For convenience, information about the characters can be found here.

Note: italic text was given OOC but too deliciously ironic to omit.

Player              Stat   Sex         Species  ('ws #help' for help)
------------------ ------ ----------- ----------------------------------------
Serin               IC     male        ferret
   Doing: Looking for magic
Jade                IIC    Female      Mephit (Nogitsune)
   Doing: ...
Foxtrot             WIZ    Male        Kitsune
   Doing: Living in Rapture with Jade.
Kaelyn              i3m    Female      Ottermorph
   Doing: I have absolutely No idea! ^.^
Snowpony            i9m    female      Hoofed something
   Doing: .. pondering the meaning of life.
Strider             IC     Male        Jackal
   Doing: The Shaft of this century.
>Watcher                   unknown     unknown                          |Serin
Vex                 WIZ    Female      Void Kitsune
   Doing: Dark plots.  What else?  ;>
Kyubiko             i2m    female      Silver Fox
   Doing: Exploding the world as GuestKyubiko!
Doro                IIC    female      Chinchilla
--[ Found 10 characters. ( 10 Awake / 1 Zombie ) ]----------------------------

###  Now into the city of death we must choose our path with care

When we last left off, our heroes discovered the legends of a lost city to the south of Anansie, buried in the sands after being nigh-destroyed by a nameless fiend.  The troop headed south during the night, and near dawn, faced an incoming sand-storm.  Hiding in what was nicknamed by Serin as the 'fingers of the gods' - five black stones thrusting from the ground with small alcoves, the people waited for the sandstorm and day to pass.  As night fell, they continued south, towards the destroyed city, which appears to have been recently uncovered, the sands shifting to reveal it.
Meanwhile, Doro finds a sandwhich.
( That's sandwich! )
Not if you can't decide.
Kyubiko has disconnected.
Serin looks back to the awful spirits whose pain has disturbed even the air around.  Then, with a tiny determined frown on his face, he turns to face the city.  "People are sick, an' someone in there won't let them get better.  I don't like that."
Kyubiko has connected.
Kyubiko OOC hates Comnet when it does that.
Strider looks to Serin and then looks back towards the anchient city with one curt nod, "Well then kiddo... lets see what we can do about it."

###  Jade's back!  And she brought

Jade fades in from the aether, stepping up behind Foxy. "Wandering off into the desert makes it hard t'find you. Did I miss much?"
Serin sighs.  "Well I'm not a fighter, but sometimes the best way to heal is to kill bad guys.  Ok!"
Doro murrs softly, "Oh, just a sandstorm."
Foxtrot waiis and hugs Jade!!
Serin eeeeEEEEs!  "Jade!  You're back!  ^.^"
Kyubiko has disconnected.
Strider chuckles to Serin, "Sounds like fun kid.  Let's go forward."
Foxtrot looks over Jade's shoulder.  "And you've sort of brought Kyubiko along with you."  ;)
Serin GLOMPS onto Jade's leg, smiling like crazy.  "Didja bring any ancient scrolls?  Huh?  Didja?"
Jade blinkblinks anc chuckles. "Um.. yeah. Hiya." She fuzzles Foxy lightly.
Foxtrot looks down at Serin a moment, as if ferret just made a grevious error.
Doro laughs.
Kyubiko has connected.
Foxtrot nudges Serin.  "If you're going to glomp someone's leg, glomp Kyubiko."
Doro murrs softly, "Easy, Foxtrot-san, he's just a child and doesn't know the customs of Naipon."
Kaelyn oy's "foxy he's justa kid ^_^
     You look upon Jade, her form mostly concealed within her cloak. She stands a couple inches shy of six feet and her fur pattern is much as you would expect from a skunk. Her face is a snowy white, save for the black streak running down the top of her muzzle. The white extends down her neck, though that is as far as you can tell. Her hair, meanwhile, is pure white atop her head, fluffy bangs threatening to hide her eyes, and a pitch black at the back of her head and down behind her shoulders. She walks with a cheerful step and gazes about with shining green eyes. Behind her sway a trio of skunk tails.
     The cloak she wears is a deep red, the bottom edge ragged as though torn many times over and the hood is kept down usually. It is also slit halfway up the back to allow her fluffy tail with its single white stripe to move freely. Every once in a while, you catch a glimpse of her grey jerkin and white blouse hidden under the cloak. She wears a pair of leather bracers dyed purple and a ring of onyx.
Carrying:
Spirit Amulet
Jade's Ring
Crane Wakizashi
Crane Katana
Silver Tattoo
Ivy Crossbow
_________________________________________________________________________

     Kyubiko is a young vixen of a very slim build. From behind her flows a narrow yet long tail of silver, not as thick as that of others of her kind.. Her head fur, never cut, is tied every few inches to keep together, into a long tail of silver flowing from her head to her hips.

     She wears a simple long brown kimono, a green obi holding it closed, and tied on the front, leaving her feet bare. Her fur is a shiny silver, with black paws, muzzle, ears, and tail tip.  She looks to be a foreigner, her eyes slightly slanted and muzzle somewhat smaller than most foxes. Thick white fur runs under her chin, and her overall physical stature is well-defined, quite pleasing to the eyes.

