Ayumi - we're having lots of fun =) But we missed you soooooo much!
Warren
After a quick glance at the growing mass of land in the distance, Warren decided that he was hungry and made his way down to the Galley, wincing as the wooden steps creaked under his feet. Someone really ought to get those fixed or how's a guy with a headache supposed to get around?
"Hello?" Warren called, flinching at his own words and lowering his voice: "Any chance I can get some breakfast before we hit land?" He peered around the room, drawing in the lovely scents around him. There was soup boiling on a stove, fresh vegetables waiting for chopping, a slab of beef smothered in herbs and left to dry out and cook on a spit over a well laid fire. There were piles of hard ship biscuits, some nice crusty bread, a few lumps of cheese and what smelt best of all was the bacon sizzling in a pan beside the soup.
Suddenly a man entered the room and Warren caught a glimpse of a store room as the door swung shut. The man was tall with dark green eyes and short, chestnut hair. His face was sharp with a crooked nose and a broken smile that revealed two missing teeth.
"How can I help you?" He crossed the room and stirred the soup, turned the spit and picked up a long, sharp knife. His pale hands were covered in callouses and his apron was stained with what was hopefully cranberry juice and probably something else entirely.
"I'd love some of that bacon or maybe a bowl of your wonderful soup?" Warren smiled charmingly as his stomach turned a little and he considered skipping breakfast but... it smelled nice and Warren considered his sense of smell a good judge.
"You're too late for breakfast," the cook growled. "But I'll give you your lunch early, a nice bit of beef and veggies, if you carry the same up to your friends in the captain's cabin and the two on deck."
"It would be my pleasure!" Warren flashed a smile and waited for the strange triple tray -- it was as if three trays were stacked together but with a thin poles extending from the middle to separate it from both top and bottom tray -- to be loaded with five plates.
Warren brought the food to Ilum, Karana and Izuki first. Izuki was ecstatic about eating again, complaining that breakfast hadn't been filling enough. Once everyone on the deck had their food he made his way over to the captain's quarters.
He tried to open the door but it was locked. For a moment he wondered what Luke and Raven were doing that they had to lock the door, then a thought crossed his mind that made him smile. "Luke, you lucky dog. I've never been more proud of you than I am now." He didn't even try to wipe the grin off his face when he knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Luke's voice seemed tired.
"Warren." There was movement from the bed before he heard footsteps heading for the door. The door gave a light click and it opened. Luke only opened the door a smidge, he wasn't wearing a shirt. His hair was tasseled and messy. "Did I interrupt anything?"
Luke narrowed his eyes at him. "You really shouldn't smile when you say that."
"Sorry, I couldn't help it." He handed Luke the two plates of food for him and Raven. "Here, I brought you two lunch."
Luke took the plates from him one-by-one and placed them on a small table beside the door. "Thanks."
Warren nodded. "You two should get dressed, we're getting closer to Drokonia."
"We'll be on the deck in a few minutes," Luke said before closing the door and locking it again.
Chicken <-- Egg <-- Rocket Powered Fist Take that, science!
"Who was that?" Raven asked, kissing Luke and wrapping her arms around him as he sat back on the bed. She pulled him down towards her, tangling her slender fingers in his hair and kissing along his neck as he responded:
"Just Warren bringing lunch. Come on, we need to get dressed." Luke made no move to pull away and instead kissed Raven again and ran his hands along her naked body until reluctantly, they both climbed out of the bed and started to dress.
They talked over a brief lunch and then made their way up the stairs where they were met with a very enthusiastic, smiling Warren.
"Hey, good to see you're awake," Warren greeted them with a wink as he came forward and put his arm about Luke's shoulders, leading him to the railing. "So what's the plan, boss? Where do we look first?"
Karana, Ilum, Izuki, Luke, Warren and Raven all looked out across the vast piece of land that was looming before them.
The island was one giant volcano. There was no coast, only high cliffs that stood over the ocean. If the boat got too close it would hit one of the many rocks sticking out of the water. Luke put his hands on the railing and looked hard at their destination. Now that they had arrived there was no way to get onto it.
He turned to face the captain. "Rick, take the ship around the island until you find an opening!" Rick nodded and steered the ship so it would sail around the volcano.
