New Dream Adventures of Raven Knight

2017, 05-19

The Destruction of the Ring

I am in a strange place but I don’t really have time to look around and see where I am because I am under attack. I am surrounded by a large battle, there are orcs and humans fighting all around. I was being attacked by orcs, so I formed my right arm into an Alex Mercer blade and started cutting them down as they came at me. There were also other enemies attacking, evil looking humans, trolls, Uruk Hai, and I could see large bat-like things flying in the sky, those were no doubt the Nazgul. I also see there are numerous people that seem to be fighting against the orcs, though things are happening too quickly for me to recognize anyone. So I just keep fighting, dodging aside when a troll tries to nail me with a huge club. I jump up onto the club and go right up to the troll and use my Alex Mercer blade to remove its head. I look around and see there are so many enemies coming from all directions that I don’t see how we can possibly win. I then think that the only way these enemies are going to fall is if the One Ring is destroyed. Which Frodo is trying to do… but in the book he needed help… But how do I get to Mount Doom in time? I look up and I see someone using energy attacks on a Ring Wraith, it’s MoSh up there kicking Ring Wraith butt! I watch that for a bit but then I’m being attacked by an orc that needs to have its head removed.

I start running towards the huge gate of Mordor, though I know there isn’t a chance I can run all of the way to Mount Doom. As I am running and cutting my way through enemies I see a small shape on the ground running with me. I look down and see Pikachu keeping pace with me. He is right under me when he transforms into the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and now I am sitting on the back of a dragon and streaking towards Mount Doom, Pikachu wipes out some enemies with a blast of lightning as we go. And then we are soaring over Mordor, I can see Mount Doom smoking and I can see the red eye at the top of the tower that Sauron uses to survey everything, but not everything all at once, he is watching the battle I just left. Pikachu carries me directly to Mount Doom and I get off on a path that leads to a cave. I follow that and see I have gotten there just in time. Frodo is standing at the edge of a drop into lava, and he is right now announcing the ring is his. He disappears from sight.

Sam is calling to Frodo, I call to him as well. I use my Penticon chip to switch to infrared vision so I can see Frodo even though he is invisible. I tell Sam to stay calm, I can see Frodo. The ground is shaking as if Frodo’s proclamation has shaken the foundations of Mordor. I approach Frodo, he says to stay away, the ring is his. I say of course it is, I sure don’t want it, but he’s been hurt, and I want to heal him. I can tell he doesn’t believe me, so I focus on the song Touch My Heart right now to send light energy through Frodo. After the energy flows through him Frodo looks disoriented. He looks around but doesn’t stop me when I reach him and pull the ring from his finger. He grabs it from me and says he will do what he came to do, and he throws the ring into the fire. Now it definitely seems this volcano is about to blow its top. All three of us get quickly out of the chamber in the volcano and make our way down the slope a short ways. Frodo says this looks like the end, Sam says I seem to come and go whenever I want, why can’t I just take them with me? I say there is no need… they’ve got a ride on the way. They both look puzzled, and I point into the sky where three small specks are approaching. Those are eagles, and they’re on their way to take you to safety. The eagles fly closer and now Frodo and Sam see them, and they have clearly spotted us. But as they are diving in to pick us up everything fades and I wake up.

2017, 05-19

The Healing of Sméagol

I am on a rocky path at the top of a very steep stairway, almost like a ladder. I see Frodo and Sméagol off to the side whispering about something while Sam is trying to pull himself up the last few steps to flat ground. I reach down and give Sam a hand, helping him up the last couple steps. Frodo and Sam both want a break, Sméagol wants to keep going. I ask Sméagol if he wouldn’t like some food first. He says he is starving, but can’t eat nasty food from the elves. I tell him I can give him a nice, big, juicy fish… Sméagol drools a bit so I have my Penticon computer function as a Star Trek replicator and I replicate a large fresh trout. I hand Sméagol the fish and he seems as happy as a dog with a bone and tears into the fish raw, much to Sam’s disgust.