     OOC: RPstaffer. Let the bombardment begin. ;)
_________________________________________________________________________
Carrying:
Crystal Naginata
Foxtrot nods to Doro.  "Hai."
Serin hrms.  "But Jade's so much fluffier."
Kyubiko blinks once and turns to Foxtrot, "interesting selection.. may I inquire as to the motive?"
Serin dances away giggling.
Strider nods over, "Hey kiddo.  Let's focus on getting the bad guys eh?"
Doro scritches Serin.
Jade wrinkles her nose and pokes Foxy in the ribs. "No, you may _not_ kill him."
Doro murrs softly, "So, find any more information for us, Jade-sama?"
Foxtrot smiles, "I don't like young male ferrets hugging my wife's leg?"  ;)
( Never ask a ferret to focus for more than 2 seconds.  ;) )
Jade murmurs, "And I didn't find anything more than Foxtrot probably told you already."
Foxtrot smiles to Jade.  "Repeat it, for Kyubiko?"
Serin is looking at something shiny underneath that rock--eww... desert snail goo...
Jade furrows her brow. "Gee, thanks. Hmm..."
Kyubiko is, incidently, armed. This is a rare thing for her.
Serin is, incidently, peering at Kyubiko's crystal sword in rapturous awe.

###  The plague becomes bolts of light across the sky.

Overhead, lightning of red, blue, and violet hues crackle in the overcast sky.  The lightning plays over the group, not quite causing harm, but leaving you feeling somewhat ill -- as Foxtrot had mentioned this 'lightning' is the plague itself.  The city looks shattered and gutted, but in the centre you see a building in surprisingly good shape.
Strider looks up, laying his ears back as he observes the sky.  He makes a fist with a paw and groans once, though holds it all back as he looks to the group, "Let's get it over with already."
You say, "Ugh... yucky lightning.  If I didn't know better, I'd say this was more a curse than a plague."
Foxtrot almost chuckles. " It is the plague."
Kaelyn erfs.. "Then lets go.
Foxtrot turns to Doro, "Lead on, leader."
Serin sighs.  "Onward then.  May we live to see the day."
Kyubiko nods to Serin. "Think not of your death, only what is now.."
Jade murmurs to Kyubiko, "A hundred years ago, a sorcerer called down a darkness starting in Tajima, where we probably are, and Anansie. He summoned 'He Who is Devoid of Life' from beyond the 'Great Wall' - some demon who gave him power. In the end, the sorcerer turned on it, but the demon destroyed Tajima. The Vizier of Anansie had the demon banished."
Jade says, "That's the short version."
Serin chuckles.  "Between Kyubiko and Hoshi_Wakaru, there isn't anything anytime!"
Doro has connected.
You say, "It said he destroyed the demon in a storm.  Did he really banish it?"
Doro has disconnected.
Foxtrot says, "Lead on, leader."
Foxtrot looks at Doro.
Jade frowns. "It was believed the demon was pushed back beyond the 'Great Wall,' hai."
Strider nods a couple times, folding his arms over his chest as he awaits the move forwards.
Kyubiko considers, "The vizier.." she echoes, nodding quietly. "then it has returned?"
Overhead, lightning of red, blue, and violet hues crackle in the overcast sky.  The lightning plays over the group, not quite causing harm, but leaving you feeling somewhat ill -- as Foxtrot had mentioned this 'lightning' is the plague itself.  The city looks shattered and gutted, but in the centre you see a building in surprisingly good shape.
Foxtrot hmms.  "Kage no Oni."
Jade says, "Things are rather similar, though I recall no mention of a plague in those scrolls."
Kaelyn maybe the plague's the demon?

###  Doro, our new Fearless Leader strikes a pose.  ^.^

Serin waits for Doro to strike a pose, across the windswept barren waste, her fur lined in the sickly St. Elmo's fire that plays all around and blowing slightly in a nonexistent breeze.  A single gleam in her eye, and the troop at ready behind her snaps into action.  <insert Mortal Kombat music>
Foxtrot frowns and starts inspecting the area carefully.. specifically, the lightning and where it's headed.
Kyubiko looks around, "there is a gate to the Shadow.." she notes quietly.
Doro murrs softly, "Where?"
Foxtrot follows the trails of lightning to the clouds, which are centered over the manor in the heart of Tajima.  "Oh... baka..."
Doro murrs softly, "Let me guess, where the lightning is..."
You say, "The Sun's Shadow..."
Kyubiko shakes her head. "The world of Shadow.."
Jade murmurs, "Of course, the Vizier in the scrolls had his greatest magicians to help with the banishing..."
Snowpony has disconnected.

