Journey to Darkness (closed for Queenclaire)

[Lordmikel]

Dominic traveled through the forest. Those who saw him would see a tall man with dark hair, clad in light armor. But they would probably also notice his sword. It was quite large, probably wielded two handed. Dominic had the look of someone who knew how to use it too. But he also seemed to blend into the shadows as he walked. The sun was slowly setting and it was getting more dangerous, but Dominic didn't care, he did tend to be the toughest thing around.

As he strode down the path, he could smell them long before he saw them. Ogres, and they did smell. They weren't laying in wait for unaware travelers. Which that seemed strange. He did then wonder what they might be doing.

Faster than one would have though Dominic had climbed a tree and seemed to start to travel along the treetops. Soon enough he was over the camp of the ogres. There were four of them, but he could tell there were more earlier.

Then he spotted their prisoner. Female ... and one of his own kind. He watched for a few seconds and then decided it was time to bring hell to these ogres as he leaped down to attack.

His first attack was the downward stroke of his sword. It struck the ogre in the head and kept coming down, splitting the ogre clean in half. The next attack was a sweeping motion, as a second ogre was also cleaved in two.

By now the remaining two ogres were aware they were in trouble. The first reached for his club, a weapon even larger than the sword, but it did little good as Dominic first cut off the arm, the club dropping to the ground. The next giant swing removed its head.

That left one ogre remaining as Dominic turned towards it. Ogres are not known for their intelligence, but survival it did have as it decided to turn and run. But Dominic couldn't have any of that as he pulled a dagger, throwing it and watched as it caught the ogre in the neck, killing it instantly as it fell.

Wiping his sword down and sheathing it, Dominic drew a second dagger to cut through the ropes of the captor. "Are you all right?"

 

[queenclaire]

Jade staggered along as the Ogres pulled her to where the camp would be. She eyed the one that had taken her sword as a spoil of war. She was going to need it back. She sneered as one of the smelly creatures tied the rope that bound her hand to a tree, leaving her arms above her head.

She leaned her leaned her head against an arm as she watched the foul creatures as they gathered in a group, away from her. She was not happy about being captured by Ogres and the problem was, she really could not recall how it happened.

Her ice blue eyes scanned for a way to escape, she needed to break free and kill all of them,. Unfortunately, they were really good at tying knots. She looked at the Ogres just in time to see the first ogre die. She stood up straight as she watched the attack unfold. She knew the attacker was one of her kind. Though she was thankful for his “help”, she wondered why he was doing it.

“Yes,” she said once he freed her from the ropes. She walked over and grabbed her sword from the bloody remains of an ogre. She turned to face the man again. “Thank you,” she said as she looked at him, brushing some red hair from her face.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic eyed the warrior as she stood. He liked the way she went for her sword. She certainly did have a nice swagger about her. "My name is Dominic. I was journeying and smelled the ogres. When I realized they weren't setting an ambush, well I decided to do one of my own." He was quite sure of himself as he talked.

As he surveyed the ogres, "Anything else belong to you?" He asked. He was about to examine the bodies before asking, "Although do you know what happened to the rest of them? It seems strange for such a large gather of ogres. They are typically fairly solitary," He finally looks at her, giving her a long look, "and how did they get the drop on you?" He finally asked. "I mean, their smell alone and I was going to detect them for quite a distance."

This was puzzling to Dominic, and he doubted she was weaker, so that meant something more dangerous might be happening, and that was important to him.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade smirked as Dominic spoke of his ambush of the ogres. She heard a lot of confidence in his voice. It matched his fighting skills from what she had seen. They both probably served him quite well. She was sure his good looks helped as well.

She looked around as he bombarded her with questions. She wanted to tell him it was not any of his business. She did not have to answer to him. And honestly, she was wondering the same thing. She was not sure if anything else was hers. His last question, however, caused her to pause and look at him. It was unusual to say the least. He was right, their stench was strong enough that they should never be able to sneak up on her. Especially a group of them.

“I don’t know,” she replied softly as she ran her hand through her hair. She sighed and looked around again and shook her head, “I don’t remember anything. I cannot recall what I was doing or what would lead up to this. All I remember is I came to…” She broke off and looked at him as she thought about it, “I came to…I came to already in the ogres’ possession.” She could not help but wonder what the hell was going on. Things did not seem right and she had no clue the events that led up to this. She was just happy she was free of her ropes.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic didn't like the idea of magic that was strong enough to affect one of his kind. He found little of value on the ogre's dead bodies. As she explained she couldn't remember anything he finally moved over to her. "Before finding yourself bound, what do you remember?" He realized she also had not given her name as of yet. That wasn't entirely uncommon, but he also wondered if she even remembered it.

