Imagination
You wish for something that could help Lyssia and Black Fang, and at first nothing seems to happen, but Jarek then notices something when he tries to grab you and you dodge out of the way.
"WHAT? I should've caught you! No human can move that quickly, especially not a boy!"
"Jarek, I feel like something just sapped my UGH!" Hago grunts as Black Fang claws him across the face. Lyssia also gets back up to strike Jarek across the chest. He reels backward and realizes he no longer has an advantage.
"Our powers are gone! RUN!" Jarek shouts and runs off with Hago following behind. Black Fang pursues them.
"Black Fang wait!" Lyssia shouts and runs after him. Not wishing to be left alone, you follow Lyssia. You have a hard time keeping up, but after a short distance she stops when she sees Black Fang sniffing around a strange gray building. There are no windows, just a single door. It's actually quite tall; you can't believe you never saw it before even in this forest.
"What is this?" Lyssia asks.
"Don't know, but the two demons ran in there. I was tempted to go in, but considering this thing just materialized out of nowhere I thought discretion might be the better idea for once. It's completely featureless except for this small weird symbol on the door."
Lyssia tells you to stand back as she examines it.
"This is Zodan! I saw these symbols in the ruins I briefly explored. We have to go in explore it If the Nightmare Tyrant's minions are in there, who knows what secrets the Nightmare Tyrant might gain? We certainly don't want him to get anymore powerful than he is!"
At this point the thought of getting home is still in the back of your mind, but with all that has happened you can't help, but be caught up in this excitement even if a lot of it has been scary.
You all enter the building, which apparently is a lot bigger on the inside. All the rooms are lit and furnished, but again everything is a dull gray color, the furniture (Most of which looks like it comes from various time periods), the floors, the walls, all of it. Someone must've really liked that color.
Black Fang easily tracks the demons by their smell; however you all can hear their voices anyway. They sound like they're arguing with someone. When you arrive in the room where they're located, you see strange machines and the two demons arguing with a ghostly figure.
"What do you mean?! Teleport this place! We gotta get out of here!" Jarek shouts.
"This place isn't your personal transportation system! I told you that this place uses up a lot of power and needs to recharge when it teleports. Not to mention you insisted on keeping this place invisible the whole time, didn't you think that was going to use up power? You two are just going to have to wait awhile, there's nothing I can do." the ghost replies.
"Argh! If you weren't a ghost already, I'd make you one! Okay Hago, check "
Before Jarek can give whatever order he was going to give, Black Fang and Lyssia attack. The two demons stand no chance without their enhanced speed. A couple of quick blows and both give other worldly shrieks before they burst into puffs of smoke and disappear. The ghost on the other hand just floats there observing it all.
"Well, I'm glad they're gone, they were really getting on my nerves. Never did like demons. Now what can I do for you?"
"What is this place exactly?" you ask.
"Oh just a relic of the past or the future depending on your outlook on life. It once was a mobile military base if you were looking for something a little more precise. Used for conquest and that sort of thing."
"This is Zodan in nature isn't it?" Lyssia says.
"Yes, but a fat lot good it did them, considering they aren't around anymore, well not in the traditional sense anyway. I take it you're not minions of the Nightmare Tyrant then?"
"Do we look like we are?" Black Fang snarls.
"Well you might, furball especially with that attitude! But the other two certainly don't look the part, besides I know the Nightmare Tyrant turns children into Shadows. Nasty fellow. No redeeming qualities whatsoever."
"So who are you and why are you working for the Nightmare Tyrant?" you ask.
"I'm not. I'm just a caretaker of this place and as such I'm tied to it. I can't prevent someone from using it however they want, I'm just here to make sure it doesn't fall into decay or get destroyed like so many of the other Zodan inventions. When the Nightmare Tyrant found this place he decided to use it to find other possible Zodan weaponry since this place can easily home in on other Zodan ruins. So far with little success as I said most Zodan equipment has lost all its power. Normally he has those mean little Shadows running around in this place chattering incessantly, but for whatever reason he put those two demons in charge. Guess he needed to reassign troops or something."
"Hey I found a Zodan ruin not far from this forest, is that why those demons were here?"
