The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus tied his horse to a post outside the potion shop.

He wanted to check and see if the others from the attack where okay.

He walked up to the door and opened it, stepping inside. He figured it would be empty except for the potion mistress behind the counter. He was slightly shocked to see everyone here.

[Shark Bait]

"I think I'm the only one who will need help with a mount," Leandra told Otto, after mentally agreeing with Thog about his swamp dragon. She'd met the poor dragon. "I've been far too busy with my shop to purchase my own... I usually just rent one when I need to go out adventuring, or go on foot."

“I can provide you with a horse of your ownâ€

[Charon]

Ottoman nodded. "I can easily handle getting a horse for you." When Leandra handed him the potion Ottoman took it and paid her the full price, never knew when you'd need a sleep potion, he doubted he would be able to use it for it's original purpose anymore. "It's not weird, I am getting the same feeling m'lady. Just then the door openned and he once again cursed himself for not carrying a weapon on himself anymore. That would change as soon as he was home. His eyes fell upon Decimus, the guard who had been slaughtered by the assassin. "Ah, good. I won't have to track you down as well."

[Agent Fisher]

"Uh, what?" Decimus said dumbly, not expecting the Lord Ottoman to be in the potion shop or even looking for him.

[LadyTevar]

[quote]“I can provide you with a horse of your ownâ€

[Shark Bait]

"I prefer mine living, no offense to your skills, Vadlenar." Leandra respectfully declined the offer. "Although as many soulstones as we can carry might not be a bad idea. I can only cast so many Resurrection spells a day."

Vadlenar smiled and chuckled to “No offense taken, I simply find it easier if my steed does not require rest or food though my choice of mount is not for everyone.â€

[LadyTevar]

"I prefer mine living, no offense to your skills, Vadlenar." Leandra respectfully declined the offer. "Although as many soulstones as we can carry might not be a bad idea. I can only cast so many Resurrection spells a day."

Vadlenar smiled and chuckled to “No offense taken, I simply find it easier if my steed does not require rest or food though my choice of mount is not for everyone.â€

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar placed the stone in her hand then placed his hands over and under her's closing her hand into a fist arround the stone. She shivered a little when he did this, his hands were as cold as the grave. There was a small glow from between her fingers as he focused on the stone. Then he let go and smiled "Keep it some place safe" he said with a wink before turning to Thog and repeating the process then Sviri, then Ottoman.

Finally he turned to Decimus and reached into his bag, it was empty "I'm sorry" he said and bowed a little "I did not know you would be joining us and it seems I have not crafted enough stones."

[Agent Fisher]

"Uh, joining what?" Decimus asked.

[Charon]

Ottoman reached out and took the soulstone that the warlock had made for them. "Thank you." Ottoman now turned to look over at Decimus. "The Baron has requested that we go on a mission to Dwarven lands to collect something. I cannot say more here."

[Agent Fisher]

"Ah. And that would be all of you? Or am I included in this 'we'? And if I am, why me?"

[LadyTevar]

"Ah. And that would be all of you? Or am I included in this 'we'? And if I am, why me?"

"Because you saw the Baron die." Leandra states bluntly, slipping the soulstone into the pouch where she kept her contact stones. Absently, she fondled Darek's stone, worried for him, before dropping it back in the pouch and closing it tightly. "The Baron seems very eager to get rid of everyone who saw the Dark Riders up close."

[Agent Fisher]

"Ah. And that would be all of you? Or am I included in this 'we'? And if I am, why me?"

"Because you saw the Baron die." Leandra states bluntly, slipping the soulstone into the pouch where she kept her contact stones. Absently, she fondled Darek's stone, worried for him, before dropping it back in the pouch and closing it tightly. "The Baron seems very eager to get rid of everyone who saw the Dark Riders up close."

"Ah, well, that explains it. So, suicide mission, right?"

[Charon]

Ottoman crossed his arms and sighed under his helmet. "Of course not, at least not while there are ears that are not ours that are about to hear it. This is not a safe place to talk." Matthew cursed as his 30 minute warning went off. He needed to open his shop. "My home will be prepared for visitors in ten hours time. Meet me there."

[Agent Fisher]

"Yes, M'Lord. If you will excuse me, I must be off."

Decimus bowed to Ottoman and left out the door. He mountd his horse and made his way back to his home.

******

Jack sighed as he shut down the HDD. 'Great, time to get sent to my death.'

He checked his watch. Time to get going.

He walked out of his apartment and entered his car. He was heading to meet some fellow friends.

[LadyTevar]

OOC appeared above Leandra's head. "It will be 6pm EDT before I can get off work and onto Zion. I will meet you at your place as soon as I log on."

Leandra spoke, "As you wish, Sir Ottoman. I will spend the rest of the evening creating what potions I have the materials for."


