The Slaver

[Asa]

Asa wandered around the town, examining the buildings, some tall, others short. He pulled out the deeds for his house. 32 Vereno street. Asa walked round the corner and found his house. "So this is my house," He said to himself. It was a medium sized house, but inside it was quite luxurious. There were silk carpets on the floor and intricate designs on the ceiling, and he noticed that across the road was a pub. He smiled to himself. It was called the Hadrogyn Hope, and looked rather friendly. He'd go there tonight.
Asa had been exploring the rest of the day, and now the last rays of sun shimmered on the horizon. He headed for the Hadrogyn Hope. When he arrived he could hear the sound of merry voices and music coming from within. He stepped inside and found himself a table. Asa was sat by himself and looked around. I wonder if I'm the only new one here? he thought to himself

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica followed at a respectful distance from the one in front of him, doing his best to remain hidden.
Could it really be him? He thought to himself, drawing the dark blue cloak tighter around him. When the one he followed entered the pub, he wasn't far behind. He seated himself in a far corner, away from the main crowd, and ordered a drink from the barmaid who appeared almost immediately. It was brought rather quickly, to his pleasure.

All the while this was happening, he watched the person with a hawklike eye, even pulling his hood back to get a better look, not really caring if he was noticed. At least if whomever this was looked his way, he could tell for sure. He brushed shaggy black hair from his eyes, uncertain. The person certainly did look like his brother. Then again, the last time he'd seen his brother was ten years ago. Still, something about him seemed...farmilliar. Vedsica shook his head, convincing himself that he was wrong, but didn't stop from staring.

[Asa]

Asa sat there and drank a beer from a large wooden mug. He noticed someone sitting in the corner, alone. He had a blue cloak wrapped around him and seemed to be watching him. Asa felt a little uneasy, so he stood and moved to the back of the tavern where he couldn't see him. He sat at a dark, empty table in the corner. "Greetings" said a gruff voice. Asa noticed that there was someone on his table, and it startled him to hear the voice seemingly out of nowhere. "Hello, um, Mr...?" Asa replied.
"Call me Grolt," The man replied, "And who are you?"
"Me? I'm Asa. I'm new around here,"
"Thought I didn't recognize you, first time in the pub?"
"Yes,"
"Good service here, don't you think?"
"Yes," Asa paused, "What's with all the questions?"
"Oh, nothing. Just wondering what sort of person you are," Grolt replied.
"Why?"
"I think I might have a job for you,"
"What sort of job?" Asa asked suspiciously.
"A certain...service. We have word of someone here...someone who's being looked for. What are you're thoughts on it so far?"
"Um...I'm kind of interested...but it depends on who this person is,"
"This persons run away from his Father, and his Father wants him. I think you might be right for the job," Grolt informed him, "What d'ya think?"
"Payment. What's in it for me?" Asa asked. He was still suspicious, but if the prices were high...
"This, sir, is in it for you," Grolt took out a large green gemstone, polished and cut. It was the size of two adult fists put together. Asa's jaw dropped. "Freshly cut and polished from Infrak Island, worth 10,000 gold pieces. A rarity. This, my friend, is in it for you,"
"I-I-I'll see what I can do. What does he look like?"
Grolt filled him in on his appearance.

((Please could you add a physical appearance to your character bio, i forgot to put it on. I forgot gender too, and age. I'll add it onto the model character form.))

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica watched him a moment longer until the stranger moved away from him, back into a corner where he was not visible. He contemplated following him, but thought better of it.
"Besides, my brother is dead," He muttered to himself. He had no proof of that, but it was much easier to assume that than think about him being back at home.

He downed his second mug and stood, sighing, cringing when his chair scraped loudly against the foor. The harsh sound, though, seemed to be lost in the din of the babbling crowd. He again put his cloak hood up and silently made his way to the door. He hesitated, his eyes once again finding the one who looked so much like his sibling. There was someone talking to him, and holding a very large gemstone. Something about the way he dressed, the way he kept looking around made him uneasy. He watched a moment longer before slipping out the door.

Outside, the air was cooler and smalled of salt. A nice change, he thought. Casting a glance back at the pub every few moments, he walked down the street, sighing. Perhaps here he could look for work, maybe start another life, a different one than the one he grew up with. He stood off to the side of the walkway, inspecting a map he'd bought with the very last few coins he had, studying the road layout and the buildings in the large city.