I ask what Sam wants. He sarcastically answers, saying he wants a big bowl of beef stew with lots of fresh vegetables and potatoes and a big hunk of fresh bread with butter and an apple tart for dessert and a pint of good ale to wash it all down. I can tell he is not really expecting it, so I welcome him to the only five star inn of Mordor, The Flying Raven. I have my Penticon replicate exactly what he asked for on a small table for easier eating. I ask what Frodo wants, he just says he can’t remember the taste of good food any longer. I hesitate, then replicate the same thing for him as Sam asked for. Sam stares in shock for a bit and then starts eating. Frodo eats as well, and says he is grateful, but doesn’t seem to get any enjoyment out of the meal like Sam clearly does. After they’re done eating I ask how much water they have. Sam says not much, can I create that, too? Yes. I take their water skins and use the Harry Potter spell Aguamenti to fill them both with fresh cool water. Sam says he’s never even seen Gandalf create food and drink like that! We continue on our way and finally come to a tunnel. In there is where I will have to heal Sméagol, I’ll do it in there so it will be less likely to be seen by enemies.

I follow everyone into the tunnel, which smells like all of the worst things I have ever smelled all rolled into one. The passages are dark, but I can see with my night vision. I follow until there is a fork in the tunnel and neither Frodo nor Sam know which way to go. Frodo calls out to Sméagol but there is no answer. Then the thing starts coming out of the dark passage. A huge spider, coming straight for the two hobbits. It’s Shelob. I go right up to the big ugly spider and, in a commanding tone, tell her that under no circumstances is she to lay fang or stinger or web on either of those two hobbits. No go back to your lair and you can feed later. Shelob stops, seems to consider briefly or maybe resist obeying, but then disappears quickly back down the passage. I tell the hobbits to go ahead, and when they reach the wall of web to cut it with Sting, I have to go find Sméagol. Sam says he wants to pay Gollum back for his treachery, I tell him that’s not the idea at all and head off down a different passage to find Sméagol.

I leave the hobbits and go deeper into the caves, just trusting my instinct to lead me to Sméagol. The smell is getting so bad that I want to vomit, I wonder how Sméagol can stand it. I find him near an exit to the outside, looking out through a passage. I approach him, and he says I’m nasty and I’m ruining everything before retreating back into the caves. I follow him and catch up with him in a larger chamber. I focus on the song Touch My Heart from the Devil Hunter Yohko soundtrack. Light energy fills the chamber and flows through Sméagol. After it’s done he looks disoriented, but not harmed. I follow that up by using Of Wolf and Man by Metallica. “I feel a change, back to a better day. Shape shift, hair stands on the back of my neck! Shape shift, in wildness is the preservation of the world, so seek the wolf in thyself!” The energy again surrounds Sméagol, this time his physical form changes into a form that could only be a hobbit. He looks very surprised and confused. He asks what has happened. I feel like I am about to wake up. I tell Sméagol not to worry, I’m going to disappear but I will be back as fast as I can. Everything fades as I wake.

2017, 05-03

Forbidden Pool

I wake up in a bed that is not my own. It doesn’t feel right at all, so I roll over and look around to see if I can figure out where I am and what I’m doing here. It is dark in the room, but my eyes are well adjusted to the dark and I can make out a bit of the area. There are two other beds and I see a man standing over one of the beds, and I hear him whispering to the person in the bed. The person gets up and I see he is small, about hobbit sized. I get the idea that must be Frodo, and I am also thinking I should follow him. I get up at about the same time as the other hobbit, Sam, gets up, and we both follow the man and Frodo. They disappear from the room and we follow them down a path, up some stairs, and out onto a ledge overlooking a waterfall. Sam seems to want to stay back from the edge, but I am not afraid so I go out with them. Sam says something about it being too cold to be out here just to look at the moon. The man, Faramir, says Sam can go back to bed if he desires, the only one he meant to bring was Frodo, although he has no problem with Sam and me coming along as well.

