Inside the Orb... (plot)

[Nevrmore]

The world ceases to be for a few moments. Everything from the ground to the sky turns white as the sensation of endless fallingoverwhelms you.

And suddenly, you are sitting peacefully. The world is a giant, marble slab, as far as the eye can see. No structure juts out of the ground, no physical imperfection can be seen at all. The sky is cloudless and brilliant blue, as perfectly molded as the ground being walked upon. The sun does not exist, and yet light is still present. A peaceful, albeit sparce world.

And suddenly everything changes. The ground below your feet turns from brilliant white marble into dirt. Black spires, twisted and broken, shoot out of the ground at angles impossible to build. Black clouds blot out the sky. A feeling of uneasiness washes over you.

The tips of the twisted obelisks open up, and horrible creatures begin to push themselves out of it. Landing on the ground, they stalk toward you. Their teeth bared, the claws drawn, slobber dripping from their disgusting maw. They lick their lips in what you can only interpret as a very bad sign.

And suddenly they are gone again. The world of white returns, the spires, the demons, the clouds all gone. Everything is peaceful once more.

[Deus Mortus]

Tinderhall is looking around, OK who is screwing with the multiverse this time?

Tinderhall smacks his player for not paying attention and blushes a bit.

[Nevrmore]

Tinderhall is looking around, OK who is screwing with the multiverse this time?
((To enter this world you have to enter through the orb at the exact center of town. Can't just magick yourself here))

[Kyral]

The candle looks about, thoroughly fascinated. "It's like...a dream of some kind..."

[Xaspian]

Xaspian staggers as he arrives, and looks around. The Pigeon clings to his shoulder. The cyclops steadies himself.

Well, I've never experienced anything like thatbefore.

((EDIT: Dammit! Why do I always choose the same colour...))

[Kyral]

The candle notices that others have arrived with it, and turns to them with a slightly uneasy look. "Do you know what's happening?"

[Xaspian]

Not really. I just follow the adventure sthat lie before me.

Maybe the clever statue is here?

Perhaps, little friend.

He looks at the candle.

Excuse me, but you seem to be a talking candle.

[Kyral]

The candle says sarcastically, "Gee, I hadn't noticed that." He observes the world around them for a moment.

[Xaspian]

Xaspian stands silently, looking around.

[Deus Mortus]

Tinderhall walks in, this time for real.

[Kyral]

The candle looks back at those present and sighs. "Well, I'm at a loss to explain this." Under his breath, he mutters "And that's saying something."

[Xaspian]

Well, explanations don't come from just standing around.

He begins to stride off in an arbitrary direction.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr appears and going through all the stress pops into his chinchilla form. I don't like this...

[Deadly]

Kio comes in and looks around warily What in the...

[Kyral]

The candle glances at Xaspian, then at the chinchilla that just appeared. Raising an eyebrow, he decides to follow the others at a distance.

[Deus Mortus]

Tinderhall closes his eyes and starts to scry the realm he is in.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr hops up on Kio's shoulder.

[Deadly]

Kio follows the others slowly, casting True Seeing as she goes.

[Kyral]

If Kio happens to look at the candle after casting True Seeing, she'd notice that it seems to be not a candle, but a black void of cold and utter death. While floating, it observes the plane with what is seemingly amazement.

[Xaspian]

Xaspian continues onwards.

Where are we going?
To find whatever there is.

[Deadly]

Kio frowns Ok, there's something seriously not good about all this...

[Wukei]

Jo sits on Kio's shoulder, chittering nervously.

[Nevrmore]

The world shifts again. The familiar twisted skyscrapers emerge from the ground like a giant beast's fingers clawing for air. The pointed end splits open, and the beasts once again crawl out.

Dozens of them make their way towards the party, and this time they shalln't be disappearing any time soon.

[Wukei]

Jo--in Lucien form--squeaks a warning before sending a large fast blast of water at one of the fiends.

[Kyral]

The candle frowns, and three of the creatures feel a powerful force that seems to be pulling them towards it.

[Deadly]

Kio, seeing the beasts appear again, draws her sword and quickly casts Chain Lightning at the approaching beasts Damn!

[Xaspian]

Xaspian holds his scythe, ready to attack the nearest creature.

[Nevrmore]

Three of the creatures are upended as they fly towards the strange candle, bereft of their own will.

A small group of the demons is shot backwards at the powerful force of the water, landing in the gathering crowd behind them.

Even more of the beasts are instantly fried by the lightning passed between them as if they were conducters. They fall, dead before they hit the ground.

Several of the daimon gather around the cyclops, trying to rip into his succulent flesh...

[Wukei]

Jormungandr transforms into a large 40' half-snake, surrounding Kio protectively. He brings his hands together before throwing them foreward, sending forth an even larger amount of water.

[Kyral]

The candle smiles: not a pleasant smile, but not a malevolent one either. The creatures feel several forces, coming from all directions, trying to crush them into near nothingness. Yet another force continues to pull them towards and inside the candle.
The candle, seeing that the creatures don't provide much resistance, targets a dozen or so others, who feel an invisible force sending them flying into the air.

