Let's Play a Game

[Namari Lovelle]

Walter sat rubbing his temples outside of the near the gardens. He gave off a sigh, running his hands through his hair before looking around. Still in his demon form, he had a sword at his belt along with an old weapon of his that could turn into a scythe with demon's blood. He had switched out of his large armor, and was now wearing clothes more close to what he wore when living in Cresthunt.

A dark baggy shirt with chainmail underneath, slits at the back to allow his wings through. A vest over that, fitted well. And comfortable pants, made out of leather for some protection.

Oh how he prayed to his lord that Aerin was not too deep in.

he heard steps behind him; turning he spotted Namari close behind, her hair tied back (with much effort on her part, seeing as how she only had one hand.) She wore her old knight's uniform, still fitting perfectly. Chainmail underneath a magically protected robe of a deep blue, two swords at her belt. No longer did she look upset; she looked determined.

"Elle should be here soon," Walter said. She nodded, coming up beside the man.

"Do you need anything to prepare?"
"No, just myself."
"Do you know what will be down there?"
"I have a few guesses, but other than that... no."

Namari nodded, and the two stared off into the city. Waiting. Praying.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle hopped off the horse she borrow from Walter even before it stopped trotting up to the castle. A guard stepped forward to grab the reigns so it wouldn’t simply run off, though Elle figured it’d probably have gone back to the stables. She was currently clad in her tighter pants, wearing her favorite knee high leather boots, and her longer, dark brown shirt, which had no sleeves, tied tightly against her body with her leather hunting corset. Her golden hair was tied back, out of the way for now. The most important thing to her though was the dagger on her hip, her pouch which contained damn near anything portable for hunting, and the magic bow she was gifted when she left for Avaleur. It was long, carved from a beautiful white wood, and was given to her from Valerian, Aerin’s tutor. On both wrists were cuffs with white gems in it, which acted with the bow. She cause use the gems to create arrows made of pure energy, stronger than any normal arrow, and it gave her an infinite amount of arrows, so long as she had the stamina to create them.

She turned and ran, brushing past those in her way, until she spotted Namari and Walter. She slowed to a brisk walk as she approached.

“Okay, we have about twenty three hours to find Aerin, and if we take Atropos for his word, he’s being tortured as we speak,” she said. She didn’t think Atropos was lying about this. In fact, she didn’t think Atropos lied often, unless you counted lying by omission. “Walter, do you know of anyone off the top of your head that’d know the general goings on in Hell or where ever? To give us a start?” She could track, but when dealing with magical creatures and trails, things got harder. She hoped for an easy break, but didn’t expect it.

[Namari Lovelle]

Both Namari and Walter stood up as Elle approached, quick to jump off the horse and rush to them. Walter found it unusual for her not to have a quiver on her back, but he ignored the thought, knowing she would not be dumb enough to not have some form of ammunition with that bow.

Quickly the attention was put to him, and he went a bit red in the face.

"Ahh yes. Forgot to mention that part," he began, rubbing at the back of his head. Namari perked up an eyebrow as he coughed.

"Well you see... I didn't just live in Cresthunt. In every demon city there is a demon who, controlled under... Lucifer, basically runs things. I'm sort of the mayor of the biggest demon city. And being the biggest, it contains the literal hell. So technically yes I do know a few, though I doubt they would be any help," he admitted.

"Lucifer doesn't like surface dwellers down there, and he'd have kicked Aerin out in moments. Unless he was snuck in. And to tell you the truth, no ones gonna talk to me if they don't want the big guy to know."

Namari huffed, furrowing her eyebrows.

"And another thing," he spoke quickly, wishing to get the worst bits of information up and out of the way, "No ones going to attack you while we're in the city part, not while you're with me... but I have a feeling Aerin's not in the city. I have a feeling Atropos brought him to the caves outside of it, or through there, and where all the souls are put. And that... that in itself is almost like a maze. And the creatures down there are not the greatest either."

