=0==0==0==0==0=

Let's clear some things up first ^-^ There will be nothing spoken between the
players outside of the game itself. So all OOC -Out of Character- comments will
be heard by the NPCs/MOBs and most likely get the Characters really funny looks.
Just like when Eldrick travels to Tokyo as Max Sterling.

The Cast for this section:

                                First String & Villains


Author          Player         Character(s)
Jason           Eldrick        Arhden Molgof /Arhdenthian Treesinger/
					(Half-Elf/Half-Celestial
					Ranger/Cleric) DUAL
Jason           Eldrick        Jubei Hansawa
					(Bamboo Spirit Folk
					Kensai...) DUAL
					/NOTE: I'm just gonna use the !1st!
					Edition rules it's a copout I know. But
					as the combination isn't really close to
					the view I have of him... I say screw
					it./
Jason           Eldrick        Jake Von Drake
					(Greater Air Genasi
					Sorceror Hunter)$ {Immortal} 2nd
					 *SHOULDN'T SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.*
?               Ami Kintaro    Valeria Ulthain
					(Human
					Cleric)
?                              Fisbin
					(Human
					Rogue) 2nd
?                              @Valeria Ulthain's Ghost

?               Hope Davenport Mica
					(Half-Elven
					Druidess)
?                              @Sprethin
					(Sprite
					Sorceror) 2nd
?                              @Aerdrie's Wrath
					(Intelligent Longsword)
					 Spc WILL DUAL if JvD comes into
					 play. SINGLE if other charas die.

?               Joy Davenport  Jovial Jane Jedrax
					(Half-Elven
					Barbarian)
?                              Nathanial von Greystone
					(Elven
					Paladin) 2nd
						Will come in bodily if both go.

?               Ardice         @Bea Teldan
					(Half-Fiend
					Rogue)$
						She'll be damned if she lets Bea
						 die.

?               Margo          Hana The Fair
					(Elven
					Sorceress)
?                              Mercenary Captain Bek
					(Human
					Fighter)*

?               Haris          Del The Fist of Twilight's Crossing
					(Human
					Monk)
?                              Lieutenant Ben Galthwait
					(Human
					Fighter)*

?               Charhon        Boris Lench
					(Human
					Fighter)
?                              Poisonous Harriet
					(Human
					Fighter)*

?               Konei          @Quesy Soggybotham
					(Cursed Werehousecat
					Ranger)
?                              @Nails
					(Weretiger
					Fighter/Monk) 2nd
						Will go find consolation
						 in Gerards arms.

?               Astrala        Mad Madam Rhiana Yothilis
					(Gnome
					Mage)
?                              @Sprethia
					(Sprite
					Bard/Fighter) 2nd
?                              @Oaken Frescenta
					(Wood Nymph
					Bard/Illusionist) 3rd
						Crunch all you want... she'll
						 make more.

Jason           Ego            Sir Not Appearing in this Chapter Either
					(Don't
					Care)
						Like he'd wanna play anyway...
						but still where the hell is he?

?               Gala           @The Honorable Lady Aika Suzuki
					(Celestial Pearl Spirit
					'monster')
?                              Zecara
					(Human
					Fighter)*

?               Peer Kentaro   @Lord Shatter
					(Gith Yanki
					Monk/Master of Chains)
						Villain... doesn't get anyone
						 else.

?               Lag Carso      @Cragmaster Shard
					(Elder Earth Elemental
					'monster')
						Defeat is not quite a
						 possibility. ^.^;;;;

?               Sprint         @Negron Zephyr
					(Planar Human
					Fighter/Ranger)
						Villain... doesn't get anyone
						 else.

?               Varda Bloodbane @Succubi
					(Succubi
					'monster')
						Sprint wanted a Love Interest...
						 but they only get along in
						 bed... odd thing though is
						 almost anything they do
						 together ends up sexual. Odd
						 no? One second... trying to
						 kill each other...
						 next second... ...

?               Fawn           Laveth, Daugther of Lolth
					(Abyssal Drow
					Sorceress/Arachnamancer)

?               ??????         Devotee of Corelin Larethin
					(Elven
					Cleric)

?               Jo Insei       The mysterious unnamed Houri Sorceress
					(Human
					Sorceress/Houri)

?               Nurse Joy      The Sage
					(Planar Elf
					Sage) {Immortal}

?               Ullistrin      Ullistrin, The Vampire
					(Abyssal Drow
					Fighter/Cleric) {Immortal}

And

?               Nulise         Nulise
					(Drow
					Fighter/Black Guard)
						Defeat means death.
						 MUST be resurrected.

       Note: There are ! around First now due to the fact I realized I said the 
WRONG rules edition up there. However. In Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, they 
have a KIT version adaption of the Kensai for the Fighter Class. So far as I can 
tell it's structurally similar with similar abilities and the like. It would be 
easy enough to convert to THAT... and then try from there to make a temp Kensai 
for 3rd edition... BUT with Oriental Adventures 2 around the corner... I'll just 
wait.

Besides if I put the character sheets up before I'm done... then I might fall 
into a plot hole cause I forgot something later. And then there's just the 
mountain of eq you can have if you roll well on starting money. You wouldn't 
wanna see the eq list for Arhden before he set out for adventures... it was just 
mindboggling... then there's Jubei's which was totally burned on his katana... 2 
outfits and some food.

       Note: Characters with a * are a mercenary company. NPC's basically. The
Girls are simply willing to play them to continue to see the game. They are
Hireable only as a group. If any die they are resurrected but the company will
then only guard and make camp.

       Note: The ?'s aren't a joke or anything... I just think so differently
for those character that it might as well be someone else running them. ^^

       Note: Strings of ?'s equal 'see if you can guess who!' kinda things. It's 
       very transparent... because it's my way of having notes in plain sight... 
       Lazy Author Syndrome and what not.

       Note: The @ Designates a character abiding by some sort of leap through
rules hoops. Most likely their info would not be found all in one place -like
just the PHB or the DMG. OR I just haven't made their character sheet yet...
perhaps for those same reasons.

       Note: The $ designates a character abiding by house rules:

'Bea Teldan' utilizes 'updated' stats from the Diablo Addon to DND. These were
updated in house as the update for 3rd edition -IIRC- isn't out yet. Or more to 
the point last I looked -though I'll look again- there weren't what I was 
looking for... Rogue Class + Andariel's Corruptive Influence.

'Sorceror Hunter' is a special class. It is overpowered but LOW
survivability. They are highly inappropriate for most campaigns. If you would
add high power constructs into your games or artifact grade weaponry perhaps
they wouldn't be too out of place. They might even be needed. RULES CURRENTLY
IN REFINEMENT -hopefully not necessary for this fic. Really I'm not kidding.
We're talking high Challenge Rating here. Level + 6 or something after 4th 
level. *UPDATE* Have run a campaign with a class similarly overpowered... and 
found a way to account for things... to give an idea for the powerlevel... take 
a 4-6 player Diablo 2 game... and only put 1 Diablo 2 Character (again with the 
Diablo eh?) in it. Like sending a level 1 Character right into Nightmare mode... 
that's how tough... or in D&D 3rd' terms... a CR *1* party fighting against CR 
*7* groups... like playing orcs versus leveled heroes... but the orcs are the 
party not the heroes... now imagine a single orc versus a party of heroes... and 
you have the chance of dying.

Final Note: I use a wrong way of doing CR... you'll probably see it within. I 
only let swarms average their CR's like the party level is done. Otherwise I 
prefer to add them up... treat everyone as individuals. It's probably a way of 
monty hauling/munchkining or something... but then I usually prefer to have each 
orc each kobold... each Drow ordered to kill you... act within a group but still 
individually.



Arhden and Jubei are returning Character from Previous Campaigns. They will be
modernized to 3rd Edition D&D -or not- eventually. They will seem overpowered 
due to the fact they are entering at Higher Level than the rest of the party. Or 
should I say... significantly higher... with Jubei 2 levels higher than the 
imposed glass ceiling of his race.

[Skip to =0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0= to skip background tales of these 2
Characters. All other characters will be explained IN ROLEPLAY in the fic
itself]

Jubei was a Kensai and as such even in the 2nd Edition campaign he was run in he
had 1st edition rules floating around him all the time. NOW he's a Fighter
multiclassed into Weapon Master... well or would be -it just doesn't work out
right. His weapon is the Katana. The thing that sticks out about him is that
he's a Bamboo Spirit Folk. And not exactly tall.

Arhden is quite frankly a DM nightmare now. While his stance as a Ranger
and Cleric is not even close to dispute, his racial enemy is declared as
"rapists". This is something that could be used too easily, but I think it's
been handled well. He gets no bonuses until he has proof. Now his deity for the
cleric side is Aerdie Faeyna and that in itself is a little off the beaten path.
He picked up worship of her from a tribe of Avarial he spent some time with due
to his extreme admiration of their culture and their wings. Mostly the wings.

So far so good with Arhden. But that's not all.

He is himself the product of a rape. His mother was hunted down for days and
then abused. She was no slouch. They only got a hold of her due to tiring her
out, and the fact they had rejuvenating potions for their extremely taxed
bodies. Only four made it away alive of an original troupe of twenty. She chose
to keep the child because she did not despise the child, only the father.
Arhden was raised with his half brother in an atmosphere of love and happiness.
When he finally pieced enough parts together and confronted his older brother,
he was told the truth. It was at this time he went to the Avarial. He returned a
Ranger/Cleric with a burning desire to slay the beast who had hunted his mother
down and planted his seed in her. He took up the last name Molgof -after his
beastly father- and shortened his first name to something more... human.

Still with me? This is where he entered the first campaign. He gained friends
and a few levels and met Jubei at this time. His axe and bow tasted blood. He
learned that even if you can't hit someone you can scare the everliving out of
them with a close miss. And that doors can be lethal in the hands of a strong
Cavalier.

When Jubei and Arhden parted company with their new friends, they decided to
continue Jubei's journey of self discovery. Jubei, Arhden learned, had been a
none too shabby 'poet' and swordsman back home, who had either self banished
himself, or been banished after being framed by someone who was supposed to have
been a friend. He had been perported to have been 'acting like a Samurai'. A
thing you do NOT do. This friend had added to the order of Jubei's katana a
wakizashi. This matched set of blades became the last straw.

To make up for this breech of etiquette and honor -even though he had done
nothing dishonorable [He wore them on opposing sides and NEVER as the Samurai's
"long and short"]- he wrote a piece that even years after he penned it is still
talked of and something the learned should have memorized. He then left the
lands of his birth and traveled to the sea. Wishing to go further he acquired
passage. Now he wished to see the next sea and journey over it back home to the
grove that he was tied by birth to. He could sense a wrongness causing it harm.

If it died so would he.

Now at the start of the next campaign we found that what had happened was that a
despot had replaced the Exhalted Emporer who himself had forgiven Jubei of the
crime of Long and Short upon hearing his poem. This despot was now plunging the
country down a dark path. So dark that the whole of the nation -unified by a
adamantite guantleted fist- was considered and "accepted" for inclusion in
Ravenloft.

On the "Bad Thing" meter this is pretty high. Usually realms -and their rulers-
are dealt with this way when SOMETHING IN THE MULTIVERSE has decided that to let
the being "roam free" is Not Good(tm). UN-Fortunately the surrounding building,
island, or sometimes continent are "punished" along with the bad seed.

This meant that Jubei's Grove was in mortal peril. Unfortunately if the grove
dies so does Jubei - repeated due to it's importance to things(tm). Not to 
mention the whole nation was currently part of the Demiplane of Shadows.

Soon too they were also as The Mist -that force which seems to earmark people
for travel on a one way ticket to Ravenloft- swept through their campsite most 
likely grabbing for Jubei but just happening to snag both of them in the 
process.

The campaign would see the despot slain, and all his plans laid to ruin. The
heroes who had done this were praised, but they felt little want of such praise.
What made them happy is that through the banishing of evil from the lands it was
no longer "worthy" of being part of the Lands of Mist. Smelling the familiar
winds of home was more rewarding than any prize.

Arhden found himself cleansed of his human blood, in fact his entire past was
now altered. Instead of being chased and molested, a Celestial being had come to
them speaking of a prophesy, and they had agreed to the condition that the being
would lay with Arhden's mother. Now this was not just some higher being wishing
to engage in a sexual act with a semimortal. All he did was lay in the bed next
to her to Safeguard her dreams for the evening. When she woke feeling different,
everyone knew that she was indeed the one who would give birth to one who would
save a people in their most dire of emergencies.

That they had only just done just that and were hearing of events in the past
that should have been ingrained second hand was fortunately brushed aside. The
pair found a house had been built for them in a quiet out of the way location
with a friendly not too admiring village nearby. Jubei found word that his grove
had been designated as a place that should be protected, so he need not worry
about having to return any time soon. He found they could also summon him back
with special rites and incantations. A good thing as his land, his people and
his grove were all close to his heart. Arhden now blessed with the gift of
flight through his change in parentage was able in 6 months to find He who HAD
been His Father. Another had instead been hunted down. She however did not
survive her encounter. Sec Molgof would still have to pay for his lifestyle.

These last 2 years Sec has been imprisoned in a place that even mages could not
escape from readily. There is no chance for parole. No guards to plead with. No
warden to bribe.

He's in Ravenloft.

Arhden's Stats, etc   go here ---=->

Jubei's                       ---=->


Others listed as reached. Some other characters listed at the bottom in the Cast
Addendums section.

Now that you are up to speed on those two... on with the fic.

=0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0=



                           Because I have nothing better to do Productions
                                     An Eldrick Tobin project
                              From "It makes sense in my head" Theater
                                        A story of The Arc

                                        Demons With Drama
                                           Track Two:

                                         Chorus of Fate

With a sudden snap, she could see again. The Waiting Room of the Gods had been
so dismal and dull that she had only reinforced her desire to just get to what
would probably be everyone's home away from home for the foreseeable Questfilled
future. She slipped out of her rather comfortable bedroll and winterblanket
combo and took a look around her.

What she saw was mindboggling in it's realism. The Morning dew was still
cascading from the leaves on the barely familiar trees. Bees were already at
work on the wild flowers growing nearby. The sky was picture perfect. The
stream, as she walked over and began bathing, was still very cool and
untouched... even though she knew the town was just a few miles away.

Stepping out of the stream she momentarily lavished the feel of the grass
between her toes. Strong deep green blades tickled her toes as she wiggled them.
A stiff breeze blew across her bare flesh drying it ever so gently,"I could be
naked forever," she commented as she looked at her clothing laid out for the day
with a smirk. A crackle came from the dying embers of the fire that had
protected her through the night. Or would have had she actually been asleep all
night. It would have warded off natural forces that might have done anything
from sneek under the blanket for warmth, or run off with her clothes to use for
a nest.

A sudden motion caught her eye as a bird flew from a brach and caught an insect
on the wing. She sighed,"Why must evil effect a land so idllyc?"

"Perhaps because a land so beautiful is the perfect thing to twist and corrupt
with evil. To turn the good to the bad and rotten is the goal of many evil
things deep down."

She crossed her arms on her still bare chest,"Alright whoever you are. Did you
enjoy what you saw? And where are you that I might in turn have a look at you?"

"I'm up in the tree. As for what I saw... I only saw you in your nightwear. When
I saw you head towards the stream I panicked and covered my eyes."

"Why are you in the tree?" She said as she cast her eyes towards the sound of
the man's voice. She could make out... feathers? and leathers. Perhaps a
wandering bard in outlandish costume?

"I smelled smoke and feared for a fire from the storm last night. Then I saw you
sleeping and figured to escort you to the town. Did my landing wake you from
your dreams?"

"I don't think so," she shook her head,"But anyway Brave Soul who travels the
Safe Wood rescuing people from their campsites... would you like to share
breakfast with me?"

"Perhaps you should clothe yourself first... that is if you aren't already. I
can't see through my wings. The feathers are pretty dense." Due to their thick
cover he could also not hear her approach.

"Wouldn't it be safer to just turn your head? You look off balance. Avarial are
you? I didn't know your people strayed out this far from the mountains. Well
anyway come on down. I don't bite and I'm more inclined to stay naked if it
unnerves you than to dress and perhaps lose your interest."

He could be heard to gulp,"Where did you come by such a logic?"

"I know Avarial bathe coed due to a lack of shame in most tribes. So likely even
if you're just trying to be polite to human customs you've seen better so don't
worry about it. Pelor is kind to not enforce tenants on modesty as strongly as
some."

He managed to leap and beat twice to a soft landing with his eyes fixated on the
ground. He sketched a bow for her his wings not quite knowing what to do. The
erratic motions of his wings trying to mimic his arms caused a breeze which had
her intake sharply at the sudden cold. Fearing he had knocked her over he looked
up and was ensnared by her beauty. He quickly looked away when she noticed.

"I see I CAN still be desired even though I wear the sign of Pelor. Perhaps I
should introduce myself. I am Valeria Ulthain of the Followship of Pelor. And
who is the one blushing over me?"

[Click Here for Valeria Ulthain Stats ---=->   ]

"Pleased to meet you... um... I'm Arhden Molgof."

"That's two things not right with you."

"Pardon?"

"The first is you are more robust than most avarial and the second is your very
human name."

"Oh yeah my name... it's really Arhdenthian Treesinger."

"I'll leave you to your secrets as to why you would go by a different name, but
what profession calls you it's own? And what have you been eating to be so
robust and still fly. Avarial don't come as you are."

"Earlier in life I was simply a half elven lad with an interest in avarial and
revenge against my father who brought me into this world without my mother's
choosing."

"Did she not desire to bring a halfbreed into the light?"

His face grew darkened,"A Vicious Act was visted upon my mother by a bunch of
men with time to kill. A few escaped her wrath. The last was finally
incarcerated," his face grew a bit more wistful,"That however was all in another
life as events have transpired to change me from half human to half celestial.
Aerdie Faeyna has powerful friends in the realm of the gods it seems."

She brightened,"I have heard of thee! The One who brought a land back from
another realm! Children are taught stories of you. I myself became more devoted
to religion because of your great deeds. Thinking that one day Pelor might call
on me to do his will I have studied and studied. I'm currently on my travel
year where I get to know the people and see where clerics might be needed before
returning for further study. Maybe even placement," it was her turn to
blush,"I've even had dreams of the winged messenger of the elven and avarial
goddess due to my studies outside of my calling. I can never tire of hearing of
your exploits."

"Others are more worthy of such honors..."