I go over beside Faramir and Frodo as Faramir is asking Frodo what exactly they are looking at. Could it be a black squirrel from Mirkwood? If it is, it is awfully large and it has no tail. Maybe it is a kingfisher? If it is, then it is a black one… A man that was already on the ledge says it is no bird, it dives and swims like a human and does quite well at it. Faramir asks Frodo if his archers should shoot it. I look down and I see Gollum climb out of the pool with a shiny fish in his hands. Even though he can’t see what we’re looking at, Sam must have figured it out, so he says, “Yes!” and I say, “No!” at the exact same time. Faramir looks at Sam, then at me, and says everyone who was not asked has answered, but he is still waiting for Frodo’s answer. Sam tells me if I knew more about Gollum then I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to shooting him. I tell Sam that I say ‘no’ BECAUSE I know a lot more about SMEAGOL than he does, but I am not angry at his saying ‘yes’ because I know he just wants to protect Frodo. Faramir asks Frodo again if his archers should shoot it. I tell Faramir that Smeagol really has no idea that this hidden place exists, he is only after fish, thus is not a threat because even if he took the information straight to the enemy, he could tell nothing more than, “There is a nice pool there with tasty fish,” which would not interest the enemy in the slightest. Faramir says that merely gazing upon the pool carries a penalty of death, then he turns back to Frodo, who has gotten a bit distracted. The idea of killing someone for just looking on a pool of water seems so absurd to me that it is making me angry, and I say, “You’ve got to be kidding…” a bit too loud.

Faramir either doesn’t hear my comment or chooses not to respond as Frodo finally answers the question originally meant only for him. He says no, he does not want Faramir’s archers to shoot Smeagol. Sam looks disappointed, but not surprised. Faramir says he can’t just let that creature go free, but how are they to capture the slippery thing with anything other than a well-aimed arrow? Frodo says he will go down and bring Smeagol back. Frodo quietly follows one of the archers down to the level of the pool, then he starts talking to Smeagol and saying he needs Smeagol to go with him. I am thinking if this goes on it will look like a betrayal and make healing Smeagol harder, so I will just have to keep the people here from being a bunch of assholes. I focus on creating a shield around Smeagol so they can escort him back to the hideout but can’t actually touch or harm him. The archer that led Frodo down there looms up over Smeagle as if to grab him, but finds he can get no closer. He instead looks rather goofy as if he was just trying to intimidate Smeagol with his larger size. The man looks perplexed, and two other men who try to grab Smeagol have the same results. So Frodo just leads Smeagol the rest of the way back up to the ledge. A couple other men try to approach Smeagol and also can’t get close. Since all the men keep their distance, Smeagol seems to be beginning to believe that they mean him no harm.

The man who led Frodo down to the pool goes over to Faramir and tells him of the strange thing that wouldn’t let him get close to the creature Frodo calls Smeagol. Faramir hesitates, then looks over at me. He says it would seem I am a sorceress after all then. He asks what I have done to his archers. I say I did nothing to them, just a shield of protection around Smeagol in case they were thinking to use excessive force on someone who is already coming along willingly. He gives me a dirty look but says no more, and we all go inside. Once inside, Faramir says that he has decided on his own doom, Frodo can go free along with whatever companions he chooses. He asks if Frodo takes Smeagol under his protection, and Frodo say he does. Faramir gives me a dirty look again and says they don’t think too highly of sorceresses around here. I blurt out that I don’t think too highly of people who would murder someone who is no threat to them simply for fishing in the wrong pool, so that makes us even there. I return his dirty look. Faramir looks at Sam, then at Smeagol. Smeagol has resumed eating his fish.

After Faramir talks to Frodo for a bit more, counsels Frodo not to take the path Smeagol has planned but can’t offer a better idea. Faramir says he has added food to Sam’s and Frodo’s packs to help them out in spite of the company they choose to keep. I am thinking I can use the Penticon computer chip to replicate more food for them if they are in need. Frodo says they were also companions with Gandalf, he’s a wizard, so how am I so different? I tell Frodo, it’s ok if Faramir doesn’t like me, there will always be plenty of people who don’t. As long as he isn’t holding it against Frodo, I’m ok with it. Faramir says he and his people will have to be moving out, so Frodo and the rest of us also have to move out. We walk out of the hidden cave, and I again give no objection to being blindfolded. Faramir mutters that I can probably see anyways… We get to a place a ways away from the hidden cave and they take the blindfolds off. Then our paths part. Frodo thanks Faramir for his assistance, and Sam does as well, then we part ways. We haven’t gone far down our separate path before everything fades to black and I wake up.

