NPF Avatars IV, Chapter XIII: Fire Three! - Page 10

POS Industries · 08-03-2007, 08:16 PM

"Anyway." Pedro continued as everyone finished up their breakfasts, "All the information you need on the Shadow Temple can be found in the folder that Rei should be bring out right aboooout..... now."

And at that moment, the android stepped out into the dining room again, carrying a briefcase that she sat down on the table in front of them and opened, removing a file folder that she handed to Nikose. "There you go," she giggled, "Good luck, guys!"

"Now, it looks like you've all had enough to eat and this isn't a buffet, so it looks like breakfast is over," POS stated matter-of-factly as he rose to his feet, "Rei and I have some business to attend to and can't accompany you on the rest of this adventure, as we're planning a fighting tournament of sorts. You're all invited, by the way. Anyway, it's time you all got a move on, so...."

At this point, Rei and the Denny's wait staff once again ushered the NPFers out to the parking lot, where a brightly luminant hyperlink portal to their next destination awaited them.

"See ya later, folks!" Rei called out to the group before shutting the door and locking it.

Arhra · 08-05-2007, 08:52 AM

Outside, Arhra quickly snatched the file folder off Nikose and thumbed through it. Tucking it safely away, she prepared to tell the other NPFers a carefully editted version of the facts.

"Okay everyone," she said, "As you all know, the temple we're headed to is the Temple of Darkness, commonly believed to be the element of spookiness and angst. Unfortunately, this common belief has caused psychic contamination, drawing a vast number of those who are 'drawn to darkness' as they say." Arhra made a face. "They're harmless, but annoying."

Continuing, Arhra went on. It was a marvel of redundancy. "Information about the Temple itself has been harder to obtain, as out generous backer did not want to risk activating the Temple's defenses. While the Temple is heavily shielded, there has been heavy interdimensional flux detected within the Temple, probably caused by the increased instability stemming from our attacks on the Seal system."

"This is probably harmless." she said, blatantly lying. Arhra gave a few more details, essentially that they should expect the Shadow Temple to be dark.

The hyperlink portal had punched through the interference caused by the barrier, bolstered by a homing beacon planted during the reconnaissance. The NPFers were very close to their destination, covering the very short remaining distance via giant eagle and copyrighted spacecraft. It was unecessary, but cool.

Clouds drenched the entrance to the temple in shade. As the report has predicted, there were emos and their ilk milling around aimlessly in a great field before the sealed entrance; an imposing portico of black stone set in a cliff face. The soft sound of weeping filled the air.

Arhra shoved her way through the black clad, shuffling masses in ill humour. They put up no protest, lost in existential angst.

Darkness oozed from the great doors, thin rivulets trickling like blood from the intricate array of lines decorating the dread portal. Activating the door, it swung inwards silently, revealing the vista of darkness ahead.

Inside, the NPFers found their eyes adapting to the poor illumination after a minute or so. With the aid of what light they brought, they plunged in. The tunnel swished side to side, like the windings of a snake. Something about the black rock the temple was carved from hurt the eye, blurring in and out of focus, a double image overlaying itself and then lining up to restore normal vision again.

In the pattern of the former temples, the tunnel opened up into a wider chamber, circular with a ring of pillars, tiny purple lights giving shape to the darkness. Other tunnels were just visible as gaping holes of blackness. Like the former temples, there was a welcome wagon here to meet them.

What was left of it.

Strewn around were the partial remains of horrors that had never seen the light of day. Human sized, and of a monstrous, gaunt build, they could't even begin to be mistaken for human. Where they lay, the shadows clustered thickest, black strands breaking up their outline even more.

"No-one touch the bodies." Arhra said after a thoughtfully horrified look at the scene, strain in her voice. "They're being eaten by the shadows." The Temple had turned against its own denizens.

"This doesn't change anything." Arhra went on, deciding some morale boosting was needed in the face of ghastly death. "Just like the last three. Basic smash and grab. Well... smash. I'm even more certain - we smash this seal and the way to the Promised Land opens."

OOC: Intro and quick "Any questions?" time. I'm planning to leap into the first of two encounters as soon as possible.

Flarecobra · 08-05-2007, 08:43 PM

"Well, I know what keeps shadows at bay." I said, then lit a fireball, increasing it's tempeture and brightness until it was white-hot, and lit up the surrounding area. "Just like a torch. Now, if someone has light spells...."

mauve · 08-06-2007, 12:11 AM

"Well hey, that's just creepy beyond all reason," Mauve said flatly, eyeing the shadows and their late lunch. "Let's get this over with and get out of this nasty place."

She followed after Ahrha

Flarecobra · 08-07-2007, 07:22 PM

Gina, while all this was going on, was happly enjoying her meal, dispite having eaten half a cake not too long ago. As they left, she turned to POS and said "Thank you very much for the meal! It was very good!" before I called to her "Hey! Coming or going!?" She hestated for a moment before my arm reached out and snatched her through the portal before it closed.

She looked around and shivered slightly. "I don't like the looks of this place......looks like some kind of Bloodthurster or something had a party here...." she said, while I just glanced at her and though "Miss obvious...."

Nikose Tyris · 08-08-2007, 01:04 PM

Nikose merely giggled at the sight of the playing shadows. Knowing a great deal about shadows, the evolution of shadows, and the life and undeath that a shadow can suffer through, he knew that feeding was a core part of it's existence. It wasn't evil, so much as just surviving in it's own way. He happily skipped to the forefront of the group, unafraid in the slightest of the shadows, or the darkness about them.

His eyes still glittered their blue sparkle, and he was smiling for some incomprehensible reason.

