<@Dreol> [Power Sliders! Session 8!] <@Dreol> [Last time you all unfroze the temple of life and met with the faerie queen. She rewarded you for your service by allowing you to each learn one new ability from her fellow faeries. Once you all picked your new snazzy abilities, you exited the temple to find that all the ice outside had melted, revealing a continuous spiral of roots and rocks down which a river of water was flowing, dropping off in waterfalls here and there. Far below you appears to be a pond of some sort.] <@Dreol> [Begin] Ooookay so what are we doing? Down. Carefully. Very. Yeaah. Lead on, hero. * Micah nods staying quiet. Onward! Into great jungle. Wonderful dungeon idea. Uh....huh.... But they tend to have annoying maps. <@Dreol> [Link nods and begins to move down the watery ramp. The current moves around his feet and he grabs tighter to the roots that make up the side of the spiral. "It's very hard to keep your balance."] * Cassiopeia stows her scythe in its holster on her back, adjusts her bag, and starts slowly making her way down once Link gets going, following his lead. * Henry puts his sword away and tries to keep both hands on the rope until he's more sure of his footing. Yes, very hard to read. * Micah stares at them all. "Wonderful. Traps means dead us. REMEMBER?" * Lex sighs, looking at the lack of tread on her Converses, then grabs a root and steps carefully downwards. What traps? * Kyler sheathes his sword and also grabs hold of roots and follows everyone else. "Yeah, but looks like we don't got too much choice." Aside from roots and water, of course. <@Dreol> [Link moves down a bit further and then gets to the first waterfall. He looks around a bit and then reaches into his bag to pull out the hookshot again. "Who wants to come the first trip?"] I'll go. I'll go... after her. <@Dreol> [Link nods and waits for Cass to grab on.] * Lex makes an unhappy face, but doesn't say anything. * Cassiopeia grabs onto Link. "Drop me and I'll haunt you forever." She will too! Beyond the end of time! Yeah, the girl's got moxie. * Micah glares at this sighing. "Why does this have to be so freaking complicated?" <@Dreol> [Link fires the hook shot down to the next platform where it sticks in one of the rocks on the side. Once he drops off Cass he fires back up at a rock by the top of the waterfall, and repeats the action until everyone is down on the next level.] * Cassiopeia searches the area around where they landed, slowly and carefully, as Link brings everyone over. <@Dreol> [The platform you are on is a further down, and as such you can see more clearly that at the bottom of the ramp is a pool of water from the spiral which then seems to empty into the mouth of a cave.] * Cassiopeia starts moving down once Link gets started, searching along the way. * Henry points down. "Bet that's the rest of the dungeon." Hookshot is so hip! * Micah groans a bit at Katsuo and sighs. "Rest of the... okay let's get this one with." * Kyler continues on as well, then, drawing level with Cass. * Lex also moves along. * Henry stops pointing and boogie.... er moves on down. * Katsuo journeys on! <@Dreol> [You all journey on for a while and carefully keep your balance. All except for Link, who slips on a rock about half way down. He goes sliding down past all of you yelling "AAAYYIIIIEEE" as he seems to surf down the river on his shield. After a few moments you hear a loud splash!] * Kyler turns his head and watches Link go sliiiiiiiiiidin' down until he goes out of sight, then snerks at the splash. "...so, I guess I should be concerned. But uh...that was really funny." * Lex yells down, "Link, are you all right?" * Henry looks over the edge and calls down. "Hey, are you okay?" * Cassiopeia looks up from searching the roots just in time to see Link disappear over the edge. "Aww hell." Hey Link! You okay?! <@Dreol> [Sploosh! You hear Link surface. "Uh-huh."] * Kyler clears his throat a couple times to stop the laughter from bubbling up. "Okay, good! We're, uh, comin' to get ya!" Yeah! * Henry starts making his way down the ramp. * Kyler does as well! * Micah frowns and starts moving down after Link. * Cassiopeia starts moving down, gripping the sides a bit more tightly. * Lex also moves down. Very, very carefully, because she has no desire to repeat Link's performance. Especially without the shield. * Katsuo starts his careful descent as well, to get Link out of the water. <@Dreol> [You all make it to the bottom of the ramp, where you see the stream empty into a large pond. Link is swimming in the middle and behind him is a large cave mouth where the water seems to become more shallow.] Well at least the kid can swim. * Kyler looks at Link, then turns to Cass. "Now, I'm not normally a gamblin' man, but I bet you have a rope?" * Henry picks his way around the pond to the cave entrance, thinks about this for a moment, and then draws his sword again. * Cassiopeia walks along the edge of the pond towards the cave mouth. "In my suitcase, I've got a 20-foot length. No room in my bag." Ah, shucks. * Lex sees the path with relief, and since Link seems to have things under control, walks around to Henry. * Kyler looks around this level to see if there are any other interesting features. <@Dreol> [Link swims towards the cave