*******
Later, after her shop emptied as people (hopefully) went to get the things they needed, Leandra finished loading several sacks with various healing potions, poison antidotes, explosive pots, potions to raise strength or intelligence, and even a couple vials of holy water. Overkill, perhaps, but she just felt that something was going to go wrong on this trip.

She caught herself playing with Darek's contact stone again. "Dammit... I should leave you behind...." She dropped it back in the pouch with the rest of them, however, unable to let it go just yet. One last look around the shop as she locked the door to keep out those who missed the "Shop Closed" sign, then she disconnected for the night.


A short time later, Leah crawled into her lonely daybed. For a moment, she stared at the HDD, wondering if she should unplug it. " ... I'm being silly now," she told herself, rolling over onto her side so her back was to it before she drifted off.

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar excused himself agreeing to meet at Ottoman’s house before stepping out the door. He continued his errands purchasing a large quantity of material components needed for his spells and summoning before finally returning home. There he spent a good hour crafting an excess of soulstones before turning his attention to creating antidotes and other healing potions. Finally he exited his house again with his notes on the poison, as well as a sample of it which he gave to a messenger in town who would run it over to Leandra’s shop.

After all of this had been completed he walked off into an unclaimed scrap of forest where he joined several of his minions who he had sent their earlier. With his small army in tow he wandered through the trees slaughtering deer and other animals with no emotion whatsoever. He used the bodies to increase the size of his army then had the skeleton’s butcher the meat and take the choice cuts with them, it would be nice to have good meat on this trip.

Finally he and his less than talkative band of cohorts stepped into a clearing, sunlight streamed through the trees and seemed to point the way to the largest elk Vadlenar had ever seen. The warlock smiled he a mage and two warriors forward, the mage put a ring of fire around the creature to prevent it’s escape, while the archers fired a hail storm of arrows into it. Finally Vadlenar pointed at it then made a sharp upward motion and it burst into flames from the inside out and fell to the ground.

The corpse burned fro almost a minute before it eventually died down at which point Vadlenar walked over to it and began a new spell. This one took some time but soon the body began to twitch then finally the rib cage burst open with tremendous power and a skeletal horse leapt out of the body, then landed behind him on the soft grass. Vadlenar turned and marveled at the sight of his creation, it was a magnificent horse tall and proud with bleached white bones, and fully equipped with bridal and saddle. Its hooves left ash marks wherever it stepped, a swirling black cloud filled its rib cage and its eyes literally burning with a dark unholy fire. Vadlenar mounted his creation and rode home his army following close behind him some how keeping up with the horse’s nightmarish pace.

Back in the real world Ted signed off and headed out the door, he had a few things he needed to do today but would be back with plenty of time to meet everyone online.

[Dark Silver]

The time in Zion passed much quicker than it did on Earth. In the gameworld, the sun and rose in the spanse of four Earth hours, a day in a sixth of the time.

As the players began to log off, night was falling again over the Barony of Kirinsford, settling over it as shops began to close down, or move thier wares indoors. Lights came on and poured out of the windows of inns and some restaraunts, along with the sound of music and smells of roasted mutton and stews.

Even in Zion, life continued on after dark, after players logged off, and others still logged in.

The Baron sat still in his throne, a look of disinterest on his face, as if he'd rather be elsewhere. If only his Mistress had given him some other duty, than to send them off.

The trio appeared before him, in a haze of tangible darkness, swirling almost portal like from the ground, sprouting up into thier shapes, then disappearing, leaving the Dark Riders in thier wake.

"Report...." the voice was hallow as the leader spoke.

"M'lord, things go as according to plan. I have sent those which were involved in the battle to the north, as I'm sure my compatriots do in the other Kingdoms."

"Excellent..the fortress of Stoneforge awaits their arrival...things proceed as Mistress Adena has planned. And your spy?"

"The shadow has not yet reported to me yet, Sire. I assume it is still in the harlot's hovel..."

"We shall send one to retreive it...proceed Draven. You may exit now."

Draven smirked, as he rose from the throne, and a dark portal appeared before him. "As you command, m'lord."

With that, Draven entered the portal.

Seconds later, a similar portal opened in Adam's bedroom, as he stepped out of it, the armor of the Baron replaced by his street clothes. He streched, slowly testing out the body he wore now, feeling the tensing of muscle and bone.

"Tomorrow is a big day" he spoke softly, as a small group of shadows exited the portal with him, glowing red eyes winking lightly in the dark. He motioned for two of them to leave him room. They flitted out, beneath his door, and moments later, the blood curdling screams of his parents reached his ears.

"Two down..." he whispered, as he fell down into the bed, "8 billion to go..."

----------

The door was locked. The figure didn't try jiggling the handle, though he could easily break the door down, he didn't want to alarm anyone to what he did.