[Xaspian]

Xaspian swings his scythe at a couple of them. One of the daimon manages to rip a cut in his arm, but even as they attack, chunks of earth rise up, and strike into the other beasts attacking him.

[Deadly]

Kio activates the haste effect of her boots and casts Divine Power before going into a defensive stance.

[Nevrmore]

The demons are easily dispatched, but they refuse to stop coming. As every wave is systematically destroyed, the spires open up to release more.

[Kyral]

The candle, noticing the spires' roll in the battle, closes its eyes. The spires are suddenly attacked from several directions by some kind of invisible force.

[Xaspian]

((A candle with eyes?))

Xaspian continues to fight any of the demons which come close enough. The Pigeon clings on, lightly scared, but watching everything that's going on intently.

[Deadly]

Kio swings her blade at an approaching beast before casting Flame Strike at an opening spire.

[Kyral]

((^^ Yyyyyyup.))

[Nevrmore]

The spire begins to dent and warp at the candle's invisible attacks. Kio's attack proves to be the coup de grace as the obleisk halves horizantally.

A horrid, blood-curdling scream fills the air as the remnants of the tower hit the ground. It grates against the ears of all the fighters and demons alike. The world dissipates back into the peaceful, white universe.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr relaxes, unwrapping from around Kio, but remains in his half-snake form.

[Deadly]

Kio looks around I doubt it's over yet... she mutters

[Kyral]

The candle winces at the sound, but looks around with a raised eyebrow as they appear back in other world. "...hmm. I wonder how many more times that will happen."

[Xaspian]

What... What happened? It all changed.

The Pigeon hops excitedly on the shoulder, asking anyone who mightlisten. Xaspian slowly shakes his head, but says nothing.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr nods, silently, to Kio and creates a scythe of water.

[Deadly]

Kio places a hand on Jor comfortingly while keeping an eye out for more danger

[Nevrmore]

The world sits there, unmoving.

[Kyral]

The candle, distressed at the fact that it doesn't know what's happening, floats off in the direction they were traveling before.

[Xaspian]

Xaspian sits down, and starts a basic camp for himself.

((Sorry, I've got to go. Annoying time zones... I'll catch up tomorrow, probably.))

[Deadly]

Kio sighs and slowly starts to walk after the candle.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr follows behind Kio, watching all directions carefully.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky Knives appears, looking startled. "Okay, where the hell am I?"

[Kyrian]

Kyrian appears, draws Renegade, and swings at Jacky.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky ducks, but looses a few strands of his acid green hair. "Gwuh? What the hell is your problem, man!?"

[Kyral]

The candle glances back at the beginning fight between Kyrian and Jacky, then sighs and lowers himself and the tray to the ground.

[Kyrian]

People that leave dead bodies looking like my wife on my door!

Fire, ice, and lightning traverse the blade as Kyrian swings again. His eyes turn pitch black.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr wraps his tail around Kyrian's arm. Now is not the time, young god.

[Sophistemon]

"JESUS!" Jacky skitters to the left, the enchanted blade missing him by inches. "Can we talk about this, please?"

[Kyrian]

Kyrian growls at Jor. Let me go.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky rolls onto his back and kicks up at Kyrian's chest. He does not know of Kyrian's divinity, of course, and thus has no idea how futile fighting back is.

"Gi-YAH!"

[Wukei]

Jormungandr shakes his head. He will be here...but we need all the living fighters we can get...we're not even sure how to get out of here.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian gives a small grunt as the kick hits, and debates swing Jor around like a flail.

[Wukei]

(Swinging another god like a flail when he's 40 ft long?)

Jormungandr attempts to grab Jacky and toss him toward the front of the line.

[Deadly]

Kio looks around, confused, but decides to remain silent and keep watch

[Nevrmore]

It's like someone was watching, waiting for the perfect time to do this.

The world shifts again, but this time, no spier erects itself from the ground. Instead, a hundred and more demons appear. However, they do not intercept the party, but rather dogpile each other.

The pile of demon bodies slowly grows higher and higher until every last creature is inside it. And suddenly, with a disgusting gurgling noise, they mesh together. The fifty-foot tall uber-beast stands up and looks down at the adventurers, letting out a guttural roar.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky lets out an embarrassingly girly shriek as he is picked up and flung towards the front of the line.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr releases Kyrian and grows to meet the beast's size, his scythe growing as well. He places himself between the fiend and Kio.

[Kyral]

The candle looks up at the creature and quickly levitates off the ground, speeding into the air. After a few seconds of flight, it stops around eye level with the creature, glaring darkly.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky looks up to see the monster.

"Aww, f*** this, man. Giant monsters? Why does this happen to me?"