###  In a world of shadows, only the sun casts one.

You say, "Well there has to be a sun if it's a world.  An' if the shadows cast light, then their sun shines in shadow.  It's perfec'ly sensible."
Foxtrot asks, "My father trained me to some extent in magics such as this.  It's a ritual.  A powerful ritual.  This.. plague... this lightning... is actually part of the ritual.. draining the life-force of those it infects.. spellcasters being the carriers to help it spread.  When it reaches near two hundred-thousand souls, a permanent gate opens.  To ... the realm of Shadow?"
Strider looks around anxiously, looking to find this gate or anything of the sort.
Foxtrot says, "This entire land will be overlayed by the realm of Shadow."
Doro murrs softly, "Dear gods.... how far along is it?"
Jade shivers. "We shouldn't waste time, regardless."
Foxtrot looks... "Not nearly close.  Anansie's a small population."
You say, "How can we hope to stop something like that?"
Kyubiko nods slowly. "Then I shall have to improvise." she states. She turns to Foxtrot and Jade, "Will you join me?"
Foxtrot says, "Find the caster."
Foxtrot nods to Kyubiko.  "Hai."
Kaelyn eefs... "Then we go to the center and try to stop this?
You say, "But he's supposed to be dead a hundred years!!"
Jade flicks her ear and frowns slightly at that particular question, but nods to Kyubiko.
Jade says, "Serin. Someone else must be casting this presently, don't you think?"
You say, "Um... couldn't it just be the demon?"
Doro murrs softly, "Near the center would be a good place to start and see what's going on."
Kyubiko looks around. "I would ask any who are able to use magic to aid if they wish.."
Jade says, "They can't normally cross over like that themselves, I should think."
Foxtrot looks at Kyubiko.  "No, don't cast a spell."
Strider nods in agreement with Doro, "We're not going to get anything done with contemplation away from the source."
You say, "But if we use magic, people get the plague."
Kaelyn erfs "I can use magic... and we don't cast a spell till we ABSOLUTELY have to o.o
Serin thinks it would be noticably worse so close to the source.
Foxtrot says, "If we use magic... here... we further the plague along.  We're too close to the heart, *everyone* in Anansie would get worse."
Foxtrot nods to Serin.
Foxtrot waits for Doro's command.
Kyubiko blinks once, and closes her eyes, nodding. "Gomen." she queitly says, "I will need advice. I have never battled without the direct aid of the kami."
Foxtrot nods to Kyubiko.  "Hai.  Understood... I am in much the same boat."
Kaelyn erfs... "If I can get a shot with the bow I could stop the mage...
Off, somewhere far, far, far to the south, a bunch of penguins with spears pokes a young sorceress.  "Don't stop the dance!"
You say, "If it is a person, they can be tricked."
Serin hrms? and wonders why he just thought of little black flightless birds.
Strider looks off, "Why don't we see just what we're up against..."
Kyubiko holds her naginata more tightly, "I am not incompetent without.. simply unfamiliar." She looks around again, reconsidering her options.
Jade observes, "We can't do anything to them until we find 'em."
You say, "They may already know we're here."
Foxtrot offers everyone some jade tea.
Kaelyn nods "obviously... so lets go....
Jade swats Foxtrot!
Foxtrot ows.
Serin sips his jade, trying to figure out how to trick the bad guy.

###  We creep through the ruined city of Tajima

Doro murrs softly, "Let's fan out a bit, but to where we can still see each other, and head towards the center."
Foxtrot nods to Doro.  "Hai!"  He follows whichever way Jade's going.
You say, "There's plenty of places to hide... as long as we're not being scried."
Strider shakes his head to the tea, "Don't think my stomach will take anything unless we get this all over with."
Jade smirks slightly, padding toward the city.
Doro pads forward, sheathing her cutlass, but keeping a ready paw on it.
Serin follows, melting along the ruined walls wherever there's some place to hide.
Kyubiko follows, thoughtful..
Kaelyn follows orders, bow strung and an arrow in nocked.
Strider takes up the side of the leader, paw on his fighting dagger as the restlessness in him shows.
The city is dead and lifeless, those who died there having been preserved well by being buried under sand.  They look withered and mummified, their clothes and fur rubbed away by the shifting sands of time.  As you walk through the broken city you see felines, canines, and others, withered, lifeless, their orbless eyes staring up hollowly into the skies.
Serin draws his dagger and sticks it in his sash for easy access.
As you work your way deeper into the city, you come upon the palace at the centre, still well-preserved.  Green energy pulses from one of the tower windows - a steady rhythm like a beating heart.
Strider keeps his head held up so he doesn't have to witness the horrors on the ground.  He sniffs around, cupping his ears up so that he remains fully alert.
Foxtrot mumbles, "And here I .. thinking .. ..... to Hinde... . ..... .... ... enough sand for . ......"
Doro ears swivel around to pick up any odd sounds.  She also keeps looking back and forth so that nothing comes up on her blind side.
Serin suppresses his aura, making himself look so inconsequential he draws about as much attention as a piece of wall.
Jade peers up at the tower, eyes glowing faintly.
Doro murrs softly, "What do you see, Jade-sama?"
Jade shrugs. "Just the obvious. That's the center of all this. I can't tell anything else from here."
sayset: Verb set.
Doro nods and looks around.
Kaelyn nods... "then lets go there.
Foxtrot mrphs.  "That's where we need to go."
Doro murrs softly, "Then let's go."
Serin whispers, "Maybe we should approach from two directions."
Foxtrot says, "There's nothing here."
Serin pops up peering over a piece of twisted rock, then ducks down again.
Doro heads towards the palace.
Serin keeps a parallel course with Doro.