He stared at the girls for a moment, red in the face before he shrugged.
"Thats it, I think. Not an easy task and I don't think we'll get much help, other than what I myself know. Sorry."

One might have wondered before why Walter seemed irritated that Atropos had put Aerin in Cresthunt. And that was why.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle stood by, listening as Walter spoke, getting all of the bad news that he currently was aware of out of the way. Lucifer, the creature who ran things in Cresthunt, didn’t like surface dwellers. Considering the fact that Aerin was still down there, that meant he didn’t know. Elle would have liked to reflect on how exactly Atropos managed to sneak her brother into the place without Lucifer knowing, but it wasn’t really relevant. She did wonder if telling Lucifer about Aerin’s presence would help or not, but it wasn’t like she was in a hurry to meet the demon.

Elle nodded slowly when Walter told her what she sort of figured. They’d get no help. And Aerin was probably lost somewhere, tormented in a maze of caves. This wasn’t going to be easy.

“Well, we’ll do what we can. Time is wasting and my brother is dying. So if we’re going to go through some hell caves, we’d best get going now,” she said, taking a slow breath. She looked between Namari and Walter, waiting for what was to come next.

[Namari Lovelle]

Namari looked over between Walter and Elle, not have been told how they were going to get there in the first place. Walter looked between the two ladies first, before nodding.

"Alright," he coughed, voice hoarse, "Lets get started. Just stand where you are, and I'll tell you what to do."

Suddenly the area around the three grew dark; Walter shut his eyes, raising his hand straight ahead, palm to the sky. His hand began to dance with magic. His eyes, now open, grew dark.
He began mumbling incoherent words, as the darkness grew around them. But with it it got colder.

Slwoly as he muttered, Walter took out the dagger from his belt. Carefully he cut a thin line into his hand, just enough for a line of blood to leak through. He turned his palm down, and a drop hit the ground. He then closed his palm.

"Put your hands on mine," he ordered.

Elle and Namari raised their own hands, placing them on top of Walter's carefully. A magic circle formed below them, and suddenly it was pitch black.

Slowly the blackness went away, and it was only dark. But lights lighted the streets that they now found themselves in. Buildings surrounded them, ancient buildings. But they were not uninhabited.

Creatures and demons stopped walking as they spotted the group; they had managed to land themselves in the middle of a busy street. Many recognized Walter, and kept their heads down, moving. Not wanting to get involved with the man and the survace dwellers. Others hissed, and stared in warning.

"Don't look anyone in the eye if you can help it," Walter stated, breathing a bit heavily, before giving a smile.
"You guys'll do fine."
He then began slowly walking through the streets, wiping some sweat from his brow. Uncertainty struck Namari as she looked at Elle; but there was nothing else they could do. They had to save him.

Namari quickly went after Walter, not straying too far behind.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle shut her eyes as Walter worked his magic, sending the three of them into the world where Walter came from. When they arrived, she slowly opened her eyes and peered around. She saw demons and other strange creature all around, looking at them. She tensed as some hissed, and looked to Walter as he spoke, mentioning not to make eye contact. Oh, well that wouldn’t be too hard. She sighed, looking around again, being sure not to meet anyone’s eye directly. It was dark here, and everything had an old, wicked feel to it.

Elle turned and followed Walter, glancing at Namari. This world was so dark, and now that they were there…well she felt unnerved. Would they find Aerin? She’d search until they did, but she felt scared. She wished she knew where to really even start. The caves were a good place as any she supposed, but still, she wished for a better hint. Of course Atropos wouldn’t give them that. Speaking of, where was the mage now? Would he keep his promise? Would he continue to give them grief in the future?

Elle swallowed, looking down, feeling a sense of panic rising. She fought the anxiety attack back, telling herself they had no time for this. Aerin had no time for this.

“Walter, if Lucifer doesn’t like surface dwellers here, he won’t just banish us back will he?” Elle asked suddenly. She supposed if he did Walter would go on alone, but she very much wanted to help. She glanced to the side, seeing several eyes glaring out at them as they passed, and she took a breath. This place…and to think Aerin did transactions with these creatures and summoned beings from places like this.

