Missions(Houdiniderek & Silvarn)

[Silvarn]

The weather was beginning to become colder. At least, to Silvarn it was. He pulled his grey robes closer against his cold skin. Even Scorcahr's mental teeth were chattering.

I cannot believe we are not used to this mountain climate. We have been through colder. Much colder. Remember Infinity Crest? the demon managed to grumble in between fits of shivering.

"Yes. I never thought we would see the peak. Perhaps, hence, the title. But no, it is not the climate. The Twisted Mirror approaches."

It was not nearly this cold when we met him in forest.

"I know. He was not yet completely attuned to this plane, his powers still not fully-fledged. He has been given more than enough time to calibrate. He is wearing us down before we even have the chance of facing him. We need to keep warm. We need to keep our spirits up." He tensed his body against the cold seeping through his veins, but broke into a violent shiver instead.

Is he really that close? Scorcahr asked when surprising anxiety.

"Yes. One, maybe two more days. Then Navras will be upon us. We need to be prepared when he does. We have to be well-rested, and sharp-witted."

Both of which the Twisted Mirror cunningly denies us. The thought of his presence frightens us away from slumber and to stand in his presence lays one's mind bare and void of activity. We would have more luck of surviving against the end of the world.

"Do not speak like that, Scorcahr!" Silvarn shouted to the chill air, "I need you for this! I cannot do this alone!"

Silvarn...I...this is the first time you have ever said that with so much emotion. I never realized you...appreciated me.

"Scorcahr, I would not have gotten through half of our ordeals without your help."

Yes, well, I would not been in this mess if it was not for you and your dabbling in demon-summoning. Scorcahr dismissed the affection.

"The feeling is mutual, Scorcahr."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi had been standing and looking at the ruin doorway for several minutes. He heard parts of Silvarn's hushed conversation with himself and knew he was talking to the demon. He dismissed them from his thoughts and looked at the old archaic language again.

Estvendol carmbilnde biovretmu.

It was a language long since dead...maybe even older than the elves of the world. Kerodi had found a reference to it in the scroll of Kimara's. The phrase, loosely translated, said, "Temple of the Sun."

Kerodi and Silvarn had tried both light and heat magic, sometimes forging an alliance between the two. The demon had offered numerous suggestions too. None of them had worked.

"Temple of the Sun," Kerodi muttered. He paced to the tunnel entrance and looked out. The sun was climbing, but it had not revealed any secret hatches when shining into the cave either. A ray peaked out over the distance and Kerodi turned away....and saw it.

In the trunk of the tree opposite him was a small symbol...and it matched the ones on the door in the cavern. Kerodi pushed but to no avail. He tried his knife and it was rejected. Confused, he stood up and walked around the tree. Nothing.

Kerodi was planning on trying again when the sunlight hit the symbol and it lightly sparked. Kerodi bent down and pushed the symbol. It clicked and opened outward. A key fell out...one with the markings of the doorway. Kerodi grinned and grabbed the key...shutting the door to the hidden compartment.

"Silvarn!" Kerodi exclaimed, holding up the key. He ran to the back of the cave and brushed at the old lock they had found. Kerodi slid in the key and a small charge went from the door and into the interior. No wonder magic had not worked. Magic and the smithwork of the period was needed.

Kerodi turned the key and the locks clicked open. Kerodi pulled out the key and stashed it in his robes. The door slowly slid open. Kerodi, with Silvarn right behind him, walked inside.

The interior was immense. Far below, in a valley surrounded by dead trees, was a crumbling building: The Temple of the Sun.

[jada]

Lyndi and Navras reached the campsite. Kerodi's scent had definatly fadded but what amazed Lyndi was that she could smell silvarn now too, he and Kerodi were together. At least there was some hope they could defeat navras now. Lyndi followed their trail slowly as a hound so she could follow their scent easier. Navras followed, but Lyndi could tell he was impatient. Although she could not do anything about it, their trail had faded over time and was barley their, only little hints of their precence appeared here and there. After most of the day had past their trail started getting stronger and Lyndi picked up her pace. Navras turned from impatient to happy?... He actually had this sort of smile on his face, more of an evil smile but it was still there. He was definatly thinking about something unpleasent, because he was only happy in other peoples pain.

