"And, how far away is the nearest inn? And do we even know where it is?"

Cassander straightened up on his rock and crossed his legs at the knee.  He looked over at John, crossing his arms under his chest in a thoughtful manner.  "That's just what we're trying to figure out.  Magical means from Greg or myself are probably out.  There are just too many unknowns.  We'd probably end up stuck in some other dimension or plane of existence."

He was surprisingly calm, given what had happened.  It might just be that he was still on a bit of a magic high.  "Going outside in a storm doesn't make much sense.  I'm not too interested in finding out if Elves can catch cold.  Maybe in the morning we can figure something out.  Pray to the gods or try and divine our purpose, or find another town."

He, or rather she, there was no point denying it, looked around at her companions.  "Do you think that there might be some reason for this happening?  Maybe we are the only ones who can rescue the Princess.  I mean it could all be an accident too."

Dan looked a little sheepish. "Uh, err... That does pose the main problem with that course of action" He rubbed his head a little in shame. Sarah had a resounding point, and lumbering around in the rain... in the dark, was even less smart than sleeping in an old tower.

A thought struck him. "Hold on; I introduced this tower for the sake of plot..." He said, seemingly in thought about this.

"Hm."

Sarah glances around the room, judging it...

"Sounds like we're camping out here then.  Who wants first watch?"

"Unless of course Dan's Tower is more dangerous than it looks."

As Greg stared out into a storm, she gave a embarrassingly girlish squeak of alarm when the muddy, wet figure seemed to loom up out of the storm.  When she saw it was a beautiful elven woman, she almost laughed.
"Hmmmmm.... a hot elven chick.  The odds are good that she's with us".   She was, of course.
Greg stumbled back out of the new woman's way (hmmm...swords, bow, armor, must be a ranger, which means Alyissa. Or rather, John.
Or at least Greg would have stumbled if he had backed up that awkwardly yesterday.  Her elven reflexes made the most jerky movements seem almost like.....dancing.

Greg stayed by the door, trying to gather his thoughts, and calm a possible panic attack.
"Dammit, you spineless loser!  Calm the HELL down!   I know you're not the bravest person in the world, but you've never had an actual panic attack, and you're NOT going to start now.

The cleric walked back into the group, having gotten a hold of himself (herself?) enough to actually participate in the conversation.

She takes a deep, steadying breath, although the entire room can hear the quivering of the intake of air, and the still-present tremble of the newest player's voice as he speaks.

Um...uh...ok, well.   
Taking another breath, Greg tries again.
Leaving tonight to run around in the storm is a BAD idea.  We can all agree on that.  This place seems pretty water-tight, at least for one night, so I say we wait out the night, or at least the storm, here.   

The elven gave a laugh, seemed to wince at how pretty it was, then shook her head and plowed onward.
She took another deep breath and began talking quickly, as if she thought she'd lose her nerve if she slowed down.

Um...Cassander.  Cassander, right?   Crap, I was just learning everyone's names and now we all look different.
Anyway, does your sorceress have the spell "Prestidigitation" ?   That would be useful to help John clean up from the storm.   Trying to sleep in wet clothes is probably not going to be the  most restful sleep.  Although I think I've got spare clothes if you don't.
Greg almost laughed, thinking to himself "Criminy!  I've been a woman for less than ten minutes and I'm already sharing
clothes with my 'girlfriends'.   The stereotypical action would have been much funnier if this had still been the real game, instead of.... whatever this was.

Also, I can take first watch.  I'm too wired to sleep now, anyway, and besides, I've got this:
Greg held up a slender hand, showing off a slightly glowing ring on her left middle finger.  It was light green stone and seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

If other magic works, this should be a Ring of Sustenance.   It means that I don't really have to eat and I only need two hours of sleep a night.   I don't know if it will actually WORK, but it makes me a good voluteer for first watch.  Unless anyone wants to explore the tower, to make sure we are  truly alone here?  I would vote to hold off on that til morning, but knowing what to expect might not be a bad idea. 