He looks her squarely in the eyes, "I dislike thinking someone out there can d such powerful magic on us, so perhaps I need to hear more of your story."

Truthfully Dominic was also a bit bored. Fighting he ogres had been quite the pleasant diversion and the thought of a bit more adventure did have some appeal.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade looked at the one that had come to her rescue as he spoke. She was not sure how to truly answer him. She, too, did not like the fact that there may be something or someone out there that had enough power to control their kind. She had already fallen victim to it…she assumed.

She touched her neckline as she opened her mouth to speak. Her eyes grew wide as she felt around. “My necklace,” she said in an almost panicked voice. She wondered if the ogres took it or if she lost it. She looked at the bodies on the ground as she kicked them over to see if any had it.

She looked to Dominic briefly, “Look, I don’t recall much before this, but I had an amulet on…it was given to me a long time ago. It was recently almost taken from me, but I stopped that attack.” She kicked over another body and searched it with no luck. “However, that does not mean, it did not happen again.” She huffed as she stood up straight and looked at him with her hands on her hips. “It seems that maybe that may have something to do with why I was taken, but none of them have it. So, maybe someone else took me and the ogres happened upon me.”

She looked around, “All this sounds so ridiculous.” She felt as if she was losing her mind. She needed to stop and step away for a moment and think. “I am sorry,” she said looking at him, “I cannot remember. It is so frustrating.” She felt so scattered-brained at the moment, and that was not like her. She rubbed her temples and looked at him, “I am Jade, by the way.”

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic already knew their was no necklace, he would've have found it already. But he allowed Jade to look, it was what she needed to do right now. Once she was completed in her search, he pointed to the West, "I saw a trail of another group headed that way. Not sure how many, I haven't explored , but perhaps answers to what happened to you lay that way."

He was torn now, he was interested in helping, but he didn't want to seem overbearing. "I think perhaps I should journey with you for awhile, whatever affected you might not be done yet. Besides, I could use a bit of an adventure." Both statements were quite true, Dominic had been alive for well over a hundred years and things did get boring sometimes. Fighting was always a good way to feel alive.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade looked to the West Dominic pointed. She was feeling useless and lost, two feelings she did not like and was not used to. Being one that was usually in charge and in complete control, this was foreign to her. She was not fully herself yet and it scared her to think of what happened out there. She wanted to know who did this to her and where her amulet was. Deep in the pit of her stomach, she felt the answer was not something she wanted to hear. None the less, she was going to demand answers and make whoever did this pay.



She looked at Dominic as he offered to go along with her. She paused before blurting out a resounding "no". He had a point, she was clearly still dealing with the effects of whatever happened to her and she may not be able to handle anything big she might run into. Second, if it was an adventure he could use, it was most likely an adventure he would get. "This might not be the adventure you want," she said as she looked back to the West, "but if you are up for a challenge, then you can join me." She looked back at him, "I don't think it will be easy in the least."

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic smiled at Jade. There was a lot of arrogance in that smile, even more bravado, but perhaps just a bit of caring as well. "Do not worry, any trouble and I will poke them with my sharp object." He winks at her before leading the way to go west.

"If we want to make better time, we may need to find some horses, but for now walking will have to do."

 

[queenclaire]

Jade smirked at Dominic's comment about his sword as he winked at her. Perhaps, the journey would be somewhat entertaining after all. She did not know anything about him, other than what she had gathered by watching him. But maybe, he was more than he seemed. More than a handsome face and good fighter.

She nodded, “Indeed.” They were bound to run into horses at some point. For now though, she was more concerned with remembering what happened to her. Her mind was reeling with “what ifs”. She needed to focus on the task at hand, but she was finding it rather difficult at the moment. She glanced at Dominic for a moment as they walked and then looked ahead again.

 

[Lordmikel]

They followed the path for only a few miles. The ogres didn't seem concerned about hiding their path. Soon enough it led right to a cave with no visible guards.

Dominic stayed back, hidden among the trees. He cocked his head and then closes his eyes, trying to hear further into the cave. "I don't hear anything, not close anyways. The cave must go back pretty far." He looks over at Jade, "Shall we enter?"

 

[queenclaire]

Jade walked along with Dominic as they tracked the ogres. She sighed to herself as it lead to a cave. She felt as if she had just escaped a cave. She was not in any hurry to return to one, but there seemed to be no way around it this time.

