SoS: If we were all Stranded on an Island (Anyone; multiple-characters allowed)

OoC: This is a massive RPG that I'v played many a time before. It is open to anyone and its up to everyone to work together or work for evil under the purest darkness.

Rules:

-All forum rules apply
-Do not use another person's character without their permission. Make sure you apply their personality traits correctly. If you use their character wrongly, then you will lose that privilege to use their character.
-No one shot kills or god mode. Seriously, its annoying.
-Killing another player's character without their permission is not allowed.
-No "Giant Bob Barker Head lands on the site and kill everyone."
-Make sure your posts are relevant to the story.
-No 1337 speak. Speak English.
-Try your best when using grammar.
-No one leaves the Island until the goal is complete or the thread dies.
-Read all posts and make sure you know what is happening.
-If you need a recap of the story, just ask for a PM. I will keep track. Or you can read all the posts past your last one.

When you use more than one character, be sure you don't suddenly let one die. :/

Let us get this started...

BiC:

Everyone lives in their own dimension. Everyone lives either far away from one another or very close. But now, everyone will be tossed into a land of battle and survival.

Calm sunny skies loomed over Shrukan as he laid gently on the Ülavar plains. He looked up at the sky and thought only one vivid image, a burning mass of wood that was once his home. He remembered the vivid image of Argath, his step-father, and Nava, his step mother, perishing under intense flames. The only two people who really cared for him, dead.

Shrukan was only 15 and already was away from the rest of the Scalix race. He had dark red hair and sky blue eyes and two large golden dragon wings that extended out of his back. He had a golden tail that was scaly and strong. He wore a dark blue jacket over a dark red t-shirt and dark gray pants. His shoes were dark-red.

Being that he was a Scalix, he had dragon characteristics. Himself however only had a few, dragon eyes to see in the dark as well as to see perfect details, a strong sense of smell, and dragons wings and tail. Some of his race had fully matured as Scalix; having claws for hands and feet, scales running down their arms and legs, spikes shooting out from their tails, and other varieties.

Shrukan continued to stare at the puffy white clouds that loomed over him. He once loved to sail besides them, and doing various aerial acrobatics and stunts.

But those days long faded away. He ran, like a frightened animal, from a larger, more menacing animal people refer to as the "plague". A plague not made by illness or disease, but an actual breathing Scalix whom murdered for entertainment and pleasure. It killed men, women, and even children. But why? No one knew.

Shrukan knew part of the reason. It was himself. By why him? All he knew was from one of the plague minions. "You are the prize..." What prize? Why was he important?

The thoughts of the plague made him nervous. He was scared of being killed by a person who showed absolutely no mercy.

Suddenly a bright flash of light appeared next to Shrukan. Curious he looked inside it. He saw a blue ocean below the light, which was impossible since he was laying on tall grass.

A gust of wind and he fell into the portal. He sped towards the island at high speeds, and just before crashing into the sand he opened his wings and positioned his tail so he'd land softly. But it was too late and he crashed into the sand.

Then all was black...

OoC: I'll use my character Lyraxus....considering he is my only BA Character at the moment.

BtC:
When Lyraxus awoke, he emidiatly jolted up. The smell and taste of the air was far different to where he previously was. He could hear the sounds of the sea shore rolling back and forth.
"The Ocean?" he thought "But how could this be? I was in the desert just a few....." then he rememberd when he was traveling through the desert, he felt a large blast and the sound of rushing wind. Then all he could remember was a lound screeching sound and then all went blank. Dazed and confused, he began the recollect his mind. Once he had gathered himself, he stretched his mind across the Island................"There!" he said "some.......else.............is on the Island......." he tried to peer into the thoughts of this being but that was impossible. He was to far away, and not to mention the blast had left his mind weak. So, he locked on the position of the being and began his search.

This too was hard, because the being also seemed to be searching. Although Lyraxus still had no clue to what or who this being was, he was still determinded to find him. Then mabey he could find out where he was, and how he got there.

