City of IF

Shady Stoat · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 2950 Location: England

chinaren wrote: Mmm, not a bad idea. Maybe we can combine the two and get Random to grow a big nose.

Well... I dunno... does it come with the fake moustache and big cigar? ;)

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

surely the best idea is to go the way IM didn't get dragged?

Muaddib · Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 1764

I agree with Lordy, a deep loss I'm sure but we'll find ways to get over it...many ways, if you get what I mean. I like my new sarcy personality by the way.

Solomon Birch · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:45 am Post subject:

Ha ha ha! Great chapter once again.

Pretty much all the ideas are taken (including IM.... :D .... anything? No? Fine.....) so I agree that we should do cast some magicky-ness or rely on Storm's tracking senses.

Me want more!

*holds breath* :shock:

tramp in a storm · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:57 am Post subject:

Me? brave? IN A LIFT??? thats a new one. lol chinaren i like the story. I was meant to be catching up on the sleep i lost the night before but i was laughing.

You cant leave IM to die! That wont be fair! I say we split the guards up and send the two different ways, wait where we are and listen. When we hear the guards being slaughtered we will follow that tunnel. Yes, the tunnel where the guards are being slaughtered, because thats where the monsters will be and thats where IM will be.......unless he escaped and wondered off like Harry Potter.

tramp in a storm · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:01 am Post subject:

Solomon Birch wrote: Ha ha ha! Great chapter once again.

Pretty much all the ideas are taken (including IM.... :D .... anything? No? Fine.....) so I agree that we should do cast some magicky-ness or rely on Storm's tracking senses.

Me want more!

*holds breath* :shock:

Me? and directions? ok if you really want. but only because this isnt reall life otherwise we'd be doomed.

And are you planning to hold your breath untill the next chapter is up?

CHINAREN DONT PUT THE NEXT CHAPTER UP FOR ANOTHER HOUR AT LEAST!! well.....he should have at least fainted by then.....Did you hear that? who was that saying for SB to faint?

lol only joking SB. ;)

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

oh no - SB never breathes - he holds his breath between every chapter everywhere

tramp in a storm · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2006 10:56 am Post subject:

lol. *walks up to SB* If you breathe you can have this coockie. But i'd breathe soon i think IM heard the word coockie.

Muaddib · Joined: 31 Dec 2004 Posts: 1764

I think some of us are too important to risk. The hoes of IF would revolt if omething happened to me, then you wouldn't have any way to satisfy your carnal pleasures, would you now?

Chinaren · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 8565 Location: Tome

Don't worry Muaddib, everyone has been backed up.

Solomon Birch · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:42 am Post subject:

tramp in a storm wrote: lol. *walks up to SB* If you breathe you can have this coockie. But i'd breathe soon i think IM heard the word coockie.

*Must......have.....cookie......must......hold.....breath...... :shock: .......nuts.........*

COOKIE!!! ;) :shock: :( :cool: :-) :smile: :) :D :-D :biggrin: :grin: :sad: o-) :? :-o :lol: :x :-x :mad: :P

*munch*

Ahhhhh, much better....

*holds breath* :shock:

tramp in a storm · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

but....but...you didnt braethe....did you? *looks at SB suspiciously*
*give IM a coockie to make him feel better about falling out of a lift.*

Or we could just look around and see if there is a visitor help line somewhere. Then we could ring up the monsters and ask them where to find IM. *stares not believing I just came up with something like that* I get more worried about my self every day.....and thats a good thing. far better than being one of them misserable squawkies trying to controll other peoples lives. ;)

Chinaren · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 8565 Location: Tome

Okay y'all, polls up...

Ravenwing · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 3750 Location: Virginia

LOL. Sweet new chapter, china. Absolutely love it. Well, technically I would suggest sending Random by himself after IM, but that wouldn't work really. Split up I guess is the best idea to go with.

So when do we find about everybody else?

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

voted - against the majority (fools) - to go which ever way IM didn't get dragged off

tramp in a storm · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:20 pm Post subject:

But then how would we find IM if we didnt follow the way he went? :(

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

well - we wouldn't

that was kinda the point - we'll leave him to his fate and go the way the horrible beast didn't go

afterall, for one to sacrifice himself for the good of the many is a noble cause

tramp in a storm · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject:

Ah! But what if you think about it the other way?