((Yep! No problem))

[Asa]

Asa opened the door and stepped into the salty ocean air, thinking about his conversation in the pub. The description had been vague, since he was last seen as a child. Still, he knew what sort of clues gave him away, such as scars. Asa noticed someone that he had seen in the pub. He was still wearing a dark blue cloak. Something about him was odd. He rushed towards him, thinking of an excuse to be talking to him when he noticed he was holding a map, "Hey, I see you've got a map there. I'm looking for Port Road," (A name Asa remembered from landing here in his boat) "Mind if I use it?" Asa got a glance at his face. It kind of fit the description that Grolt gave him...a scar...but it was best not to jump to conclusions. He waited for the man (teenager?) to reply.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica glanced up from the map he had been studying, letting his hood fall back to get a look at who it was. It was the one from the Pub he'd been watching. Now, up close, he was certain one hundred percent that this was not who he'd first thought it was, but nodded anyways.

"Sure, here," He replied, handing over the map. "You can keep it if you want. I know where I'm going." Port Road...He'd seen it on the map.
"I think the road you're looking for is by the docks," He added. He thought back to the other man in the pub, with the large, probably valuable gemstone, then to whoever this was running after him. A rock of unease settled in his stomach, but he showed no outward signs of it. He thought of something to say, maybe get some background on this person, but thought better of it.

"Listen, I'm in kind of a hurry," He said. "I've really got to go. You can keep the map, I don't need it anymore," He said, looking at the position of the sun as though to judge the time. He gave a polite nod before turning away, slipping ino a nearby alley.
After a moment, he sat sown with a sigh, rummaging in his pack for something to eat as he thought about where to spend the night.

[Asa]

"Hey, thanks," Said Asa as he pretended to study the map, "So, where you from? I'm new here. My parents funded most of the stuff to send me here, including a big house and a big boat, including crewmen to help me sail in it," He raised his eyebrow at Vedisca, "Have you got anywhere to stay?" The slavers offer was still in his mind, but since he wasn't 100% sure this was him, and he wasn't sure whether he should do the job anyway...well, at the moment he had mostly the welfare of this person in mind. He wanted to make as many friends and allies here as possible.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica sorted his thoughts carefully.
"I'm from Infrak Island," He said truthfully, watching for a reaction. "I left recently. I didn't quite like the island." That was a lie, and he carefully guarded his tone as to not give anyhting away. "So, yeah, I'm pretty new here. You're lucky, though, to have been sent off with so much. When I ra...Left, I had nothing but the clothes on my back and the few coins in my pocket."
He mentally slapped himself. Guard your words, idiot! He thought to himself angirly, though he remained outwardly calm.

"So no, I really don't have anywhere to stay." He laughed at himself before asking, "I don't suppose you have an extra room? I can work to pay off whatever you'd charge me." He still wasn't sure about this person, but sleeping off the streets would be a nice change. "It'd only be until I can find myself a job, of course. I wouldn't be in your way for long."

[Asa]

Asa smiled, "Sure, you're welcome to stay. To be honest, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all the spare rooms. If you don't have much food, I'm willing to share some of mine with you," Asa folded the map and pocketed it, "Come on, my house is just across the road," He started walking when he remembered that this person had been looking at him in the pub. "So, I couldn't help but notice that you were looking at me in the pub. Why? That's why I moved away, because you were making me feel uneasy," Asa asked curiously, as if he didn't have anything to hide either, as he unlocked the door to his house and stepped inside.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica followed him inside. He'd been right, the house was massive. Biger than any he'd ever been inside.

"I thought you were someone I knew. You look a lot like my brother," He answered. "I couldn't be sure, though. I haven't seen him since I was a little kid, so I was trying to decide if you could be him or not. Sorry if I creeped you out."

Then, as though an afterthought, he asked, "Are you a jewler? That man talking to you had a pretty nice looking gemstone. I've heard jewlers are becoming more common here."

He looked around the huge room as calmly as though he really was only intrested in his occupation. "And I never caght your name." He was more than a little wary about giving out his name, to anyone, but also hated lying to people. "I'm Vedsica." He stuck out his hand to offer a handshake.

[Asa]

"My name's Asa" He said, shaking his hand. In the few seconds that he was shaking his hand, his mind was racing through what he should say about Grolt. Should he lie? Say he was a jeweller? Tell him the truth? Everything was moving too fast. "Yeah, he was a jeweller," He said, the simplest answer, "He'd seen me coming off my ship and into my house. He thought I might be able to afford it. Now, that stone was a beauty! Very rare. You said you were from Infrak Island? I'm sure you know a lot about gems. He said it was worth 10,000 gold pieces. What did you think?" It seemed a suitible lie. It made sense. "Anyway," He said, changing the subject, "I'll show you round the house," He took him round the first floor, showing him the kitchen, the living room and the dining room. When Asa showed him the second floor, he showed him where he'd be staying. He decided to give him the second best room that had a large soft bed, the same as in his own room. The only noticable difference was that the room was a little smaller. When he concluded his 'tour' he asked, "Any questions? Would you like anything to eat? Just say and I'll get you some,".