2017, 05-03

Faramir's Secret

I am walking in a forest, and it is really quite beautiful. It is also a perfect day for taking a walk in the forest, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze blowing, and I hear the sound of a flowing stream nearby. The only thing odd is that I don’t hear any birds. I wonder why there wouldn’t be birds singing in the trees. I keep going and soon I hear voices. I follow the sound of the voices and peek through some trees to see a man and two hobbits walking together through the trees. I hear the man talking about Boromir, saying Boromir was his brother but he fears that his brother is dead. When one of the hobbits, Frodo, asks why he thinks that, the man, Faramir, says Boromir’s horn was found in the river, cloven in two pieces. He says there is only one way that would have happened. I remember that Boromir is not dead, I remember healing him, and I think it would be cruel to let Faramir go on thinking his brother is dead. So I step out into the open.

When I step into the open, Faramir stops short and does a double take. He raises his bow with an arrow already fit to it and asks who I am and how I managed to appear out of nowhere like that. Frodo answers before I do, telling Faramir that he won’t need his bow, I am a friend who sometimes comes by to help on their quest. He says he doesn’t know how I manage to get around so. I tell Faramir my name is Raven Knight, and I give a bow of courtesy. I tell him I wasn’t meaning to spy, but I overheard that he believes his brother is dead. He asks what I know of Boromir. I tell him I hope to put his fears to rest, Boromir is alive and well, I know this because when Boromir was injured I was his healer. Boromir did indeed get injured when he was fighting valiantly against many orcs, and his horn was cloven, but Boromir was still alive when I reached him and he was not beyond saving. Frodo wants to know about the other people in their company. I tell him I don’t have details, but I can assure him that they were all alive when I last saw them. Faramir says he certainly hopes I speak true, but now I must accompany my companions and him back to their hidden place, he would decide what must be done then. I don’t bother mentioning that I could take out him and all of his people all by myself, instead I cooperate and say I will be glad to cooperate.

I follow Faramir along with Frodo and Sam for a while, just enjoying the walk in the forest. Faramir and Frodo chat a bit more, Faramir asks if I have any more details on what happened to Boromir. I skip over the part about Boromir trying to steal the ring from Frodo, and go to the part where Boromir was bravely defending the other two hobbits from many orcs, and indeed he slew many orcs before it became too much. But the orcs believed Boromir was dead and they moved on, they were wrong. I’d been responding to the sound of Boromir’s horn and when I got there he was gravely wounded, but not lost, so I was able to heal him with the light energy. He asks if I’m some kind of sorceress. I tell him not exactly, I just channeled the healing light to restore Boromir to health. He says that if I speak true then he is in my debt for saving his brother. I say no, I just did what was right. He stops and says he will have to do all three of us a discourtesy right now, it is their law that anyone visiting be blindfolded when approaching the secret place. Frodo says it's no problem, even the elves do so when strangers need to enter Lothlorien. I tell him to go ahead, I will offer no objection. A couple more men come from the trees and tie scarves around Frodo’s, Sam’s, and my eyes. I find it strange, but I can still see where we’re going, as if I am seeing right through the blindfold. I say nothing about that, however, and I let one of the men who came lead me carefully through the trees. After several twists and turns that are no doubt meant to disorient us, they take the blindfolds off and we are now looking at a beautiful waterfall.

We go inside some caves and Faramir says he will get us some food and drink and they decide what is to be done in the morning after we’re all rested. He gives us food and drink in the form of dried fruits and salted meats with some kind of wine. Soon the hobbits and Faramir are chatting away, and I’m not paying much attention. Frodo is telling about what has happened on their journey across Middle Earth, then they are talking about elves, then Sam is saying Boromir took his own peril into Lothlorien and it was then he knew Boromir wanted the enemy’s ring… Then there is a brief period of time where Sam and Frodo seem to think Faramir will try to take the ring by force, but I am sure he is not going to try anything, and he doesn’t. He says he wouldn’t take it if he found it by the side of the road. He then says we should all get some rest, then shows Frodo, Sam, and me to three beds. Frodo falls asleep almost instantly, Sam takes a bit longer. I sit down on the bed and everything fades to black as I wake up.