After a few hours of searching, he began to pick up stronger mind waves of the being. But he still could not hear the thoughts, just murmors. The murmors began turning into words " Scalix, Plague, Why me? what prize?". These thoughts made no sense to Lyraxus. Then he, he tried communicating with the being through his mind. "Hello? hello?......." he waited for a reply.........

OoC: Sounds like fun, I'll be using Sig
Note: Some grammer mistakes are on purpose... He is a pirate

IC: Sig shook his head bringing his hand up to his face. "What the bloody hell just happened?" He was laying on soft ground. As he glanced down he noticed it was sand.

His gaze followed to curve of the shore, eventually leading to palm trees. He was on an island. Frantically he stood up. "Where is it? Where's me ship? Where?" he said, slightly panic stricken. He shuffled his feet in a circle, gazing out to the ocean to see if he had missed it. No, still wasn't there.

"This can't be! Argh!!! I was just on it! Me crew wouldn't maroon me would they?" he paused looking once again to make sure he didn't over look it. "Would they?"

He plopped on the ground placing his head in his hands. "How do I always get meself into these bloody situations." Again he shook his head. "Well I ain't gonna get nothin' done just sittin' ere." Sig rose to his feet, not bothering to brush off his pants and started to trek the beach. His boots sank slightly with each step he took.

20 minutes passed since he started walking. In front of him he noticed a figure. One of a person, but with a body shape he'd never seen before. Not far from that person, another one was in the distance walking the figures direction.

Sig was a bit leery about going to this person, but he did anyways. His hand was placed softly on the hilt of his sword, just in case.

OoC: This is going to be interesting!

BiC: Still waiting from a reply from the being, Lyraxus began picking up other mind waves. There was two!!!
He quickly began searching the other beings thoughts. Lyraxus did not know if he was having a hard time reading his thoughts, or was it because this person actually sounded like this. All he could hear was "Bloody Hell! Where be I? Me crew? Wait, who be them over there?!?" Lyraxus realized that being was alert and confused. He also sensed a bit of hostility to his thoughts. "Fear not fellow being, for I mean you know harm..." This apparantly did not make things any better. Talking to him through his thoughts was clearly not a good idea because the being began spinning quickly, holding his sword high.

Lyraxus quickly rushed to the being. Now close enough to make out who he was, he realized that the being was a Pirate. "Please, do not be alarmed! for it was me. I am telepathic and I was speaking to you through your mind. I did not mean to frighten you. My name is Lyraxus, what is yours?"

Wait.. You can talk through minds? Shrukan tilted his head. I wonder who was reading my thoughts.

Yes I was reading your thoughts. And I was reading the others.

Shrukan tilted his head around and noticed the Pirate.

"Great... Pirate." he said with distaste and then turned his head to Lyraxus. "Name's Shrukan. I'm a Scalix."

Scalix? Lyraxus thought. What are you? he said through his mind.

"Well you don't seem really... normal... for a human."

"Argh! I want to get off this Island!" Sig said.

"Seems we can't." Shrukan said.

"Why not? We got enough wood."

He's right. Lyraxus said through his thoughts. I can sense a deep magicial shield around this Island.

"Magic is just fairytales!"

Shrukan tilted his head. "Look enough of this. We might as well just get a camp started as the sun is already setting...."

"Whoa!!! Get outta me head!" Sig said shaking it. He glance curiously at Lyraxus and at his outstretched hand. Slowly, Sig sheathed his sword and held his hand out. "My name is Sig... Do you know how we got here?"

Shrukan walked up. Sig's eyes gazed over the Scalix. He'd never seen anything like him before. The Scalix mentioned a fire.

"That be a good idea. I'll fetch us some wood." Sig said turning on his heels to make his way to the forestry part of the island.

He began by picking up a few small twigs, and then some armfulls of larger pieces of fallen wood. When he got all that he could carry, he made his way back to the beach with Lyraxus and Shrukan.

"Ah good fire.." Shrukan said. "Set it here." Sig set it before Shrukan who got seemed to get really angry for a second as a small spark erupted into flames on the burning pile of wood, creating a black smoke for a second, but a warmer feel. "This should keep us warmer for a few. We do not need to be cold."

"Said the dragon-man." Sig pointed out.