[wolfenchantress]

He smiled in spite of himself.
"I would have said the same thing were I in his place," He said. "You do look the kind to afford something like that. 10,000 does sound about right." He had no idea if that was the right amount. He'd never even set foot in a jewler's shop. "It was a rare piece, I'd agree with that. I'm kind of surprised he was just walking around with it, waving it at strangers." He didn't know whether or not to believe Asa's story, but at present had no proof of otherwise.

As they went on the tour and was shown his room, he stared, wide-eyed. It was better than any room he'd slept in before, that was for sure. "Thank you," He said gratefully. "I think I'm okay on food, but something to drink would be welcome." He vaugely wished he was back at the pub, though he'd no idea what the laws on drinking were here. He looked older than he was, and was rarely questioned about his age. "Water will be fine. I thank you again for your hospitality." Dispite his unease, he was glad he'd get to sleep indoors.

[Asa]

"Water it is then," Said Asa as he clapped his hands and ran downstairs to fetch his guest some water. He entered the kitchen and poured a large mug of water from the water filteration barrel and started to head upstairs, when he noticed a crack in the wall. Setting the mug aside, he went to inspect it. He didn't expect there to be any damage on the building. He knew it was old, but it had been re-done. He ran his fingers along the crack. it had a short bit going vertical and a longer bit going horizontal (¬). What an odd shape he thought. Dissmissing it, he kicked it and walked off, then stopped. He could hear a grinding noise, and when he turned around he saw that the a small yet crawl-able square had opened in the wall. Asa rushed towards the hole and looked in. It went forwards a few feet before it dropped, a ladder leading the way down. He pushed the side of the hole so it closed and went to pick up the glass of water and bring it up to Vedisca. "Sorry I took a while, had a little trouble with the filteration barrel," Asa said when he reached his room and handed him the mug. "I've got something to show you," He said to Vedisca and lead him downstairs. Asa kicked the wall and watched it open. "There's a ladder that takes you down a tunnel," He informed him, "After you,"

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica nodded as Asa disappeared, then looked around the room, impressed. It was an exquisit room, at least by his standards. He slowly walked around, running his hands along everything in appriciation.

When Asa returned, he gratefully took the mug and darnk the water, sighing once it was gone.
"Thank you. I didn't really realize just how thirsty I was."
Then Asa lead him out, he followed obediently, setting the mug on a nearby table. He was lead downstairs and to a hole in the wall that went in a few feet, then down.

"After me?" He said uncertainly, but he nodded and peered down the tunnel. Sighing, he grabbed the rungs and decended into the tunnel. This better not be a trap, He thought to himself.

When his foot touched solid ground, he turned hesitantly. It was incredibly dim, and for the hundreth time he wished he could see with both eyes.
"It's dark," He called up, hearing his voice echo. It was a bit cold too. "If you got anything that would make light, that would be helpful." He'd no idea what this tunnel was, or where it lead to, but didn't want to find out in the dark.

[Asa]

"Right, a torch," Asa said hurriedly as he went to fetch a flaming torch. He returned and crawled into the hole and slid down the ladder with the torch in one hand. He hit the bottom and held the torch out in front of him. He was in a man-made room, quite large, the walls a sandy-orange colour. Asa took a step forewards, to find that the floor was covered in a green, slimy moss. Lifting his foot up, he examined his shoe. Goo slopped off the edge. Asa wiped a finger through the substance and sniffed. "It's sweet," He said, "Or at least it smells it,". He continued forward through the slush until he reached the far wall. On it was a strange carving, like a rune. He ran his fingers along the lines cut into the stone, and to his suprise it lit up as his finger touched it. He finished running his fingers across the line, so it was all glowing. A few seconds passed. Nothing. Suddenly, there was a squelching sound coming from behind him. Asa spun round to see a figure growing from the slime. It was round, with what seemed like a hole for a mouth in the centre. With a gurgling sound, it sprayed a mass of goo and moss from it's mouth at Asa. It doused the torch, but the glowing rune provided just enough light. Asa was knocked to the floor, spitting out the substance. "Help!" He cried, "Find a way to kill it, quick!"

[wolfenchantress]

The light of the torch was welcome, and he soon saw what the room looked like. Orange-ish walls, slimy floor. The rune on the back wall lit up as Asa traced it.