She stepped foreward... her still damp brown hair now brushed from her face by
her hand as she reached forward cupping his face in her hands and gazing into
his embarassed eyes,"We'll have none of that talk," she said before she kissed
him.

Afterwards they stood close... his wings unconsciously enfolding her and keeping
her within their protection,"What... what was that for?"

"Heroes so often go unrewarded in their quests. That was to... keep you on your
path," she said as she kissed him again though this time arguably longer.

He spoke when they released again,"And that one?"

"In hopes we might lie together this morning... and go to town tomorrow..."

"I..."

She traced a finger across his lips,"I haven't been with a man since my husband
died 7 years prior this fall."

"But..."

She placed the finger on his lips,"I'll not force you to say yes, but can a hero
not rescue a damsel in distress?"

FMV - 01 Frisk Knight plays...  {FMV=Frisk me vigorously!} 
[To view 'fmv' please click here ---=-> http://the-arc.net/dwd_02-fmv01.txt ]

THAT NIGHT

Arhden stirred next to Valeria. He leaned over to kiss her but she seemed 
asleep, so he leaned down and kissed each breast lightly on her nightwear, She 
stirred and said,"Eld stop... you know that tickles." Then she snapped awake.

She wasn't quite prepared to hear,"Ami... is that you?" The elven accent didn't
help matters too much either.

"Is it fate that we are drawn to each other like this my Eldy?"

He grinned,"Well we both seem to like the sex as ice breaker method... you know
I'm kidding right?"

She sprung up kinda giddily,"Oh? So you've broken the ice hear in fantasy land
with more than me? Was she cute? Was HE cute? Did you get footage somehow? I
wish I'd logged in with you. Elven? Human? or maybe a Celestial. Come on
details. I wanna know every thrust!"

"Hentai."

She knew he was brushing the question away. She knew even with this body of his
he'd be really shy since it was still her Eld under all the half celestial skin.
But she decided to tease him further anyway,"Oh... the details are hentai eh?
Did you tickle her to orgasm with a flight feather? Was she under a charm... or
Power Word STRIP? Oh I know... you used a Limited Wish and had a nubile sex
slave made of mud created to do your sexual favors for you until the last full
moon!"

"Oh and boy was she hot... she looked just like you usually do. Only she let me
do anything I wanted. She's still tied up on a trapese in the next town in my
lavish suite there. She's not animate now but... hehehehe"

"All that elven blood has made you brazen enough to fight back. I like you in
here," she leaned in to kiss him when an audible snap was heard,"And the party
forms up... who's over there?"

A foot thrust itself out of the covering of winter blanket. Then a striped tail.
The second foot came out next followed by the rest of both legs and a cute pair
of shorts that had been modded to support a tail hole. "It's me!" her head was
still under the blanket,"Why is it so dark... is there an eclipse?"

[For Quesy Soggybotham's Stats Click Here ---=-> ]

"It's only night time... but you're head is still under the blanket."

"Oh I thought I was free once I wiggled out of the sleeping bag... err bedroll,"
She popped out the rest of the way,"Heheheh bedroll... sounds like something you
eat before you go to sleep." The whiskers made her smile look funnier than she
probably intended -though this IS Konei-chan playing the character. For a Tabby
Cat Werehousecat stuck in Hybrid mode... she wasn't that intimiating- well save
for the claws tipping her fingers and toes that looked QUITE functional. She
gasped.

"What?"

"You two already had sex? WOW. That's so cool you found each other and then
wanted to experience new things."

Arhden spoke then,"Actually she seduced me and we only just realised who we each
were just before you arrived."

Her ears twitched,"You mean you didn't know? Heheheh thinking of having some
wild fun with new people eh? Neato! So what was it like? Did Eld taste like
chicken? And What Race is part chicken anyway? Do you lay eggs Eld?" she
paused,"Uh... just a minute...I'm hungry... hey I smell fish in that stream!"
She ran over and deftly snagged a few out and some branches from a tree and set
them over the fire. "You can answer my questions now,"she said as she smiled
like a box full of kittens.

Valeria blushed,"Well I think it's ... Arhden's charisma score that smote me
with cupid's railgun. He's just irresistable. AND he's famous here. Like a
Rockstar or a Shakespearian actor on broadway. How could I resist my hormones?"

"That and the technical specifications for the simulators enhance sensations and
trigger chemicals so you are more in character. Washuu said in the Waiting Room
of the Gods that there are even technologies at work to have you feel a touch or
a caress such that you could touch your skin after pulling say a sleeve off and
your skin would even know it had happened. And with sex... well... whereever
something goes out on one person... goes in on another. Sounds so naughty
doesn't it?"

Arhden blinked,"So we were noisy?"

Quesy shook her head,"Nope. Washuu only head the naughty things going on... no
moaning and groaning," she paused and scarfed down a half cooked fish,"Mmm just
right... so... my other questions?"

"Arhden doesn't taste like chicken. If he did what would you do?" Valeria
giggled.

"Well Quesy subdues me, so I can control my sexual urges."

"So he's not tempting at all? Eld... smile at her."

He did so. You could tell he was even trying to be inviting. Quesy's reaction
was that her tail rose up and made a heartlike shape. She blinked though and
said,"I can feel my body saying yes... and THIS body saying yes... but I could
almost FEEL the dice rolling to let me overcome myself. To make it my conscious
choice. Kinda weird feeling to have self control," she looked around,"We're not
in character right now are we?"

Valeria nodded,"Did you forget... it's no different than going to Tokyo
virtually."

"So any thing I do affects my character record sheet? And maybe my chances with
my other character, Nails?"

Arhden gave it thought,"Well character sheet yes... but you control your
characters. If Nails doesn't mind to you. He doesn't mind. If Nails is very
Alpha male... he'll probably mind. But at this point in the story I don't know.
IS he out there right now?"

"Oh I forgot to load him! Here... Hold my hand... and I'll load him and see how
the game thinks he should react."

Arhden did so and forced his concentration into Jubei walking over since they'd
gone different ways to scout about. Mainly incase Nails' reaction was "Rip bird
man apart."

There was the snap sound, and they felt his eyes on them from a treebranch for a
brief second before his most likely built in stealth turned itself on. Arhden
began blushing as Quesy slid her hands up his arms and down his chest. She
placed one of his hands on one of her breasts underneath her shirt. The other
she directed to one of her extra nipples and asked him to squeeze. She purred
visibly before she said,"Nails doesn't have a problem... save that he needs both
hands for it."

Valeria burst out laughing as a puzzled look spread on Arhden's face,"She means
his masculinity Arhden," comprehension dawned.

"You mean he's... right now?"

"Like a baboon at the zoo!" Quesy blushed,"You're slowing down and that's making
him angry though. I know!" and she pushed him back onto the blanket... wings
spreading out to keep from getting injured. Valeria got up and took a seat on
Quesy's blanket to watch.

FMV 02 A Bird in the Hand
[to watch 'fmv' click here: ---=-> http://the-arc.net/dwd_02-fmv02.txt]

AFTERWARD

"I wonder if we got any experience points? But anyway," Quesy smiled,"Nails
liked watching," she paused,"It was really exciting for my body... I had you in
my mouth... and yet from Nails I was... very male in feel. Then it was me in my
mouth and the sensations from Nails..." She paused to sigh," This system is
very good. I'm glad I have willpower here in the game or... I think I'd leap on
everyone we came accross. I wonder if the machine can do orgies... we'll have
to wait for the others and find out. Though... I'm tired from all that."

"You are a cat. You probably wanna bask in a sunbeam about now," Arhden quiped.

"Silly birdman," she stuck her tongue out at him.

There were multiple snap sounds and the camp was starting to look like things
might get crowded. Mica woke first and asked,"Konei-chan... why did you drop out
of the meeting so soon?"

"Quesy was wondering why we weren't having meeting here. Quesy not understand
why not here. Here better. Quesy not understand."

Del leaned on an elbow,"We know you don't talk like that in here."

"But still here is better because we can plot with Eld and Eld in here."

Hana shook her head,"You seem more interested in catching birds," her angle on
the situation didn't allow her to understand the situation well enough.

Astrala's Avatar of the moment was already sitting down next to Ami's Avatar
discussing sex on the server, and Miss Jedrax was already positioned where Quesy
was and going to work. Eld was unable to verbally defend himself because of
such attentions.

Charhon's Avatar joined Hana in rounding on Quesy who was so downtrodden she was
just holding and stroking her tail trying to speak, point or interject
something but Hana was quite livid about her popping out the second Eld was
mentioned. With Ardice not there to reign the sisters in they were in assault
mode pretty quick.

Basically nothing was getting done... and nothing was happening very rapidly.
Chaos reigned supreme as in pieces the meeting continued or people railed on
others... or people talked about sex...

And thus Jubei finally walked in on the scene causing everyone to look up...
save Jovial Jane who wasn't done yet, and Arhden who was so lost in the moment
he couldn't see straight. Jubei cleared his throat and bowed,"Greetings. I am
Jubei Hansawa, a master of the blades upon me," he looked about,"Have I come at
a bad time to be in character?"

Boris shrugged,"Yes and no. We were about to go looking for you. Where's your
other character?"

Jubei pointed,"You seem to have ignored him." He smiled,"And I personally agree
with Quesy-chan. You should have come straight in and found us. I'd have loved
to have attended this meeting also, but Washuu was acting like the maid of honor
at a wedding and not allowing me to see the bride as you may recall... and
encouraged. I'm not in here for my own amusement either... though that might be
hard to believe with... I assume Joy's character... hard at work."

Miss Jane gave a victory sign but didn't stop. Jubei shook his head,"Well
should we call role? Oh bad pun Jubei... bad pun."

By the time everyone had been introduced to Eld via Jubei, Eld's other set of
senses were finally conscious of the world at large again. Arhden spoke then,"No
more sampling the Birdman to see if he tastes like chicken. My constitution
isn't THAT high. I can't take this," Arhden had to restrain the Jovial One to
keep her from stripping. Jubei chuckled. Arhden blushed and said,"Sorry Jubei
you were saying?"

Haris looked between the two speakers kinda puzzled,"How are you doing the two
different sets of mannerisms... without messing up? Argh Washuu explained and
I've forgotten."

Mad Madam Rhiana stood up from talking sex with Valeria and smiled,"Well...
unlike in the old system where you concentrated and sent responses and reactions
to the machinery. Now it queries your mind directly. Provided you have
personality templates along the lines of 'What would Brian Boitano do?' Your
brain can answer. It takes the flavor of the character from your mind also... so
eye twitches..."

Hana chuckled,"Grandstanding..."

"...the tendancy to smite," The Mad Madam glared before continuing,"All these
things your mind can come up with faster than you could input it. It also allows
data to be available to your brain just as readily. So Valeria knows when she
got her first tooth... Del knows how many fights he's been in. Even as minute as
how your character would probably like their morning routine are all easily
available. Once you're in... the server and the client simply extrapolate. It's
a pretty sharp system. Almost a zero on the inaccuracies... well baring any
changes to the game done by those in power. I've noticed many of the gods aren't
as caring about how one handles themselves in private... and Paladins only get
their holy levels of charisma when being polite... so... don't be surprised to
see any sneer even if you aren't evil. Though all sneering must be penanced
off... usually flagellation. Wizards also have the option of casting from their
spellbook at triple the casting time. Bye Bye Memorization. Definitely gives a
Final Fantasy feel. Instant is still instant however.

"The last house rule is sneaky. A Lawful Good NPC is leaps and bounds more
lawful and good than a PC can be. A Chaotic Evil NPC is really chaotic and evil.
So... if I was Lawful Neutral... an NPC would be all the more LN than I am.
Heroism and Villainy what can I say. Heroes are really heroes... and Villains
are really villainous. However it swings both ways... some NPC's will barely
meet alignment requisites and still be that alignment. It's kinda tricky. IF a
so-so does something really villainous or really heroic they really build the
exp. But someone excelling at their alignment doesn't get as much. It's more
expected. PC's -us- get leeway. We're basically prorated... sets amounts for
actions. So you don't have to worry about not having your whole heart in an
action and getting the shaft," she looked at those who weren't exactly the
alignments they picked for their characters.

Del raised his hand,"But I still feel dumber than I really am. What gives?"

"Your character's stats. That's part of the feel I mentioned, but is more hard
coded. It's why Arhden and Valeria are about ready to fall over dead from
exhaustion when IRL -for us- they'd still be quite active. It's harder to push a
stat in here. You have to get feats and skills to push things that are so hard
coded. The stats are control variables... not pools to draw from. Take
intelligence- 1-* right? Well for US that would be the equivalent of 10 through
say... 180. But for us you can have a 179... or a 101. Here you'd round up or
round down with noticable results."

"So at level 4 I should increase my int if I wanna feel like myself?"

"Righto. And if you surpass yourself... you'll notice too. The game runs people
and things from low to highend stats... and doesn't have any trouble helping you
out a bit. Just like if you took basketweaving as a craft skill... you'd make
some nifty keen baskets... then go back to our IRL and not even know where to
begin unless you were taking pains to pay attention," she turned,"Jubei?"

Jubei took the podium once again,"We have rooms in town, so that you don't have
to sleep under the stars. Since these are immobile -they are our logout nodes
and can't be shifted like real bedrolls- and not as comfortable, my suggestion
is we make our way to town. There aren't any monsters to worry about in the
local area. Everything's been pretty cleaned out. It's rather odd. The town
watch says the local rulership put big bounties out at one point for monster
hides. And yes I'm using monster very generally and unfortunately unkindly at
that. BUT you'll find the locals to be like that almost to a one."

Hana smirked in her beautiful way,"So... it's like being back in medieval times
when people were afraid of their shadow coming to eat them in the night?"

"Only where the chance of that being the case are 400% higher than back home."

"That's nearly a 50% chance!"

"Welcome to the Game."

Valeria was getting dressed when she said,"You know I'm glad you guys rehashed
items from the meeting. Because I... like Arhden and Jubei... didn't know there
was going to be one."

Boris spoke,"Well... you were supposed to find The Elds and to be the most in
character to make up for any short comings from the rest of us. If Arhden is
Group leader... Jubei and you are the diplomats who speak to the townies. Rhiana
offered, but her IC personae will be in a state of flux... and NPC's won't
understand how this new person knows all about them."

Valeria stood then, dressed and ready to go, as she said,"Cool! I have a niche!
Err... Ahem... With Pelor's guidance I hope to be an asset to the group and
shall endeavor to do my best for our goals."

Hope smiled,"A quandry... is this Ami... acting to be Valeria... or has Valeria
adopted Ami's personality?"

Ami removed doubts by sticking her tongue out at Hope.

ON THE ROAD TO TOWN

"OW! Splinter! Blasted failed spotcheck. Ow Ow Ow... someone pull it out!!"
Quesy hopped about on one foot for a while before falling on her duff. She
didn't cry out again... but you could see on her face she was in pain. Jubei
unburdened the packhorse a bit, as the healing enabled decended on the injured
housecatgirl. Arhden knelt and carefully removed the thorn while Valeria cast a
Cure Light Wounds. "Oh that's great... thank you. But... can someone carry me to
the packhorse... I twisted the other one. I don't think it wants me walking on
it. I'm so sorry."

Ahrden shrugged,"Not a problem I should think," and he scooped her up carefully.
"In fact Jubei cleared the horse of some of it's burden because we both saw how
your ankle decided to travel a different path from your body. At least you
didn't break it."

"Silver lining!"

"You got that right."

And up she went onto the saddle... but not how a lady would ride.

"You sure about that position?"

She looked about,"What's wrong with it? I'm in the saddle my feet are in the
stirrups, and I am facing the right way too. I don't see a problem. I'll be
fine. I hate sidesaddle."

"It's your willpower check," Arhden looked at the splinter... or rather shard of
wood,"That's funny... this isn't a wood from here. You expecting a delievery
from home Jubei? I swear this is cherry... and it's good stuff... polished and
waxed." He handed the shard over.

Jubei studied it and the woods seemed to whisper to him. Then nodding he walked
to about where Ms Soggybotham had run aground of it like a ship grazing coral.
Then he walked further a few feet,"I am not wholy certain... but someone was
carrying something with another opposite... a water jug I'd normally guess.
However this floorboard," he picked upa chunk of a molded plank,"Looks more the
bottom of a royal seat that would be carried between bearers." He looked around
some more,"And here... the root that the right bearer tripped on."

"Someone from your family?"

"No. I would have had advanced warning so that I wasn't wandering when they
arrived," he looked about for other signs. Arhden beat him to a comb that seemed
made entirely of pearl. Jubei backed away from it,"You are holding a bride's
comb. An Imperial Bride's Comb. They take years to fashion without magical
means. I fear an inquisition about the Emperor's death from a maiden who was
promised him and now has only anger in her heart that I could not save him," he
sighed,"I shall go in first. I only hope she was not injured in the fall."

"Want one of us to scout ahead for you?"

"We shall enter normally."

Del nodded along,"Like a challenge to a duel this cannot be refused."

Arhden smiled,"I've got it Del. Thanks."

They continued on until they rounded a bend and found a makeshift camp setup
against a Kara Turian style wagon. They sprang to their feet and noticing
Hansawa bowed,"We were returning home master when the wheel hit a mudburied rock
and chipped," he said to Jubei in the language of their homelands.

Another wagoneer spoke then,"Sadly a chipped wheel eventually breaks."

Jubei nodded,"Is that so? Are you awaiting the opening of the gates and an
inquiry of the carpenter?"

The first spoke again,"Yes, Lord Hansawa."

"Lord?" he frowned,"Well we are keeping you from rest you will need. Have a
riceball for me when you return home." He bowed to them. He made a mental note
to switch back to using the common tongue.

When they were out of earshot Del walked up to Jubei,"Where were their guards?"

"Most likely guarding the Lady they arrived with. Who... probably has my
finances from home in her care to make sure I speak with her," he thought as he
walked,"Or she is using a bit for her stay. It's only fair. I have taken through
my slow actions her husband from her."

"Hansawa... was he not dead before the land succumbed to darkness? Also if you
can forgive me I must point out you are not a member of the Imperial Guard. But
I sort of understand your sentiment. Your whole land must feel it. All mourn but
only a handful need be blamed... who are not among the living anymore I
imagine. Others may only bear the shame of slow action. But not the guilt of the
accused. Else... else the whole country should put itself down. Which regardless
of the intent would send the lands right back to where they had only just
been delivered."