"Look, shut up mister 'argh'. I'm going to get food, Be back in a few." Shrukan ran off into the woods with his dragon blades firmly in his hands.

"I should go with you" said Lyraxus."I can help sense if there are any other living things on this Island", and with that they set off into the jungle. Just as they were about to enter the jungle, lyraxus turned and said "Sig, I will keep mental contact with you, if anything happens, just let me know.......through your mind" Sig nodded, and they were off. The jungle was a vast area. Lyraxus could feel the life thriving from it. He could sense living beings all around, them but, they were are animal life. There was really no mind reading to be done. But, as they traveled further into the woods, Lyraxus began picking up on more life, but they were not animal.

"What is it?" said Shrukan, who obviously could tell that Lyraxus was picking up on something. Lyraxus began swearving his head back and forth as the mind waves began getting stronger. " I..........they........them!!!" "Them?" thought Shrukan "there are multiple?" Lyraxus then began saying murmoring words. "Kill....food.........ours..........jungle.....min e........trespassers......." Lyraxus then snapped out of his trans. "We have to go....now!" Just as they turned to leave, an arrow shot staight out of the woods into a tree right next to Shrukan. "What was that?" he said. Lyraxus replied with "No time, run!" So lyraxus and shrukan began to run back towards the beach to sig. They could hear the whistles and the crys of the native beings in persuit of them. As they ran through the woods, they began to realize that the beach was much further than they had thought. No matter how fast they ran, it seemed as thought they persuitors were gaining on them.

Then finally up ahead, they saw a clearing. "The beach" they both thought, finally. They ran towards the clearing, only to be shocked with what they saw. They found Sig, battling with what appeard to be cole black tribal people. They were skinny with long natted hair and they seemed to crawl almost as apes. Some had axes and others had spears. There were archers on the other side.

Lyraxus used his telekenetic powers to clear a path to sig. Then he and Shrukan rushed to his side. As they stood there, they realized that they were surrounded on all sides. All three knew that this was not going to be easy.

The trio stood back to back, surrounded by the native folk. Sig had his sword drew and was glaring at a few individual natives for a few moments. At this time fighting was ceased and it was just a stare down between the two groups.

Sig, Lyraxus and Shrukan all knew that they were out numbered, but that wasn't going to keep them from fighting. Sig glanced over his left shoulder, then his right looking at both comrades before crying out and charging at the natives.

Some of the natives bared their dirty, half missing teeth as Sig ran towards them, sword in front of him. He clashed with one, hitting his axe. Metal clahnged against metal as the two enemies stared at each other.

Sig snarled before kicking the native in the stomach and to the ground. Another came up behind Sig but not before he could swirl around and slash upwards at the being, slicing his stomach. The native fell to the ground with a loud cry or pain, gripping as his wound before dying.

The Natives quickly talked in a low tone to one another as they saw one of their own die in a pool of blood. Their words were quickly and confusing to Shrukan, whom only caught a few English words pass their lips. The rest of the mumbling and clicking of their tongues off the roof of their mouth soon subsided as another Native ran directly at Shrukan with his strong ax.

Shrukan put his sword up in a "x" shape and blocked the attack. He twisted his body around and knocked the ax out of the Natives hands and slammed the native in the side of the head with his giant golden dragon tail.

Another rushed at Shrukan, this time with a spear. Lyraxus noticed this and used his psychic powers and lifted the spear out of the Natives hand while Shrukan kicked the Native in the stomach.

Shrukan snarled a bit and his fists erupted into small fireballs. He let loose a jet of flame from his fist onto the ground just past Sig and moved his arms around in like a Martial Arts fighting style, creating a rotating ring of fire. He did this for several moments before letting the flame die down.

When Sig looked past the dying flame, he noticed that the Natives were scared away from the fire attack. They ran and dropped many of their weapons and rushed back to the Jungle they once lived in.

Shrukan sighed and gasped a few times. "Too close for comfort..." He said.

"Aye." Sig replied. "This 'ere Island be full of secrets."

"Too many..." Lyraxus said. "I am confused though. Why are we here?"

"Who knows?" Shrukan said.