He spun around when he heard the...thing...coming up from the floor. It sprayed Asa with some gross substance from his mouth. Vedsica cursed under his breath, drawing his sword in one hand and his dagger in the other. Lunging forewords, he speared the thing where he figured a stomach would be, then flipped behind it, dragging the blade of the dagger across it's throat. It froze, a wierd ooz coming from the wounds. Vedsica backed up a few steps, watching, waiting.

"Is...Is it dead?" He whispered. The figure stood motionless. If it was dead, it would surely fall...Right? "I don't think it is..." As if to punctuate his sentence, whatever it was let out a low bellow, craning it's neck to find the attacker. It moved slower, more sluggish than it had before.

"Asa, you got a sword on you? A weapon of any sort? Go for the Rune in the back with anything you got-it brought this thing up from the muck, maybe it can send it back..." He'd no idea if it would work, but obviously with only a sword and dagger this thing would take far too long to kill. It could take both of them down far before that. The thing oened it's mouth again, spraying his direction with whatever it was spewing from his mouth, and he dodged to the side, hoping they could kill it soon enough.

[Asa]

Asa sat up and spat some of the liquid out of his mouth. It smelt sweet, but it certainly didn't taste it! "Yes, I've got the Rising Sun with me," Asa replied. Suddenly, the creature grew out a long, slimy tendril and sent it flying towards him. Reacting swilftly, Asa sliced the end of it off, but the monster simply dunked it's tentacle in the slime and the end grew back. He did a forward roll towards the rune. When he looked carefully at it he realised that it resembled the room. There was a box, the room, a circle in the middle, possibly the slime, a passage at the bottom and at the top, a small box, maybe the rune, and from the rune came a long line, hitting the slime. SLAM! A tentacle smahed into the wall beside him. Another one wrapped itself around his waist and pulled him away. In a panicked rush, he tried to grab the carved lines of the rune. When he hit the middle, it gave way and pushed in. Asa was dragged towards the slime and was shook around. Without warning, there was a blast from the centre of the carving, burning the monster. It burbled and groaned, it's tentacles losing life and disintegrating. When Asa slumped down onto the soft, wet floor he noticed the rune had slid away into the wall. Then, he turned his attention to the ooze. It was slowly sliding back into the floor, but it appeared to still be alive. A hole had been burned through and a glowing heart was visible. Asa tried to sit up but one remaining tentacle tiredly slapped him back down onto the floor. "Get the heart!" He called out.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica halted as the thing began to melt down, though it was obviously not dead. He jumped for it and slipped in the slime, being held down by one of the tentacles. He twisted and turned, inching forewords, dagger in hand. The glowing heart pulsated, seeming to gather strength.

With a savage cry, he tore free of the slop, running the last few steps to the heart. Raising his arm as high as he could, he plunged the blade into the shining centre of the goo.

Immediately he felt like he was on fire. Pain raed through his blood, seeping into his bones. He felt the dagger being pushed out, and held it with his other hand, forcing it in to the hilt. He felt his hands growing hotter, until they left like they were burning, and he screamed, though he never released the dagger. The fire grew more and more intense inside of him, to the point where he nearly passed out and stars flickered in his vision.

Then it was gone, and the heart's glow grew less and less, until it wasn't glowing any longer. His body felt only a light tingling, except for his hands, which were slightly reddened. He pulled back his dagger, which was covered in the dark gook, and shakily scrambled back from the center of the room.

"Asa, are you okay?" He asked, a slight tremor in his voice. He kept his eyes glued to the spot where the heart was. Maybe it was still alive. "Do you think it's dead?"

[Asa]

Asa watched as Vedisca stabbed the blob in it's heart, as he seemed to be in immense pain. "I'm fine, just a little sore...and slimy," Asa replied, "But where's the light coming from? I haven't got my torch. I think it's coming from the next room," He walked up to the doorway and looked in. There was a shaft of purple light shining down from a hole in the ceiling, illuminating the cavern. Intrigued, he stepped into the room.

There was solid, stone ground, which pleased him. He'd had enough of slime. The room was slightly smaller than the last, with an empty podium in the middle that was lit by the purple light. Asa walked slowly towards the middle, when his foot stepped on a loose stone that pressed into the ground. A pressure pad. Asa cringed, and awaited an arrow to fire through him or spikes to shoot up around his feet, but, to his surprise, nothing happened. Then, the purple light grew brighter and began to turn blue. Lowering from the hole in the roof came a dagger, a scrap of paper tied around the handle. Wen it landed on the podium, it somehow stood up. "Vedisca, get over here. I'm not sure if I should pick it up. It could be a trap. But, I think I will pick it up. You might want to stand back," He told his companion. Hesitantly, Asa crept forwards. When he reached the dagger, he slowly reached out. Then, he quickly snatched it away and did a forward roll out of the room. Asa sighed a sigh of relief and opened the message. It read:
Darkness I slay, Light I fight,
I am nor a friend, nor a foe,
I am the neutral, the grey,
But I dispose of the enemy,
The enemy of the one who faces the Demon Trolg
"What does that mean," Asa thought aloud. Then there was a rumble. It lasted for a few seconds before stopping. Asa looked across the room. There was a doorway, possibly to the demon. "Well," Asa asked, "Want to carry on?"

