"Well, I dont sleep much myself. Maybee its a from of insamnia... Maybee its from me living my life in the shadows! Either wayi will push on.. Unless thantos needs some rest.. then i will shut my eyes and try to relax..."

*Sexodus waits for a Answer, Ready to move.. or sit...

While waiting, He walks over and makes a circle from the dust on the wall then steps back a few. Raising his right hand, It starts glow a almost dark cloud of smoke.. and begins to practice throwing his Energy blades... then raises his left hand and does the same, One left, one right.. back and forth while lowering his hands after each one

"Well, with a dragon keeping watch and the doors barricaded I feel pretty good about trying to get a little rest. Darghon, wake me when you want to take some rest and I'll take over watch."

Moving over close to D'Aleen, Thantos lies down on the floor, moves his pack under his head and closes his eyes.

Darghon nods and smiles the best he can towards Thantos. He watches as they all rest.. well most.. or maybe just some. Krazixs seemed busy tuning into their fallen campanions blade.

Meanwhile Sexodus seemed busy training himself... he used a strange magic.. one that even he had never seen. It was as if he could fuse and negate light. A power which could be useful against something made of the dark..

Darghon was bored.. nothing was happening.. he creates himself a fire ball and tosses it back and forth between his claws snuffing it when he had had enough. 'We need some action...' he thinks to himself.. 'oh how fun it would be..' he chuckles. He starts wondering about his body and what other new things there might be to find out.. 'I guess I will just have to wait..' and with that he yawns.. a huge billowing stream of fire bursts from within.. Darghon shuts his jaws quickly.. two tiny plumes of smoke issue forth from his nostrils.. 'How..' he thinks

Darghon rolls onto his back.. wiggling his new claws in the air.. "Gah.. so bored.." Darghon gets up and rearranges the room.. then goes back to his resting place...

::XianXian talks to her mushroom, attempting to do so quietly, every once in a while noticing peers and stares from others due to her lack of observing quiet time. With her mushroom's approval, she begins to build pyramids with pieces of wood, and accidently knocks them over from time to time.::

Darghon watches the little pixie build her little wooden pyramids.. knocking them over from time to time, unknowingly to her, with his telekinesis... Darghon feeling a little less bored now..

by request
* The hall that you are in is 100 ft by 50 ft
The hall has been demolished in what seems to be a battle and carnage,
of what you do not know.

In the center are the double doors you came through,
and at the opposites sides there is a single door.

In the middle of the room were large dining tables mauled, clawed, cracked and beaten
as if they used to for finishing the fight
and finishing their opponents brutally.

The ceiling strangely doesn't have the cobwebs that seem to pervade the rest of the keep.
It has been blackened, and the beams across are charred.

There are small crevaces & cracks throughout the stone walls,
however the only significant cracks are those that are at the bottom of the solid oak doors you see before you.

There used to be a pile of chairs in the corner,
but now you have used this with the tables to barricade yourself into this room,
To sleep & be safe...and grow.
But now there is only the pixie's treasure chest
still full and untouched...
only with the jewelry & gems that have been strewn around by the pixie herself.

You are starting to feel anxious now that you've rested,
as if you need to trudge on to free yourself from this hellhole,
before it drains your will. *

Krazixs finishes his examination of the blade, satisfied that it will do for now. He stands and thrusts the blade through his tattered belt.

"Well is everyone rested? What's the plan?"

Sleeping a wonderfully dreamless sleep, Thantos wakes up refreshed. Feeling D'Aleen pressed against his back he moves slowly to prevent her from falling. Turning and laying her gently down on the floor, he gazes at her beautiful face hoping that he didn't wake her. Giving her a small kiss on the forehead he gets up and take a look around.

"I'm very rested Krazixs. I hope you were able to get some rest in that new body of yours. I think I'll have a look at the crevices by the door over there. Wanna help?"

Thantos moves over to the door and tries to examine the crevice. He looks inside but doesn't get too close. Drawing his sword he carefully probes the inside as far as he can, trying to sense if there is anything dangerous or interesting inside.