entrance and then up to the path on the side. "Heya, guys."] Glad to see you made it! Glad to see you didn't break anything. * Kyler leans down to help Link up if he wants it. <@Dreol> [Link takes Kyler's hand. "Thanks!" and he climbs up on the side.] You good to go on? <@Dreol> [Link nods. "Yeah."] * Cassiopeia hands Link a towel from her bag. <@Dreol> [Link takes the towel and dries off. "Thanks."] <@Dreol> [He heads towards the cave. The cave seems to go down an incline into complete darkness as far as you can see.] * Kyler digs out the good old flashlight again and flicks it on. "...man, I hope the batteries in this thing are fresh. I can't remember." Any one got a light? * Cassiopeia puts the towel back in her bag, and draws her scythe as they keep moving forward. "I've got spare batteries. Lots of spare batteries." Good. Aww man, dark dungeons suck... * Kyler flicks a sharp grin at Cass. "I love a girl who comes prepared." * Lex pulls out her crossbow and follows the rest. Is this the dark, since we had the light before? * Kyler lets Cass take point, as she's got a weapon and he needs two hands for his, and follows her, playing the light in front of her path. Never know when you'll come across something that needs seven 9- volt batteries and a spork to work. That's...pretty technically true. <@Dreol> [The cave brightens as the flashlight moves around. You all travel down into the cave and then you see light emerging from the far end of the cave.] Is this a tunnel then? * Micah walks through following folks. One way to find out. * Henry heads twards the light. <@Dreol> [As you get closer to the light, a room comes into view. It's a large moss-covered rock room. In the center of it appears to be a large moss-covered spider made of rock, but it seems to be dead and on its back. Behind it is a large doorway.] * Lex eyes the spider warily. "Who wants to go first?" I will then. * Lex sends a slight eyebrow-raise at Micah. * Henry eyes the giant dead spider and then looks around for what ever it is that'll make it come to life. * Kyler looks around for where the light is coming from. * Cassiopeia heads in as well. "So what killed the big giant rock spider thingee?" * Kyler flicks the light through the doorway. "Heads up, guys, someone's comin'." * Micah frowns. "Someone is coming." * Henry nods. <@Dreol> [After it's mentioned everyone can hear some footsteps coming from ahead of you, through the door. They actually, upon further inspection, appear to be moving away from you.] * Cassiopeia nods, and hefts her scythe. "Please be small and fragile, please be small and fragile..." It's moving away. We might not have to mess with it right now. * Henry whispers. "Somebody is going." * Lex readies her crossbow anyway. * Katsuo checks his gun. Apparently... <@Dreol> [Link looks around the room and then through the doorway. "We were supposed to kill this. This is like the other temples. You come and fight something big and then you get the gem."] But something killed it already...? ... Then whoever's up there's the guy that jacked the last treasure! <@Dreol> [Link nods and runs forward.] * Kyler fiddles with the flashlight awkwardly, realizing he can't hold sword and flashlight at the same time. "...hmmm. That would explain it..." Which means they got the gem. *starts after Link* * Micah runs, apparently right after link. * Lex starts moving way faster than usual after Link. * Henry goes after the people who started running while he was talking. <@Dreol> [You all run through the doorway and find yourself in a long hallway. The footsteps are ahead of you and you are getting closer. You hurry through the hallway and end up in a large room. In the center is a pillar. To the left of the pillar you see a person in a black hooded-cloak. He is wrapped in black cloth all over his body and a sword is hanging from his side. He looks at you and his face is shrouded in shadow. In his hand is a white gemstone.] * Micah will just charge straight for him to tackle him. That's it! Dogpile him! * Lex swears under her breath and brings up her crossbow. "Link, do you know that guy?" Hey! Sto- Ack. * Henry remembers he's got magic and uses it. <@Dreol> [The hooded figure moves out of the way and Micah goes flying forward and slides across the floor. Link turns to Lex and shakes his head.] * Henry points at the figure and a small translucent skull flies out from his finger tip and stop at cloaked guy's face... where it laughs at him and then floats over his head. <@Dreol> [The hooded figure tries to fight the fear but he seems to shake involuntarily, the gem in his hand shakes too. He draws his sword in the other hand and rushes at Henry, making a swing at him.] * Henry ducks out of the way and his eyes widen as he scampers back. "Oh shit, that's the Ragnarok!" <@Dreol> [The hooded dude's face turns towards Henry after he misses.] Ragnarok?! Suck-a-cock or not, he's getting pounded. Henry, intelligence control! That doesn't sound promising! * Kyler tosses his flashlight to his left hand, since it's not facing the bad guy, and he tosses out his right fist at the baddie, opening it to shoot out a ray of blinding white light at the dude's face. <@Dreol> [The hooded figure stumbles back and shakes his head. The gem slips out of his hand and