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica nodded and stood. He un-pinned his cloak and deposited it next to the ladder leading up- during another fight, it would allow more freedom of movement. He then entered the other room that had opened up.

Asa snatched up the dagger and jumped away, both of them expecting something horrible to happen, but nothing did. He listened to what was inscribed on the paper with interest, focused on the doorway that had opened up across the room from them.

"Do I want to carry on?" He said. "Into an unknown room that could house a demon, which could be capable of killing us both?" He grinned and drew his blade, walking to the opposite doorway. "Of course. Bring it on."

[Asa]

Asa smiled at Vedisca's reply. He liked his enthusiasm. "Come on then, let's go," Said Asa and he headed off through the door. It went into a long corridor filled with green light that seemed to come from nowhere. This corridor, however, wasn't man-made. It was a natural cave with stalagmites coming down from the ceiling. "Step cautiously," Asa warned Vedisca, "There might be traps," The first few metres went without event, but all of a sudden, there was a click and an arrow sped through the air, heading straight down the tunnel towards Asa. With quick speed, he fell to the ground and kicked into the air, knocking the arrow off course. "That was close," Asa gasped. Now he stepped even more cautiously, fully aware that there definitely are traps.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica followed Asa cautiously, becoming even more alert when he was almost skewered with a trap arrow. He held his sword at ready in front of him, his good eye keenly aware of everything around him. The natural cave was long, and he wondered if the house built atop it was built because of this tunnel.

"Maybe that was the only trap..."He suggested, but even as he said it he felt the brick give way beneath his feet and instinctively dropped to the ground, waiting for the trap to spring. There was a creak, a short rumble, than nothing. Just as he rose, a heavy, iron-spiked log came swinging down from the ceiling, He dodged out of it's way, stopping it's deadly swing with his sword.

"Never mind. Spoke too soon." A few more times, pressure pads would release arrows or spring pit traps, and the like, but so far there had been no injuries.

"How long is this thing?" He muttered, rounding another bend. And, there, a ways in front of them, was an opening. It was dark as pitch, darker than the cave they walked in, and still pretty far away. "If we can make it there, the traps should stop," He said, poking another pressure pad on the floor with his sword. He'd learned that they were slightly raised. By shuffeling his feet, he could tell one before he stepped on it. Of course, that only eliminated one way of setting off the traps. There could be more.

[Asa]

((Sorry I've been off for a while))

Asa listened to Vedisca and continued cautiously. "We should be able to get their soon. As long as we survive the rest of the way," He added. He thought they would survive, but there might be deadlier traps ahead. *Click*. A pressure pad sprung and an arrow came hurtling toward him. Dodging it's path, he hit into the wall, activating another pad. An axe swung down from the ceiling, but luckily he was low down so it didn't slice his head in two. Instead it cut a gash in his left shoulder. Asa grimaced and grabbed his shoulder, stopping the worst of the blood from gushing out. He pulled out a bandage and wrapped it round his wound.

The rest of the journey passed without much event, apart from the occasional spike or arrow trap. When they reached the chamber, it was a huge natural cave, a high ceiling sporting a cluster of stalagmites. There was a small pond in the centre of the cavern that glistened and sparkled with a strange blue light. As he stepped forward in awe, he tripped over a rock in the floor. He fell to the floor with a thud. Above him, the natural spikes rumbled and threatened to fall, but luckily, none of them did. At least now he knew they were loose.

Gathering himself, he took a step toward the pond. He stopped at the edge and lowered himself onto his knees and looked in. What his eyes met with made him gasp, "I-I-It's full of...It's full of people!" Asa exclaimed. The shimmering lights were people, flowing gracefully through the water. Then he saw something that made his jaw drop. There in the water, he saw his grandma who had died when he was a child, drifting through the endless pool. "It's my grandma," Asa muttered, "The pond is full of souls!" Although the pool itself was relatively small, he could see thousands of people...souls...swimming through the black water. They all shared the same expression, that of a lost child, except worse, more desperate, more sad. "Where our we?" He asked aloud. As he stared in, a gold coin from his pocket rolled out into the pool. It floated down slowly and began to glow blue, like the souls that occupied it. The round coin began to disintegrate into a thin, wispy cloud when it exploded. Not a fiery, red one, but a shockwave, a force, knocking Asa off his feet and onto the ground. There was a loud rumble, and he realized with fear that the stalagmites were shaking violently. "RUN!" He screamed as he scrambled to his feet and looked hurriedly for an exit. There was a door to his left and the way he'd come behind him, but the spikes had already started falling over that way. That left the other door. Asa sprinted toward it non-stop until he reached it and dived inside. He landed hard on his back and stared into the room where he had just been. Through the gaps he could see the pond, with smoky wisps rising out of it. Without warning, they shot out horizontally, covering the door that he had come through. On the over side of the smokey door he could see the stalagmites disintegrating. He sighed and collapsed unconsious on the floor.