[Namari Lovelle]

They walked on down the streets, and neither Namari nor even Walter made eyecontact with anyone. Namari stiffened, however, nervous that she was in a territory unknown to her. The woman tried to keep her composure, however, sticking close to Elle and her Knight.

"Like I said I work right under him," Walter stated, looking slightly behind to look at Elle, but faced forward once again.
"He trusts my judgment for a number of reasons. If he found out I brought yous down here, he'd be suspicious. But he'd know it wasn't for shits and giggles. I just shouldn't make a habit of it is all."

Despite Walter attempting to reassure them over and over, that the demons wouldn't attack them in the city, that they wouldn't just be sent back to the surface, Namari was not reassured.

After all, the only one that was in their element here was Walter. And even he was keeping his head down.

It took no time at all for the group to reach a spot where they spotted the caves; The opening was narrow for its height, which reached a couple hundred meters high. You could only see a few meters in before it became pitch black.

As they approached, a man stepped up. Though he was not a man; a demon, with the body of a human but with razor sharp teeth and scales covering his arm. He tilted his head, a lizard like tongue snaking out.

"Good day, Second," he murmured to Walter, eyeing over the surface dwellers suspiciously. "What brings you and your...guests here?"
Namari looked at Elle through the corners of her eye, uncomfortable with the demon.

"We're going into the caves," Walter stated, giving the man a nod.
"That's not a problem is it?"
The demon stared at Walter for a moment before slowly shaking his head in a no, handing Walter three of the torches on his belt. He lit them, before Walter carefully handed them to the ladies. The lizard-like demon then walked on, seeming no longer interested in the group.

"Right. You guys ready to go in? I'm not exactly sure what to expect once we're there," he admitted, turning to the ladies.
Namari let out a sigh, shrugging as she looked over to Elle.
"We don't really have much of a choice do we?" Namari stated.

(( feel free to describe/control the caves/creatures/monsters and stuff as much as you want! I want it to be sort of a thing where the caves change each time someone goes in because at the center is where the souls go, and it's supposed to be sort of a challenge to get there, let alone any particular place in the caves. ))

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle nodded at Walter’s explanation. She supposed she was satisfied enough that she wouldn’t be randomly beamed back. And this Lucifer person sounded like he was too big in the hierarchy to bother with investigating Walter’s actions himself, so she wouldn’t have to worry about meeting the demon. Hopefully. And frankly she hoped Walter bringing people down here in order to save someone wouldn’t become habit.

Elle paused when they reached the spot that allowed them to look at the entrance to the caves. Somehow she felt suddenly much worse, knowing that somewhere in that shadowy darkness her brother was in there. And who knew what was being done to him.

She followed Walter and Namari forward, and halted when a figure approached. Her hand rose, gripping her bow on her back as the lizard demon approached and inquired what it was that Walter and the women were doing. Walter answered vaguely, and was rewarded with torches. Elle drew her bow from her back when Walter handed her the torch. They were close enough and being approached, she had best have her weapon ready now. Elle turned and watched the demon leave, before turning back to the others.

“No, we don’t have much choice. Regardless of what is in there, I don’t plan on leaving unless we have Aerin,” she said softly, staring into the mouth of the cave. She stepped forward, lowering the torch onto the ground to peer at the tracks there. She felt a little dismayed at how unreadable they were. They’d have to go in further if they hoped to see anything remotely…Aerin like.

“Well, forever forward,” Elle said, using a little phrase her father liked to say when times got tough and no one knew how they’d make it through. She took a deep breath before stepping forward, towards the caves.

[Namari Lovelle]

Both Walter and Namari unsheathed their weapons as well; Walter removed a normal castle sword from his belt, holding it casually. Namari removed her own sword; a red, thin blade with a slight illumination to it. Prepared for anything the Queen held it up.