08-03-2007, 08:16 PM	#91
POS Industries Argus Agony Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gotta go fishing! Posts: 10,483	"Anyway." Pedro continued as everyone finished up their breakfasts, "All the information you need on the Shadow Temple can be found in the folder that Rei should be bring out right aboooout..... now." And at that moment, the android stepped out into the dining room again, carrying a briefcase that she sat down on the table in front of them and opened, removing a file folder that she handed to Nikose. "There you go," she giggled, "Good luck, guys!" "Now, it looks like you've all had enough to eat and this isn't a buffet, so it looks like breakfast is over," POS stated matter-of-factly as he rose to his feet, "Rei and I have some business to attend to and can't accompany you on the rest of this adventure, as we're planning a fighting tournament of sorts. You're all invited, by the way. Anyway, it's time you all got a move on, so...." At this point, Rei and the Denny's wait staff once again ushered the NPFers out to the parking lot, where a brightly luminant hyperlink portal to their next destination awaited them. "See ya later, folks!" Rei called out to the group before shutting the door and locking it. __________________ Either you're dead or my watch has stopped.

08-05-2007, 08:52 AM	#92
Arhra Ara ara! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Neo Venezia Posts: 5,013	Outside, Arhra quickly snatched the file folder off Nikose and thumbed through it. Tucking it safely away, she prepared to tell the other NPFers a carefully editted version of the facts. "Okay everyone," she said, "As you all know, the temple we're headed to is the Temple of Darkness, commonly believed to be the element of spookiness and angst. Unfortunately, this common belief has caused psychic contamination, drawing a vast number of those who are 'drawn to darkness' as they say." Arhra made a face. "They're harmless, but annoying." Continuing, Arhra went on. It was a marvel of redundancy. "Information about the Temple itself has been harder to obtain, as out generous backer did not want to risk activating the Temple's defenses. While the Temple is heavily shielded, there has been heavy interdimensional flux detected within the Temple, probably caused by the increased instability stemming from our attacks on the Seal system." "This is probably harmless." she said, blatantly lying. Arhra gave a few more details, essentially that they should expect the Shadow Temple to be dark. The hyperlink portal had punched through the interference caused by the barrier, bolstered by a homing beacon planted during the reconnaissance. The NPFers were very close to their destination, covering the very short remaining distance via giant eagle and copyrighted spacecraft. It was unecessary, but cool. Clouds drenched the entrance to the temple in shade. As the report has predicted, there were emos and their ilk milling around aimlessly in a great field before the sealed entrance; an imposing portico of black stone set in a cliff face. The soft sound of weeping filled the air. Arhra shoved her way through the black clad, shuffling masses in ill humour. They put up no protest, lost in existential angst. Darkness oozed from the great doors, thin rivulets trickling like blood from the intricate array of lines decorating the dread portal. Activating the door, it swung inwards silently, revealing the vista of darkness ahead. Inside, the NPFers found their eyes adapting to the poor illumination after a minute or so. With the aid of what light they brought, they plunged in. The tunnel swished side to side, like the windings of a snake. Something about the black rock the temple was carved from hurt the eye, blurring in and out of focus, a double image overlaying itself and then lining up to restore normal vision again. In the pattern of the former temples, the tunnel opened up into a wider chamber, circular with a ring of pillars, tiny purple lights giving shape to the darkness. Other tunnels were just visible as gaping holes of blackness. Like the former temples, there was a welcome wagon here to meet them. What was left of it. Strewn around were the partial remains of horrors that had never seen the light of day. Human sized, and of a monstrous, gaunt build, they could't even begin to be mistaken for human. Where they lay, the shadows clustered thickest, black strands breaking up their outline even more. "No-one touch the bodies." Arhra said after a thoughtfully horrified look at the scene, strain in her voice. "They're being eaten by the shadows." The Temple had turned against its own denizens. "This doesn't change anything." Arhra went on, deciding some morale boosting was needed in the face of ghastly death. "Just like the last three. Basic smash and grab. Well... smash. I'm even more certain - we smash this seal and the way to the Promised Land opens." OOC: Intro and quick "Any questions?" time. I'm planning to leap into the first of two encounters as soon as possible. __________________ This post is a good source of Ara ara, ufufu.* *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This post is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

08-05-2007, 08:43 PM	#93
Flarecobra Burn. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Classified Posts: 11,017	"Well, I know what keeps shadows at bay." I said, then lit a fireball, increasing it's tempeture and brightness until it was white-hot, and lit up the surrounding area. "Just like a torch. Now, if someone has light spells...." __________________ "Only the fool wishes to go into battle to beat someone for the satisfaction of beating someone." -A Thousand Sons Rules. Read them, know them, love them.

08-06-2007, 12:11 AM	#94
mauve So Dreamy Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Someplace magical Posts: 6,863	"Well hey, that's just creepy beyond all reason," Mauve said flatly, eyeing the shadows and their late lunch. "Let's get this over with and get out of this nasty place." She followed after Ahrha __________________ Yoo Hoo!

08-07-2007, 07:22 PM	#95
Flarecobra Burn. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Classified Posts: 11,017	Gina, while all this was going on, was happly enjoying her meal, dispite having eaten half a cake not too long ago. As they left, she turned to POS and said "Thank you very much for the meal! It was very good!" before I called to her "Hey! Coming or going!?" She hestated for a moment before my arm reached out and snatched her through the portal before it closed. She looked around and shivered slightly. "I don't like the looks of this place......looks like some kind of Bloodthurster or something had a party here...." she said, while I just glanced at her and though "Miss obvious...." __________________ "Only the fool wishes to go into battle to beat someone for the satisfaction of beating someone." -A Thousand Sons Rules. Read them, know them, love them.