[wolfenchantress]

((No problem))

Vedsica cautiously crept along, concerned for Asa's shoulder, but he seemed to be handling okay. He sprung only a few more traps, and was hit by none of them, to his relief.

They reached the room, and Vedsica followed Asa to the glimmering pool, shocked by what he saw-the hundreds of souls that all had an expression like one he'd expect to see on a lost, beaten puppy. He looked over once Asa saw his grandmother, but his eyes shot back a few feet. He, also, saw someone he knew.

His younger brother. "NO!," He growled, and dropped to his knees reaching for his brother's soul. He trembled with rage; he'd been right abot his assumption. And, no doubt, it was his father's doing. He punched the ground once before he felt the explosion that jolted him backwards.

Scrambling up, he bolted after Asa, though a part of him wished to stay, to slip in the water and drift endlessly with his youngest sibling. The rattling stalgmites above pushed him faster towards the door, however, and he stumbled in right after Asa, startled when the door was blocked.

He looked around him. The place was pitch-dark, the only light coming from the room with the pond.
"Asa," He whispered, but he relized that his companion was unconcious.
There was a hissing sound, like steam, but different, and he scrambled over to the unconcious figure.
"Asa! Wake up!" He very lightly slapped his cheek. "We have to keep moving, or we could both die!" He wished he could just carry him to safety, if there was any, but his muscles felt like jelly.
"Please, Asa," He moaned, desperately hoping that he didn't have any serious head injuries or something.

[Asa]

Asa was running through a field. He was running from something, but he didn't know what. The sun was setting fast, faster than it should have been. He must have been heading west, because he was heading in the direction of the sun. Without warning, the sun turned black. Two red eyes glowed in the middle and stared at him evilly. Then, it spoke in a deep voice, "Come..." It said, "Come..." before dropping down to earth and exploding into a cloud of black, fiery smoke in front of him. All he could see were the eyes, staring at him through the thick mist. "Come..."

Asa snapped awake to the sound of his friend saying his name. He was sweating heavily, beads dropping down onto the cold, dry floor. "Vedisca, are you okay?" He asked, "I just had the strangest dream, or vision," He filled him in on the details, "Do you think the thing could have been Trolg? Anyway, we'd better get going. All we need is a light..." There was something about the voice that unsettled him...he seemed to recognize it but just couldn't place it. Ahead, he could see a small hole in the wall. He crept cautiously towards it. Inside was a bundle of twigs attached together, perfect for a torch. He drew his sword and carefully nudged it out. As he had expected, an arrow shot from the wall. Asa picked up the torch and went about lighting it. He didn't have anything to light it with so he put the tip in the crackling shield, and it lit the end of the torch with a curious blue light, "Come on, lets go,"

They walked down a Short corridor and came in a round room with a torch in the middle. A door lead out at the other end. The walls were covered with intricate patterns, and when Asa looked closely he could see that they depicted all sorts of vile creatures, some slain, others murdering countless humans. "Curious..." He wondered aloud. There was a dull thud, somewhere in the distance. "What was that?" Asa asked, not expecting an answer. There was another, louder. Then they became faster, louder. Thud, thud, thud thud THUD THUD THUDTHUDTHUDTHUDTHUD CRASH! A demonic creature came smashing through the wall on the right. It was a truly terrifying sight. It had red, leathery skin and a mouth shaped into four triangles that opened up to reveal the underside of them to be covered in sharp, bloody teeth. A purple tongue hung out of the middle. It had a pair of horns that curled inwards, it's arms covered in bulging muscles. It had three long, claw-like fingers that constantly twitched and feet with three toes, two forwards one back, and a hole in the bottom that housed a long, snake-like tentacle. It roared, then attacked.