Lyndi looked away from him and consentrated back on traking Kerodi and Silvarn. She would be caught up to them in a few days time now. Things were comming together.

[Silvarn]

So that is the Temple of the Sun Kerodi kept babbling about? Scorcahr whined.

"Yes, apparently it is." Silvarn looked at the dilapidated Temple with disappointment. Perhaps the interior of the Temple would be more of what he expected. In reality, he knew appearances did not matter. As long as it would aid in the battle with the Twisted Mirror, it would be appreciated.

Silvarn felt a strong, resonating pulse emit from the temple, hitting him with such force he nearly toppled over. Kerodi, unaffected by the pulse, looked at him with concern. "It is nothing." Silvarn dismissed, but actually, he knew something was happening. He felt a warmth glow from the depths of his shadowy soul. A certain feeling of homesickness, a son coming to a welcome home after so long away. A chosen of the Sun, returned to the home of his patron god.

"Kerodi, I...I feel as if I am home. I will not allow Navras to ravish this place as he has so many holy places in Creation. This Arrow of Heaven will make his father proud!"

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi knew why Silvarn was feeling at home here. Inside the temple was his route home...or part of it. If they defeated Navras, he would be free to leave and he might be able to help him. If he didn't defeat Navras, Kerodi had the feeling it would not matter overall. He patted Silvarn on the back and started down the overgrown path to the temple far below.

******************

Kerodi stirred absent-mindedly at the fire he had built outside the temple walls in a nearby clearing. They had spent the last two days combing the cavern they were in and the Temple of the Sun to see if there was anything of use. Most of the information had rotted away over the years and there was little to be found. What was found had taken a long time to translate and had been more of a historical record than anything concrete.

Of course, Kerodi had known that this was a long shot. The ruins here were impressive and Kerodi would like to come back sometime, but could not afford the temptation now. He had rooted around and found the reference to the way to send Silvarn back, but had not told him yet. Silvarn had been overly emotional the last two days with the confinement and increasing threat of discovery by Navras.

Kerodi stirred the ashes some more and pondered. He recalled some of what he had read from the scroll Kimara had secured somehow in the distant past. It had mentioned the Temple of the Sun and a path to wisdom and understanding. While that could be figurative, it could also be literal. Kerodi let his mind wander down that path as the flames danced merrily around the probing stick.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn stared impatiently at the wall before him. The interior of the Temple of the Sun, despite its name, was dark, dank, and cold. "This needs a light touch."

I disagree. I find it rather comfortable in here. Scorcahr argued.

"Complain all you want. Navras will get a light welcome when he arrives, I assure you." Light flared from his palms and forehead and he began twirling around, making elaborate gestures with his hands. With exaggerated flicks of his wrists, he tossed orbs of sunset-colored light against the walls and ceilings which clung and lit up the Temple. A warmth permeated through the Temple, as well as a thin blanket of grey mist along the floor.

"There has to be a secret here only sunlight will reveal. Scorcahr, I know this gives you a headache, but I must call upon my deepest Essence. If this does not reveal the Temple's secrets, then both of us are out of ideas."

If you really must. My urge to know what this Temple hides currently outweighs my hatred for your brightness. Do it swiftly, before I change my mind.

"The Twisted Mirror will be upon us any hour now and you complain about light? We need all the help we can get."

He breathed in deeply, clearing his cluttered mind of all thought, including Scorcahr. In the cranial void, he filled it with thoughts of light and righteousness. The searing light within his mind exploded into existence around him, a swirling vortex of sunset colors. He opened his eyes slowly, hoping an answer would be revealed before him.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi had stared at the fire long enough. He had gone to look for Silvarn who had been brooding about the last few days. He had spent a lot of time in the Temple of the Sun, looking for clues. So far, there had been none.

Kerodi walked into the Temple and was knocked off his feet by a blinding white light. He flew ten feet and slammed hard into the Temple wall. When he was able to see and move a few minutes later, he saw Silvarn standing in the middle of the Temple...and it looked like he was about to fall.

