The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[Charon]

Ottoman nodded at Leandra's assessment. "Still. Better to be safe than sorry. We'll only be staying until it is light enough to move safely again, I want more guards than just the skeletons. At least we know that someone else is involved in this now."

[Agent Fisher]

"I'll take first watch, M'Lord, the Giant can take second, and the dark elf assassin can take the third. That way, we arent just using the unrested dead for protection."

[Shark Bait]

The 11 Skeletal warriors under Vadlenar’s command arranged themselves in a ring around the camp site facing outward towards the forest. The seven skeleton mages formed a smaller circle also facing outward; both groups would remain alert all night without need for rest. Vadlenar took a small offense to yet another insult to his creations, he had held his tongue all day and his patience was wearing thin, instead of reacting however he pushed the anger to the back of his mind and busied himself with the task of picking the last of the darts out of the warriors.

“I will remain awake for a time as wellâ€

[Charon]

"I'll take first watch, M'Lord, the Giant can take second, and the dark elf assassin can take the third. That way, we arent just using the unrested dead for protection."

Matthew sighed and shook his head, activating his OOC. "Night time is only four hours in game man. We don't need three shifts."

Matthew turned off the OOC and glanced at his clock, still plenty of time before he needed to log off. But the two hours would be useful to get a bite to eat and relax.

Ottoman nodded at Vadlenar. "Very well. These creations will work better under the guidance of their creator anyway."

[LadyTevar]

Leandra herself found a place to sit down in the center, resting to rejunvenate her spells and mana. As she rested, she absently pulled Darek's contact stone out of her pouch, rubbing and playing with it as if it were a worry-stone, lost in her own thoughts.

Finally, she pulled her legs up, resting her arms on her knees, her chin on her arms. "dammit, Darek... please be alright..." she whispered, the stone still clasped in her hand, still seemingly dark and unresponsive even to her whispered plea.

[Rukia]

Siv walked up behind Le, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She sat down next to her friend.

"It'll be ok, we'll find him. He's probably waiting for you to go and revive him or something..."

She hoped she was helping. She wrapped her other arm around Leandra and hugged her.

[LadyTevar]

Leandra had to give a little laugh at that, and leaned into Siv's hug gratefully. "Did I tell you that's how we met?" she asked her friend. "There Thog and I were, out exploring the new region they'd opened up, and suddenly I hear a ghost tell me I was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen."

She laughed softly, her hand opening a little to look at Darek's contact stone. "By the time we recovered his body and got back to town, he and I were chatting like old friends...." Leandra didn't have to add what happened after they got back to her house, Siv knew her well enough to guess. " ... I wish I knew why I felt he was in such trouble, or how to help him," she finished, again squeezing the unresponsive stone tightly. "I'd love to hear him speak right now."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Elwyn seemed to disappear into the landscape as he rested. He had found a perch in a tree overlooking the camp in his raven form.

[Dark Silver]

"Sometimes what we desire, is not part of our story."

The voice came from a man dressed in a red kimono-type robe trimmed in black, his left arm tucked within it as if slung. His hair was pulled back into a topknot, and a sake jug hung at his side. The massive sword hung on his back, almost touched the ground, yet it didn't seem as if it bothered him.

The man's face was stern, eyes slightly slanted, though they were hard to see behind a pair of dark round glasses.

He strode confidiently into the middle of the camp, where the fire was, and unhooked the jug of sake from his side, and took a swig of the rice wine. He didn't sit down, but watched the flames.

--------


Bob Page stepped through the dark gate, and into the stone anti-chamber. He always hated coming to these less civilized worlds, and he truly wondered why the elf bitch was so willing to undertake the assignment. Looking to the number of bodies strewn around the chamber as he walked towards the throneroom, he could guess way.

Adena had a predilection for the carnal vices, one which the Council was only to happy to let her indulge in, as it kept her controlable.

"Adena...." Page said in his nonchalent tone.

The dark elf was, at the moment, casting her inhibitions to the wind, her robe bunched about her waist, straddling the half dead form of some poor slavecreature. What was it the First One called them? Oh yes...humans.

"Adena...we had a meeting....." he said again, empahsing his presence as the room darkened...

[SirNitram]

"Sometimes what we desire, is not part of our story."

Thog watched the newcomer approach, swigging his sake. After a moment, as Albert processed who he had just seen, the half-giant spoke up.

"Dat's why dey're stories. You can rewrite dem! And dat way da good guys win, an' da hero get tha girl."

Albert was busy wondering where the other old-school fans had come out of the woodwork.

[LadyTevar]

Leandra was staring up at the man as he walked calmly into the campsite and took a drink.

No.

No way.

No Freaking way. First a Yuffie fan, and now... "AURON!?!" she exclaimed in shock.

