|
Post by Hordriss de Confuseur on Feb 10, 2004 15:55:23 GMT
[Dreamscape]
*Hordriss surveys the doorways before him, then, in the distance, he sees a cloaked figure slip into one.*
Ah! One wondered if you could resist the dramatic, spirit.
*Hordriss walks across the floor, trying to step only on the frames of the doors, and makes it to the one through which he saw the figure go. He opens it.*
Hmmmm, unexpected...
*Before him is a vast city at night, he is stepping out of a warehouse on the dockside, and can smell the fetid odours of an industrial city. Through the thick, choaking smog, he can make out the figure stalking through the back streets, and in his hand he can see a knife. Hordriss mutters as he follows.*
Why, spirit, why here? This is not my home plane, not one of my memories, why...?
*He sees that the figure has stopped, he has found a lady of the night, her grotesquely rouged face shining in the lamplight. They speak for a moment, then the figure and the streetwalker vanish into an alleyway. Hordriss tries to run forward, but his feet appear to be stuck in the mud, the thick stinking mud of the streets. He is being pulled down, down into the morass, his robes covered in thick, dark, tar....*
*Then he is there, in the alley, no longer covered by mud, but by a long, black cloak. In his hand there is a bloody knife, and before him...*
No... no, this is you, NOT ME.
*Before him lies the body of the whore, cut apart. Hordriss reaches out his hand, trying to ignore the fact that it is covered in blood, and turns her over, tries to see if there is any hope.*
*He freezes. The make-up distorts her features, and her face looks infinitely more worn and old. But it is unmistakable...*
Sidriss....?
|
|
|
Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 10, 2004 15:58:39 GMT
[Reality]
*YG's eyes widen as he sees the darkness enveloping FrightKnight. He lunges at it with a roar, pawing haphazardly, and the darkness retreats slightly from FrightKnight. But as YG tries to get closer, he feels a searing pain is his leg. His frustration floods forth with a scream, and he is on the verge of beating his leg with his club... but he has just enough of his wits about him not to do it. He is almost unable to move.*
|
|
|
Post by ringmasterrob on Feb 10, 2004 16:09:36 GMT
*Ringmasterrob has encountered this creature before in the form of Osmosia, a demon once summoned by Scareye which Rob himself killed.*
Rob: Osmosia; leave these people alone they are innocent
Osmosia: All the more reason to make them suffer!
Rob: Last time we did this you came off worse, now let's not make me do anything I will regret
Osmosia: Last time I ascended to my new form and now at last I am strong enough to take my revenge upon you!
|
|
|
Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 10, 2004 16:17:49 GMT
*Young Grimwold, caught up in rage, forgets his manners.*
Osmosia! Yes, you! If you're going to finish off us innocent bystanders either way, could you at least give us an explanation of who you are and what your business is, even if it's a particularly gloating explanation?
*YG remembers his manners, rather too late.*
Please?
|
|
|
Post by Brother Strange on Feb 10, 2004 21:17:59 GMT
*As one nightmare creature confronts RingmasterRob in the form of the demon Osmosia, another faces Brother Strange in a form that the mysterious monk recognises. It stands nearly seven feet high, shrouded in black, with a full face helm in the form of a screaming skull.* *Brother Strange speaks, his voice filled with fear and hatred. His attention is fixed upon the dark figure, completely ignoring the others.*
"Y... You!" "You aren't real... I..."
*The figure advances, a silver rod etched with runes in its left hand. Scratchy whispers seem to surround Brother Strange, who seems to be reliving a moment in his past.*
"I... I didn't know! How could I? I... killed them.... NO! YOU KILLED THEM, not me, YOU! I tried to stop you, but you led me off chasing shadows while your agents closed in on my home... on my family..."
*Brother Strange falls to the ground, and curls up into the foetal position. He rocks back and forth, barely audible words issuing from beneath his brown hood, punctuated by sobs..*
"When I saw them, all I wanted to do was join them in death.... To see them again... But I was trapped..."
*The figure advances upon the sobbing monk, rod held out. Brother Strange seems oblivious to the creature, formed of his own nightmare, as ity raises the rod, then sweeps it down to strike...*
|
|
|
Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 10, 2004 21:41:38 GMT
[Reality]
*While Young Grimwold's legs feel numb, his upper body is still his to command. Whatever primal mystique it is that sets ogres apart from other mortals, is giving him a fighting chance against the darkness that is gripping him.*
Brother Strange! Don't let them win! Grasp reality and fight back!
*YG quickly realises how hackneyed this sounds. Strange is obviously a man of high magical fortitude; but even his best efforts are being threatened by this dark power. Perhaps a more brutal approach will help the others regain their focus... With a roar that makes his throat and ears sore, YG flings his club at the figure that is just about to attack Strange...*
|
|
|
Post by Brother Strange on Feb 10, 2004 22:04:56 GMT
[reality] *As Brother Strange hears Young Grimwold's words, he looks up, only to see the silver rod moving down towards him...* *CLUNK!* *Grimwold's club slams into the looming figure, causing it to fall backwards and miss.* *Brother Strange stands up, and moves over to the struggling figure, pinning it down as he reaches for the helm*
"You are nothing but fear and shadow given form. You are not him, you are nothing!"
*After saying this, Brother Strange pulls the helm off the figure, revealing a mass of boiling shadow which quickly ripples away and dissipates. The helm seems to smoke in Strange's hands and then it too is gone.*
*Strange looks over to Grimwold, to thank him for his help. When he does so he sees that the troll is in trouble. He moves to help - then stops at the circular furrow in the ground: filled with sacred herbs and blessed by Ursula.*
"I cannot enter. Fight the darkness, match its strength with yours. Remember that it is only as strong as you make it, as strong as your fear!"
|
|
|
Post by FrightKnight on Feb 10, 2004 22:33:22 GMT
(OOC: Er, hello again) [Reality] *FrightKnight tightly grips on the sword, desperately ignoring the darkness oozing, wrapping, swooping around the sword*
|
|
|
Post by Tom Troughton on Feb 10, 2004 23:56:00 GMT
(Dreamscape.)
