OOC: For anyone who decides to join, though I suggest you pick characters that have a strong will or something worthwhile to live for (Even if they discover it during the course of the thread). I plan to make this a test of a characters mental endurance and ability to stay sane and in control of himself. I plan on making this thread as twisted and evil as I can. (By evil I don't necessarily mean deeds by Evil characters, but the things done to the characters within it.)

When everyone joins and the characters get deep enough into the forest I'll start things off.

IC:A small, crushed patch of grass was the only thing that stood out where Nilarek stood. It stuck out the opening of a cave trying to gather what light it could, though Nilarek knew it wouldn't be long before it died. The cave itself looked to him as though it was a portal to the Shadow Realm, though he could see well enough in it to know that it didn't go very far into the ground. A burrow for some poor creature that tried to make this area into it's home. It was cold here, cold enough for snow, yet none fell. Nilarek had to rely on either magic or his flames to keep himself warm.

He tried to remind himself why he was here, yet no answers came. All he could say was that he saw what looked to be a small patch of black and greying trees that had no entrance from the air in it. He had no fear of the dark places of the world as none could possibly compare to the infinite darkness of the Shadow Realm, yet his place still set his scales on edge.

When he entered from the ground, the trees were a lot taller than he had imagined, but nothing much else out of the ordinary aside. Not much light came through the trees which gave the area the semblance of a graveyard. When he turned around to find his way out though, he couldn't find it. Even after he sprinted through the forest, he couldn't get to the edge. In fact, the only thing he had seen that could have been any kind of marker to where he was was the small cave he now stood beside.

Everything he looked at now had a sense of un-reality to it. Almost as if he was looking at an illusion. The only semblance of reality he could get was that when he cast a spell to find any magic in the area he couldn't feel anything. When he tried to escape the trees above him the branches seemed to lash out at him, cutting his wings to shreds. Nilarek knew that they hadn't grown that way naturally, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. The branches were too thick and tough like steel.

So here Nilarek sat, trying to think his way out of a maze that he had no idea how far into he was.

OOC: I hope you do not mind if I join with Arnon and Tamar, I would like for then to experience a truly tough trial. Not to mention Arnon already has a bad taste in his mounth about Nilarek.

IC:
Arnon had been following the shadows for some time now. It had been months since he had last sighted Nilarek and Arnon was still wanting a rematch with the other shade. This time Arnon felt like he had an even chance of beating the other in fair combat. The shade read the path of shadows just like a map and he followed them until they came to a cave. The shade rider looked oddly at the cave and said to Tamar, There is something odd about this cave. But the path the shadows show tell me that Nilarek is in there. said the shade rider to his dragon.

It could be a trap. said the small red dragoness cautiously. We should proceed with great care if we do follow. Nilarek could have known we were following him. There is no telling what that shade knows. He is very old and very powerful. Said the dragon as the two of them entered the cave.

When they walked into the cave, they saw themselves in an extremely dark place. Never before had they been in such a dead-like place. The two of them stared around in wonder at the decaying forest around them as well as at the dead grass below them. Then, as businesslike as ever Arnon began to follow the shadows once more and he entered the evil-looking trees with Tamar right behind him.

OOC: Not at all, I love it when characters clash together. Gives them more depth.

A maze without end, or without an edge at least? He thought briefly before other thoughts came through his mind as well. An illusion spell that forces you to turn around as you approach the end? No, I sensed no magic involved. It almost feels as if the forest itself is shifting itself, but again, no magic. No Shadow Energies either, or Dark Magic. Something is making this forest move, or altering my perception, yet it isn't anything that I've seen before, or even had a plan of before... I wonder if-
His thought was cut-off abruptly as a crashing through the trees above him took his attention. Before he could figure out what was happening, a dragon was pushed through the trees and deposited on the ground next to him with a thundering crash. It took him a second to realize that there was a rider attached to the dragon as well. Hawke and Elisa. Previous enemy, though he wondered what the situation would be now...

"Do you know how to get out of here?"

Nilarek looked at them for a moment as they sorted themselves out and said surprisingly calmly; No. I've been trying to think my way out of this place, though I haven't had much success. The branches up high are too thick to break through and if you keep walking in one direction, well... I'm not exactly sure, but I haven't been able to find the way I came in.

OCC: I'll join with Fletcher. He's got a lot of willpower to have survived what Agatha did to him. Now, does this take place during the books or after the books?

IC: The gryphon flew low over the forest searching for prey. However, there was something strange about this place that Fletcher did not like. He could feel a dark presence here. The air had become cold and clammy. Ordinarily it would not have bothered him. His fur and feathers were usually more than enough to keep him warm. But this... this was something entirely different. it was a cold that chilled the gryphon down to the bone. The gryphon suddenly thought he heard a faint cry for help. He couldn't make it out though and it was difficult to tel where it had come from. The forest below had become so dense that Fletcher could not see the floor. He wanted to leave this place, to be far away from here with his mate. But if someone was in trouble, he could not just leave them to die in this dark place. Swallowing his fear, the gryphon dived down toward a small opening in the trees. it was the only opening he could find that was large enough for him to fit through. He spread his wings and gently touched down on the cold ground. Immediately the gryphon began to look around. The forest around him was dark and eerie but he could see no signs that anyone was here. He flexed his ears, trying to pick up some sound but there was nothing other than the sound of his own breathing.

I must have imagined it. the gryphon thought to himself.

He reached out with his mind, trying to find the person but it only made the dark presence here seem even more powerful. There was no sign of any people anywhere nearby. Fletcher decided that it would be best to leave this place but when he turned around, the opening through which he had entered the forest was gone.

What? he thought to himself. How can that be? It was just there!

The gryphon spread his wings and flew up to the high branches, trying to claw his way through but it was as if this place didn't want him to leave. The branched entangled the gryphon each time he tried to escape, pulling him back down. Fletcher thrashed fiercely, tearing at the branches with his talons and beak until he cut himself free, falling back to the forest floor with a thud. He laid there panting and looking around for any way out but there was none. Slowly the gryphon got to his feet and began to wander among the trees. He flicked his tail in annoyance and let out a silent curse. There had to be a way out of here. Despite the eerie darkness that surrounded the trees, Fletcher remained strong. He had been through hell and back while Agatha held him prisoner. The numerous scars on his front legs were a testament to that. He wasn't going to let some dark shadows scare him. He had to find out what was going on here...

OOC: Another round of posts and I'll start this thing off.

Even if I knew who created this elaborate maze, Nilarek said to Arnon, his face completely unimpressed, would it truly matter? Even if the fates delivered them into our lap, this place would take far too much energy for mortal beings to sustain.

Nilarek stood and faced the new-comer, a Gryphon, though not one he knew. And another falls into the trap, or so we would be lead to believe. What's your name anyway? You would best know that mine is Nilarek and while an extra set of eyes always helps, if your claws aren't sharp then you had best reconsider joining us.

OOC: Voenth, your turn please.

OCC: Voenth has not been on since December 22.

OOC: Sigh... Well... I suppose we should skip him then. F-14, when you're ready.