"We're all brought here for one reason..." Lyraxus thought. "Everything has a reason."

Shrukan sighed. "I'm going to find food again. Lyraxus it'd be best to stay here and protect Sig if those Natives come back. I'll be fine as long as long as I can hold up my fire power." With that he dashed back into the dark Jungle.

"I hope he'll be fine." Lyraxus said. "The sun is setting at a fast pace, and even the dark can be dangerous if you are alone."

Sig sighed and poked the fire a bit with a fresh stick. "Dragon-man better come back soon."

"Why can you not just call him Shrukan?" Lyraxus said.

"Look. I'm not used to this whole 'magical half human' people. I call 'em when I see 'em."

Lyraxus sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Fine then."

-------------

In a dark cavern far away, a figure paced back and forth before purplish crystal. The crystal sparkled from the sunlight that came from the ceiling of the cavern, emitting a purple colored light over a few corners of the room.

The figure was a tall dark man, covered in a dark brown cloak that moved gently across the floor, pausing one second to stare at the crystal and then resuming his pacing.

"The boy is here..." It said hissing with delight as the crystal emitted a clear an vivid picture of Shrukan. "...And he has friends with him." He smilied and laughed sickly. "No matter! All of them are just simple pawns in my game..."

OOC: Right I'm in using Shrapnel. She's some where on that page. Always up for something a little different and I keep on meaning to return to the Battle Arena.

IC: "You and me both Scurvy McMatey," said a female voice from the top of a nearby tree. "As for reasons for us to be here there are probably none, this kind of thing happens to me all the time." A young woman came climbing carefully down the trunk of a nearby palm tree.

Lyraxus reached out with his mind to try to find out more about this new arrival who was strangely clothed and had a streak of red through her hair.

"What does the the phrase sunshine lollipops mean?" he asked.

"Its just a song I've had stuck in my head for the several days I've been up that tree," she replied. "Hey wait a second, stay out of my brain until we have been formally introduced."

"Sorry, I am Lyraxus and this is Sig."

"And the guy with the fake looking but effective dragon wings I saw fly off somewhere?"

"He is Shrukan, a Scalix I believe is what his species is named," explained Lyraxus.

"Well then Lyraxus I am Trisha 'Shrapnel' Jarivs," she told him. "You can call me Shrapnel."

"And why do you come out of your tree to speak to us now wench?" asked Sig.

"Because I need to know if you have found a way of this island?"

"No," answer Lyraxus. "And the magical field I sensed may make locating one difficult."

"Crap a reality that uses magic," Shrapnel said to herself. "Even if I could get of this island I'd need money to pay a spell caster for an interreality portal and then I can never remember the fanfiction realities that are quickest between here and my home reality."

"What's the wench on about?" Sig asked.

Shrapnel stared up at the sky and came to a decision. She looked at Lyraxus and then Sig wearing a large grin.

"Congratulations your little party just gained a new member," she told them. "I can help you guys survive, I'm pretty good at fishing."

"What about fighting?" Sig asked as he pulled his pistol as if to show his strength.

Shrapnel placed a hand behind her back and there was a blur of motion. A glint of silver in the air. Sig dropped his pistol and gripped his wrist where he was hit. There was a small mark there that stung. He looked down at the ground were the projectile had dropped. A silver coin displaying a queen he didn't know had drop there. He went to pick it up as treasure was treasure, only to be kneed in the gut by Shrapnel. As he doubled over winded Shrapnel retrieved her weapon and slotted it back into her coin belt.

"A ground rule my Scurvy friend," she said. "This isn't treasure its a weapon and my primary means of fishing. Don't touch them."

Lyraxus who was midly ammused by the small confrontation looked up as Shrukan returned.

Shrukan look at Shrapnel and then back at the group. Over the back of him was a large deer like animal. "This is the food I managed to get." Shrukan said. "I cut out most of the bones. Better cook the meat and eat; its the only thing I saw in the forest that was eatable." He looked over to Shrapnel.

"The name is Shrapnel. And you are Shrukan correct?"

"That's my name."

Shrapnel gazed at his golden wings and tail. "So... Scalix?"

