TSW 22: Dream Quest (Part 1)

[18:48]	IcePickLobotomy	Time: ??? Location: ???
[18:59]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina, Mary: You find yourselves standing beside a pond in the forrest. The rain drips down from the trees and plants around you, running down your skin and hair. Ripples flow outward from the droplets landing on the pond. Lily is standing out on a small jetty, her face upturned into the rain. She's wearing a slim summer dress. It hangs limply against her frame.
[19:01]	Arina	blinks, looking around and casting a short glare at Lily before turning to face Mary. "Ah. Good... evening, I suppose."
[19:02]	IcePickLobotomy	"Hello Arina, hello Mary. You wanted to speak with me?" She turns to face the two of you, her face still seems sickly pale, but slightly healthier than before.
[19:06]	Arina	shakes her head. "... Pff. I suppose I knew all along and just didn't want to realize it."
[19:08]	Mary	is wearing a long skirt, and a blouse, black and white combination with a silver cross around her neck , which flickers and then after a moment she wears it no longer  and she slightly rips up the skirt to make it easier to use and to run in it. " I. I had hoped that it was just a one moment thing with you Arina and not ..."
[19:08]	Mary	skirt flexes and turns into a pair of old jeans.
[19:09]	Arina	"... Convenient."
[19:09]	IcePickLobotomy	Lily blinks, "You are a rather quick study I see."
[19:10]	Mary	"More that I am conflicted "
[19:10]	Mary	puts her hands around the void where the cross hang and breathes a deep breath ."Sins of the Past."
[19:11]	Arina	"Ah, so we still aren't at the part where anything makes sense yet."
[19:11]	IcePickLobotomy	"Mmm, I could talk to you at length about that, but that isn't why you are here is it?" She smiles "Patience Arina, I am still working on my bargin, though Mary is impatient, not for ill-cause however."
[19:12]	Arina	sighs. "Impatient for what?"
[19:13]	IcePickLobotomy	"I promised you some answers, I'm working on getting them to you, though from the sounds of it you may have found out on your own."
[19:15]	Arina	"Yes, well, apparently my subconscious knew all along."
[19:15]	IcePickLobotomy	Lily gives Mary a knowing smile. "Well, Mary what did you want to talk to me about?" She steps beside you both, under the cover of a large moss-encrusted tree.
[19:17]	Mary	"You being here prevents me from doing something stupid with mediation and snoring on Kasras chest ."
[19:17]	Mary	nods at her as she says this
[19:18]	IcePickLobotomy	"That would have been somewhat unwise, yes. I had hopped to wait and recover more, but. . . The longer we wait the farther Kasra gets from us."
[19:19]	Arina	grumbles. "He's still not conscious, no, and I hope that was my subconscious view of Mary's relationship with Kasra than my 0x1down0x1d subconscious..."
[19:20]	Mary	blinks and raises a eyebrow at Arina.
[19:22]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary: Lily shakes her head "There is nothing we could say that would convince her quite yet. But she will still help you. I hope I am not wrong Arina, are you willing to help Kasra?"
[19:23]	Arina	"Ah, this is that kind of dream?" She rolls up her sleeves. "Right, so how does it work here?"
[19:26]	Mary	by danger, by search, by a lost line to bind him to us, and no princes just us tired girls.
[19:26]	Mary	rhymes there to add to the dreamlike affair, hoping that it will work
[19:26]	IcePickLobotomy	Lily points to a small cavern deeper in the woods. "That will take you to where Kasra is. I cannot follow in my present state, but should you find a exit I will be able to get you back out."
[19:28]	Arina	glances over at Mary. "... I'm not sure if the lyrics center of my brain needs more to drink, or less."
[19:30]	Mary	"Can you grant us light or ..."
[19:30]	Mary	rummages in her pockets
[19:31]	IcePickLobotomy	"She can," She points to Arina, rather the green coleman lantern in her hand
[19:31]	Arina	looks into the cavern, frowning and rubbing her throat. "Yeah, hopefully it still works" after she brained a Hound of Tindalos with it.
[19:31]	Arina	fiddles with the mechanism to see if it lights up properly.
[19:32]	IcePickLobotomy	It does, giving off a warm yellow light. The cavern slops down a few meters before abruptly turning into a deep pit, the bottom of which you cannot see.
[19:33]	Arina	"I swear if that goes vertical... any rope?"
[19:35]	Arina	"Is there anything in particular we need to look out for? Like, how exactly is Kasra's coma going to 0x1dmanifest0x1d here?"