Greg looked around at the group, sheepishly.
Guys, I'm sorry I freaked out.   I'm probably not done freaking out, granted, but I'm going to try to hold it together until we get out of here.  THEN I'm going to scream for about a week.
She attempted a weak smile.

Cassander stood up and walked over to Greg, giving the other elf a comforting embrace.  It just seemed like a good idea at the time.  "Don't worry too much about it Greg." she said soothingly.  "This is strange for all of us and I'm not that far behind you with the freaking out.  The important thing is that we keep our heads on straight."

Cassander gave Greg a reassuring smile as she continued. "And this feels really odd right now." she says referring to the hug that she was giving.  Cassander unwrapped his arms from around Greg and took a few steps back.  "Well, I'm all for checking out this tower.  There might be a better place for us to bed down.  Dan?  This is your creation.  Any thoughts?"

Greg grinned back, snickering a little.

Yeah, it felt weird to me too, but thanks just the same.  Weird or not, a hug from a friend was just what I needed.

Actually, the hug had felt very good, but not, well, good.  The embrace was very comforting and reassuring, but getting hugged by a stunning elven woman, even if he used to be a man, should have felt, well, better.
Instead, comforting or not, it felt more to Greg like she was getting hugged by her mother or a female cousin.  Kind of what she imagined getting hugged by a sister would feel like.  What did that mean?   No!  Don't think about that now.  Maybe they'll be out of here soon and you won't have to think about what it might mean.

Taking another deep breath, trying to ignore the effect it seemed to have on her new chest, Greg looked at Dan.

Um...ok, I've got more...well, magic spells and stuff that might help us.  Um, finding traps, silence, dispeling magic, that kind of thing.   

Suddenly, Greg stops talking, the blonde elf's eyes narrowing in concentration.
Actually, IS this tower your creation?  I mean, it kinda depends on how we got here, doesn't it.  If this is all some sort of creation made just for us, then the tower might be everything that Dan was thinking it might be when we were....moved.   
Greg's face screws up in anger, but she seems to force herself into calm and pushes on.
However, if, for example, we somehow "switched places" with real people in a real other world, then this tower could be, well, anything, and totally separate for Dan's "vision" of "an old tower we can hide in". 

As Greg looks around, it occurs that "over-thinking" might do more harm then good.  Greg smiles sheepishly.


Sorry, too many nights reading Chronicles of Amber and watching sci-fi shows.  Didn't mean to "muddy the waters" there, everyone.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Tue 14 Apr 2009.

Dan sat down on the floor and thought about this, beinging his hands up to his head and putting his index fingers on either side of his temple. He sort of looked like what people do to make fun of 'psychic' powers.

"Only one way to find out!" He said and concentrated on the image of the tower containing a few chairs to see if reality would bend to the will of his player mind.

Greg almost laughed at Dan's attempt to "visualize" the tower.
She thought,  "Did he really think that it was possible to...."
Then she glanced down at her chest briefly and looked quickly back up, pressing her lips tightly together in frustration.
"Then again, it's not like stranger things haven't already happened". she mused.

Silently. Greg waited, realizing there was nothing to lose in trying.
After a second or two, Greg's gamer instincts kicked in and the elf began going around the room, looking for anything they'd missed in their first inspection.  They  had been a bit distracted, after all.

The tower suddenly shakes, causing you all to flinch.

When you look back, there are several poorly made chairs sitting in the centre of the room.

As Greg looks around the tower, he initially sees nothing new but the trapdoor and the stairs. Then, carved into the wall, are the words 'Save the Princess'.

"... Well, if that isnt a DM message, nothing is. Guess you were right, he IS a god now."

Sarah chuckles.

I don't understand.....do we.... sit down?   and what?  finish the game?

Greg was feeling even more overwhelmed by the strangeness.   So, it WAS about the game.  The DID have to "save the princess" to return home.  Hopefully.