"Yeah. Dragon-humans."

Sig had already grabbed a piece of meat and cooked it. He chewed on it for a few moments and swallowed it.

"We better eat before Sig here eats it all!" Shrukan snickered.

OoC: Hello, everyone. I'll be using Tacheon and Vylanos, links in my signature, but I won't introduce Tacheon until later on. I figure I might as well form the opposing side first...

BiC:

There is an island. On that island there is a forest, and deep, deep inside that forest is a hut. In that hut there is a steel door, and behind that door there is a series of rooms so vast that it is hard for anyone to comprehend it. Deep within that labyrinth of rooms, is a button. That button, red in color, was covered with dust, and had not been lit in years, if not decades. It was lit now, however.

Vylanos was startled by the activation of the proximity sensor, but not so much that he made any noise. He tore himself off the bed and over to the monitoring station with record speed. The console was dusty, and he blew it away before beginning to punch in a long, complex code.

"Access granted," came the cold metallic female voice, and Vylanos was relieved. He was not sure if he remembered the code correctly, but apparently he did. A monitor in the far corner of the room hummed on. He rolled over in his swivel chair, grabbed a clipboard, and looked at the conglomeration of beings that sat there, feasting on some quadruped.

There was some sort of dragon-man, which he looked up in the database and found to be something called a 'Scalix', someone whose telepathy and brainwave function diagnostics were out the roof, a gruff-looking pirate, and a woman who was walking a coin over her knuckles without realizing that she was doing it. Vylanos punched up another monitor, showing the colony that inhabited the island. They were all dead.

After a more thorough diagnostics check of the island, everything else seemed to be in tip-top shape. A call came in, and it was from Shivv, the shield operator. Shivv was a little unstable, but he was a reliable minion and was easy to control.

"Master Vylanos," Shivv hissed, his eyes shining with delight, "we've got company. Should I... give them the grand tour?"

Vylanos sighed. They had just gotten new arrivals, and already Shivv wanted to torture them to death. He just didn't understand the art of creating chaos.

"No, Shivv, that will not be necessary. I'll show them around, first." Shivv's eyes lowered, and he skulked away, terminating the call. "I think I'll just give them a small taste of what's to come," Vylanos muttered to himself, pressing a button that desperately begged to be pressed.

Five hundred yards away from the small encampment, something in the sands moved.

OoC: I'm trying to make this fun without totally going on a power-trip. What did y'all think?

OoC: I like it! It finally gives us a villian......that is what your character is right?

BiC: The deer meat was not the best food that Lyraxus had ever eaten, but it was good for now. As he finished his last piece, he then began picking up on another life form.

Unlike the rest of the life forms he had encounterd on this Island, this one was far more complex. It was as though there was more than one of them, but that could not be cause he only sensed the presence of one. Not only that, but it was as thought the presence was all around him. He began seaching the thoughts of everyone in the area to see if he could lock-in on the one. All he could here was the thoughts of the rest of his "team-mates" wondering where on earth were they.

But then, he began honning in on something else. It was hard to tell exactly what it was, but he could make out a few distinct words. "Master......kill.......survivors.......mine...... ours...........mine!........the island......kill.....them!"
Just as lyraxus was about to speak, a loud shreeking noice came from the east side of the beach.

Something was comming out of the water. Since lyraxus was blind, he could not tell what the beast looked like, but he could sense the extreme amount of power and energy flowing from it.

Sig drew his sword and rushed into battle slicing at the multiple appendages the beast had. Shrukan flew high into the air and began hurling fire balls at it, and Sharpnel began hurling her coins at the beast. But none of their attacks seemed to be effective. Lyraxus, being in his physical status, could do nothing. He managed to lift a palm tree from its roots with his mind and began swinging it at the beast. But this too failed to work.

Meanwhile, sig had managed some how to climb on top of the creatures head and was trying to stab it with his sword. But the beasts hide was made of some type of metallic alloy and the sword was not penatrating it. The beast, now annoyed, grabbed sig off of its head, and hurled him toward the jungle. It then charged at Shrapnel, with its teeth glimmering in the campfire. Shrapnel managed to roll out of its was, avoiding being trampled and eaten.