"What are you thinking?" Raven asked.
"If the Pyrolith is inside Drokonia then there has to be a way inside, otherwise how would the stone have gotten there in the first place? If we can find some way inside we will be able to go from there."
"Luke, I see something!" He turned to see Rick pointing toward the volcano. There was a very small opening in the cliff wall.
"There it is, just like you said," Ilum said. "But how do we get inside it?"
Luke turned back to Rick. "How many people to your life boats carry?"
"Six."
He turned to face his companions again. "We'll take one of the life boats and row our way in. Once we're inside we'll follow the path until we find the Pyrolith."
Chicken <-- Egg <-- Rocket Powered Fist Take that, science!
**I'll try to post...it's hurts to do too much, though...the girl got my whole upper arm and shoulder!**
Karana, Ilum, Raven, Warren, Izuki, and Luke all clambered into a life boat, ready for whatever lay ahead. Warren seemed entertained by some event, and Luke wasn't thrilled with him. Ilum and Karana merely exchanged glances and shrugged.
"I wonder what monsters we'll face here," Izuki crooned, staring at the island's black cliffs.
"I suppose we'll have to see," Karana answered.
**God...all I can handle. Shit!**
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." Timothy 4:14 KJV
Sorry, I decided to give myself a brief rest from typing yesterday because my arm was aching after giving blood. But I'm not so bad now. Just don't expect anything too long =)
Raven
The boat rocked gently at first and then more fiercely as it approached the shore and bobbed along on ragged waves, over tepid rocks. Raven attempted to calm the water but soon realised that keeping the boat within the confines of the narrow passage without the sea's natural strength was too difficult and they had no choice but to hold on and hope for a safe journey as the volcanic island loomed closer and closer, the heavy, smog of the atmosphere clogging their lungs.
"I don't think I like it here," Izuki murmured quietly, her excitement about monsters abated now that the danger was tangible and just an arm's breadth away.
"This won't take long," Luke replied in what he hoped would be a soothing tone but worry etched across his voice as he gazed up at the rocky mound and wondered if they would have to climb it. Raven covered his hand with hers and asked:
"Will we have to climb it?" Luke smiled gently and nodded.
"I think so," he said, "But let's look around first. Maybe there's a way in."
The boat jerked to a halt, nearly snagging on an outcrop of rocks. The six friends climbed out, one after another, and before they went, Warren fastened the boat to the rocks with one of Rick's ropes.
"Let's hope it's not volcano day," Warren joked.
"Volcano day? Could that volcano erupt?" Izuki asked, her eyes wide and Warren laughed, shaking his head.
"Who knows? If we disturb this Pyrolith perhaps it will, perhaps it won't but either way we've got ourselves an adventure, that's for sure."
Luke and the others came to the entrance he saw when they were on the boat. It was narrow and dark, they would have to walk in a line, one behind the other to get through. "Let's try this entrance," Luke said.
Izuki shuddered as she looked into the small tunnel. "It's so dark..."
"Don't worry," Karana said, "I'll make sure there's enough light to see."
Luke turned to Karana and said, "Since you're going to be supplying us with light you'll have to go in first."
She nodded in agreement as she created a ball of fire in her hand. One-by-one they went into the tunnel.
Chicken <-- Egg <-- Rocket Powered Fist Take that, science!
Karana nodded as she called flame into her hand. The action was second-nature now. Effortless. She entered the tiny passageway, pulling out a dagger so she could bat away the spiderwebs. The others filed in behind her, Izuki in the middle.
They walked for what seemed forever, passing over rough edges and weaving through stalagmites in the darkness. Then...
"Wait," Karana stopped, holding up one hand.
"What is it?" Luke and Ilum asked in unison.
"I don't know!" On the last word, the ground creaked, heaved, and fell in. They all fell down a long shaft, landing on a ledge in the heart of the volcano. There, in front of them, on a pedastal, on a high, thin, peninsula, was the second stone.
"Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." Timothy 4:14 KJV
The pyrolith glowed with a warm red light as it floated just above the pedestal. Everyone got back to their feet, careful not to fall over the edge they were standing on.