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar was about ready to start swearing, not only had his army been insulted several times today for the second time some bizarre fan creation walked right past them, he was going to have to make them more paranoid next time. He watched the man carefully ready to order his entire skeletal horde to attack and a second’s notice while he would hit the man with his most powerful curses. Vadlenar was not a pleasant fellow when he was angry.

[Dark Silver]

"Dat's why dey're stories. You can rewrite dem! And dat way da good guys win, an' da hero get tha girl."

"If you beleive that, then you are indeed a simpliton."

When the woman spoke his name, he didn't look at her, placing the cork back on his jug of sake, and replacing it on his belt.

'What of it?"

The fire crackled as he crouched down, looking to the flames, being reflected in his black glasses. He grabbed a small stick, and poked at the embers for a moment, as if in contemplation.

The Warlock, of course, was angry. Auron could tell even from where he was. It was a gift, almost. He was intune with the surrondings.

His movements where a blur, his kimono didn't even flutter, as he sprung before the warlock, his sword point at the Warlock's throat, "Don't meddle...I'm not here to harm any of you, but I won't hesitate to silence you."

As the glasses slipped down his nose, Auron's eyes seemed to burn.

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


Adena smiled lightly, her thin robe, so thin it should not have even been bothered with, lay open, as the male slave crawled away, to regain his strength. She had worn out many, claimed many souls since she had begun this. But her following were many, and the Council backed her.

Or so she thought.

Bob Page, the unofficial "leader" of the Council, was a strange man. He was also a man Adena knew from the first time she met with, that she would not double cross.

None of the Council was those she wanted as her enemies.

"Mr Page...a pleasure for you to be here, I wasn't expecting you her.."

"Shut up you insolent whore."

Adena's mouth closed instantly. He wasn't here for pleasentries.

"The Council has decided your working to slow alone....another is going to join you in the conquest of this world. Though as backwards as it is, we thought you would have been finished by now."

Another to help her?!? She had conquered Digital Worlds of countless species in her time serving the Council and the First One. They dared to say SHE needed help?

"If you would, Mr Page..how can I be expected to conquer this world if you deny me my technology! Just send me brutes for minions! I've had to subv..."

Page's hand clapsed on Adena's throat, and he lifted her up bodily. She gasped and choked as he squeezed, yet the movements were so fine, they were not apparent at all.

The dark elf's eyes began to bulge as he continued to squeeze, his face remaining passive, his voice all business, and it demanded respect, loyalty and utter obedience.

"I don't want excuses....you fucking slut....I want results. Even the Dragon Lord has expressed displeasure with your activity here. We are sending a watchdog...one who will make sure our plans for this world go through."

Page's fingers moved just a twinge, as black blood began to well up from beneath them, he was tearing into her throat, his fingers still never visible moved, "And if you fuck this up...death at my hands will be the last thing you have to worry about. I'll throw you to the Nullcron hordes, and I'll let them rape you until your begging for death....then I'll have them convert you. Understood?"

The faintest glimpse of a smile crossed Page's lips, as he throw Adena back into the thrown, bodily. She landed with a rough impact, the fear of Bob Page placed in her.

"who.....are you sending..Mr. Page?" She asked, no insolence in her tone, she was cowed.

"He'll be arriving shortly...he's hunting at the moment. Though I'm sure once we tell him his quarry is on this planet...he'll come running."

Adena's color drained from her face, as Bob Page disappeared into the swirling darkness that was the portal he used.

[Rukia]

"Sometimes what we desire, is not part of our story."

The voice came from a man dressed in a red kimono-type robe trimmed in black, his left arm tucked within it as if slung. His hair was pulled back into a topknot, and a sake jug hung at his side. The massive sword hung on his back, almost touched the ground, yet it didn't seem as if it bothered him.

The man's face was stern, eyes slightly slanted, though they were hard to see behind a pair of dark round glasses.

Sivri jumped at the mans sudden apperance....

Leandra was staring up at the man as he walked calmly into the campsite and took a drink.

No.

No way.

No Freaking way. First a Yuffie fan, and now... "AURON!?!" she exclaimed in shock.

then fell over as Leandra yelped. "Ow.... Don't worry bout me, I'm fine..."

He strode confidiently into the middle of the camp, where the fire was, and unhooked the jug of sake from his side, and took a swig of the rice wine. He didn't sit down, but watched the flames.

She sat up and stared at the second newcomer of the night.

[SirNitram]

Thog's voice changed a little. "You know, playing the part of the dumb comedy is out of place when this much bizarre stuff is happening." He cracked his neck slowly. "Now we're either getting the parade of classic-game's fanatics out here, or you're linked with the Rider's somehow. Fine, however it's going to fall. But if you think we're not going to change the damn story if it happens to include 'And then these schmoes got curbstomped', you are way off base."