For a moment, he disappeared into the darkness which swirled beneath him, then rose again from it, inside the shop. She had not left any candles or lanterns burning, but the faint glow of Zion's stars and moons left him with more than enough light to see.

It took only moments to find the sacks of vials she prepared for the mission. It took even less time to open them up, and place the stones, one in each, at the bottom, beneath the potion bottles. Thepower of each stone would diffuse into the potions, and the work there would be done.

He moved further into the shop, slowly making his way upstairs, towards the Cleric's private quarters. again, he found the door closed, and his command of darkness merely brought him into it.

He moved quietly, the armored boot not making a sound upon the hard wood floors, and he came to her bed. He almost smirked, before the clawed tips of the gauntlet stroked the sheets and matress. He could still smell her.

He waved the arm before him, and the dark portal appeared again, but this time, it lead to the Other World, the one he came from.

He stepped through it as Leah's HDD came to quiet life, and the Dark Portal sprouted from it. He stepped through, clothed not in the armor and cloak of the Dark Warrior, but instead in a black robe, hood pulled over his face.

He stepped to her bedside, without a sound except the faint whisper of velvety material brushing against the ground, and stood over the bed.

Leah, so much unlike Leandra, yet so much of her. She was asleep again, dreaming...his fingertips brushed her forehead gently, and he entered her dream.

[Charon]

Ottoman quickly left them, his cape flowing behind him as the nobleman returned to his home. There was the matter of Sivri's pay that had not been given. That would have to be dealt with. Passing his own guards at the gates to his large amount of land he nodded to both of them and walked up the paved lane, looking out at the well kept gardens that covered the land that his manor did not. Time had been kind to him, and the funds of an entire village as well. Openning the mighty oak doors he stepped into his domain and called on npc servants to go about preparing horses, goods, and weapons for a group of seven. Nothing but the best would do.

Reports from his spies and servants were waiting for him. A bird had come to warn him of trouble in the forest. Too late for that. Apparently Thog had torn down his house. Gods only knew why the hulking beast would do that. But it did mean that at least Thog wouldn't have to worry about a home, not that he probably did. Then came the news from his contacts in the Southern Kingdoms. Almost every man and woman of nobility had been hit, from the kings and queens to the common nobility. Did this mean that they had all been changed? He couldn't chance that they hadn't.

Ottoman stalked into his chambers, shutting and locking the door behind him he spoke the ancient words he had been taught by the wizard who had put the special ward on this room to keep prying eyes out.

"Kal Wis Sanct."

Ottoman then pulled out a map of the continents and searched the Southern Continent. There, the village of Valhamm. It was far enough away from the gargoyles of Mistas, there was a body of water nearby that could support a much larger population, and it was in an idealistic place to defend if it came down to it.

Ottoman reached out and grabbed a contact stone and messaged one of his men that had been loyal to him from the beginning.

"Mark. There may be trouble that will be coming down on us soon. I will be gone, in Dwarven lands. I want you to lead an expidition of only those you trust to be fully loyal to me and my cause and go into the Southern continent to the village of Valhamm. There you will set up camp and begin to fortify the town."

Mark responded in confusion. "My lord, this task is not possible."

Ottoman smiled. "We have done the impossible before old friend. Do this for me now. Keep it as secret as you can, the Baron must not know of your actions."

"Why my lord? What has gone wrong?"

"I do not know, but something is very wrong and I fear that soon the Southern Kingdoms will fall into chaos. We will need villagers as well, spread the word as securely as you can..."

"I will do as you wish my lord."

"Thank you Mark. I trust you will take care of matters carefully, and I hope to join you as soon as possible."

Ottoman sighed as he lowered the stone, grabbing a bag he tossed the various contact stones he had into them as well as the maps. Walking to the door he undid the enchantment and unlocked the door. Now everything was in the hands of his servants. He headed to his chambers to rest.

-------------------

Matthew pulled off the HDD and cursed as he stubbed his toe against the door as he rushed to open up his store. Slipping on his shoes he almost tripped down the stairs, catching himself and spinning off the banister to pass through the beads that seperated his store from his home. Making a quick glance to make sure everything was where it needed to be he went to the door and unlocked it, with a grimace he noticed that Old Lady Judith was waiting impatiently, she didn't look too happy. Ah, the stereotypical old Jewish women. Matthew openned the door and smiled.

"Judith! How nice to see you."

"I'm sure it is, and why are you ten minutes late to open? Do you know how cold it is out here? I nearly died of hypothermia. Getting your head stuck in those computer things again I take it? A cute boy like you should be going out and getting the attention of nice Jewish girls, not sitting alone by himself and dalying away all the hours of the day. Now where is my book and my coffee?"

Matthew supressed a chuckle as he stepped aside. "Your daily romance novel is waiting in your favorite chair, and the coffee will be ready in about 15 minutes."

