Jeffrey took a step onto the wooden bridge nervously. Oh men...this did not feel safe. As he walked onwards onto the bridge, a jet of fire shot up and rocked him every which way. He leant against the rope at the side which was hardly supportive. This thing could go at any minute. He sidled across sidelong and jumped off onto the other side, breathing slowly.

Mercator looked down at the flames through the wooden slats and continued walking. As he did Helios took a step onto the bridge. He glared at Helios.

"Wait for me to cross!" He yelled.

Helios shook his head.

"Oh no. The quicker we get across the less the wood will wear and snap and I don't like the look of those fireballs. So move it."

He shoved Mercator across and the two got onto the other side. Helios looked over at the others.

"It's fine."

Klaus took some bold steps. He was still walking okay. As he reached the halfway point he looked back as Mercator nervously tried to place his cane on the bridge. It was shaking in his hands. Klaus sighed and walked back across. He grabbed Malarkey and pulled him along.

Malarkey snarled at Klaus.

"I can do it just fine! I know where we're going and what we're doing and everything else there is to know!" He insisted.

Klaus nodded silently to himself as he dropped Malarkey off on the other side.

Baby Pete smiled and silently walked forwards. He didn't seem to be much aware of what he was going on as fireballs jumped up past his face and almost took it clean off. Helios winced at the thought.

Bryce smiled.

"Your turn Randolph!" He said excitedly. This was a great adventure.

Randolph glared down into the fiery lake. The flames danced in his eyes as he looked down. He was sweating and shaking. Ninefingers frowned.

"Be there trouble? It be scary for us all."

Randolph shook his head.

"Just....an unpleasant memory...."

He sighed.

"The lava it is....unpleasant......to me...."

He took a step forwards with his eyes shut and he hobbled along like that. Bryce smiled and walked onto the bridge right after. He didn't see what the big deal was. He walked obliviously through the jets of fire without a care in the world.

Alex stepped onto the bridge as an army of Korru's then approached. All of them walked at once as the bridge shook and shook. This...didn't look great. Alex dashed across ahead. Screw that. Finally Ninefingers shut his eyes, crossed his chest and ambled onto the wooden slats.

As he stepped forth a slat snapped and fell through. He yelled out in terror as he hung onto the rocking bridge. Jeffrey sidled back on and grabbed his arm, helping him up. Ninefingers nodded a thank you and the two continued along.

Walter glared at the wooden bridge and the broken slat with a look of doubt. His eyes looked sad. He cradled his empty shoulder and looked down at his gigantic, hulking body. He sighed.

"I too big." He insisted.

Ninefingers looked awkwardly across. He was a tad on the heavy side. This could be a disaster. Donovan snarled and pushed Walter forwards onto the slats. He scrunched his eyes shut and took steps ahead as the bridge rocked. When he reached the halfway point, Donovan stepped onto it calmly.

Walter was within a foot of the end when the bridge snapped in half.

Ninefingers leapt forwards, arm outstretched to grab onto Walter. The weight of the man was pulling him down. Klaus, Bryce and Jeffrey all grabbed hold of Ninefingers and pulled the two of them to safety. In the distance, Donovan was hanging onto a rope, dangling over the lava.

His eyes rolled as he tried to speak. He looked down at the lava and then up at the group. He looked up at the ceiling and then shrugged. Whatever.

He let go of the rope and fell into the bubbling cauldron.

The other 12 breathed a sigh of relief...that was a close one. Nothing of value was lost anyway. They were doing well at losing dead weights lately.

Jeffrey opened the Eastern door nervously when they all had the chance to recover. He took a step into a dark black, rocky chamber. It was lit by red and orange glows. He stood on top of a narrow ledge. Either side the lake split and bubbled away.

To the north, a shuttle stop appeared. Of all the places...

The room filled with steam as a figure ahead snarled and hissed. A cowl covered its face as blood red eyes glowed out. It was holding a deadly looking sword and stomping back and forth in front of the Eastern exit.

Jeffrey turned around as the others all entered. The room cleared of the steam-like substance and a shuttle up above opened its doors. There was a blue ring around it but it was hard to make out with the red glow everywhere.

The figure glared at the 12 without flinching or saying a word. Then it screamed and raised the sword above its head. It swung the sword around in deadly arcs through the air before lunging forwards at Ninefingers. Ninefingers closed his eyes. It had moved too fast...

There was a rattle and clink of chains as the figure fell over. It was chained to the frame by the Eastern door. It hissed and screamed on the ground. The hulking form was totally blocking the doorway and swinging that sword wildly.

While it was downed, Klaus took a look at the frame it was guarding. His eyes widened. It was unlike any of the others in the labyrinth. It was large and black and ornate. There were no mechanical releases....just pure...architecture....

How wonderful.

The figure stood itself upright and screamed and hissed as the group backed away once more.

You each have about 22 hours to move through an available exit.