The group moved forward.

It took no time for them to be submerged into the darkness. The light from the torches barely illuminated the area in front of them, and seeing the ceiling was literally impossible. Walter, who was in his element in the city, looked rather uncomfortable here.

Namari's first priority was finding Aerin, of course. But she could not help but examine the walls, which were covered in markings. Old drawings, scratch marks...
"Guys," she stated, an eyebrow raised.
"This sort of looks like a map."

Walter turned to where Namari stood, walking over as he too examined the walls.
"It looks like there's a few pockets of the caves that always stay the same..." he murmured, but then furrowed his eyebrows.

"But I can't make any sense of the rest of it. Elle, you're a hunter. Is this any use to you?"

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle didn’t like the idea of being so easily swallowed up by the darkness. She tried to peer into it, but saw nothing, no matter how high she held her torch. Oh boy, this was going to be a challenge. As they went in deeper, she looked about at all the passage ways that were already available to them. And who knew how these passages branched on their own? Suddenly, twenty-four hours didn’t seem like a reasonable amount of time, if it ever had before.

She turned when Namari spoke up, walking over when Walter mentioned a map. She stepped up to it, running her finger tips over it. A few unchanging chambers? That’d be useful to set up a torture set up. But this map, it was a ruin. Like several people tried to scratch a new terrain onto the same space. She eyed it as best as she could, though it was slightly difficult.

“Well…here is where I’m assuming we entered,” she said, pointing to what looked like the mouth of the caves. “These caves shift and change right? Save for these chambers. If my mental compass is right, then we’ve got a couple north of here, and a big one to the south. Memorizing pathways would be pointless in a changing cavern, but if the room location stays the same we just have to work our way to them.” She stepped back, eying the pockets.

“The question is, we don’t know how long it’ll take to get through this place. Which chamber should we start with?” She fell silent a moment, eying the ruin of a map, before pointing to the large, southern pocket. “If you had a permanent torture chamber that you wanted to live in and torment others all without being discovered, the bigger chamber is the most logical choice…right?” she looked from Walter to Namari, wanting their input.

[Namari Lovelle]

The two watched as Elle observed the map, watching as her fingers pointed to certain sections. Walter's eyebrows furrowed at the sound of the opposite chambers.

"I'd be worried that that's what he wants us to think," Walter murmured, folding his arms together.
"And we might lose a few hours getting to there. But... I also think that it is the right way to go. If it doesn't end up being that chamber, then the other ones are relatively close by to each other. Best to get the big one out to the way."

Namari stared at the map, biting at her lip.

"I agree that we should go to the bigger chamber first. It'll take less time than to go North and go to every single other chamber, just to figure out that he isn't in any of those ones."

The woman sighed, shaking her head. Silently damning Atropos and his sick twisted game.

"I suppose now you'll lead the way, Elle," Walter stated, "What with your internal compass."

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle looked back to the map. Walter made a good point, about the big chamber being what Atropos would want them to think. But this game they were playing had been completely spontaneous, of course on the other hand, Atropos could have shuffled everything he wanted around just as easily when the three of them were getting ready. Even if he had no prep time she figured Atropos could do it. He was a man built for spontaneity.

Elle stepped back and looked around before turning to face the southern-most passage. She’d take the lead now. She didn’t mind, but…

“I’m mostly a forest hunter. I hope I can pull this cave tracking off,” she said softly, before walking into the passage, which required her to step up over a lip. She kept her torch ahead of her, trying to light up as much space as possible. It was like the darkness here just ate up the light.

She paused, hearing an unsettling laughter…or at least she thought it was laughter. Was it sobbing? Well, no matter, it sounded female, and far away. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She wished she knew what to even look for. The stone floor yielded no tracks, and she didn’t know if Aerin could have fought back by this point.

She walked on, ignoring the occasional unnerving sound, mostly because it sounded distant. She paused as she rounded a corner, and stared at what looked like stone figures glued to the wall. Several bodies of men and women, frozen in agony, standing against or near the walls of the passage, making their path more narrow and completely creeping Elle out.

