NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 1585151" data-attributes="member: 9255">STRIKEFORCE: MORITURISEGMENT 061“The Bridge”Vander paused as he looked at the great expanse before him.  A deep crack split The World Below in half.  Blackish red mist was all he could see at the bottom.  Pillars of rough stone shut up from the mist to roughly the same height as the ground he stood on.  The device he wore that tracked the others showed three were on the other side.  The fourth was not shown.  He hoped this was not a bad thing but suspected otherwise.  Behind him, followed a small floating crystal.  He had not seen it.  The DMs decided to pull back from these strangers for now.  The time to present themselves was not now.  Later …when the Hunters arrived.Still, they monitored everything he and the others did.  They hoped to find weaknesses or points of dramatic tendencies to exploit for their viewers.Vander, silent and still surveyed the land on both sides.  Something caught his eye to his right and he looked closer.  A strange narrow bridge of some sort criss-crossed over the mists from pillar of stone to pillar of stone.  He was uncertain if it reached either side.  Still, it was an option.  The only option before him now. There appeared to a path to follow.  He was uneasy about this.  In his armor, a path would be good but this meant others traveled here also.  So far, this was not a good thing.  He had not taken the time to see if the mind bender still lived or pursued him.  He just needed to get out of there and wear his armor and wield his weapon again.  Perhaps it was time to slow down and decern his situation.He looked around and saw no tracks or signs of recent use.  The path followed the mist filled crater to his left and right.  His most of his companions were on the other side.  One was not showing at all.  He could not figure out where the artifact was without Christina or Jean’s help.  He could not fly over the wide crack.  The bridge was his only option.  Pausing again, he knelt on the ground and began to touch some of the stones loose in the path.  His psionic-empowered gloves began to communicate with the rubble.  It asked who was here last and what were they.  Little came back.  Vander picked up broken pieces of information.  The rubble could tell him little he could not figure out on his own.  The gloves were more for personal items than lose debris.  But the gloves did show brief images of a tall black creature with thick claws and red eyes.  This creature traveled here often.It took nearly twenty minutes to find the bridge’s beginning point.  It was a strangely molded or somewhat natural rock formation with wood attached on the sides to give it a different appearance and at times shield walkers from the winds that blew here.  A large arch made from stone; plaster and old vines held a sign.  Vander could not make out most of it.  His language skills were not his strongest point after all.  Taking a deep breath and letting it out sharply, he put on his grim face of determination and took his first steps.Somewhere in the multi-verse, a rich and decadent merchant with a station in Sigil watched with amusement.  The strong and massive warrior was walking across Garretzarrean’s Bridge.  It had a creature on it that patrolled the area.  A daemon of some sorts.  A Cacodaemon if he remembered correctly.  There were other dangers also but a Cacodaemon …the merchant put his potent drink aside and shoved the woman that was at his feet away to lean into his viewing crystal…..Vander was on full alert.  He was uncertain if the whipping winds were moving the vines or if they wiggled on their own.  He wished not to know.  The bridge was becoming very narrow now.  It was 20 feet wide at the beginning but now was nearing 10 feet wide.  It had stopped having a slight incline and was now falling to the pillar that stood about 500 feet away.  He walked down the center fearing the vines and the view.  He was never one for heights either.Occasional moans or hisses could be heard.  Their origins unknown and ignored as Vander continued across.  This was not a place he liked.Finally he reached the first pillar.  There was another arch over head.  Carved into it were gargoyles.  He was uncertain if they were protectors or guardians.  Either way he needed to go on.  A large stone building stood in his way.  There was no way to avoid going through it.  Looking up, he saw narrow slits for archers or psions to attack through.  It was highly defensive in nature.  The dwarven King Rkard would have been proud.  He went inside.  Diluted light shown from the exit a mere 50 foot away.  Vander moved slowly and watched the shadows.  His ectoplasmic skin twitched under his armor as it reflected his anxiety.  His last few steps to get out of the shadows were quick and long.  He never looked back.  Just as well.  The winds picked up and howled now.  The vines looked as if they were trying to hold on in some points.  He noticed cracks in the walls and on the bridge in general.  As he reached the top of this tall bridge he saw he had possibly a mile to walk even though he was a mere 1000 feet from the other side.  The bridges followed pillar to pillar taking the shortest routes it could.  He noticed one pillar that was not built onto.  Something had built a nest on it.  Something big and dragon like.  Now he was forced to look side to side.  What if a Wyvern or some true dragon was to attack him here.  He was in no position to defend himself correctly.  He would either be ripped apart on the bridge or caste over the edge into the red mists below.This next pillar had another stone building also.  As he entered he was sure he heard something moving in the shadows but saw nothing.  Moving onward, he missed the glowing red eyes that angrily peered at him from the shadows on the ceiling.He continued on, walking over the dried blood that he didn’t see since he kept looking at the nest on the far pillar.  Something was inside that nest.  He was certain of it.  Then near the highest point of this expanse between pillars he spotted something on the floor.  A coin.Taking the time of using his gloves, he tries to read the coin.  A human.  A human last held it.  A few moments later he sees the human.  A thief of sorts.  He was flipping the coin in nervousness.  He ……“Hello good fellow-  what brings you to this lonely and dreary bridge?”Vander rolls to his side and rises with his hands on the grip of his falchion.  The coin falls then begins to roll and bounce away from Vander down the opposite slope.  A soft leather boot stops it.  A slender hand reaches down and picks it up.  The very human whom dropped it before!“I am Douglas of Verses.  Who may you be?” he asks politely. Vander listens and holds his weapon.  Being in its sheath it has not yet begun to sing psionically.Vander looks the man over.  He is slim yet athletic.  His smile is charming and his stance is welcoming.  Vander sees nothing to cause alarm but he was never one to trust anyone.  Especially a stranger.  Especially a stranger on this bridge of all places.“I must go.  Have a good day Douglas.” Vander says with a tone that implies the need to go.  Vander begins to move to Douglas’ side but Douglas steps with him blocking his way across the 10-foot width of the bridge.“Why the hurry?  Most certainly there is no need to be rude.”  He says with a sparkling smile and sincere eyes.Vander’s only reply is a low animalistic growl complete with barred teeth.The meek human’s appearance begins to warp and bleed.  He grows to seven feet in height.  His features darken and become more massive.  His nose retreats into his black face lit by glowing red eyes.  Large white sharp and mis-shaped teeth form where lips once were.“There is a toll to cross this bridge.  In your case, that toll will be… your life.”The Cacodaemon’s mind is filled by the sounds of rushing energy as Vander pulls on his weapon.“I hope we don’t lose that one.  I paid a steep price for his services from an Oinodaemon” laments a DM under his breath.</blockquote>

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