"Yes, there was one located by me recently, but those demons aren't like the Shadows and their minds weren't as shall we say as sharp hence why we're here in the middle of the forest instead of closer to the desired location. While this place is magical in nature, it was primarily designed to run on the power of the mind. The Nightmare Tyrant's Shadows are all psionically linked to him so teleportation isn't a problem. Those demons couldn't focus on anything! Now you boy, I sense a great deal of mental focus in you. Your sword was created from your mind was it not?"
"Yes, it was."
"Ah yes, I can see why the Nightmare Tyrant would want someone like you to add to his power."
"Can this place take me home?" you ask.
"This place needs time to recharge as those demons used up much of its energy with their bumbling. However, you could probably take yourself home. This place enhances the powers of the mind. Normally I wouldn't advise it since as I said it requires discipline, but you seem to have a natural gift at it and would probably be successful. Just visualize your home and concentrate."
It seems so simple! You wonder if you could've done it all along, but that hardly matters, since you can do it now. Lyssia puts her hand on your shoulder.
"Well, it looks like you'll get home quicker after all."
"Thanks for protecting me from the Shadows and demons." You tell her.
"Hey you helped in both battles." She says.
"Oh and what did I do, sit around and watch?" Black Fang remarks to the both of you.
You nearly laugh and thank Black Fang too. The Caretaker then speaks.
"Okay, now I advise complete quiet when you attempt this. It's better for concentration and noise won't distract you. So your friends will have to remain quiet. I'd advise that they leave altogether, as even their random thoughts could interfere. As I said, the chaos of the mind is one of the reasons for the downfall of the Zodan. I'm a ghost so you need not worry about me."
"Fine! Fine! I know when I'm not wanted I'll go wait outside!" Black Fang says and lopes off. Lyssia is about to leave too, but you insist that she stay because you feel safer with her around. After seeing that you really want her to stay she does and says she'll wish for you to get home as well.
You sit in the middle of the room and close your eyes and concentrate. You visualize your home. You see it. You can almost feel it. You're there, until
"LYSSIA!" Black Fang roars as he runs into the room.
"I told you the boy needs to concentrate and silence!" the Caretaker snaps.
"Shut up ghost! Shadows are outside! A whole mess of them!"
Lyssia and Black Fang quickly run out of the room. Lyssia shouts at you to continue to your concentration.
"WHAT? I should've caught you! No human can move that quickly, especially not a boy!"
"Jarek, I feel like something just sapped my UGH!" Hago grunts as Black Fang claws him across the face. Lyssia also gets back up to strike Jarek across the chest. He reels backward and realizes he no longer has an advantage.
"Our powers are gone! RUN!" Jarek shouts and runs off with Hago following behind. Black Fang pursues them.
"Black Fang wait!" Lyssia shouts and runs after him. Not wishing to be left alone, you follow Lyssia. You have a hard time keeping up, but after a short distance she stops when she sees Black Fang sniffing around a strange gray building. There are no windows, just a single door. It's actually quite tall; you can't believe you never saw it before even in this forest.
"What is this?" Lyssia asks.
"Don't know, but the two demons ran in there. I was tempted to go in, but considering this thing just materialized out of nowhere I thought discretion might be the better idea for once. It's completely featureless except for this small weird symbol on the door."
Lyssia tells you to stand back as she examines it.
"This is Zodan! I saw these symbols in the ruins I briefly explored. We have to go in explore it If the Nightmare Tyrant's minions are in there, who knows what secrets the Nightmare Tyrant might gain? We certainly don't want him to get anymore powerful than he is!"
At this point the thought of getting home is still in the back of your mind, but with all that has happened you can't help, but be caught up in this excitement even if a lot of it has been scary.
You all enter the building, which apparently is a lot bigger on the inside. All the rooms are lit and furnished, but again everything is a dull gray color, the furniture (Most of which looks like it comes from various time periods), the floors, the walls, all of it. Someone must've really liked that color.
Black Fang easily tracks the demons by their smell; however you all can hear their voices anyway. They sound like they're arguing with someone. When you arrive in the room where they're located, you see strange machines and the two demons arguing with a ghostly figure.
"What do you mean?! Teleport this place! We gotta get out of here!" Jarek shouts.
"This place isn't your personal transportation system! I told you that this place uses up a lot of power and needs to recharge when it teleports. Not to mention you insisted on keeping this place invisible the whole time, didn't you think that was going to use up power? You two are just going to have to wait awhile, there's nothing I can do." the ghost replies.
