[Nexus] The Treasure (and candy) Quest

[Maxios]

You're standing on a dustry road leading through a dark forest.

"The map says we go through here to get to the treasure." Maxios tells the othrs..

[McBish]

Oh we have a map, that is good. Having maps helps from getting lost.

Phoebe says smiling looking around the woods.

[Maxios]

"Indeed it does." Maxios says, motioning for the others to follow him into the forest.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks around the forest, snapping his fingers and causing sparks to fly out from between them. "Anybody need a light? I can get you a light really easy."

[Maxios]

"Hold on. I got a torch in my pack." Maxios says pulling a torch out. "Could you light this?"

[McBish]

Phoebe starts to follow. Sure some light would be good.

[Maxios]

"Indeed it would." Maxios says.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Hold on. I got a torch in my pack." Maxios says pulling a torch out. "Could you light this?"

Alec puts a pointer finger at either side of the torch, pointing towards it. In a moment, electricity leaps between the two points, causing the torch to be lit in the process. Alec then makes a wiping hand motion, causing residual electricity to fly out. "That'll do it!" Then he notices one of the sparks caused a bit of a fire, and stamps it out quickly.

[Maxios]

"Thanks." Maxios says. Nearby, there's some rustling in the bushes.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Thanks." Maxios says. Nearby, there's some rustling in the bushes.

Which of course causes Alec to look directly at the bushes.

[McBish]

Phoebe watches the bushes closely as she spots them rustling.

[Maxios]

And out from the bushes comes out a Creeper.
Reference Image
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRKXcQLdJbAzuxdaAOygzCGlC94ELjz8 vA7iBPSOZyyELRNrIc&t=1&usg=__7-AD0warf2YkymYvvwHQHiETqi8=

[McBish]

Hey look a green pixilated bush with a face. Hi there mister bush. Phoebe says waving to it.

[InyutheBeatIs]

And out from the bushes comes out a Creeper.
Reference Image
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRKXcQLdJbAzuxdaAOygzCGlC94ELjz8 vA7iBPSOZyyELRNrIc&t=1&usg=__7-AD0warf2YkymYvvwHQHiETqi8=

Alec stares blankly at the thing.

"...What is that?"

[Maxios]

The creeper snarls.
"Oh no. I hate Creepers." Maxios says drawing his sword and taking a step back.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec jumps back, and all of a sudden, his arms and fingers start to crackle with electricity, and suddenly, a bolt of lightning arcs towards the Creeper.

[Maxios]

The lightning slays the Creeper.
"Ah no." Maxios says taking 5 (very large) steps backwards.

[McBish]

What's a creeper? Then Alec shoots it with lighting, and Phoebe jumps back.

Why did you do that?

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks around, a bit sheepish. "Too impulsive?"

He then takes Maxios's queue, and takes a few steps back, making sure Tacha follows suit.

[Maxios]

BOOM
The Creeper explodes, leaving a good sized crater where it was.
"Now that's why I hate Creepers. They blow up." Maxios says, jumping over the crater.

[McBish]

Phoebe raises her arms to shield her face from the explosion.

You didn't even try and talk to it before you blew it up? Big meanie. Phoebe says to Alec. She starts to walk after Maxios.

[Maxios]

"I've tried. Still blows up." Maxios tells Phoebe.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Phoebe raises her arms to shield her face from the explosion.

You didn't even try and talk to it before you blew it up? Big meanie. Phoebe says to Alec. She starts to walk after Maxios.

Alec shrugs. "Maxios said "I hate Creepers", so I figured they were bad guys and tried to defend us. Like I said, 'Too impulsive'."

[Maxios]

"It's okay. Creepers ALWAYS blow up when they get near you. They're basically walking dynamite." Maxios said.

[McBish]

Phoebe shrugs but still looks a little annoyed that they blew up mister bush. But she keeps moving on.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec drags Tacha with them.

[Maxios]

By now, they're all nearing the end of the forest.

[McBish]

So what are we looking for a cave, a floating castle. Or just a big treasure chest?

[Maxios]

"The map says that there's going to be a cave entrance of some sort." Maxios says. "Now, we've gone through the Forest of Gloom. And now we enter the Desert of Doom."
At that, everyone steps out from the forest...and into a desert.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"The map says that there's going to be a cave entrance of some sort." Maxios says. "Now, we've gone through the Forest of Gloom. And now we enter the Desert of Doom."
At that, everyone steps out from the forest...and into a desert.

