It's About Time, part 2.5: Journey to Tartarus

[no_vampires_plz]

As the three humans, one Hyrulian, one unicorn, and one demon-dog press forward, the character of the woods around them changes. The undergrowth gets denser, the canopy above lets in less light, and the flora in general is much more... exotic than what one usually sees in the woods by the lake.

"Now, I know that the pathway to Tartarus starts somewhere in this general area," says Twilight. "But I don't know of its exact location. It's not something that ponies really want to advertise."

Comments

[gorgonfondness]

"What's a trip without some exploring anyway?" Mia asks, lightly tapping her staff against her shoulder.

[sky_child]

Link remains silent, taking in the area surrounding him.

Somehow, he feels his wooden shield might be ill-suited for this quest. Then again, the Knight Commander would argue that the durability of the shield didn't matter so long as its wielder was skilled.

Which rumor says he is. But he's never been in a situation like this to prove it for a fact.

[basic_powers]

Moon Shadow only murmurs and makes various canine noises towards Cerebus, a demon dog is still a DOG. And he knows enough canine to ask the polite and formal questions.

"What happened to bring you out here anyways?"

[no_vampires_plz]

Cerberus is ancient, and his dialect of canine equally so, but he's still comprehensible--mostly.

"Don't know," the demon-dog grunts. "Fought dirt thing, felt funny, was lost. Wanna go home."

[fiss84]

84 looks around in something just shy of glee, she's really in the lad of the ponies! Still she is here for a purpose and so forces herself to focus.

"Should I fly up and see if I can find anything?"

[no_vampires_plz]

"It can't hurt," says Twilight with a shrug. "Just don't lose sight of us."

[gorgonfondness]

"We might be difficult to miss."

They are traveling with Cerberus, after all.

"I have my carpet with me if we should need further air support," Mia comments with a pat to a bag on her opposite shoulder.

[sky_child]

Well he's just feeling horribly ill-suited for this mission, what with his lack of magical skills. But, given the fauna, maybe he might not be so useless...

"I can try to clear a path ahead of us," he says, drawing his sword.

[basic_powers]

"J-..84 be on the watch for anything that might've disturbed the earth around here, or anything that looks like moving dirt." Moon Shadow calls back to her, sticking close to the ancient demon dog. "You're probably going to have a better chance of spotting it before us up in the air."

"Clearing the path sounds good to me."

[fiss84]

"Okay Twilight, you got it Moonshadow!" 84 replies falling into hero mood and flying up. It feels so good to say that! From about 100 feet she stops to look around for anything and will go up another 100 if need be.

[no_vampires_plz]

The treetops form a dense green carpet beneath her, making it nearly impossible to see the travelers below. The forest is largely unbroken: there's a river a mile or so away, and beyond that, a high hill upon which a ruined castle lies. There's nothing that would immediately indicate the presence of a road or pathway.

"See anything?" Twilight calls up to the flying girl.

[gorgonfondness]

Meanwhile, Mia goes up ahead to help Link clear the path.

"Diffindo," she casts, cutting away at a small area.

She clears the loose debris from her slashing spell away with her staff and leans forward, listening for signs of wild animals.

[sky_child]

"...that seems a lot more useful," he quips to Mia, before hacking away at the plants ahead of him. He doesn't quite know what he's looking for--the terrain remains the same no matter how much he cuts--but he wonders if they shouldn't try heading towards the castle?

But then, he's only an inexperienced student. Who is probably rendering his school's blade too dull for the damage not to escape notice when he returns home.

[basic_powers]

Moon Shadow is joining in to help cut down the foliage to make a passable path as well, his wooden dao isn't much good for a real fight, but it's decent enough at hacking away at undergrowth, much closer to ground level.

"See anything?" That's mostly to 84, but anyone in the group could answer that.

[fiss84]

While they've been working Julie fly up another 100 feet and then back down once she heard Tyler's question.

"Nope. The trees are too dense. I could barely see you guys." Watching them work at the underbrush, 84 (since she's on a mission) looks to try and see how she could help. Maybe using a log like a plow?

[no_vampires_plz]

Suddenly, Cerberus perks up and all three noses sniff the air excitedly. "Know that smell..." he says in a language only Moon Shadow can understand. He presses his noses to the ground and starts blundering through the undergrowth, knocking all the adventurers aside as he moves toward whatever it is he smells.

[no_vampires_plz]

"Wait! Come back!" Twilight gallops after Cerberus, futilely trying to get the demon-dog's attention.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia pulls herself up into a sitting position, leaning on her staff.

"Quick, we better keep up with him."

After a brief moment to stand and brush herself off, she follows Cerberus. Her steps are quick but careful, watching for anything that could spring out from the sides or up from the giant three-headed dog cleared path.

[sky_child]

Link, of course, had been sent comically sprawling to the side with a "Augh!"

He pushes himself up, having only a second to realize that the party's running ahead. He sheathes his sword and follows, slowing down in spurts to prevent himself from getting utterly winded.

He's lagging behind, he knows. There's not an awful lot he can do about it.

[basic_powers]

Being the only one that heard what Cerebus was saying, Moon Shadow's the first to dive...if only head first into the bushes as the giant ancient dog charges past. It's a struggle to get himself out of the bush to run after the others.

"Cerebus says that he caught a familiar smell! Lil' help please?"

Next chance he gets Moon Shadow is RIDING that dog.

[fiss84]

As she flies over to Moon Shadow, 84 calls out "Harness or hands?" at him.

"Miss, can you give Twilight a ride on your carpet? Link, I can carry you as well or you can crowd on the carpet. Maybe?"

She doesn't mean to take charge but lately it's just been happening.

[OOC-And I will have to beg slow until tomorrow.]

[no_vampires_plz]

Twilight, meanwhile, is desperately trying to cast a barrier spell in front of Cerberus to slow him down. It's not working. She's never been that great at running and spellcasting at the same time.

[gorgonfondness]

Mia stops her pursuit once it's apparent it's useless to go on foot. She looks over both Link and Twilight.

"I can likely fit both. But it's going to take some concentration to fly with multiple passengers."

She pulls the carpet from her bag, which looks too small to hold it. She unfurls it quick and takes a seat at the front. It'd be a bit tight but both boy and unicorn can fit with her.

"Draco and I really need to invest in a second carpet," she comments. "Family's getting too big for just one."

[sky_child]

"I can go with Julie," he says. He's not doubting Mia's capabilities, but the last thing any of them need is for someone to be slightly distracted while carrying two passengers.

[basic_powers]

"Harness, thank you, 84."

That way his hands are free.