The Muck Pond

[Fleegle]

(For McManus)

The cave was quite dark, the chamber lighted only by dying embers. Pimientos could barely make out some kindling and larger pieces of wood in the corner with which it might be possible to renew the flames.
The cave reeked of rotten meat, though the source of the smell could not be seen in the dim light.

[Fleegle]

(Global statement)

The sun had now risen above the horizon, but it was obscured by cloud. The sky was overcast in dull clouds, casting a dreary atmosphere about the land.

(For AoM and Razorlance)

Ao and Tek continued along the serpertine valley until Kikkik urged them to stop. He directed their attention to a wide cavern with a large overhang, set into the valley wall. Surprisingly, the cave appeared to be lighted inside.
"There is the entrance to the cave network. Shall we head along inside?"

(For Schme. Good to see you again. The length is fine, don't worry about it.)

MushBall passed into the clearing and advanced down the path toward the village. He could see ahead of him, near the exit from the forest, a curious wooden sculpture covered in rotting meat.

(For El_Skwidd, Nixit, and AngelSpice)

Briker's body seemed to inflate, and a swirl of blue mist enveloped it. Seemingly from nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck the mist. In a moment it was all over, and Briker had been revived. He coughed and sputtered as life returned to him. Vex and Xev became dizzy, and collapsed into the dirt, losing consciousness.

[Nixit]

Once revived, Briker emitted his shriek, though much louder than any time he had done previously. But seeing that Xev and Vex were unconscious, he rushed as fast as he could to them and was determined to fend off any pink ones who came to harm them.

[AoM]

Ao nods and steps forward into the cave entrance.

[Schme]

The stench or rotting flesh hit MushBall like a slap in the face. Never in his life had he smelled anything so foul. It was as though Tagus’s corpse had been torn apart. The displeasing smell made him very angry, and he turned too face the meat post, holding his walking stick in his hand and glaring at it aggressively at it with his blue eyes.

“Now see here, you.” He gurgled at it. “Your behavior is most unacceptable. To smell like this in the presence of a person so great as myself, well, it is just not something that you can go around doing. Now, if you don’t cease and desist from this lewd and vile act of disrespect this instant, I shall use my powerful connections to see that you are punished for what you’ve done.”

He stared at the sculpture for a good long time, waiting for a reply, and hearing none, he became even more annoyed.

“If you don’t answer me, you wooden piece of trash, you will live to regret it, mark my words!”

The sculptures failure to respond made him quake with anger.

His anger culminated finally in a very groundbreaking decision for MushBall. “If he keeps this up,” he thought. I’ll beat him to a pulp!” And giving the sculpture one last chance, he poked it with his stick to try and spur it into action.

Again he waited for something to happen, and gurgling what would have been a curse word had he known any, he turned from the meat post, beginning his walk anew towards the pink village. He looked back over his shoulder once at the sculpture. What a foolish thing it was. It just infuriated him to no end!

“Cretin.” Muttered the mush man at long last, and saying that, he continued on his way.

[McManus]

A tear hung to the corner of his eye as Pimientos work fast to bring back the light need to see in the dark.

He used up all the kindling and had to rip some of the bigger pieces of wood. Pimientos wanted a roaring fire so he pilled most of the wood on. Still working feverishly.

[Snake_byte]

I open my eyes and look around. I look up in the sky and squint at the rising sun. Noticing the company is gone, I begin to slowly limp my own way south.

[Razorlance]

Tek proceeds to follow Ao closely into the cave, he stops briefly at the mouth of the cave to raise one of his rear limbs, he looks up and down the path, Hope that wizard doesn't come this way he thought. He then lowers the limb and lumbers after Ao, thankfully of the mysterious light inside the cave.

[Fleegle]

(For Schme)

The wooden figure did not respond to MushBall's poking. It remained motionless, maintaining its vigil over the entrance to the forest. MushBall continued along through the pastures. One of the curious grazing animals approached him and attempted to take a nip out of his side, thinking he might be food. Ahead, over one of the ineffectual fences, lay the road to the village.

(For McManus)

As the fire grew hotter and brighter, the horrid scene was revealed to Pimientos. The fleshy head of Varrius lay upon the ground, absent eyes staring up at the cavern ceiling. A pile of skulls of all shapes and sizes sat in one corner, near the messy pile of random other bones, and the woodpile. A door hung open, leading to a dark, empty corridor.

(For Snake_byte)

Beelzebub made its way to the edge of the plateau, where the path descended into the Valley. From here it could not see Ao and Tek, for they were obstructed from sight by the curved nature of the valley.

(For AoM and Razorlance)

When Tek and Ao entered the cave, they could see what produced the light. Crude glass sconces hung along the cavern walls, and emitted a soft yellow light throughout the chamber. The cavern descended at a slight incline, and continued for some distance, wide but extremely long. It seemed to bend gently towards the east.
"There is a junction at the bottom of this corridor. We will not be out of harm's way until we get there, so keep your eyes peeled." Kikkik advised.

[AoM]

"More wizards and demons?" Ao intoned, "Or are there yet other dangers beneath the surface?"

[Fleegle]

(For Nixit, AngelSpice, and El_Skwidd)

Vex/Xev was still unconscious when a somewhat large, bespeckled pink creature in a cloak emerged from one of the larger wooden buildings. He carried no weapon, holding only a small bowl full of liquid. He sang a curious, discordant song that was difficult on the ears, and approached at a slow but steady pace towards the creatures. He elevated his voice as he approached, with every step seeming to become less sure of himself. Noticing that Vex/Xev appeared to be sleeping, and the only visible possible threat the mermaid, he produced a bit more courage from some unseen place and set his sights on her.
He dipped his hand in the bowl of liquid and flicked it at Audirda, while chanting his curious "song". The liquid appeared to be nothing more than water, and had no effect on the mermaid.

[Debsy]

Erake stretched and looked around at all the partying creatures. "Do these guys never sleep?" She stood up and decided it was time to leave. She started back down the path that had brought her there.

[Fleegle]

(For AoM)

Kikkik replied, "This corridor is heavily travelled by all manner of creatures, good and evil alike. You never know what you might meet. I shall direct you to a less-travelled corridor where we will be less likely to meet anything troublesome."

[Fleegle]

(For 3shyof30rats)

Erake reached the central clearing of the forest. The long grass was still wet with morning dew. Nothing of interest could be seen.

[Debsy]

She sat down and looked at the other paths. "Is this whole place all the same? So boring..." She sighed. She didn't know which path she wanted to go down this time, so she sat for a while. Listening to see if she could hear anything else..