((Hey guys, you think we should wait up for everybody else?))

Alec looks around. "...Talk about odd changes of scenery..."

[Maxios]

((I don't know exactly. It's been retroactively assumed that Mercury is with the party. I posted on Trog's giving a link, so when ThirdEmpower and Beans log on, they know where the thread is.))

"Indeed." Maxios says, putting out the torch fire. Maxios deadtimes then.

[ThirdEmperor]

(Mercury isn't with you at all. Yet.)

Maxios and company may notice a brid in the distance, some type of pigeon, although certainly not one found in the Nexus. The pigeon dives downward and lands in front of Maxios, extending it's leg, which has a note rolled around it. It also appears to be clutching a ring in it's beak.

[Maxios]

"Ooh. Messager Bird." Maxios taking the ring and note.

[ThirdEmperor]

The note reads: As I have apparently been left behind and have no intention of running to catch up, I have sent this ring, through which I can scry and cast spells. It's pretty much the same as having me around, except I get to get drunk at the same time. The ring is made of gold and silver in the shape of an eye, with a ruby for the pupil.

[Maxios]

"Sorry about that by the way." Maxios says to ring scrying thing.
"But, I have a teleportion gizmo in my pack, so I can summond you here."

[ThirdEmperor]

Nothing happens, the bird stares at Maxios disapprovingly.

[Maxios]

"Well it couldn't hurt to give it a shot." Maxios says taking a strange looking device out of his pack.

[ThirdEmperor]

The bird atempts to hop up onto Maxios's hand and grab the ring, then put it on his finger. If it was possibly for a bird to roll it's eyes it would.

[Maxios]

"Jeez!" Maxios says putting the ring on.

[ThirdEmperor]

With what could only be interpreted as an exasperated sigh, the bird disintegrates into a small puddle of feathers and light-bluish goo. At the same time, a illusionary image of Mercury appears in front of Maxios. Whew, it looks hot here. He says, brushing a none-existant dust particle away from his jacket. I'm beginning to think it's a good thing I got left behind.

[Maxios]

"Don't worry about that. I got a gizmo here that can summon/teleport people." Maxios said.

[ThirdEmperor]

Er..... I would rather you not. Last time I was teleported, well, let us just say it is not an experience I wish to repeat. Ever. Don't worry, I'll be just as much use to you, if not more, this way.

[Maxios]

"Alright." Maxios says sighing.
At that moment, another Maxios can be seen walking towards the group.

[ThirdEmperor]

Mercury's illusion flickers out. Just shout if you need anything.

[Maxios]

"Alright." Maxios tells Mercury.
The other Maxios is now very close to the group.

[Maxios]

"Hello Maxios." the Maxios with the party tells to the other Maxios.

"Hola Maxios." the Maxios walking towards the Maxios in the party says.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks at the new Maxios. "...What?"

"No seriously, what?"

[Maxios]

"While I was recruting you guys in Trog's, I duplicated myself. This other me recruited in the Black Dragon's. Apparently, to no avail." the Maxios with the party says

[InyutheBeatIs]

"While I was recruting you guys in Trog's, I duplicated myself. This other me recruited in the Black Dragon's. Apparently, to no avail." the Maxios with the party says

Alec is still dumbfounded.

"Huh. Isn't that nice. For us. And you, but kinda also for us."

[Maxios]

"Yeah." Maxios with the party says.
Both Maxios walk into each other. They then merge into one Maxios. Maxios then blinks repeadetly.
"Alright! Let's continue forth!" he says running down the Desert of Doom.

[ThirdEmperor]

Hey guys? If you need any spells cast tell me now, cause there's a bit of a problem on my end. Mercury's voice says from the ring. I've got ten minutes until my anti-hangover potion wears off, and then I'm going to be wasted to the point where spellcasting would be a very bad idea.

[Maxios]

"A Mass Protection from Sunburn spell would be nice." Maxios says.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Hey guys? If you need any spells cast tell me now, cause there's a bit of a problem on my end. Mercury's voice says from the ring. I've got ten minutes until my anti-hangover potion wears off, and then I'm going to be wasted to the point where spellcasting would be a very bad idea.

Alec shrugs. "...What have you got?"