[19:36]	IcePickLobotomy	"You'll have to jump." Lily's voice says from behind you. "And Mary should be able to find him. You simply need to |Listen| ."
[19:37]	Arina	"Are we looking at a jail cell, ropes, some terrible beast...?"
[19:39]	IcePickLobotomy	"You saw it already, outside the window of that chapel."
[19:39]	Mary	"He lost himself in the fight. so it might be a symbol of his unit, a lock to hide him away from the world, or him being lost as he got pulled in."
[19:39]	IcePickLobotomy	"Lost? He was taken."
[19:40]	Arina	rubs her temples. "Soooo we have to grab Kasra back from 0x1dthat0x1d thing."
[19:41]	Arina	"It's certainly thematically appropriate, I suppose."
[19:41]	IcePickLobotomy	"If I did not think the two of you could not do it, I would not let you."
[19:41]	IcePickLobotomy	*could do it
[19:42]	Arina	"He really does cause me no end of trouble... Is there anything that would actually 0x1dhelp0x1d with that? Like... I don't know, it's a light, so a mirror?"
[19:44]	Mary	"Bravery, Inspiration, , having the right heart, and this time willing to listen when somebody says to you to run and not acting like Kasra"
[19:44]	Mary	judges her slightly
[19:46]	IcePickLobotomy	"I suggest you be careful. This is not without risks. While death may not find you, fates as bad or worse await your missteps."
[19:46]	Arina	humhums. "Well, far be it from me to underestimate intangibles, though I was hoping for a bit more to 0x1dadd0x1d to that..."
[19:47]	Mary	pulls out the letter opener " I think you might be better with this then I am?"
[19:48]	IcePickLobotomy	"I would further arm and armor you, but Kasra has the greater sum of my power now. That will be your key to finding a path back. I seek myself."
[19:48]	Arina	hands her the lamp. "We can trade, I suppose. Was there any particular trick to you wielding it like Kladenets or should I just swing?"
[19:49]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: Statoc roars in your head, your hand spasms when you attempt to give up the lamp.
[19:49]	Arina	pulls back the lamp hand. "... or not."
[19:50]	IcePickLobotomy	"Do not give up what you have claimed so quickly Arina. That is your burden to carry now."
[19:51]	Arina	looks around, casting the light around the clearing. "... you showing up 0x1dhere0x1d, too, nahgloshii?"
[19:52]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: Nothing. The static was coming from the lantern.
[19:53]	Arina	frowns. "... Right, so apparently I can't trade." She looks up at the lamp. "... I'm not terribly put out by that."
[19:53]	Mary	"Goes the same for the blade ?"
[19:54]	Arina	holds out her hand. "... try?"
[19:59]	Mary	tries
[19:59]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary: You easily pass the knife to Arina. Arina it settles cool and solid in your grip.
[20:01]	Arina	hums. "... So it does work. ... 0x1dIs0x1d there any trick to it?"
[20:02]	Mary	"Do the same thing that you would do with a knife in a outrider, including pushing your light with it."
[20:02]	Mary	"If there is a need for that. Else, Well try to copy Artnoym"
[20:05]	Arina	nods. "... All right then. Sword in hand, lamp in other hand, the maidens set forth to rescue the dandy in distress from his own flawed judgement."
[20:05]	Arina	holds the lamp up and looks into the cave. "... They're going to be a while."
[20:08]	IcePickLobotomy	"That's the spirit. Mind that first step, it's a /bit/ of a jolt." Lily says
[20:10]	Arina	"Apparently..." She sighs and moves towards the cavern, in step with Mary.
[20:10]	Mary	"I am slightly to fat for a good fairy, well unless I am a godmother." she says and then reaches out to touch Arinas shoulder for a squeze.
[20:11]	Mary	(btw what is she wearing?)
[20:11]	Arina	(I dunno, Icepick, what is she wearing?)
[20:11]	IcePickLobotomy	(Arina, whatever is comfortable/approatite or would best match her mental image of herself at this time.)
[20:14]	Mary	( http://previews.123rf.com/images/demian1975/demian19751304/demian1975130400003/19363445-Soviet-female-soldier-in-uniform-of-World-War-II-dreams-Stock-Photo.jpg ?)
[20:14]	Arina	(Comfortable/appropriate for wandering in the woods, or...?)
[20:14]	IcePickLobotomy	(In general. Basicly it matches her mental image of herself + a bit of intent.)
[20:16]	Arina	is dressed basically as she is to go jogging, comfortable and stylish outdoorsy clothes.
[20:17]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina, Mary: You take a step. Another. And then on the third. . . The ground falls away.
[20:17]	IcePickLobotomy	Time: Too Late. Location: The Monument To Your Sins.