Hansawa walked on in silence. The Fist of Twilight's Crossing could only resume
his place in the formation of sorts. A somber procession reached the Town's
gate.

"Ah Master Jubei! You have a guest within," said a guard as he climbed off the
wall to slide the gate open.

Still up on the wall his superior corrected him,"Eh... I think that's Master
Hansawa... and Master Hansawa rather than Sir if you are his student. So Sir
Hansawa," he looked at Jubei and bowed,"Did I get it right?"

"I do not require a form of address in truth. Hansawa is fine."

"Ah... well I'll have a talk with my old man then. Seems he didn't pick up the
languages of the world as good as he thinks he did."

Arhden spoke up,"Was Jubei's guest referring to him as Sir? By your translation
I mean."

The guy scratched his head,"Well with how The Lady referred to him as Honorable
Lord Hansawa Jubei. I figured Sir would be more appropriate... or His Lordship.
She said it very regally. But then The Lady could blow her nose and it would
look regal. Not that I'd say she does such... her companions and the cargo
guards were covered in trail dust and tanned from the sun... but she was still
pale as a sheet and clean as a whistle. Love to know how she did it myself. Got
a escort run to do in a fortnight. My dress uniform is gonna look like an
adventurer's gear," he smacked himself in the head,"I need to learn to shut up.
In ya go you probably have beds waiting for you and your friends," he bowed to
the group,"Welcome to our town. We have quite an assortment of goods and
services available ... when the sun rises that is. Helps being on a trade route
sometimes. Oh and Hansawa..."

"Yes?"

"I don't think the Lady is in her rooms. AND we all expected you back in via the
other gate. Should I send someone over to the other side... or were you going to
head that way and see if you can find her?"

"I shall inform the other gate to my return. You need not weaken your numbers on
this side," Jubei called up to the man 12 feet higher in the air. Taking a
breath as he crossed into the town itself he began scanning for where 'His
Guest' might be. He announced his intentions to look alone and moved off at a
faster pace.

Most of the party had never even read ahead about the town. There were two
barracks... one for each gate although one could easily survice both. Rumor had
it that the town was once lost simply because a trooper arrived at his post out
of breath and thus was not able to use his shield to deflect an incindiary arrow
before it hit a house and caught fire. A Fire in this town would wipe it out.

Almost all buildings are simply wood save the smithy which was a stone building.
Next to the smithy was the carpenter's workshop as they othen worked together on
things -like the shields of the town's watchmen- which may be heavy but... when
in the old days the goblins would raid... you had to have equipment that could
stop an axe and still be useful for the next blow.

On the other side of the smithy was the armorer. On a good day and indeed most
any day you could see him linking chain or bringing in cured leather from his
curing hut downwind of the town. That of course was his other job. Not everyone
has the time or the constitution to cure leather themselves. Being the Tanner
keeps him able to do what he really loves... armor.

Sadly besides the inn and the tavern... most of the rest of the town looks
nearly identical. Two sometimes three Story -the Mayor and the Captain of the
Watch have three story homes- homes of wood with little stone -save chimneys-
dotted the inside of the walls on a grid. The grid being due to a time when the
town DID burn to the ground. Almost entirely at fault was the fact the streets
were a maze and the bucketbrigade often tripped over it's own members due to a
lack of the current ditches for sewage.

Now nice proud homes rose out of the ground sporting that 'European' look. Eaves
and overhangs on the shingled roofs painted a nice simple brown or grey.
Exterior walls sometimes decorated with plank sized runes like you would expect
in an English dwelling of a comparable period. Of course construction techniques
differ... and the fact the town originally had a sewer that encompassed the town
more would have been a marvel most likely.

Originally because several times before the Conflagration the town would be
raided through it's very seware system. Nothing like the goblin axe that bit
into your arm having been dipped in you or your neighbors leavings from the
night before that had yet to wash away. Being told your arm would have to be
removed to save your life is not something most folk want to hear.

And so now they have ditches that are mostly covered with bridgework and
irrigated. Someone even had the foresight to fill them with aquatic flora. To
tell the people that many of those plants are eating the detrious would have
them laughing. The farmers would grow silent but your average person does not
know that often those great vegetables that the farmers bring in are fertilized
from compost heaps... which don't always have plant waste in them.

Speaking of waste... as in many find it either a waste of money or moral
fiber... the town even has a small brothel affiliated with the tavern. Just
your standard issue kind of place -nothing to write home about... well if
you have open minded family that is. This mostly became obvious to the party
when a young woman was seen supporting a very drunk man into their inn-
complaining about how he would be in bed and that she wasn't getting paid enough
for this.

At this revelation Jovial Jane perked right up,"Can I go to the brothel Arhden?
Please?"

"This really isn't a vacation you know."

"Oh I'm aware... but if I don't drown out my anger I'm libel to go off on my own
to save the world. And I'm not yet strong enough for such a task. This way I
keep calm ya know," she winked at him,"Unless you'd rather..." she slipped into
his personal space arms sliding around him and hooking her thumbs in his belt
loops.

"They charge either by the hour or by the night. With curfew approaching you'll
probably have to go with the night package. Sweet Dreams."

"Why must you not be fun right now?"

"I can't so easily forget the mission. Please... go enjoy yourself for the both
of us okay," and with that he kissed her cheek.

Jane sighed,"I'll stay. You've convinced me. So which way to our rooms, Mr. Sad
Kisser?"

"Um... we have the third floor to ourselves. It's a royal suite so it's designed
for like a prince and his entourage. Speaking of which we'll probably have to be
on our way within the next week."

Mica spoke up as she was surveying the inn with curiousity and a little
revulsion,"Money issues?" The common room was spacious but like as not 
seemed... cold and lifeless to her.

Hana spoke after toying with something by where the innkeeper was standing,"I 
bet the prince comes out here to indulve himself and is due in 8 or 9 days."

Arhden was impressed,"How did you know?" he asked as he led them straight up to 
their floor.

"I looked through the guest manifest. Someone has had this floor preregistered
for next week for the past 3 months and into the next. I bet an arranged
marriage is in his future. Hope if she's a hag internally or externally she
isn't a hag in the opposite. I recall when one of Hell's Dukes took a bride who
was exquisite... only to find she was as fun to talk to as he was to talk to.
She later took over his realm for herself. Then she found out he was just a
figurehead and it didn't matter who was in the office."

"Oh? Which realm... if it's pronouncible..."

"Oh I'm speaking of things I expect to happen. Not the past. Malinara is a
backstabber," she looked around the room once again,"We can move the beds right?
And ditch these around the bed curtains right? I mean we're all adults here."

"We have alot of leeway yes. My guess is the Prince let's his entourage induldge
as well... and these are just flimsty privacy screens," he paused and pointed
to a exquisite chair,"I bet the prince sits there and watches. I've sat in it...
it would look like you were in the middle of an orgy with the wall scounces by
the door lit. There's even a private bedroom for him to retire too over there on
the side," he pointed to the appropriate doorway... which had relief ccarvings 
of men and women... and men with men and women with women... and things with 
other things and people. It was a fairly overwhelming group of carving up one 
side of the door and down the other.

Valeria blushed and Mica gazed at the ground. Boris fought his pants cursing and
swearing about male bits. Hana was unfazed as were most of the 'IRL' Demonettes.
Quesy and Rhiana were arranging the beds to a more livable state. Jane was in
the chair nodding and giggling,"Screw my slaves screw like the evils are after
you. You must dance the dance of love to stir my loins!" When she said that the
wall scounces lit themselves,"Oopsie."

Everyone able felt the magic go off and started trying to figure out what was
up. It's one thing if it's just a trigger phrase... it's another if all the talk
of hell and evil had stirred something. An Azure smoke started billowing out of
the scounces. Quesy panicked and went for the door. It wouldn't open.

Arhden could feel the wrongness from the gas,"Get away from the door Quesy! It's 
some kind of drug," he said before concentrating on the words for Dispel Magic 
and let then it fly. It only worked to turn out the scounces... but what of the 
gas? Arhden had a bright idea and commanded, "Open a window and I'll try Control 
Winds."

Rhianna pulled a drowsy Quesy out of the path and then Arhden wrapped the smoke
in air and purged it from the room and high into the sky. Del tried the door and
it opened like nothing was wrong. Hana examined the scounces,"It's like
something bled into the scounces. Fortunately we wouldn't have become too over
powered. There was very little left. I can't identify what it is though. Does
the town have an apothecary? Well Arhden?"

"Yes... and there's a rumor of a sage further away in a forest. If the
Apothecary can't help we'll have to try the sage. We have to get to the bottom
of this before we move on... can't be on our triumphant way back to find the
town knocked out by this stuff... or worse." He looked over at Quesy,"Valeria...
how is she?"

Valeria sighed,"My character doesn't know... but I do. It's like she was hit by
Yellowstar. And a very heavy dose at that. Like... 1600 mg. However that much YS
would kill a person... even a were critter. So this can't be a medieval
equivalent. I don't know what it is beyond that. Touching her could cause her to
orgasm practically. I've tried a spell just to see the reaction... and she could
feel not only the effects of the magic... but the magic itself. That's not
natural."

"Final verdict?"

"It can probably be burned out of her system the old fashioned way... but she's
not traveling tomorrow. I'm sorry I can't think of more to try."

Jane stepped over,"Well since this is my fault I'll burn it out of her system,"
she pulled a candle out of her belt pouch,"I noticed a decided lack of sex toys
in the player's handbook. This was the best I could provide for myself."

Arhden carried Quesy to the private room. There was an active cone of silence
once they entered. It was enchanted to the doorknob and covered where the bed
was perfectly.  This was too much magic for your average unleveled Prince.

Jane closed the door behind Arhden... a mix of excitement and worry on her face.

FMV 03 Nurture by Candles
[ Click here to see the FMV ---=-> dwd_02-fmv03.txt ]

ON THE STREETS

Walking calmly down the main street along the mile or so of cobblestones Jubei
wondered to himself what to expect under the gaze of this former bride of the
Emperor. Former hopefuls to be the last bride the Emporer would take before
abdication 10 years after -heir or no heir... he had had no intention of dying
on the throne and leaving the lands in Chaos- had expressed anger in their own
selected rescuers of His Most Honorable Imperial Magesty. In truth no one had
selected him for it... but with the rescue of the lands... many had also hoped
to hear that the emperor had perhaps been found alive and that word of his death
was exaggerated.

Nothing like feeling you hadn't done enough to make you not want to return home
just yet. He just felt he had a penance to make up for. Just like with the rumor
of his wearing the long and short by a jealous associate. He'd made up for it in
the eyes of many with some excellent poetry and performance in some select Noh
plays. And yet he still self exiled. And here be basically was again. Self
Exiled because he did not have a sense that something had happened to the
Emperor. Self Exiled because had he not be of the spirit folk blood... he'd not
have even known anything was wrong.

He felt shame that his first motivation was... self preservation. To save the
grove that his life was linked to. Only after that had he quested to save the
lands of his people. Of course had he quested first and saved the grove
second... he might well have died as his grove did.

The thought was no consolation.

Breaking him from his gloom was the sound of a light jingle of bells. He looked
to where the sound came from his eyes naturally piercing the light fog that had
settled in. His breath caught.

The light and the fog had seemed to dance around the being draped in whites and
greens and reds. They stood on level with himself if perhaps a little more sure
of themselves than Hansawa. The cut of the cloth about them seemed to say that
money was of no concern. This was obviously the Lady who sought him all the way
over here on another continent.

He came to a stop. Quitely he knelt down, and pulled out the comb as he did so.
Raising it over his lowered head he spoke in his ancestral tongue with his eyes
on the ground,"Noble Lady, you lost this in the forest. I hope you did not
injure yourself."

From what he could almost see she had turned around... seemingly so smooth he
doubted for a moment that she was walking on the ground. He knelt there semi-
uncomfortably as he felt her eyes on him. He dared not move, and his training
allowed him perfect stability.

"Lord Hansawa, Honorable Kensai who carries his family's honor as well and as
lightly as a feather clutched tenderly in the hand.... why are you kneeling
before me?" she asked in a voice that belonged more on an angel.

"For one I am presenting you with your comb which must have fallen from you."

"And your other reasons?" her bells jingled as she moved to take the comb.

"Honorable Lady I am shamed that I could not save your late future husband from
death. This is the posture I deserve before thee... if not lower. If you require
my life for my faiure I will gladly take it in hopes that it however minutely
makes up for my being unable to save the Emperor, your now deceased would be
husband."

"Why would you think that, Lord Hansawa?"

"This comb is of imperial grade. Made from the mother of pearl of many oysters
for many years. Only magic could make it faster. To have such you must have been
his final bride. I am sorry I could not save the husband you would have
cherished in his declining years."

"In another life those deductive skills might have come to better use. They are
remarkable. But they are in error," he thought he could feel her smiling,"Stand
up Lord Hansawa. You need not be down there."

FROM HER PERSPECTIVE

As he rose my breath caught. So smooth and full of grace he moved. Like water
rising to stand before me. The realization that I felt I'd known him for...
centuries came next. He reminded me of a Male companion who I had once hoped to
marry. That same confidence with just a hint of the dangerous as he stood there.

Like Tetsugi had been, Jubei was now. Not a hair different. I could feel tears
well up at my eyes... and a blush enter my cheeks,"Senpai?"

BACK TO NORMAL

He looked up then and made eye contact,"Honorable Lady?" He was visibly puzzled
by what she had said, and her tears. "Is something wrong Honorable Lady?"

"You remind me of someone I knew... long ago. Someone I..." she shook her
head,"Nevermind that. Why I am actually here is because you have been arranged
in marriage to me. The comb was a gift from the wife of the new Emperor, she
thought it suited me because of my high birth status."

"Marriage... status?" He was struck dumb.

"For your heroic deeds in saving your homeland from the grip of the Demiplane of
Shadow where almost nothing ever escapes, I have been betrothed to thee, Lord
Hansawa. The Emperor had called that a girl be found who's beauty and grace
compare with the heavens. The Heavens in question sent me to forstall a lengthy
search. They were also grateful for the return of their primary pool of
followers," she paused,"Here I am talking but I have not introduced myself. I am
Honorable Lady Aika Suzuki. I am humbled to meet you... my husband. May the
Planes of Law smile on our union." .o(I'm certainly smiling.)o.

"Did you take rooms here in town Lady Suzuki?"

She shook her head and the bells woven into her hair jangled,"Only the ones I
bought for the cargo guards who had a tough time on the way. May I... share
yours?" .o(I can't believe I said that.)o. "If there's room of course."

"I will make room Lady Suzuki."

She laughed,"My husband... we should not be so formal. It is said the other
saviour from these lands spoke of you very closely. By First name. May I do the
same, my husband? I have traveled far, and by land and sea rather than other
methods available to me... else I would not ask."

"Of course La..."

"The door slides both ways, Jubei." .o(My heart aches when I'm saying his
name.)o.

He nodded,"Of course... Aika," he took a second to breathe. .o(I've never
refered to someone so closely.)o. "I must inform the gate this way that I'm
already within. Tell the Innkeeper that you are with the 3rd floor group, and
she should provide you with a key, as I'm sure everyone else has locked the door
for the night by now," he bowed and moved off at a fast pace.

.o(Does he speed so in order to be with me faster. ... Oh stop blushing.)o. She
looked at the comb before tucking it into her hair. She flowed off to the inn.

"Yur wit dem eh? Well... hmm... Will ya be needin' a floor thin' like what
dat Hansawa guy is using... or should I put together a cot? Rooms full of cots
but you're one more dan I was expectin'."

Aika spoke back in fluent common,"That won't be necessary. I'll just need a
key... or if you could open the door for me that would be enough."

"Sure thin'."

Aika followed her up the tall flights of stairs to a door at the end of a very
very short hallway. She knocked then unlocked it and slipped past Lady Suzuki
heading back downstairs to her somber common room. Aika waved at the departing
back. Opening the door she found many sets of eyes focused on her. Bowing she
said,"I am the Honorable Lady Aika Suzuki. I am Jubei's bride to be. I am
honored to meet you all. I shall be traveling with you until such time as
Jubei... wishes to return home to formalize our marriage. However we are as good
as married in his people's eyes until such time as a traditional ceremony," she
smiled,"You are all of course welcome to attend. The New Emperor will be sparing
few expenses. My own people should be pitching in as well. It should be quite an
event."

Hana nodded her head,"Your words feel true to me... welcome aboard. Our Leader
is fast asleep. He had a... busy... day. Do you know any of our names?"

Suzuki-sama feigned ignorance successfully as she said,"I only know Jubei's."

Del spoke up,"Del The Fist of Twilight's Crossing. Might I inquire as to why you
use Hansawa's first name?"

"We intend to be closer than most couples traditionally are."

Del nodded and went back to his before bed stretches. Hana spoke back up
again,"Hana the Fair... a sorceress of Elven Blood and formally the most
beautiful member of the group," she nodded her head towards Aika,"Del over
there is a follower of Monastic teachings."

Del spoke again,"I hope to spread the teachings my master gave me to others who
lack direction."

Lady Suzuki nodded,"Very wise of you."

Mica said from the window,"I am Mica... nature calls me it's sister for I am a
druid. It is a pleasure to see another join our ranks."

"Thank you for your warm welcome."

Hana spoke again,"Asleep next to our leader is Valeria Ulthain, a priestess of
Pelor. She like Del is human. Personally I suspect elven blood in her veins in
at least a trace. I refuse to believe a human can look as she does without it,"
she gestured beside her,"Though he has no elven blood I have taken a fancy to
this one. He is Boris Lench, an human fighter."

Mica motioned towards the barely concealed door,"Our barbarian friend Jovial
Jane Jedrax is administering... medication to our sick cursed friend Quesy
Soggybotham. Don't be alarmed but Quesy is a werecreature. Her sickness rises
from something that had been dripped in the wall scounces. She should be alright
by morning."

Hana nodded,"And the last person... though there should be one more... but they
may not have been able to make the journey. Be that as it may... the one
mumbling in her sleep is the Gnome known as Mad Madam Rhiana. She is a mage...
it seems taking up the magical calling has stilled the demons in her mind. Not
entirely however."

Aika murmured,"Another?"

"Yes... we're a group the local king assembled and gave to Arhden's care. The
king figues the forces of evil know what Arhden and Jubei are capable of now...
and so we're here to spice things up a bit. Maybe become heroines and heroes
ourselves. We know another wished to answer and sent missive to the king... but
they have not showed up yet," Hana paused,"So... how did you come to be his
bride? Or should I say wife?"