[Beans]

Sorry I wasn't here earlier.
Tacha (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9547017&postcount=231) follows behind Alec, spaaaaaaaced out.

[Maxios]

It's okay Beans.
Maxios is walking, looking at the map in his hands.

[ThirdEmperor]

Mainly I'm an illusionist, but I can do quite few conjurations and wards as well. I'll have the sunburn ward up in a minute.

[Maxios]

"Thanks." Maxios tells hologram Mercury

I'm going to post Maxios' character sheet on here soon

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks at Mercury. "I don't know. How about you give me something to beef up my defenses? Maybe give Tacha the same...just so long as it doesn't weigh her down."

[Maxios]

And here is Maxios' sheet.
To clarify, he's no longer bald. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9624437&postcount=253)

After walking into an oddly placed tree, Maxios realizes it may not be a good idea to walk and look at the map at the same time.

[ThirdEmperor]

Okay, I've finished most of the spell. I just need you to complete the ritual on your end and the wards will be up. Holo-Mercury says.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Okay, I've finished most of the spell. I just need you to complete the ritual on your end and the wards will be up. Holo-Mercury says.

"Cool!"

"...How do we do that?"

[Maxios]

"And dare I ask, how do we finish the ritual?" Maxios asks.

[ThirdEmperor]

Okay. Just throw your hands into the air, jump to the left then step to the right. That's the first bit. Mercury says, completely serious.

[Beans]

Reaaaaaaaaally?
Tacha blinks.

[ThirdEmperor]

Yep. I practice an unusual form of magic.

[Maxios]

"Ooookay then." Maxios says, doing as Mercury said.

[Beans]

Tacha does too, hair swooshying and swishing (both!) floatily.

[Maxios]

"Now what?" Maxios asks Mercury.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec follows suit, feeling rather silly as he does so.

((Deadtiming pretty soon. Work tommorow.))

[ThirdEmperor]

Okay. Now put your hands on you hips, pause, then turn your knees towarss each other.

[Maxios]

"Alright Holo-Mercury." Maxios says, doing what Mercury said
((Alright Inyuthebeatis)

[McBish]

Phoebe isn't doing the time warp, mainly because she feels her protectins are pretty good.

[Beans]

Tacha does the time warp!
She giggles spacily.

[Maxios]

"Yo holo-Mercury! Now what?" Maxios asks Mercury.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec just rolls with this, feeling rather silly still.

[Beans]

Tacha is perfectly happy with it.

[Maxios]

Maxios sighs. But, if this is what it takes to complete the ritual, it must be done.

[ThirdEmperor]

Holo-Mercury does not respond, largely because real Mercury is too busy laughing. I can't believe you guys fell for that! The wards have been up for ten minutes or so now. Mercury says, trying hard not to fall over laughing again.

[Maxios]

"Darn you Mercury!" Maxios says angrily. "You evil, evil, wizard."

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec stares at Holo-Mercury for several moments, before glaring at him. "WELL NOW!! Isn't that interesting?!" He's trying to smile, but it looks a little too...murderous? Yeah, I'd say murderous.

[Maxios]

Maxios looks from Alec, to Holo-Mercury and back.
"Oh this can't be good." he mutters to himself

[Beans]

Wait, what happened?

[McBish]

Phoebe smiles a bit waiting to continue on towards the treasure.

[Maxios]

"It turns out Mercury was faking the whole ritual. The spell was finished 10 minutes ago." Maxios explains to Tacha,

[ThirdEmperor]

Best bit is that I'm uploading the video to the Nexus Wide Web as we speak. Mercury says, still trying to catch his breath.

[Maxios]

"We will have our vengeance. It may not be today, or tomorrow, but we will!" Maxios says angrily.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec throws a few more murderous looks towards Holo-Mercury...literally. He actually stops looking like that then goes back to looking murderous again. "There. Will. Be. Justice!"

[Maxios]

" I second that!" Maxios says angrily. "After this quest, we're will have OUR VENGEANCE!"

[Beans]

... Huh?
Yeah, Tacha is...

... Yeah.

[Maxios]

"Come on! The sooner we get to the treasure hoard and finish the quest, the sooner we have our VENGEANCE!" Maxios says starting to run down the desert.

[ThirdEmperor]

Whatever. Holo-Mercury says, flickering out. Maxios and Alec may suddenly find themselves wearing red lipstick and fishnet stockings.