2017, 04-03

Entrance to Khazad-Dûm

I am in a strange place I do not recognize. I look around to try to get some idea of where I am. There are tall mountains off to my left and I am in what appear to be the foothills. The foothills are rocky and there is a somewhat broken path winding through the rocks and hills. I follow that path for a short while, not making any attempt to stay quiet since I don’t notice anyone in the area. I do a double take when I reach the top of a ridge and find myself face to face with a man aiming a bow and arrow at me… or rather an elf. I stop where I am and look, recognizing the elf as Legolas from the Lord of the Rings. I wonder if the rest of the fellowship is somewhere in the area, and think they’re probably sleeping and it was Legolas’ turn to be on watch. He doesn’t fire his arrow, he says I don’t look like a servant of the enemy, although some of the most foul creatures can make themselves appear fair if need be. I spread my hands out to indicate I’m not armed and I don’t want to fight. I say my name is Raven Knight, and I was just wandering out here. I would only seek to help him and his companions if I can. He seems unconvinced, and asks how he is to know I’m telling the truth. I’m not really sure what proof I can offer, so I figure I will depart and just watch from afar in case they need help.

I notice the sun is setting and it is now dusk. The wind starts blowing, blowing and howling. Then I realize the howling isn’t the wind. Legolas goes over to a sheltered spot and wakes someone, telling that person that the wolves are on the hunt again. Aragorn gets up and does a double take at seeing me. He asks who I am. Legolas tells him I have claimed to be a wanderer, but there’s no time to check, the enemy is nearly upon us. I figure that’s why I was brought here. Aragorn wakes the others and everyone gets together in a circle facing outward for easier defense. Someone in the middle is trying to strike a fire. The wolves, or rather wargs, arrive… and they have orcs on their backs! The orcs and wargs surround the group on the hill, though they’re clearly ready to put up quite a fight. Now is the time I can prove I am here to help, by fighting off some orcs. So I form my right arm into an Alex Mercer blade and start picking orcs and wargs off from the outside of the circle. My blade slices right through their orc hide. The fight doesn’t last for long, soon the orcs want to retreat, but the company doesn’t want to allow that if it is possible to prevent it because they may alert other enemies as to where they are. I take down one fleeing orc with an Alex Mercer tendril, Legolas fires an arrow and takes out another fleeing orc… and that is all of them.

Since I have been fighting on their side, Gandalf indicates I should follow them to a safer place. He says there will be more enemies very soon, unless by chance that was all that they sent. I follow them down a dark path, following the light of the moon, and soon we reach a pool near the mountain. We go around it and Gandalf says the entrance to Moria has to be around here somewhere. After a brief pause, he does something to the stone wall and glowing writing appears in the light of the moon. He says that while he’s figuring out how to open the door everyone should leave behind what baggage they don’t need and each take a portion of the pony’s baggage and turn the pony loose. Sam is very upset about that, saying that is no different than killing the pony, who he calls Bill. Gandalf says he’s sorry, but there’s no choice. He says there are places in Moria that Bill won’t be able to pass, and that’s assuming Sam could even drag the pony into the dark underground place. Sam is crying. I go over to Sam as the others are removing the pony’s burden, and suggest my solution. I tell him I will escort the pony back to Rivendell, make sure Bill makes it safely. And there Bill will await Sam’s return. Sam looks at me and asks how I intend to make it back with the wargs and orcs on the hunt. I tell him that is my problem, but I don’t think it will be a problem. However Bill will be waiting for him, so Sam will have to be sure to make it back, too.