The beast came charging towards Asa, claws outstretched. Asa swiftly drew his sword, stepped out of the way of the oncoming creature and sliced down it's side. It screeched, the sound ear-splitting. Asa winced and covered his ears, dropping his sword. The demon quickly recovered, and piled into Asa, knocking him onto the ground. It was on top of him, and Asa tried to hold it's hands back but it's long claws were writhing about, nicking his face, covering it with little cuts. With a heave, Asa shoved it's arms away and drew his small wakazashi dagger, plunged it into the beasts stomach and rolled it over so he was on top of it. He retrieved Dragon blade and swung it down onto the demons head, but before it made contact, Asa felt a stabbing sensation in his back. He looked down to see the tentacle from the creatures foot sticking out of his stomach. With a howl of delight, the demon sliced his face, leaving three red scratches across his face. Asa fell back onto the ground, bleeding heavily. The demon pounded on top of him and screeched into his face. It somehow transferred a message into Asa's brain that said No-one gets passed the defenders of Trolg. Your time ends now. With that, it stuck it's purple tongue out to his head and began feeling around inside his mouth for the best route to the brain.

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica didn't quite know what to make of the dream-vision Asa had when he wasn unconcious.
"I don't know," He admitted. "It could have been a vision of some sorts. I've never had one that I know of, so I don't think I could tell you even if it was."

He was about to add more as Asa lit their torch in the sheild when the demonic think exploded from the wall behind him. He whirled and stared, rather dumbfounded. It was huge, and obviously set on killing them both. It's horns were as lethal looking as it's dagger-sharp teeth, and the tentacle was probably a death sentence if you got too close without some kind of weapon. He sat rooted to the spot in terror for a few seconds, but that was all it took for the demon to take down Asa, stabbing him through the back.

"No, you dont!" He snarled, and launched himself onto it's back, plunging his dagger into it's head. It howled in pain, bucking and twisting to get him off. A twist of the dagger made him even more wild, and he was thrown off. A crack and an unbelievable amount of pain in his arm told him that his left arm was broken. He ignored it as he stumbled to his feet-as long as it wasn't his sword arm, he was fine.

"Asa!" He called from across the room. "Tie something around the wound! Try to stop the bleeding!" He knew that a wound like that could kill someone.

The raging thing narrowed slit-like eyes at him, growling and hissing. Vedsica swayed side to side, so it wouldnt know which direction he was going to go. Right as it took a first step forewards, Vedsica lunged, darting under it and seizing the tentacle in his good hand. It wrapped around his broken arm, and he felt bone grind on bone, but he stifled his pained cry and, with his dagger, hacked at the tentacle. The thing hit him, hard enough to send him flying into a wall. He coughd, trying to get his breath back, and noted with satisfaction the severed tentacle in his hand. It was still actie on the demon, but the size of itwas nearly cut in half. He struggled for air and rose to his feet, noticing with regret his dagger across the room. He drew his sword instead.

"Well, beastie? Come on, then. Kill me-if you can." He boasted the challenge with more confidence than he felt, but he forced a wicked grin onto his face and stood tall, ready to face the demon's next onslaught.

[Asa]

Asa groaned and began to bandage his wound. he hoped it wouldn't kill him. He picked up his sword and ran towards the demon that was standing in front of Vedisca. With a roar, he swung his sword in a wide arc, hacking into the demons back. It growled and turned around. It's mouth somehow seemed to smile and it made it's move towards Asa.

Asa stood his ground as the monster ran towards him. He held his sword out in front of him before the creature struck, impaling it on the blade. The demon gurgled and spat blood out of it's mouth. It swayed and lowered it's arms. It's eyes began to close...when they shot back open. It raised it's arms and stuck all six claws into Asa's stomach. He screamed in agony, and began thrashing wildly. Luckily, one of his swings hit the creatures arms, just below the claws. It bounced back off the bone but had left an ugly mark. Asa regained his senses and struck there again. The demon winced but held firm. When a lot of flesh was cleared, Asa threw his sword at the monsters face. It bounced off, but it distracted it. Asa grabbed the three bones that were in its arm and tugged. He felt something come to life inside him, giving him strength. With a mighty roar, he snapped the bones, tossed them away and set to work on the other hand. The demon screeched wildly at the loss of it's hand and kicked Asa away. He hit the ground hard and smacked his head on the stone floor. He went dizzy but could make out a red shape pouncing on top of him. Suddenly, the thing that had given him the strength to snap the monsters bones arose again. Asa shot an invisible blast at the demon, blasting a hole in it's stomach. It stood up and hissed before running off down the tunnel it had come from.

Far away, the demon reported to his master...
"Trolg, they were too strong...too powerful. One of them, the one in green, has discovered his potential. It won't be long before the other does too, and not long before they learn to harness it. I warned you about leading them down here...I told you that magic would pop up inside them, but you didn't listen..."