“Great…” she muttered to herself, swinging her torch back and forth slowly so the light could fall on the stone figures, illuminating their misery frozen in time. She paused, seeing one statue had something clutched in its hand. She hesitated before slowly stepping past the first of the statues, walking up to the one with its fist closed. She shined her light onto it, and felt a small bit of hope at what she saw.

“It’s a lock of golden hair,” she said, looking back to Walter and Namari. She wasn’t sure how many blondes there were here, but she was at least sure enough they chose right.

[Namari Lovelle]

"You'll do fine," Walter muttered at her remark; though what he really meant was that she would certainly do better than he could. They followed slowly into the darkness, not knowing what might await them.

Namari prayed that, whatever it was, that it was defeat-able.

The Queen stepped slightly closer to Walter upon hearing the noises, for unbeknownst to the group she actually feared the darkness. And the noises did not help. The sides of Walter's mouth twitched in irritation for the surroundings.

He had never been in there himself. But he had heard stories. Dark stories.

Horrible stories.

The two paused just as Elle did, and Namari furrowed her eyebrows in curiosity. She stepped forward as well, thought Walter hesitated, an exasperated expression on his face.

Creepy stone figures. Great.

Namari reached out to touch one of the statues, but thought against it as she almost did, recoiling her hand back.
As Namari heard Elle her face lit up, taking the two steps towards the elven woman and staring down at the strands of hair.

There was no sure way of telling if it was Aerin's. But it had to mean something, right?

Walter stepped forward as well, looking at the strand. But he glimpsed behind him as well, swearing that he could have seen something move. But he ignored it, for his own sanity.

"I guess we're on the right path," Namari murmured, looking at Elle with a smile before moving forward again, sword at the ready but the smile still there.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle looked back at Namari and tried to return the smile, though she found it slightly difficult, considering the situation. They were in caves from he'll trying to find her missing brother, who was at the mercy of heaven knew what. It was a dark situation.

Elle looked once more to the hair clutched in the statues hand. Actually, how did a statue clutch hair anyways? She looked up at the face of the figure, and gasped, reconciling violently backwards when she saw that the statue had eyes, real eyes, and that they were staring right at her. Almost as soon as she made eye contact, a pitiful, miserable moan drifted from the gaping mouth of the statue. Moments later others followed suit, moaning and crying in pain and misery. They did not move, only localized their pain.

Elle gulped, looking about her at all the figures that surrounded them. Ugh, this is creepy, if not downright terrifying! She no longer wanted to be in this room. She lifted high and quickly walked past the statue holding the golden threads.

"Come on! Let's go!" She said. Scary factor aside, she didn't want a bunch of groaning statues giving their position away to every he'll creature in these caves.

[Namari Lovelle]

Walter furrowed his eyebrows as Elle recoiled, looking at the statue; to notice its eyes were staring right at Elle. His blood seemed to go cold as he stiffened, hand clutching his sword tightly. What in God's name were these things?! He cursed himself for never being in these caves before. Surely now was not the time to be discovering new things.

Namari, however, took no notice as she slowly continued walking, looking around. Until the moaning began, that is.

Walter nearly rammed into the one behind him when the one with the blonde hair moaned, as he tried to move back. The one behind suddenly gave a moan as well. His lips tightened into a thin line.
Creepy? Yes. But that was not all that he was worried about. And as Elle told them to go, he realized she was thinking the same thing.

In fear of things lurking in the shadows, you did not want to be heard. For all he knew, something was already on its way.

Namari turned to the two as the moaning had begun, mouth open and eyebrows furrowed. Not knowing how the moaning began. But soon she was speeding off with the group, not wanting to find out.
"It might just be the statues, but I feel like something's watching us," Walter muttered, lips pursed. And he prayed that it was just the statues; or, even perhaps just Atropos.

