Virtual Reality (RP)

[AD TienzuStorm]

Magma Mountain
Nile frowned. They weren't going to the Kingdom of Light? Shame. He was planning to get some sightseeing in there. Maybe they would have tourist sights, he didn't know. So far he'd seen at least four tourist sights in Michigan, it's not like this virtual world could be that much different.

Nile was about to walk ahead in silence when he heard Aurora pipe up and defend him. Nile smiled. So it seemed like he wasn't the only one who wanted to go to the kingdom. That was reassuring.

Nile added in a blurb after Aurora finished. "Yeah, and we might also find a better map from the Kingdom. They might know the exact locations of all the shards, or the kingdoms they're in. After all, you can't expect that we'd find anything by wandering this mountain range with no clue as to where to begin. We might as well give it a shot."

[Aves]

Southeastern Desert of Time
Shards.

Elementals.

Magic.

After the blearily standing through the Oracle's introduction, Aetius had powered through his disorientation, drinking in facts of the new world. Its customs and features, hazards and limitations. There was much to do; no time to waste on desert induced headaches and nausea! Conversation was something to avoid however-- the others were sure to have their own interests in mind-- and so he had begun his first test of the Oracle's explanations: avoiding the congregating groups. Focusing his will, he'd pictured the formation of a nearby sand dune... and it had worked! Nobody had paid much attention to the innocuous patch of ground up dirt in a forgotten corner, and as the others had left, off to begin their own adventures, he'd moved on as well. It was time to see what lay over the horizon!

Unfortunately, that led to his current predicament, sweaty and tired from a long day's march to the southeast-- and having poked what had appeared to be a large stick in the sand, surrounded by a pack of scorpions. He really hated deserts...

[Timdood3]

Magma Mountains
Joey sighed.  He didn't want to be in command, but now that he was he didn't really want people questioning his leadership.  "Look.  There's a pass leading straight to the Gravity Basin that cuts around the south side of the mountain.  If we don't want to risk scaling the mountains, we take that pass.  Not only is the Basin closer, but it's equally likely to contain civilization.  On top of that, we won't have to visit a kingdom that others are already headed to.  There's no reason for us to be less efficient than we can be as a group."

Joey rubbed his temples and looked hard at his companions.  "How about this, when we get to the Gravity Basin, you two can continue north into the Kingdom of Light while we carry about out business there."

[ProBacon]

Magma Mountains
Understanding what Joey had to say, Claiborne  had actually wanted to see the top of the mountain. "Ok, I see where you are going with this Joey, but we have six people in this group. If we head in both directions with three people in two groups then we can cover more ground. If both ways have civilization then we can ask the people about anything we need to know about this place and maybe where we can get a shard or two. Not only that but we may be able to stock up on stuff we need like food and drink. If you want to do this I'll lead two others up the side of the mountain while you take the rest to the Basin. If you don't see that to be a good idea, I will respect your decision and just continue on to the Basin with the rest of you. Up to you capt'n."

[Timdood3]

Magma Mountains
Claiborne stepped forward with another idea: splitting the party.  Not something he particularly cared to do, but he couldn't really deny that it would undermine his argument of efficiency if he rejected it.  Joey was glad at least that there was someone willing to follow his orders.  He did find it a bit odd though that he was exerting superiority over a grown man after being a subordinate for his 19 years alive.

"Technically we're five people and a cat.  If we're intent in splitting the party, one person, preferably one capable of flight,"  Joey paused and took a look at Jane, "can accompany Chip and I to the summit, and you, Claiborne, can lead the others to the Basin and on to the Kingdom of Light as they so wish.  Supplies as food and water aren't required; these aren't our real bodies.  We can remain sustained indefinitely."

Joey assessed his troops, looking at each of them long and hard.  "Anyone opposed?"

Spoiler for Unpleasant thoughts:

When did I turn into a cold, determined general?  At least with Jane we can travel easier, unhindered by those bound to the ground.

[AD TienzuStorm]

Magma Mountain

Nile quickly analyzed what Joey had just suggested. Two choices.