###  We enter a tower that seems to have lifted itself up from ruins.

Finding the route to that room is fairly easy, as you get closer, you see lines of energy running up towards the room.  The room itself is a library, in one of the towers, and inside the room is what would normally be a secret door - except that it's open.
Strider pulls the fighting dagger from his belt and grins, "Well... what do we have here..."  He looks around curiously.
Doro quietly draws her sword as she peeks into the open door.
Jade draws her crossbow as she waits.
Kaelyn unties her sword and makes it to where she can easily reach it, and keeps her hand ready on her bow.
Kyubiko holds her weapon at the ready, keeping eyes to the rear..
Serin stays a good distance from the door, near the rear.
Strider keeps to the front himself, ready to take anything.

###  There is a room and inside that room is a pentagram and inside that pentagram is Shadow.

The small room is blackened and partially glazed with heat and strange stone.  A circle of salt on the ground has been broken, and the body of a strange creature floats in the centre -- what appears to have once been some furry.  The figure floats in the centre of the circle, twitching and moving constantly as the energies pouring into the room are drawn to its open mouth and eyes.  As you approach, its head turns to face you.  A young feline's body, no older than twelve, lies crumpled on the side of the room, its blood creeping out in a pool around the circle as if to complete the circumference.
Foxtrot blinks and comes up short, looking at the contents of the room, his daisho sliding out almost immediately.
Doro's brow furrows into a dark scowl.
Jade blinks once, taking aim.
Strider looks and winces, turning his head way, "Looks as old as my sister..."  He shuts his eyes and exhales before looking back ahead with focus in his gaze.
The black 'cloud' of a furry twists inside the circle, coming to face the group and 'standing' at the centre of the circle.  The body, once mortal, is now changed, almost bloating with power that it now holds, resembling a storm cloud given mortal form.  In fact, tendrils of the body's mass can be seen stretching away from it, feeding the raging storm outside the palace itself.
Serin says nothing, discreetly stepping in, keeping the other furrs between him and the circle.
Kyubiko stands off to the side somewhat, her weapon at the ready. She does not make a move yet.
Strider moves forwards towards the entity as everyone seems to hang back, tension apparent in him.
Kaelyn erfs... "strider, don't approach em..." she says, as she tries to determine the surroundings.. "Especially don't break the circle...
Strider tilts an ear towards Kaelyn, keeping his eyes on the entity.  He stops in place, watching intently.
Foxtrot glances at the group, taking one step closer, daisho out, keeping between it and Jade.
Doro moves one step forward and off to the side from Foxtrot, minding the circle as she keeps an eye on the 'cloud'.
Kyubiko whispers under her breath a prayer, asking for good fortune on all. She feels her little group is going to need it..
Strider has disconnected.
Jade blinks and murmurs, "Jamal's descendant..."
Foxtrot blinks at that, and looks at Kyubiko.
Doro murrs softly, "Makes sense..."
Foxtrot nods, and frowns, thinking that over.  "Very much so... life is a circle."
Strider has connected.

###  Kaelyn tries to reach the summoner to no avail.

Kaelyn calls out "ye know, yer killin' thousands of innocents.
Serin starts to say something, but instead tries to find some place where he can't be seen.
Kyubiko closes her eyes for a moment, silently adding prayers to her prior one.
Strider snaps out of his trance, looking over te situation intently.
The creature in the centre of the circle says something in a language that sounds much like the endless decay of land against the relentless ocean, a sound like the mountains wearing away by uncaring wind.
Jade murmurs, "Lured here by Jamal's spirit and Beryn to repeat the summoning. The child was... a part of the ceremony."
Snowpony has connected.
Foxtrot backs up, swords raised, "The Song of Unmaking.."
Doro huhs?
Serin cuts back a snarl.
Foxtrot says, "Abbadon."
Doro takes out a dagger hidden in her boot and holds it ready to throw.
Kyubiko opens her eyes. "we must halt this.." she decides. "sooner preferable."
Kaelyn calls out "Listen, yer ancestor fought this, he realized what was happening was wrong.. cease this...
Strider keeps his own dagger ready in paw, though seems reluctant to fight against the youthful spirit.
Jade furrows her brow, ears going back. "Hai, but what is the safest way?"
Doro narrows her eye and snaps out her arm, sending the blade flying.
The creature in the centre of the circle watches the group, trapped in the centre of a spider's web of energy while it gestates.  Again, it speaks, a language cold and unyielding.
Strider furrows up his brow, "Is anyone understanding this?"
Serin tries to pick up what it's saying.
The blade spins quickly through the air, passing harmlessly through the tumultuous body.
Foxtrot says, "I am."
Doro murrs softly, "Care to translate?"
Foxtrot says, "No, not really."
Doro murrs softly, "Fine, is it of import for us to know?"
It isn't just a 'language', it's the language of gods.
Strider frowns to himself.
Foxtrot asks, "If I could dream, I would have nightmares for the rest of my life.  Is that suitable enough?"
Foxtrot quickly looks over the room once more.  "But I *do* have good news -- that I think it was trying to distract me from..."
Doro murrs softly, "And that is?"
Kaelyn umms "yeah?

