Back to the Future Options

[fistandantilus4....]

I read no maps Man-ling. Have you not noticed that I am a snake?

The snake pauses, as if he's appreciating his own joke.
I can only tell you the way if you know the Song. I do not think you know the Song. But perhaps.... perhaps I can help you find where you are going. Do you know how to Dream Man-ling?

[Callidus]

Dream? Of course I know how to dream.... hmmm actually I don't think he.... it.... means normal sleep dreaming.... ah well only one way to find out I guess.

Well I certainly dream while sleeping, but I assume you mean a different form of dreaming which is connected to the Dreamtime. If so then no, but will try my best if you could explain the process.

[fistandantilus4....]

Somehow the snake actually smiles. Michael has seen that smile before. His grandmother used to smile like that when he was a kid and said something foolish, that any grown up would know, but kdis weren't expected to.

I can't tell you how to Dream. We do not have enough time for that. But I can help you to.

At that, the snkae begins to undulate, rising slowly off the rock. A soft humming accompanies it, and soon Micahel realizes that the snake is singing. Like the eastern snake charmers, the snkae soo has michael in a sort of trance. Everything is still for a moment, then the Dream Time begins to change. The whole world changes.

Michael is standing next to Hood in what looks like a desrted camp. Dr Patrick and Dr Micahels are beside him. Standing across from them is a man talking... greating them it seems. He seems familiar, like a kindred, but different.He's holding a bloody knife. He is inviting them in.

They are in a cave. It is still deserted. Or rather, there are people there, but it seems empty , like walking in a void. There is no sound .

Hood kills Dr Michaels. For a moment Hood seems almost draconic, raging, tearing Dr Michaels apart. Someone is dead. There is red everywhere. Somewhere, someone is laughing. Someone is crying. It might be Holder crying. His hand hurts. Everything hurts all at once. Then everything is gone.

First, black and white. Then... Red and yellow... colors come in to being.

It's like being born again. Nothing makes sense. Everything is new and different and old and familiar all at once. No one makes sense. The world seems different.

There is a woman. An elf, with black hair and silver eyes. Her companion is a silver dragon. There is pain...

Shadows rise to consume everything. There is sorrow. Pain.

Betrayal.

[Callidus]

What the hell was that? A vision of the future? A false image to break up the group? What the hell do I do now? Why would Hood kill Dr.Michaels? Draconic?

Looking shaken and in fact shaking a bit as he addresses the snake again

Wa.... Was that the Dreaming? And what does it mean? A view of the future or just a fear? Why would we be betrayed? the last almost entirely to himself.

[fistandantilus4....]

It may be the future, it may be the past. To some here it is all the past, or all the future. It is impossible to say here. It is simply what is, what has been, or what may yet be coming. Your song turns dark and brooding here young Man-ling.

But that is all that I can tell you. You are returning to the Dreaming now. I will see you again.

I can tell you this though, before you go. Beware the shadows man-ling. Or they will consume you.

[Callidus]

Th.... Thank you, call on me if I can help you at some time.

This is gonna take a lot of thinking about.... The shadows? I'll become a 'runner? Or is it that 'runners are after me? Or something worse? Oh frak, I'm really starting to hate this place.... I just want my desk and apartment back!

[fistandantilus4....]

As Holder thinks more and more about it, the world aroundn him seems to lose it's shine. Everything begins to dull, including his senses. He has a sensation of falling.
It takes a moment to recognize the sensation, and then it dawns on him. It feels like returning to his body from astral projection. But how would one project without trying to? Especially someone properly trained....

His eyes open, he sees the tent above him. He's still inside his tent. Everything is normal... wait ...someone's crying .. a woman. Sobbing.... right next to his tent!

[Callidus]

Sitting up and pulling his shirt and a pair of shorts on, Michael heads out to find who was sobbing.

Well it has to be Dr. Patrick right? Right? Wonder if she had the same vision I did.... I hope not.... I hope it was better for her

Elza are you okay? and he moves over to give her a hug and makes soothing noises to calm her down.

[fistandantilus4....]

Micahel rushes out of his tent to find it night out side. Dr Patrick has opened all of the tents. Only she is awake apparently. There is no sign of the ally spirit.

