The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[LadyTevar]

"Ok... am I the only one feeling like something has gone extremely wrong here?"

"I feel it too. The guards tryng to provoke us, the Baron was dead, they are saying he never died... this is strange. Very strange."

Something hit him

"We need to travel to the other towns and see if their guards and nobility are acting any differently. Or at least so much differently that it isnt PCs doing it"

Leandra, who'd been watching Sviri's sudden departure, whirled to face Elwyn in shock. "You can't think this is that wide-spread!" she protested, even as Leah remembered the long, long list of those assassinated. It gave her chills down her spine, IC and IRL.

Leandra wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off that chill. "I don't want to think like this. I don't want to consider this..." she muttered, before spitting it out. "If the Dark Riders are PCs... what happened to those they killed?"

She shook her head, pacing back and forth in the shop. "Poisoned blades, right? If the PCs are getting |-|4><0r3d, how better to get the virus?" she stopped, looking helplessly to Elwyn and Thog. "Or am I really going off into the X-files here."

[SirNitram]

"I'm getting serious flashbacks to old games when you talk like that." Thog had slipped into Albert again; he felt it inappropriate to talk like the big oaf, especially after Leandra slipped into 1337. "But, consider what we're actually talking about. We can't rez them.. Maybe it's just new content or something. Like there's a new area where some dead folks hang out. Let's just.. Try and get a grip. What else could it possibly be?"

[Rukia]

Siv walked back to the keep. "I have official business with Sir Ottoman. Where praytell may he be?" In other words... tell me where in the hell hs is. She stood looking at the gaurds, not expecting an answer. "Look if you don't tell me where he is, I'm gonna find a way in. Then you'll have to chase me around the Keep and it'll be a big mess. I know you know something happened in there. Why aren't you doing anything aobut it?" She stood staring at the too serious gaurds.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I'm getting serious flashbacks to old games when you talk like that." Thog had slipped into Albert again; he felt it inappropriate to talk like the big oaf, especially after Leandra slipped into 1337. "But, consider what we're actually talking about. We can't rez them.. Maybe it's just new content or something. Like there's a new area where some dead folks hang out. Let's just.. Try and get a grip. What else could it possibly be?"

"I agree, we need to exhaust those possibilities, but we need to know what is going on before we start speculating about a cause. If such a thing were the case it would have been mentioned in an update like it always is. So, we need to go to other towns and see of the guards are behaving like this. And we need to see if the Barons act differently if they are the same people, or if all of them are acting like this. Because if they are... I hope I am wrong. But we really are slipping into bad sci-fi territory, all we an do is hope and maybe pray if you are into that sort of thing, that the explanation is more reasonable than the one I have bouncing half-formed in my head"

[LadyTevar]

"What's your half-baked theory," Leandra sighed, "since you've already heard mine?"

[Dark Silver]

As the Real World faded and Zion came into exsistence, Mark found himself once again, in the Baron's throneroom. The body of Decimus was near him, the hole still in his stomach, the blood though had long sense drained out, leaving the man standing in a dried pool of deep red.

Draven sat on his throne, fingers drumming idly on the wooden arm. He was dressed not in normal court attire, but in armor, old fashioned armor, made of leather and steel, gold inlay formed a intricate weave upon the breastplate, maring the otherwise black armor.

The Baron looked almost bored, but when Ottomon appeared in the chamber, a slow smile creased his lips. He rose from the throne, and with all regal grace, he moved towards the newly logged in Paladin. As he moved, the audience chamber seeme to grow chill,

"Ahhhh.....Ottomon...so nice of you to drop in." he said levely, with just a hint of something fear inspiring behind it, "Do be useful and hurl that rotting corpse into the hallway...."


---------

The guard stared at the nearly nude man who walked up to them. Instantly, they moved to block the door, hands tightening on their swords.