falls on the ground.] * Cassiopeia releases one hand from the grip of her scythe, and launches a small flurry of icicles at the guy. "You hoodlum! The cloak's about to strike midnight for you!" <@Dreol> [He seems confused and enraged at the direction of the insult and then as he heads towards Cass, the icicles hit him in the chest and he stumbles back.] * Katsuo runs forward, his gun in one hand. He reaches down with his left hand and scoops up the gem while running by and motions with his left hand, a brief gush of air swirling around him as he jumps *extremely* high into the air, and momentarily clings to the side of the pillars as he bounces upwards on them, hiding the gem in his suit pocket. * Henry whacks the figure with his stick. "It's over... man that sounded less lame in my head." <@Dreol> [The hooded figure turns to face Henry and shakes his head. A deep dark-sounding voice is heard from him. His breath seems slightly raspy. "You don't know what you're getting into."] <@Dreol> [The figure continues. "But fine, take the gem. It's not necessary that I have it now."] Wha! You broke all my save files! The heck you talkin' about? And who the heck are you, anyhow? * Lex doesn't shoot yet, but she doesn't lower the crossbow either. <@Dreol> [The figure floats into the air and looks to Kyler. "Xelion, Destroyer of Worlds." With that he raises his right hand and it's now obvious that on his right hand is a black metal gauntlet with a dark blue gem in the center of the back of his hand. From the gem swirls out streams of shadow which engulf Xelion and then he disappears.] ... hate it when they do that. ...so THAT'S what his name was. ... * Kyler pauses a beat. "SHIT." What kinda name is Xelion? I've heard weirder names in games. <@Dreol> [Link happily digs out his lute. "Let's hurry!" He begins to play the song he did the first time you met him, and soon the area around you is gone and replaced with the Hero shrine.] * Kyler sighs. "Well, at least he know..."-his eyes pass over Link during the almost imperceptible pause-"...what he looks like now." * Kyler blinks. * Lex lowers the crossbow now, looking frustrated. "Yeah, I'm glad for that at least. So now what?" <@Dreol> [Link moves over to Katsuo. "Can I have the gem?"] * Kyler shrugs. "Next videogameland, I guess?" * Katsuo digs the gem out. "Yes. Job well done, hero." He hands it off to Link and bows politely. Yeah. He looks like a guy with a shadowy face, covered in a black hooded cloak. * Lex looks at the thing on her wrist, then says to Kyler, "I don't think we have the right object yet. Or the right event." Wasn't there supposed to be some sorta reaction if we got the thing? He probably just got to the next dungeon. * Kyler discreetly unglances at Link again. "Sure." * Kyler sighs at Lex. "Oh, right. Dang." * Katsuo hmms. * Micah is just clenching his fists glaring angrily at the spot the guy used to be. <@Dreol> [Link heads over to the statue and places the gem in the slot that is missing a gem. Once it is placed, the statue moves back, and a loud grinding noise is heard as it scrapes across the ground. Below it is a staircase leading down. Link rushes down the stairs.] * Henry follows him. * Kyler shakes his head and follows as well. * Lex blinks a bit, then follows too. * Katsuo dusts off his suit and walks down. * Cassiopeia heads down. * Micah is just still staring at that spot fists curled tightly. <@Dreol> [In the area below you find a small treasury. On the wall is a shield with a mirror surface and a silver bow with a quiver that appears to be filled with arrows made of light. The light from the arrows reflects off the shield. On a table there is a set of clothes that looks like Link's except beneath it is a shining set of chain mail. Most noticeably, in the center of the room is a sword floating above a pedestal, that has a blue handle and the symbol of the tri- force engraved in it.] * Lex looks at all the obviously important stuff in the room, then at her wrist again. ...pretty. <@Dreol> [Link goes around and starts to grab stuff, leaving his old stuff behind as he does. "After this..." He says as he pulls on the new armor. "we can go save the princess!"] The master sword, and the magic shield and, and... man it's easier when it's all in one place. <@Dreol> [Once Link is decked out he nods to you all and sheathes his new sword. "Okay! Ready to go?"] Let's go! ...sure, why not. Yeah, to the desert! Master sword, Mirror Shield, and Arrows of Light. Of course! It's gotta be easier going back up that steep, precarious spiral than down it, ri- aww fuck. * Micah sighs and snarls punching his hand against the wall hard. "FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK THAT HURT" echoes down into the hidden chamber. ...uh, Cass? I th-- * Kyler looks up. "...okaaay...I'm gonna go up and see if Micah's doin' all right." * Lex looks up, then shakes her head ever so slightly and looks back at Link. "Are you going to play us back to the ice island so we can get the boat, or are we gonna get another boat?" * Kyler does so! "You okay, dude?" * Katsuo winces. Wha? Dude? <@Dreol> [Link shrugs and the Lute speaks. "The boat is waiting at the dock. I moved it too."] On we go, then, I guess. ... oh. Right. Magic lute. Never mind! <@Dreol> [Session End]