What if it is our fate to go and rescue him? or perrish trying.....

I agree that its noble for one to risk themselfs for many others.....but One For All And All For One. And its also noble for many to risk themselfs for one.

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

ahh, but you've in the EVIL guild, which means noblity is a foriegn concept to us, and as such we dont go after him

if you weren't in the guild that would be a different matter - and therefore i would use a different point of arguement

going after him renders his sacrifice worthless, and makes it seem as if you dont value him enough to allow him to give his all for you, constantly striving onwards to enhance your own life instead of allowing him to give up everything for your sakes

it makes it seem as if you dont believe in his capability to look after himself, that you dont trust him enough to make his own descions, that he is merely a benefit for you, and not a give-take relationship

Solomon Birch · Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:21 am Post subject:

Voted to use Random and try and find IM, cos'.......cos'............jsut cos' :-x

tramp in a storm · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject:

lordofthenight wrote: ahh, but you've in the EVIL guild, which means noblity is a foriegn concept to us, and as such we dont go after him

if you weren't in the guild that would be a different matter - and therefore i would use a different point of arguement

going after him renders his sacrifice worthless, and makes it seem as if you dont value him enough to allow him to give his all for you, constantly striving onwards to enhance your own life instead of allowing him to give up everything for your sakes

it makes it seem as if you dont believe in his capability to look after himself, that you dont trust him enough to make his own descions, that he is merely a benefit for you, and not a give-take relationship

You do have a good point. But! He didnt jump out himself he was pushed out. And soon as we dont need a distraction anymore we can afford to save him, that way he saves us once and we save him once.
Also about the guild, IM is in that guild. And no matter how EVIL we may be we have to help each other. So that means that we will have to help him.

*looks at the poll.* well, it looks like we're going to save him anyway......*starts toddling in circles* (well now i've seen how toddling really works i might as well toddle. :D

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

Quote: You do have a good point

no - i have an excellant evil point

and whats a bit of treachory between friends? i'm sure he'll forgive us

tramp in a storm · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:57 pm Post subject:

ah but will we forgive our selves? that is the question.

Anyway read the rest.....i have points too.

Is anyone going to join me in toddling? all you do if shift your feet forwards while wobling. its easy and fun! :D

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

well, i for one am EVIL (even if i'm not in it) , as are a bunch of the others, so we'd quite easily forgive ourselves

and the fact that he's also EVIL doesn't matter - there is no honour among thieves*

and risking your lives to save him makes using him as a distraction slightly pointless

*not that we in EVIL are thieves - no sir

tramp in a storm · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:17 pm Post subject:

*looks over to all the sofas* well i suppose i did give them better ones back.....

But still, why is it pointless? that is the question. *little ice-cream Jr comes up*

"Well it's not exactly an answer now is it?"

Ravenwing · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 3750 Location: Virginia

We could have just dumped IM. But where else would be go and find? More of these monsters breeding somewhere?

Chinaren · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 8565 Location: Tome

Chapter 6 – Deep Dire Dark.

“No problem” said Random. He concentrated for a moment and his nose and ears started to grow.

“Wow! That’s so cool!” said Muaddib.

Random winced! “Keep it down will you! That hurts!”

Tramp was looking thoughtful. “Do you think he could do that with any part of his body?” she whispered to Chinaren.

“Shhh!” said Random and first sniffed, and then listened down each of the tunnels.

After a few moments he turned back to the small group, who were waiting silently. “Well, I have good news and bad news” he said, as his parts returned to normal size.

“Oooh! I like these!” said Tramp, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. “Let’s have the good news!”

“I can smell traces of our departed friend.”

“…and the bad news?” asked Muaddib, always ready to come down on the other side of the coin.

“It is coming from both tunnels.”

“So then” said Muaddib, putting a finger to his lips thoughtfully, “he has either been separated from his soiled garments, or they have torn him in two.”

“No!” wailed Tramp.

“Well, no sense hanging around here is there? Muddy and I will go this way” Chinaren gestured at one tunnel, “and Random and Tramp, you go the other way.”

“Look, for the last time it’s Muaddib okay?”

“What about the security guards?” asked Random.

“Two each.”

“Okay, first one to spot something, scream” said Tramp moving into the tunnel that lead down. Random and two guards followed.