[20:24]	IcePickLobotomy	You fall, tumbling through the air. Chunks or red rock and dirt float in the void, here and there bits and pieces of buildings, or even larger chunks. Some are recognizable, looking like parts from skyscrapers and other buildings. Others are not, some looking to be made of coral, or black-stone with red vine-like growths along it, or crystalline glass. You hit the ground, despite the...
[20:24]	IcePickLobotomy	...bone-jarring impact you are alive.
[20:25]	IcePickLobotomy	The air is still, cold and bone dry. Streams of golden light flow like water between red-rocked islands floating in the pitch black empty void.
[20:27]	Arina	coughs, clambering to her feet. "Bloody leaps of faith." She looks around, shining the light.
[20:27]	Arina	"Mary, you okay?"
[20:28]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: There is a dead tree to your left, and behind you is a tunnel delving deep into the ground. Even form here you can tell it goes farther down than this island would normally allow.
[20:28]	Mary	shivers and stands up, trying to steel herself ." The cosmic bermuda triangle is... scary but not as scary as other things ."
[20:29]	Arina	"I'm going to read that as 'my wits aren't in order yet but I can breathe'."
[20:29]	Arina	nods to the tunnel. "0x1dProbably0x1d that way."
[20:31]	Mary	"Maybe but ..."
[20:31]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary: It's empty.
[20:32]	IcePickLobotomy	There's nothing here. Null. Not even zero. Void.
[20:32]	Mary	looks around and closes her eyes as she tries to listen for him, the sound of his laughter, the feeling of warmth as she leans against him  after a long day of work, the feeling for how his mind works when see sees him write and create something
[20:33]	IcePickLobotomy	And then you feel it. The jagged, folded fractal equation of Kasra's AT Field. Inside the tunnel.
[20:33]	Mary	"Yes!"
[20:33]	Mary	jogs towards the tunnel
[20:34]	Arina	jogs after her, listening since that was how Lily said they'd find the way. "It was literally the only way to go, Mary..."
[20:34]	Arina	keeps up with Mary without a bit of difficulty.
[20:36]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary: You feel his field reach out for your own. Cautiously brushing against yours.
[20:37]	Mary	 touches it, or at least tries to  to show him that he is not alone that they are comming for him.
[20:40]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: This place is. . .  empty. The melodies and rhythms you are used to in the outrider, the familiar white noise in the back of your mind, are gone. This place is. . . empty. A Void. A moment passes and. . . You can hear them. Mary next to you, soft warm tones with a calculated centeral rhythm. And Kasra, jagged and harsh, but strong and echoing, like the beat to a military march.
[20:41]	IcePickLobotomy	He's further down the tunnel.
[20:42]	Arina	closes her eyes for a moment, fixing it in her mind, and then keeps jogging alongside Mary down the tunnel. Good thing this is a dream so Mary won't collapse wheezing.
[20:42]	===	You have invited Kasra to #TSWElsewhere.
[20:42]	/@	IcePickLobotomy invited Kasra into the channel.
[20:44]	-->|	Kasra ([email protected]) has joined #TSWElsewhere
[20:45]	Kasra	   There is utter silence, as though sound was forbidden from this place long ago.
[20:45]	Kasra	 | HOW |
[20:46]	Arina	keeps jogging down the tunnel towards the sound. "Look, this is a dream, roll with it."
[20:46]	Mary	[Because we are Heroes]
[20:47]	Arina	undercuts Mary's declaration even as she says it.
[20:51]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary, Arina You find Kasra in a chamber connected to several other tunnels. His pant legs are stained with blood up to the knees, his face looks pale, and his eyes bloodshot and circled. He carries a sword in one hand, the blade is long and slender, with a mirror like edge that gleams with a pale silvery light.
[20:52]	Kasra	 | YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE |
[20:52]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: Mary is dressed in a pair of jeans and a black blouse. Arina in her joggong outfit. She carries a weathered army-green coleman lantern in one hand and a letter opener in the other.
[20:53]	Arina	looks at the letter opener in her hand, grumbling. "Fair enough, we'll be leaving shortly, so let's go."
[20:53]	Kasra	The tunnels is suddenlt blocked by a shimmering green barrier. Kasra stands emotionlessly beyond.
[20:53]	Arina	sighs. "... Really?"
[20:54]	Mary	nods and raises her hands as she reaches out with her /SELF/ to try to disrupt it
[20:55]	Kasra	 | HOW ARE YOU HERE? |
[20:56]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary, Kasra: Her field reaches out to his and is rebuffed, unable to find purchase.