[Deadly]

Kio frowns a bit, running out of ranged attacks. For now she casts Hold Monster on the beast and readies herself for melee

[Kyrian]

Hope you don't mind this, Jor... Kyrian runs up Jor's back, to his head, where he leaps off and swings his sword (which I should mention to Nevrmore at this time that it also has Demon's Bane on it) at the uber-demon.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky, acting as though he were Kyrian's exact opposite, runs away from the giant monster-thing.

((Dinner. Be back ASAP.))

[Nevrmore]

The beast rears back and swings a mighty fist at Jormun, simultaneously sidestepping Kyrian's mid-air slice.

[Kyral]

The candle growls, and the same invisible forces begin attacking at the creature's head and back. Simulataneously, a force from in front of it makes an attempt to pull the creature towards and into the candle.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr slices forward at the beast, taking the punch with a frown, his eyes glowing a sea-green.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian rolls behind the creature and slashes at both Achilles tendons.

[Nevrmore]

The tendons of the beast's heels slice like butter. In lieu of blood, however, dozens of tiny, demon arms reach out, trying to grab Kyrian. Meanwhile, on the front end of the Uber-demon, he takes the slice in the chest and slowly begins to be dragged forward towards the candle, although he offers a great deal more resistance than any one individual demon.

[Deadly]

Kio casts Prismatic Spray at the beast before leaping at it, swinging her holy blade.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr smiles, his sharp canines seem to have lengthened when he did. Good...this shouldn't have been easy... He strikes foreward with sharp, poisoned nails.

[Kyral]

The candle, now knowing how much force to use, narrows its eyes and the veins in its forehead stand out. Or, they would, if it had a forehead. The forces make an attempt to both lift up the creature's legs so it can't provide as much resistance, and pull it towards the candle. While the forces are incredibly powerful, the candle appears to be struggling.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian allows his arm to be grabbed, and grins as his arm is engulfed in lightning.

[Nevrmore]

The Uber-demon, realizing quickly that it is becoming overwhelmed, uses some sort of bodily command unknown to humans. Suddenly, his legs explode into a shower of all the demons used to create it. They scatter to their feet and start attacking anything that moves. However, the demon starts moving faster towards the candle.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian's right arm becomes covered in ice as he sheathes Renegade. He begins punching demons left and right. (left= lightning, right = ice)

[Wukei]

Jormungandr, towering several feet above the smaller ones (not including the extending lengh of his tail) sweeps down at the smaller pests with his scythe.

[Kyral]

The candle opens its mouth, and suddenly a hideous vision appears to all present. A horrible face, contorted in anger and tortured, appears where the candle was floating. Its eyes are cold and white, and a great mouth is open, filled with rows of jagged, bloody, broken fangs, and beyond that, a terrible, cold darkness. It licks its lips with a horrible malevolence, and then opens the mouth wide, waiting for the demon to come closer. The force propelling the demon becomes more powerful.

[Deadly]

Kio draws her second sword and spins around, swinging both blades at any demons that get too close.

One of the demons lands a hit, leaving a long gash down her left arm. She winces but continues to attack.

[Nevrmore]

The demons begin trying to pile on top of the various people fighting them.

The Uber-demon, realizing that it's about to be uber-killed, grabs at the jaws of the giant candle-beast, trying to hold them open as long as possible.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr shrinks down enough to protect Kio better. He swipes away demons with his tail. He strikes at one with his jaws with the speed of an asp. He stabs out both directions with the claws on his hands.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian growls as several demons pile onto him, and he drops a lightning ball at his feet.

[Kyral]

The face lunges forwards, and, with a sick, rasping sound of pleasure, tries to swallow the demon whole.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky skids to a stop and turns around. "Aw, hell." he mutters, and begins hurling knives at the demons. His aim is, as always, perfect.

[Deadly]

Kio turns into a globe of light and starts blasting the demons with rays of light.

[Nevrmore]

The beast is consumed whole by the horrid face.

Ass soon as the Uber-demon is inside of the massive jaws, the rest of the demons clutch at where there hearts are, if they did indeed have them, and began to spontaneously detonate in small explosions.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr brings his arms up to block his face from the explosions.

[Deadly]

Kio flies high into the air to avoid the explosions better

[Kyrian]

Kyrian doesn't move as the explosions go off around him, not caring for any damage they happen to do to him.

[Kyral]

The mouth laughs, and then the candle is back. It looks around wearily, then groans, sinking to the ground.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky gapes. "These things explode!?"

[Kyral]

((...do you think we can just assume that the world inside the orb goes back to normal? I think Nevrmore's offline.))

[Wukei]

Jormungandr looks up at Kio. Are you all right?

[Sophistemon]

((I dunno. If it isn't, at least the demons are gone for now.))

Jacky returns to the group, keeping his distance from Kyrian.

[Deadly]

Kio returns to her elven form and nods at Jor I'm fine. It's just a minor scratch, really. she says and casts a number of CLW until the wound is healed. She then looks back up and smiles at Jor Thank you.

[Wukei]

He transforms back into his fully human form, his claws and fangs receeding. He kisses Kio. Glad you're safe.