Dr Patrick has drug Dr Floren part way outside of his tent. his head is in her lap as she sobs uncontrollably. Dr Floren isn't moving. He isn't breathing. He's Dead.

[Callidus]

Heading quickly to Dr. Floren and checking him over quickly to see if he can get his heart restarted.

What the hell happened to him, no obvious injuries.... Poison?

What happened? Did you see Elza?

[fistandantilus4....]

NO! NO .. I , I woke up beacuse of this horrible smell, and everyone else was gone! And I tried to wake you all, but no one would wake up... and when I got to John ... he ....he's dead! He's DEAD MICHAEL!

[Callidus]

Seeing nothing physically wrong Michael concentrates and his eyes slightly unfocus as the lights of the astral flooded into his vision.

No traces of an offensive spell hitting him.... No sight of his life though.... damn it why didn't the wards stop.... the wards are gone? And absolutely no trace of astral presence.... almost as though he was projecting and the cord was cut.... but he's an adept.... he couldn't project.... damn where's.... no Alexander either.... what the frak happened.... and what's that trace? A spirit power? I heard they could pull us into the astral and beyond but why?

Shifting back to the physical world and tears dripping from his eyes, all Michael could do is hug Dr. Patrick and try to console her.

I know.... oh god I know, I saw a similiar vision but not as bad, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect him, and.... and he's beyond magical healing....

I can't believe he's gone, why couldn't I stop this happening? he whispered to himself.

This post has been edited by Callidus: Mar 26 2007, 12:30 AM

[fistandantilus4....]

Dr Patrick moans, then convulses oncee, and falls limp in Michael's arms. She is unconcious. No one else has emerged from their tents.

[Callidus]

Seeing Dr.Patrick suddenly slump unconcious horrible thought flew through Michael's mind, but checking her pulse, breathing and a quick astral scan showed she was just unconcious.

Probably best for her for now.... what about the others

Carefully carrying Dr.Patrick to her tent and making her comfortable, he then head to check on the others. Looking into their tents and scanning them quickly in the astral to make sure they were okay.

Finished with that he went to stand watch in the middle of the camp and scanned the astral to check for any spirits that might be preying on them.

[fistandantilus4....]

Seeing no spirits present , for once, as there always seems to be small spirits around in the Outback ,Michael calms slightly. Then feels himself start to slump. Dizziness over takes him. He grunts, coughs noce, and drops to the ground unnconcious.

[SinN]

Hood stumbles out of his tent, looking around cautiously. He is aware something is wrong.

Micheal! Floren! Patrick! Where the frag are they?\

It takes a moment, but soon he relizes that Alexander is also gone.

Alex?! Where are you?

[fistandantilus4....]

Hood spots the limp forms of the doctors on the ground, apparently uncpncious. There is a strange smell in the air.

Master! I can hear you, but I can't reach you. I've been forced into the Dream time.

[fistandantilus4....]

GM note: INcluded for context. the following is Hood's Dream Time experience. It was done via PM, so it is in reverse sequntial order.

[ Spoiler ]

Hood aproaches the body of Floren.
Damn it....what happened to him?
Hood pulled him back into his tent and layed him confortably on his bed.
Dont know why Im trying to make him comfortable, hes already dead....must be why. Respect and all...
Hood, kneeling over the body of Dr. Floren, read him his last rights, to aid him in his peace, and out of a great deal of respect.
After finishing up, Hood walks around the camp, putting people into their tents. After this, Hood casts the awaken spell on Micheal, and Dr. Micheal. He figured it was best to keep Patrick asleep, shes been through alot.
------------------
Dr Michaels is inside the tent. Thankfully he's only unconcious like the others. Besides everyone passed out, everything is normal in the camp. Nothing disturbed. It doesn't look like Michael even had time to get up and wandered around like Holder.

Bedlam winks out, going in search of Alexander.
-----------------------
Dead! How?

Hood runs to Florens body slumped over by Dr. Patrick. he checks a pulse.
Yes...He is dead indeed.
He quickly checks Dr. Patrick, to make sure shes alive, then Micheal. After checking both of them, he runs to Dr. Micheals tent.
---------------------
By concentrating on his body, Hood is indeed able to open an astral gateway. opening right above his body. The wards on the tent are gone.
Merging his astral form with his physical body, Hood awakens. It's night, the air is cool. There is a strange smell in the air.