After thinking he was done being an emotional wreck, Greg felt tears come to her large eyes.
At least you could have asked us first.  God Damn It!!!!
The elven cleric yells the last part.    She walks to a chair, but instead of sitting down, stares at it like it were a beartrap.

Dan stares at the chairs for a bit, wide-eyed and suprised at his newfound power to wish things into existance. He gets a great grin and laughs in happiness "HAHA! I don't believe it! Since this world was born from our collective imainations, we can reshape it using them" He suddenly realises how much that makes absolutely no sense but doesn't care, can shape existance and that is the best superpower in the history of superpowers.

He walks over to Greg and tells... her "Come on man, if we can shape the universe with our minds, we can save some princess. Then we can get back home"

Greg's beautiful elven eyes blink in confusion at Dan.

Wait!  ......YOU made the chairs?   But, ok, that's COOL, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't make sense that we can control EVERYTHING.   I mean, if this is still the game, then that wouldn't be a very balanced game.....would it?

Greg shakes her head, he was so confused.  Granted, seeing long blonde hair moving past her shaking head didn't help.   The elf looks up.


So, now what?  Do we imagine that the princess is in this very tower and go beat up the skeleton guards, or something?   Do we "imagine" that the room upstairs is filled with powerful magic stuff to let us find her and rescue her?

John shook her head. "I doubt that was you doing anything Dan. Most likly the GM.. or god... was responding to you. Like when you don't see anything until you make a spot check." she began to look around "If we became our character then Chris would have become the god like figure that pulls our characters... and now our, strings." she said with her depressing thought.

Cassander strides over to the chairs, and runs a delicate hand along the back on one.  The chairs felt very real.  She knew that she should be feeling freaked out about all of this but it was all really fascinating when she thought about it.  "I have to tell you, Greg." she said looking over at the elven cleric.  "I'm feeling that sisterly urge to hug you again, even moreso when you look like you're on the verge of tears."

She cocked her attractive head to the side, as though she were studying her own reaction.  "It's kind of an interesting feeling.  I wonder if it's an elven thing.  We didn't establish anything between our characters, before the game started so I wonder just where this is coming from."

Cassander walks along behind another chair, once more running her fingers along its back.  Her thoughts weren't really on the chairs but on the situation that they found themselves in.

Greg winces at having her damp eyes noticed and hurriedly wipes them.
I'm sorry, I don't mean to be....so....
She sniffs.
I was always kind of emotional, even as....(sigh) even as a man.  I used to cry a lot as a kid.  I was very immature for my age.  I THOUGHT I was over it by now. 

She looks at Cassander, almost shyly and shrugs.
I have to admit.  I wouldn't say no to another "sisterly hug".
She chuckles for a second.
I know we never bothered to do backstory, for I kind of had one, when I found out after making my character that you guys made elven women too.   Believe it or not, I was assuming that Tizona and especially Alyissa would kind of "take Sister Aliana" under thier wings, since she's been in the temple most of her life.

She gives an embarrassed laugh.
kind of stupid, huh?

Cassander smiled as her eyes met Gregs, before she dropped her gaze to the top of a chair.  She paused for a moment before gliding around the chairs to put a reassuring hand on Gregs shoulder.  "It's not that stupid.  Really.  I can see Tizona in that role.  Maybe that's why I'm feeling what I am."

Cassander pulled Greg to her, embracing the other girl in another sisterly hug.  "Come here.  I figure it's best to go with these feelings for now.  Who knows what going against character could do.  With all the strangeness going on around us, we need to rely on each other.  Besides, how often do you get to hug an elf?"  The close contact felt really good.  Cassander was not a hugger back in the real world but here it was different.

After a minute, she turned to John, stretching out a shapely arm to beckon the third elf in their party.  "John?"

Greg starts giggling uncontrollably, turning her face into Tizona's shoulder as if trying to hide it.

Oh my god!!!
She says between giggles.
We're the Elven Power Puff Girls, and I'M Bubbles!!!!!

She starts giggling louder, until she has to hold onto Tizona for support, tears streaming down her exotic face.