[Kyral]

The candle, looking as if it's in pain, levitates back off the ground. "I guess...ignorance...is bliss..."

[Sophistemon]

"So. Anyone know where we are?"

[Rebonack]

"Inside a giant orb of energy which, I believe, was once the omniscient and not so omniscient statue," comes Maph'tey's voice as he suddenly appears in the landscape.

"Nifty place they've got here."

[Wukei]

The more pressing question: how do we depart this strange world?

[Deadly]

Kio smiles and hugs him Glad you're safe as well.

She then looks around for any signs of what to do or where to go

[Kyral]

"Hell, or something pretty close to it," Remarks the candle to answer Jackie's question.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian looks around, hand close to Ebony as he watches Jacky.

[Wukei]

Those were demons. Demons come from the abyss. But I know the abyss, and I'm not familiar with this area...

[Sophistemon]

Jacky sees Kyrian's hand hovering near the gun.

"Whoa there, I don't want any trouble, man."

[Kyral]

The candle glances at Jor. "I didn't mean hell literally. Just that this is one of the most painful places I've ever been." He looks around and sighs. "And no one has any idea as to how to leave?"

[Wukei]

Jormungandr frowns, I know about hell, and how to get out. If it were hell we'd be out by now.

[Deadly]

The glass of water Kio drank earlier finally kicks in as she falls into a strange coma.

((I really need to get some sleep, and this seems like a good time to leave. Wukei, it you wish to NPC Kio, go ahead. Me, I'm off.))

[Kyrian]

Kyrian glares at Jacky with pitch black eyes. Shut your mouth, less the trouble you don't seek WILL find you.

[Sophistemon]

"Aw, Christ. You mean I'm stuck here? With you guys? No offense, but I ain't used to this kooky s*** yet."

To Kyrian: "Yeah, whatever you say, pal. Don't want none, don't start none."

[Kyral]

The candle sighs. "But it's not hell, and we're not out, are we?" He turns to look at Jacky. "Better learn to adapt."

[Wukei]

Jormungandr picks up Kio and looks around.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky grumbles.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian sneers as he hears Jacky grumbling, and his hand gets ever closer to Ebony.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky notices, and walks over to Kyrian. "Look, man. I'm sorry about what happened, okay? I don't know you or your wife; it wasn't personal. You'd'a done the same thing if the guy that told you to could make your blood burst into flames."

[Wukei]

Jormungandr looks to Kyrian. You are the only full deity here. Can you do anything?

[Rebonack]

"I could probably find a way out if I really needed to," the Traveler comments. "Getting people from point 'A' to point 'B' is sort of what I was trained to do."

He glances at the ground under his feet and considers it for a bit.

"Huh... morphic based on someone's will. I'll bet I know who..."

[Kyrian]

Kyrian doesn't seem to hear Jor as he draws Ebony and presses it against Jacky's face. No, I would not have done the same thing. Don't you dare compare yourself to me!

[Wukei]

Jo looks over at the speaker, raising an eyebrow. I don't think I know you....but I've not been in town for a while...

[Sophistemon]

Jacky raises both hands in a peace measure. "Okay, so you're braver than I am. Good for you; I envy it. But, seriously. Please don't blow a hole in my face."

[Kyrian]

With inhuman speed, Kyrian flips Ebony around, so he holds the barrel and swings the butt of the gun at Jacky's face.

[Kyral]

The candle watches the ensuing fight between Jacky and Kyrian and winces, then turns to Maph'tey. "You could get us out, then?"

[Wukei]

Jormungandr shakes his head, sighing.

[Rebonack]

"Hmmm?" he glances up from the soil (marble?) he's finguring and looks at Jo. "Oh, I'm Maph'tey. Something of an explorer and relatively new in Town. I met one of the critters who I think is partially behind this in the Woods the other day."

The Traveler shrugs as he stands, his lithe, tapering tail held behind to keep himself relatively balanced. A wing made of molten bronze probably weighs a lot.

"I could certainly try," Maph'tey comments. "But due to the fact the very fabric of this place is bent to the will of a particular pair of beings he or they may be able to stop me."

[Sophistemon]

The gun slams into the side of Jacky's head, smashing bone and shattering teeth. It would be worth mentioning that Jacky possess only one supernatural ability. Unfortunately for him, it is not superior endurance. He crumples to the ground.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian looks up at Jor. What?

[Chaotic Bob]

The dvati twins arrive upon the scene, not knowing how they got here at all. Their player would like to point out that they are here because he's nosy, but thats beside the point.

What a peculiar place.
Quite.

[Kyral]

The candle looks downhearted. "That could complicate things...I doubt whoever drew us in would let us leave so soon." He looks at the twins and groans. "Lord, could someone put a sign up out there that says 'Please do not enter or you will be potentially trapped for all eternity'?"

[Wukei]

He holds up a finger to Maph'tey and looks at Kyrian. You are a god. Get us out of here. Or should I ask the traveller?

[Kyrian]

Kyrian snaps his fingers, opening a portal back to where they all came in from.

