Matoya the Witch Appears: A missing Crystal and PIRATES?!

[Dracos]

And so they traveled north, their horses, the swiftiest in the land, making fast strides across the Corneria countryside and over the north Cornerian Bridge into northern Corneria.

The four heroes had been gathered and the legend begun...  though their path was not unseen, as with every stop, they could hear wolves howling in the distance late in the night, the fearful thunder of an ogre in motion somewhere...nearby.

But luck held with them as they made their way to the cave of the great seer Matoya, across the rivers Keltic and Syngal.  They could see it now from atop the hill where they currently were resting, a grand mountain just a few miles in the distance, an almost fearsome glow eminating from a huge cave entrance which, if Zack was telling the truth, the great magus Matoya lived.

Dracos

[Zenthor]

Zack gazed up at the light-exuding cave.  "We're here," he notified the others  as they approached the cave.  "I hope she's still not mad about that eyeglass incident," he muttered to himself.

[Nephrite]

"Well, I suppose we just go in, right? I mean... unless there are traps or something." Quatre smiled, taking some tentative steps towards the entrance.

[Zenthor]

Zack shook his head, clamboring off his horse.  "No, no traps... unless the old hag's decended more into insanity."  He started toward the cave a bit.  

"Oh, yeah.  Don't mind the brooms," he uttered almost eerily as he walked further into the light-filled cave.

[Nephrite]

Quatre blinked, tilting his head to the side a bit. "Brooms? Well, whatever you say. Oh, yes... what are we here to ask her about, anyway? Just general questions about what we're supposed to do?"

[Dracos]

And so they entered the cave...torchlight only illuminating the entrance as they saw a sight that would stun most men to silence.

On the edges of the darkness further in, they could see brooms.  but not just any brooms.  These brooms had arms.  And no hands wielded them as they swept across the floor, back and forth, keeping the place clean.

Dracos

[Nephrite]

"...Wow, you weren't kidding about the brooms. I'm honestly not sure what to say about this." Quatre just... sort of gawked a bit, not entirely expecting something this fantastic for some reason.

[Zenthor]

Zack nodded at one of the brooms passing his way.  "HSUP B TCELES."  "A CIGAM LLEPS?" they exchanged quickly, before Zack walked further into the cave.

[Nephrite]

"...Is that some kind of magic spell?" Quatre asked, staring a bit more at the brooms before he hurriedly followed after Zack.

[Dracos]

And Zack found himself in darkness.  The torchlight ending mere feet away.

And he realized his obvious problem.  He could not see.

Dracos

[Zenthor]

Zack stopped.  "I... don't remember this.  T-torches must have gone out... yeah." He began feeling around the air for the cave wall, or something else to hold on to in the darkness.  "Matoya?" he shouted out into the darkness.

[Dracos]

He got no answer, but then he did remember the fact she usually slept pretty deeply and these caves were pretty large.

Dracos

[Nephrite]

Quatre blinked and looked around, a bit surprised himself. "Maybe one of us can conjure up something so we can see?" he asked, hoping no one had fallen into any holes.

[Zenthor]

"Damn lazy old woman," he sighed.

He turned to Quatre.  "Use up Mana on something as menial as seeing?  Surely you je--" He then remembered he was wasting mana eariler that day trying to freeze Morte.

"Oh, right, then."  He began casting a fire spell, hoping it didn't go wildly out of control and burn off everyone's clothes. Or their skin.

[Dracos]

"uh, hey, uh, guys...not to be a party pooper or anythin' but...."  Morte chattered from...right next to one of the torches illuminating the entrance.

Dracos