[20:56]	Arina	jogs up to the barrier and stands before it. "Kasra, we're trying to get you to safety. Let us help you. For 0x1donce0x1d."
[20:57]	Kasra	 | NOT HERE. HOW ARE YOU HERE? |
[20:58]	Arina	"Lily sent us."
[20:58]	Kasra	The field ripples sharply.
[20:58]	Kasra	 | WHERE IS LILY? |
[20:59]	Mary	"She is save "
[20:59]	Arina	"She can't come here. But you can come to her."
[21:00]	|<--	Mary has left irc.systemnet.info (Client exited)
[21:06]	Kasra	"You...know the way back? To the desert?"
[21:09]	-->|	Scia ([email protected]) has joined #TSWElsewhere
[21:10]	=-=	Scia is now known as Mary
[21:10]	Arina	* Mary ([email protected]) Quit (Client exited)
[21:10]	Arina	<Kasra> "You...know the way back? To the desert?"
[21:10]	Arina	* Scia ([email protected]) has joined #TSWElsewhere
[21:10]	Arina	* Scia is now known as Mary
[21:11]	Arina	"It was a forest we left her in - if we get out we can get back there. She said you were the key to finding the way back. She... seeks herself, whatever that means." Her expression looks a bit sour at that for some reason.
[21:12]	Kasra	"I have her."
[21:14]	Arina	"Or most of her. Whatever, she said it but didn't explain it and I think we're better off 0x1dgoing0x1d than 0x1dexplaining0x1d."
[21:15]	Kasra	"That's a dangerous attitude."
[21:16]	Kasra	exhales and the field snaps back into him within the span of an eyeblink.
[21:16]	IcePickLobotomy	The hiss and roar of static goes with it.
[21:18]	Arina	"Look I've been denied explanations at every step of this, and while I'm ready, willing, and eager for them, I don't think 'in a dangerous place we're trying to pull you out of' is the best time to get too deep into cosmology."
[21:19]	Kasra	"I don't think there's any danger here for us at this point...and there's really not much to explain."
[21:19]	Mary	stretches her hand out , and herself, to , know if it is really him.
[21:20]	Arina	"Well, that'd be a nice change, but unless there's anything we critically need to know right this instant, we should 0x1dprobably0x1d get going lest that change."
[21:20]	Kasra	"Arina. Take a deep breath, and remain calm. I'm working on a solution."
[21:21]	Arina	"Good to hear." She casts her lantern light around the tunnel.
[21:22]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: You hear it again, the distant rush of static. Even with Kara's AT Field down you can still, albeit it distantly hear it. And. . . a scuttling sound.
[21:23]	|<--	Kasra has left irc.systemnet.info (Ping timeout: 122 seconds)
[21:23]	-->|	Kasra ([email protected]) has joined #TSWElsewhere
[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	[21:21]	Arina	"Good to hear." She casts her lantern light around the tunnel.
[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	[21:22]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: You hear it again, the distant rush of static. Even with Kara's AT Field down you can still, albeit it distantly hear it. And. . . a scuttling sound.
[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	[21:23]	|<--	Kasra has left irc.systemnet.info (Ping timeout: 122 seconds)
[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	[21:23]	-->|	Kasra ([email protected]) has joined #TSWElsewhere
[21:24]	Arina	's eyes widen, and she moves down the tunnel past Kasra, raising the letter opener. "... Work swiftly, that 'no danger' thing just changed."
[21:24]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: You are going to need a bigger knife.
[21:25]	Kasra	laughs lightly.
[21:26]	IcePickLobotomy	It takes up almost the entire tunnel, dozens of sharp spike like legs pull the central bulk forward. It's flesh a sickly leathery yellow. The limbs snap and reach out, partly to pull it forward, and partly to feel the area around it out. It's twice as tall as you are, and each limb about 3 times your length.
[21:26]	IcePickLobotomy	ANd it's getting closer.
[21:27]	Arina	looks up. "... Yeah, about right." She swings her letter opener arm to loosen it up. "Work fast, Kasra."
[21:27]	Mary	"She said she could get us out of here.. so maybe going up is enough?"
[21:28]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: You. . . feel it. The sword tugging you down one of the tunnels.
[21:28]	IcePickLobotomy	Away from the thing thankfully.
[21:28]	Arina	backs up. "I would very much appreciate that, let's do it anyway so we can buy time 0x1dwithout0x1d facing that thing directly."
[21:29]	Kasra	"Follow me, I've found a solution."
[21:30]	Arina	"All right, lead the way!"
[21:30]	Kasra	"My solution is to let Lily lead the way."
