My First Trilogy:  The CauldronFollow

Wow, this one brings back memories. This was my first attempt at a large-scale, multipost story. If you've read the other stories I've posted, you'll have a little bit more of a head's up on a few inside jokes and relationships, but I wrote this specifically for the people who were in my linkshell at the time, so there may be some assumptions made about the reader that may not exist be around outside of it.

Please enjoy this three-part mystery thriller. As always, I'm open for comments. Look for Part 2 tomorrow and Part 3 on Friday! (b'-')b

THE CAULDRON (1 of 3)

CRITERIA:
Requested by: Yekan
Subject(s): Noxx (and others)
Genre: Thriller
Setting: Ifrit's Cauldron

*****

Yekan activated the yellow pearl resting just inside her ear. "Hey are you guys ready? Come on I'm so anxious!" Lower Jeuno was bustling with commerce and socialization, spurred on by the beautiful weather that day.

"I'm coming Yekan, just gimme a moment to buy some stuff from the Auction House," reported Noxx. Yekan closed her eyes and focused on the pearl as it would give her a mental roster of who had it equipped and where they were.

"Hey, Ishido, move it or lose it," playfully snapped Yekan, "Why are you not here yet?"

"Sorry, they had to conduct a search on our boat for contraband and suspicious persons, we will be landing shortly. Can you believe they'd search me?!"

"Well you are a ninja."

"Hey, what's that supposed to m-," he was cut off as Yekan squealed with delight over the link as she met up with a few others. Ishido grumbled and tapped his foot on the airship's wooden floor.

That day the assembled group had decided to have a subligar party in Ifrit's Cauldron. It was well-known that there was treasure to be found there, and they wished to spend the day mining, dining, treasure hunting, farming, and otherwise having some well-deserved fun with the rest of their friends.

While the party was mostly made of women, Ishido volunteered to come along because he just needed some gloves rumored to be locked inside a coffer deep within the cave system, but he was running late and holding up everyone from getting there. The other few men all had their personal reasons to come, too, one of which (Shard) was making Lyliandra quite giddy.

"Hey Phyree, are you sure you don't wanna come along? It'll be a lot of fun," Yekan prompted her other white mage friend into coming.

"Yeah, come on," chimed in Xaeon. Krosan and Rampart added in their encouragement, too, as did the rest of the party.

"Thanks everyone, it's ok. I'm spending the day cooking. I'll make sure to have something nice for you all to eat when you come back from your big adventure!" The link flooded with laughter and relentments.

After his boat landed, Ishido ran to the crystalline home point where everyone was gathering. He was the last and twelfth person to arrive. Yekan and Noxx had split their white mage teleportation duties. Yekan was going to transport herself, Awias, Eleusynia, Babagana, and Lyliandra. Noxx was given the pleasure of transporting "the boys". It was her, Xaeon, Rampart, Krosan, Peewee, and Shard. With a mutual nod, both white mages began the spell and all twelve brave adventurers dematerialized in a flash.

Halfway across the world they reappeared at the Yhoator crystal. Everyone was abuzz with excitement and Krosan even snuck behind the rocks to change into his subligar early. "Ta daaaaa," he shouted as he sprung from the rock. The parties laughed and mocked.

"Ok ok guys, let's get serious here," said Yekan, "It looks like it's gonna rain shortly so we need to head out as soon as possible else we trudge through the jungle soaked to the bone." Nods rippled across the mass.

"Catch me if you can," teased Peewee, and he started running to the path which cut through the foliage.

"No fair," protested Noxx and she ran off after him followed by the rest.

The group weaved through the jungle northward toward the looming volcano. The closer they became, the more somber the group became. "It sure is big," commented Shard.

"About as big as your head," Rampart quipped in snidely.

"Ha-ha, very funny. Hey Krosan, how are those subligar treating you?"

From the front of the line a thumb went up in the air and he shouted back, "I feel pretty!"

Xaeon was walking beside Peewee but turned to say something and noticed the tarutaru was missing. They were toward the back of the pack despite the head start so he couldn't have gotten too lost. Down the path a ways the elvaan saw one of Peewee's boots. He rushed over and knelt down. Startled, he heard a noise in the lush plants ahead of him. A large head burst out with a shrill shriek.

Xaeon fell on his rear scared out of his mind. Peewee laughed at the prank. The elvaan was about to put the tarutaru back in his place but a rumble of thunder urged the adventurers forward. The jungle smelled damp and everyone knew what was coming. Clouds lingered across the whole sky, but particularly black and malicious-looking ones were making their way on their heels. "Step it up," siad Eleusynia, "let's go go go!"

Light began fading and the first drops of water began to fall. Awias pouted, fearing the day would be ruined but Babagana reassured her. "C'mon," the large galka urged, "we're close." The mouth of a caved appeared before them and almost on que, the sky opened up.

"Gah!" exclaimed Shard and was seconded by Lyliandra.

The parties ran inside and bent over huffing and puffing. Torrential rains pounded the forest into a watery submission and made the enterance almost seem as if it lay behind a waterfall.

"We're safe now," happily stated Peewee, "now let's have some fun!"