EB p.2 The Dark Times

[Midnightmoon]

"What's that?" Pyhros asked Saratheen, rolling over in his cot. He now wore all the new clothes from the cell but his boots and tunic. (ooc: he's still wearing a undershirt.) Saratheen shifted at the foot of his bed in the nook that was her sleeping area. "The morons. You know, the ones I told you about. Their obsessed with ice cream." Pyhros made a noise in acknowledgment. "And what do you suppose they want? You think their here to babysit us till we prove our loyalty ?" He asked a bit bitterly. Saratheen didn't respond. With a sigh Pyhros sat up and looked over blearily at the happy elf with the pots and pans.

[Morty]

"Hellooo, newest comrades." Jack said, grinning and rattling the bars of Pyhros and Saratheen's cell. "It's a big day today. You're lucky: rebel base is going down today. Aren't you fortunate to be on the winning side!" he said cheerfully. The walls shook with Lulu's footsteps as she walked up next to Jack, bending her neck to look into the cell. She grunted. "Getting to the point, you'll be taking orders from us from now on." said she.
"That's right! I'm Captain Jack, and this is Lulu... err, Captain Lulu." Jack said with a sheepish grin.

[Midnightmoon]

Pyhros felt his face go blank as he looked up to the two. Saratheen got up and snaked her head around to his other side. After a pause he got up, gave a slight quick bow and snatched up his tunic and started to fit his head through. Saratheen didn't do anything during this and didn't speak until Pyhros was fitting his second boot on, "So, what's the plan... Captain..." She was quite sure it was obvious she didn't overly enjoy the company of the two, but she was also certain that they couldn't do anything about that as long as she showed the proper respect. Boy, was she hating that little rule about hierarchy right now.

[Morty]

"Well I think there was a little practice mission scheduled for today, but I sure ain't gonna be stuck babysitting you while the others get to take down the rebels." said Jack, testing Sophie's sharpness against his tongue. "So gear up, greenhorns, you're in for a little more first-hand action than expected."

[Midnightmoon]

Saratheen narrowed her eyes, and her tail twitched. If she were still fire dragon she'd be smoking from the mouth. "Fine, where to?" Pyhros intervened, putting his back in Saratheen sights instead of the other two. "Relax." "Their deliberately doing that." "And they probably do that to everyone. Just ignore them. Think of something more productive." He reached his hand back to rest on the tip of her muzzle.

[Morty]

"To the dressing room. Lulu will escort you." said Jack.
Lulu grunted. "After you." she said snidely, opening the door.
"Sure I might get flack for bringing you along, but what are you gonna do, join their side? Please, you'll be up in smoke before you even think about it, so no funny buisness, capiche?" Jack snapped his fingers. "I'm going to go see the generals. Be good, now!" He zipped away.

[Midnightmoon]

Pyhros went through the door first with Saratheen close behind "If we're not prisoners then why were we in cells?" "Their ranks had been swelling to huge numbers extraordinarily fast. They probably don't have that much hospitable room left." Saratheen didn't respond to that, though Pyhros could feal her doubt. When they got to the dressing room they found that is was also a armory for chain mail, metal and leather plates and many other battle ware. "Any restrictions?" Pyhros asked Lulu behind them.

[Morty]

Lulu chucked a set of leather at each of them. "When you prove yourself in combat you can have chainmail. This leather is very tough, though, don't you worry. Don't ask what it's made from, either." she grunted, shuddering.

[Midnightmoon]

Pyhros didn't say anything about the choice of protection, just took inventory. He had received arm guards, a pair of knee guards, and a standard (ooc: can't think of a proper name) torso guard with shoulder extensions. Saratheen had only received a chest guard and leather strips that were to be strapped along her neck and tail. "And weapons?" Pyhros asked. "A saddle?" Saratheen added.

[Morty]

"Your weapons have been kept in storage. Can't say as much about your other things, though; the soldiers are vultures. Course you can always take your pick from the stocks, but I wouldn't advise that." She looked disdainfully on the unkempt pile of iron bows, swords, axes and maces in one corner. "Would someone tidy that up?" she barked at a random layabout. "Never mind that. Your stuff, or what's left of it, is in storage number 993. Have fun looking for it, my break starts... now." said Lulu, and stalked off.
"My turn!" Jack dropped from his perch on the ceiling, landing on his feet with a loud thwump!. "General was asleep. What can I help you with?" he said angelically, grinning like a cherub.

[Midnightmoon]

Saratheen only glanced at Jack before walking out through the door for the storage rooms she saw on the way here. Pyhros followed. In the end Pyhros only found his dagger and it's scabbard. He guessed that it had been overlooked because of how ratty he had made it look. This blade had been custom made for him, a mini replica in design of his broad sword. Well balanced and designed to designate him as fire clan once he had risen in the ranks, a gift from his now long departed wife. He once admired and cherished the design and the memory, now he only saw it as a weapon. Meanwhile Saratheen had come back with their saddle, it too was made to look ratty to discourage theft as they had traveled. Pyhros tried to call upon his fire magic, to melt the fire design and emblem off the dagger cross guard, to erase the remembrance. Instead, dark wispy shadows erupted from his fingertips and when he finally cut off the magic all the gold had turned black and the once clear designs were faded. Nothing else that they came in with was found. He had even gotten rid of the roguish fire clan cloths, now only shredded rags.