[Maxios]

Maxios has undeveloped psiconic and magical abilities.
The one's he has developed are self-duplicated, magic resistance, and a very strong will.
Luckily for him, the spell had no effect. At least half the spell. He got the fishnet stockings part.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec feels the fishnet stockings, pulling up his jeans-legs to notice them. "WHAT?!?!"

And yes, he has red lipstick on.

[Maxios]

Maxios stifles a laugh after looking at Alec. He thinks that he completely resisted the spell. After pulling up one of his sweat-legs, he notices them, curses, and continues to run down the desert.

[Beans]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaleeeeeeeec, hairnets are for your heaaaaad!
She floats after him.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec narrows his eyes at Maxios, before noticing him run. "WAIT UP!! WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"

[Maxios]

"Why I don't know what you're talking about." Maxios says gruffly. He then stops. It was funny...until he realized he got the fishnet stockings too.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec narrows his eyes and gets in Maxios's face. "What. Happened to me?!"

[Maxios]

"Red Lipstick and fishnet stockings," Maxios says, stopping himself from smirking.
"Luckily, I only got the stockings." He takes a couple steps back.

[Beans]

Alec, just because you don't shave your legs like meeeeeeeee doesn't mean you need haaairnets on 'em.

[Maxios]

OK. Maxios DEFINENTLY smirked then. But, when he did, he faked a couch and put his hand over his mouth.

[InyutheBeatIs]

"Red Lipstick and fishnet stockings," Maxios says, stopping himself from smirking.
"Luckily, I only got the stockings." He takes a couple steps back.

Alec's eyes open wide. "WHAT?!?!"

He hurriedly wipes the lipstick off, takes off his boots and rips off the fish-net stockings.

[Maxios]

Maxios quickly takes the fishnet stockings on him off, then proceeds to light them on fire.
"The mage is going down for this."

[Beans]

Tacha looks around at all this and blinks.
It's suddenly all louuuuuuud.

[ThirdEmperor]

They may find the stockings and lipstick impossible to remove, being illusionary.

[Maxios]

"What?" Maxios asks Tacha.
Due to the fact he couldn't take the stockings off, he indavertedly lit a nearby tree on fire. Whoops.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec just rips up the fish-net stockings repeatedly. Almost too many times, really.

And then he realizes it's impossible. "NO! GET OFF OF ME!!!"

[Maxios]

"Wait! The mage is an illusionist! This must be a trick of his!" Maxios tells Alec.

[ThirdEmperor]

Maaaaaaybe. Mercury's voice says from the ring.

[Maxios]

Maxios sighs.
"C'mon guys. Let's continue to the treasure." he says starting to run down the desert again.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks a bit pouty for a moment, before running after Maxios.

[Maxios]

"I bet if we continue like this, we can reach the end of the Desert of Doom and get really close to all the treasure!" Maxios says.

[Beans]

Tacha follows, wondering what's up with leg-hair-nets.

[Maxios]

After a good 5 minutes, Maxios stops to catch his breath.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks around several times.

"I know this probably isn't welcome, but are we there yet?"

[Maxios]

"Nope." Maxios tells Alec.
"We still have a while to go."

[Beans]

... How 'bout now?

[Maxios]

"Nope." Maxios tells Tacha. "Still got a while to go."

[ThirdEmperor]

I'm going to have to conjure a car for you, aren't I? Mercury says accusingly, his voice slurred with intoxication.

[Maxios]

"Probably." Maxios tells Mercury.

[ThirdEmperor]

Godd*****. I don't suppose any of you own one?

[Maxios]

"Nope." Maxios tells Mercury.

[ThirdEmperor]

Oh, great. I have to steal and teleport a car, while drunk, bleeding and possibly concussed. I hate questing already. Merury says dismally.

[Maxios]

"Wait! Bleeding and concussed? Did you get into a bar brawl or something?" Maxios asks Mercury.

[ThirdEmperor]

I walked into a tree. Eight times. I think it was the same tree. Then I wandered into a field of rakes while partially blinded.

[Maxios]

"Oh. Okay then." Maxios tells Mercury.
"Can you at least send us a Green Power Ring? Prefrrably 3"

[ThirdEmperor]

Okay. I'll use a massively complex and delicate spell to send you a artifact of incredible cosmic power, while unable to figure out which foot is my right one. ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF BLOWN TO BITS!? I'm going to get a car, then I'm turning this ring off so I can get some peace an quiet!