Dr Holder is unconcious near the fire. Dr Patrick, with Dr Floren's head in her lap, is also unconcious in front of the french doctor's tent. Dr Michaels is not around, although his tent is still closed. There are no signs of disturbance in the camp.

Bedlam appears on the physical plane and pats Hood on the shoulder.I will go and find Alexander for you. You take care of your companions. It's a good thing you know Australia well enough. Otherwise who knows where you would have ended up.

The Altyerre has a strong crashing effect. most users fall unconcious after about an hour. If that's what they had, they'll all be out for a bit. God only knows where they've been or what they've seen.

Bedlam starts to leave, and then stops as she glances over at Patrick and Floren. She points at the pair.
Hood .. that man is dead.
--------------------------------
I apoligise Bedlum. I didnt mean to be rude. I dont remember taking anything. Especially a plant or weeds. The only thing I can remember eating are those tiresome protein bars and rations.

Hoods gets back to camp.
---------------
Now Bedlam manages to look annoyed. her aura flares as well. Not pleasant.

I wasn't asking you if you'd smoke anything in jest... I asked because there's a plant in the Outback that works like Deepweed. It can project you in to the meta planes!

It's a weed called Altyerre. It gives you the ability to create an astral gateway, like spirits like me to. but if you're asleep, you're probably going to do it subconsoiusly. And if you do it in Australia, well you're going to end up in the DreamTime.

Try concentrating on your body instead of just going back to it. If you did have Altyerre, you should be able to create a gateway right to it.
-----------------------
No Bedlum, I didnt smoke anything...I probably drifted into while I slept. This is the outback. Has Eric told you whats going on, or have we pretty much figured it out by ourselves?
Hood waits a moment for an awnser. Then looks around.
Wait. Lets go back to my camp, Ill show you the scientist's. They all seem to be unconcious. Maybe there was a struggle or something, Dr. Floren was half way out of his tent, and Micheal was near the camp fire. If I wasnt mistaken. They appeared to be astrally perceiving. But considering one of them is an adept, and not a mage, it doesnt seem possible. Come, and see if you can make sense of this. Hood, now flying back to camp, thinks to himself.
If thats what she looks like here, I wonder what Alex looks like.....or Greiver? Hood shutters And beng so cheery? I know Bedlum is kind and gentle, shes the good half of Eric, but even this is weird, maybe all this is just getting to my head..
-----------------------
It takes only a moment, and Bedlam is there. Hood had forgotten jsut how impressive Bedlam was in pure astral form. Nothing like a massive Force 20 Ally spirit on your side to cheer you up.

Heya Hood. Lost? She sounds much too cheery.
Looks like your a little border line between the Metalane of the DreamTime and the astral. Can't get back to your body then I'd bet. You smoke anything?
--------------------------
Master? Master!
A feeling of slight relief washes over hood

Master! I dont know whats happening. This is...unfamialiar. I am in the lair of Bloodmoss, but your wards are here, and they're keeping me out!
Im not sure im on the Physical Plane anymore. Alexander has also been forced from my side. Is this familair to you?
------------------------
The link to Bahamut opens much stronger than usual, as it's a purely mystical link, and Hood is currently pure energy.

Gaelic? .... Where are you? Tell me what's happening. Why are you coming through so forcefully?
-----------------
Stops at the wards
What the hell? Why are these wards stopping me? Master! Bloodmoss! Are either of you here? Let me in! Theres something I need to ask you!
------------------------------
Naturally, the lair is heavily warded, even against Hood. The aura of the warding is familiar however: Bahamut. In the Dreamtime, Hood cannot pass the ward, as he's pure astral form.
-------------------
Bloodmoss! She can help me!
Moving more quickly into the lair, searching for any sign of his former master.
-------------------------------
The temple is vibrant with energy. The signature is quite clear, as is the aspecting. The signature belonged to the Rainbow Serpent ... Bloodmoss. Hood is above the lair.
--------------------------
What in the fu-!

Hood begins to panick and slowly calms himself.

Alright Hood. What have you gotten yourself into?.