Gandalf laughs and says this riddle was too easy, he was making it harder than it should’ve been. The writing on the wall tells what the password is, it’s just “friend” in the Elvish language. He speaks the word and then the doors swing open. And at that moment tentacles reach from the dark pool and grab at Frodo. Bill gets scared and runs away, heading around the pool and for open ground. Sam seems undecided on what to do, I tell him I will make sure Bill is safe. Sam cuts the tentacle holding Frodo’s leg with his knife, which is a good size sword for him. Gandalf calls to everyone to get inside, and they all crowd through the door before the tentacled monster slams the doors shut and then starts ripping the place down. The others are safe for now, so I follow after Bill. The lake monster doesn’t seem to have any interest in either Bill or me, it seems it was after only Frodo. I walk a ways with Bill, but I realize it will take far too long to return him to Rivendell the normal way. So the Metallica song “Through the Never” comes to mind, and I use it to open a portal. I lead a hesitant Bill through the portal and on the other side I see Elrond’s house in the distance, lights glimmering in the moonlit night. Bill will be fine now. Everything around me fades to black and I wake up.

2017, 03-27

Ambush at the Ford

I am outside on a road that runs through a thick forest. It is a very beautiful forest, and the day is a pleasant one. I don’t really think much about how I came to be here, I just walk down the road at a leisurely pace. As I am walking down the road I notice that it is starting to get darker. At first I am thinking it has merely reached the end of the day, and the sun is setting. I walk for a while before I reach an area clear enough that I can see the sun in the sky, and I see it is still high up and shining brightly. But for some reason the light of the sun doesn’t seem to be reaching the ground. It’s as if there is some large invisible barrier keeping much of the light away, as well as much of the warmth. The air around me is growing colder as I proceed. I think this is really strange, but I don’t let it stop me. I am now being pulled forward by a feeling I need to get somewhere quickly, before it is too late.

After walking for a short while I hear the flow of water up ahead. I hurry along and reach an area that is more open as it approaches a river. The river flows over the road, but it looks like this is a river ford, a place where the water is shallow and I could wade across if I need to. I notice that in spite of the road coming into the open air, the darkness is deepening rather than dissipating. I look up and I see the sun, but much of the light is not making it to the ground. I hear the sound of someone approaching and I look. I see a man approaching me, watching me suspiciously. He asks who I am and where am I going. I don’t exactly know the answer to where am I going, so I decide to give my name, Raven Knight, and I say I’m going wherever this road may lead me. I think he is about to ask another question when he looks alarmed and turns to look back down the road. He then says if I am not in league with the enemy then I had better get out of sight.

I am still wondering what enemy he is referring to when I hear a couple cries of alarm. A couple of small people, I immediately think they are hobbits, come from a spot by the side of the road that they had apparently thought to be hidden. I hear another voice back there warning someone to stay away from his master or… or… he trails of, apparently not sure how to finish that threat. Aragorn starts in that direction, one of the hobbits says the dark riders have come upon them from behind! I immediately know that is where I need to be. I run as fast as I can, right past Aragorn and to the place the two hobbits came out of. Sure enough, there is a dark cloaked figure on a black horse towering over a hobbit who is lying on the ground looking injured. A second hobbit is standing between the fallen hobbit and the towering dark rider, holding a sword, and shaking with fear, but unwilling to abandon his friend. I hurry forward, calling out to get the monster’s attention. I don’t think it’s working, but then I am finally able to get between the dark rider and the fallen hobbot, who I am now assuming is Frodo. The protective one muct be Sam. I tell Sam he had better get Frodo out of here, Aragorn is out on the road and will help. Sam looks like he wants to ask questions but instead he helps Frodo up and they make very slow progress out towards Aragorn. Aragorn is out there saying we have to get to the ford, the dark riders won’t cross. I form my right arm into an Alex Mercer blade, and I charge it with light energy. When he sees this, the dark rider backs off a bit then turns and leaves. I have a feeling he is not retreating.

I head back out onto the road thinking I can help the hobbits and Aragorn. They are making their way towards the river ford, Aragorn is calling out, asking where the pony went off to… then says it’s no matter, the pony could never outrun the dark riders. The dark riders are approaching the ford, I see five of them coming from down the road. Aragorn says there is no choice, he will have to fight them to delay them while the hobbits escape. The hobbits clearly think this idea is insane, there’s no way Aragorn can face the riders alone. I come out and say he will not be facing them alone. In fact, he should help the hobbits get away, in case the rest of the riders ambush them as they try to escape. Aragorn says he doesn’t know who I am, but… he trails off as he sees my right arm transformed into a glowing white blade, then seems unsure of what to say except something about me being a witch. I tell him no, I’m no witch, but the dark riders cannot face this light energy.

