The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[LadyTevar]

I have no problems with riding, Sir Ottoman," Leandra replied. "As soon as your people bring out my horse, I'll be ready to go."

[Dark Silver]

Several miles north of Star's Cove, he stepped from the the swirling darkness, and close to the fire.

The mission was easy, watch the group, report back here once they were preparing to go, and report. To simple a mission to waste on HIS skills, but it was stressed as to being important.

The light made his clothing more appearent, dark blue tights with a nearly black top on, a red Eye of Horus seemed to be etched into the loose fitting shirt. His face and head was completely enclosed in black material, except for a region around his eyes, where the blue orbs were visible, along withthe fair skin, and a crop of blonde hair, obscuring one eye.

He sat on a log, and waited for the others to arrive, poking at the fire with a stick.


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

It was a hour later when the others finally appeared, dressed in black robes, hoods pulled tightly over thier head, except for one. That one was dressed in a black kimono style outfit, his left arm held within the robe, like it was in a sling. His black hair was pulled back in a severe tail, and his left eye was closed and scared.

"There are no others in the area. Report" the scared eye spoke, "Tell us what you know."

"It goes like we suspected. The Baron sends forth a group to capture a item of power in the mountains north." the spy's voice was soft, yet masculine, as he told them, those blue eyes moving to each of them. "It is undoubted that the north is perverted by the Enemy...."

"This is correct" a man spoke to the scared one's left. the gleaming white blade of a sword was at his side, over the robes, and the vague outline of a shield seemed to be strapped to his back. His arm moved lightly, and the deformed head of a creature landed in the middle, covered in a bonelike helm, jaw hanging half open, "There are many others like it, all weild mighty warhammers."

"Shiek," the scared one addressed the spy, "you will watch over them, they must reach the mountains. Do not let them know you follow. We will send another to assist you. Should you require assistance in the mountains, contact us."

Sheik nodded, as the others disappeared again. The fire was put out a moment later, and the man leaped into a tree, and disappeared.

[Shark Bait]

"Actually... no, she's not," Leandra commented as she walked out into the courtyard. "Which is why I've always refused whenever you've offered, Vadle." She shivered looking at the undead beast. "Eww. just.... ew. Druids don't mind that whole life/death cycle thing... but I just want to return that to the ground."

Still, she got close enough to hand Vadlenar a pouch of various potions for the trip. "Just don't use them all at once, ok?"

“You are just jealous because you cant make your own horse, and yours has to eat.â€

[Charon]

Ottoman smiled, the motion translating to his tone as a white horse was led out by his servants. "For you m'lady."

Decimus was among the last to leave the hall, as he stepped out the doors shut and locked behind him. It was obvious that no more visitors would be allowed in, perhaps ever. The guard nodded thoughtfully at this, thinking that perhaps he should join Ottoman on his trip to the Southern continent. From what he heard, the nobleman was usually right, and if he was now, it meant a whole lot of trouble. Decimus walked to the stables and mounted his horse, looking back at the others to make certain they were ready as well before he made his way out the front gates to make sure the coast was clear.

Ottoman rode to the head of the troupe of adventurers, the cart carrying many of his supplies and maps was placed in the middle of the caravan. With a wave of his hand Ottoman ushered the group forward, his brown steed beginning a slow trot out of Ottoman's lands and towards the town gates.

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar intentionally fell to the rear his skeletons following behind him “What are you doing?â€

[SirNitram]

Thog was atop his swamp dragon, and by occasionally dismounting and shoving and threatening the beast, he was able to get it to turn. He was at peace, though. Or seemed at peace. He had the slack-jaw look about him that indicated peace.

Albert, on the other hand, was being thoughtful.

(Leandra also mounts up and rides along. As requested by LadyTev.)

[Rukia]

As soon as Ottoman's men brought her horse, Sivri mounted Meeka. And just as Val had said she was spooked by the army and the less than alive horse next to her. She whinnied and Meeka leaned over and hummed a melody softly in her ear, she was instantly calmed.