"Argh! If you weren't a ghost already, I'd make you one! Okay Hago, check "
Before Jarek can give whatever order he was going to give, Black Fang and Lyssia attack. The two demons stand no chance without their enhanced speed. A couple of quick blows and both give other worldly shrieks before they burst into puffs of smoke and disappear. The ghost on the other hand just floats there observing it all.
"Well, I'm glad they're gone, they were really getting on my nerves. Never did like demons. Now what can I do for you?"
"What is this place exactly?" you ask.
"Oh just a relic of the past or the future depending on your outlook on life. It once was a mobile military base if you were looking for something a little more precise. Used for conquest and that sort of thing."
"This is Zodan in nature isn't it?" Lyssia says.
"Yes, but a fat lot good it did them, considering they aren't around anymore, well not in the traditional sense anyway. I take it you're not minions of the Nightmare Tyrant then?"
"Do we look like we are?" Black Fang snarls.
"Well you might, furball especially with that attitude! But the other two certainly don't look the part, besides I know the Nightmare Tyrant turns children into Shadows. Nasty fellow. No redeeming qualities whatsoever."
"So who are you and why are you working for the Nightmare Tyrant?" you ask.
"I'm not. I'm just a caretaker of this place and as such I'm tied to it. I can't prevent someone from using it however they want, I'm just here to make sure it doesn't fall into decay or get destroyed like so many of the other Zodan inventions. When the Nightmare Tyrant found this place he decided to use it to find other possible Zodan weaponry since this place can easily home in on other Zodan ruins. So far with little success as I said most Zodan equipment has lost all its power. Normally he has those mean little Shadows running around in this place chattering incessantly, but for whatever reason he put those two demons in charge. Guess he needed to reassign troops or something."
"Hey I found a Zodan ruin not far from this forest, is that why those demons were here?"
"Yes, there was one located by me recently, but those demons aren't like the Shadows and their minds weren't as shall we say as sharp hence why we're here in the middle of the forest instead of closer to the desired location. While this place is magical in nature, it was primarily designed to run on the power of the mind. The Nightmare Tyrant's Shadows are all psionically linked to him so teleportation isn't a problem. Those demons couldn't focus on anything! Now you boy, I sense a great deal of mental focus in you. Your sword was created from your mind was it not?"
"Yes, it was."
"Ah yes, I can see why the Nightmare Tyrant would want someone like you to add to his power."
"Can this place take me home?" you ask.
"This place needs time to recharge as those demons used up much of its energy with their bumbling. However, you could probably take yourself home. This place enhances the powers of the mind. Normally I wouldn't advise it since as I said it requires discipline, but you seem to have a natural gift at it and would probably be successful. Just visualize your home and concentrate."
It seems so simple! You wonder if you could've done it all along, but that hardly matters, since you can do it now. Lyssia puts her hand on your shoulder.
"Well, it looks like you'll get home quicker after all."
"Thanks for protecting me from the Shadows and demons." You tell her.
"Hey you helped in both battles." She says.
"Oh and what did I do, sit around and watch?" Black Fang remarks to the both of you.
You nearly laugh and thank Black Fang too. The Caretaker then speaks.
"Okay, now I advise complete quiet when you attempt this. It's better for concentration and noise won't distract you. So your friends will have to remain quiet. I'd advise that they leave altogether, as even their random thoughts could interfere. As I said, the chaos of the mind is one of the reasons for the downfall of the Zodan. I'm a ghost so you need not worry about me."
"Fine! Fine! I know when I'm not wanted I'll go wait outside!" Black Fang says and lopes off. Lyssia is about to leave too, but you insist that she stay because you feel safer with her around. After seeing that you really want her to stay she does and says she'll wish for you to get home as well.
You sit in the middle of the room and close your eyes and concentrate. You visualize your home. You see it. You can almost feel it. You're there, until
"LYSSIA!" Black Fang roars as he runs into the room.
"I told you the boy needs to concentrate and silence!" the Caretaker snaps.
"Shut up ghost! Shadows are outside! A whole mess of them!"
Lyssia and Black Fang quickly run out of the room. Lyssia shouts at you to continue to your concentration.