"Silvarn?" Kerodi croaked. "Are you okay?" The mage didn't answer right away. He was about to ask again when he saw what Silvarn's light had caused...and his mouth fell open. There were two doors that had been displayed, new since their arrival. Above each was printed a word in the archaic language.

He scrambled up painfully and headed towards the nearest. He copied down the word there and headed to the other door and copied it down. He sat in the middle of the Temple and focused on the translation. The words were old but he was getting used to the language after being in close proximity to it for some time now.

Several minutes later, Kerodi stood up triumphantly. "I have it!" He ran over to Silvarn. "One door said 'Wisdom' and one door said 'understanding.' Just like the scroll said!" Of course, Kerodi just realized what that meant. They either had to pick one or split up. That was not going to make it easy. He relayed the information to Silvarn and waited to see his reaction to the news.

[Silvarn]

Silvarn blinked hard against the sudden darkness. Not only had his anima dissappeared, but also the orbs of sunset light, leaving the Temple in darkness once more. His mind was numb from the exertion. Luckily, something returned to stimulate him back to his senses.

Of all the shows you have put on, that one was by far the worst! Scorcahr whined. All flashy flash and lighty light. No drama, no murder, no fornication! And you call that a display of godly power. Why, if I had such power, nothing of the female persuasion would be safe from my--

"Thank you for that criticism, Scorcahr," Silvarn cut the demon off before he went too far.

Silvarn stared dumbly up Kerodi from his position on the ground, then looked at the doors. There before them laid great treasures. All they had to do was walk through the doors. Silvarn rose to his feet with Kerodi's help and stood still, glancing between the doors and letting his cognitive wheels churn.

"Understanding." he muttered after much scrutiny. "Understanding is more important than wisdom. The wise man can know everything, but understand nothing. Not we what he knows, nor what others know, or how they feel. On the other hand, one can understand whatever is presented to him, but know so very little. And which is the happier man? He who understands. For then he can apply his knowledge. If I must decide, I will choose the path to understanding."

He made no notion of making his way to the door. Instead, his steely eyes kept flickering back and forth between the doors. "But, where do they lead us? If we take seperate paths, will we end up back here, or separated once again? And if we return here, surely the Twisted Mirror will be waiting for us, ready for the kill. What might we learn along these paths? Will our lives be jepordized?"

Silvarn looked at his friend with an impish smile, "Shall we take the chance to thwart the Twisted Mirror once more?"

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi grinned at Silvarn as he asked him to tempt Fate again. "It wouldn't be the first time." Kerodi laughed and brushed some dirt off his robes. "But, we have a bigger problem."

Kerodi went and grabbed his knapsack, slinging it on his back. "We have to choose one door or the other...or both. The biggest problem is where we end up. One of the doors will send us to the answers we might be seeking...but the other door sends us into the portal that brought you here, Silvarn."

Kerodi hitched the sack higher and looked closely at Silvarn. "I think I know which one will send you back home...and we might get Navras to follow you and leave Lyndi behind. But we always run the risk of him taking the other door regardless...and taking Lyndi with him." He looked around again, not sure what to do.

"The best bet might be to split up and see if we can't force him to take the choice. The only problem with that: The portal door will NOT allow for two way access from here. There is another portal access I found in my studies...but there is no guarantee you can come back if you wanted too. I don't know what to do...and we are probably running out of time."

Kerodi looked at the ground around him, looking for a clue...and suddenly it came to him. "How does Navras track you?" he asked, smiling evilly.

[Silvarn]

"You crafty imp." Silvarn complimented.

"Despite your idea, we must not split up. We would be too easy to pick off then. We must stick together. If one of us falls, so will the other. We might as well face Navras together. Navras is able to track me through our intimate relationship when he enslaved my mind. He knows my general location, thoughts, and feelings, and I know his, but to a lesser degree."