"Good girl." She looked at the others who were looking a bit shocked at the assassin's gentle gesture. "What? Let's get going." She rode up next to Le and waited for Ottoman to give the order.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"I'll scout the road ahead" the great raven called he took flight.

Justin loved this. He had always wanted to fly under his own power. The wing whistling through his feathers, the feeling of weightnessness that only lift could give

He powered his way several hundred meters ahead. Using his now keen vision to scout the road.

[LadyTevar]

Leandra made herself comfortable on the lovely white horse Sir Ottoman provide and followed Thog's swamp dragon out onto the road. They little discussion had wasted a good part of Zion's 'day', only two hours of real time, but still enough for most people to get things done in game.

"Will we be pressing on throughout the night, Sir Ottoman?" she asked, nudging her horse up to ride beside him so they could converse more easily. "I know we have a way to travel, and we're getting a late start."

[Charon]

Ottoman looked over to the cleric, his eyes barely discernable behind the helm he wore now. "Part of the night. Once it gets too dark travelling is ill advised as there will likely be bandits or creatures of a less savory nature."

Ottoman looked back at the rest of the group. "How many of these people have you adventured with? Do you know if they'll be good in a fight? I know Thog, he'll be a great help as long as you're around to heal him."

[LadyTevar]

"I've adventured with all but yourself and Decimus," Leandra answered. "Your reputation is well-known... his unknown to me." she added truthfully.

Turning on her steed, she looked over the group following. "Elwyn is a skilled druid, Sivri one of the best rogues I've ever seen, and Vadlenar, for all his faults, is extremely good at what he does. His little army has its uses when you need bodies between yourself and monsters. They aren't half-bad as a night watch over a camp, either." She turned back to look at Ottoman with a slight smile. "So, while I'll threaten to put them back in the ground, it's merely an old joke between us."

"What of you, Ottoman... it's been a while since you've adventured, hasn't it?"

[Charon]

Ottoman nodded and listened as Leandra went down the list. If he smiled at her joke it was completely unseen. A night watch is always a good thing. "Decimus must have some skills to have become one of the town guard and to have an actual standing. As for myself," Ottoman looked around at the slowly passing forest and then back at Leandra. "I imagine it is much like riding a horse. Easy enough to pick up again even if you have been gone for awhile."

[LadyTevar]

"Decimus must have some skills to have become one of the town guard and to have an actual standing. As for myself," Ottoman looked around at the slowly passing forest and then back at Leandra. "I imagine it is much like riding a horse. Easy enough to pick up again even if you have been gone for awhile."

"Perhaps..." Leandra replied. "although if you'd like, we can find some way for you to spar with Sivri or Thog to see if you'd remember quicker. Better learning on a friend than on an enemy." Then she grinned widely at Ottoman as a sudden thought hit her. "of course, we could always find some SparkleBunnies for you to beat up on..."

Since 'sparklebunnies' and snakes were first level threats, it was a really large joke at Ottoman's expense.

[Dark Silver]

And while Leandra was making the joke at Ottomon's expense, one of the aforementioned sparklebunnies rushed past the group.

The rabbit was larger than most, moved on two legs, and had a prehensile tail and long ears. The fur was bright pink, and miniture stars, and thus thier name, flew from the fur as it ran through thier formation, and towards the woods.


In hot pursuit, a group of thirty tiny beings appeared, each waving crude spears. They were small, no more than a foot and a half in height, completely naked, with a slight pounch to thier belly. thier hair though, was the attention grabber. In bright neon colors, done up in a variety of styles, mostly large afro-style bushes, but a few had mullet styles.

They were Trullets, tiny beings considered at best, annoyances in small groups, but this was a rather large group.

As they broke from the bushes, and say the horses and people, the Trullets stood still, blinking overly large watery eyes at the party. They looked so innocent, so cute...

The apparent leader walked front, and in a small, highpitched voice, spoke "Mrullet?"

[SirNitram]

"Is da kyute wittle fings!" Thog exclaimed, kneeling down in front of the leader of the Trullets.

What happened next was odd: Thog, dumb as toast, spoke to the little thing. [Hello, small-and-blue. You are hunting sparklebunnies today? They yum-yum.]