He certainly did not want to find any other living thing in those caves.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle hurried through the statues, half expecting them to move and grab her, though none of them did. Their cries of agony were terrifying to her, making her remember what Atropos said earlier. About what kinds of sounds Aerin would make. She pressed on, looking for a passage or anything to get out of this chamber. She paused when she reached a wall, looked around before spotting an opening. It was small, and she wondered if Walter could get through it.

Elle hurried over, peering into the hole, and gave little surprised shriek when a large bat like creature flew out. Or she ought it was. It was big, like a large eagle, and it flew off and up, into the shadows. Elle looked to the floor, spotting a large black feather on the ground.

She turned back to Walter when he spoke.

"Well that's reassuring," she said softly. Nothing like being watched in a hell cave.

[Namari Lovelle]

Namari nearly shrieked as the bird came out as well, jumping back with wide eyes. Walter himself jumped, watching the bat-like thing fly up, an exasperated expression on his face. He was done. Absolutely done.

He never thought he would be so uncomfortable with a place that he would want to leave it despite anything going on around him. But, he had to trek on.

Though he shrugged at her remark, going a bit red. Perhaps he should stop talking.

"Walter, do you think you go through that," Namari pointed to the hole, sheathing her sword as she too peered in. Even with the torches it was impossible to see.
Though it looked like their quickest way out of this shrieking hall.

Walter stared at the hole, head tilted slightly.
"If I get out of my demon form yes," he stated. "Which isn't a big deal."

Namari slowly nodded, though her attention was quickly taken away from Walter as she spotted a large creature seeming to jump into a wall behind him, and dissappear. She opened her mouth a few times to speak before she could get it out.

"Did- did either of you see that?" she whispered. Walter narrowed his eyes.
"See what?"
"That-thing... it jumped into the wall and disappeared."

Walter looked behind him, eyebrows furrowed before slowly looking to the women again.
"If it jumps through walls then we better hurry our asses up before we can find out if its friendly or not," he murmured, glowing dark for a moment before transfering into his human form.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle looked back at Namari and Walter when they spoke, peering around a creature that could leap into the very walls? Really? Fantastic. She turned back to the hole, looking into the darkness. Ugh, here goes. She tossed her torch into the hole as far as it could go, watched it tumble out on the other side. How did Atropos get her twin through this?

She hoisted herself into the hole after sliding her bow back to its place on her back. She quickly crawled to the other side. She poked her head out, looking around to see if there was anything to worry about, before slipping out onto the floor. She bent to pick up her torch before looking back.

"Okay!" She called, waving them on.

[Namari Lovelle]

Namari continued to stare behind Walter, clearly nervous. She was never one to deal with magical creatures. Walter watched as Elle climbed through, seemed to look around, then waved to them. Walter nudged the Queen who jumped at the touch.

She looked over at Walter, before sighing and shuffling her way through the hole. Gods, she hoped they would get to Aerin soon. For both his health and theirs.

Though Namari was in fear of what Atropos was doing to him right that moment.

Walter soon followed Namari, though he was a much tighter fit. He praised himself for having changed out of his bulky armor, however, as he definitely would not have fit with it on. He got stuck a few times, before making his way onto the other side.

"Do you know which direction to go next?" Namari asked Elle as Walter stepped up, brushing himself off, as he examined the area around them. He held up his torch, so to better see around them.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle looked round as Namari worked her way through the hole, and she helped the queen out when she reached the other side. It was just as dark in here as anywhere else in this stupid cave. And she could still hear the cries of the statues behind her. It sent shivers down her spine.

"I don't know. I'm sort of guessing," she replied to Namari, bending to see if she could track anything from e ground. She couldn't see anything of use though. She sighed and stood, gazing around. Well, she supposed moving forward was all they could do. She helped forward, before a deep, growling noise echoed through the shadows. She drew her bow, using her magical cuff to conjure an arrow, which glowed a soft white light, and knocked it, waiting. This was going to be a long night.