###  The Shadow spawn has one weakness...

Foxtrot says, "It's helpless.  It can't leave.  Until this ritual's done, and it has two-hundred-thousand souls devoured, it isn't going anywhere."
Foxtrot says, "It can't do anything to us."
Doro murrs softly, "Well that is definately good news.  So how do we stunt its growth?"
Kyubiko asks, "what are we able to do?"
Serin feels the words with weight of worlds pass over him, but he looks to Foxtrot confusedly.  "I'm glad you can understand it."
Kaelyn ummms... "what I'd like to know is what do we do to banish it?
Foxtrot licks his lips in worry.  "I can forsee two paths here."
Strider lowers his dagger upon hearing that, "Finish the ritual."
Foxtrot says, "One."

###  ...it has to sit there while we cut it to pieces.  Some weakness, huh?  ^.-

Foxtrot says, "We enchant our weapons and slay it where it is.  Its avatar body gets destroyed, sending it back to Jigoku."
Foxtrot says, "Two."
Serin whispers, "And what 'bout that Jamal spirit an' Beryl guy?"
Kyubiko readies her weapon. "This will strike down the dark one's minions. It will strike that."
Jade says, "Of course, enchantment tends to take magic.."
Foxtrot says, "Kyubiko, Kaelyn, and myself study the patterns here, and perform an exorcism.  We banish the creature possessing that target, and once it's done, you strike down the idiot who summoned it."
Jade mindsends to you (( Jamal was the sorcerer a hundred years ago. Beryn was the 'demon.' ))
Strider nods a couple times, "Magic isn't good me or Doro here..."
Serin ohs.
Kaelyn murrs, "doesn't take magic to examine the weaves, and it doesn't take magic to call down the gods on him to help us..."
Foxtrot nods to Jade.  "Hai... true, but if we act quickly..."
Kyubiko nods slowly. "My thanks will extend to the Lion Clan once more.. even if they cannot hear it.." She asks, "is there reason for delay?"
Foxtrot says, "Kaelyn... calling on spirits is what I do, and what Kyubiko does, and it aggravates the plague."
Kaelyn holds out her sword "allready enchanted?
Serin whispers, "What fool would summon a demon so carelessly like that?"
Kaelyn also pulls out about 8 arrows...
Foxtrot points at the fool in the circle.
Strider grins to Serin, "I don't know but I do intend to cut the one through."
Serin whispers, "He's not exactly in the most recognizable states, you know."
Foxtrot purses his lips.  "I'll do the blessing on the weapons.  Bring them to me."
Doro murrs softly, "Is that going to aggravate the plague?"
Foxtrot says, "Hai."
Foxtrot says, "However, the plague stops with his death."
Kyubiko nods, and proceeds to strike at the creature.
Kaelyn umms "m'weapons are allready blessed and ready to go...
Serin whispers, "When the demon is banished, we can use our magic again, right?  I mean to fight the guy who comes out."
Serin whispers, "Err... the summoner."
Kaelyn hands foxy her sword.... "I got m'bow...
Doro hands her cutlass to Foxtrot.
The crystal blade swings through the circle without resistance, and slams into the creature's side.  It lets out a howl of pain!
Strider pulls all three sizes of dagger and hands them over to Foxtrot.
Kyubiko will continue this. She happens to dislike things that get hurt by this.
Foxtrot glances over, and then quickly calls a prayer to Amaterasu over the weapons.
Serin hands his own knife to Foxtrot, with an urgent look in his eyes.
Those who have the plague feel the sudden incoming of the second wave of symptoms, their energy feeding the creature quickly, as it stands up and says something in that cold, dead language to Kyubiko.
Serin whispers, "The more magic we use, the stronger it gets!"
Kyubiko slaps it in the mouth.
Doro shakes her head and narrows her eye.  she takes back her cutlass and slashes at the creature, still careful of the circle.
Kyubiko spends 7 Void.
Serin whispers, "Please Foxtrot, I wanna help too.  If there's anyone left in that husk, they're in awful pain..."
Foxtrot exclaims, "Just hit it!"
Kaelyn growls, and starts firing her arrows at the creature, as rapidly she can pull from her quiver and let them go, silver arcs of energy following the blessed arrows, as they scream through the air toward the demon.
Jade leans against a wall quietly, frowning as she watches.
Kyubiko's hand smacks it in the head, which snaps back.  It thrashes against Doro's strike, and Kyubiko's naginata, Kaelyn's arrows imbedding in its vapourous, shadowy hide.
Strider growls.  He launches his throwing dagger towards the entity once he regains it, taking his other two daggers in the other paw.
Serin sighs.  "No, don't cast the spell again.  You gotta kill that thing wifout me I guess."
Foxtrot walks over to Jade, and gives her ear-scritchies.
Kaelyn erfs as starts pulling four bladed barbed arrows, vicious looking things desinged only to rend and tear and begins to shoot those into the beast as well.
Under the relentless assault, the body crumples, disappating into the realms of shadows, the soul of the conjurer being dragged off with Beryn into the plane of Shadow.