[LadyTevar]

On her horse, on hand rubbing her temper, Leandra watched as Thog had a long conversation with the Trullets. She didn't know what was scarier.. that he could talk to them, or that they talked back and often showed more intelligence.

[Dark Silver]

The Trullet smiled big as the half-giant spoke to them, and the replied came as a chorus of 'Mullet', 'Mruellet' 'Mrullet' and 'Trullet'. There seeme to be no true sense to the Trullet language, but Thog understood it fluently.


It should have been a complete surprise then, when the three Trullet spears found themselves peircing his stomach, and straight into what should have been his large intestines.

Each of the Trullets seemed to have a feral grin suddenly, as they leaped at the half-giant, a look of hunger in thier beady, watery eyes.

[SirNitram]

Thog had made a mistake. This was not new. Now the half-giant flailed to rip the tiny creatures from his body before more spears dug in. No one of them could really hinder him, but there were alot of the tiny bastards. [Not nice! Not nice!]

[LadyTevar]

"Thog!" Leandra shouted, casting a fast healing spell onto him. "Vadlenar, get those skeletons up here now!"

[Charon]

Ottoman did not pause for a moment. He'd never liked the little creatures. They were creepy little devils. Ottoman's horse trampled cleanly over a pile of Trullet's and broke through them. Ottoman leapt off of his horse and quickly drew his blade, muttering a prayer to his dark god he felt a great strength rushing through him. "Vadlemar! Get your army in here!" Ottoman struck down at one of the Trullets as it was about to stick him with it's spear, the little creature was crushed under the weight of the blow.

[Dark Silver]

The Trullets cries had become a high pitched "wreeeeee" sound as another one leaped at the big blue man.

The translations where roughly [Play! We play! Blood Play!], as another spear came up at the half-giant.

More Trullets came from the bushes, two, three, seven, fifteen, till they were all surronded by the wree'ing lil things, some few armed with what looked like hollow tubes.

Blowguns where puffed into, as miniture darts flew into the air to strike the group.

Trullets, not normally agressive, low level beasts used to teach newbies how to battle against intellegent opponents. The few times they had become Aggressive, the Administrators and system moderators were running events, that took the players by surprise.

Could the same be done now?

By the time they appeared, a full sixty Trullets were chittering, Mrulleting and wreee-ing around, mini swords, no bigger than daggers, blowguns and spears ready for battle.

[SirNitram]

Even as a few still clung to Thog, he went from ripping them off him to grabbing his hammer. He waded into the horde.

He went berserk.

The special effects of such were understated compared to the sheer beatdown that emerged. He swung his hammer low and wide, scattering the tiny creatures. His player was busy fighting like crazy against dozens of tiny opponents to worry about why.

[LadyTevar]

"oh bloody hell..." Leandra muttered, then fell to spell casting. Trullets were thankfully low-level... so it was just a matter of killing a lot at once. Thankfully, the Goddess was not just about happiness and light.

"Mother Inanna, take from mine enemies their strength, their life!" (Inflict Moderate Wounds, Mass: Deals 2d8 damage +1/level to many creatures.
Negative energy spreads out in all directions from the point of origin, dealing 2d8 points of damage +1 point per caster level (maximum +30) to nearby living enemies)

[Dark Silver]

With Leandra's spell, Thog's wailing, and Ottomon's sword and horse, the Trullet's where backing away, back into the bushes. trying to escape the obviously stronger foes. They wouldn't be able to beat them in the open, in a fair fight.


So the Trllets made it less fair.

From the trees surronding the group, the sounds of hard breathes and chittering erupted, followed by a volley of darts shooting again.

[LadyTevar]

Now that the trullets were not close melee range, she could use an area effect spell, centered on the trees where the trullets were hiding.

"Great Goddess, let the sound of Your voice deafen my enemies!"
(Sound Burst: Deals 1d8 sonic damage to subjects; may stun them. Every creature in the area takes 1d8 points of sonic damage and must succeed on a Fortitude save to avoid being stunned for 1 round.)