"Let's do it, maybe we could coax our new pixie pal to have a look on the other side"

Krazixs heads over to the door with Thantos

Darghon grins at the awake people "Finally Thantos.. thought you were goin to take forever..." Darghon looks at Krazixs.. "The sword any good?"

"Oh.. and do we want to take the treasure with us? I could just stick it in my d-bag.. it won't get any heavier" Darghon watches as Thatos probes the door "yeah you do that.. I remember last time I looked through a door to see what was on the other side.." Darghon sits his butt on the ground "Why don't we just go through it?" Darghon looks at the door "Wouldn't that be easier?"

"Ah you impatient dragon. I dont' want to unbrace or open the door until everyone is up and ready to move so I figured I'd just try to check things out."

"As for the treasure I'd say you'd have to ask the Pixie what to do with it. I'd love to take a look at the treasure and see if there is anything I could use but it isn't mine to take."

*Stands and greets his partners
"Well what shall we do?"

ooc:as long as Thantos finds nothing...

"XianXian would you like to Explore? if so we should ready to open the door, if she finds something of Ergency!"

"The trash in that box was all *his* (referring to her previous captor)."

:: Having no more interest in the treasure, the pixie wanders over to the door, and begins to try and crawl through the cracks on the bottom, her rags catching her as she tries to push through.

She grows tired of her failed attempts to get through and begins to disrobe her rags... and stops when she finds everyone expectantly waiting for her.

She coughs expectantly back, reminding the party of proper manners::

Waking up to find most of the group gathered near the door, Vinoh witnesses XianXian's failed attempts at crawling under the door. As she was about to disrobe, the mind mage came close.

"Now, now, there's no need for that, little pixie. Give me a moment."

He then closes his eyes, concentrates and scans for any presences or feelings behind the door.

*Psychic power: Presence sense (other side of door).*

Krazixs smiles in amusement and politely turns his back.

"Great.." as he hears the pixies words.. Darghon wanders over to the treasure chest and takes handfuls of gold and jewels and starts to put them in his D-Bag.. the little rift to a pocket dimension opening up, Darghon scoops the treasure into his D-bag.. Watching the treasure line get lower and lower..

"We'll split this up between us at the end of our travels" he says while scooping..

::The pixie, satisfied with Krazixs polite example continues to disrobe, and hides her body behind each bit of rag and finally crawls agily through the crack at the bottom of the door.

As she enters the next room, there is a silent pause between her presence and absence.

On the other side, she looks around curiously, ready to convey through the crack what she sees.::

Darghon.. finishing with putting the treasure in his D-bag.. sees the dagger then thinks 'I really should have put that in individual bags before putting all that in there..' he sighs picking up the dagger and looking at it.. intrigued he examines it..

"People.. look what I have discovered in the chest.. a dagger or some sorts.." Darghon looks over to his comrads near the door.. "Have you discovered anything?"

*Sexodus draws a large curious nature to the dagger...

"hmm... Darghon, May i hav..*cough* see what you have found?"

*Sexodus ponders... did i just say that?

Opening his eyes, Vinoh reports:

"There seems to be nothing waiting behind this door. It is safe to go through."

Seeing that XianXian had already went through, Vinoh smiles.

"Well, it seems that my powers are about to be confirmed firsthand!"

With that, the mind mage clears the barricade and opens the door.

"Sorry Sexudos, seems our comrades are moving on.. maybe another time.." Darghon slips it in his d-bag and moves on with Vinoh to back him up..

"Darghon, when we get a chance I can see if the dagger has any special properties, but it seems were moving, so next time"

Krazixs waits for everyone to get situated before moving.

Seeing the Pixie crawl under the door in her all-together, Thantos turns his head (slower than he could have) and waits to hear word of the other side of the door. He had found nothing by looking and listening under the door.

Upon hearing Vinoh and XianXian give the all clear, Thantos helps Vinoh clear the barricade. Then draws his sword.

"If someone would be so kind as to give us some light down this passage I don't mind leading the way. "

With a slight smile at the pixie's impulsiveness, D'Aleen tries to use her sharp eyesight to see down the passage.