"Either. It was arranged. The Emperor wanted to show his gratitude and was going
to have a search conducted for a willing beauty possessed by grace to become
Jubei's bride. The Bureacracy also owed Jubei and so I was sent to your plane to
be his bride. I'm rather excited by the prospect. He looks like someone I loved
350 years ago."

Mica blinked and couldn't stop herself from saying,"'He looks like senpai!'"

Aika blushed,"Cursed by a Mako-ism..." she blinked,"I found you guys?"

Hana asked,"Is that you Ardice?"

"No it's Gala."

"I couldn't recognize you... you're so tall. Besides I expected a half fiend or
something from you. Not a Celestial."

She smirked... something that porcelin made flesh face found hard to do,"Ha ha.
You're funny. Introductions please," she nodded sometimes in shock when other
names were put with new faces,"Charhon's a guy?"

"She finds herself embarrassed by HIS penis all the time."

"Has she tried it out?"

"With my help."

Aika giggled. Everyone found themselves smiling despite themselves. "So Arhden
and Valeria must be... Ami and Eldrick. I must say Eldrick is cute with long
brown hair."

Del chuckled,"That's Ami. Eld has the wings."

"Oh. He just seemed the type ya know," she grinned,"Just kidding."

Mica blinked,"Oh that was a joke."

"So Hope... why aren't you over there with them?"

"Mica doesn't like Arhden."

"What about the Hope inside of her?"

"It's not Eld. I can't. I know it sounds stupid. But I just can't. If it's not
Eld's mind and Eld's body... sex is only something the other can enjoy."

"Destiny is one cold hearted bitch."

"The consolation is that when it is Eld..." she could only blush.

"Well that's good I guess... maybe we should be glad it's not Eld... I think
there are Pillars of Heaven here and if you shook those it would be bad," she
smiled to show she was trying to find at least a tarnished silver lining. "So...
where IS Ardice? Anyone know?"

Hana shook her head,"I think she's too conflicted by this. Probably worried
she'll foresake either the gamers... or Fawn for the other. On the plus side
that's one more person watching out for us from Control."

"True."

And then into this calm scene... a little Chaos fell. Jane nearly took the
private room's door off it's hinges. Buzzing around her head was something that
looked like a scorpian with wings instead of 6 legs. To prove their scorpian-
esque heritage... they even had stingers. Alarmingly enough those stingers 
dripped a blue fluid.

Hana was the first to react and let fly a magic missile... which bounced
harmlessly off of the creature. Jane reached for her hand axes and raging ripped
the fire out of one that had almost got her. Arhden was awake at this point and
nailed one to a wall with his magical hatchet.

The room was in a full on panic as magic was proving useless and only melee
could be utilized. Of course the low level of most of the group wasn't helping
on the hits. Arhden seemed to be carrying the room. Lady Suzuki was being of
great help until one caught itself in her hair... where she could not reach with
her bladed fan.

Then Jubei came in and was reacting before he was thinking. Wakizashi spiked the
creature on Aika's hair. Katana came down on two in front of Del. Then he just
became a blur as he seemed to attack everything evil between the door and Quesy.
His whirlwind attack placed his blade in every creature in the room alive. Only
the one Arhden had nailed to the wall still lived. Blue ichor leaking from it's
stinger to the floor. No one dared touch it. It seemed to have enough brains to
not struggle.

Jane calmed down enough to be questioned. "Well there I was pleasing the
catgirl... who had become an orgasm machine. I thought she'd break the cone of
silence. Anyway... I finally couldn't take it and wanted to tongue her to her
next one... when she started 'talking' about how great the wiggling was. But I 
had pulled the candle out. So I look at the candle... and lots of tiny ... 
maggots? were writhing around on it. Some had cocooned in burrows in the wax. 
Then they started hatching... and Quesy became like a batcave for those things. 
I think she has an extra womb or two... and they'd used those as hatcheries. 
Then she fell asleep... the creatures rested on the walls for a while... before 
suddenly launching at me. That's when I came through the door."

Aika nodded,"Do you have another candle? We need to make a ... straw and get the
rest out. Then someone must cast a very specific remove curse that I can
outline."

"I brought fourteen," she didn't mention her new favorite. That was hers.

Lady Suzuki blinked,"Why fourt... don't answer. Give me one. Arhden favor me 
with an arrow," Jane handed her another large one -can't have them getting 
around the thingy- Arhden handed her an arrow that had a damaged vane and she 
set to motion making the carved candle even more... natural looking,"They are 
dangerous in this state... but worse if they can get into a man's body where 
they take over him. He then becomes a vessel for their next stage of life and he 
in a horny rampage impregnates anyone and anything. Out of these victims a 
childlike form eventually gives the being a 'caesarian' and grows in days to 
adult form. Feeding off of the creature that bore it... it becomes hellishly 
strong and twice as virile. This form impregnates anything that it touches or 
that touches it - even from archery distances. This is some serious evil magic. 
Someone nearby is in touch with other planes..."

Hana looked at the creature on the wall and it's blue stain on the floor,"How
dangerous is it in this state?"

"The poison if ingested orally is just an aphrodiasiac. Saliva breaks it down.
But if burned, injected medically, or taken by a sexual vector -penile/ vaginal/
or anal- it will create a spore that WILL hatch into these things."

"And the gas that's produced?"

"Harmless on skin -aphrodisiac-like or less- and if inhaled or tasted. If it 
lands on sexual flesh the microscopic spore will hatch into a worm that wends 
it's way inward to gestate and hatch into the 'flying scorpian'."

Jane looked down,"So by wanting to sexually purge it..."

Aika frowned,"Oh don't blame yourself... if they'd hatched with her just
convolesing in here... we'd have all become infected and just been a den of
debauchery producing more and more of this filth. And with the men here... this 
would have become like an invasion epicenter. Also I have no idea what becoming 
some type of plague breeding sex zombie would do to us in the chairs."

She finished with the alterations amidst silence.

She rose to her feet,"Get me a chamber pot to catch the larvae and then stand 
back," she began on Quesy at that moment... who murmured in her sleep for Gerard 
to cut it out and that she was in slumberland. Soon she stirred and began 
purring as she mumbled questions like why everyone was watching her orgasm as 
again she was like before.

The chamber pot arrived as Arhden was explaining to her. "And here I thought 
everyone just wanted a piece of Catgirl. I mean catgirls are irresistable. Like 
Angel Boys," she winked at Arhden. Then larvae started flowing into the pot. The 
trick penis was doing it's job. They couldn't even pause to burrow into it the 
flow was too strong. Quesy had to be held down as her strength pulsed a few 
points on the chart.

As Boris was holding her down she ripped open his pants and worked at him like
life itself was at risk. When Boris filled her mouth she orgasmed and her body
seemed to pump the larvae out of her system. Even rectally.

When all was done, uncursing and all, Aika pronounced her miraculously cured -
well of the infestation not her werekittyness. The larvae in unfamiliar 
territory just writhed in the pot. "If we drown them in hot water they'll 
dissolve into a sporeless uber-Spanish Fly. Heck you could squirt it straight on 
your body... tip arrows with it... it's pretty instantaneous... unlike the spore 
cloud."

Jane was already at the fireplace heating water,"Sounds like a plan!" You could
almost see the hearts fluttering around her.

Hana remarked,"Are there any other benefits to the purified state?"

Aika nodded,"Cures 4 hitpoints per ounce. Not bad no? But a One ounce dose
well... you are barely able to walk... and you'd not be able to say no..."

Jubei just shook his head,"You are well studied Aika. I am honored to have
watched one of your talent at work," he stretched,"It's an hour past bedtime for
me. Honorable party I shall see you in the morning at breakfast."

Jane came back with a few bottles she'd procured from the kitchen and a funnel
like object. "Aika you go on I'll handle this."

Lady Suzuki looked puzzled,"Go on?"

"Yeah! I heard from Mica about the marriage thing. Go have a pre-honeymoon. The
Encounter here is over. Have some reward. Hell just have some. Sex is greater
than all the works of the gods."

She looked off towards Jubei who was meditating before bed,"Some other time."

Jane gave a strong negative,"We're gonna be hunting this prince down like a
rabid dog. Then who knows what's around the corner... and then there's the
rescues that are needed. What other chance will you have to have your
pre-honeymoon in a building protected from the elements?"

Aika stood up and headed over to Jubei... resolved in a way... defeated in many 
others. .o0(Bound to happen eventually...)0o. she thought, then said aloud,"My 
husband. We should consummate, tonight, before something tries to interfer in 
our lives again."

He looked ready to object, and she undid her kimono then removed her combs,"You 
know it would be rude to refuse. Unless you want it to be one of those marriages 
without feeling?"

"I would not wish that upon you My Aika," he stood then and disrobed himself...

FMV 04 Plays... [Time for something uncalled for] Honorable Discharge [Told 
you - Appalled Zin]
[To view the FMV click here ---=-> http://the-arc.net/dwd_02-fmv04.txt]

EARLY THE NEXT MORNING

Jubei roused to begin the day's training only to find Aika leaning over him,"Was
I in some kind of danger? You seem protective."

"I was simply wondering what to do with you, knowing what I know... and what YOU
do not."

"I do not understand your meaning. Might I enquire as to what you do mean?"

"Let us skip to the end. I know that you do not know who I am. I know that you
do not know that I know who you are. And finally I am wondering what you will
name our daughter," she paused and when he didn't speak she continued,"It's
puzzling. I was told that I would bear a son, and that your line was strong for
sons as well. But it would appear that lineage and destiny can both be wrong."

"So ... after the spanning of nine nonths we will have a daughter?"

"No. We HAVE a daughter. Lady Ami helped deliver our child not more than 2 hours
ago. But while that is a pressing matter you have neglected many issues."

"Lady Ami?!"

"Something wrong Eldrick?"

Jubei's eyes grew as wide as they could,"How do you know that name? Who are
you?"

"Yep... you're Eld... dense as lead. It's Gala," she failed at
smirking,"Surprise."

"G..." Jubei sat up before he prostrated himself before her,"I apologize for 
last night's endeavors. Had I known I would have never gone along due to your 
words in the real world," he picked up his sword and presented it,"If you wish 
to take this life from me, you may. Losing Jubei... it would be like losing a 
brother. But if it in anyway ameliorates this rift... then take him from me."

Aika blankly drew the sword from it's resting place... walked around to his side
and did a coup de grace...! With the flat of the blade to Jubei's bottom,"THAT
is for assuming," he remained still. She spanked him again,"THAT is for
apologizing," he remained both still and confused... but he expected the end to
be near,"And this... is for not breaking character and speaking faster," she
then kissed the top of his head,"Like the Great Swordsman said,'I'd sooner
destroy a stained glass window.' Sure I know it's just some mix of Author Avatar
and a really trippy interface, and maybe even this body's willingness 'to be one
with Lord Hansawa Jubei', but you do NOT apologize for last night. It may not
have been the best in the world," she paused and thought .o0(Hmmm, need more 
data. But that second one)0o. She continued, "It may not have even been good, 
but there was something. Some mix of Valentine Michael Smith and Akio "I Want In 
your Pants" Ohtori. And it wasn't mechanical... like I hear Peer is. And so," 
she handed him the blade,"Don't you dare assume I hated it... or apologize for 
something that as long as I'm in your fic I did expected. Although..."

"Although?"

"I was HOPING to be the ONE celibate character. Of course you may not presume
that that will happen again. The obligatory screw the author scene is over. Any
revisiting is on my terms." .o0(Maybe we'll try that cun-whatzits and that fel-
something-or-other... Gala... don't listen to Aika... lalalalalalalalala! No 
more sex... although... NO! No more. Cold Turkey or I'll become an addict or 
something. No wonder my species breeds by magic!)0o.

"Understood, Miss Aika," he said trying to read her face.

"That's Aika, or Beloved, or She whole Rocks my Socks to you buddy," and she 
stuck her tongue out at him,"You better have some romance trapped in that bod 
somewhere... sex without the after dinner mints is just plain. Plus we have to 
be believable as a couple. Hmm... no ring." .o0(Of course no ring... he wasn't 
expecting this. Hmm... not bad for adlibbing then but... he needs work. Yeah... 
WHAT AM I SAYING! It must be that AA sorcery... or... NO I'm A _sex_ addict 
already! Realdoll Fairy... tiny but packs in the lust... yep that's it.

"What's it?"

"Nevermind... what are we going to do about something so these people understand 
we are married. Else I would need nothing."

"And it would be hard to find something capable of further complimenting such 
beauty," He proffered the wakizashi,"A fine weapon for a fine Lady? I notice you 
are unarmed. Though I suppose the Nymphs of the wood could learn a thing from 
you on stunning men with their beauty."

Lady Suzuki blushed,"Man Aika is too easily impressed. Sheesh. How will I ever
PLAY this character?" .o0(Ack! I said that outloud!)0o.

He smiled,"Well I imagine. Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it. I'm sure you 
will."

"No... more... talking," she slipped the sword into her sash and went to go wash
up,"You're gonna practice on the meager marshalling ground right?"

"Yes Aika."

"Well try not to draw a crowd. I think everyone is going to try gathering
information... wouldn't do to have people too awestruck for words, Beloved." 
.o0(Better wash my mouth out too)0o.

He nodded and slipped perfectly into a walk befitting someone trying to be a
Kensai of some note. Soon after a much more fitting walk kicked in... apparently
after conscious shifted 'to instinct'. She pried her eyes away and back into
character,"This will take getting used to." The bath was anticlimatic... save 
for the water taking on a opalescent hue. .o0(Could be worse... I could be 
Jade... then I'd leave green water and trip out the commoners. Wonder if 
Pearl Spirit Celestials will exist in the new OA? ... I'm becoming a gamer 
by injection! Help!)0o.

AND SO WERE THE NEXT FEW DAYS... uneventful that is.

Everyone settled into being the adventurers of the day. The town had tons of
little problems that another set of hands or a quick mind could solve. And it
was a good thing to have these days of 'bliss' as everyone got used to not just
rolling dice... but being characters.

Well those who weren't already used to this. Of course they were beset by
different troubles. Arhden and Jubei often ended up going to the same place...
because their Player forgot he'd already started doing that. Or in the case of
their resident Gnome... playing crazy was starting to fray her nerves. It was
becoming too easy. Fortunately she was a fun crazy but still.

Hope's troubles were far more different. She was beset by ... well they weren't
nightmares. But they weren't something to look for in a dream...

IN ONE SUCH DREAM

Hope looked around, but she knew what she would see. NERV HQ.

Dried and deserted. Maybe even a little chewed on. Like everyone had gotten up
and left.

She'd just explore the place. Everything worked. Nothing was out of place. And
yet it was like she'd never been there before. An aspect she gathered must be
part of the neural interface. The only thing wrong was the fact it looked...
scoured. Like a giant Angel with a name like Brilothiel had attacked and cleaned
the place a layer deep.

She'd walk for what seemed like days. She'd long since discovered all the secret
places. Commander Ikari had a supply of white gloves that would make an
orchestra conductor green with envy. Which was always odd. Personal effects were
in place... but they always seemed to fall there. Like they were in actuality
resting a layer higher and were settling in to where the world really was.

This of course mystified Hope. She would quietly sneak up on objects with her
eyes closed... and they would not fall until looked at. But...

Walking around with her eyes closed... wasn't at all pleasant. She would hear
screams... as if ripped from throats that could no longer speak. A small
consolation was that she figured out she didn't have to blink.

Another oddity was that clocks all seemed fixed to a certain time. A Time she
was fairly sure coincided with her exiting the 'world' with her Eva. Had she
pushed 'pause' on her way out?

"Once again I walk the halls of NERV alone. Any minute now... someone will come
running up to talk to me... and I'll wake up. They will say the same thing they
always do,'Please come see the Commander right away!' and then my eyes will open
to the waking world and I will forget I was here until the next time me and this
place meet. Curious."

Hope was loathe to return to the waking world. There was no sign at all that the
events of the game were properly transpiring. Merchants who traveled RIGHT
THROUGH where the problems should be occuring laughed the problems away. She
wasn't enjoying the fact that Peer was seemingly taunting them. She was
beginning to doubt that he even had hostages. But only in here did she seem able
to think that. In here... something else bothered her. The fact that she always
woke as if she had been walking for days didn't help. Nor the fact she couldn't
remember the dream in the morning afterards...

It was like something was bringing her here... but didn't wanna show it's face.

"Maybe today I'll sleep in," Hope mused as she touched a mirrored surface with
her hand,"It's like I'm touching myself... a warm finger and not the cold
surface greets me. But it's not the same with my bare feet on the floor. Why is
that?"

She was so absorbed she didn't notice the worker approach her until he
spoke,"It's... an anomaly to us as well... now," he wheezed in air,"Please come
see the Commander right away!"

Hope blinked at the new data,"Anomaly?" And then it seems she didn't sleep in at
all.

WAKING...

Mica awoke to the soft sounds of breathing all around her. Oddly enough it was
hours until dawn. The whiny of a horse was heard. Her mind seemed to indicate
she'd already heard it. It woke her most likely.

She went to the window and looked out. No one should be moving about at this
hour. And yet she spied someone near the town well. "A villager who simply can't
sleep." Then she made note of a light splash AFTER the bucket returned to the
bottom. The villager then seemed to look around like they knew not their bearing
and walked home after a bit of scratching their heads.

There was a horse whiny again but before Mica could shift her head to look for
the sound it was cutoff. "Stablehand must have woken up..."

Mica sighed and laid back down. She however couldn't sleep. She took out a sprig
of holly and contemplated it in the dim room. She always found sleep easier when
she held one...

DREAMING...

She was standing around once again in the 'deserted' NERV... this time... right
behind the worker.

"Now that's what I call naked. WOW. I hope I find her again next time."

She cleared her throat,"You have."

"You're... back? You're never here then back..."

"What does the Commander need to see me for?"

"He'll tell you," and with that they walked to C&C. He related how everytime she
arrived in they'd send someone to find her as fast as they could run. Only a
panicked runner's mind could find her for some reason. And only nearly collapsed
did they ever find her. Dr. Akagi just figured it was something that shouldn't
be questioned NOW... and that the finding should commence. The little world
didn't have the luxury of questioning it's decisions.

"World?"

"Research has led to the belief that NERV HQ is in some kind of bubble or
pocket... well NERV and Tokyo-3 as we knew it. Pilot Ayanami -and especially-
Pilot Nagisa said you needed to be found."

