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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 1928673" data-attributes="member: 9255">STRIKEFORCE: MORITURISEGMENT: 080“ACHERON”“This place is really %#@@- up” grumbles Jim Addards.  His skin is visibly glowing from the many fireballs and fire spells he was hit by the frightened and confused Kobolds.  When they arrived on the plane they ran first into a bugbear tribe that had human and elven slaves.  Never caring much for slavery, both The Captain and Jim attacked.  During the course of the conflict, they learned the bugbears had “bought” the slaves from a tribe of magic using kobolds.The battle was fierce but Jim’s unique Spellfire abilities turned the tide of battle.  The humans were free but what now?  They were in no shape to survive on their own.  Many even took to the charismatic Captain and the power stranger Megamania.  Hero worship.  The Captain was uneasy with it but had dealt with it before on the lands of Africa during the big war.  They would seek out the closest human village and hope they offer aid for the survivors.   Christina showed little support for the notion.“This is a place of war and chaos.  Sharing supplies with strangers can be a double-edged sword.  Not all communities are willing to or able to do as you plan to ask.”“What do you think Vander?  You once lived here?”Caught in deep thoughts he snaps out of it.  “People on Acheron are survivors.  Their best chance is to join a village but we can not cuddle them if the village turns them down.  They at war here.  The entire place.  The plane itself wars with itself.”“?” sighs Megamania.  He can not imagine anything that crazy or chaotic.They continue towards a possible village Jean saw while flying high over the stone plains.  There are about 35 survivors- all human.  Most are simple folk.  Cannon fodder in a place like this.Jean is uncertain if it is her changing lifeless eyes or even the strange atmosphere here.  She swears she can see a faded block of uncanny portions floating in the high sky.“Acheron is no mere plane.  It is a unique series of blocks and fragments.  Each has very unique properties to them.  The greatest fear is to be near a strike zone.” Begins Sasha.“Strike zone?” asks The Captain. With concern.“Sometimes these fragments come very close creating wild magic and weather patterns.  Sometimes they even strike.  When this happens, hundreds of miles of land can be erased in a mere second.”Megamania stratches his head thinking about it.  He sparks living magical energy as he looks up to the sky.  He can not see it but has little doubt Jean and Sasha are correct.   He could die at any moments as the world literally collapses into itself.   Unbelievable!They exit the rock fields and begin to walk on a sandy barren area with little to change the scenery.  Large rock monuments that are too war damaged to make out crop up occasionally.  With night coming, they decide to risk exploring one.  It roughly resembles a headless crouched animal.  Caves and doors are visible but no signs of intelligent life.  Birds, some dangerous, glide around the structure.Getting closer- many were Wyverns.  Not good.  Vander is not impressed.  He remembers battling one on Alion.  Easy to defeat.“Best make camp.”  Suggests The Captain.  “Try for a defensible spot with no occupants.”Looking around the mound of solid rock Jean and the others come to the realization of the nature of the rock formation-  it was once a single city sized settlement.  Hundreds of ramps, stairs and built in ladders lead the way in.  Some of the “tunnels” are very cavern like but many are carefully and skillfully shaped.  Only the birds and bats seem to occupy it.“What do you think Vander?” asks the Captain.“I am unfamiliar with it.  Acheron has many secrets hidden on it.  This could be any number of lost cities or fortresses.”Staring at the immense rock structure, The Captain tries to decide on a defensible place.  He spots a balcony about sixty feet up and decides to check this out first.  Looking about, he finds the remains of furniture and clothing.   Anything wooden has long since rotted away but the metal and glass parts remain.  There are several rooms that branch off from the main room.  It appears to have only two exits, the balcony and a door leading into the center of the rock city.  It would not take long for them to fortify it.“Drop your bags-  we have found our camp.”“Jim-  can you do anything with that glow?” asks the Captain.“Not really, unless I release a lot of energy now.  I figured I was due for that back room with a working door.  Seal myself in.”  Then looking at Christina, “Sealed in all by myself and alone.”Sasha watches the exchange.  She the importance of it and wishes it would go on forever, but everything has an end, even Infinity.  She goes back to casting wards on the doorway to alert them of any intruders.They sit and eat.  Vander is the center of attention.  It is not everyday one dies and returns.  Vander admits he feels different.  His psionics are different anyway.  He can still use them on an instinctual basis but they are different.  He explains how the mindflayer and he fought and how he died.  It bothers several members that he can recall this with no sense of pain or terror.  Vander is still Vander.Now late, Vander takes first watch while the others sleep.  If he sees Christina sneak into Jim’s room, he says and does nothing.  Love and feeling are beyond him at this point.Jean, sleeping in the room next to Jim is aware of  Christina.  Not by sound or by being her best friend.  No it is much worse.  She can sense the positive life energy.  It is something she craves which brings fear to her.  Will she ever turn on her friends?   Becoming an undead creature has some benefits however.  She never sleeps and has increased resistance to damage.  Some of her senses have heightened …some reduced.Sasha, the newest and possibly strangest member meditates.  She is the only none human here.  She comes from a world far removed from the ones the Strikeforce have thus far visited.  It is a Bastion of power and trickery.  It is as dangerous as any other world but the gods are directly involved.  The gods and their powerful agents.  She meditates on this.The Captain is asleep.  His powerful shield within arms reach.  The swirling celestial pattern forms and reforms on its surface.  Then, with him still asleep, the swirls rise and reach out from the shield.  It surveys the room and the Captain.  It studies him.</blockquote>

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