"Perhaps it is best if Sexodus leads, as he has been down this passageway before. I had best take up the rear as my arrows will be useless unless I am in a clear position."

Frowning slightly at the thought of what happened to the last person that took up the rear, the elf patiently waits for the group to start moving.

"I didnt spend much time in the area ahead of us. I was able to get in thru a crack in the wall, That is when i heard your companyons. and well my curosity got the best of me. Like it sometimes does"

*Sexodus helps unbaricade the door. examining the doorway one more time. As to make sure nothing has changed since the last time he walked thru! Stepping in, he eyes XianXian only long enough for her to catch notice. He then starts to examine the room more closly falling ahead of the others... Making sure to hear them, Watching the floor, Examining the walls and cealing and always looking for anything of interest.

"XianXian? Do you see anything?"

Darghon steps into the corridor.. suprised that he can see in the total darkness.. he looks and sees...

But for the others benefit he creates a globe of daylight... mentally controlling it just up ahead of the group... "D'aleen.. are you sure you'll be able to use your arrows in the corridor.. especially from the back?"

::To sexodus, hiding herself as best she can while rushing to her rags::

"I saw nothing! And I should hope that goes the same for all of you too!"

::XianXian clothes herself in her rags, picks up her mushroom and thimble, climbs aboard sexodus, pulls a string from one of her rags, fashions it into a lead, and holds on. Afterword, she slaps Sexodus' ear and with her other free hand, holds her mushroom, thimble in hand.::

*Sexodus Helps XianXian Fashion the string around his shoulder and armpit, as for her to have a better grip.

"XianXian, if you would like I can empty a Pocket for you to store your belongings? Do you remember the dagger? Do you remember anything Unique about it? The sound that it made when it fell, has struck my quit curious."

::XianXian shakes her head to the previous question and holds her mushroom and thimble expectantly for Sexodus to handle them caringly::

"Thank you for the light Darghon. And yes....I do think my arrows will be quite effective if I am watching our rear! I just don't wish for anyone to be in my way!

While I may not have the strength with a sword I do have a sharp eye and my arrows fly true. I shall defend our backs with my bow and then my life, if need be."

With that, D'Aleen winks slyly at the dragon and silently waits.

"Yes D'Aleen.. well.. we shall see when the time comes.." Darghon pokes his tongue out a little at her and continues down with the rest of the group..

"Everyone stop!" Krazixs lookes carefully at the ceiling and floor where the wall meets. Checking for traps or markings that would suggest something amiss. He looks particualry at the corners of the room and along the seems of the walls.

:Detect traps:

*Sexodus emptys his right poacket into his left, and carefully takes XianXian Belongings. Placing them into his right pocket!

"Remember XianXian, you stuff is in my right pocket. Also if i should have to move quickly i will be grabing you and my shoulder. I will do my best not to grab hard, as to hurt you."

*Sexodus turns to the others
"The Dark archway is where I came from. All I remember is a stairwell going up. the door I have not continued thru. However i will check the room and door for traps as well."

*Sexodus carefull searches the walls and floor. and continues to the door in the center of the wall. and begins to listen for anything beyond it, Also checking for traps or anything of intrest or Value

"XianXian, I hope you will serv as another set of eyes for me. We could acomplish much this way"

::XianXian does as instructed, as though she thought the idea.::

Sexodus & krazixs:
* You detect nothing of traps within the room or on the door.
All is quiet. *

All:
* Through the archway you see a dark, low passage
leading to an ascending staircase.
Sickly yellow lichen covers the ceiling.
There is a small room on each side of the passage. *

Darghon sets his rump down.. "Hrmm.. interesting no?" He looks out through the dark arch way.. "Damn lichen.. makes me think about the flesh eating mold.."

"I'm all for goin through the door.." Darghon sits and waits..

Attrah notices the two rooms off to the sides,and wonders what could be in them...

Darghon wanders over to the the arch way and has a look at the rooms seeing if he can see anything in them...

"Darghon while you inspect that room i will inspect the one on the right"

*Sexodus is carefull to inspect for any sort of traps

"After we check the rooms and this hall. I say we move to the staircase, and get moving right along! what do you all say?"