[21:30]	Kasra	begins running down a tunnel.
[21:31]	Mary	continues to act out of character in that dream and RUNs
[21:31]	Arina	runs after him, making sure Mary's ahead of her and casting looks over her shoulder as the... thing... continues to lumber after them.
[21:34]	Kasra	 | WHAT IS YOUR NAME |
[21:34]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: Nothing. A Empty vessel. A Mindless slave. Nothing more than a machine of flesh and blood.
[21:36]	Kasra	"Left behind?"
[21:37]	Arina	"No, I did not leave you behind, and I'm not really planning to start!"
[21:38]	Mary	"Less talk more run!"
[21:38]	IcePickLobotomy	The three of you take a sharp right, rocks and dirt skidding behind you. You pause. having come to a massive cone-shaped chamber, at least a hundred meters in diameter with a rough path carved into the red stone that spirals upwards. And standing before you is 2 Servitors. Their flesh the same sickly-leathered yellow, a central eyeless core with almost a dozen triple jointed lembs tipped...
[21:38]	IcePickLobotomy	...with razor sharp bones block you on either side.
[21:38]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: The blade tugs upwardly
[21:38]	Arina	"Also goooooooodammit!"
[21:39]	Arina	"Which way Kasra?! Please not through."
[21:41]	Kasra	"Upward."
[21:41]	Arina	"So, through. I hate you all."
[21:41]	IcePickLobotomy	The two begin to advance forward, their legs clicking across the stone floor.
[21:41]	Arina	brings her letter opener up. "Charge on three?"
[21:44]	Kasra	makes a swipe, as the blade lurches upward almost of its own volition. "This could be an issue."
[21:45]	Arina	"One!"
[21:45]	Kasra	"What happened to 'no time' Arina? Engage immediately."
[21:46]	Mary	takes up a rock and throws it while the others are still debating trying to hit the core
[21:46]	Arina	"Coordination, counting that as two, and three!"
[21:46]	Arina	lunges in, knife leading the way straight down the center.
[21:47]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: The flesh parts and the legs spasm, a few scrape across you tearing small rivets that begin to bleed but are little more than a annoyance. Kasra, yours swipes at you, only for a rock form Mary to knock it off balance and allow you to avoid the blow.
[21:47]	IcePickLobotomy	The larger one behind you drawns closer, just now rounding the corner.
[21:48]	Kasra	"Excellent throw Mary. Maybe we should...disengage and continue."
[21:49]	Mary	"I am all for that, Neither of you two is allowed to die here "
[21:50]	Arina	whirls around, slashing in a frantic pattern as the three of them pass and the still-alive Servitor starts to turn after them. "Disengage and lead the way up, I'll hold it and catch up once you're clear!"
[21:52]	Kasra	"No, no. Just follow." Kasra attempts to dash past.
[21:54]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina:  It's a moot point, as one of the large legs from the giant one strikes the remaining Servitor and impales it. As it raises the leg again the body slips off and tumbles down the vast gulf off to the side, and splatters you with a foul smelling ichor. The claw comes back down /far/ too close to you for comfort.
[21:54]	Mary	"No heroics arina, jst move " she says as she screapes up a stown and throws it behind her as she runs , not really looking
[21:54]	Arina	's eyes widen and she dashes after them. "No arguments!"
[21:55]	Kasra	"If worst comes to worst, I stand a better chance of buying you two time anyways."
[21:57]	Arina	"You're the only one who knows the way out, so 0x1dsorry to say0x1d but you can't buy us time without getting us all stuck here!"
[21:57]	Arina	sticks out her tongue at him, then spits as her taste buds get out into that foul-smelling air.
[21:57]	Kasra	"Immaturity is unbecoming, Arina."
[21:58]	Arina	"This is a dream anyway, I am under 0x1dno0x1d obligations to be diplomatic!"
[21:59]	Kasra	"Heh. It's a very strong dream. Remind me to prove a point before you wake."
[21:59]	Arina	glances back over her shoulder. "... Okay, nightmare, point remains!"
[22:00]	Mary	"Girls, less flirting more running!"
[22:00]	Arina	"Finding it hard to disagree with her!"
[22:01]	IcePickLobotomy	Despite it's size you manage to out-pace it after a while. Though just barely. You continue to climb, and you can start to see how the path circles up through the ceiling.
[22:02]	Kasra	"Your dreams symbolism is problematic, Arina."
[22:04]	Arina	"No, the things it's symbolizing are problematic!"
[22:04]	Arina	"At least I can stab the symbolism!"
