright sun was approaching, she took deep gulps of air, before looking at those that still remained or were scrambling for the portal.

Your safe passage back is assured.  For all of you. Thank you Girl, your deed here, shall not go unforgotten and shall be rewarded.

Max smirked finding the girl's words amusing, and watched.  She wasn't overly concerned about getting to the portal.  At that point there were two she was leery of, Cinder and the butterfly witch.  There was something about that one that she didn't like.

She was actually surprised when Aubria threw the stone, although not the response it garnered.  She'd figured before that if the old hag had wanted to truly harm them, she could have, easily.

Max inched toward the portal, but her curiousity was strong and a part of her wanted to linger to see what was going to happen next, if anything.

Aubria stopped and turned when the witch screeched, and then was astonished when the hag swallowed the sunstone and became a being of light. She simply stared up at the now gorgeous woman and suddenly realized something- her senses of magic had been out of wack in this world, but now they were back to normal. Aubria was fairly certain she was looking at a goddess. And to think I distrusted her!

"I- please forgive me," Aubria stammered, suddenly on her knees on the ground. "I didn't know- you were disguised- I..." She trailed off, biting her lip as she darted her eyes away from the transformed sorceress. She glanced at the butterfly witch for only a second but then kept her eyes on the ground. I'm such a fool!

Shaking his head at Aubria's words he starts to back towards the portal slowly.  "Ifn ya act sinister, ya get treated like ya be sinister.  Go... I'll cover ya."  He brings the mini gun back up, not aiming it at anyone, but holding it at the ready.

Max snorted, and reached to pull Aubria up, with a hiss.  Honestly, there were times when she just wanted to throttle the girl.  Nothing says she was disguised.  So, she probably was telling the truth.  And you prob'ly did something that helped this forsaken place.  You don't bow ro that, you say, 'your welcome,' Max growled. You didn't steal the stone from her.  And it was ...nice She flinched at the word, for you to give it back, now say, g'bye and lets get out of here.

"Ouch! Hey!" Aubria flinched a bit at Max's touch and murmured, "Nothing wrong with showing respect to a superior..." Then, with a slight nod towards the white sorceress, Aubria said with grace, "I am glad to have helped you." With that, she simply turned and walked towards the portal.

He glances over his shoulder.  "Ha, that be yur problem... recognizing sum one as a superior."

Since the others seem to have dropped the orc, he lowers the gun and grabs him by the collar, starting to drag the big lump of bacon towards the portal.  His right hand glows, not white hot, but a bright blue.

Realizing that she'd forgotten Kelris, Aubria turned around and silently walked towards Cinder. She helped him carry- or drag, if needed- the orc to the portal.

>>To the Tavern>>
This message was last edited by the player at 20:35, Thu 04 Feb 2010.

Well she hated to agree with Cinder, but she did.  With a glance around and a shrug at Tauri, she too started to head toward the portal.  There was a part of her that was curious what the house of the butterfly girl held, but the way the creature was shrinking away from the light told her it was not likily to be something good.  In fact, she had the distinct feeling they had dodged a bullet with that.

He stands there, pushing the comatose lump of bacon towards the portal.  After the unconscious ork goes through with Aubria he brings the gun back up and keeps an eye on both the light witch and the butterfly witch.  He can feel the effects on his body starting to wear off.  He knows he doesn't have much time left but still waits for the others to go through the fraggin thing.

"Hurry your asses up."

There was a part of her curious.  And a part that wanted to dwadle just to annoy Cinder, but this world was even more foreign for her than the Tavern's.  She knew nature existed, but she was more comfortable in the concrete forest.

With Aubria gone, she gave one quick glance around and stepped into the forest to disappear.

[To tavern]

As the other man hesitates before moving, Cinder gives up and goes through the portal.  He probably has enough time to get into the tavern.

<<<To Front Porch>>>