Vinoh makes his way into the arched passageway.

"Careful everyone. The last time I went into a lichen-covered passage, it was with Kentelos. We nearly got killed by ravaging, animated skeletons, so be on the lookout!"

Vinoh concentrates briefly on one of the jewels circling around his head, the one that enhances his strength to ogre-like proportions. Taking out his scout's club, he is ready for action.

Darghon watches as Sexodus walks right past him under the arch way.. under the lichen cover ceiling!!! Darghons eyes widen.. "Damn fool.." he then sighs.. Darghon moves into the room on the left carefully...

Kentelos, now weary of any sort of lichen and what he associates with it gets ready to unleash fiery pain on anything that threatens the group.

"I would say I have a bad feeling about this... but since being in here I always have a bad feeling."

*ooc sorry all i've been having a ball with FFXI i will try to check up on this thread daily from now on though.

Darghon & Sexodus:
* Under the dark archway to your right,
there is nothing of interest within the four little 10-foot alcoves that line the way 2 on each side.
The lichen is the only thing of concern, but it doesn't seem to be harmful at all.
The stair well goes straight up for a bit, and then twists out of site to the right.
The only thing that seems to be of interest within the room you are currently in
is the havoc that has been left here from a great battle of the past
and the closed door on the far side of the room which you have already checked for traps several times over. *

Darghon wanders back to the room where his companions are.. "Nothing.. where to now?" Darghon twists his head and looks at the door.. "I want to have a look through there.. but best to decide as a group"

He sits and waits.

"It matters not to me" Krazixs stands in the middle of the room, looking through the doorway where Sexodus went "Anything in there?"

"I'm with you Darghon - I say we move on to the other doors and keep going.

What say the rest of you?"

"Okay, let's do the door and see what's there. Also, don't forget that back in the room where we rested and "changed" is another door that Kentelos and I had checked out, but didn't thoroughly do so because of the skeletons. We shouldn't forget about that."

"Krazixs I have only been through the archway and came down the stairs. I did not go through the other door.
Darghon that is why i moved so quickly in here as i did not have a problem before.
But i vote we move thru The Door, Cosidering we have already checked it for traps.
What say you XianXian?"

::XianXian points coyly forward, to the unopened door that Sexodus mentions, smiling innocently::

Darghon wanders back to the group.. seeing that the majority of everyone has made a decision he goes to the door and opens it seeing..

"hmm looks to be an armory perhaps?" Krazixs inspects the table looking for a ledger or papers.

"I would say more of a study Krazixs.." Darghon says noticing the cot.. "Whoever was the owner of the castle, they must have had a youg child.."

"Or it could be a servants quarters....

Wouldn't it be strange if it were that old mans room."

"It seems to be... ...Clean? It seems we may be expecting someone or something. Maybee we should check the room a little better but be fast, as to a spirit, person or thing may be coming back, or maybee we could set some sort of trap and wait?"

"Kentelos, you have met a old man? was or is he any danger?"

"I'll try a mental sweep, to see if I can get a read on the objects here."

Vinoh closes his eyes, focusing on gathering impressions and feelings felt in this place. He touches the bed and desk, as well as a few of the weapons, as these might be more likely to have been used and therefore would contain the clearest impressions.

*Psychic power: Object read (bed, desk, weapons)*

::The Pixie sniffs the air for plant growth, so that she may speak with it and find any history of this area's inhabitants, and their actions... either malicious, or studious.::

*Sexodus hearing the noise, readys himself. Unsure of XianXian's powers he places his left hand above his right shoulder as to shield her, ready to cup her if i should fall or be hittin.
He raises his right hand Unwittingly and ready to start throwing Energy blades... relizing he has no IDEA where everyone is at stops in his tracks...

"WE NEED LIGHT"

"Kentelos.....Attrah! We need light now!!"

D'Aleen curses the darkness that even her elven eyes cannot penetrate. Catching a ghost of movement she trains her arrow on what she thinks is their newest threat, holding her bow steady despite the fierce pounding of her heart she waits for a glimmer of light so they can fight back.

