The Dark Wood

The figure flickers and eventually disappears as they advance, its voice fading. It gives no sign that it noticed them as they passed. The compass leads them further into the ruins, where the scenery begins to change. The ruined buildings are more intact now. The strange scrub trees from earlier are much more common here, with their strange insectoid leaves taking full advantage of the breaks in the tree cover created by the buildings. They sink their roots into the still standing walls, using them to prop themselves up higher than the other competing undergrowth. The ruins become more and more maze-like as they advance, buildings looming taller, closer together.

The magic is more agitated here. Even to the untrained, the animalistic presence is palpable. It crackles in the air, writhing like an animal in pain.

Eventually, they emerge from the shadow of the alleyways into a large courtyard. This place is different. As they cross the threshold, the ambient magic is suddenly totally still. Unlike the rest of the city, this place seems totally untouched by time. Beautifully pruned and maintained hedges line the garden, in full bloom. Climbing roses extend up the trunks of willows that lean over exquisitely maintained ponds and small streams. At each corner of the space, there is an identical statue, standing atop a relatively unadorned dais. Each statue appears to be a strange approximation of the human form, disproportionately stretched. Each is fully ten feet tall, with limbs approximately five feet long. However, even at their thickest, the limbs measure perhaps three inches across. Their heads are smooth and featureless, and two long horns curve directly outward from the top of their head, gently rising and extending almost two feet. Each statue holds a long, viciously pointed spear in one hand. The spears look less like spears, however, and more like needles. There is no spearhead, but rather a long featureless staff narrowing smoothly to a single point. Most unusual of all is the material that composes the statues. It is a glistening green substance that looks too oily to be any kind of stone. Rather it looks more like a chitin.

At the very center of the courtyard stands a fifth dais. It is empty.

Nomad squinted his eyes still only making out shadows and shapes. Unable to take in details he relied on other senses, some of which were beyond normal human's grasp, "I agree. This place is... unsettling." Still he couldn't help but try to gather magic up, almost on instinct.

Nomad almost jumped for joy. He quickly whipped up the magic and healed his eyes. He looked around the courtyard with restored vision. However the vision made his stomach twist in a knot. He glanced to Roxanne, "We are in danger."

He pointed at the statues that were much larger than a man, "They aren't stone." He began charging his magic, "I'm not sure what they are, we should move on. Sooner rather than later." His eyes began to glow red as magic began to surge through him. He was afraid that an attack could happen at any moment. This trip was proving to be a stressful endeavor.

Nomad followed closely behind. He was still gathering magic as he moved, a few spells raced through his mind to use the magic he was building, and discharge it should they make it out and into the volatile forest.

Roxanne glanced back, shuddering at the sight of the crumbling statues. They'd walked into something else there, something not of their world, and she was glad to have walked out. Shivering, she gripped her sword tightly continued walking. Even though she wasn't particularly sensitive to magic, even she could tell that something was wrong with the atmosphere here.

When the pair happened upon the skeleton, she gasped. What was that thing? Part of her was tempted to stop, to take the gold jewelry and pocket it...but images of the corpse rising from its resting place to drive that spear into her throat stopped her from acting on her looter's urges.

"What is that thing, Nomad? Some kind of demon? I've never seen anything like it. What are those horns? Do you know anything about this? Do they teach you about this when you learn magic?"

Roxanne spun around, searching frantically for Nomad. Where had he gone? Had he been snatched? Did he decide to simply teleport away, abandoning her? She couldn't believe it...but the reality of the situation was that he was no longer with her. How was she supposed to escape now? Her heart pounded in her ears as the severity of her situation sunk in. She was in some creepy ruined town in the middle of the woods, with nobody to teleport her out. Glancing around, she spotted the spindly green arm as it reached around a building. She gasped, and immediately took off as fast as she could away from the hand. Something told her that she didn't want to be around to see what was attached to that arm.

Roxanne whipped her sword from its sheath, backing up against a wall away from the figures. What were these things, and what did they want with her? Whatever it was that they wanted, it couldn't be good...she lifted her blade protectively, glancing between the cracked figures and watching to see which would make the first strike. She also looked around for an escape route, praying that one would become apparent soon.

"Let me go! I'm only passing through, I don't mean you any harm! Just let me go on my way, I swear I'll never bother you again..."

Could these things even understand her? Who could tell?

Kasey skips and spins through the forest playing her violin with a vigor. Her armor glistens in the low lighting it's magic potent and active. She begins to spin in circles dancing on energy panels as she goes.