The band moves into the dense foliage, led by the Unicorn. Jared offers a questioning look to Sol at one point, but Sol encourages him on.

"The Unicorns are the great protectors of this island... oddly, though, I don't believe anyone has ever seen one until now. The myths of the island say that there are only nine unicorns, one to guard each direction, and one who presides over the other eight. VAXLandia has many protectors - most of them are invisible to us, but they look after the well-being of the isle all the same..."

The band arrives at a cave which is set deep into the hill. The Unicorn leads them inside, a brilliant light resting at the tip of his horn. He turns his great head nearly full-around, watching the others with his huge eyes.

"Come, you will be safe here." The sound of the interior is like singing, but so faint that it can only be heard with the soul, not really with the ear...

"You will find this place rejouvinating," says the Unicorn, "away from the stray thoughtforms of the night."

By Margravine (Ranger) on Unrecorded Date:

The night passed as each of the sailors found his or her own comfort in the reaches of their imaginings.

Cele found herself once again on her childhood home of Sand Island passing the evening with the men and boys she'd grown up with, many of whom were dead in the real world. Most of Sand Island, in fact, had been destroyed by walls of water that had passed over it after the Great Quake. She only wished that she remembered enough about her mother, reputed to be a selkie by the old hags back home, so as to bring her into the night's reunion too.

With the coming of the day the illusions faded and the two crews awoke to find themselves in beds of moss in the confines of a warm, dry cave. The Unicorn was no where to be seen.

"What now, Captain?" asked Tweed of Jared.

Jared looked at his crewman, the thoughts of the previous night fading like the shattered remnents of a dream, "Now we move on."

By Margravine (Ranger) on Unrecorded Date:

Of the three men transformed the night before only two returned to them that morning, "I guess being a badger suits, Clovis," muttered Tweed, "He always was a mean son of a gun."

Clovis' shipmates were not entirely happy, but the other two part time creatures could tell them nothing of their experiences. Their memories of the events were completely gone back to and including the appearance of the Unicorn.

Jared, Cele, and Sol conferred briefly out of earshot of the men, "Which way Solenoid?"

Sol stretched, and looked about, he then pointed in what seemed like an arbitrary direction then added unreassuringly, "How about that way?"

Cele and Jared shared a look as Sol strolled toward the tree line singing off tune about something called 'a three hour tour'….

The going was much easier. In fact it was as if the impossible jungles of the day before had never been. There were ready paths, copious breadfruit, banana, and coconut trees, as well as a sparkling fresh water spring that was numbingly cold. It was almost as if the jungle had been set up for show or perhaps cultivated.

They passed four bamboo and grass huts that seemed to have been abandoned only a short time before. There was a table in front of them big enough to seat seven or so and a strange device constructed of bamboo. Smiling, Sol informed them that it was a stationary bicycle - whatever that was.

It seemed that they were nearing the Creator's domain. The men began to anticipate their arrival. Most figured they would find her by mid-day - and so perhaps they would.

By Vengence is Mine (Knight_hawk) on Unrecorded Date:

Suddenly thee was a shadow coming towards them at a rapid pace. And then just as suddenly a man fell from the sky and hit the ground in front of them. Before anyone could say anything he sprang up and assumed a superhero like pose, legs apart fists on his hips and looking at nothing in particular to his side.

He spoke to them in a booming voice, "I am..." And then he faltered. "I am- I am- I forgot who I am. Oh well, hello there citizens. This is a fine day on this tropical island. This is a tropical island right?"

They could only nod.

"Good I like tropical islands." His voice changed suddenly to a near whine. "THere are no head hunters though I hope. I don't like head hunters. Oh no I hear drums, the head hunters are coming." The man turned and ran into the jungle screaming.

Sol attempted to say something but his mouth opened and closed with nothing coming out.

By The One Known Only as (Greyfox) on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 06:52 pm:

Jared looks puzzled, then shrugs and shakes his head disdainfully as he examines each of the grass huts in turn. Finding nothing of interest within them, aside from odd-looking contraptions made of bamboo and coconut shells, he pulls Sol aside to ask him some questions, quietly, away from the rest of the men.

"So, how far to the Creator's grove? The rest of my crew shall be expecting my return, and word of whether or not it is safe to make landfall on the island." Jared peers questioningly at Sol, waiting for the smaller man to give some kind of answer that made any sense whatsoever...

By Yo' Daddy (Sol) on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 07:26 pm:

Sol grins heartilly, "No more waiting, captain," says the wiry man, "We're here!"

As the small band moves in farther, the huts give way to a palace of green and black gems. In the twilight-dawn sky, ravens are seen to fly overhead in a swarm from the uppermost parapets. "This is it, this is the Creator's haven."

They approach, silently in awe of the palace-tower that has only just appeared. Sol ponders as he walks with the pirates - he realizes that he has not been here before.

Sol

By Yo' Daddy (Sol) on Tuesday, January 15, 2002 - 07:32 pm:

Sol approaches the greenish tower-pagota. It is large - and smooth as well, how can they gain entry? "NightBird!" shouts Sol, "NightBird!" Mmmmm, can she not hear them?

Sol

By The One Known Only as (Greyfox) on Wednesday, January 16, 2002 - 06:06 pm:

Suddenly, from the bushes, a birdlike chittering could be heard. And then, across the glen, a second sound answers the first. Bushes all around the towering pagoda shake violently, as 6-foot tall bipedal lizards jump from their concealment, landing in heaps of claw and tooth upon most of the crew as they stand by, looking on in horror. Jared grabs Cele by the arm and turns to run down the jungled path leading to the pagoda, only to be grabbed by Sol, who yells "NO! This way!"