Krazixs reels, feeling blood running down his cheek, and a ache in his head where it slammed into the wall behind him. Something evil was in here. Instinct takes over and the katana is in his hands. The words on his lips come out in a voice unlike any his companions have heard. They are at once full of power and alien.

In his hands the katana takes on a white light.

:Spell-Holy Aura:

Darghon stays calm "Remember.. you have other sense than just your sight" Darghon is ready to strike at the creature if it comes near him.. he also casts Detect the Invisible to see if that will do anything..

(OOC: Sorry about the delays everyone. I was on client site out of town since Tuesday. That will be a regular thing (3-4 days per week down in Washington until mid december). I'll try to update during the night but there may be several days that go by without me able to update)

Feeling the light drain out of the room, Thantos raises his sword. He had been trained in nighttime and dark fighting, using all your other senses to detect your attacker, but that was against flesh and blood. Concentrating on his breath he focuses himself, stands in a ready crouch, sword raised and waits to hear something.

::XianXian erupts in fright, and sheds her rags quickly, and screams, sending a counter-aura of fear, into an extreme plead for sunlight throughout her body, attempting to extend it about her.

She flies higher and fligher screaming frantically, with attempts of engulfing the room in energy of bright sunlight and confidence::

With the sudden burst of light, Krazixs sees the shadow near Vinoh. With a clear view Krazixs moves to attack. XianXian fly's toward the ceiling and the apparition turns it's attention towards her. Krazixs moves his sword to intercept and strikes.

Seeing Krzixs begin to strike Kentelos focus's heat and energy into the already powerful blade making the edges super heated, and when it strikes will give off a burst of fire.

"MAKE YOUR STRIKE TRUE KRAZIXS!!"

::The pixie, capturing the shadow's attention continues her clamour, but zooms as fast as she can along the walls in a square, above the lances and swords, from the cot to the desk in attempted rotation.::

"..Noo" he yells out seeing the creature ontop of his friend.. Seeing it lunge towards one of their new companions he frowns.. "You can stay right where you are.." he says as he thrusts one of his hands forwards issuing forth a telekinetic hold on the creature..

Darghon lashes out at the creature.. "Die.. creature of a forgotten realm.." striking at it with his claws as it tries to get past to the doorway...

ooc: Sorry thanksgiving and all been kinda busy with family... will do better after this weekened!

*Sexodus is in aww of the creature. Wondering if his Energy blades will have any effect...


One After another he lunges blades, as fast as he can at the creature hoping to slow it down...

Attrah had been standing around,doing nothing.
The entire incident..didnt phase him at all.
The knight seemed to come alive at once,as if he had only been a statue moments before.

Attrah walked over to where Vinoh lay,and asked D'Aleen if he was alright....


The further in they went,the harder it became for the knight to keep his thoughts in order.Voices were shouting at him..in his mind.Telling him to do a thousand things at once.
Some good,some bad..so far both sides were at a standstill and making no progress..leaving Attrah to ignorance.
Vinoh had helped Krazixzs...maybe there was something he could do.

"does anyone have anything to help the ones that are injured? and as for the rest of us how are all of you doing? we should do a sweep of the room to mack sure there is nothing else left."

*Sexodus does a brief check of the room. Looking thru all the shelfs and draws and cabinets. if anything of interst is there he will stop and examine further. Always being sure to check for traps on anything he may open

::The pixie, fatigued of her long unnecessary, and previously unused magics, lands on the desk, and takes quick deep breaths. She begins to close her eyes and hum and cares nothing of those around her while she recuperates in unconcious bliss.::

Darghon gets out his light blade.. "D'Aleen would you be able to tend to Vinohs wounds.. Thantos can you stay here for backup.." He looks at Krazixs impressed by the elfs skills.. "Want to do some hunting?" Darghon wanders outside of the room and looks to see if the creature is still around his light blade hilt ready in hand..

Thantos, in preparing for a fight in the dark hadn't been prepared for the sudden flash of light. When it "turned on" he just happened to be staring directly in the direction of the Pixie and his a sudden pain shot through his eyes. Dropping to his knees, it took a couple of seconds for his eyes to adjust and by then the fight was over.