[wolfenchantress]

Vedsica watched as Asa disposed of the creature's hand, as he did dropping the still-writhing tentacle. He silently stalked up behind it as Asa fought with it, driving his blade into it's back. It didn't even flinch, but the tentacle that remained shot backwards and into his mouth, choking him. Trying to breathe, he fought against it, feeling the blood from the severed end ooze into his throat. Finally, he jerked it free, stumbling back a few steps.

As he did he jarred his arm, and enough pain exploded in his arm to make him nearly pass out, but he cleared his head in time to see the thing run back away, down the hall it had come from. Vedsica dropped to his knees and was immediately sick, his body rejecting the foul ceature's blood that he'd swallowed.

"Asa, are you allright?" He gasped, staggering to his feet. He walked over to him, as steadily as he could. "That wound. We should go back...Get it looked at. It'll kill you if you let it be." He noticed the jagged gash on his broken arm that bled freely, but ignored it. Asa's wounds were much worse than his own. Gently, keeping half of his attention on the door, he inspected the bloody wrapping around the puncture with his good arm.

"It does seem to be slowing down it's blood flow," He said, relief evident in his voice. With as much caution as he could, he took off the leather armor that he wore over his shirt, cringing a bit as he did.

"Wear this. It'll protect you from more harm, and probably most importantly, put pressure over that wound on both sides. It'll stop the bleeding, with any luck." The vest could be tightened as much as needed, and that would provide the pressure. And Asa couldn't suffer another wound like that. Then, it really would kill him. If anyone, better himself now than Asa.

After staring down the hallway a few seconds, he added, "Do you think that was Trolg?"

[Asa]

"Thanks" Asa gasped and put on the armour. It should stop him from dying, but it certainly hurt and he was still drowsy. "That wasn't Trolg. It talked to me, in my head. It called itself a defender of Trolg, said no-one gets past them. But we just have. Well, almost. But there's something strange down here, something that's affecting us. I think it's magic. Magic's almost disappeared, but places still remain. This is a place where magic can be used, and it's how I got the demon off me. You might find your magic too" Asa explained, "But what if we could harness our magic? Use it to heal ourselves?" He tried to call upon his powers, but nothing happened. Heal me he told it, Heal my wounds. Nothing. "Anyway, I think we should go back, get healed, get some sleep. Come back later. You can stay here if you want, but I wouldn't advise it. Come on," With that, he left the room by the way he came.

When he came to the cavern with the lake of souls, he noticed everything was back to normal. Even the stalagmites were back. Asa stepped inside and walked to the door leading back, but he found his legs carrying himself towards the lake. "Stop!" He shouted at his legs, but they wouldn't. When he got closer, his vision began to blur, and spirits started to float across his field of view. "GrrrRRAAAGH!!!" He screamed and pulled away, scared by what had just happened. He ran as quick as he could towards the exit, not looking back.

The way back past quickly, and the traps seemed to have disabled themselves. After he had passed through the room of sludge, he headed up the ladder and back into his house. He let out a loud sigh and closed the hole in the wall. He would go to a doctors tomorrow, right now he needed some sleep. He ran up the stairs and lay down in his bed, slept well and awoke fresh in the morning.

[wolfenchantress]

"Magic?" He asked. Ordinarily he woiuld have scorned it, but with what he'd just seen it wouldn't surprise him. "And it talked to you?" He shuddered. He wouldn't want that thing to talk to him.
"Well, either way, we can find out more later. We have to get out of here." He stood, steadying himself against the wave of dizziness that made him nausious, before following Asa out.

He felt the same tug towards the pool that Asa had, but he resisted it with all of his remaining energy and dashed after him to the entrance. He retrived his cloak and hung it over his shoulder.

Climbing the ladder proved to be a difficult task one-armed, but he managed to scramble out and into the kitchen, where he followed suit and retired to his bedroom.

Once there, he tore off his already shredded shirt and wiped what he could of the blood soaking his arm. The gash was deep, it woulld leave a scar. No matter, though-one more among dozens wouldn't make a difference. He tied it as a bandage around his arm and, once his head his the pillow, was out like a light.

**

In the morning, he woke mostly feeling fine, all except for his shoulder and his head, which throbbed painfully. He rose stiffly to his feet nd exited the room, hunting through the massive house for Asa. He shivered; dressed only in shorts, it was a bit cold. He was going to wear his cloak, but it had roven bloody and torn.

Finally, after giving up, he cautiously headed back into the kitchen and sat down, eying the hole in the floor and tracing one of the ridiculous amounts of scars on his left arm, mostly out of habit, right above the makeshift bandage. Before going back down there, they'd have to go to a doctor. He settled into the chair, waiting for Asa to make an appearance.