"My Leaving with my Eva caused this?"

"Not exactly."

"Explain."

"The Commander is of the opinion we are IN your Eva. That if we weren't we
wouldn't still be alive anyway. Doctor Ikagi thinks we are simply... Outside of
the Fic. A limbo where spent plots go to die or something."

"Ah. Like the Dungeons and Dragon's Astral Space?"

"Hey you game? Cool. My son does regularly. I do when I have time with some of
the guys here. Please don't tell the command staff though."

After what felt like forever, they entered C&C. "Hey I found her! Huh? Where'd
everyone go? Oh yeah!" he turned to her,"Okay... this is a bit creepy... what
with the screaming... but trust me. Close your eyes... and make like you are
climbing stairs. Climb one step up... place both feet on the rung... then open
up those pretty eyes of yours."

"My eyes are pretty?"

"Did I say that out loud?"

"Yes. You did."

They closed their eyes and did this bizzare thing amidst the 'screams of the
damned'. The screams faded to nearly nothing after that step to the next 'rung'.
Hope opened her eyes to a startled Command Center. She was afterall naked. Then
there was the fact they didn't expect to really find her.

Commander Ikari wasted no time before he spoke,"We need you to merge the 2
images in you or your Eva's mind into one. We'll tackle the "where are we"
aspect later... but it would be nice to have our items and electricity back."

Hope contemplated the prospect. Then had a burst of inspiration. She closed her
eyes and called her staff. Then she concentrated on the idea of this
staircase... and grabbing her staff touched the 2 ends to each 'rung'. Then she
opened her eyes. She let go of her staff and in a single pulse of light the
worlds 'merged'. This to most was just seen as power coming online... but some
now had... steaming?!... cups of coffee near them... pens... pencils...
clipboards...

Oddly the walls still had that scoured look. The clocks however did not
advance. Pilot Nagisa wandered over,"I knew you were the key. Glad someone
finally found you."

"I simply came back to dreamland. He was actually there when I returned."

The Runner blushed,"Well I started out in a panic... then went running... then
after I found you I panicked when you vanished. So I stayed in the other NERV.
I'm just glad you went back to sleep so you could end up here."

"As am I," she turned again to Kaworu,"How did you know I was the key?"

He smiled,"You are Hope. Also..."

She just blinked.

"The Fair Lady Rei was worried about you. She's the one who found the candles
were've been using. The supposition was that given time Rei would search for you
as well and she would find you. The candle supply she found was not there before
ever... I myself had faith that she would pull another miracle out of her
plugsuit. Ah here she comes now."

Ayanami simply walked up to Hope... and hugged her. She then let go and smiled.

With that Hope awoke.

MORNING...

"Would one of you lumberjacks wake up? Washuu to party... come in party. This
feels ridiculous!"

Mica opened one eye and looked around. The Crib had been toppled. She sprang to
her feet,"What happened!"

A voice near the floor spoke,"Nothing. It was just confining in there."

Mica looked suspiciously down. Sure enough the baby was walking and talking...
and looked familiar. "Washuu?"

"In the flesh... as it were."

"As the Hansawa child?"

"Why not? The server was spitting out errors to the clients... it was either
throw together a new chair... or wait for a BAD verdict to come down the
datapipe. I think since it couldn't figure out the kid... it was going to slate
a terminal illness or something. Gala's a really strong family kinda girl so
she'd have been broken up I wager. So I'll just run the child. Since it's a PC
or at least Super NPC now the rules are a little more lax."

"Which rules were going to hurt the child?"

"Do you see any bamboo nearby?"

"Only the sapling that Aika brought."

"Which isn't planted currently is it?"

"Not since the accident with the bearers."

"Exactly. The Rules dictate that a spirit folk be tied to it's life giver... So
say a bamboo spirit folk becomes a worker at a brothel... no kids from them...
unless the plant of honor for the dwelling is a bamboo shoot. In which case only
one child could ever be born there... well at least the rules are vague if 2 or
more could be tied to a single plant. But anyway... up until I clarified
something to the server... the plant was dying... and would have taken the child
with it. I also wanted to know where YOU had been popping off to so I figured 2
birds one stone. I'm such a genius! Who knows by the time you people hustle
along... I'll probably be old enough to join the party."

"The child has been growing rather fast."

"I aged a year waiting for you to wake up. Did you hear that splash in the well?
I wanna check it out before the villagers drink from it. Of course I can't reach
the knob."

"I will take you... after your parents wake up, Washuu-chan."

"Yay! By the way... why DID they name the child after me?"

"Hoping for a brilliant child."

"Ah well they got one! Well wake them up before I'm 9 would you... wait... too
late. Celestial Bamboo better not make me 4000 before the month is out."

"Let's hope on that," then Mica walked over to Aika and Jubei's floor mat,"It
pains me to wake such a happy couple... but alas it is morning."

Lady Hansawa opened one eye,"Is the child still asleep? If so please another
hour for us. We had to spend half the night in the common room while the baby
teethed. Then there was the bout of colic... that burned itself out thankfully.
We are worn."

"The child should be able to care for herself to some degree now. The Game no
longer runs her ragged."

"How do you know that?"

"Washuu is running Washuu."

Aika's eyes snapped open, and she sought out her little Washuu-chan,"Hime?"

Washuu smiled her redheaded heart out,"Can I go inve... play outside? It looks
like a beautiful morning. Geniuses need air too."

"Geniuses... oh no it's true. Why'd you take my daughter from me?"

"I didn't want a potentially cold hearted subroutine doing it. She... I...
should have died of colic. I quickly wrote up a markup for the database on
Celestial Bamboo. It's divine properties and the like. If I hadn't..." she grew
quiet. Then she perked back up,"So can I play outside with Mica? I wanna
investigate the well. Oh and sorry for keeping you up half the night. I had to
unwrite some items in the database... and the child noticed it due to the jury
being out on her well being."

Aika smiled and weakly sat up and motioned for Washuu to give her a hug,"Just
give mama-san a hug first okay?"

It was a very cute scene. Very cute. So Cute infact that Ego with his
CuteBlocker Sunglasses wouldn't have seen anything.

Washuu-chan was 11 by the time they reached the well... after 20 minutes
explaining that gifts from heaven like rapidly growing children shouldn't be
questioned just accepted with love... and then having to explain that just
because a child DIDN'T age this fast didn't mean they were Abyssal Spawn come
for your soul either. Things were bad by the well. Two people were out like
lights. Another had to be grabbed before he fell into the well.

All around many who had had only one cup or less were in a true grog that they
didn't seem able to break out of. And the icing on this cake? Everyone was
starting to tint towards a deathly palor.

Washuu ran off to wake the party. Mica lowered herself into the well in the
meantime.

The party had to form a living wall against anyone going closer to the well...
or the deeper afflicted. Clean water seemed to be working as an application
against the spread of the deathly tint. However... horns were starting to appear
on the skin of the deeply afflicted.

Jubei had a thought,"Arhden! Get some water from the stream! It's much purer
than something that's been in a bucket all night or a waterskin for a
fortnight!"

Arhden nodded,"I'm on it!"

Right then Mica pulled herself out of the well... something trying to wrench
itself from a belt pouch... as... blood? poured from the pouch in her hand. It
was a heart in the pouch. And it screamed foul sorcery... for even now it
continued to beat!

Valeria looked in at it,"It looks like it was ripped out or something. And look
there's a branch buried in it!"

Aika groggily examined it,"The Branch is ensorceled. It's corrupting the
heart... and thus the water."

"But the heart looks evil itself!"

"True. But 2 kinds of evil are present there. And one is the larger problem,"
she pointed where the water had dribbled from the bag... and BONE was growing
from the soak points.

Right then Arhden arrived with a full SACK -you could shove a large child in
a sack - of water and started flinging it over the victims with his hand from
above. Where the cold pure water struck flesh reverted to normal. Horns returned
to smooth skin... bone stopped growing from the ground. Arhden upended the rest
into the well and there was a sharp hiss of steam and evil as a shadow seemed to
leap up and out of the well. Then it found out it was indeed morning and was
destroyed.

Miss Ulthain then sat down to pray to Pelor for a miracle to cleanse the well of
it's taint. A taste test proved a slight metallic residue... but otherwise clean
water. Many villagers ran bucket duty to the stream instead. Only the smiths of
the town were willing to use the water as it was. Mica used a sprig of holly to
bless it just to make sure. Can't be too careful afterall.

The heart however wanted to be somewhere else. And it tugged towards the far
gate from them. Everyone figured this was their sign... also some gold in a
horseshoe print confirmed that the Prince had been in town as well. Coincidently
he'd come in and out the far gate.

Using the heart as a compass they set out to track this Prince... and find where
this heart wanted to be.

It, ironically, didn't take long. They came within 2 hours to a 7 story tall 
stereotypical wizard's tower. It's was one huge cliche... though oddly enough 
the sky WASN'T darkened over it. There were no bats hovering around it either. 
BUT something about it said,'Hey I'm a badass and I'll kick your hiney.' Perhaps 
because it had a sign that showed in pictograph and 6 languages what happened to 
trespassers.

Quesy squinted at it,"If this is this wizards idea of a webcomic... can we kill 
him BEFORE we find out where the heart wants to go? I've seen better orcish cave 
drawings. I mean these stick figures... ow... was he blindfolded? I could do 
better with my tail on a trackball! Lord Dom should smite this guy and well."

Hana smirked,"In other words... 'Urge to Kill Rising?' Let's get in before we 
are zapped."

Quesy fumed,"At least I'm not the only one in a bad mood."

Jubei mused,"Should we split up... in case there is a basement?"

Arhden shook his head,"Only one compass."

And they entered the unlocked door after having to dodge one... and only one 
fireball trap. However others seemed to be along the wallline for those trying 
to be sneaky. This party was more brazen.

They searched out the tower portion ignoring the basement to avoid a suprise 
sealing of the passage to said basement -if there was a surprise attack from 
below... they COULD just jump to the nearby trees... be better than a singed 
bottom.

This wizard must have burned up all his fortunes on the tower however. 1 Knock 
scroll and 4 copper were all that were found in the entire 7 floors. There was 
an illusion rune that could be activated that made the place LOOK oppulent... 
but as most illusions go...

The wizards closets were also curiously full of women's clothing... and only 2 
spare robes that were obviously a man's.

Jane fingered a dress,"Oooh! I think this is fine linen or silk!"

Mica blinked,"But why does everythign seem to... be... um... how to put this?"

"Slutwear? I dunno. Maybe he 'invites' ladies in here for dressup action from 
the brothel?"

"But they HAVE their own clothes."

"You have a point."

Hana checked the size visually,"None at the brothel ARE these numbers. Perhaps a 
foreigner?"

Jovial Jane cringed a second,"Perhaps he polywazzits?"

Most in the room shuddered.

Be that as it may... the wizard was out... or downstairs. So... causiously... 
they decended below. First thing they found was the manual override for the 
sealing grate. The wizard was proving to be a fonging nimrod by all accounts. 
However the party only increased their guard. Sometimes the smartest thing to do 
is act dumb.

On the first floor down they found a colosal horde of nothing. Spent wands that 
had been broken through time, broken weapons that must have exploded during 
enchantment, and other debris... all sorted and catelogued in a way that made 
you think everything was cherished as prized possessions.

They moved on to the next floor down. A soft amber glow met them halfway down 
and some looked over to find a tall tube from floor to ceiling filled with a 
soft amber fluid raising and lowering like a heartbeat. A single bracer for 
the fairer gender... a single snake with the head facing the hand and the tail 
pointing at the elbow floated in the fluid.

Del stepped back,"It looks like LCL. Nasty."

Mica turned to Del,"It's quite nice actually."

"I meant to find HERE... in FANTASYLAND."

Suddenly there were footsteps,"You... called... Master?" a 6'4" tall woman clad 
in makeup of a gothic persuasion... and her hair of red gold walked up to Del. 
She had eyes of... black... but that seemed wholely unnatural,"How may I 
pleasure you..."

And FROM THE TUBE,"... master?"

Del put two and two together and said,"Fantasyland." once again... and the woman 
turned and headed back downstairs. Del looked at Hana blankly,"What was that 
about?"

Hana shook her head,"Least you could have done is..."

Arhden was glaring at her.

Hana changed what she was gonna say,"...tried different command phrases. Perhaps 
you could have freed her."

Arhden shook his head,"I was glaring wasn't I?"

Hana shrugged it off,"Hey... I shouldn't have been about to say it."

Jedrax came flying BACKWARDS up the stairs... and smacked back into a 
wall,"Note... don't... touch her..."

Valeria rushed over to her and applied healings before Jane would have moved on 
to the next world. However the girl wearing the other bracer was slowly moving 
up the stairs.

Boris called out,"Uh... FANTASYLAND!" But it had no effect.

Hana bonked Del on the head,"Say it!"

Del summoned hosts of inner calm and called out,"Fantasyland." She immediately 
came over to him breathless and expectant. She also had normal hazel eyes.

When she spoke both her AND the tube responded,"Let me pleasure you this time 
master," she looked around,"Oh... you have guests... should I put on a show? 
Song... Dance... Strip... Magic?"

"Uh... FREEWILL."

"Huh, Master?"

"Reality."

"Are you okay master?" She squinted,"Or is that you? You need to polymorph 
less."

"Um... what's the command to release you from the clutches of the tube?"

"What Tube?"

He pointed. "That one."

She seemed to look right through it,"Huh?"

"Um... List Commands?"

She blinked and went black of eye again,"Please use... MAN 'Enslavement Bracers' 
or MAN -k 'enslavement'," her eyes went normal,"Did that help master? I'm so 
glad you're back. But could you please give me another hint as to why we're in 
this game? And what's with my ball gown? It's so... frilly. Couldn't you get me 
some pants... or shorts... maybe a kimono... hey like hers! Even though the 
place was pretty evil I liked the outfit I wore at that place you rescued me 
from."

Del Looked at Arhden like the girl was off her rocker. Arhden however had his 
mouth open and was pointing. Del sighed,"So... tell us how you got here?" He 
looked at Arhden again who was still dumbstruck."

"Well... I was on my way to homeroom when this swirling vortex appeared so 
fast I couldn't step away..."

MEANWHILE

"What kind of twisted idiot only mines AROUND his structure and not on other 
obvious paths?" came a voice over the shoulder of a ... thing to put it mildly 
that was scrying under another's employ to judge by the barely noticable 
chains,"I mean it defeats the purpose of the trap if no one will trip it."

A lounging welldressed succubi answered,"Isn't that the home of that... that... 
hacker?"

A jingle announced that the master of chains had turned his attention from 
looking into the orb,"Err... It's a type of wizard... so call him a wizard."

"Like I obey YOU. Besides my ears DO work. You said,'Oh great some idiot has 
rode in on my coat tails and hacked himself into wizardhood. Next he'll be 
painting how leet he is on the landscape and setting himself up as a new god!'"

"What I had meant was..."

"Who gives a shit. Hacker as wizard hacker as some godling. I don't give a shit. 
It pisses you off so it makes ME laugh," and she did so.

"I should cut your wings off and throw you to the Erines," they shared a very 
very violent glare,"Anyway the moron isn't a real threat even if he did make 
himself Deity Supreme. I'm just irked that while they are in his little 
toyland... they could get acess to things I don't want them near."

"Or maybe they'll rescue people there... and they'll think this squirt is you? 
Oh this is to laugh! I love it!! I should go encourage this idea in the 
mortals."

"And I thought *I* was petty."

"Watch it G'yanki. I can find another for my bed... faster than you finish in 
it."

"Ah but could they put up with your bullshit? Nay I think not wench," she 
glowered while he continued,"Still I'm amazed this idiot managed to snag someone 
useful... what with all the clothing he mistakenly grabbed. Some school must be 
awfully drafty."

"The girls have probably 'bribed' boys into buying them more."

"Not all females share your desires strumpet."

"I was not the one approached as I recall. I seem to recall being BEGGED for 
sex."

"That was before I had you. I regret it since."

She launched at him with a throaty,"I'll still that tongue for you!!"

In the shadows of the doorway an attractive Drow of high birth simply turned on 
her heel and stalked away,"I shall rid myself of these pests at the right time. 
When the Pits are mine... everyone shall pay. Mother most of all."

IN THE BOWELS OF THE TOWER

"... and after being caught in that swirling light show for what seemed like 
eternity I woke up here."

Mica looked faint,"You are a fine storyteller... my motion sickness kicked in."

"Maybe I shouldn't have been so detailed in describing the swirling vortex. But 
it was so... bizarre. Anyway... then I woke up in this fine gown... with you 
standing over me smiling Master," she paused,"Why is it Master that you ask me 
to relate this to you everytime we meet? Is this a part of my lessons?"

Arhden spoke fairly calmly,"Lessons... what kind of lessons has the master 
taught you?"

"Well Master teaches me illusion and enchantment magics since Master says 
they're easy. Master says it's all part of being a Houri, a Sorceress of great 
power! Master is training me so I can try my hand at being in a circus! I 
always wanted to do something flashy."

Boris shook his head,"But you're flashing us all right now. Does master not keep 
you clothed?"

The Houri blinked and a crack appeared in the wall of the tube. Arhden motioned 
to Jubei and then nodded before he turned to face it. Meanwhile Jubei signaled 
calmly for everyone to backaway from it.

"Master keeps me overly clothed. This gown wears pounds and pounds of water from 
me a day," she fanned at herself and a drip could be heard into the tube which 
began noisily sealing the crack,"I'd swim but the pool needs cleaning," and she 
waved at the wall.

Jubei had an idea,"Arhden we're going to go up to the greenhouse, okay? To check 
on the plants. See if you can 'clean the pool'." Jubei lead everyone off and 
looked back to see her wave... in the totally wrong direction. Jubei made 
everyone stop high up on the stairs when she finally stopped looking after them. 
"Arhden... it seems she thinks she's by the pool entrance on the fourth floor of 
the House."

Arhden watched her as he slowly nodded -she hadn't heard the interchange. This 
proved there was powerful magic at work. Magic that she could well be enforcing 
for all anyone could tell.

Arhden spoke as The Nameless Redhead continued to just gaze adoringly -and 
rather unnervingly- at Del,"What is the Master's name?"

She paused and looked over,"Three slash backslash exclamationmark one slash 
blackslash slash blackslash exclamationmark two four R pipe rightparenthesis. 
Master says it's a rune... and that's the easiest way to say it without invoking 
great beings. Isn't that right Master?"