[Sophistemon]

Jacky gurgles, trying to breath through a throat full of blood and broken teeth.

[Wukei]

Jormungandr winks at the others. Problem solved. Now I must get Kio to the inn. Good evening. He bows and departs.

[Chaotic Bob]

The twins start to go for the portal, but their player drapes a dead time zone over them until he's sure nothing else is going to happen.

[Kyral]

The candle looks down at Jacky and raises an eyebrow. "Need any help?"

[Rebonack]

((For the love of Plot, Kyran. I didn't just open up a Gate for a reason. Did it occure to you that there might be something about this place to stop you from doing that? Wait for Nevermore to get back.))

An icy voice sounds from Maph'tey general location.

"Hey! It's the wonder twins! Did you guys enjoy dicing that righteous crocodile as much as I enjoyed watching?"

[Kyrian]

((For the love of we've been waiting an hour.))

Kyrian looks to the candle. Leave him.

[Wukei]

(If he didn't want us to do that then he shouldn't have just disappeared on all of us after starting a plot. He should have said "we'll pick this up tomorrow" or something.)

[Chaotic Bob]

Noticing that they're being addressed, their player removes the dead time zone and allows them to notice the question.

It was some nice action I suppose.
Eh, I prefer humanoids, they're more challenging....not that I actively kill people...wow that came out weird.

[Kyral]

The candle looks at Kyrian. "You're planning to leave him behind? I must ask, what did he do to make you so angry?"

[Rebonack]

((Treat it as a separate time-line and plant a daisy at continuy's grave later if you need to be elsewhere =P))

Maph'tey regards the deity for a moment, then the man who is currently busy bleed out of his face.

"You're just going to let him die...?"

"Letting him die is no fun. Use your godly might to turn him inside out instead."

"Shut up, Ruin."

[Kyrian]

Threatened me and my wife by nailing a person magic-ed up to look like her to our door.

[Wukei]

(I don't need to be anywhere else. My point is it's rude to start a storyline then leave without saying whether it's done or not.)

[Kyral]

"Threatened?" The candle chuckles. "What threat could he possibly pose to you? With ease, you just shattered part of his skull, and now he's choking to death on blood."

[Chaotic Bob]

Well it could threaten your sanity.
Or your eyes.

[Kyrian]

Whether he dies or not is not up to me. But he's not coming back with us.

[Kyral]

"There's a bit of a contradiction, there. He's most certainly going to die if we leave him here. We know for a fact that this place summons demons every once in a while, and without medical attention for his choking, he'll suffocate. But you refuse to bring him back with us." He raises an eyebrow. "I suggest leaving him to the Town police force."

[Kyrian]

Kyrian growls, and grabs Jacky by the collar, healing him.

[Chaotic Bob]

The Twins suddenly get the bright idea to play RPS 101 (http://www.umop.com/rps101.htm). They try to pay attention as they do so.

[Kyral]

"Thank you." He looks at Jacky, and a force coming up from behind quickly makes an attempt to knock him unconscious.

[Sophistemon]

There is a sharp popping crack! as Jacky's jaw forces itself together. He looks up at Kyrian. "Khhh-gak! I don't... ghuk... like you very much." If one were to take a look inside his mouth, they would see his teeth regrowing and new ones sprouting to replace those that were knocked out.

EDIT
((Damn, took too long to post. We'll assume that the above description applies to the magical healing.))

[Kyral]

The force again tries to gently knock Jacky unconscious.

[Kyrian]

Funny, I don't like you either.

[Sophistemon]

"Ow. What is that? Why do I feel slee- zzzz..."

Jacky's chin hits his chest as he passes out. His face still makes the occasional pop and crack as it pulls itself together.

((A good time for me to log off, I think. This was fun, guys. Thank you.))

[Kyral]

((Seeya))
The candle smiles and Jacky's body begins levitating. Both he and Jacky float through the portal.

[Kyrian]

Kyrian jumps through after it, and the portal closes.

[Rebonack]

"And I don't like senseless violence," Maph'tey chimes in. "But I suppose I decided to visit the wrong Town to avoid that."

The Traveler notes that he's now once again inside the strange dimension along with the wonder twins and several dead time zone'ed Townspeople. He shrugs, creates a stool, and takes a seat.

Be begins to read the book he had been looking at the night before.

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre loses. Again. They look up at Maph'tey.
Hello
Can't say we know you
Care to fill in that memory gap?
Please?

[Rebonack]

"You two were at Trog's during that fight between the random guy and the zombie and the skeleton and the devil," Maph'tey responds. "I've been trying to make a mental inventory of everyone in Town so I figure I should talk to everyone at least once."

[Chaotic Bob]

Makes sense to me.
Now what's with the odd wings?
Especially the irritating sounding one who strangely captures my curiosity.
Yes, let's go with what he said.