[Maxios]

"Oh. Alright then." Maxios tells Mercury.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec points to Holo-Mercury. "Good idea."

"While you're at it, would you be so kind as to remove these illusions that are on us? Please? Pretty please?"

[Maxios]

"I second that"

[ThirdEmperor]

A car appears just a few feet away from Maxios, around ten feet up in the air. With a slam it hits the sand, the alarm going off from impact. There are two very freaked out looking college kids in the backseat, but they're NPCs so who cares about them?

[Maxios]

"Thanks Mercury. Any change you can teleport the denizens out of it?" Maxios tells Mercury, walking towards the car.

[Beans]

Ooooh!

We have a car and also two peopleses!

[Maxios]

"I'll call you Dutch, and you Butch." Maxios tells the people in the car.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Of course, Alec pops up with a smile. He looks rather ridiculous with his red lipstick on. "Hello! What are your names, good sirs?"

[Maxios]

"They're nameless NPCs. I call the guy with the pompadour Dutch, and the guy with the leather jacket with the snake design Butch."

[ThirdEmperor]

Mercury doesn't respond, dure to being unconcious. Poor Dutch and Butch on the other hand are quite talkative. "THEY'RE PLAYER CHARACTERS!! WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!"

[InyutheBeatIs]

Mercury doesn't respond, dure to being unconcious. Poor Dutch and Butch on the other hand are quite talkative. "THEY'RE PLAYER CHARACTERS!! WE'RE GONNA DIE!!!"

Alec waves their worries away. "Easy now buddies! You're not going to die, because we're not going to kill you!"

[Beans]

Hiiiiiiiii!
Tacha hovers in front of the NPCs.

[ThirdEmperor]

"they're Going To Use Us As Slaves!!!"

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec crosses his arms. "We're not going to do anything bad to you, alright? Alright."

[ThirdEmperor]

"alright." The poor terrified NPCs say, puppydog eyeing for their life.

[Maxios]

"Don't worry. It's okay." Maxios tells the frightened NPCs. "We will compensate you for this. 20,000 Nexus Bucks good enough for each of you?"

[ThirdEmperor]

It is amazing how fast one can switch from terrified to dreaming about exactly what one is going to buy with 20,000 bucks. Butch and Dutch demonstrate this amazingly well.

[Beans]

Tacha tries to count to 20,000 on her fingers.

[Maxios]

"Alright then." Maxios gets in the car, grabs the keys, starts the cars, puts on a good radio staion, and drives off.

To clarify, it's retroactivly assumed the others got in the car as well.

[ThirdEmperor]

The car is a Ramjet. You lucky dogs.

[Maxios]

PCs ALWAYS drive Ramjets, Mustangs, or Ferraris, to show off how awesome they are

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks around, impressed. "I like this! I like this a lot!"

[Beans]

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Tacha is veeeeeeeeeery excited.

[Maxios]

"TO THE TREASURE!" Maxios yells out of the window, and floors the car.

[ThirdEmperor]

"Don't dent it!" Dutch shouts, fear for his sweet ride overcoming fear of PCs.

[McBish]

Good traction being able to drive in the desert.

Phoebe is glad that they offered to pay the poor boys for stealing their car. It would have been mean otherwise.

[Maxios]

"Indeed!" Maxios yells. "And we won't dent it! If we do, we'll double your compensation pay!"

[InyutheBeatIs]

At this point, Alec looks oddly at Maxios, before loosening his seat belt and climbing up front to whisper into Maxios's ear. "Umm, Maxios, are you sure you can afford all this? I mean, we are on an adventure. The possibility is out there..."

[Beans]

Tacha giggles while her brain takes a little vacation.

[Maxios]

"Positive. After all, there is assuredly 40,000 Nexus Bucks or more in the treasure. If not, all the gold will surely quaudruple it." Maxios whispers to Alec.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec nods his head, before giving Maxios a pat on the shoulder. "Alrighty. If you say so." He reclines back into his seat.

[Maxios]

Maxios suddenly stops the car, gets out, and takes a picture. He then gets back in the car, and starts to drive again.

http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy59/maxios5/GreetingsfromTheDesertofDoom.png

[Beans]

Maxios made an assumption.
Therefore, a turkey falls from the sky nearby.
OOH! Quick, someone do the turkey chant thing for the falling turkey of assumptions!