Wait....am in drake form? When did this happen? What the hell is going on?

Walk towards the temple, slowly, and cautiously...

-------------------
Hood looks around, not really sure when he woke up. Instead of his tent however, he sees ruins all around. A massive tiered temple is to his left, and a number of snake-decorated buldings surround it. The primary temple seems to ahve a moat made completely of snakes.

After a moment of shock, Hood also realizes that he has shed his human form.

[fistandantilus4....]

Holder was the first to wake up. The sand was thankfully cool. One could only wonder what might have happened had they passed out during the day. Predators or sun stroke or... what the hell? Could've sworn I jsut saw a gargoyle a second ago

Maybe the night wasn't so safe either. Slowly getting up, Holder still had a massive headache. He took a moment t osteady him self in a sitting positon and looked around. Patrick was still lying there. Dr Floren wasn't in sight, and his tent flapped wsa closed. Hood was passed out in the sand not far from him...... drooling.

[SinN]

Hood opens his eyes, blinking for a bit. Then slowly getting to his feet. Looking up, he sees Dr. Holder.

Micheal! Are you alright? Im not sure what happened here. But Dr. Floren...is dead. I dont know how. My geuss is some one threw in some Altyerre into the fire, and we all breathed in the smoke. Altyerre works like deep weed and could have been causing us all to forcefully astrally project. Floren must of died on the asrtal plane, seeing how is body is perfactly fine, just that he not responding. Micheal? Did you astrally project too?

This post has been edited by SinN: Mar 29 2007, 08:06 PM

[Callidus]

Wuh? Eh? Hood? What the.... frak my head hurts....

PleasejusthavebeenadreamPleasejusthavebeenadream

Wait.... Dr.Floren? Crappit, not a dream then And you can see tears running from his eyes Altyerre? And yes when I examined him it looked like he had projected and had his cord severed.... He just didn't have the training being an adept.... Although Dr.Patrick was fine.... I guess a little training was a bad thing.... Even though his words were analytically you can hear the emotion in his voice and in his face.

If that wasn't a dream then the vision really happened too.... and there's no way I'm letting that come to pass!

Did I project? Yes, I did, met an interesting snake that explained a few things and gave me a 'Dreaming'.... One that I'm not going to let happen and you can see his face harden with a resolve that hasn't shown all through the trip so far.

[SinN]

Micheal? Whats wrong?
Hood reaches out in concern
Micheal, I think you're still a littel dazed from the dream, you should sit down. Ill get you some water and food.
Hood walks to his bag and pulls out a canteen of water and some of the bars he had left. Walks back to Micheal.
Here you are. Now eat up, I dont think we should move again until Dr. Patrick and Dr. Micheals wake up. Waddya say?

[Callidus]

Hmmm.... so is this going to be safe to eat and drink? Well I guess so as he could have finished us all while we were out.... crap this headache really sucks.... Medkit... medkit....

No.... I doubt we could move without them up and about.... What time is it? Might be best to rest the day and let them sleep it off, this head's killing me.... ah there's the medkit, sweet sweet aspirin.

And applying the pads to himself and using the autodoc the help him select the best anelgesics, he pops the kit open and swallows them with some of the water.

[SinN]

Hood goes back to the fire and sits.
Micheal is actin funny...wonder whats got em. Prolly saw something he aint used to. Poor Kid.

To Bahamut:
Master, Im ok. Bedlum was a great help. Thank you, and be sure to thank Bedlum when she gets back for me. What the hell was that?

[fistandantilus4....]

Probably Altyerre. It is the only thing that fits all of the symptoms. I suggest you find out how you ended up inhaling the fumes Gaelic. And do something with the body of your fallen friend. Australia is a place full of spirits. You wouldn't want a shedim to walk off with it. Dr Floren was a good man. His body deserves more respect than that.

Look to your remaining companions now. Keep them safe. You still have a long way to go.

Soon after Michael and Hood begin moving about, a groan comes from Dr Michaels tent. He emerges a minute later, holding his head, as he fumbles for a bottle of NERPS. He looks up when he sees Hood and Holder is a similar state.

What happened? My head is killing me....... and it looks like we've lost the day as well. What's going on?