###  We won!  Uh, guys?  We won!  Hello?  How many times did you think you would have to kill him?

Serin eyes the one sided battle, waiting for the plague to end so he can join.
Kyubiko stops trying to hit it now, panting slightly. She does not do that very often..
Serin whispers, "Oh.  I guess there's uh... he kinda fell apart.  So we don't hafta kill him again?"
Kyubiko shakes her head. "We must close the gate.."
As the creature dies, the storm disappates, the clouds rolling back and the stars outside coming into view.  Finally, the effects of the plague.. don't fade.. but stop.  The gateway closes.
Kyubiko blinks. "or let it close on its own..."
Foxtrot looks around now.  "It's over..."
Doro murrs softly, "I think... that's taken care of."
Strider nods slowly... jsut watching, "Well then.... that was easy enough."
Serin brightens a bit.  "Well I can help with... oh it's closing by itself. :("
Foxtrot hmms.
( just )

###  Doro... never ever say this.

Doro murrs softly, "That was rather.... anti-climatic.  Hmmmm."
Outside comes the faintest sound of thunder... different than you may expect, though.. it's below.
Serin says, "Well I'm just glad no one got hurt.  Noone got hurt, right?"
Doro murrs softly, "What the?"
Kaelyn umms "I like anticlimatic... umm oh by the gods... lets LEAVE!
Serin thinks we maybe should hasten out of here!!!!
Foxtrot looks around for the window.  He walks over, then peaks out.
Kyubiko nods in agreement with Kaelyn.
Serin says, "Guys... why's the floor making funny noises?"
The desert sands slowly crawl back up, like waves they roll and crash against the city walls, intent on reclaiming the city once more.
Jade coughs quietly. "Hai, leaving may be wise," she agrees, departing the room.
Doro murrs softly, "Leaving sounds like a good idea."
Foxtrot umms.. "Anyone have a boat?"
Serin uh ohs.  But the sand's coming from all around!
Doro murrs softly, "No."
Serin says, "We can use a door to make a raft, if you think it'll float."
Strider nods, running to grab his thrown dagger and then blinking at Foxtrot, "Oh yah... in my bloody pocket."
Foxtrot says, "Then I strongly suggest we climb the mountain."
Kyubiko shakes her head to Foxtrot, "Ie.. but I can give us a way of escape.."
Foxtrot ohs?
Kaelyn umms and quickly starts to weave a flow, trying to summon a gate to the gates of Anansie.
Serin is sure he saw a door that wasn't corroded and rotted away... probably metal... or 6 foot stone.  "Never mind."
The sand slams into the walls of the city, once.  Twice.  With the third wave the desert pours over the wall, crawling and moving down the abandoned streets.
Kyubiko says, "The embrace of Kenro-Ji Jin."
Foxtrot nods?
Serin says, "But why is the sand coming back now?  The spell that brought it was cast a hundred years ago!"
Kyubiko asks, "if you are able, aid would be appreciated.."

###  The Sand comes down.  The Gate comes up.  The Tower falls, we flee.

Kaelyn unless hindered, soon a speck appears in the air, and quickly spirals outward into a gate wide enough for 3 persons wide, on the other side, appears to be the gates outside of Anansie.
Foxtrot asks, "And it was removed when the summonig happened?"
Serin bends before Kyubiko, lending her some of his energy.  "Just don't take too much or I pass out and get real cold."
Strider growls, "Who cares why and when and how... let's get going."
Doro murrs softly, "Exactly."
Jade furrows her brow as she peers back in, smirking slightly at the portal. She shrugs and pads back over.
Another wave of sand washes over the walls, spilling into the streets, causing the tower to rock.  The tower lists, sending the group on their sides as the floor suddenly becomes a wall.
Doro acks!
Doro murrs softly, "If the portal's done, let's go!"
Kaelyn eefs o.o... "she then says "lets LEAVE and grabs serin and throws him through the portal, before she looks to the others.
Serin EEEEPS and vanishes.
Doro scrambles up to her feet.
Foxtrot tumbles as the entire room seems to swing around him.  He crashes into the wall and grumbles, standing on it.
Serin doesn't stop to look around, he ties a rope to something sturdy and also around his waist.  Then he tries to go back through the portal to help people through.
Jade stumbles, slamming into the floor-er-wall. She growls quietly and scrambles for Kaelyn's portal (presuming it's still available).
Kyubiko is going to be the last to go through that portal. She waits for everyone to be either through it or beside her.
Foxtrot gets up, and looks at Jade leave, then helps Kyubiko up.  "After you."
Kaelyn erfs as she's thrown head over heals, the portal actually following her, then she almost fallst hrough, now hanging in a precarious position on the ceiling o.o
Doro sheathes her sword and goes for the portal.
Another wave strikes the tower, sending it crashing down on its side.  Sand begins to pour through the window, spilling into the room.
Strider stands by the portal, ready to help the stumbling through.
Serin puts a hand out for Doro.  "C'mon Strider!  Kyubiko!  Foxtrot an' Jade can't get squished by sand."
Kyubiko casts, this time directing her energies to halting the sand from entering the window further.. it does not take her long to do this..
Kaelyn calls out "Kyu, get in through the door and hold it open from the other side!" she calls out o.o
Doro takes the paw.
Foxtrot nods and follows Kyubiko's lead, adding his energies to holding the sand at bay while everyone escapes.
Strider nods, leading the way through the portal then.
Kaelyn eefs "or do that..." she says as she litterally hangs from the edge of the portal, looking like a big unirope o.o
Serin grabs the rope and he and Doro slowly pull their way across the shaking floor to the gate.
The tower rocks as the waves of sand wash over it, the walls and floors beginning to crack under the sudden strain.