Strapping a sword Saratheen had brought him to his belt, Pyhros left the room.

[Zetherus]

Zetherus lifted his head slowly to look at the Inquisitor's face ,"What is the location of this rod you want me to reclaim, what do you want it for"?

The Inquisitor turned his demonic head to Zetherus as he circled around the iron table and sat in his chair ,"It will be tough to get seeing that its in an area full of my creators barrier energy, to let you on a little secret its one of the few thing that can stop me, but I won't tell you the rest though, that wont be any fun. "Oh" You wanted to know what I was going to use it for, well see one of my friends turned up getting an early thousand foot grave under a mountain on another world far from here. My servants have told me that a god slayer of some kind has trapped him there and left his ax on top of his grave.

Zetherus stood up and opened his once useless wings into a full spread ,"I could use some assistance on the location not what it looks like Inquisitor, so where is it?

The Inquisitor went silent "You will find it under a white Obelisk in the middle of a massive forest on a continent that some of the clans know of but hasn't explored it yet, try asking them but of course you will have to gain there trust first, for the way you look it will be hard to convince them". He replied with warning.

"Fine, then send me there so I can get this over with, seeing that your no help". said Zetherus trying to shut up the Inquisitor.

The Inquisitor went quiet again then spoke ,"As you wish, you will be sent near a clan city and there you will start your search, good luck."

Zetherus felt his body lift to the surface then push through the mirrored barrier. He was pushed back into reality standing on the main road to a large fortress wall so he wrapped his wings around his top half of his body like a large leather cloak concealing some of his identity. He put his helmet on to look like a nether land mercenary instead of an abomination, he walked to the front gate with a spear trooper standing guard near it. ,"Halt!"spoke the guard ,"What purpose do you have here"?

Zetherus stopped then lied ,"I was looking for work but I'm kind of tired so do you have any taverns that I could spend a day in or wait there I guess"?

"Hmm sure the tavern is on the right just threw this gate, enjoy your stay sir". The soldier pulled a rope that led to a small brass bell on top of the wall to signal an opening. The gate began to move from a loud clinking of the gears rotating inside it then in a few seconds the gate was open enough for him to get through. Zetherus made his way to the tavern with no resistance, he grabbed the handle walked through the wooden door, went to the far right corner near the window and sat down in the chair waiting for someone important to walk into the area.

[Midnightmoon]

Amber fell into bed with a 'umf'. She would still be working with her troops to fortify the base if Firen hadn't talked her into finally getting to bed. "It's for your own good, and Carnell can take care of everything while you get your few winks of sleep. You've been on your feet continually since yesterday morning." "There's a lot to plan for..." Firen felt Amber consciousness drift away. From the main front entrance Firen shook his head at his riders determination to do everything at once. Then he set his mind to helping Carnell's dragon, Rogan, fill in the entrance with boulders that would be melted down to become a solid wall. It was one of the many defenses that would only serve as a way to slow the enemy down.

[Awesomoman]

Agate, Maruk, and Rando the air dragon. (Put an M and the end of it and you'll see where i got the name.) Were hard at work. Maruk found a place where the main force of the demon army would come, it was one near their base and so hard to see by the time they were detected the rebels would already be dead. Agate was lifting rocks and putting them near the base to make a wall that would stall longer if necessary, and if a mud slide happened would keep the base dry. "Well." Agate said placing a large rock. "That's the last of it, all that' left now is for you guys to get a storm over here when they come." Maruk nodded to Agate. "Go back and let Amber know that this trap is set." "Roger."

[Kauria]

"Get up," a deep voice said in Maela's ear, accompanied by an unpleasant rush of cold air.
The demoness' eyes shot open. She rolled off the bed and whipped out both her daggers.
"It's you," she said in mild disgust, replacing her daggers when she recognized Athvesa.
"Yes it is, and we're running late. Captain Jack already came by once this morning." He pushed her forwards with his nose. "Now hurry up and get dressed."
"I'm already dressed!"
"Those are yesterday's clothes. I've set your uniform for today at the foot of your bed." The ice dragon ruffled his wings smugly.
Maela sighed and reached for the black fabric draped across the end of her cot. She paused, gently rubbing the material between two fingers, and shot a glance at Athvesa.
Surprise.

------

"Let's do this."
The twin doors swung open, and from them emerged the two Generals of the Army of Janahal.
Woven blue runes shimmered along the fringe of Maela's fluttering cape. A new stud gleamed from the tip of each ear; a bar of polished green stone to represent the former Earth fortress. She tightened her grip around her halberd's haft and placed a gloved hand lightly on Athvesa's side.
The dragon's scales had been turned black by illusion, each one framed by a strip of shining blue. His massive plate armor was rimed with the faint pattern of frost and his breath came in clouds of white.
It's time.
Rider and dragon both placed a hand on the light crystal embedded in the wall, and a different, turquoise glow began to spread from its depths, spreading to the crystals beside it. Every light in the connecting hallways rippled gently on, spreading the signal wordlessly to the troops.
"They will know to meet us aboveground," Athvesa said, spreading his wings as much as he could in the cramped hallway.
"Let's try to be there when they do." Maela grinned and swung herself into the saddle.