But he clearly had much better odds in a group of six, all friendly and not likely to be a murderer, compared to a duo with a kitsune that seemed rather timid and somewhat cowardly. Especially if that duo was going to be in the same place as the other group. Somehow Nile had missed that in Joey's plan, Nile hadn't realized that the suspicious people would also be in the kingdom. That changed a lot of things.

But as Nile was about to concede to Joey's point, Claiborne suggested splitting into groups of three. Interesting.

As Joey divided the group into what appeared to be airborne vs grounded, he stared at each of them. "Anyone opposed?"

Nile looked down as he felt the stare bore into the top of his head. The air was far tenser than he had anticipated.

Nile shook his head. "I think everybody is fine with the arrangements, lets get a move on."

[Solaris]

Magma Mountain

Chip pauses for a moment, then decides now is a good time to get airborne. He takes a few steps away from the group, and begins to flap his wings, sending himself airborne after a bit. He begins to slowly circle the group, as if he were a buzzard.

Spoiler for Inner Thoughts:

Gonna getcha...

Chip muses to himself, slowly rising and falling as he waits for the conversation to draw to a close.

Spoiler for Inner Thoughts:

Don't know how you can be that cold when we're in the Fire kingdom, but whatever suits your fancy.

[Naesala]

On the Way to the Kingdom of Light

Mivlya began to walk northwards, along with her scaled companion. Noone else seemed to be following them, at least that she noticed, not even the other girl that James had spoken with. Which was all well and good as far as Mivlya was concerned, James seemed to be the only one who really knew what he was doing. He was someone she felt she could rely on if worse came to worse.

Casually, she practiced with her magic. With her left hand, she conjured small wells of gravity, making light or heavy various objects along side the path. With her other she healed tiny cuts she made in her arm, and later illuminated the ground in front of them when the process became annoying. "So, why a lizard?" she asked absently as she walked.

[Silver Emerald]

Magma Mountains

"I suppose that's that, then, at least for now..." Aurora glanced around. "Would be nice if we could keep in touch. They said there were no satellites connecting things, though..." After a moment of silence, she looked to her watch and started tapping. "You know what, to heck with that. I don't want to lose contact with any of you, I trust you more than the others. Just because the technology doesn't exist doesn't mean the principles don't. There must be a way..."

So saying, she searched the watch, attempting to make sense of its functionalities - but was interrupted when her sense of magic indicated some...disturbance behind her. Turning, she saw someone watching from a short distance, the guy who had randomly fallen into their midst earlier... '...and he has a watch too?' After a moment's hesitation, she waved him over, counting on the others to talk to him, then kept looking through the complicated piece of machinery on her wrist. Murmuring, "Please bear with me..." Aurora went through her silver-gold interface rapidly, making quick, precise clicks and taps with her claws - a familiarity born both of experience with somewhat similar systems and the giving of her motions over to her instincts. 'I think I can make this work...if I bypass that...' More taps, as she was clearly absorbed in her work at the moment.

[Arum]

No Man's Land to the Kingdom of Light

"I'm not quite sure myself. I figured that if I would be nonhuman, then I would pick the one that I feel closest to, in particular snakes. While snake bodies might be hard to move and not exactly useful, this dragonoid form is strong and deadly. Plus, it came with a natural enhancement."

To demonstrate, James just breathes with a purpose, and a flurry of mist forms, with a subtle frosting of ice on the ground.

They had been walking for an hour or so, north but no other purpose in mind. The sun had dipped, fading a little towards sunset.

"How's your stamina?"

[Naesala]

No Man's Land to the Kingdom of Light

The girl simply nodded her head with understanding. "Pragmatic. Very nice."

After walking with him for awhile, she shrugged her shoulders. "I feel fine. I am, or at least, this version of me is, very fit. I should have no problem continuing until we reach the kingdom. Or sundown, whichever may come first." On a whim, she crushed several nearby stones together with her powers and faintly smiled again.

[Arum]

No Man's Land to the Kingdom of Light

"How do you feel about running? We would cover more distance, and until we come fully into our magic, we will have to rely mostly on physical traits. We're fortunate that it's only the two of us."

James shifted. It'd be nice to run, but when darkness fell, he could practice his own magic too. And if what the Oracle said was true, then perhaps exhausting himself wasn't the best idea. Either way, he'd spend some pent up energy, so it didn't matter particularly to him how he did it.