###  Kyubiko either does something really smart, or really stupid.

Kyubiko states, "Go.." as she keeps her mind on the spell on the window, and a new one she is mumbling...
Jade tailwaves, slipping through the portal.
Foxtrot looks at Kyubiko.  "No.  It isn't as if I can't just leave for the spirit plane.. I'll be the last to go."
Serin jumps back like a lil' ferret yoyo, tugging on Strider and pointing to the rope attached to Serin's waist.
Kaelyn erfs and pulls her way through the tunnel, then reaches her hand through to try and help those trying to come through as well.
Foxtrot continues to hold the sand back, listening to the sound of the stones straining against the sand.
Doro, at the other end, uses th rope to haul furs up to where she can give them a paw up.
Kyubiko strains her concentration as she finishes her second spell, "I will survive.." she whispers. "go.."
Foxtrot looks at Kyubiko, then bows, holding the spell until after he's left.  "As you wish."  He leaps through the gateway.
With Foxtrot gone, the strain grows, and the walls begin to collapses.  First one or two, then suddenly exploding out with sand.
Kaelyn grumbles and looks to the rope, and as soon as most, save foxtrot and kyu are in, she tries to fassion a loop with it, then looks to Kyu "I'm gonna pull ya through.. hold on o.o" she says and tries to lasson kyu gently ^_^
Serin watches Foxtrot coming through.  Then he starts to go back for Kyubiko.
Serin says, "Lady Kyubiko!  No!!"
Foxtrot looks at Jade as he moves in position beside her.  "I think Kyubiko would make an excellent kitsune."
Foxtrot says, "She's got the martyr thing down-pat."
Serin wilts, looking at the sand pouring... through the gate?! O.o  "Umm... Kaelyn?"
Sand fills the room, then starts pouring through the gateway.
Kaelyn starts pulling on the rope, hoping she's got kyu o.o
Jade furrows her brow. "Kitsune? I thought that was just you. We're not exactly supposed to go doing everything for mortals - even if we can get away with some things easier," she murmurs back.
Foxtrot kind of shrugs.
The rope's kind of stuck.
Kyubiko is, interestingly enough, not on the other end of the rope.
Serin says, "Martyrs are absent from no race or creed."
Foxtrot nods.  "Creed.  Creed is good."
Kaelyn leaves the gate open, hoping that kyu will be washed through? O.o
Serin says, "I bet you could find Anansie merchant martyrs, much less kitsune!"
Sand continues to pour out of the gateway... piles of it.  Until the portal's finally covered.

###  Sand pours through the gate, sealing Kyubiko's last known location for relative eternity.

Strider wrinkles up his nose, "Alright... we appear to be missing someone.."
Foxtrot kind of gives Strider a look.
Serin says, "Kyubiko was stupid an' stayed to be crushed even when Foxtrot tol' her he wouldn't get hurt."
Doro murrs softly, "Thank you Captain Obvious."
Kaelyn erfs....
Foxtrot says, "She will be here, when she gets here."
Kaelyn sighs and drops the portal
Doro nods in agreement with Foxtrot.
Serin says, "I'd rather see her alive though."
Doro murrs softly, "Who says she's dead?"
Foxtrot asks, "Give her time.  Do you know how hard it is to walk under tons of sand?"
Doro murrs softly, "She's not the vizier for nothing ya know."
Serin says, "What could survive that?!"
Jade peers around slowly, eyes scanning the surroundings.
Foxtrot says, "Err, me.  Jade?  Kyubiko."
Kaelyn umms "A mage with their full power ^_^
( The plot rumbles ominously. )
Strider snorts towards Doro, looking between all, "Well... "
Serin says, "Really?  ^.^  That's great.  I can't wait 'till I learn the survive-anything spell."
( The plot rumbles ominously. )