As much as this must be shocking and alarming for Greg... suck it up man! He thought, half groaning at this touchy-feely stuff. Apparantly he didn't make Kenjinn give a crap about a lot things like this. It scared him a bit that they seemed to be themselves but with elements of their character's personality fusing with them. He really didn't want to think about that in detail with the 'guys'

He tapped the hug-happy trio of girls on their shoulders. "As much as this helps, we should probably all get some rest so we can be refreshed in th' morning. I really don't want to be tired if something dangerous shows up" He says, walking over to the back of the tower and trying to wish a hammock into existance.

The impatient looking bard brought Greg back to seriousness,  mostly.  Her giggling slowed gradually to a halt, until she was only panting a little.  She brought a face cloth out of a satchel and wiped her eyes and blew her nose.
She, reluctantly it seemed, parted from her elven "sisters" and nodded at Dan.


Sorry Dan, I've never been very good with stress and high pressure situations it seems.  I always look for the humor and joke about it.


She finally stops laughing, taking a couple of deep, cleansing breaths.

Ok, ok, ok,.....Sleep.   Um, I've got several bedrolls with me that I can share in my little "satchel of holding", and, like I mentioned before, I'm wearing a "Ring of Sustanance" which means I only need two hours of sleep a night.  That is, if THAT magic works as well.
So, I can take first watch.  In fact, I can take watch for the next six hours or so, probably.  (God knows I'm too wired to sleep, now. )  And everyone else can sleep for six and then I'll take my two.  Or some combonation thereof.

She reaches into a haversack she's wearing, which obviously is magical, since she puts her hand in a few inches and instantly begins pulling out several bedrolls and things for a fire and dinner.

"Bubbles." Cassander repeated with a smile and an amused shake of her head, as the three elven girls went their separate ways.  The analogy was pretty funny, but which one did that make him?  She had a good chuckle at Greg's laughing, damn but it was infectious.  Dan probably needed a hug as well, the guy was turning grumpy.  Not everyone was going to be completely composed under a situation like this.  Cassander was surprised that he...she wasn't more upset, but she decided that helping out Greg had also helped her own mood.

"I'm not all that tired right now so I'm going to take a quick look around." she said, calling her three glowing balls of light to her.  The baseball sized orbs floated around her, illuminating the room.  "Is there anything to this tower that we might need to know about, Dan?  A well or source of water?  Back doors?  Previous occupants?"  She guessed that there wouldn't be anything terribly dangerous lurking around, that wouldn't have made for a safe hideout.

Dan was inturrupted from his sub-space imaginings of a hammock by Cassander's questions. He mused to himself "No, I didn't imagine anything... oh wait, there's a trapdoor there right?" He pointed to the suspicious plank of wood in the ground.

He gulped. "Well I did say that all the worst things in the world are in the basements didn't I?" He asked nervously.

Greg also looked at the trapdoor, a shiver of fear going through her body.   Jesus Christ, she thought, what if there really WAS some monster down there?   What the hell would they do?   Sister Aliana would draw her elven composite longbow or her finely crafted longsword, but Greg hadn't even been in a fistfight since second grade.   Hell, he'd even lost that one because of his ineptness.
Greg picked up the sword in his deceptively delicate hands, hands that combined finely tapered and smoothed fingernails, and calluses from sword practice.     She couldn't imagine actually killing something with it, but perhaps she had no choice.  The world of "Dungeons & Dragons" despite what a certain cheezy cartoon would have one believe, was dangerous, brutal, and violent.
Greg took a deep, steadying breath.
She couldn't kill someone, could she?
She looked around the room.   These four strangers, met only.... God! what was it? a couple of hours ago?.... were now his whole world.  Literally.  Despite the possibly artificial feelings of affection she felt towards the other elves, Greg knew that he would do whatever it took to protect them.
Smiling shakily, though more confident.  Greg stepped forward.

We can check it out, if you guys want.   I'll even..... (deep breath) .... go first.
Greg bent to pick up the glowing torch in her other hand.
This time making sure not to look directly into it.