Silvarn mused at the doors. "We must not allow Navras to return to Creation. Both he and I are more powerful there, but he more so than I. It took five beings of my caliber to take him down the first time. Therefore, we must not take the path that leads back to Creation. Even if Navras returns to our home world, he will seek me out again. I hold the Tome." he looked down at the hideous volume tucked under his arm, and reiterated, "I hold the Tome.

"Kerodi, if Navras is reunited with the Tome in this plane, he will find some innocent soul to possess through, and then this world will be his. So long as I hold his Tome, his methods fail. We must not return with him to Creation, for he will be too powerful for us to combat there. Tell me which door you suspect returns to my home world, and let us follow the opposite."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kerodi looked at the Tome with a mix of revulsion and curiosity. He knew that if someone on the same plane of existence could not control the Tome, then he knew he could not. Of course, that did not make him any less curious. He was sure the curiosity showed in his eyes.

"Silvarn, please keep that from me. I am not sure I can resist the temptation to open...even knowing what it did to you." He shook himself out of his trance and stared back at the two doors.

"Splitting up makes perfect sense," Kerodi continued. "I am certain that the path of Wisdom takes you home. Because only those that understand from whence they came have the understanding on how to return. You entered through a portal of Understanding somewhere in Valear...so we must follow that path to the answers we seek."

Kerodi walked over to the door and touched the handle. It swung open soundlessly. "I am not sure what we will find nor where it will take us. It might be a dead end where we have to turn and face Navras. Keep your wits about you, Silvarn. While I know we need to face him, we don't want to do it to soon...especially until we figure out how to keep Lyndi from getting harmed. Plus, I am sure he will be expecting a trap here. If he can sense you, he knows you used your magic and that is probably not good for us...an ambush that will fail."

He stared at the door a minute more and took a deep breath. He looked at Silvarn and smiled. "I'll see you on the other side." With that, he stepped through the doorway and vanished.

Far away at the mouth of the cavern, something moved...Silvarn: I figured you would post next about whether or not you joined me in the doorway. Jada: I figured you would end this particular thread by postin after Silvarn and catching up at least as far as the Temple of the Sun. If we want to do something else, we can, but it might be best to PM it to each other. :) -

[Silvarn]

Are you certain you want to go through with this, Grey-Eyes? Scorcahr asked.

"Do I really have any other option? If what Kerodi said is true, then thaking the other door will take me back to Creation. If Navras follows me, then it will be all for naught. Our world will be consumed, and then all worlds subsequently."

You could stay here and face Navras yourself.

"And perish beneath his devouring gaze? To be his slave once again? To give him his Tome back? No, I think not, Scorcahr."

And Kerodi already told you not to give him the Tome. In this case, it would be best to follow after Kerodi. Although, I would like to stop running and grow a pair of testicles, evetually.

"I always knew there was something wrong with you, Scorcahr." Silvarn said with a smirk as he opened the door Keordi had passed through and entered.

[jada]

Kerodi and Silvarn's scent lead Lyndi and Navras to this temple. The door to the temple was already open so Navras walked right in. Lyndi was hesitant but Narvras ordered her to come in and search for Silvarn. The vally like room in front of Lyndi was quite large, but dead ahead lied a temple. The would be where Keordi and Silvarn were.

"They are in that temple, sir." Lyndi said.

"Well, don't just look at it stupid girl, we going in after them." Navras spat at her.

Lyndi and Navras made there way down to the temple. There were two doors. By the looks of the dirt on the ground Lyndi could tell there had been some debate over which door to choose.

Lyndi shifted into a hound dog to better smell which door they chose. After finding the door she shifted back into her elven form and pointed it out to Navras. Lyndi expected him to quickly follow them, but he hesitated.

Lyndi could hear him wisper,"So why didn't they choose this door. What lies behind both of them? No matter, Silvarn is my goal. After I have him I will find out what is behind door number two."

then he grabbed Lyndi by the arm and opened the temple door that would lead them to Kerodi and Silvarn, he threw Lyndi inside and followed,"You get to go first deary, just in case they have set any traps."

Lyndi's eyes grew wide in fear, as she stood up off the floor and gazed into the black as night temple. she would have to shift into something that could find it's way in the dark in order to figure out what traps lay ahead.