“Oh never fear.” Said Chinaren, as they walked off the other way, wands at the ready, Muaddib lecturing him about the ‘Golden path’.

*

The tunnel continued to lead down, and Tramp pulled her garments around her as the air grew colder. Slowly the passage widened and they entered a large cavern which disappeared into inky blackness. They stopped in concern.

“Now where?” shivered Tramp.

Random squinted. “I think I can see something, straight on.”

They walked forward carefully, loose stones underfoot making the footing treacherous. Random and Tramp drew closer together as the dark surrounded them, the echoes of their passage seemed to bounce around the cavern walls, coming back distorted and twisted, sounding almost like a low cackle.

“Random?” whispered Tramp, as they looked around, wands held tightly infront of them.

“What?”

“I think something is out there.”

“Shh. Stop a moment and let me listen.”

They stopped. Silence.

“Can’t hear anything.” He whispered, then gestured. “Over there. It’s a hut.”

Tramps light went out. She said an un-lady-like word.

There was a noise, like something kicking a rock, a little way away.

“Don’t worry miss,” one of the guards said, as Tramp jumped. “We will take a look.” Chinaren didn’t hire guards who frightened easily. Unfortunately he didn’t hire those who were that bright either.

They watched the guard’s forms, then their lights, bobbing away from them. “Nothing here.” One called back, rather inaccurately as it turned out.

There was a tearing noise and a scream that was cut off suddenly. One light flew into the air back towards Tramp and Random. The other just went out.

“Shit!” said Random.

A form moved towards them. “Ahhhh! You’re not getting me you filthy beasts!” screamed Tramp, and opened fire.

Her rounds briefly lit the cavern, like strobe lights in one of Muaddib’s more expensive nightclubs. Several hammered into the figure which dropped to the ground with bits missing. Tramp and Random peered into the gloom. It was one of the guards.

“Oops.”

Slowly the echoes of Tramp’s shots died away, to reveal a skittering sound which seemed to come from all directions. The two IFians went back to back as vague shadows started to form around them.

“Oh crap.” Said Random.

*

“… and that is why it is not Muddy, but Muaddib.”

“Uh hu,” said Chinaren, who hadn’t been listening. He stopped suddenly. “Hey Muddy, did you hear that?”

Muaddib made a strangled noise.

“Sounded like a scream suddenly cut off. Maybe it was IM.”

“Could have been Tramp and Random.”

“Nah, they would have used their communications orbs” said Chinaren.

“We have orbs?” said Muaddib.

“Sure. Didn’t I mention that? In your backpack.”

Muaddib gave Chinaren a Look. “What! No one told us that!” He took his pack off and rummaged around in it, eventually pulling out a communications orb. He activated it and then spoke into it. “Tramp? Random? IM? Can anyone here me?”

There was no response.

“Ah, come on” said Chinaren, “they are fine, you know Tramp, she is probably having a blast.”

*

Tramp blasted wildly at another indistinct form in the dark. “On your left!!” she shouted.

Random turned and let loose another volley from his wand. Explosions echoed around the cave and flashes of light gave brief glances of nightmare figures, black as shadows with glowing blue eyes. The one Random fired at disintegrated under his onslaught.

Tramp turned to face another one. Her wand fired once and then made a buzzing sound. “Noooo! I am out of magic!” she cried.

Random glanced around. “Run for the hut! I will cover you!”

They both made a break for it, Tramp sprinting ahead in the dark. Random walked backwards, selecting his targets carefully.

“Come on!” shouted Tramp, at the door of the hut.

Random turned and slipped on a loose stone, falling to the ground. Tramp saw black shadows moving in around him. “Get into the hut!” he shouted.

Tramp backed into the door, peering out. Flashes of light and explosions rocked the cavern as Random tried to fight off the gathering shadows. There was a brief, intense, bout of firing. Then it went quiet. Sobbing to herself, Tramp closed the door quietly and leaned against it.

“Hello” said a voice in the gloom.

*

Muaddib put the orb away, and was about to say something when one of the guards, who had been scouting ahead, came back. “Door ahead sir” he said, saluting.

The door was an old wooden one, though still perfectly usable. It was set into the side of the tunnel, which stretched on into the dark. Muaddib pushed the door, which swung open. “When is a door not a door?” he asked to himself.