Del was blown out of the water -and Haris didn't speak leet either,"Eld help... 
what did she say?"

Arhden just shrugged -he and Del failed to spot her wide eyed expression or the 
sound of glass cracking,"She said 'EVILWIZARD'. It's leet."

She blinked,"Master said he's from Cidonia... not Leet. Is the Cidonian language 
taken from... Leet?" You could see on her face that she was trying to make sense 
of this and the magic was telling her conflicting information.

"What kind of car does Master drive?"

"A Sporty..." she seemed to have a glitch,"Dependable Volkswagen Beetle," She 
smiled... the cracks stopped forming. Though she seemed unhappy with the answer.

"But weren't you rescued in a Firebird? A Black one with a grey leather 
interior?"

"No?"

"Does Master have a beard?"

"A Goatee..."

"But your master has a FULL beard, and drives not a Beetle but a Firebird."

She was backing away from him and casting now,"You're wrong and I'll destroy you 
for lying in front of Master."

Del yelled,"But he's telling the truth!"

She miscast the spell into the ceiling where it smouldered until Arhden looked 
up... and it -damage and all- was gone. She shuddered as a headache hit 
her,"Mas... ter?" The tube emit a warning beep,"DOS attack. Warning! DOS Attack. 
Engage Countermeasures?"

Arhden leapt and grabbed her before she fell over. She looked up however at 
Del,"Master I need... the medicine again." Arhden attempted a remove curse. It 
seemed to just slide off.

"Intrusion Blocked by Existant Firewall. Secondary Firewall untouched. DOS 
Attack continues. Engage Countermeasures?"

Arhden mused,"Existant Firewall... THAT'S IT! Jo! I order you to wakeup."

"How... do... you know my name?" BIG cracks appeared... liquid started oozing 
out... but like platelettes in blood began clotting over the cracks.

"It's me... Eldrick!" Arhden said smiling,"I know it's hard to recognize me. But 
you should see yourself. I think red hair looks good on you. Kinda odd looking 
up at you as well. I really wish you were wearing a gown though... if it goes 
with the goth makeup it must be ravishing."

Every word was like a hammer and the tube was having trouble making sense... it 
mentioned that a maintenance door had been opened by junk data then started 
reciting drow poetry... in Latin. Arhden just held her and rocked her gently as 
she cried at the pain. Healing spells only abated things for a few seconds at 
best.

Suddenly a big shard fell from near the oozeless top and shattered on the 
ground. Del flipped up and out of the way. Jubei deflected every piece that 
somehow disobeyed physics and launched towards the group on the stairs. Arhden 
had his hands full. He simply closed his wings over her as a piece dug it's way 
into his back,"I'll protect you," he grunted out through tears.

The Tube Announced with a sudden and final tone,"Core Breached. Core Dumped to 
offline storage to protect data. Self Destructing." And then in a flash of light 
there was complete silence followed by a light metallic ting. Then the light 
faded and all was darkness.

Valeria called forth light and the room was bright as midafternoon. Del was 
already pulling the dagger of glass out of Arhden's back,"Someone needs to heal 
him NOW."

Arhden shook his head,"I'm fine."

"I think it was a called shot. Perhaps this was the countermeasure?"

"Uh... Jo... MAN COUNTERMEASURE"

Jo furrorwd her brow, but her eyes remained normal as she said, "Lessee... 
countermeasure is the destruction of this tower... so falling glass wouldn't be 
the trick."

"And so... it was just a normal hit," Arhden straightened with a pained 
look,"Does hurt like heck though."

Del nodded,"Ah ha! A Critical hit then."

"Del... leave the poor 4th wall alone would you?"

Del nodded his head towards where the tube was,"The Pot and the Kettle."

"True."

Mica arrived and touched a branch of holly to the wound as she made the motions 
of casting. "That takes the bulk of the damage away..."

Valeria was on her way over but Arhden waved her off,"Hold. This EvilWizard -my 
that's a profoundly bad title- hasn't returned yet. We may still get sent 
through the food processor."

Jane handed a flask to Mica,"I'd do it but I don't know how to work with healing 
items. Not well anyway."

Mica looked at the slightly bloodied sprig in her hand and then poured a little 
of the curative aphrodisiac onto a leaf and wiped the sprig over the wound. 
There was an instant effect as it was just about enough to heal the rest of the 
gash. Of course Arhden had this lecherous grin on his half elven features. "Whoa 
there Mica! No more right now. My breeches are getting tight here."

Lench nodded,"Yeah I know the feeling. Can we get something on her?"

Hana reentered the scene after having unnoticedly exited up the stairs. "I have 
some clothes for her from upstairs. This haxxor obviously doesn't do the 
laundry. They kinda stink."

Quesy was looking around at everything,"Is someone else here?"

Hana shrugged as she answered the question,"Probably just the funky stuff in the 
tube on everything."

"Yeah you're probably right," she smiled,"It's oddly pleasant."

Jubei suddenly had his sword drawn and was standing before the intended target 
of clothing,"Shouldn't you be commenting on how superficial... Mihowina's 
being?"

"But Mihowina is always superficial. Catgirls are like that."

"Her name isn't Mihowina and you're a little short, Imposter."

'Hana' unnoticeably started casting... or hacking or something. Unfortunately 
for 'Hana's' concentration a Magic Missile collided with her body. She dropped 
the outfit and something wriggled out from it. A shower of blue fluid later 
revealed a dead worm. Yes one of THOSE worms. 'Hana' recoiled from it like a 
loosed adder.

The Real Hana decended the stairs,"Trying to duplicate perfection? Couldn't you 
have at least Summoned a doppleganger?"

"Didn't have time... and shouldn't you still be tied up?"

"I only took *1* point of damage. Who do you think you are? Heracles?"

'Hana' morphed into a guy who was maybe 15 though for a second they saw a 
balding disgruntled looking 40 year old man,"Well until you disrupted my 
operation here, I could have mopped the floor with you, Elf. Now I'm going to 
have to kill you all and start over again," he snapped his fingers,"Wait. I 
know... I'll have you all infected and finally get rid of that little town. Like 
the five other's I've turned over to my friends to play with. Yes... yes that's 
perfect. Maybe have a little fun first. Hey Elf... wanna be first? Or should I 
say, you WILL be first."

"You disgust me."

"Ah but you'll be mine before the night arrives so just shut your hole. And 
you'll like it. The Redhead begs for it... though she didn't at first. tried to 
bite it off once. Lousy little..." he was interrupted as Arhden drew his sword.

"Do I hear right? Do you openly engage in rape and slavery?"

"Yeah? What of it?" the boy said as he hacked up a spell,"Suck down on a 
fireball!" He let it fly... but Arhden leapt up into the air and dove down on 
the scumwad who gave hackers a bad name. "What? Those wings WORK?!"

Valeria called out,"Arhden stop! He's alive!! Like the Hostages!!!" She prayed 
as she watched but Arhden swung his sword out and then back in. It was a called 
subdual shot and Hackboy crumpled like a house of cards as the flat of the blade 
smacked him hard.

Arhden looked at Valeria,"Noted. But I'd figured that. Arhden did in truth want 
him dead. And so do I. But... I'd rather not find out what it's like to kill 
someone in here. And certainly not someone logged in as -I imagine- root. Even 
if he isn't a deity... some deity would get it into their head that if I could 
take this one out... and if they are weaker then I might be after them next. 
Then this little quest gets uglier than it needs to be."

Del motioned at comatoseboy... who was reverting to looking like an older 
man with nothing on his head,"And what do we do with him."

"Leaving a powerful prisoner behind is bad news. Could we send him back Jo?"

She looked up from inspecting her outfit,"There is a protocol to reopen the last 
portal. And we can bundle him in all the missing outfits from my school."

"Eh?"

"He's been trying to grab girls... he got me because I just chose to go naked. 
If I hadn't he'd have probably tried to grab me again... and only got my 
clothing."

"How was he screwing up?"

"Oh... he was grabbing by clothing ID. The first bodily visual identifier. He 
doesn't seem to have even noticed that my number was different from my 
clothing."

The Mad Madam sighed,"He hacks this place... then he turns into a scriptkiddie. 
Don't hackers prefer to go UP the ladder?"

"No kidding," Jo turned around,"Uh Miss Barbarian... hands off the merchandise."

"But..."

She turned to Arhden,"Have you been telling stories about me?"

Arhden shook his head,"No not me. Nothing besides rescuing you."

Insei looked at Jedrax,"Your gaydar is malfunctioning. I only tease people. I 
don't jump people. Though no telling Kasumi and Sunahama that," she fired at 
Arhden,"They're such fun."

"Um... right. I've kinda fallen out of contact with you 3 haven't I?"

"It's okay. Don't worry about it. You'd probably be a bad reminder."

"Oh yeah..." Arhden seemed to shrink in on himself,"Well onto bad news... does 
he have more of," Arhden pointed down,"These."

"We'll have to look," she walked over after straightening the outfit and grabbed 
the other bracer which was laying on the floor. "Let's go."

"Boris... I hate to ask you to be beast of burden."

Boris shook it off,"Just as long as you don't mind him accidentally hitting 
things," Lench looked damned evil as he finished with,"I feel clumsy."

And the party+1 decended to the next level lower.

ELSEWHERE

"He's root and he let them... oh man. Castrate him and throw him to the dogs," 
The githyanki bobbed his head,"Yep that's what the heroes should do."

"Oh would you please shut up!" She looked towards the door,"And you! Stay out 
when we're busy," she placed her head back on the pillow and turned her face 
from being buried in it. "Yes... just like that... and a tad harder... ahhhhhh 
right there..."

"Why the hell do I do all the work?"

"You don't like it when I'm on top."

"Oh yeah the Viper games flashbacks."

"The what?"

IN THE TOWER BOWELS

"Now THAT is alot of uniforms," Rhiana prodded the pile here and 
there,"Lockets... bookbags... toiletries..." she looked sadly at a bubbling 
jar,"Some young girl's indiscretion... I wonder if she'll want the child back?" 
The fetus was perfect... save for the fact it wasn't in a womb, and was being 
sustained by magic. "Probably end up the next defender of Nerima though..."

Hana shook her head,"Well Nerima needs them I suppose."

Mica examined the apparatus,"This should work outside the game. We should send 
i... him... we should send him with the clothes."

EvilWizard laughed,"She should thank me! Best child extraction method ever! And 
I made it possible! ME!"

Boris tried to wade through the laughter to the big geeks ears,"And who is the 
mother or the father?"

"I know but why should I tell you?"

"This... for YOU isn't a game."

"If you kill me you'll never know!"

There was a clanging of metal from the side that was sorting the pile into 
something transportable,"The Mother is known to ME now. Accessing the Father's 
data... found. Donor at one of those clinics. The Mother... 16... wanted the 
child. So... no you didn't do her a favor," Jo pondered,"That was probably the 
girl dragged off campus in hysterics some time back."

EW laughed some more,"My evil knows no bounds! I steal babies from unwed 
mothers! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I am invincible! INVINCI-"

Boris 'stumbled' into a wall knocking the idiot into la-la land,"I wish he'd 
just STAY unconscious."

Jubei came up the stairs from his scout ahead,"Found the Portaling location. 
Disposed of an entire VAT of worms. Aika is watching the destruction of the 
soldery that the Wizard was planning on unleashing. It appears he was 
renegotiating his contract all the time... due to the fact he was holding all 
the cards. Until recently."

Rhiana flinched,"Will there be a reprisal?"

He shook his head,"No. An Imp is simply to possess him and watch his misery 
until the end of his days. It was that or turn over the horde. It was like 
looking at rows and rows of Clay Warriors... we counted... millions packed like 
rice in a bentou below."

Aika came up then saying,"Millions doesn't do it justice. He's been dumping them 
down a hole... LIVE. He had devices set up to watch the cavern he'd found. 
Only... if I turn on the incinerator... his ace in the hole... this tower goes 
with it. So we should hit that last. But... if it wasn't for the fact he'd 
previously set that up I don't know HOW all of them could be killed. There were 
enough down there to... impregnate the planet."

Everyone was stone cold quiet for a while. they worked in that silence sorting 
garments until the piles were all nice and together. Jo went first... her guise 
here visibly removing as she stepped out into the main campus pavilion... and 
vanishing within. Moments later the campus police came out with her as did 
ordered rows from each classroom one by one to retrieve in semi private their 
stolen objects. EW was gleefully flung through the portal to waiting handcuffs.

LATER

"Boy am I tired. And we still haven't found where the heart leads. Is the body 
even here?" Boris spoke to the air.

Jubei mused,"It is so dark a door in a wall would be undetected. If Valeria 
brought her light we could probably find all manner of things we did not see."

Arhden looked faint,"The Endless Tower. Well... we can collapse later. Better 
get moving."

Jane grabbed Mica, Hana and Boris,"Mind if we stay behind guard the rear?"

Jubei thought about it,"Yes splitting up should be good at present. Aika... go 
with Arhden, Valeria, Rhiana, and Quesy. I shall remain with Del, Jane, Mica, 
Hana and Boris."

[Author Window... that looks like a party window from an EfEf Game:

Arhden			Jubei
Valeria			Del
Aika			Jane
Rhiana			Mica
Quesy			Hana
			Boris

Accept Parties? Yes
Maintain Window cause the AUthor is lazy and needs charts and graphs and other 
stuff? Yes ;.;]

Arhden looked at him,"Why such an odd split?"

"To better spot things, search for things and listen for things."

"Ah yes... I'm so tired I'm daft."

AND SO... SEVERAL HOURS OF SEARCHING PASSED

"Chamber Pot."

Arhden looked over at Miss Soggybotham,"What was that?"

"I need a chamber pot. Why haven't we found one? Didn't he have to go ever?"

Aika shook her head,"I imagine he made them on the spot... IF he had to."

Quesy suddenly perked up,"Eww a bad smell! Must be a privy!" She walked over by 
a section of wall,"Huh? Oh hey..." she pushed something she suddenly saw behind 
an overhang of rock. In fact it was a nice disguise for a big red 'Push me!' 
button. A Star Trekish whoosh sound came from the door as it slid away. "Privy 
privy pr... huh? Hey Arhden come look at this!"

Arhden put down the chamber pot he found in a crate with dozens of 
others,"Okay... but I found the..." he looked on in awe," chamber pots."

There was a searing heat from below in the room abated by a huge chunk of ice 
one the ceiling. The room was some 100 yards wide and twice that tall. Beyond 
the far wall you could HEAR the scrabbling and scratching of hordes of evil 
things clawing to get into the room.

Why? Because in the middle of the room... over naught but fire and ash suspended 
by a chain that was lodged in the ice... hung what was once a woman certainly. 
She was clad in horny plates and toughened sinew... that seemed possessed of a 
mind of it's own. More Horns sprouted from her head above each temple. What skin 
you could see alternated between a deathly pale... and the red of cloth soaked 
in rotting blood. Two whopping great horns extended like the skeleton of wing 
arms from her back... filaments of what could have been spiderweb connecting at 
the oddest angles among the various pieces of horn on her back.

There was a sudden noise as some ice broke loose and more chain was released. 
She swiveled around as the chain had been frozen into place to turn her this way 
and that as it thawed free. The face that unblinkingly stared towards them could 
have been on an angel. Granted... that face was all the harder to look at in 
relation to the rest of her form. Like a mockery of innocense it was to gaze 
upon. Not helping matters was the fact her chest was ripped open and where her 
heart would be was nothing.

The heart secured away... beat loudly suddenly and lurched the person carrying 
it towards the victim of EvilWizards unknown intentions. The woman's eyes 
blinked but were unfocused. "What more do you want of me... I've offered to join 
you 10 thousand times... Offered marriage... enslavement... everything. You 
stole my heart... what more could you want with me now?"

She blinked violently and often trying to get moisture into her eyes. She 
finally pulled up on her arms -proving why she was suspended so far out in the 
middle without so much as a bridge near her- and wet her eyes on the trickle 
pouring down the chain. Quite a feat to be certain. She lowered herself back 
down and looked forward at them,"Oh shit... heroes. I bet you're just gonna drop 
me in the flames. Ah well. Fuck you too. At least give me back my heart so I can 
die whole. Just fling it. It'll find it's way home. But wait... I can live 
without it... and with it I might survive the fire... a twisted wretch. A 
complete failure to all sides in the war."

Aika stepped forward now carrying the pot herself,"War?" she asked while 
unsecuring the lid.

"Heaven Versus Hell. Deathmatch for the ownership of Creation. Horadrim versus 
Pit Lord... Tyreal versus Diablo. It never ends... and I've been on both sides 
and was a failure to each. Leave me to my torments. Trash needs discarding."

On the far wall Quesy pointed to the fact that she could see an eye looking 
through the wall. Aika flung the heart to the doomed woman. Arhden Deftly put 
and Arrow to eye... then stopped. "Archery Distances..."

The victim didn't hear Arhden because she was transfixed by the sight of the 
heart flying all to slowly towards her... linging up... and slamming her with 
the force of an Avalanche sending her swining on the chain. She screamed out 
invective in what one took for Abyssal. She was visibly going through heaps of 
pain. New horns rose and descended in and out of her skin. The horny plates and 
sinew retracted and reemerged unsure seemingly of if they were either needed or 
maybe just part and parcel to the pain.

A piece of wall came in far enough then for an arm to reach though. Where it cut 
itself worms poured out and Arhden had his hands full nailing them with his 
bow so they'd fall through the grate to the fires below. They were readily 
runnign out of time... but if they were planning on taking the most likely 
possessed person with them she wasn't through whatever system shock her body was 
going through.

And then the wall gave way.

"Valeria! Hold Person as many as you can! Aika! Take Quesy out of here she's had 
enough of their hellspawned crap. Rhiana Cast whatever you think might work! 
I'll rescue the girl so she can die -if she chooses- somewhere safer!"

Arhden slung his bow and leapt up onto the chain. As he figured it gave way 
immediately and he simply flew it up and away with him. He landed by the door 
and picked up the girl who Aika had unchained as Arhden had hovered over. 
Valeria held 2 of the creatures in the opening effectively blocking all others. 
But you could jjust TELL how thin the wall was.

This dike was gonna spill forth with Blue blooded things soon. All on a mad rush 
to impregnate them all. Rhiana slipped passed the group and up for the 
stairs,"The ice rock is gonna fall steam bath table for 6!"