She looked at the cave as Dominic said they should go in there. She looked over at him, “I suppose we should.” There was some hesitation in her voice, but she knew that was where they should go to find answers. Or at least she hoped that would be the case. In the very least, Dominic should get some fighting out of it.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic heads into the cave. True words, there was no one in the entrance, so they trudge deeper into the cave. Dominic pauses every once in awhile, "Something isn't right, this cave shouldn't be this big ... unless." He pauses and then starts sprinting forward, unaware of any danger.

As he finally stops, he looks down a deep hole, "It leads to the Underdark. They went deep."

 

[queenclaire]

Jade furrowed her brow unsure why she felt so uneasy, though Dominic seemed to sense something was not right either. She followed after him, though much more cautiously, as he ran deeper into the cave. She was not in a hurry to die.

She sighed as she looked down the hole. The Underdark was the last place she wanted to journey to. She looked to Dominic as she put her hands on her hips, “So, what do you suggest? We head into the darkness to face unknown terrors or turn around and give up on your need for adventure?” She gave him a sly smile. Either way, she would need to keep on going. She had to know where her necklace was and what had happened to her. Like Dominic had stated, if something or someone had the ability or magic to do stuff to their kind, they would need to be stopped.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic stared down the deep pit as he imaged the last time he was in the Underdark. It was quite awhile ago, and he was quite sure anyone was probably dead by now. What else are those adventurers for really?

"Then I shall have to go with you, it would be foolish to leave you alone now, unless you would prefer to get a room and forget about any of this?"

 

[queenclaire]

Jade smiled at Dominic, “I would much prefer getting a room and forgetting about all of this...it would be much easier and safer. And considering that I cannot remember much, it would be pretty easy for me. But, my memory is bound to return and I will have to face doing this at some point soon anyway.” Her smile faded as she looked back at the hole. It was dangerous what she was about to do and she really should not put Dominic in that sort of danger. He rescued her and she did not expect him to continue on with her. She did not need to risk his life as well.

She looked at Dominic with a sweet look, “I cannot ask you or expect you to come with me. You have done enough just rescuing me. It would be selfish of me to risk your life so I can find out what happened to me and stop whom ever it was.” She was torn on what to do and it showed in her voice. Without her memory, she was just walking in the dark. She was not fully herself and she needed to be to continue on. She needed help, but she would not ask for it. She was not sure if it was pride or she really cared what happened to her savior. She sighed softly as she looked back at Dominic, “I am not usually this indecisive. I ordinarily know what I want and I go for it.”

Whatever happened to her really messed with her confidence. She could not wait to get back to normal. Jade furrowed her brow as she looked beyond Dominic for a moment and then back at him. “What if that is what is suppose to happen?” She was not making too much sense at the moment, but she was deep in thought. “What if this spell or whatever it is, is suppose to mess with me...our kind...make us less of a threat...make us question our motives and weaken us in that sense...” She looked back down at the hole. If this was true, then it could be really awful for their kind. The good thing was, she could feel it wearing off. So it was temporary.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic's eyes opened wide as she spoke about taking him up on his offer. But then his hope were quickly dashed. He takes her hands as he looks into her eyes, "I could not in good conscious leave you like this." He takes her hand and looks into her eyes. "I promise to join you to retrieve your necklace." His hand moved up to gently touch her cheek, "I would be remiss if I let you go on alone. At times in the future I would then always wonder how you fared down there."

He looked back down the hole, "Besides I don't want to be worried about whatever this power is. I would be concerned about that." He leans in to whisper in her ear, not really needing to, but because he can, "And perhaps later we can decide about getting a room."

Before she can say another word, Dominic leaps down the hole.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade looked at Dominic as he took her hand and looked deep into her eyes. She was not sure what to do or say. He had taken her by surprise. He touch was gentle and perhaps evening caring. She wondered if his words were genuine. She had known many of their kind were great with manipulating others. She had done it as well. It was how they survived, but this seemed different. Or maybe it was part of what happened to her.

However, when he touched her cheek, her stomach fluttered. She drew in a breath softly. His charm was definitely having an affect on her. She was almost wishing she had picked the room now. But they both knew what they needed to do and he was willing to go with her. It really meant a lot to her.

She nodded as he spoke of the power being used. It was what was really needing to be dealt with first. She paused as he leaned in a whispered in her ear. His words caused her to smirk and sent a shiver through her body. She shook her head as he leaped down the hole. “Of course,” she laughed, “had to have the last word.”