Shrukan, the only safe one, was still hurling fireballs from his position in the sky. They too were having no effect. The creature then looked up into the sky at shrukan, and began to inhale the air around him. This began to pull shrukan closer to the beast. No matter how hard Shrukan tried to fly the other way, the beast still drew him closer and closer. Then as Shrukan was just about to enter the mouth of the beast, a huge tree trunk was lodged between its mouth, giving shrukan the time to get out of swallowing range.

The team gathered side by side on the other side of the beast, watching as it snapped the tree in half with its massive jaws. They now could get a clear view of it. It was tall, about 3 stories high, and its skin was a black metallic color. Its eyes were firey read and in had what appeared to be tentacles pertruding out of its back, and had razor shar teeth and claws. The team stood there, staring at the giant monster before them. It was obivious they were going to need a different strategy to slay this beast......

Shrukan snarled and leapt back at the beasts, drawing out his swords. His anger melded once again, this time though, the blade erupted into flames. He tossed one sword at the beast, letting it land directly into the beasts flesh, burning it. But the beast would just not retreat.

Shrukan snarled and grabbed his blade back quickly and withdrew both swords. He placed his hands together and both glowed a a yellow color before Shrukan thrust both fists in mid-air at the beast. A bolt of Lightning erupted from his hands from his more than normal anger, struck the beast and left it fall on it side.

Shrukan however recieved damage from his own attack and fell backwards into the sand below, gasping for air and tried to recover.

Seeing that the beast was temporarily stunned, the team rushed to Shrukan's side.

"That be very foolish of ye mate!" said Sig.
"I agree" replied Shrapnel "Not the brightest thinker are you?"
"Enough" shouted Lyraxus "Shrukan, are you still able to fight?"

Shrukan stumbled up onto his feet, and shaking his head he replied "Yea...Uh.... I'll be fine".

The team then turned to finish of the creature, but it was gone. It had simply vanished into thin air. But, it had left someting behind. Lyraxus lifted it with his mind a brought it toward them. It was a small fragement of some sort. It had ancient markings on it but not enough to make out what they said.
"Wonder what that be for?" said Sig "It looks like a piece of....treasure!!"
"Is that all you think about?" replied Shrapnel "Well, its not treasure, its obviously some sort of...........you know........I really don't know."

Just then, a sound came from the fragment. Lyraxus, still holding it in the air, began to search his mind for answers.

As he searched his mind, trying to find what this thing was, he heard a voice, it was very faint, but loud enough to be heard. He listened for the longest time. Then when he snapped out of his trance, he found that the rest of the team was sitting around the fire, they were waiting for his relply.

"So, did you find out what it was?" asked Shrukan.
Lyraxus paused for a moment, as if he was still recollecting his thoughts. The he replied "Yes, I did..." the team came in closer. "Apparently it is a peice to some key. I heard a voice telling me about it. It said that there are more pieces throughout the Island. All to which are gaurded by some sorce of magic or technology. The voice said if we want to find answers to why we are hear and how to get off of this Island, then we should try to collect the reamaining peices of the Key. The voice said that there wear five pices. The first, the one we have now, was located in the water, the second, is located in..........the cold of the Island. What ever that ment. The third, is located somewhere in a cave, the fourth, located in the hot of the island, and the fifth.......He didn't say were the fifth was located, only that we should find the first four pieces first, then the fifth would be revealed to us."
All of them stood amazed and astounded. No matter how different they were, either it being thier race, where they came from , or thier powers, they all were excited by one thing, they were about to embark an a journey like no other. A journey that would be both challenging to the mind, as well as the body. Also test thier skills on how to survive and work as a team. This was going to be interesting..........

Shrapnel sat silently and counted her coins. As she had expected there was one missing, perhaps lodged in the hide of the mysterious beast. It sure as hell wasn't in the sand she searched through while Layraxus was in his trance. Sig may have it but she thought it unlikely. Sighing she placed her projetiles back in her coin belt. Shrapnel was going to have to be more conservative with her ammo unless Sig managed to unearth some buried treasure with coins of similar sizes.

