Who knows what's in store?

[Tobias]

Tobias goes up to the priest and puts his hand on his shoulder: "Its a joke...ur supposed to laugh with everyone else."

[Reverend]

"Yeah, uh I hate to say it but Ryltar ain't one of those things I like to laugh about." Airius shakes off Tobias's hand and returns his attention to his sausage

[Therin]

The next morning, the entire troupe, some fifty or so men, set out to the north. After a couple of days of this, the landscape began to grow harsher, and colder. Craggy rocks jutted up from the ground like daggers that have pierced all the way through a body. The trees were weatherbeaten, and forever leafless. There were few wild animals large enough to hunt this far north, so the troupe had to rely mostly on its foraging capabilities. The place was desolate. A week after they started north, Marchet ordered his men to turn back. He didn't want to go farther, for fear of starvation in the desolately empty terrain of northern Ryltar. With a company reduced to thirty five, they made better time through the barren pre-tundra. Two weeks into the journey, it began to snow, light and feathery, the kind of snow everyone loves to stare at through the window in winter. It snowed like this for three days, and the going began to grow harder. Then it began to really snow. Great white clumps slammed into the group as they slogged through six inches of powder. Damion was reduced to walking, unable to remain in the air among the buffeting winds of the blizzard. The entire troupe was shivering with the cold...

[Reverend]

The cold was getting to Airius Origen, even with the training that he'd subjected his body to for mental concentration. Surbifeh's Chaos fire had been helpful to the party, but Airius dare not use it for prolonged sessions lest he begin suffering from Chaos poisoning. Quickening his pace, he trotted up along side the mounted time elemental, hoping to gain good news from Musashi.

"Musashi! How much further till we reach the source?!"

[Musashi]

The group's journey had been particularly trying upon Musashi, and the others could notice something was amiss, though nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Perhaps the cold was getting to him, or perhaps the long days, riding from sunrise to sunset. He'd been unusually withdrawn and isolated of late, even moreso than his typical anti-socialness around a crowd of thirty-odd strangers, rarely regarding even his companions unless they should happen to inquire something of him. Even Reverend, the elemental's closest friend amongst those travelling with him, was regarded with a degree of cold aloofness.

Musashi stares at, or rather past Rev, saying aloud, "I think we're close..." and then, almost to himself, "...but I'm not sure..." He slumps tiredly on the back of the horse Elrohir, unmindful of the blue tinge that is creeping into his fingers and nose, unmindful of the cold whiteness that howls around him. His mind is turned inward, working in turmoil...

Depression... an usually common occurence among those gifted with the abilities of time manipulation. Their powers, one of which being a degree of foresight in some of the more gifted individuals, is both a blessing and a curse to its user. Musashi could not escape the feeling of dread that seemed to bear down upon him, a great weight laid upon his shoulders. He never particularly enjoyed roles of leadership, and now he felt as though he'd been thrust into one that his heart was not in, as if he was betraying the very ones he sought to aid. The gruesome images of the days past haunted his dreams and embedded themselves in every waking moment. But knowing was nearly as tormenting as ignorance. Try as he might, he could gain no clearer understanding, no greater clairvoyance he might be privy to. He looked withered, both body and mind, after days of barely eating while the cold weather bit harshly away at his flesh on the outside and his emotions consumed him from within.

[Therin]

Soon after, one of the scouts came slogging back through the snow. To Damion, he bowed and said, "There's a big cave only a few hundred feet north and east of here, sir. The other scouts are already there."

Damion turned and walked back through the rest of the troupe to pass the word on as the scout lumbered back off through the snow.

It wasn't a big cave. It was a big cavern. The entire town of Gon could fit in here with room to spare. Stalagtites and stalagmites the size of buildings loomed around the group as the walked in wonder. More than that, though, the cave was confortably warm. Damion turned and spoke quietly to the man beside him.

"We camp here for as long as it takes to recover our full strength. I don't know how much farther we must go out there before we reach what I'm looking for, but I want us to be ready for another long haul." His words bounced and echoed through the cave, returning as some sort of ghastly, booming rumble that everyone could hear. The men started to cheer, then stopped as the amplifying properties of the cavern nearly deafened them. Damion turned and walked back to Musashi, who was still slumped on his horse. He whispered, "I know the cold was getting to you, my friend, but we've got a few days to rest now. Cheer up!"

[Tobias]

Tobias, who remained his usual quiet self the whole time, got into the cavern. As he walked in, he felt the cool chill flee from him, but the chill was immediately replaced by a different feeling. Something was amis. Tobias opened up his buttoned up trenchcoat, and scanned the huge cavern, wondering what was soo amiss about it

[Therin]

OOC: I'm sorry musashi, but you're taking too long to post, so I'm yanking your character for a bit. Post when you have the chance.

BIC:

The Daigo Warrior looked solemnly at his companion. His eyes were tired and frightened, and the sight sent chills down Damion's spine.

"I cannot. I am sure now. We're close. Very close. I feel we shall not have to brave the elements again before this quest is over." I also feel that we may not have to brave the elements ever again..., thought the young warrior as he spoke. Questions assaulted him, a never-ending barrage of whys and hows. Most prevalent among them, however, was this: Should I lead them into this?

Damion stared in astonishment, blending into satisfaction. That satisfaction was clouded by apprehension, however, as he wandered among the camp to let the rest know. Scouts were sent out to find other exits to the monstrous cavern...

[Tobias]

Tobias, now getting a tad uneasy in the huge cavern, went to Damion: "Hey...there is something wrong with this picture. I dont know what it is, or what is wants...but it sure is growing. Do you feel it as well?"

Tobias looks deep within the dark cavern's oblivion.

[Reverend]

"Yeah, something is very wrong here Tobias. And I for one do not want to take any chances with other peoples lives."

Airius absently gripped Ruler's hilt, wary of their destination as it stood.