"Speak your business with the Baron." one said, glaring at Decimus

[Comrade Tortoise]

"There are a number of possibilities. SOme more reasonable than others. The safety protocols could be wearing down, either by design flaw or by intention. SO that the HDD gives us more sensory input and our brain reacts accordingly. COmbine that with a new "evil" player guild that does not show up on guild searches. There are other possibilities, such as an odd cluster of severe psychosomatic responses. But the one that seems to resonate in my head, aand one which I have no proof for and may just be the result of too much 1950s Twilight Zone, is that the game has started to intrude on the real world somehow by some evil happenstance."

[LadyTevar]

But the one that seems to resonate in my head, aand one which I have no proof for and may just be the result of too much 1950s Twilight Zone, is that the game has started to intrude on the real world somehow by some evil happenstance."

The dream came back to her, suddenly. Darek stepping thru the door that she'd tried hard to lock, stepping into her safehouse. Leandra froze as Leah pulled off the HDD, having to step away, out of the bedroom-turned-game setting.

It was a few minutes before Leandra un-idled.

[SirNitram]

"The game's intruding on reality?" Thog-Albert raised a brow. "I find that unlikely. Sure, it's really realistic, but how does that explain anything but the bruises? It doesn't account for strange enemies or any of that." The half-giant shook his head.

[Agent Fisher]

The guard stared at the nearly nude man who walked up to them. Instantly, they moved to block the door, hands tightening on their swords.

"Speak your business with the Baron." one said, glaring at Decimus

"No real business. My gear is within, and I need to retrieve it. And watch your tone when you speak to me, soldier. I'm an officer and deserve some respect."

[Comrade Tortoise]

"The game's intruding on reality?" Thog-Albert raised a brow. "I find that unlikely. Sure, it's really realistic, but how does that explain anything but the bruises? It doesn't account for strange enemies or any of that." The half-giant shook his head.

"Hey, I told you, too much twilight zone. But remember, if it IS the case that this is happening, and I dont think it is, and hope it isnt, remember the first rule of science fiction. If something strange and crazy is happening, do not discount the possibility of other strange and crazy things. If it were the case that the game is intruding on reality, the idea that there is a malevolent entity behind it follows easily from the premise

You OK Leandra?"

[LadyTevar]

Leandra nodded. "Sorry... just got a bit too creeped out." she admitted. "You know.. instead of walking around to each town, we could just ask people on the forums if their leaders have started acting weird since the reset..."

[Dark Silver]

"Your a officer of the Militia, I answer only to the Captain of the Baron's personal guard, or the Baron himself."

As if to accent the point, the guard grabbed Decimus by the throat, in a quick move, threw the man against the stone wall, and had a dagger against the man's chest, the point pressing painfully into clothing and flesh, but not breaking it yet. "You will want to watch who YOUR speaking to, little man....before I decide to gut you where you stand..... As for getting in to get your gear....you aren't getting into the audience chamber today...so looks like your shit outta luck."

The guard smirked, sheathing the dagger, and all but tossing Decimus aside, contempt for him etched across his face.

[Agent Fisher]

"I will remember this insult, soldier. And I will be bringing it up to your commanding officer. You maybe a member of the personal guard, but I am still a superior officer, and you would do well to remember that."

He stood up and smoothed out his tunic.

"As for my gear, I shall wait here until I can retrieve it."

[Charon]

Ottoman nodded slowly. "Of course my lord." His mind raced, well the Baron was back as he should be. But something felt wrong. Gone was the wishy washy uncertainty that seemed to follow the Baron when he talked to him. Grabbing the body with one hand he tossed it out of the chambers, he glanced to the guards at each side. "The Baron wants the body removed."

Ottoman returned to the Audience chambers, his eyes looking around the chambers, it was once again spotless, not a drop of the blood had been left.

"Are you alright my lord?"

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus noticed his body be tossed out of the Chamber by Ottoman.

"Gentlemen, that is mine and I shall take it from here. Have a good day."