She laid down to try and get some sleep. But the deer unsettled her stomach and the clues to the key fragments unsettled her mind. She tossed and turned and tried to get her mind on other things. Hot and cold where at the fore front of the thoughts. Could the island possibly have a volcano and a glacier? As cliched as that sounded it was a possiblity she would have to mention to the others in the morning. What worried her most though was the thought of all leading to the fifth? A half solved mystery leading to a new one.

"I hope we don't end up as lost here as that T.V. show," she said to herself as her eyelids finally dropped with the weariness of the earlier battle and the days she spent up that tree.

Sig snored loudly as Shrukan and Lyraxus discussed who would take the first watch for any new dangers the island would present to them.

Vylanos spat in disgust. The zaxtol that he had sent after them had turned tails and run like a coward, giving them part of the Codex in the process. The shields protecting the island were only at half capacity, as he had been informed, and more and more marine animals were leaving every minute. There were no more spatial fluxuations after the ones that brought the invaders here, however, and already things were, for the most part, returning to normal.

Four fragments to the Codex remained undiscovered, and Vylanos was going to make sure that they stayed that way. He upped security mechanisms all throughout the island, and released all but the most vicious of the beasts that inhabited the cave systems throughout the island.

Thermals diagnostics showed glacial and volcanic activities were nominal, although there was a small volcanic exhaust vent that had opened up on the northern shore of the island. Vylanos activated the defensive grid in that area, and turned it up to 120% power. There was no way that he would allow the invaders to access the area.

He switched monitor screens until it showed the encampment, with everyone asleep except the woman with the coins, who was apparently on watch. Now to start the fine art of torturous deprivation, he thought, as he pushed a button that made an air raid siren blare throughout the island.

"Who needs sleep?"

There was a terrible wailing emenating from the trees. Shrapnel's eyes widened and she covered her ears. It pounded into her skull. The wail soon awoke the others with Sig complaining most loudly because he had only just gone back to sleep after his watch.

"What matter of beast can make such a noise?!" he yelled in order to be heard.

Lyraxus reached out but felt nothing. Shurkan looked about trying desprately to locate the noise's source. Shrapnel searched her memory, she had heard this somewhere, on her own world. It came to her on days of memorial it often rang out despite her town not coming under direct attack of any conflict. It was for those fallen and to remind the citizens that the country had the strength to stand through war. An air raid siren. But what was something artificial doing in a world of magic? Perhaps the others had just misread it by way of the old Arthur C. Clarke quote, of technology and magic being indistiguishable. At the moment that wasn't important. Right now they needed to shut it off.

"Shurkan," she yelled. "If you find the noise source there will be a cable or soemthing similar connected to it. Disconnect that and you turn it off, you'll stop it."

She to tried to locate the source but something else came to mind remembering these beings were not as familar with technology as she was. She yelled over the siren.

"For the love of whatever, don't phyiscally strike it or touch it with metal as the cable will contain a sort of lightning called electricity. It shocks and burns as much as the real thing."

Still searching the island with his mind, Lyraxus was still not able to locate it. It was as thought the sound was comming out of nowhere. He concentrated so hard, that the sand around him began to lift up in the air and circle around him. Not only was it not working, but he was getting more agrrivated by the second. The sound was making him lose his nerve. The others seemed a little shocked by his reaction, only because they did not hear things ten times better than any normal human being.

"Ay boy, are you Ok?" asked sig. But lyraxus was still in aggony. He then began murmoring "Make.......it.......stop..................make... .it...........STOOOOPPPP!!!" and with that the ground began to shake. The sand that was floating around lyraxus shot out at his teammates. He opened his eye and they were glowing red. His skin turned grey and the symbol of a wolf appeared on his head. "Lyraxus?" said Sig as he walked toward him to see what was wrong. Sig wen to place his hand on Lyraxus's shoulder but then he felt some unknown force grab his had. It twisted his arm and flung him back. Lyraxus turned to face them. He glared at them as though they were the enemy, then he said "Lyraxus is no longer in control anymore. My name is Rask, and I am in control now."