Players (12):
AlexORG
Baby Pete
Bryce
Helios Garabandia
Jeffrey Fernandis
Klaus
Korru
Malarkey
Mercator
Ninefingers
Randolph Carter
Walter White

Exits:
East
West
Board the Shuttle

ohhhh men we called it! And nothing of value was lost (:

Good guess! Bye Donovan..

I...take it this not be Charon?

This menacing thing leaping about with its fine steel?

actually I think this is CHARON. Here's Dante's letter that Roth found

Quote

Bryce coughed as he flipped out an old piece of paper. He began reading to the collective group as best he could. His finger traced across the old text and he started to speak. "Augustus 15, Eventide. A grim day it is indeed. A mortal did breach the black gates and Cerberus somehow failed to detect the stink. Curious. I am unsure as to the means of which a mortal can bypass the ancient one. Nevertheless upon arriving at the port he did possess no obol but challenged Charon in a round of combat. Lest ye forget that in these grounds very few mortals do ever tread and the ancient ones do pick up the quirks of humankind too carelessly. Charon succumbed to the man made boredome and agreed for a chance to swing his sword arm. However Charon has a dreadful weakness. He cannot be killed being an ancient one and immortal but when his head is cleaved from his shoulders with a dull blade, Charon falls like any other. Quite pitiful to witness the head plunge into the fiery lakes alongside the body. Even the ancient ones are not intent to tread into the fires. I had but no choice than to let the beggar cross lest he turn his dull blade to me. As once mortal, I still know fear. It is not permitted but I gave in and assumed Charon's role as the ferryman taking the mortal fool to the gates. Let him be the problem of Minos. The fates do not bode well for poor Charon. I have heard that the souls in the fiery waters can turn a mortal man to insanity. If that should to work on an immortal I have no inkling. I should certainly not like to bathe in them lest my mind become not of my own and my bloodlust ravage my bones with a thirst for vengeance. Most assuredly it is t-" Bryce looked puzzled. "It stops here..." He said confusedly. He flipped it over absent-mindedly. "Oh there's more!" He said turning to the back. "-he worst. I am afraid that Charon even as immortal could not withstand those thirsty souls. They hunger for a shell be it mortal or not. His shell has become corrupted and maddened. I have but no choice to replace him as the ferryman, a duty I did not anticipate but nonetheless must carry out. So it is my bidding. It is far better than the horrors that lie beyond. I will do it as to the best of my powers and I will not falter where Charon did. Though my mortality and still human emotions, I fear, may get the better of my role. Charon has been placed above the ground as a ferocious guardian lest another breach the gates and attempt to find passage. Cerberus is usually enough, but it is better to have a second guardian. Though Charon has become feral and insane, this only serves to make him more of a menace to all who move beyond. He is liable to give in to the bloodlust if any dare come close. These are grave times indeed. Ferrying souls is an unpleasant duty but I shall carry it out. I will take with me all of Virgil's guidance and until the end of time, I will do my very best." Bryce frowned. "Uhh there's a signature at the bottom but it's kinda hard to read." He focused. "D...D Alig...D Alighieri?" He said puzzled. He shrugged and put the document away.

this part is what Im referring to:

Quote

Charon has been placed above the ground as a ferocious guardian lest another breach the gates and attempt to find passage. Cerberus is usually enough, but it is better to have a second guardian. Though Charon has become feral and insane, this only serves to make him more of a menace to all who move beyond. He is liable to give in to the bloodlust if any dare come close.

so I guess he isn't the ferryman anymore... but this is definiately the way to go. We need to get past him

Donovan had dart?

Aha, yeah that was a wad of information I wasn't privy to.

He is most certainly insane.

Walter White @ 6/5/2012 15:58

Donovan had dart?

Iron Face had the Poison Dart when he teleported. Donovan had nothing as far as I know. He handed me everything we knew he had a while back.

I just thought of something. The souls possessing people, we've heard plenty about that. It must play into all of this somehow. Could all these dead people walking be because of that?

I like how the only ones to speak right away are the four remaining members of our original group

All right. So, we need into that damn door.

Does anyone know anything about how to get in there? Like, did anyone pick up anything along the way that may seem beneficial?

There has to be something involving the chaining. Could we somehow get it to get loose, but also fall into the lava? That's what my guess would be, unless there is some item I don't know about...

AlexORG @ 6/5/2012 16:02

I just thought of something. The souls possessing people, we've heard plenty about that. It must play into all of this somehow. Could all these dead people walking be because of that?

Remember in our lab notes, the writer witnessed souls having difficulty possessing dead bodies in Chamber D. That suggests something else to me.

I thought someone be having Charon's Coin? Maybe we be just kind of...throwing it at the Eastern exit. Maybe the insane thing be chasing off after it. I guess the coin could just be for the new Ferryman.

Recap end phase

A big magnet would be helpful right about now.