[22:07]	Kasra	"I'd request that you try, but I'm afraid you would."
[22:08]	Arina	"Only if I can't avoid it entirely!"
[22:10]	Mary	"You know that all these things symbolisese Penises anyway?" she says the stress making her join the stupid talk
[22:11]	Arina	looks back. "I 0x1dhope0x1d not because that would make me 0x1dreally0x1d fucked-up!"
[22:11]	IcePickLobotomy	The three of you breach the top. There's a long stone bridge leading to a free standing doorway. And between the two of you. . . .
[22:12]	IcePickLobotomy	It's a girl wearing a black and hazard-yellow plug-suit. Her fingers twitch and spasm. The numbers "Unit-00" run across her left shoulder. "S. Anderson" along her breast.
[22:12]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: Sally Anderson. The first testpilot, rendered catatonic in a accident not too long after you joined the program.
[22:13]	Arina	blinks. "Uh... hi?" She glances back over her shoulder to check on the distance back thataway.
[22:13]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary, Arina: She's the girl you saw in Layer-13 the day you left the clean room.
[22:13]	Kasra	"...Anderson...Can you hear me?"
[22:14]	Kasra	approaches cautiously.
[22:14]	IcePickLobotomy	"I'm sorry. . ." She whispers.
[22:14]	Arina	moves up behind Kasra with about equivalent caution, letting him take the lead since he knows her.
[22:15]	Kasra	"It's...it's okay."
[22:15]	Kasra	"Nobody could blame you. We're sorry too. It shouldn't have been this way."
[22:16]	IcePickLobotomy	"It's not ok. . . It's never been ok. . . '
[22:17]	Mary	walks up , clearly unsure
[22:17]	IcePickLobotomy	Static hisses and snarls in your ear. "I have to go back. . ."
[22:17]	IcePickLobotomy	"I can't stay here."
[22:18]	Arina	looks around, frowning. "... where...?"
[22:19]	Kasra	"I don't think we can take you back."
[22:20]	IcePickLobotomy	"I have to leave. . " She swallows, her voice ragged. "But he won't let me." Static crackles, you blink as flickers of static appear around you, like interference on a TV.
[22:23]	Arina	"... everywhere...?"
[22:24]	Kasra	Wisps of green begin to extend around Kasra and inch towards the sides of Sally and outward over the bridge.
[22:24]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: You can feel it, a smallest sliver of deep blue. . . surrounded by Gold.
[22:25]	IcePickLobotomy	"I'm sorry. . . I am so so sorry." She lifts her head, and golden eyes meet Kasra's. "But I can't stay here."
[22:25]	Kasra	"...I understand."
[22:25]	Kasra	"I'm sorry too."
[22:26]	IcePickLobotomy	A wane smile, "I'll make it quick."
[22:26]	Kasra	returns the expression. "Brace yourselves.
[22:26]	Arina	frowns, turning to face her directly. "... Kasra, are we running, or...?"
[22:27]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: It's a blur of motions, static hisses and roars as her hand snaps out at you, tearing your shirt to pieces as her fingers tar through it. She slides past you, feet skidding on the ground.
[22:28]	Arina	jolts slightly, and then lightly nudges Kasra's back. "Way's clear, go!" She's clearly starting to run herself.
[22:29]	Kasra	"Go. Quickly." He struggles to maintain his feet and attempts a sprint.
[22:30]	Arina	is going at Mary's pace.
[22:30]	Mary	"Run!"
[22:30]	Mary	does so trying to pull Kasra and Arina with her if they do not move themself
[22:30]	IcePickLobotomy	She snarles, her muscles quivering as you can see blood starting to run down her eyes and mouth. She lunges again at Kasra, more feral this time.
[22:31]	Arina	was literally pushing you guys to run, and lashes out behind her with the knife as Sally approaches again. "Not this time!"
[22:39]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra, a muscle spasm sends her next attack just off the mark as she tumbles and rolls onto the bridge. "Nonononononoo!"
[22:40]	Arina	0x1dkeeps running0x1d.
[22:41]	Kasra	appears to be having a hard time fleeing.
[22:41]	Arina	loops her lantern-carrying arm around his shoulders and 0x1ddrags0x1d him if he falls behind.
[22:45]	Kasra	pulls free and assumes a better fighting posture. "We can't leave her here."
[22:47]	Arina	"She's trying to kill you, Kasra," she points out as she lets go of him and brings up her letter opener.
[22:47]	Arina	"Do you have an actual plan to resolve that?"
[22:47]	Kasra	's field expands in a web of right angles and begins to converge on the other form.