He grabbed his body and started to drag it away.

[Dark Silver]

Draven watched with self-satisfaction as Ottomon dragged the body out, and informed the guards. He strolled casually back towards his throne, the heavy metal boots clanking against the stone ground.

"Such a beautiful day out isn't it Ottomon? I have a job for you. A very important one. You can..of course refuse my request, and I won't hold it against you...." he said, adding 'but then I'll simply kill you until you accept....' in his mind.

"But understand, I require your skills to fulfill this mission, and it is of utmost importance to the Barony."

Draven turned back to Ottomon, before sitting down, almost uneasily, in the chair, as if he was getting adjusted to sitting, the movement not coming off quiet so natural.

[Charon]

Ottoman watched the Baron as he sat, having ignored the question posed to him. His watchful eyes collecting everything now. This was definately not the same Baron, his assassination had changed him somehow.

Ottoman got to one knee, the metal greaves making a soft thud as it pressed his green robes of nobility into the cold surface. "What is it you wish of me my lord?"

[Dark Silver]

The Baron simply smiled, leaning back in the chair, seeming to recline in it. His fingers steepled before his face, hiding the smirk which played across his lips. As he leaned back, shadows pssed over his face, casting the majority of it into darkness.

"Near the Charnel Mountains to the north, is a Dwarven stronghold. this Fortress holds a item I require from the Dwarves. You will goto the fortress, and retreive it for me, by force if nessacry. I suggest you take those who came to see to the attack earlier....especially the delicious little dark elf...."

The smirk in the Baron's voice was evident in how he talked, "It shouldn't take long, and I imagine you could even beguile that Druid to tag along....I imagine you'll need help."

[Charon]

Ottoman remained on one knee, looking at the floor.

"I will do as you ask my Lord. What is this item of power? So that I will know if the Dwarves attempt to decieve me. Or, should it come to it, in the midst of battle I may easily grab it."

[Dark Silver]

"An amulet, made of silver and gold, inlaid in Obsidian and Mercur. It is the shape of a hand, thrusting a torch skyward. It is powerful magic Ottomon, which is why I trust you to obtain it for me."

Draven leaned forward in his throne, elbows resting on his knees.

"You will, of course, not fail me in this, yes?"

[Rukia]

Rory got tired of standing and getting no response form the gaurds she removed her gear and left the room. She needed food and to check her cell. She got the last power bar from the night before and munched on it as she dug in her purse for her cell phone. She flipped it open... "Good no missed calls. Hopefully they wont need me today." She grabbed a cigarette and lit up before heading back to the room. She put her gear back on and assumed Sivri's persona.
+++++++++++

-I might have known nothing happened.- She sighed. Instead of continuing her wait, she headed to the tavern.

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus stepped out of the empty closet where he had stripped his corpse and re-geared himself. He walked towards the nearest exit of the Keep.

[Charon]

Ottoman got to his feet and bowed before the Baron. "I shall retrieve that item from the dwarves and return to you my lord." Ottoman turned and left the chambers. As he passed by the brutish guards he did not pause to give them a second look. He made his way quickly across the still fertile lands, lands he had spent much time himself making certain they were glorious. Something in the back of his mind warned him that they would not be like this upon his return.

Out of the corner of his eyes Ottoman saw Sivri making her way towards one of the taverns. He quickly chased her down.

"Lady Sivri." Ottoman nodded to her deeply, as befitted his station and hers. "I have been asked by the Baron to collect you and the others that were involved in the fight." Ottoman leaned in, appearing to be coughing to any onlookers. "It is of great importance that we do so. All is far worse than it seems in this quaint town." Ottoman stepped back. "Would you happen to know where Lady Leandra and the others are?"

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus finally made it back to the Militia Base. He returned the salutes of the soldiers guarding the entrance.

He made his way to his room and made sure he had two daggers on him. He petted his wolf and then headed to the stables to mount his horse.