[Rebonack]

"Yes, them, odd is one way to put it," Maph'tey comments as he glances over his shoulder at the wings. "The short version is that they're the physical manifestation of two creatures native to Dead Space that were bound to me so that I could create a Gate out of Dead Space which is normally pretty much impossible to get out of."

[Chaotic Bob]

I see.
This was your only purpose then?

[Rebonack]

The Traveler rubs the back of his head absently, bad memories of the past gnawing at his conscience.

"That was the only reason Old Prancibald made me," he replies with a sigh. "Once I got him out of Dead Space he informed me that I wasn't needed any longer and left."

[Chaotic Bob]

That's really depressing.
Prancibald doesn't really sound like an overly kind person.

[Rebonack]

"Tell me about it..." Maph'tey mutters. "He was your stereotypical absent minded wizard. All he cared about was his magic research. People were just tools to further his ends. As far as he was concerned I was a key, not a person."

[Chaotic Bob]

Sounds like a selfish and slightly evil wizard to me, but meh. What do I know.
So, what are you doing here then? If you mentioned it already, then I apologize.

[Rebonack]

"I would certainly agree that he was evil. Only an evil person would do this," me motions to himself. "To someone just for a convenient means of transportation. Not to mention all the people that died during the experimentation to get it right..."

The Traveler shrugs.

"I had an extended encounter with one of the people involved in making this place the other day. I figured I would look around inside. You know, explorer that I am and all."

[Chaotic Bob]

'Tis an interesting place to live to say the least.
By explorer, do you mean wilderness and dungeons exploring, or other worldly and extraplanar exploring?

[Rebonack]

"Well, see, that's kind of tricky to answer," Maph'tey begins. "Dead Space doesn't really have 'worlds'. Not in the usual sense anyway. And it's all sort of one big plane. Most of my exploring has been there. This is the first time I've ventured out into Universal Space for the purpose of exploration."

[Chaotic Bob]

Works for me.
So how are you enjoying your little taste of the universe?
((just as a forewarning, the Twins are like children, if you don't stop them, they will keep asking questions, likely for all eternity. Or until something more interesting pops up. Whichever comes first.))

[Rebonack]

((Sounds enjoyable to me))

"It has been... interesting so far."

He suddenly remembers something.

"You two got teleported here 'on accident', right? I knew I had seen you twins before."

[Chaotic Bob]

((just a warning, questions may start to get random if they run out of ideas though))

Yep, on accident.
Accident my ass.

[Rebonack]

"Why would someone want to strand you here on purpose?"

[Chaotic Bob]

We didn't quite agree with the restrictive laws of our village.
Actually, I think that jerk just hated us.

[Rebonack]

"I would imagine you two would have had to miff someone pretty bad for your village to exile you," Maph'tey comments.

[Chaotic Bob]

Actually we were going to leave ourselves, we were just getting a ride to a stable on the other side of the village.
Our 'ride' just decided to throw us into some random town on some random planet in who knows what universe....
You know, we could just be a few miles away.
Shut up.
Anywho, Tirre here, just likes to overreact methinks. Twas just a mostly harmless accident. I'll admit that we weren't on the best of terms with some of the other dvati, but I don't think we really 'miffed' any of them.

[Rebonack]

"Have you guys considered trying to find out where you are in relation to your village? I could probably help with that. What's the name of the place?"

[Chaotic Bob]

The name? Kirient.
Not a particularly large place, but the rules get a little stuffy after a while.

[Rebonack]

The Traveler looks like he's about to say something, but he crumbles into a pile of crystalline dust instead. Apparently the duration on Fission ran out.

[Chaotic Bob]

The Twins shrug and begin to play RPS 101.

[Nevrmore]

((I'm sorry, I had some complications on my end that forced me offline.

If I do suddenly go offline again, which in all honesty is likely to happen, then I would appreciate it if you went with Rebo's suggestion and just pretended like your characters were in two places at once to dispense with any confusion that might arise))

[Chaotic Bob]

((eh, the dvati weren't doing anything important at the moment, so they can stay for a while. Probably a long while...everyone else was just impatient methinks))

[Kyrian]

Kyrian reappears. ((Sorry to say though that I'm about to go to sleep))

[Nevrmore]

((I doubt anyone's coming online until tomorrow. You can go off, Kyrian. Just wanted you guys to let you know that I'm sorry))

[Kyrian]

((It's ok, I figured something had happened. You got my interest, and Kyrian's thirsty for violence again, so he'll be here.))

[Xaspian]

((Damn those time-zones. I've got a feeling this isn't gonna work out to well fro me))

Xaspian packs up the camp, and looks around at the newcomers.

[Kyral]

((It's fine, I'll bring the candle in here later.))

[Rebonack]

The crumbled remains of the Traveler politely reassemble themselves. Maph’tey dusts himself off and glances about.

“Always annoying when that happens…”

[Kyral]

The candle enters the other world and looks around, slightly annoyed. "I can never get the best of my curiosity."

[Chaotic Bob]

The dvati twins continue to play RPS 101 while they wait for something to happen.