[22:47]	Mary	looks at her , and then  blinks as a tear appears in her
[22:48]	Arina	takes that as a yes and stands by to guard Kasra with her mighty letter opener.
[22:49]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: And. . . You hiss, fighting back the urge to cruel up and cry. It feels like you've just swallowed boiling acid, it's eating away at you.
[22:49]	Mary	looks at her , and then  blinks as a tear appears in her eyes as she reaches out and light floods out of her as SHE reaches out to take hold of the remnants of the girl, trying to cut her field of from those around her ,  engaging her so in her own field
[22:50]	IcePickLobotomy	She staggers to her feet as pale-green threads layer themselves around her in factal patterns. She takes a few steps forward snarling as she tears them away almost as fast as they form.
[22:51]	Kasra	"We can end this for you. You don't need to be here anymore."
[22:54]	IcePickLobotomy	She tears the last of the threads free. "No! I don't want to die!" She's crying, tears of blood running down her face "I won't, I won't I won't!" She sobs "I'msorryI'msorry."
[22:56]	Kasra	"Mary...Arina...I don't think we can save her...should we retreat?"
[22:56]	Arina	"... Withdraw. We can come back later if we have half a plan."
[22:56]	Arina	"And if 'dragging her through the door' isn't going to work."
[22:57]	Mary	"NO!"
[22:57]	Mary	looks at her and pushes and tries to hold her again , to cut her soul free by actng around it, both barrier and shield
[22:59]	Arina	charges in while she's held down and hammers her in the temple with the 'pommel' of the letter opener. "If this fails, 0x1dactually run0x1d, Mary!"
[23:00]	Kasra	"Mary can you see it? The gold?"
[23:00]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: There's a sharp crack and you can see her eyes unfocus a moment before they snap back at you.
[23:01]	Arina	keeps hitting until the eyes close.
[23:02]	Mary	"I can.. Yes !"
[23:05]	Kasra	"Can you see the blue?"
[23:07]	Mary	"I.. I can feel her..."
[23:07]	IcePickLobotomy	Mary: You can. A thin sliver almost drowned out by the Gold. . . No, that's wrong. It's not gone, simply compressed, suppressed and folded up to let the gold fit.Even now as it slowly eats away at the blue it's *not* too late. You need to peel back the Gold. . . . .
[23:07]	=-=	IcePickLobotomy has changed the topic to “Time: Just In Time Location: The Bridge To The End.”
[23:08]	Kasra	"If we can...give her room."
[23:09]	Mary	"I.. It is all there, it just.. weights down on it, and compresses it "
[23:10]	Arina	"I literally have no idea what you two are doing, but if you need anything I can do, point me!"
[23:11]	Kasra	"Stay clear."
[23:12]	Arina	backs up and points her letter opener to guard the line while the wizards stand back and wiz.
[23:12]	Arina	"Roger that."
[23:15]	Mary	"I can.. let me wedge in there to give her room by pushing at it Or try to corode it?"
[23:17]	Kasra	"Allow me?"
[23:17]	Kasra	"I think my field...might hold up better. You hold her."
[23:19]	Mary	"Do it "
[23:19]	IcePickLobotomy	"What, what are you doing?" She glances at the two of you "I'm trying to kill you!"
[23:19]	Kasra	advances, attempting to perform a lay-on-hands.
[23:20]	Mary	sweet continues to run down her face as she holds onto her with all of her will, with , all her SOUL
[23:20]	Kasra	"One of my best friends has actually threatened to kill me, actually. Heh."
[23:20]	Arina	"And you're not going to succeed."
[23:21]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: She breaks free and slams into you, her hands wrapping around your throat as she slams you into the ground. You feel something snap."
[23:22]	IcePickLobotomy	[Redacting the last.]
[23:22]	IcePickLobotomy	She lunges forward, only to be stopped by Arina slugging her across the face, sending her sprawling.
[23:23]	Arina	smashes her across the face with the lantern, and smiles gently at her. "I literally have no idea what's going on here."
[23:23]	Arina	"But we're all making it home alive."
[23:23]	Kasra	"Not at the rate you're going, Arina. Gentle."
[23:24]	Kasra	"Mary can you try holding her?"
[23:27]	IcePickLobotomy	Kasra: She backs away as you reach for her, but she gets caught up in Mary's web. "I. . . This doesn't make sense!"
[23:28]	Kasra	"Your right, I'm sorry. My field is not...it's not working."
[23:30]	Mary	"Simply... we ... we are Well considering us the good kind of people.."
