The Western Mountains

[Olvelsper]

"Dammit!" Jan cursed, visibly looking shaken at the spectacle. "I have to go help the Mountain King now!"

He started towards the car.

[Dracos]

"Worse, I suspect." Fizban was grim as he followed.

Dracos

[Shukuen]

"Hey! Wait up there!" Leets cursed, hurrying after the panicked negotiator before he left them behind.

[Olvelsper]

"Get in!" The negotiator slid into his seat and giving the others enough of a chance to get in, he tore off towards the mountains.

[Dracos]

The ground was rumbling as they arrived at the edge of the paths up.  There'd be no way they'd get the car up there though.  The paths were way too thin.

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

Jan led the way up the mountain, hurrying paces carrying him swiftly up the mountain paths they knew led to where the lion was last.  Before anything happened to the Mountain King.

[Dracos]

No sign of the line, though the rumbling was stopping.  Dark mist filled the top of the mountain, making the paths more trecherous than even the night sky would.  Worse, a sense of deep despair filled the air.  A grimness that was omnipresent and sapped at the spirit as they walked forward.

Fizban chanted, his staff providing a light to allow them to proceed ahead and giving respite from the bitter darkness around them.

Dracos

[Iron Dragoon]

Mary gets out of the car and follows them, mug still in one hand, with his right hand on the grip of his pistol.

"Well.. This is about a right good ending to the day.."

[Olvelsper]

Jan's fists clenched. "Dammit, just when things were just starting to go smoothly." The negotiator cursed as he continued stalking his way up the mountain side.

[Shukuen]

Leets hurried after the party, a litany of curses following him regarding current events. What the heck were they planning to do anyway? Cross the streams?

[Dracos]

"The road is always darkest before the dawn.  A saying too often true," Fizban replied as they headed up the rocky path, a sense that they were being watched...worse, mocked in the air.

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

"Then I think it's past due the sun show up." Jan frowned as he looked up towards the peak of the mountain as he continued, sensing that there was definately warped things about.

[Shukuen]

"Seriously, guys! Do we actually have a plan here or are we just running to our probably deaths?" Leets demanded after catching up with the others. Damn tall people and their long strides!

[Dracos]

As they neared the top, they saw no sign of life, no animals...no trees... not even the snow on the ground that'd been there earlier.

But they certainly felt something as they neared the hole, climbing the rock face as fast as they were able.

"Guests?  So eager."  An old man's voice chortled down at them, cruel and cold.  "Come, Come."

Dracos

[Olvelsper]

"Plan is to go up there and punch whatever escaped in the face, then get the Mountain King out before something worse happens."