###  We find ourselves back at the city, this time with hope, not despair

Around you are the hundreds of plague-ridden.  Now that the plague itself is gone, healers move among them, tending to the symptoms and slowly helping them to recover.
Strider looks over the fursons, reflecting silently.
Serin looks around, and then remembers he can use magic again!  Joyfully, he scampers about, administering his herbs and charms.
Most of the healers that you see are from the north.  Using crystals and the gifts of psionics, they work their abilities, alongside the fakirs of Anansie who are a little more reluctant to use their magical abilities right now.
Strider grins and looks over the adventuring group, "So... that means we're the heros and all is well?"
Doro blinks.  "Healer reinforcements.  Great."
Foxtrot looks over at the gates of Anansie.  "Strange.... the flags are down."
Kaelyn sighs and moves to join the healers
Doro hms?
Jade blinks. "What does that mean? The sultan?..."
Doro pads over to a fakir.  "Why are the flags down?"
Foxtrot wrests the plot away from Vex for a moment.  ;)
"This is what I came for!" Serin says approaching a thin dog.  the fruit merchant looks up blearily as a cup of warm good stuff is placed upon his lips "There now... just drink an' rest a bit."
Foxtrot purses his lips.  "Want to go see?"
Kaelyn blinks and looks to Foxtrot.... "ummm sure, I guess o.o
Jade glances over at where Doro is and listens in...
Jafar mumbles, "... ...... had .......... ... plague.  While ... ........ ... Lord Prince ..... ......... .. tend .. .... .. ...... away just minutes ago."
Serin starts to cure a little kangaroo rat kit, when he stops and looks to his side.  "Strange..." and turns away from the crystal psion who at that moment, healed.
Doro nods solemnly.  She pads over to Jade.  "Aye, the sultan.  He passed away just minutes ago."
Foxtrot purses his lips.
The psion looks at Serin a moment, and just.. smiles.
Kaelyn stands and looks to Foxtrot "just minutes?
Kaelyn ummms "maybe I kin help...
Snowpony has become terminally idle.
Foxtrot looks at Kaelyn, "Why are you looking at me?"
Serin probably shouldn't have wandered out of hearing range.  He comes back curiously, with a noticably thinned herb pouch.
Jafar looks at Kaelyn, "He has already been examined by the medics, and all the signs point to the plague.  Lord Prince Tepez will be coronated in one week's time."
Kaelyn ummms... "I think I might be able t'help the Sultan.... let me have m'chance.... specially if it's only been a few minutes.
Serin says, "Why?  What happened to him?"
Foxtrot looks at Jafar.  "You say examined...?"
Jafar nods.  "Yes.  He was cut open and his organs studied."

###  Something that grosses Foxtrot out?  O.o

Foxtrot *twitches*!!!
Foxtrot exclaims, "EWW!"
Kaelyn rolls her eyes "Ye bloody killed him.
Serin says, "You do that to your own Sultan?!  O.o"
Doro patpats Foxtrot.
Jade just listens...
Serin wows.  "And I thought he might have gotten sick or sumthing."
Jafar frowns.  "Yes.  He was already confirmed dead, the plague had killed him."
Jafar nods, "He is being studied at this very moment."
Foxtrot looks for somewhere to be sick.
Doro gets an empty pot for Foxy.
Kaelyn erfs... "I'm a bloody unicorn, I heal those that are sick and injured, and if I get to someone quickly enough, I can heal even within a few hours of death.
Foxtrot tosses his aetherial cookies.

###  Foxtrot: It's akin to throwing up on your shirt, and walking around in it.

"Oh, so he did get sick.  Could nothing heal him?" Serin turns aside mumbling to himself. "That's weird..."
Jafar shakes his head.  "Lord Prince Tepez was with him during the final moments.  Just before the plague broke, our High Sultan gave his final breath."  Jafar looks downcast.
Foxtrot looks out among the furries around them.  "True.. it seems those already in the final stages are dying.. the rest are recovering..."
Strider is busying himself by sharpening his blades, unfamiliar with the talk at paw.
You mumble, "I hope you're not getting sick!  How come, if crystal psions are all around here, they didn't heal the Sultan?" to Foxtrot.
Serin mumbles, "I hope you're ... ....... sick!  ... come, if crystal psions are all ...... ..... they didn't heal the ......."
Kaelyn shakes her head and rolls her eyes, then goes back to those that are in their final stages, trying to bring them back.
Foxtrot mindsends to you ((  I am not getting sick.  Just.. touching dead bodies is tabboo back home... sort of akin to throwing up on your shirt, and walking around in it. ))
Jafar looks at Kaelyn.  "We did not know there was to be a unicorn present."
Jade looks to Foxtrot. "There is a shrine somewhere around here?"
Foxtrot nods to Jade.
Foxtrot says, "Hai.  Kyubiko-sama if I recall keeps a shrine nearby."
Doro looks around and sighs. "Damn, I miss the sea....  Ah well."
Jade asks, "Would you like to check in on that? I see little reason to remain here long."
Foxtrot nods to Jade, and follows.
Doro looks to the kami. "Care for a tag-along?"
Foxtrot looks at Doro.
Foxtrot offers to let Doro walk along with him.
Doro decides to walk along with Foxtrot.
Foxtrot asks, "Perhaps we'll meet Kyubiko there?"
Snowpony has unidled.
Serin sighs.  "The poor sultan.  He must have put healing his people before his own life."
Kaelyn umms and looks to serin.
Strider stands up and nods to the group, "Been good working with you, but considering I have a home and family that requires me more... I think I'll head north."
Foxtrot nods to Serin, then heads towards the city.
Kaelyn mindsends to you (( doubtful ))

###  We part our ways, and make the best of troubled times.

Strider winks, "If you're all lucky, you'll see me again."  He slips his daggers back into his belt and turns to head off."
Doro murrs softly, "If you're lucky, then you didn't just cut your belt with your daggers."
Serin sighs.  "I know where I'm needed.  I'll stay here until people are better."
Doro smiles to serin.  "See ya later then."
Strider winks at Doro, "That would only make you lucky."
Kaelyn grumbles and does what she can to ease the pain of those who are basically lost allready, and heals those who are close, but still has a chance.
Serin smiles, and wanders off to brew some more herbs.

###  Fin.

Serin is Copyright 2000, Starling. All other characters are copyright their owners.
Please do not reprint without permission.
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