Arhden turned and looked... it was wobbling but not hard enough to drop. He 
handed the still writhing girl to Quesy who shouldered her like a sack of 
potatoes as she ran after Rhiana. Valeria followed suite. Aika stood by the 
switch,"Arhden I have to close this door!"

Arhden pulled out his magical hatchet,"I just need one shot!"

"There isn't time!"

"I'll make it if I have to!"

"You stubborn feather brained idiot!"

But Arhden wasn't listening. He was watching the sway of the ice rock... on yet 
another hidden chain he suspected. He readied himself for the throw and catch. 
If he timed it right evil was thwarted and he could keep his hatchet. If he 
didn't... well he didn't look to be thinking negatively at the moment.

And then he loosed, and the hatchet whirled through the air and lightly clocked 
the chain that held the boulder up. Arhden's breath caught as the hatchet 
started returning... but nothing seemed to be happening. Aika seemed to see 
something radically different and grabbed Arhden right as he caught the hatchet 
prepared to fling again.

And then the snap registered in Arhden's hearing as the Hold Persons wore off... 
one then the other. He was wrenched through the door rigth as plain for everyone 
to see the boulder broke free from the ceiling. What seemed to be all to slow 
sped up to breakneck pace as the boulder seemed to shoot down... bending 
sections of the grate before slipping through and filling the room with 
superheated steam.

And then the door hissed closed as blood curdlign screams could be heard on the 
other side.

The place shook. Arhden looked at Aika. And then grabbed her and launched for 
the stairs by wing.

SEVERAL FLOORS SPENT RUSHING UPWARDS LATER.

Arhden flew up and joined the group... hair mussed by steam and speed,"I've... 
never tried to fly that fast before. Hell... never knew I COULD fly that fast... 
we... need to get away from here... now..." he said to the battled by falling 
construction materials party as yet another rumble punctuated his sentence for 
him. Jane piggy-backed Arhden and everyone who didn't need to be carried ran 
towards town.

Then the Pillar of Light lit the night behind them. All the traps set off... all 
the contingencies let loose... and the fact those deviloids make good kindling 
combined to sear the very stone of the tower to ashen debris that crashed down 
through the great hole that was it's basement. It would have been great if it 
was just a special effect from ILM... but it wasn't, as the ground shook 
threatening to collapse out from under everyone like so much snow and ice over a 
sun warmed spring stream.

IT WOULDN'T BE DAYS TILL THEY COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WITH THE 
TOWNSFOLK

Tiredness and the needs of healing took their toll on the party. The should-have-
stayed-home Jo Insei did her best to entertain questions the townsfolk asked of 
the party. She even had to get a little less garbed to even out male and female 
reactions from the crowd. Her Houri's magic is more pronounced on the 
gender in question... and equal and opposite on the other gender... which helped 
her grease believability in her words for the women... and kept the men in check 
as they were now less interested in more than her words.

Sometime during all this the Sage had been sent for... and tales of a strange 
silence in her forest were relayed back by terrified messengers who reported 
that the Sage advised bedrest, fresh water, and a complicated herbal remedy 
she'd given instructions on the making of.

Except for the silence in the Sage's forest of Dawnmeadow Wood ... all was 
well. The king of course asked the group to investigate after the envoy he sent 
himself to the Sage turned up missing. King's like assigning tasks.

All this time passing of course gave the group plenty of time to get to know 
their newest acquisition... which would be acquisitions... but Jo had wandered 
off to help out the town by reagent gathering for the herbal remedy... and it 
was NOT an easy brew.

She was called Bea Teldan. She was formerly part of a group called the Sister of 
the Sightless Eye... of course the name contracted odd images on it's listeners. 
However save for the last Day she was a member of that group she knows nothing 
of her past.

And on that day is when she was warped by the Demonic Andariel and gladly did 
things for her that would have made her kill herself instead of do them. Bea 
knew not how long that nightmare lasted. Time seemed to have stood still -to 
better hold the captives minds most likely, and when she finally broke off 
contact time horrifically resumed. Pain had settled into her mind and her life 
as the ravages of the changes to her body were no nolonger supped upon by her 
dark mistress... leaving Bea to fend off the pain on her own.

She had no time to really enjoy being free as soon after her and others who had 
awakened mysteriously seemed to be sucked into the very air as if flung away 
like garbage into the wind. Flung through portals. To other realms... like this 
one. Painfully enough Ms. Teldan landed chest first onto a tree branch.

"I should have died... and I did for a while," Bea grew quiet,"And then as 
punishment for deserting my post... I rose again," Teldan mimes spiting,"Only to 
wake in the clutches of some THING on a chain that violated me as it walked back 
to it's master... the idiotic EvilWizard. I still can't believe that's his name. 
Surely some Horadrim would have turned him into a stain with such a damning 
name."

Rhiana nodded,"If wishes were horses... we could make alot of glue."

"Right..." Sadly... Washuu had to relate that Bea was infact their missing 
Member Ardice. Bea could not say anything out of character... so bound an entity 
she was. "A Poor trade for... immortality," was the only comment she could make.

As for the other new person -who doesn't count as an acquisition mind you, 
Shiori Hansawa quickly grew and tried to find any niche she could in the group. 
The Sword and the Bow called to her and so she embraced both. Although... her 
sword was of a hardened crystal, and her bow made from antlers she acquired 
herself. Both near impossible feats for the area as there are no mines and the 
stags do not get such exquisite horns.

The party of course didn't just sit on it's laurels...

Ulthain helped out at the chapel to Pelor in the town... as a scribener and in 
leading people through prayer as needed. The Priest in residence sent word of 
her deeds and recommended Valeria as his replacement. A Fairly sizable honor for 
it to be asked on her behalf as normally such things were dealt with by need 
alone. Of course the Priest was not a young man anymore...

Jane learned to read from one of the ladies at the brothel... in exchange for 
activities that dwarfed any the lady had ever encountered. Jovial Jane also had 
he way with the Mayor's son... matchmaking him and her teacher together with a 
skill that would make Deities awestruck. The two didn't even know until it was 
too late. Jedrax bowed out of their sight before then however.

Mica busied herself teaching the town's children about nature, when she was in 
town at all. The town was like a steel box for her, and she was only truly happy 
outside it's walls. Outside the walls is also where she taught.

Hana found her time best spent in a wine glass or doing parlor tricks to keep 
herself in fine wine. It was all to drown down her want to be moving on with the 
quest when the group was in truth not yet ready. Boris was the other way she 
drown the desires down.

Boris by day however filled in for a man who had taken ill with the well 
incident. Lench got to talk strategy with the Captain of the Watch on many 
occassions. He even found out why the man was so rarely seen. He'd lost a 
testicle in a bar fight... and hasn't walked right since. He's very self 
conscious.

Del rather successfully and single handedly taught self defense and spiritual 
enlightment to any who would listen. Once it took some quick thinking -not his 
strong suit- to get out of a religion versus philosophy debate. Not everyone 
quickly caught the fact one needed to be whole spiritually and bodily. A being 
in harmony with itself and the heavens. It was a big cookie to swallow and the 
cows didn't feel like making milk.

Interestingly enough it was Jubei who bailed The Fist of Twilight's Crossing 
out. He explained the dichotmy of how mind body and soul could be at once whole 
in itself but still not be solely without need for guidance from something 
external. Not the best explanation to be sure... but Jubei had only planned to 
shop with his family and practice on the Green. His mind did enjoy the attempt 
however and he practiced that day before a crowd with a seemingly renewed vigor.

Mad Madam Rhiana could have passed for a bard. One moment telling stories the 
next performing magical feats to delight the senses, and back again without 
slowing down. She told stories of how she got her many names where her current 
one came from... and of famous Gnomes and other heroes she knew of. Everything 
she said had to be taken with a grain of salt of course, but between herself, 
Hana and the others she made sure the party never wore out it's welcome.

In fact they'd probably be missed.

Quesy didn't have quite as easy a time. Many of the town's boys would taunt her, 
others would woo her, and all in all she was often just on the verge of 
confusion. She once found herself drugged and belled, but a quick chat with 
Boris -and some intervention by Nails in perp acquisition- got the offenders 
tossed in the clink for malicious mischief. Quesy kept the bells storing them 
without their 'tongues' in her pack.

For his part Arhden helped a local cartographer, built arrows in his spare time, 
crafted Shiori's bow under the inquisitive eye of local tradesmen, and relayed 
messages between the mayor and the King. Local Birds told him of strange things 
in Dawnmeadow Wood, but none had anything substantial. He decided to warn them 
off from it and to pass it to other animals as they could. Dawnmeadow was 
becoming some kind of 'roach motel' for travelers. Some Elves on their way to 
Dawnmeadow to speak with the Sage diverted themselves from continuing because of 
a feeling of wrongness. Arhden could see nothing wrong from the air, BUT he 
could still feel it in his bones.

It wasn't helped by the fact that once he saw that The Dawnmeadow for which the 
Wood was named seemed to be littered with dead birds. Investigation had to be
put off as his forest flights were outside of his "courier" route. Besides... if 
it was a big problem... being alone might not be for the best.

[Okay... at this time I just don't have the stamina of text to finish this 
monster. It'll be huge ungainly and potentially UNFUN for me to write and you to 
read. Also I'm not a GOOD DM so it's almost fruitless to continue. I just can't 
manage that many chatacters. 20+ characters is alot to maneuver. Sure almost no 
one just blabbers to blab... but the combat scenes. REAL combat was ahead... 
with special attacks, psionics, spells of all manner. And I'd have to 
INTELLIGENTLY put it together. Yeah right. AND include the players breaking 
things with knowledge from their lives on occassion would probably slip in. 
Maybe not like "it's short pigfaced..." "Ah that's a <creature> right!" "I 
hadn't finished describing it yet." kinda thing but it WOULD be close.

I also don'twanna write the deaths that are gonna happen... and I also don't 
wanna keep up with the exp that everyone would gain. IF I had a combat simulator 
that could take a statblock and run with it simply placing good guys on one side 
and bad guys on the other and have them duke/spell/psy it out I would.

But I don't. AND I don't want to do it by hand and get lost in the minutia (or 
maybe that should be menucia). That doesn't make for FUN for me... and I know my 
mind latched onto this as 1) great op for character development 2) the start of 
a nice place to visit to wind down 3) A way for my subconscious to stop me from 
fighting it.

As you recall the main theme of The Arc is my personal wellness. When I bog 
myself down this doesn't improve. It stifles. And often backpedals. Seiyaka: 
R.M. bogged down because I could SEE the whole outline all the way past 2 or 3 
major events. That's not good. Why? Well for me that level of planning kills me. 
I feel compelled to DO it THAT way... and often it just doesn't come to fruition 
THAT way and so I end up "tearing my hair out" in frustration. It ends up not 
being a plan but more of a RULE as to what MUST be done. Eternal Dragonlover 
bombed because I mapped the whole thing out in my head... and not being a 
descriptive soul...I knew I'd never get that vision on paper... and I'd also 
FINALLY realized I couldn't and shouldn't do what I was doing.

Like pissing off "book characters" in RPG's just because you've always wanted to 
Call <namedrop> Elminster </namedrop> a pompous ass and then going off and doing 
something he was planning to do. It's SOMETIMES fine in game context. But these 
are their LIVES. They may just seem like Text Puppets... but every change you 
make to them is PERMANENT in your head.

Just like with fiction.

Ardice's character for example is RIDDLED with mental, emotional, and maybe 
somehow even social traumas... a sort of WhiteWolf Meets Dungeons and Dragons... 
so that the character feels like it will fit due to all these restrictions.

Don't wanna put Ardice OR her PC through that. I just can't imagine it. It would 
be like taking a can opener to her head and shoving all kinds of things in that 
might just not WORK. OR might end up stuck there.

You'll notice she alludes to stuff that should have been in text HERE in the 
Halloween fic. Things that are affecting her in her real world. The system is 
that complex... afterall it processes THROUGH you then presents things. So all 
the poling for how things would be for Bea... has caused DAMAGE to Ardice. 
Sacrificing herself here and there to show the party her resolve to be welcomed 
by them also wasn't exactly kosher for MY head to write out or ARDICE to 
experience.

So as if it was a bad dream... it has to be lessened... also due to the fact 
it's hard to show 10000 years of mental stability get jarred. I'm not 10k I have 
trouble wrapping my brain around it. She will be fine but the initial incursion 
would be something for a better writer than myself to pen.


In conclusion... I will now present the "outline" for the rest of the piece. I 
will only show differences from the Dungeon mag just because to include most of 
that would be either plageristic... or too much job and not enough "something 
you do for a living".]

II. The Forest.
	A. Discovery of dead birds.
	B. Discovery of spiders.
	C. Discovery of DROW!
	D. More Drow.
	E. Still more Drow. Head Count.
	F. Yet still more Drow. Head Count
	G. Last of the Drow bump ins. Head count.
	H. The sage's house... in ruins and blood and death.
		1. The destruction is an illusion to keep the drow out.
		2. Demonic Nurse Joy is the Sage!
			a. Info on the Enemy.
			b. Lag's chara attacks lightly to stop the Sage Scrying.
		3. Revelation about entrance to Caverns.
		4. Gift of the IdentStone. -A way that the sage can spend time
			ID'ing items without being in danger on the party.
	I. Wading through more Drow. Headcount.
		1. Finding of the scroll of Mass Special Grant Peace.
		2. Aika uses the scroll on the forest...
			a. all bodies vanish into the earth
			b. Aika has to be left in the Sage's care for a few days
				to regain her strength
	J. More Dreams. More Nightmares. Touching scene with the Hansawa's
III. The Cavern
	A. Meanwhile in the HQ of evil.
		1. FMV in the HQ of Evil.
		2. Laveth
	B. Midnight in the Cavern of Araneas. Headcount
	C. Rockfall! Funerals.
	D. More Evil Spider People and Driders
	E. Sudden rescue. PC replacements join up.
	F. The Half Demon Aranea....
	G. Plot thickens... Abyssal and Infernal beings about.
		1. Captured Cleric! Headcount...
		2. FMV Aren't you going to kill or interrogate me? (room A9)
	H. The Bebilith (all stages are MERGED but the B is in A10) and the
		Gate. Headcount . . .
	I. The slaughter in the Garrison... what happened here?
	J. Camping at the GATE.
IV. Demonweb
	A. No rest for the heroes... crumbling wall... chaotic spectres
	B. Slaadi corpses and blood.
	C. Freeing... then Fighting the Slaadi. Party makes mental note about
		Slaads... trust is wasted.
	D. Unusual tactics... FMV Tarestique's ruined outfit.
	E. Through the Trapdoor. Brave Spiders... Vicious Demons. Headcount.
	F. The Countess's Chambers.
		1. The Debasement of the Dead.
		2. Kill the slaads! Truce with the present Drow... they don't
			wanna end up like the slaads.
		3. Ullistrin's Sarcophagus empty... yoink!
		4. The Throne. The drow from before. Headcount sadly.
	G. The Grey Render and Ullistrin - Ullistrin's change of heart...
		1. Death of the Render Headcount.
		2. FMV Playing Games with Life.
	H. The Nalfeshnee... then the Slaadi... then headcount and rest.
	I. Soothing the Trap.
	J. Dead Traitors... what Yochlol's?
	K. Meeting Nulise and Bloodlust... Bea's offering.
	L. Shrines... and... blessings... riiiight.
	M. The Retriever
	N. Spiders Ho! And a rest stop.
	O. EVENT: Teldin and Evil.
		1. Forever Linked. Domination (of will ya pervs)
		2. Defending Bea from the driders!
	P. The Bodak. Headcount.
	Q. The Ship... Captured Mercenaries freed!
	R. FMV Ullistrin tames the clock keeping trap.
	S. The Marilith. Headcount.
	T. Another Devastated Barracks.
	U. The Death Slaad. Headcount.
	V. Now THAT'S a spider. Looting some more. Amazing Shot! Trap gone!
	W. UNDEAD spiders now? Major throwdown. Headcount. . .
	X. Rushing onwards!
V. The Demonweb Pits.
	A. The Secret Garden. Headcount.
	B. Norded's Head and the BAD Joke. Headcount.
	C. The Prison.
	D. Freeing some prisoners... dooming others... killing the retriever and
		looting. Headcount.
	E. The Ritual Chamber. Okay maybe I should at least write THIS and
		beyond...

The party appears on a semicircular stone ledge it's walls seem covered in 
spiders of crystal. Looking over the edge proves jarring as there is nothing but 
webs and... NOTHING below so far as sight can tell. A weird mist lights the 
room area beyond the ledge.

Off in the distance and above the parties heads is an altar on a platform. The 
merest jingle of chains are heard before everyone looks above and behind them. 
On an outcropping above them a greyish face with gleaming chains the color of 
mithril is gawking at them luridly. The Face is the face of a Githyanki and 
tauntingly he stretches out an arm and shakes a finger as if the party has been 
naughty. "I'd hopes for... more entertainment than this," and then in his gruff 
voice he said the drow word for Snare.

The Crystalline spiders bathed the party in webbing after that. Many simply 
sidestepped the flows, and the attacks that rained down from Varda's 
outstretched magical aura covered hands. Then something no one was ready for 
happened.

A Dark Portal opened drawing ALL eyes to it. Drow priestesses and a vanguard of 
female drow fighters poured forth into the room. And then in came Lolth who's 
first words were,"And where is my daughter?"

Lord Shatter's stupefied mouth betrayed his whereabouts,"You aren't supposed to 
arrive! What's going on here!" And then he noticed someone familiar and naked as 
the day she was born save for a pair of bracers. "You!" She was hard at work on 
several illusions, and ignored him. One was over the party to keep them hidden. 
The other was over herself to look like... a high priestess of Lolth.

Lolth almost kinda sorta smiled,"Yes... that one told me of your trickery of my 
daughter. Of your plans for power from behind a throne one territory you would 
have her carve for herself from MY realm," she turned her back on him. The 
crystalline spiders lauched their webflows up and onto him and his cohorts. They 
were dragged down and readied for slaughter. "Laveth."

Over on the altar about to make a killing blow with her demonblood sword 
Harrowing, the addressed Drow stopped. She clutched her head dropping the sword 
away. She shook her head several times. She couldn't seem to move save to try to 
clear her head. The glowing gem seemed to fall out of it's hover over the body 
and rolled into the fallen sword cracking on impact. THAT knocked the sword 
over the edge.

The sword pulsed as it fell from the platform. The pulses seemed to be growing 
in strength and the sword fell like a bolt into the floor of the chamber. 
Everything seemed to stop.