Chinaren peered in. “Some sort of storeroom.”

They entered, Muaddib kicked something as he did so. He bent to pick it up. “Hello, what’s this? Arg!!”

IM soiled pants flew through the air narrowly missing one of the guards. “Looks like we are on the right trail then.” Chinaren said.

Muaddib swung his light around the room. “Wonder what’s in these crates?”

>>>>>>

Right, Random appears to have fallen to creatures from the deep, and Tramp is trapped in a hut with someone.

Meanwhile, China and Muddy are about to peer into some crates. What will they find? What would likely be stored in the mine? Something useful? Or maybe IM is hiding contraband in his storeroom? Suggestions please! (Sorry it’s a bit of a lame d-point!)

<<<<<<

D-Lotus · Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 4122 Location: Hollywood, USA

It's obviously boxes full of dictionaries to understans saxonish, or contraband weapons the rebellious mine workers were going to use to overthrow IM...that is, until they got layed off (Chinaren sold them, of course).

Or there is even a distinct possibility of those crates being filled with Anti-Repellent For Whatever Those Things Are That Dwell In Abandoned Mines.

Shady Stoat · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 2950 Location: England

Well, I don't know... could IM have been harvesting souls for all the Demon-restaurants in the City? I mean, how many workers come down the Idearium Mines and are become mindless drones with not a speck of creativity to their names? Think of all those 14,000 Citizens of IF whom we never see posting! Is this what happened to them? :shock:

Crates full of souls. Open that one if you dare :-o

ethereal_fauna · Joined: 16 Feb 2005 Posts: 2567 Location: USA

I rather like D-Lotus' suggestion about the saxonish dictionaries, although boxes full of used undergarments from the Muaddib district might explain some of the polution of the mines...

Chinaren · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 8565 Location: Tome

Quote: used undergarments from the Muaddib district might explain some of the polution of the mines

Arg!

I like Stoat's lost souls idea though. Spooky! :shock:

Smee · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 5202 Location: UK

Good chapter. :)

Hmmmm... The souls idea makes sense - these people must go somewhere.

They could be full of fables - part of the Mayoral Retirement Slush Fund spread out in hidden places throughout the city?

Happy Writing. :D

Idea master · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:35 am Post subject:

Now how did you get there without setting off the traps? I'll have you know that those crates contain an almost limitless supply of raw magic, just waiting to be used. After all, how else do you explain the prices of those wands? I've been hoarding it for decades, selling a bit at a time to make a fortune. Well, we finally got some currency around here, and now I can REALLY make a fortune-
Oh, wait, I've been ranting again. In any case, should you find that the crates contain something undeniably rare, then China should try and smuggle out as much as possible, maybe even telling his 'gaurds' to do as such as well.

LordoftheNight · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

i must admit - i'm liking the souls idea

tramp in a storm · Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

I like the souls idea. I also like the crates full of magic idea. but.....
It could also be IM hiding behind one of them. that way we can have one of the other ideas as well as finding IM! :D Wehey!

Or IM could be the hut. and the crates are full of magic ......CHIMPANZEES!!! yes! chimps! magic chimps in the crates. and they give out a magic juice.

O.K. too much thinking there. I'll make a dicision. I say that IM is in the hut and that the crates are full of raw monkey-magic. (magic for monkeys also givven to IF citizens) :D

jess1561 · Guest

I like the souls idea and the magic idea... Can't there be crates of both?

I think IM is somewhere in the hut...

Solomon Birch · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:31 am Post subject:

tramp in a storm wrote: Or IM could be the hut. and the crates are full of magic ......CHIMPANZEES!!! yes! chimps! magic chimps in the crates. and they give out a magic juice. :D

ROFL! Ewww, giving off magic juice!?! That's horrible! :P

Good chapter Chin. I also like the souls idea, as we need to do something with all of those absent members. :?

tramp in a storm · Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2006 10:39 am Post subject:

I like the souls idea too, but i thought that they were slaves. I always thought that they'd be the people working in the idea mines.

But we could always have half and half. Like some boxes have one thing and other have something else.

Chinaren · Guest Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Posts: 8565 Location: Tome

Okay peeps. Poll is up!

LordoftheNight · Guest Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 5253 Location: Hell

went for souls - and winning