[Comrade Tortoise]

It was then that the Human form of Elwyn appeared in the camp and set his staff on the man's sword so that he could force it down and to the side if he decided to try anything, and follow up with a riposte to the man's face or throat

"You are in our camp uninvited sir, and you threaten one of our companions. Explanation, or at least a bloody introduction is in order."

[Dark Silver]

Auron's mouth formed a slow smile, "So, there is intellect in that large blue head...."

When the Druid's staff touched upon his sword, Auron slide back three steps, and resheathed his sword. "The story does not include attacking those who are defenseless. But your Warlock seemed to be upset enough to warrent the action."

His right hand came up, and slide the glasses back up his face, the smile curling only one corner of his mouth, "Yuffie...come out."


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"initiating server shutdown message. t-minus two minutes till server shutdown."


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The message flashed ingame, to all but those in the little company. "The server will be shutting down for maintence and Publish 56.2.9.0.1 Update in two minutes."

Yuffie, on the other hand, jumped from the tree, and landed behind Sivri, a huge grin on her lips. "Hey!" she whispered in the dark elf girl's ear, before leaping back against a tree.

[Rukia]

Siv's eyes widened as The man advanced on Val. Then Thog spoke and El showed up. And somehow she pulled out her sword and was by El's side. She placed the point to his throat, almost daring him to move.

"You should do what he says, You even get nicked with this blade and you're toast." She stared at him and stood unwavering.

That is untill that lttle bitch scared her. She spun, and nearly caught Yuffies ankel with the blade. She glared into the tree...

She had really done it... And Siv was always ready for a fight.

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar just looked right back into the mans eyes, he had long ago seen his own death and knew his mortality well, that and the soulstone in his pocket was a bit of a comfort. He wondered though if this man had ever seen his own death, knew his mortality, probably but Vadlenar would play along he would not meddle. Though he did think it odd to have someone suddenly point a sword at his throat then tell him he intended no harm.

[SirNitram]

"Always at the notable times does the place go down.." Thog grumbled, glancing at those now drawing on Auron. "It won't work." He commented mildly. "Reason being, he's dead. Hard to kill dead guys, personal experience talking. Alright. Let's all just put the sharp objects away before someone puts out an eye. When the place comes back up, we'll figure out why I'm staring at two folks from games nearly half a century old."

[Shark Bait]

Vadlenar rased an eyebrow, "I'm not quite undead yet" he said returning to his usual calm tone "Though I do hold out hope for the future."

[Agent Fisher]

Decimus stayed on the edge of the clearing, his hand on his sword hilt. He started circling around to get right behind the man.

[Dark Silver]

"Actually...I think it's to late for that....."

Auron spoke quietly, not moving, as the world to the group, seemed to flicker, fade to white snow, then reform.

There was a difference, the world seemed sharper, and suddenly far more real than it should have.

Perceptions changed in that singular moment. The innate sense that they were no longer just playing the game. Along with the sudden loss of all the tell-tale holographic acconterments.

"Welcome to Zion....now sit down drop your acts, and let us speak as civilized beings" Auron said quietly, moving back towards the fire.


-----------
GM Note: Everyone except Decimus, Ottomon and Vadlenar just felt major disorientation as if a wave of neausia jsut swept over you. The other three, you get the delux package. Your bodies just felt like you were ripped apart molecule by molecule and sucked through a miniture blackhole, and reformed.

Congratulations, your physically in Zion. Your in the gameworld, you die here, your dead, unless you get healed. There is no ghost, without a body, you won't be returned to life. Soulstones are now just vessals for your souls, offering a chance to be returned later.

Good news: You keep the basic knowledge of how to use your weapons that your character has, as well as the skill. Your problem comes into that you have to learn how to USE those skills since thier not your own. Think of this as "instinctual learning".

This is still a gameworld, meaning just because your physically in it, doesn't mean you gain access to supreme new things, It's basically your Destiny Character's body, with your "Real Life" character's mind.

[Shark Bait]

Ted/Vadlenar writhed in pain as the transition happened, he might have thrown up had he actually eaten anything. He twitched moaned and prayed to loose consciousness but he never did, eventually the world stopped resembling the 9th circle of hell and he opened his eyes. Everyone of his friends looked a bit disoriented but Decimus, Ottomon looked almost as bad as he felt. He stared at the ground centimeters from his face, it wasn’t the normal holographic dirt he usually saw in Zion, it was real musty forest floor.

“Well that blows my psychosomatic theory to shitâ€

[Rukia]

Rory blinked. -What the hell just happened?- She looked around, something was different, wrong. Real? No way. She shook her head, trying to quell the nausea that had washed over her. She looked down, searching for the toggle to go OCC, but it was gone. She looked herself, she wasn't Arora anymore... She had embodied Sivri.

She looked at Yuffie then to Auron... "What. Did. You. Do?" She almost growled.