The world seemed to rip itself apart. Shards of the sword launched out at even 
faster velocity and people fell like wheat before the scythe. Some drider leapt 
to the webbing and climbed up to get Laveth. 3 Died just trying to get over. 2 
Died midleap bringing her twitching form back over.

They Stood her before her mother... but right then a shard ripped through 
shoulder than her another her stomach. Arhden not thinking that he was safer 
standing still and dodging rushed forward with Bea and they caught her just as 
there was a quake through the room.

A Piece of ceiling broke loose before anyone could do more than react. Arhden 
and Bea just clutched the fallen Drow... unaware that besides the ceiling Lord 
Shatter was free and advancing on them. The ceiling bit... having been slowed by 
webbing and a few fireballs flung at it arrived the exact second Shatter pulled 
a wand out of his sleeve. "I win! DISINTERGRATE!" Lady Aika however slipped up 
next to him and wrested the wand upward at the oncoming rock. Instead of the 
desired spell effect... the wand exploded!

The world became filled with nothing but pain... for all *5* of them.

IN SECONDS

The pain was gone. Eldrick looked around, and saw the breadth of the false 
Ohtori spreading all around him. There was The Trippy Utena-alike. Besides her 
was the Anthy-nearly.

He flung away the sword in his hand. "The hell?"

"Isn't your line 'Gala you're alive?!' And then I scream?"

The Pretty man behind Gala in school girl uniform and height of 5'4" 
chuckled,"Normally Gala it would be... but this isn't a nightmare. Hi Eldrick. 
Why the summons?"

Tobin looked from Gala to the speaker,"Who are you?"

"I am the Darsh that lives in your head. You know Gala of course... OH and 
behind me is your next competitor," he stepped aside to show someone with a 
visitor's badge that said "Hi my name is Peer Kentaro."

Peer stopped admiring the fabric of the cape in front of him and looked 
over,"I'm going to enjoy killing you." A remote control car crashed into his 
ankle bearing a ring,"Ah... Utena space huh? Right. A Duel it is! I'll destroy 
you!"

Eldrick rubbed his temples,"This isn't a dumbed down program for kids. You can 
say kill."

"Yes fine whatever. Can I get on with the duel where I kill you then?"

"You have to have a reason."

"You stole my sister from being properly delivered to Lossoth. Our family have 
all been destroyed now. I will kill you and take her back!"

Eldrick blinked,"Sister?"

"Yes you mishearing twit. Eimi!"

Comprehension dawned on the Tobin,"She's not going anywhere."

"That's what you think!"

"Yes it is."

Peer blinked,"Arena which way?" he said rubbing his own temples.

And everyone ascended to the dueling platform. There was a hush... Honorable 
Saionji was still facing off with his counterpart. They were glaring at each 
other over their swords. The bell tolled one single time. "Time's up! We'll have 
to settle this another time!"

"Hmph. Next time I won't be so lenient," said the oozier Saionji.

Everyone looked to Eld and Peer. They were handed wrapped weapons, a custom Eldy 
had never seen before, and then placed a distance away from each other. The bell 
sounded and they quickly unwrapped their weapons. Peer grinned at his bastard 
sword. Eldrick blinked at his tai chi longsword. "No edge?"

But he had no time to think. He had to block. CLASH. BANG... "Damnit Peer I 
don't know how to fight with this!"

"Then we are both in the same camp! DIE!"

CLANG... shift... SWIPE... BLANG! The tai chi longsword flew up and landed HARD on 
it's tip. Eld danced out of range of Peer. There wasn't another weapon! Peer 
charged and Tobin just missed getting his arm taken off. He clutched at the cut.

"These are tremendously easy to learn. I think I'll be winning now," and there 
was a sadistic gleam in his eye.

Something brushed Eld's hand as he was thinking of ripping Peer to shreds with 
his bare hands for just SOME of what he'd heard of Ami's homelife. It was a 
tassle. He had a cord around his arm. Wrapped and knotted this way and that the 
cord blended with his uniform nicely. He didn't think he'd ever had one BEFORE 
but his uniform in this place was never the same twice.

Eld's turn to smile followed instantly. He took it off and uncoiled it. A simple 
attempt to crack it unraveled it entirely and it snapped like a gun went off. 
Another snap and Eld had it collected in his hand.

"You don't bring whips to a sword fight!"

Eld quirked an eyebrow,"Really now. Why not?"

"Here I'll show you!" And Peer charged. Eld dropped the end of the whip and 
snapped forward.

Rose petals showered. Peer's rose couldn't take a whipshot. In a swirl of petals 
he was defeated and gone. The bells tolled. There there was the sounds of 
blaster fire and you could JUST hear fresh cackling. A Blast landed on the 
platform.

Everyone looked up. Peer had been reborn up there... and his form was all too 
familiar to Eldrick. "Peer became forte! Gala take his sword and duel me! I've 
gotta stop him!"

Gala looked horrified,"The hell I will."

BLAM another shot 'descended' Peer's aim was getting better.

"If he just shoots me I won't be reborn upthere! I'll be toast! Come on! I owe 
you a rematch."

"I feel fine. Dress fits nicely."

Eld closed his eyes,"Fine then. The next time I dream this dream... since it 
will be from probably this time foreward. I'll make sure to ravish you like the 
hellspawned strumpet you are. And I'll make sure to wear a condom and never let 
you have a child."

"Are you baiting me, you scum fucker?"

"Oh? Are you saying you're scum? I'm surprised you'd stand so tall as to call 
yourself scum. Hell I'm surprised you were on OUR side in the game."

BOOM.

"You BASTARD! Just because I didn't want to risk MY character in constant sex 
with your other character you accuse ME of being evil."

"Of course you are. You're the one who wanted a big family and there potentially 
was your chance... you were evil to yourself. I can't stand you. Go away. You 
make me sick."

She stepped forward and drew back her hand to slap him. A Weapon appeared in it 
and it was so light she didn't notice it until she saw it descend in her hand. 
She tried to haul back on it but the blade had a cylinder of mercury and it 
launched downwards. She stepped away to try to miss... but Eld's rose came away.

"Knew... I could piss you off enough," Eldrick said as he became a mass of blue 
rose petals.

THUD.

Eldrick's servoes groaned in pain and agony. He stood up and the display said he 
was down 1/10 of his lifebar. Eld nodded.

Then the gravity of his situation dawned. He looked up at the Dueling platform 
extending out of the opposing ground towards him. There was weaponsfire nearby 
and an electronic sounding scream. Then in front of him he saw someone familiar 
standing against a wall with a bow in her hands. "Ardice!"

The arrow whizzed by his hair. "Not a foe Ardice!"

"Stand still I'm trying to harm you minimally to send you back over there. This 
is no place for you."

"Ardice it's me Eld!"

She lowered the bow,"Oh. Well you shouldn't be here either."

A Fireball erupted next to her. She took it calmly and slipped into the crater 
and fired upwards. There was a woman's scream. She then took an arrow and 
plunged it into her own heart. "See you later Eld. Gotta catch her before 
someone else autoduels her!" And she vanished in petals.

Sickened beyond belief Eld -who seemed to be yet another Zero clone save in blue 
armor like only some of the Zero clones in fanfiction and webcomics- leapt up 
onto a towertop and got his bearings in the war torn castle.

He saw Peer the Forteclone on another tower shooting at the dueling platform. He 
was sending people out of the game. They were dying from the nightmare world. 
Eld fired the Zerobuster at him to get his attention,"They may be nightmares... 
but they're people too!"

Peer looked over,"But I've got Nanami the kitty killer in my sights!"

Eld smirked,"I thought you liked little sisters who take abuse."

Peer snarled and fired at Eldrick,"I will kill you for that!"

Eldrick ducked into the tower he was on and shouted,"Incest Incest it's the best 
put your sister to the test!"

The scream of rage Eld got back was heart warming,"FATHER MADE ME!!!" And the 
wall next to his head erupted. "MADE ME!" lower blast! "_MADE_ME_!!!" BLAST 
BLAST BLAST! all slowly lower but semitracking.

Eldrick smiled and kicked off the wall pushing through the weakened wall behind 
him. HE saw Peer-Forte standing ON the wall right there and in one motion 
grabbed his leg and dislodged it. Peer spun and lost the grip he'd had on the 
stone he was sliding down.

Off they came from the wall. Peer punched into Eld's 'boob lights' and petals 
erupted from his mouth. Grinning as Eld died inside the suit... He forgot to 
consider that... well... he was still plummeting with the Zero suit to the 
ground. No airbrakes.

Worse yet for him... he could hear the internal reactor about to...


BOOOOOM!!!

SECONDS LATER!

Peer landed face first on the ground. He shook his helmeted head. A little girl 
ran up to him with a lollipop,"Mister are you okay?"

"I'm fine kid."

"Oh... well okay. Nice costume!" And she ran to her mother who was calling for 
her to hurry back.

"Wait... costume?" Peer stood and looked at himself. He was wearing a perfect 
replica of Forte's suit. "What's going on?!"

There was motion behind him,"Ah you are awake Peer. Lag's been worried."

Sprint smiled when Peer turned to face him. "I barely got you out alive. Wish I 
hadn't. To think I have to look at that stupid expression forever now."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Sprint pointed from foot to helmet,"That's a permanent change. I dragged you out 
of that hell at the precise second Eldrick stopped thinking about it. You were 
almost annihilated. HOWEVER since you were somehow changed in there. This looks 
to be your new form. At least you can be redigitized faster."

"Stuck looking like Forte forever," he clonked his hand on his helmet trying to 
reach his face to hold it.

"Bass."

"Eh?"

"Well when Tobin dons his flightsuit he says he looks like MEGAMAN and usually 
forgets to call the look ROCKMAN... and so... you're Bass... not Forte."

"I'll kill him 8 times over for forcing me to use the wrong name!"

"Yes fine well. Come on. I'll teleport us."

In seconds the only sign there were there was the crater and BASS saying,"Ha! 
I can do that!"

AT THE HOUSE AND ON THE LAWN

Darsh smiled down at the babes laying against his mangodliness. Then he 
smirked,"Too bad they aren't mine. AND," there was a shimmer of electricity 
about him,"Too bad I'm out of power." Then he poofed out of existence.

Ardice stirred first. She opened her eyes and saw Fawn's snoozing face beside 
her,"Are you... alive?"

Fawn scrunched up her face,"Oh my head!"

"You're alive," Ardice sighed. Then was crushed in a plushie snuggle,"The 
heck?!"

"My hero AGAIN! You saved me from the vicious evil reprogramming! You should 
take us somewhere in celebration. *I* recommend my bedroom."

"Yeah you're fine," Ardice suffered being snuggled,"I'll take us someplace nice 
or something," she paused,"I hope that's not permanent."

Fawn looked up,"Worried about grass stains?"

Ardice smiled,"It doesn't matter I suppose."

INSIDE THE HOUSE

Eldrick stirred. HE was in the body suit from the chair only on the floor 
and next to Gala. Her tiny form stirred next. "Don't TRY to pis me off like that 
again. What if you'd died in there?"

"Phoenix Down?"

"That's your answer for everything isn't it," She stood up and removed the body 
suit. She tossed it over his eyes,"No peeking. Now to go find where I stashed my 
clothes before Joy wakes up and tries to ravish me like she tried before."

A hand came down,"How about I just try to give you a lift instead?" Gala looked 
up to see Joy was dressed already.

"How long were we lying there?"

"We took about a 100 pictures from several angles! So CUTE!"

"Ugh," she declined the hand.

Lady Ami walked over,"She's just teasing. Only about a minute. Before you 
weren't anywhere. Washuu says all your essenses were in Eld's head. It's why we 
let you wake even when you appeared. Hate to break any mental connections before 
the download is finished."

"Ah."

Eldrick stood after he'd managed to get the sweaty bodysuit off his face. "So 
everyone's okay?"

Ami gave him the thumbs up,"The Game ended when Peer and Fawn vanished into your 
head as they were the anchors. You were in," she rubbed his head,"A little 
while. You okay?"

"I shouldn't have the nightmare ever again I think," he stretched,"Ugh what time 
is it?"

"Oh about 11am... and it's October 2001."

Eldrick was stunned. "Bad time sequencer?"

"Exactly when I logged in to be Jubei's child it snapped so instead of being 
compressed... it explanded" she paused and nodded,"Your brain's obviously 
working!" Washuu said behind him,"Speaking of which... I need to get you into my 
lab! Just to make sure you're okay of course," she grinned.

"I think I'd rather just lay down on my own bed."

"Okay I'll study you there."

He gave her a baleful look.

"Ami and Hope already agreed. They have to go catch up on paperwork. So you're 
ALL MINE," she blushed and giggled,"Oh my... oh my!"

A little jello like THING slid out of Gala's bodysuit. It then whizzed over to 
her. It hoverbobbed next to her. She gave it the once over... then she looked at 
Washuu,"What's THAT?"

Washuu typed into her keyboard,"The Naughty looking Nurse and server admin says 
that is the escaped program that was Nulise's fiendish raven."

"Great... it's followed me out and is pestering me in the real-ish world now. 
Terrific," she stiffened when it rubbed against her arm... 
affectionately,"What's it think it is? A Dog? It's a bird it can float up by 
the rafters and leave me alone!"

"It has flight ability... Perhaps it's offering you a ride?" she hooked an arm 
around Eld's,"Let's go get you naked and studied!"

"Ugh."

Gala shook her head,"She always like that?"

Ami chuckled,"You should know that Miss Spy. Anyway you're welcome to stay."

"Whee..." she rolled her eyes.

"So cute when you do that. Well I'm off to paperwork land."

"I'm off to find my clothes," she looked at the cube and them climbed 
on,"Hovercube go!" she shuddered,"I can't believe I said that."

~FIN~

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                                        "Cast" Addendums

Laveth - Daughter of Lolth by some high level sorceror/wizard/spellflinger.
She's not happy with only being spoiled constantly and allowed to run amuck. She
wants to rule her mother's realm. At the start of the fic it's not known who
or what is running this Character.

Lolth - The Spiderqueen. The Primary power behind the Drow or Dark Elves. She
rules over the Demonweb Pits of the Abyss with gusto. You don't trifle with
Lolth. Name also spelled Lloth, and by some simply Loth. A program controls her
actions.

The Houri - An Addin character. Her type of Illusion magic is strengthened by
her lack of clothing. This means her spells are more effective to those sexually
attracted to her... with a catch... it's set to *whitedout* gender... See fic 
for more details. *in crayon* or just below...

/ADDENDUM: Decided to spice up her profile a bit... unfortunately annoying her 
MORE. The ORIGINAL Houri from the game this is loosely based on... was a 
tortured wanderer kicked from her home town because she dared to love another. 
Another of her gender. The Wizard there appeared to her as women and seduced and 
trained her... as an Illusionist that works on the minds of men... something 
that didn't matter to HER. I realized that doesn't quite fit as a character Jo 
would fit with. So for Jo... it works on GIRLS (Don't hurt me Jo! No not the 
chair *smack* ow ;.;), increases in power with loss of clothing... but... it's 
granted by the bracers -along with other stuff- so she can turn it the heck off 
and just be an enchanter if she so desires... BUT as all her exp has gone to 
this Prestige Illusionist Varient... she'd take a big average level hit./

The Sage - An Addin Character. Items and monsters are her bread and butter. If
something isn't known she just might be the person to ask. See fic for more
details. [ I like the concept of a Deckard Cain... so sue me. -Author ]

The Baroness Ullistrin - Revered to a great extent by the Drow of the Underdark
and the Demonweb Pits. See Dungeon magazine for more details.

Nulise (The Character) - Rude crude and with a 'tude. Life has not been remotely
kind to her though she has honors upon her shoulders for this or that. The
Player Nulise has been Shanghai'd into the Game on the other side. The Lives of
her party are holding her to the opposition.

The Quest -  Is composed of a few smaller quests. The Wizard, is the first part. 
It isn't part of the Dungeon Magazine campaign. It's just a "get ya started" 
"give ya a taste" thing I cobbled together for the original run... and have 
folded spindled and mutilated for this run through. It's also a good place toss 
in anything else the party might need BEFORE the Main quest. Maybe the first 
real hints... before the actual hints from The Harrowing... or just to see how 
the party WILL work understress. Some parties are great on paper... and then in 
execution everyone steps on toes BIG time.

THE FMV's - I know many diehard gamers will shun them "Sex has nothing to do 
with RPGS!"... and diehard readers of the Arc will go "Hey... where's the meat? 
79 lines? Pfft! My grocery list is longer" I too wish they all broke the 350 or 
even 600 line mark... but as they're TOO visual in my head... they'd be best 
made into actual FMV's than anything else. Also I'm seeing how well I "can" 
separate the plot from the sex. No. Not to remove the sex. But to put them into 
2 columns. I personally don't think the fic can stand without them -half the 
reason they are there is to get me used to the concepts of love lust and waff 
that aren't integral to me. Too bad I wasn't born in Japan with Ren'ai Games to 
grow up on ^.^; But Anyway... they're for me... and for you. Don't like the 
separation... oh well. Want more plot... all I can say is "I have a PLOT? How'd 
that get in there! This is supposed to be romantic confusion and hentai 
antics... where'd the plot arrive from?" Afterall... my villains are... 
pathetic. Many online comics have great plots... you should see to viewing 
those. Any plot here is an ACCIDENT of my writing style. If indeed this crap HAS 
a style.

Elder Kentaro - Well... to give a hint of his Evil... there's a character in the
Tekken games and the movie. Heihachi. This is a guy who... tossed his own son off
a cliff to test his son's strength. "If you die... you're no son of mine." kinda
thing. With such a parent... can you imagine Ami correcting Eld for his
mispronunciation? It gave her a new lease on life... no Longer Eimi Kentaro...
but now Ami (well okay it's pronounced Amy but hey... I'm the author here...
I butcher things all the time. And you know where to send the hate mail. I'd
probably spell Morena... Mirrina due to my ficcing past so...) Kintaro ...
which when he looked the name up he found all these nice things associated with
it and thus figured that's how you spell it.

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Remember everyone... riffs/mst's can go to riffs@the-arc.i-p.com as I'm sure 
this fic in all it's mass is worthy of some derision. Hate to have to write my 
own 0.o

Hell send C&C there too... just label it well. The mailbox is lonely with only 
pr0n... sorry... I do mean PORN spam -we aren't talking prawns here. So please 
give generously... and no not with MORE spam o.o;

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