Ask Drew.

[Drewsov]

Making it up. I read a lot of fantasy crud. What goes in, must come out. Except for the "teeth closing over you with a crunch" which comes from strong imagery from Half Life. O_O

You ride Pickles towards the swamp, dismounting when you reach it. You spy a dead fish on the shore, and kick it into the water. The eels swarm it for a moment, then descend beneath the murky water. Shuddering, you place a foot slowly in the water, then feel something brush it. But no teeth. You take a breath, to steady yourself, not because you need it, and dive beneath the water. The eels rush at you, but stop and simply watch with their gleaming eyes. You inhale, and choke as mud rushes down your throat. Making a note to keep your teeth shut, you dive deeper, the eels following on your heels (:D). Something big stirs the water in front of you, but as the muck is stirred, you see something gleaming down deep.

What do you do?

What are my options?

Sorry 'bout that.

Swim deeper to discover the shiny object
Swim as if the very gates of the deathlands were opening behind you
Draw your sword and move slowly toward shore

Draw my sword and move slowly towards shore.

[Chozon1]

You feel your feet touch the shoreline, and quickly flip out of the water. A huge fin breaks the surface in front of you, and with a loud groaning noise spits a skull onto the mud at your feet. Shaking slightly, you back away toward Pickles. But something sparkles on the skull, so you pick it up. Wedged inside the cranial cavity, you find a glowing blue gemstone. Pocketing your find, you ride toward the split road again, nodding to the hermit as you pass his abode.

Do you ride on into the blustery desert?
Do you ride into the dank forest?
Ask the hermit about the gemstone?

[Drewsov]

You feel your feet touch the shoreline, and quickly flip out of the water. A huge fin breaks the surface in front of you, and with a loud groaning noise spits a skull onto the mud at your feet. Shaking slightly, you back away toward Pickles. But something sparkles on the skull, so you pick it up. Wedged inside the cranial cavity, you find a glowing blue gemstone. Pocketing your find, you ride toward the split road again, nodding to the hermit as you pass his abode.

Do you ride on into the blustery desert?
Do you ride into the dank forest?
Ask the hermit about the gemstone?

Ask the hermit about the gemstone.

[Chozon1]

Now that the mud is cleared away, you notice a slight buzzing upon contact with the gem. You hold it up and watch as the hermits eyes widen. "This is a soul gem" he say's. You recall hearing something about that somewhere. "So this contains the soul of some such?" you ask the hermit. "No you fool! Are you drunk from that swamp mud? These were created to extend the soul, the being of the wielder." He grabs the gem from you, then extends his hands. A nearby animal comes closer and seems to stare at the gem. But the hermit gasps, and drops the gem. "In theory, you should be able to control the animal using the gem. Try it!"

Do you trust the hermit and try it?
Do you offer to give him the gem, for a price of course?
Do you take it back to the town and sell it?

[Drewsov]

Now that the mud is cleared away, you notice a slight buzzing upon contact with the gem. You hold it up and watch as the hermits eyes widen. "This is a soul gem" he say's. You recall hearing something about that somewhere. "So this contains the soul of some such?" you ask the hermit. "No you fool! Are you drunk from that swamp mud? These were created to extend the soul, the being of the wielder." He grabs the gem from you, then extends his hands. A nearby animal comes closer and seems to stare at the gem. But the hermit gasps, and drops the gem. "In theory, you should be able to control the animal using the gem. Try it!"

Do you trust the hermit and try it?
Do you offer to give him the gem, for a price of course?
Do you take it back to the town and sell it?

I trust the hermit and try it.

[Chozon1]

You take the gem in your right hand, and focus toward the animal. Unbelievably, you feel your conscienceless extend beyond you, toward the animal. Its mind is warm, but fuzzy. You bring the thought forward to approach you, and are rewarded with the creature nuzzling your palm. You pull back and look at the gem, now pulsing red. "Why is it blinking?" you ask. The Hermit shakes his head. "You'll figure it out eventually. Try something else, like your sword or a rock." You reach toward a rock, and feel it lifting from the ground. You fling it through the air with little effort. The hermit cackles wildly, "Good good! Maybe your not such a fool! I can teach you many things. Will you travel with me?" Though you are struck as strange the fact the hermit is suddenly traveling, you pause to think his request...

"No thank you. Wild cackling is cliche`."

"I'd appreciate that. Do you have a way of travel?"

"I think not. Your as good as dead and the gold I gave you is mine again."

[Drewsov]

You take the gem in your right hand, and focus toward the animal. Unbelievably, you feel your conscienceless extend beyond you, toward the animal. Its mind is warm, but fuzzy. You bring the thought forward to approach you, and are rewarded with the creature nuzzling your palm. You pull back and look at the gem, now pulsing red. "Why is it blinking?" you ask. The Hermit shakes his head. "You'll figure it out eventually. Try something else, like your sword or a rock." You reach toward a rock, and feel it lifting from the ground. You fling it through the air with little effort. The hermit cackles wildly, "Good good! Maybe your not such a fool! I can teach you many things. Will you travel with me?" Though you are struck as strange the fact the hermit is suddenly traveling, you pause to think his request...

"No thank you. Wild cackling is cliche`."

"I'd appreciate that. Do you have a way of travel?"

"I think not. Your as good as dead and the gold I gave you is mine again."

"I'd appreciate that. Do you have a way of travel?"

[Chozon1]

"I do at that! Wait here." Said the hermit, and made his way to behind the hut. A few moments later, he returns sitting astride a giant lizard. "A lizard?" you say. The hermit grins. "You ride a goat, my boy. I don't think you can say much." Looking at Pickles, you decide silence is indeed, golden. Riding next to the hermit, you notice sounds coming from the forest. The hermit suggests you go toward the desert. But you're drawn to the forest noise. Almost called.

Do you follow the hermit?
Do you explore the forest?
Use the soul gem to explore from a distance?

[GarthVader]

Wow, Chozon, you're good at this!

Are you having fun, Drew?

[Drewsov]

"I do at that! Wait here." Said the hermit, and made his way to behind the hut. A few moments later, he returns sitting astride a giant lizard. "A lizard?" you say. The hermit grins. "You ride a goat, my boy. I don't think you can say much." Looking at Pickles, you decide silence is indeed, golden. Riding next to the hermit, you notice sounds coming from the forest. The hermit suggests you go toward the desert. But you're drawn to the forest noise. Almost called.

Do you follow the hermit?
Do you explore the forest?
Use the soul gem to explore from a distance?

I... guess I follow the hermit.

Wow, Chozon, you're good at this!

Are you having fun, Drew?

I'd rather be asked other questions, but you know, whatever.

[Orodrist]

What questions would you like to be asked?

[Drewsov]

What questions would you like to be asked?

Actually, I'm joking. Ask me whatever you want.

[Strider]

Whatever I want?

See, that was a question...

[Drewsov]

Whatever I want?

See, that was a question...

Yeah, sure, long as it doesn't cross any boundaries. And... I did see what you did there.

EDIT: Also, in response, once again, to the question about favorite vocalists... I realized that I left Karen O out of the proceedings. She's right up there with Shirley Manson.

[Strider]

Shirley Manson, Marilyn Manson, or... Charles Manson? XD

EDIT: Thanks for the heads-up DF.