[Maxios]

"Turkey turkey! Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving! Eat lightly sauched with corn and mashed potatoes!" Maxios says chanting,

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks at Maxios and Tacha as this happens.

"What."

[Beans]

That's not the turkey chant.

I'm in a car.

[Maxios]

"Eh? Care to tell us what the turkey chant is?" Maxios asks Tacha, obviously confused.

[Beans]

Tacha is not listening. She's too busy being silly.

[Maxios]

Maxios suddenly stops the car, and runs out. "There it is!" he says excitedly pointing to a cave entrance.

[ThirdEmperor]

Finally. I need to finish this quest so I can focus my full attention on what's going down at Trog's. Holo-Mercury says, sighing.

[Maxios]

"Great." Maxios tells Mercury, entering the cave.

[ThirdEmperor]

Holo-Mercury follows, whistling the Time Wap tune.

[Maxios]

Maxios stops suddenly, and notices a horde of treasure. Gold, ancient artifacts...
Then he notices the guard.
"Oh noooo! Not him!"

[ThirdEmperor]

Who is he, and why should we care?

[Maxios]

The guard moves close, revealing he's a Ninja Pirate Zombie. Not any NPZ, the one Maxios fought in Trog's before the quest.

[ThirdEmperor]

Oh. Says Mercury, and snaps his fingers. NPZ should find himself teleported... Into outer space.

(Deadtime)

[Maxios]

(Alright).
"Well that's one less Ninja Pirate Zombie The Nexus has to deal with." Maxios says jumping into the treasure horde. He grabs a green ring...

[ThirdEmperor]

(Could you describe the horde?)

[Maxios]

The horde is huge, glistening with gold and Nexusbucks. Swords are sticking out, ancient tomes can be seen. To the right of it, is a pile of candy qith any candy imaginable in it.
To the left of the horde is a small pile of Power Rings.

[ThirdEmperor]

Hold on one second. Let's get this treasure back to Inside then split it up. That way there's no fights over who gets what ending with someone getting killed. Holo-Mercury says, and waves his hands. Three giant trucks appear behind him. Lets get loading.

[Maxios]

Maxios begins to load the treasure into the trucks. He puts the green power ring on, gets the clothes of a Green Lantern, and uses the ring to put to the treasure in really fast.

[ThirdEmperor]

Holo-Mercury assists, using telekinesis to lift the treasure into the trucks.

[Maxios]

Within 5 minutes, the treasure's all loaded into the trucks.

[ThirdEmperor]

Okay, as I couldn't get the keys, I'll drive with my magic, and you guys can follow in the Ramjet. Holo-Mercury says, disappearing and re-appearing in one of the trucks.

[Maxios]

"How do we know you won't just steal all the treasure?" Maxios asks cautiosly.

[ThirdEmperor]

Look, I may have made fun of you a little, but I helped you a lot, didn't I. I would never betray my fellow questers. Holo-Mercury says offended. He also dismisses the illusionary make up and stockings.

[Maxios]

"OK. I trust you now." Maxios says going back to the ramjet.

[InyutheBeatIs]

Alec looks down, and rejoices the fact that he has no more stocking illusions. "THANK YOU MERCURY!!!"

[Maxios]

"Indeed." Maxios says, flooring the car. He yells to Mercury "We'll meet you at Trog's!"

[ThirdEmperor]

After Maxios and the rest have gotten thirty or so miles away, Holo-Mercury smiles and vanishes, reappearing in the back seat of the Ramjet. See, you guys are so gullible tricking you isn't even fun, so I'll give you a warning. He says, grinning as far away the truck's wheels begin to spin. Let's do the Time Warp again sometime! He yells, tipping his hat and vanishing as the trucks race into the desert, certainly not headed to Trog's.

[Maxios]

"That's it mage! You made me angry now!" Maxios says, swerving the car to follow the trucks. "You lying wizard! We will really have our vengeance!"

[ThirdEmperor]

He may have a hard time with that, the trucks are headed in three different directions, and moving way faster than they should be able to. I'll give you to the end of the desert, then I'm teleporting the trucks out. Mercury's voice says from the ring, smirking.

[Maxios]

"Why Mercury? Why!" Maxios snarls. Using his green power ring, he conjures 3 homing missiles. The missiles shoot out towards the trucks.