Standing up and looking around, he sees the pixie fall into unconsiousness. Moving over to the fallen Star, he looks carefully to see if she is breathing. Not knowing what else to do with Pixies he tries to make her comfortable on the desk.

"Does anyone know if Pixies normally can do that or did she call upon magics that have hurt her? "

Looking back in around the corner he sees Thantos dwelling over the pixie "Don't worry about her.. she will be fine" He smiles "she will have just drained her self of her magic.. just will take a time to recouperate"

Vinoh slowly stands back up, his wounds healed, but is still shaken by what happened.

"Well, it would seem someone very bad lived here. Or maybe the attack was just coincidence. In any case, I still wish to try and get a read off of the area. D'Aleen, since you are already here, why don't you stay close, in case we get more surprises?"

With that, Vinoh closes his eyes again, focussing on getting some images from the cot.

*Psychic power: Object read - Cot*

::the pixie rolls onto her side, eyes closed, and swings her arm around searching for something while making anxious moaning noises. her hand clasps onto a stray piece of paper, and she pulls it over her and warms herself with it as a blanket as she lets out a mild sigh of relief.::

"Darghon, why don't you and Attrah see if there's any more about. But first. . . " Krazixs does says a word under his breath and the cut on his face heals with a line so faint one wonders if he was even hurt.

:Spell Minor Heal:

Walking over to the pixie the elf bends down whispering words in a strange tongue.
"The pixie is alright, she seems just a bit winded is all" With a smile Krazixs next turns to Attrah.
"Here my friend, before you leave. . ." Krazixs places his hand near Attrah's temple, letting a soothing light filled with courage and strength flow into the knight.
:Spell: Bless:
"There, that should do the trick," turning he next moves to check on Vinoh sensing the mage to be shaken, but otherwise healthy, "Bit of a close one there eh, my friend?"

Sexodus:
* In your rumaging around the room and in your inspections of the area,
you happen by chance to find a vertical line slightly cracked open
within the wall of the far left corner of the room *

Vinoh:
* In the cot's empathetic read, you feel flashes of anger, pride, honor, loathing & ...
of vengence...
You see a warrior, standing straight & tall...his armor flashing
His jaw firm, his lips tight...and in his eyes, a coldness, an emptiness.
A blade is drawn...and angry stride forward with intent. *

Seeing sexodus inspecting a crack in the wall Kentelos walks over to him.

"Hey what is it we have here? Should we see if it opens?"

(OOC: I'm guessing the shadow beast is long gone..)

Darghon unable to see the dark devil wanders back inside and sees what is goin on.. Putting his hilt back in it's leather holder he looks around.

Seeing Kentelelos and Sexudos hovering around something he wanders over to inspect.. "Hrmm.. a visible line.." Darghon looks for slide marks on the floor to see if it opens inwards or outwards.. "There must be a trigger somewhere around.."

He goes over to the desk and sits back on his hind legs, curious, he brings anything that may seem larger than coins and gems from the part in his d-bag. The opening to the bag glows first thing he takes out is the dagger.. "Krazixs, would you kindly look at this dagger for me" Darghon holds it up looking at it then puts it on the desk "There is definetly something strange about"

Darghon removes all the treasure from his D-bag and puts it on the desk to sift through, inspecting the coins and gems while trying not to wake the little pixie...

"Of course"

Krazixs retrieves the dagger and turns it over in his hand inspecting it closely. Placing the dagger in one hand, holding the other hand over it Krazixs speaks strange words.

:Spell-Identify:

Curious as to what items were in the chest they discovered the pixie in, D'Aleen starts sifting through the various treasures and gems that Darghon has heaped upon the table....searching for anything unusual.

Frowning slightly a thought comes to mind...

"I wonder who the owner of this treasure is. We really should ask Xian Xian when she is rested and awake as to the identity of the "he" she was referring to when we first discovered her. The more information we have about the "people" that reside here the better off we are."


OOC: Sorry all but I won't be able to access the net again until tomorrow. :(