"Man, that hurt!" Warren said as he got up, then he got a good look at the stone. Wide eyed, he said, "Is that the pyrolith?"
Luke nodded. "That's right. Everyone keep your wits about you, we don't know what might be guarding this one.
Two things happened at once. Rocks began to fall from the ceiling and the lava began to bubble and shift. The whole cavern shook as two giant creatures emerged, one from the rocks in the ceiling and one from the lava below.
--Boss Battle!--
x1 Rock Golem
x1 Lava Golem
Battle Length: 15 posts
Chicken <-- Egg <-- Rocket Powered Fist Take that, science!
All of a sudden, the temperature in the cavern soared and the rocky ground began to shift and shudder as a huge creature pulled itself out of the wall.
"I don't like the look of that..." Warren mumbled, staring at the vast rock monster.
"Feel free to take the lava one instead," Raven called over her shoulder as water spiralled from her hands, turning to steam before it even reached the creature. Warren glanced around.
"No thanks," he replied. "I think your skills are much better suited to that." The six friends moved closer to each other, all stood in a circle facing outwards.
"He has a good point actually," Luke said, facing the lava golem along with Raven and Ilum. "Karana, switch places with me. Rock against rock and ice against lava will be much more effective. Karana nodded her agreement and they moved swiftly as the two creatures advanced, one moving with slow, heavy steps and the other flowing smoothly and rapidly across the ground, melting any rock in its way.
Warren smiled grimly at Luke.
"Good to have known you, mate," he mumbled and suddenly the wind picked up in the room and a cool breeze ruffled their hair, bringing relief from the heat. "Sorry about this," Warren said and the breeze became a tornado, directed towards the Rock Golem but the adventurers were also affected by the high wind, finding standing a little harder and speaking almost impossible.
(Don't forget, kitty, you can summon Shiva to take out the lava golem. But don't forget also that once you do no one else can summon for the rest of the day. But maybe try to hold off on the summon for a post or two just so we can hit the 15 post mark easier.)
The tornado had helped slow the creature's advance, but nothing more. Once the wind died down the lava golem continued forward. Luke, Warren and Izuki made their way around the creature so they could fight the rock golem. The lava golem started to turn toward them but Ilum and Karana bombarded it with ice magic while Raven splashed it with water. It turned its attention to the three that were fighting it. A low rumble came from within the creature as the lava on its body parted to reveal a giant eye. It looked at all three of them for a moment before closing.
Luke and Izuki threw multiple void spells at the rock golem to throw the creature off balance while Warren used his wind spells to knock it down. Every time it fell though it got right back up. Izuki had to use both her hands to create her void balls and throw them but Luke was creating and throwing his void magic with the use of just one hand each. he would create a ball of void and throw it at the creature and by the time it hit he had another one ready to go in his other hand.
"This isn't working!" Izuki shouted. "It just keeps getting back up!"
"Just keep attacking!" Luke shouted. "It has to have some kind of weakness."
Chicken <-- Egg <-- Rocket Powered Fist Take that, science!
This will probably be my last post before I leave for Greece actually but feel free to have Raven summon Shiva later. That or post again before Saturday afternoon GMT time =D
Raven
Raven stood solidly to the right of Karana and Ilum but she felt hopeless. Despite their barrage of ice and the torrent of water, the lava golem flowed onwards and it was almost upon them, looming over them in the shape of a humongous man. The fist crashed down towards them and the whole group scattered, divided around the corners of the cavern.
"Told you!" Izuki shouted. "We can't fight them!" Sweat beaded across her forehead and she was breathing heavily. Raven looked around: they were all in the same condition.
"Warren, Izuki, blast his right leg! Let's trip him and buy some time," Luke commanded and all three of them began to hurl blasts at the rock golem's leg.
"We need a plan!" Karana called out to Ilum and Raven as they kept the lava golem at bay with their ice and water. But it was soon moving again, raising its leg to kick at them. They aimed at the leg and it exploded in a shower of boiling water that scalded everyone's flesh and dragged exclamations of pain and surprise from the adventurers. The lava golem backed off towards the centre of the room. It's body was entire again but it has shrunk in order to compensate for the lost lava.
"Don't let it reach the centre!" Karana shouted. "If we can keep it from reforming, we can break it down."