Jade then followed him down the hole. She landed and looked around. She had been here recently, she felt it. Something here had taken her and she had escaped. “Just as I left it,” she joked as she looked around and then to Dominic.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic landed with a thud. The fall was a bit further down than he had anticipated. He was lucky to have not broken anything, even one of his kind can break something. He looks over as Jade falls next to him. He'd had moved to catch her, but she was quicker than he would've thought.

He looked around, it was a fairly small room. The ogres probably leaped in here and had to exit fairly quickly before the next one landed on him. A bit further ahead he could see a much larger room. The smell of ogre was very strong in the air, there were definitely some close.

Dominic slowly drew his sword, a battle was coming.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade could smell the ogres ahead of them. She drew her sword right after Dominic did. She did not enjoy their smell, but with the time she had spent with them, it had slip passed her when they first landed. It was not good news. She did not need to be used to their smell at all. She needed to know when they were around. She hoped it was fleeting.

She waited for Dominic to make a move. She was not sure she could rely on her senses at this moment. He was the best for the lead position. At least she was honest enough with herself to know when to step down. There was a time she would not have been. She used to think she needed no one and she was the best.

She drew in a deep breath and prepared herself mentally for what may lie ahead of them.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic looked into the room. He spied only two of the large beasts. He whispered low to Jade, "We need one of them alive ... perhaps even both." He motioned that he would take the one on the left and she could take the one on the right."

Dominic knew if they were going to get any kind of answers, they would need to talk to the ogres. Course ogres were big and dumb and strong. Dominic charged the first ogre. His speed was enhanced as he literally plowed straight into the big beast.

But the ogre only took one step back and readied himself to attack. But Dominic used the pummel of his sword and struck hard right in the jaw of the ogre, it fell back, knocked unconscious.

 

[queenclaire]

Jade's eyes locked on the two ogres as Dominic spoke about needed to have at least one alive. She knew he was right, sadly. She had spent enough time with them to not want to waste anymore. She glanced over at him as he motioned to which one he would be dealing with.

Letting Dominic charge in first, Jade stayed back for a brief instant. She knew the ogre she was going to have to take down, would turn his attention to the first attacker. Leaving her the opportunity to take him by surprise.

Once his attention was on Dominic she slipped in quickly, not making a sound. She positioned herself behind the ogre and instantly jumped on his back. She was still very strong, even if her reaction time was still not quite up to par. She wrapped her whole arm around the ogre's thick neck and squeezed. Lucky for her, he was not the smartest of the two and tried to grab her arm away instead of reaching behind him and trying to snatch her. Her arm was well protected from his grasp as he stupidly looked down and shielded his own hand from reaching her. He fell to his knees, gasping for air. She kept on the pressure until he passed out, landing on his stomach. She let go and looked to Dominic, who had taken his down as well.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic considered the best way to bind the ogres. With their strength, normal binds wouldn't work. Luckily the ogres seemed to have prisoners in the past and he found metal chains to bind then. Both ogres were bound by the wrists, arms over their head.

Dominic seemed to know what he was doing as it came to binding someone and restraining them. Once complete he looked over at Jade, "Care to do the honors?"

 

[queenclaire]

Jade watched as Dominic bound the ogres. She frowned slightly as she realized that he seemed to know exactly how to tie them up. She started to wonder if he had done it before. She looked at him curiously as she came to the realization that she really knew nothing about him and yet she trusted him enough to follow him into the Underdark. She was not sure why she trusted him, but, for now, she did.

Jade's blue eyes fluttered from Dominic to the ogres to her companion again. She wondered what honors he was wanting her to do. “Well, you already tied them up like you have done it before,” she said as she looked at him with a smirk, “And you said we needed them alive...so, unless you are wanting me to wake one up, I am not sure there is much more we can do with them. That is, unless, you changed your mind about killing them.” She knew they did not have her amulet. She could not quite explain why, but she knew. She also knew they were going to have to travel much deeper into the Underdark to find it.

 

[Lordmikel]

Dominic smiled over at Jade. He shrugs before smiling at her, "Well I ... have practice at tying people up." He seems it slowly with a definite innuendo there. But yes, it is probably time to wake up one of them."

He takes his hand and slaps one of the ogres across the face. The ogre slowly opens its eyes and tries to escape its ropes. Dominic kneels down before the ogre, "Where did the rest go?"

The ogre at first seemed reluctant to say anything, at first acting like it didn't understand. But when Dominic asked the question in the language of the ogres, he got more cooperative.

"They were left to guard the rear, waiting for the others to arrive." He looks at Jade, "And then meet them at their camp. Which he was nice enough to share with me that location."