[23:31]	Kasra	attempts again, finally making contact, green light squirming around him
[23:31]	Mary	burries her feet in the ground as she pushes against her to hold her
[23:32]	Arina	"What wouldn't make sense is leaving someone behind if there's a damned thing we can do about it."
[23:35]	IcePickLobotomy	[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2Ow3eqFbLg ] Kasra, you shape it like a lance and drive it into her Soul, punching through the golden misama. It |Burns|, but in doing so it boils away the Golden light around it. Tenativly, the blue seems to reach out at the last moment, bridging that last big of the gap. You have a foothold.
[23:36]	IcePickLobotomy	Her hand reaches for your throat, fingers grasping like claws. . . .
[23:36]	Kasra	"You can do it, nearly there, Sally."
[23:36]	Arina	goes gentler this time, and literally headbutts her away, a kick to the gut flinging her back down the bridge.
[23:37]	IcePickLobotomy	SHe stumbles back, not able to move too far due to Mary's trap.
[23:37]	Kasra	"ARINA."
[23:38]	Arina	"Look I don't know if you've ever tried to fight a violent person that's probably faster than human but there's only so gentle it 0x1dgets0x1d."
[23:39]	Kasra	kneels next to her on the bridge. "Sally? Are you there, can you hear me?"
[23:40]	IcePickLobotomy	SHe strains further, to no avail, and instead aims a kick at Arina's chest. She's screaming, or crying, you can't tell which.
[23:40]	Mary	tries to move her hold, to seperate the Miasma that got burned and knocked lose from the two of them.
[23:40]	Arina	twists aside, smiling. "We've got this, Sally."
[23:41]	Arina	"Just this once, we've got this."
[23:43]	IcePickLobotomy	Arina: You feel a tug and. . . The Lantern glows, a warm reassuring yellow light bathing the area and banishing away some of the harsh golden light coming from Sally. You hear a song, somewhere distant. Drums and footsteps, a march.
[23:44]	Arina	holds up the lantern, and cranks it up to full.
[23:47]	Kasra	The cadence of the marching tune brooks no deviance from duty. Hefting himself up, Kasra wrenches the lance with renewed vigor.
[23:49]	IcePickLobotomy	It boils away more of the Gold, equilibrium has been achieved between you, the gold, and Sally. Another push should send it in your favor. She's screaming now, feral, pained and animalistic.
[23:51]	Mary	shivers as she holds her down, trying to push the.. it away from the girl as far as she can
[23:52]	IcePickLobotomy	The restraints snap and break as she tears free, lashing out at Kasra.
[23:52]	Arina	grabs her arms and wraps her up in a hug. "I can hold this maybe three seconds Kasra so finish fast!"
[23:53]	Kasra	"Thank you, thats what I was looking for. Sally, I'm truly sorry for this." Kasra leans on the lance with as much force as he can muster without losing accuracy.
[23:57]	IcePickLobotomy	It's enough. You tear away enough of the Gold and. . . It pulls away, between you and Sally's blue it's chased away. Arina, Sally sags in your arms, the blood no longer draining from her eyes.
[23:57]	IcePickLobotomy	She hiccups.
[23:57]	IcePickLobotomy	Before breaking down into a quiet, wailing sob. But she isn't fighting you anymore
[23:58]	Kasra	lunges up underneath her right arm. "Arina, get the left, lets go."
[23:59]	Arina	scoops her up. "Right with you, Mary let's 0x1drun0x1d before he catches up!"
[00:00]	Mary	"That was my plan anways.."
[00:00]	Mary	smiles very jubliant "We did it "
[00:00]	Arina	"Run first, cheer on the other side!"
[00:01]	IcePickLobotomy	The three of you, no four of you, make your way down to the door at the end of the bridge. It's. . . A plane wood panneled door with a knob.
[00:01]	Kasra	"We haven't done it yet Mary, get that door open for us."
[00:05]	Mary	smiles and takes hold of the knob as she reaches out for lilly and then pulls open.
[00:05]	IcePickLobotomy	You are pulled through the doorway. On the otherside is not Lily.
[00:06]	IcePickLobotomy	You are standing beneath the familar, pink-tinted sky once more. Inside a massive tower, the roof open to the air. A long ramp winds its way up and down as it curves around the inside of the tower, with door-ways and doors built into the side every so often
[00:08]	Arina	"... Where the hell are we?"
[00:08]	Arina	gestures back to the door they just left. "What did any of that symbolize?!"
[00:09]	Arina	hefts the girl she's doing have the work of carrying. "Who 0x1dis0x1d this?!"
[00:09]	Arina	"What the hell is with this dream?"
[00:09]	Arina	"How fucked-up 0x1dam0x1d I?!"