[Rebonack]

Maph’tey gives the candle and odd look. He had seen it the day before but it hadn’t really struck him just how strange it was.

“So… is there an invisible person carrying you or are you just a floating candle?”

[Nevrmore]

The world remains the horrible, desolate wasteland instead of turning back into the pleasant but sparce white world.

[Xaspian]

Xaspian sits down and listens.

The Pigeon hops over to the dvati twins.
What are you doing?

[Kyral]

"Why must everyone ask me that?" The candle rolls its eyes. "Honestly, I might as well put up a placard on my tray that says 'Not some cheap illusion, folks - it's a real candle!'"

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre looks over at the pigeon as he loses, again.
Playing a version of rock, paper, scissors, only it has 101 different gestures instead of three. ((Linky.... (http://www.umop.com/rps101.htm)))
Yeah, Terre here is rather unlucky and loses too much.

[Xaspian]

It sounds fun. Can I play?

He tries to make a symbol with his wing, failing miserably. He doesn't seem to realise, and holds the wing out with an enthusiastic look on his face.

Do I win?

[Chaotic Bob]

The Twins look at eachother, then at the pigeon. They think for a moment.
Erm, not quite.
Tirre sneaks off to Maph'tey and pokes at his arm.
Psst, you're good with magic, can you perhaps make a controllable hand for the pigeon?

[Rebonack]

“Well… I would imagine that people ask because floating candles are unusual,” the Traveler responds. He doesn’t seem to notice the fact that the world isn’t becoming more pleasant. This may have to due with the fact that he wasn’t ever there before it got nasty.

He glances over at the twin.

“Eerr… Controlable in what sense? Like a Mage Hand he can grope people with? That’s what is usually requested.”

[Kyral]

"So are people with very strange wings..." he points out, gesturing to Maph'tey's wings, "...talking pidgeons..." he somehow manages to jerk a thumb at the pidgeon, "...and in general, most everything that's already in the Town."

[Nevrmore]

The large, black clouds darkening the sky begin to open up in the form of a hole about one hundred feet behind the adventuring party...

[Chaotic Bob]

Erm, well we actually just need it to make semi-complex gestures at a thought....preferably a normal sized hand.
As an example he holds out his hand and makes a few RPS 101 gestures, then notes something.
Make that two hands.

Terre notices the clouds and considers saying something, but decides to wait.

[Kyral]

The candle glances at the hole in the clouds. "That doesn't look all too pleasant."

[Xaspian]

Xaspian notes the hole, but stays still.

The Pigeon looks at the others.

[Rebonack]

“Sure, I think I can do that,” Maph’tey makes an odd gesture and a pair of hands that appear to be made of glass suddenly start existing in front of the pigeon. “Will those work?”

((I have to go in about half an hour >.>))

[Xaspian]

The Pigeon tries them out.

Wow. This is fun!

He looks up at Maph'tey

Can I keep them?

[Chaotic Bob]

Perfect, now as long as the pigeon can get the hang of them it should be fine.
Tirre finally notices the clouds and sighs.
Guess the game will have to wait.

Incarnum begins to coil around Terre, forming armor and a sword.

[Xaspian]

The Pigeon hops over to Xaspian, and onto his shoulder. The cyclops stands up, and looks towards the hole.

[Rebonack]

“Sure. I don’t have any use for them,” the Traveler responds. “Well… that isn’t entirely true. They would make a convenient snack, but there’s so much time around here that it doesn’t matter.”

[Nevrmore]

It makes no noise, issues no warning that it is coming. It simply does.

The white pillar of what can only be assumed as light descends rapidly from the hole in the clouds, hitting the ground in seconds. It begins moving towards the adventuring party with speed. Anyone watching long enough would realize that, as it passes over the various corpses of the long dead demons, they are disappearing - literally being erased from existence. The pillar of light rushes at the party.

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre dives to the side while a green aura surrounds Tirre. Tirre smiles happily and walks to the side, moving faster than a speeding cheetah.

[Xaspian]

That doesn't look go-

The Pigeon is cut off as Xaspian turns and runs diagonally away from the light, so he's not in it's path, but still running away.

[Kyral]

The candle simply watches the pillar of light come, looking almost defiant.

[Rebonack]

“I wonder what the Fort DC is to stop yourself from ceasing to exist is…” Maph’tey mutters as he spots the on-rushing light. Because he doesn’t feel like finding out he instead steels himself with Timeless Body (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/timelessBody.htm). A power fairly useless for actually combat, but pretty nice to help a person avoid getting wiped from Creation.

[Nevrmore]

The tower of light gladly widens itself as the heroes scatter, accomdating their distance to a perfect degree. It passes over Maph'tey with no ill effects, but a smaller, independent pillar splits off from the main one, hovering over the traveler patiently, as if just waiting for his next turn.

((Don't worry, you can still outrun it, Rebo.))

[Xaspian]

Xaspian keeps on running, The Pigeon clinging to his shoulder.

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre matches the pillars speed as he moves away, to conserve energy. Tirre begins to lazily super-walk around the pillar (if that's even possible, otherwise he darts off in the opposite direction).