The trio escape the glen of the Creator, chased by odd-sounding, almost birdlike caws and the screams of the wounded crew being eaten alive.

"What in nine hells WERE those, DEMONS?" shouts Jared, nervously looking over his shoulder as the 3 companions make their way further into the 'uncharted' regions of the island.

"Those are Velociraptors," Sol says, informationally. "Nightbird raised them as her pets to guard the most sacred places of the island. Although, they were a lot more... Friendly, the last time I was here." His words were interrupted by the thunderous BOOM of musketfire as Jared's and Cele's more resourceful crewmen opened fire against the terrible lizards. Jared smiles, but Sol just shakes his head as they round another cluster of rock and head down an embankment to a jungle stream. "It won't do any good. Raptors are extremely intelligent. I don't think your crews are gonna make it."

The trio stops to rest under the sheltering branches of a great willow tree, right on the edge of the water. It looks completely out of place here in the middle of the lush jungle, but Jared and Cele gratefully rest amongst the scattered roots to catch their breath...

By Yo' Daddy (Sol) on Thursday, January 17, 2002 - 08:56 am:

"Mmmm, this is the way," says Sol, recovering from the shock of the eaten pirates - it is something deep in him that draws him forward, trancelike, to the center of the island.

The bipedal dinos circle the perimeter, but Sol skirts the edge carefully, taking advantage of the distraction posed the raptors by Jared's dying crew. He runs to the wall of the sheer pagota wall, then presses his hands against the jade surface. It is warm to the touch, a handhold appears, and he grips it. "Come on," he says, as he climbs, various holds reach out to his beet and fingers.

A dinosaur comes charging from the underbrush straight at Cele, but at the last moment, the bright red unicorn appears, stabbing it gruffly in the side and reducing it to glowing mist. "Go," grunts the equine, "Reach the summit!"

Sol

By The One Known Only as (Greyfox) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 12:58 pm:

Jared leaps to the first set of handlholds after making sure Sol & Cele were already safely climbing. From his frequent time spent climbing the riggings of tall ships, Jared soon overtook Sol and was well on his way to reaching the top of the jade pagoda. the sky grew dark as thick, black clouds swirled from the apex of the tower, looking like some vortex from the darkest corners of a nightmare. The wind blew harder, and lightning streaked across the darkening sky. The tropical trees whipped and blew in the mighty winds, and the sound grew to a thunderous crescendo as the skies opened up, pouring sheets and sheets of rain on the trio as they climbed.

It was almost as if the island itself was trying to prevent them from reaching the top of the tower...

By The One Known Only as (Greyfox) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 02:22 pm:

Jared halted his progress for a moment to look toward the ground. He saw several men with their backs toward the pagoda wall, facing outward in a semi-circle, firing muskets and flintlock pistols outward at any percieved motion. He saw the determination in Cele's face as she climbed the slick wall, as well as the now almost torrential rain splashing in Sol's face as he squinted against it. Jared tried to shout to the men below, but he could not even hear his own voice above the din of the rain, the thunder, and the gunfire, so he was sure they had not heard him.

By Vengence is Mine (Knight_Hawk) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 02:23 pm:

As the three climbed the rain poured down harder and harder making the climb that much more dangerous as the rocks bacame slippery. They were suprised as a rope started to come down from the top as if for them to grab onto. Each grabbed the rope and started to use it to get to the top when the rope began to be pulled to the top again.

Sol, Jared, and Cele came to an outcropping that was prtected from the wheather. This was appaently where the rope had originated.

"Well I had wondered when I might see you again citizens." Said a deep voice. "This island is okay, definetly tropical, defintly not inhabbited by headhunters, but most definetly infested with Dinosaurs."

By Yo' Daddy (Sol) on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 - 03:54 pm:

"Who are you?" says Sol - even his mighty hair is soaked through as an effect of the torrent. He squints into the darkness, trying to remove the drizzle from his lenses...

SoL

By Vengence is Mine (Knight_Hawk) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 - 01:42 pm:

"Didn't I introduce myself before?" The would-be hero asked. "surely I have told you my name, and if not then my fame has made that unneeded. Everyone knows of me and my great deeds."

Cele shook her head.

"N-no? Y-you don't know who I am? R-really? Oh dear, that must mean I don't exist. That like this outcropping I am an illusion, I don't think I like that thought." The large man shuddered before taking a step off the edge of the outcropping. To everyones astonishment he did not fall but merely hung in the air.

"No I don't think I enjoy the thought of not existing at all! How dare any of you not believe in me, I am who I am and I am Erwin Small...oops I shouldn't have told you my secret identity." He turned red. Looking scared Erwin flew off into the storm.

By The One Known Only as (Greyfox) on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 09:21 am:

Jared seems to flicker momentarily, and then fades away completely. After several seconds, a form flickers a few times before appearing, a few feet to the right of where Jared was. Everyone looks, and they see that it is indeed Jared, but he has a fine dueling scar along each cheekbone. His clothing is different, not as soft as before, but just as stylish, and there is a strange fire in his eyes. The type of fire that denotes a certain level of self-assuredness only achieved through the rigors of experiencing the worst hardships imaginable. He seemed more balanced, calmer, more mature (if that was possible for Jared). And there was something else about him the others couldn't quite place--he almost seemed to glow momentarily as he rubbed his eyes and blinked confusedly.

"Why the blazes am I back here?" he asked, glancing around at the jungle and the raptors. He looked over and saw Cele, and his expression brightened. "Cele! I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been?"