*While all this gose on in reality Tom is still traped in his battale of wills with the Bloodfang. He appers to be gaining the upper hand.*
"Mmmmm. I smell mum's rasberry pie."
*He opens his eyes and survays the sceen. Were befor was A battal is now a welcomeing family enviroment.*
"My Family."
*Tom watches as a episoed from his childhood is replayed.*
"My 10th Birthday. Mum made her famous Rassbery Pie especialy for me. I haven't had an of that pie fpr years. I wounder If I can......"
*He wonders over to the table and looks longingly at the pie.*
"One slice won't hurt."
*He reaches out to pick a piece up. But as he dose so the sceen again changes and the pie turns in to a giant Spider.*
"Arrrgh, away from me. Leve me alone."
*Tom stumbals backward and falls over a rock that has apperd from no were. He trys to scrambal to his feet as the spider bears down on him.*
|
|
|
Post by Young Grimwold on Feb 11, 2004 0:23:21 GMT
*Young Grimwold sustains a low growl, as he looks from the darkness around him to the darkness around FrightKnight. In his head, he repeats...*
I'm not scared. I'm just very, very angry.
*He also allows Brother Strange's encouragement to echo in his ears. The darkness has stopped advancing up his body; and the pain in his legs is easing off. With some trouble, YG takes a step closer to FrightKnight - but a sudden realisation makes the darkness surge past his knees again.*
Brother Strange. My club. Can I have... my club...back?
|
|
|
Post by FrightKnight on Feb 11, 2004 0:26:44 GMT
*FrightKnight concentrates as hard as possible at keeping a fixed position, despite the darkness. Calming thoughts of the Corridor of Blades and their rythyms, how one blade from the right goes....then the left....then the right....*
|
|
|
Post by Ursula on Feb 11, 2004 0:55:04 GMT
[Dreamscape] *Ursula-the-bear runs as fast as she can go, yet the baying of the hounds grows steadily closer, while the edge og the forest doesn't seem to be getting any nearer. Looking back over her shoulder anxiously, she misses her footing and one of her front paws falls into a pothole hidden by the tall grasses of the plain. Her momentum is so great that she cannot stop herself from hurtling forward, and there is a sickening snap of bone...*
[Reality] With a horrible crunch, Ursula's left hand twists into an unnatural position as her wrist breaks, though her face remains immobile and seemingly unconsious of the injury*
[Dreamscape] With a roar of pain, Ursula frees her limp paw from the pothole, but it hangs uselessly, and she cannot put any weight upon it. The lead hound of the hunt is now a dim shape on the horizon, and with a grunt of panic she sets off again, now on three legs*
|
|
|
Post by Tom Troughton on Feb 11, 2004 1:13:27 GMT
*Tom is still trying to get away from the advancing spider.*
"GET AWAY, GO ON SHOO. GET OUT OF HERE EHIGHT LEGS."
*He finaly manages to stand he turns to run, but stops.*
"No this is not real Bloodfangs useing my fear. Well I am not Affraid. I AM NOT AFFRAID."
*He spins round and kicks the spider it sails through the air and down a cravas that has sudernly apperd to the right. Tom wanders over to the edge and looks down on the dead spider.*
"You'll forgive me if I don't join you."
*Tom remarks dryly.*
"He looks around.*
"Not so easy when I'm no longer affraid is it?"
*No ansrew is forthcomeing but Tom hears what might be muttering. He smiles at this small victory.*
"Now to find my freinds."
*He looks around for a way out.*
"There has to be a way back to the place of doors. I know this relm is made up of illusions and thought so maby if I will there to be a door one will apper."
*Tom closes his eyes and concentrates, at first nothing happens then slowley a door forms, Tom opens his eyes and his smile grows even wider.*
"Fantastic, now to find Hordriss and Ursula."
*Tom steps through the door and dissapers.*
|
|
|
Post by Ursula on Feb 11, 2004 1:54:44 GMT
[Dreamscape] *The hounds have almost caught up with Ursula as she runs awkwardly on three paws, desperately trying to gain the sanctuary of the forest. They look more like wolves than dogs, and their jaws are more like those of a hyena. Their coats are midnight black, and have no gloss or shine so that they appear more like shadows than living creatures. And they are hungry for blood...*
*The lead hound makes a leap for Ursula as she reaches the border of the forest, and she turns with a roar of defiance, swiping at it with her good paw. Halfway through its leap, the hound cannot denfend itself, and is obliterated by the crushing blow, collapsing in a limp, bloodied heap as the rest of the pack circle Ursula with snarls. Weaving her head from side to side, Ursula tries to watch all of them at once.*
*For a few moments there appears to be a stalemate between bear and dogs, Ursula may be far larger than any one of them, but they outnumber her three to one. It doesn't take them long to realise their advantage, and as one they rush forward...*
|
|
|
Post by ringmasterrob on Feb 11, 2004 7:43:55 GMT
*The demon Osmosia is attempting to prey on Rob's current fear that his rings are cursed*
Osmosia: At least I am now at full strength whereas you have nothing but your cursed rings weakening your mind and taking your psyche to ruins!
Rob: YOU are not real, you're just a shadow, a whisper, a memory, a figment of a past in which I triumphed. Now leave before I have to make you
*Rob raises his staff to charge up his spell*
|
|