The old woman waddled by and made her way to her seat, quickly getting absorbed in her latest steamy romance novel as Matthew flipped on the coffee machines and headed behind his desk, sitting down and setting his feet up on the counter he pulled out his latest read as well.

[Rukia]

Sivri was the last to leave. But instead of going home she decided to make the tavern trip that got interrupted earlier. She needed a good strong drink and maybe a conpanion for the night. She wasn't in the bar thrity minutes before she was approched by a very good looking malitia knight. She had met this one before and decided to add a notch to her bedpost. They had a few drinks and left for his house on the outskirts of town.

+++++
Rory was exhausted, and she had to work tomorrw. "Why do I feel like something terribly wrong is going to happen on this special little mission?" She said to no one but Jinx. She took a shower and got into bed, she set her alarm and was asleep seconds after hitting the pillow.

[LadyTevar]

He waved the arm before him, and the dark portal appeared again, but this time, it lead to the Other World, the one he came from.

He stepped through it as Leah's HDD came to quiet life, and the Dark Portal sprouted from it. He stepped through, clothed not in the armor and cloak of the Dark Warrior, but instead in a black robe, hood pulled over his face.

He stepped to her bedside, without a sound except the faint whisper of velvety material brushing against the ground, and stood over the bed.

Leah, so much unlike Leandra, yet so much of her. She was asleep again, dreaming...his fingertips brushed her forehead gently, and he entered her dream.

It had to be a busstop, a place Leah had spent much of her growing years. Young men and women were there, Leah's classmates, forever 18 as she'd last seen many of them at graduation. She was part of the group, yet seperate as they talked around her or about her, but not to her. Yet it didn't matter to Leah, she was happy.

She could fly.

Simply by spreading her arms, she rose off the ground, hovering in mid-air like a dragonfly. She reveled in the freedom of flight, even as over the tops of the houses powerlines and tree branches prevented her from reaching open sky. The schoolmates in her dream faded into shadows as Leah glided over the earth playfully, except for one figure that stood watching her in the field.

She drifted over to him, the dream bending to accept his presence within, her sleeping mind providing information to her dream-self. "I know you..." Leah/Leandra said, smiling at him happily as she flitted around him in mid-air. She paused, hovering in front of him, offering her hand to him welcomingly. "Come fly with me?"

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Yeah, I have to get to clas myself. Seminar on temperature dependant sex determination in crocodilians, see you all later"

ANd Elwyn logged out. And justin went to class

[Comrade Tortoise]

Justin went to class, then he got to teach his own. Term papers from the lecture part of his Bio 101 class were being turned in. The students got to pick their own topics out of Cell Biology, Zoology, and Ecology. The topics within those categories were of the student's choosing. WIthin they had to do a basic meta-analysis of their topic, basically summarizing the research in an annotated bibliography then tying it together in an essay. It wasnt that hard of an assignment. But looking through them, it was easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. It was a good thing they passed off both the lecture and the lab instruction to a TA in 100 level classes, because he was able to do what he wanted to the papers that were turned in. Most of the failing ones would be returned, often with scathing remarks. SOme of them however, proved the students were not worth the oxygen they consumed. And were handed over to Ted for disposal.

ANd he had already gone into a pose similar to Kiff's typical exasperated sigh 10 times just skimming through the first sentences of some of them.

FInally he got home and threw the papers all over his work desk in the living room.

[Dark Silver]

The man smiled at the woman, his hand reaching out to hers. He took it lightly, floated into the air with her, then zoomed away. He seemed to disappear for a moment, before he was behind her, his arms wrapping about her body.

The dream Leah was caught, pulled close to him, the rough hands holding her by the hips. Warm breath flowed softly past her ear, and the faint mummer of sweet nothings, intended to delight and entice her.

It was all a game, and he wished to play it with her. Never once, even though her dreams tried, did he let he become Leandra, it was Leah he played with, stroked, held in mid air.

--------

Night around Adam's house was quiet The blood chilling shreiks of his parents where silenced almost as soon as they began, and all three sat at the kitchen table.

"Such a odd thing, fleshy bodies..." his father spoke, looking carefully at his hands, as if seeing them for the first time.

"So differently arranged," his mother agreed, looking down her nightgown at the slightly sagging globes of flesh upon her chest.

Adam smirked, sitting uneasily in the chair, "It'll take getting used to, but our Master deems we need to wear these forms....and live thier lives until the time is right. Luckily, we do not have to stay in these pathetic flesh forms always...we can return to our World at night. But first our mission....."

They would have to spread the influence...it would be slow, but they would succeed.

Nothing could stop them.

[Shark Bait]

Ted was already home, there were term paper and red pens everywhere, Ted himself was sitting on a pile of them his face covered in red ink from chewing on pens till they exploded on him. “Get me the jarâ€