Terre considers something and launches some incarnum-based lighting at the cloud as he walks away.

[Rebonack]

Maph’tey looks up at it.

“Well… that’s no good,” he bolts and begins to concentrate for a moment as he does so. He then takes full advantage of his shiny new 240’ base speed to get the hell out of there.

[Kyral]

The candle continues watching the pillar, bracing himself.

[Nevrmore]

The pillar of light is impossibly to run around - As soon as anyone darts to the side, it widens itself to accommodate their new width. It does not stop, vaporizing everything but the dirt below the adventurer's feet.

Attacks serve no effect on the pillar - They simply evaporate into nothingness on contact.

((Kyral, I'm not exactly sure what is supposed to happen when the candle hits the pillar, do you want me to just say that the light washes over the pillar and then you can do what you wish to?))

[Chaotic Bob]

((no no, Terre attacked the cloud, not the pillar. If that even makes a difference of course))

Terre makes a grab at the candle as he walks past.
Tirre shrugs at his inability to run around the pillar and darts off a good ways and begins to rapidly dig a slanted tunnel into the ground. Heading for the pillar.

[Nevrmore]

((Oh. Well, the clouds have no bearing on the pillar. They are just being forced out of the way))

[Xaspian]

Xaspian, unable to think of anything useful to do, keeps on running.

The Pigeon sticks out his tongue at the pillar.

[Kyral]

((Yes, that's fine.))
The candle is grabbed by Terre, getting the wind knocked out of him by the swift impact. However that works for a candle. Between gasps it manages to say "That - was - unnecessary!"

[Nevrmore]

The pillar passes harmlessly over Tirre, hidden underground. It does, however, erase the open space he created, sealing the hole he had made. It continues chase after the remaining party.

[Chaotic Bob]

Tirre blinks slightly at the lack of air and quickly digs his way out, going straight up. He flops out and hits the dirt with a gasp.

Terre shrugs apologetically to the candle while he tries to think of something to do about the pillar.

[Kyral]

The candle's eyes glow a bright red, and he stares at the pillar.
((True Seeing))

[Xaspian]

Xaspian is still running.

[Nevrmore]

The candle stares into the pillar and realizes what it is and what it is doing.

((Will PM you with answer))

[Kyral]

The candle raises an eyebrow, then looks at Terre. "Well. It's trying to get all foreign objects out of this plane of existence. Like, for instance, us."

[Chaotic Bob]

I see, and what is 'it'?
Terre continues his movement.

Tirre flops over to watch the pillar, still breathing heavily.

[Kyral]

"What do you think?" The candle jerks its head, ignoring the obvious fact that candles don't have heads, at the pillar. "Could you let go, now?"

[Chaotic Bob]

Erm, a giant glowing pillar? And what will happen if I let go of you?

[Kyral]

"Yes. And, I'll probably run even faster than you could carrying me." He glances at his where his legs should be, then looks back up. "Well, not run."

[Nevrmore]

The pillar continues chasing the group, except for Tirre, who is behind everyone else.

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre raises an eyebrow and a green nimbus/aura forms around him and he instantly starts going a lot faster.
You were saying? And is there any visible hope we have to stop the pillar?

[Kyral]

"Not that I can see." He tilts his head so he can see past Terre, and then looks up. "Besides maybe following your twin there's example."

[Xaspian]

Xaspian is still running.

[Chaotic Bob]

Works for me, make sure to take a deep breath...assuming you even breath.
He shrugs and does exactly as Tirre did. He motions for Xaspian as he does so.

[Xaspian]

While running, Xaspian glares at a patch of ground several metres in front of him. Instantly, the ground moves out of the way, creating a large hole in the ground, growing deeper by the second. Xaspian dives into it, grabbing The Pigeon and pulling him down into the hole too.

[Nevrmore]

The pillar passes harmlessly over the hidden members of the party. After a few more meters, it stops completely. Spinning, it retracts into the sky. The clouds merge together as it disappears.

The world is suddenly white again.

((I'll be logging off for awhile. Feel free to break continuity by using your characters in different places if you so desire))

[Chaotic Bob]

Terre digs out of the hole, dragging the candle with him. He laughs.
Hey, Tirre found out something useful for once.

Tirre barely hears the comment and yells back over to him.
I resent that comment!

[Xaspian]

Xaspian and The Pigeon emerge from the ground, the bird shaking dirt out of his feathers.

That was an interesting experience. Although I hope not to repeat it.

[Kyral]

The candle spits out some dirt after resurfacing. "That was a little abrupt."

[Chaotic Bob]

A bit.
Terre notes the lack of any discernable features again and sighs, the nimbus vanishing.

Tirre walks over and flops over next to Terre.

[Xaspian]

The Pigeon hops over and stands between the twins, waving his hands

Can we play game now?

[Kyral]

The candle disappears quickly and reappears outside Terre's grasp. "I think those demons were objects foreign to this plane as well."