[ThirdEmperor]

Because it's fun. Because you threatened me with vengeance. Because I find your anger funny. Because of I like candy.And most importantly? Because I wanted to. Mercury says through the ring, and the trucks..... Split in three. Two, of course, must be illusions as trucks obviously can't split in three, but which one is real will be all but undetectable, and the missile will almost certainly hit one of the fakes. Why? Because, although no-one could tell without actually touching one of the nine trucks, all are illusions, the real trucks now under a very powerful cloaking and anti-scry spell.

[Maxios]

"Tell you what. You keep all the candy, and we get the treasure. After all, the value of candy obviously makes the treasure seem like one coin."

[ThirdEmperor]

Nope, I'm not stupid. Besides, the point is messing with you more than anything. Cause it's funny, and it's fun to watch your futile attempts to chase me.

[Maxios]

Maxios aciddeantly turns on the ring's "See Invisible Feature, and starts grinning."

[ThirdEmperor]

(You're ring just happens to have a "See Invisible"? Seems a bit Dues Ex Machina. :smallconfused)

Mercury is grinning too. Why? Cause he just thought of a new trick. Each of the squads of four trucks converge on themselves, the cars overlapping until there appears to be only three again, then split, making it impossible to tell which one is real. Especially as there are now twenty-four in total.

[Maxios]

Maxios fires exactly 24 missiles, annoyed. He also makes a duplicate of himself (Not a ring ability, more of a dormant magic one)

[ThirdEmperor]

Let's try something else. Mercury says, and Maxios should find himself getting drowsy as Mercury casts a sleep spell. Meanwhile, those missiles might have a little trouble hitting their targets, as there is now a spell over the trucks to scramble targeting, and the trucks themselves are taking evasive maneuvers.

[Maxios]

Maxios is falling asleep.
"No, Mage...making...me...sleep. Other me, I'll....teleport you to Inside where you must find his lair."
Duplicate Maxios is now in Inside, and Maxios is asleep.

[ThirdEmperor]

See ya later, losers! Holo-Mercury shouts appearing on one of the trucks as it dodges and swerves. The trucks are two posts and closing to the end of the desert.

[Maxios]

Maxios shoots one more missile, accidently towards the real truck.
"WATCH OUT MAGE! ANOTHER ME IS HUNTING YOU DOWN RIGHT NOW IN INSIDE!"

[ThirdEmperor]

Oh, f***! Holo-Mercury says, and raises a shield around the real truck, staggering as it absorbs the missile's impact. That's going to leave him weak for a few days.

[Maxios]

Maxios fires another missile, his eyes half closed, at the real truck.

[InyutheBeatIs]

At this point, Alec wakes up, and realizes something bad is going on.

"OH MY GOD!! MISSLES!!" He sticks his head out the window, then tries blowing up the missles with electricity.

[ThirdEmperor]

Mercury, unable or willing to cast another spell, instead focuses on the one truck, pulling a series of evasive maneuvers in a desperate attempt to throw the missile off course.

[Maxios]

"Don't destroy missiles! Mercury is stealing the treasure, so I'm getting it back with missiles!" Maxios tells Alec.
Maxios fires another missile.

[InyutheBeatIs]

One of the missles blow up. "Wait what?" He then looks at the truck, then back at Maxios, then back to the truck.

He then gets an almost demonic grin on his face. "Leave it to me." You see, gold conducts electricity. So, he gets the idea to shock the truck. A lot. At the same time, he tries to drain some energy from the truck, siphoning it to himself.

[Maxios]

"Good idea!" Maxios tells Alec, before falling asleep.

[ThirdEmperor]

The lightning shots towards the truck... Just as it pulls off of the desert and the teleporter activates, pulling them away through time and spaaaace! One post sooner and you would have had me. Saved by the bell I guess. Holo-Mercury says smugly, appearing in the Ramjet. Don't worry, I'll give you a chance for revenge, and to get the treasure back. In a few days.

[Maxios]

"He's in Inside." Maxios tells Alec. "He has a lair there."

[Maxios]

5 days of driving later:.

Maxios left 3 days ago, but used magic to make a lot of food, and made a hologram of himself. "It's time." he says, and a bag appears in front of Alac and Tascha.

[Maxios]

"The mage is dead." a hologram of Maxios tells the others. "Killed in his own manor by forces unknown."