But before anyone can consider escape it is too late, there are now five of the dark riders on one side of us and another four dark riders between us and the river ford. There is no choice but to fight. Aragorn pulls out a sword to fight, so I use Battery by Metallica to call a bolt of lightning and charge his sword with light energy. I still have my Alex Mercer blade arm charged with light energy. Now I focus on the song Old Friend by Disturbed as I attack the dark riders with my glowing blade. “Hear me now, feel my blade! There is no more time for apologies! Malevolent emotions take hold of me! Are you ready to begin your trip to the other side? Death is an old friend of mine! Aragorn and I attack the dark riders, and the fact we are attacking them with light energy has clearly taken them by surprise. Their demonic horses rear up in fear of the light. But I’m not interested in the horses, I’m after the wraith riding on the horse’s back! I jump up and swipe with my blade, splitting the black robes in half and eliciting a horrible shriek. I hear another shriek from the one Aragorn attacks. Then I hear one of them laughing.

I turn and Aragorn turns at the same time and one of the ring wraiths has snuck up from behind on foot and is holding Frodo by a foot. He is laughing manically, and says we have lost. I tell him not to count his rings before they’re won. He seems in a mood to gloat rather than take his prize and run, and he says if we even try to approach him we will get Frodo back piece by piece. I feign that I am striking the ground in frustration… and I unleash Alex Mercer tendrils into the ground. The tendrils, also charged with light energy like my blade, erupt right underneath the ring wraith holding Frodo. They blast right through the ring wraith, eliciting another horrible shriek. The ring wraith disappears into nothing more than a black robe, dropping Frodo. One of the tendrils gently wraps around Frodo and lowers him safely to the ground before I withdraw them. Upon seeing that, the other ring wraiths flee.

Aragorn looks at me strangely, but is more concerned about Frodo. We both go over to check on Frodo. He definitely is not looking well, it seems being in such close proximity to the ring wraith has only accelerated his sickness. He is phasing between solid and semi-transparant right now, and he looks to be in pain. I transform my blade back to normal and then focus on the song Voices from the Macross Plus soundtrack to use it as a healing song. Golden energy gathers around Frodo, and at the same time I notice that the sunshine is once again reaching the ground. The healing energy flows into Frodo, and he immediately looks better. He opens his eyes, and is no longer phasing in and out. He remains solid now. He is looking at me strangely as I finish the song. He says something about me being a fair elf maiden. I say no, I am no elf maiden, just a healer doing what I can to help. I tell Aragorn that I sense there is still a piece of the evil blade inside Frodo, but Elrond of Rivendell has the skill to heal that. I don’t try to remove it myself, because even now I feel I am about to wake up. Aragorn still wants to know who I am. I tell him if there is need, I will be back, and maybe we can talk more then. Everything fades to black and I wake up.

Ocean Life Museum
I am with my mother and my grandmother, we are going through a place that seems very familiar to me, it is a small museum / zoo dedicated to the animals and fish of the sea. There are many aquariums filled with exotic fish, but the largest area is dedicated to a pair of dolphins. The dolphin enclosure makes up the major part of the museum, the owners of the museum have taken extensive effort to make the enclosure emulate the dolphins' natural habitat. Transparent tunnels cross the enclosure where people can walk through and observe the dolphins in their daily lives, the effect is that it looks almost like being underwater with them. Of course the dolphins aren't there alone, there is also a wide variety of fish, some of which are sources of food for the dolphins. A smaller area of the museum is devoted to the 'sea of stars' above us. There is a virtual reality ride that goes through deep space on a thrilling journey through space, or that's what the advertisement says. My mom buys me a ticket for that, but the ride turns out to be quite disappointing. The video is pretty good, but it is in no way virtual reality. When I get out I can't seem to find my mother, but I end up in a room with several sea lions that want to play.


Gollum and the Pervert
I am in a swamp somewhere, the place is dreary and wet and pretty unpleasant. I don't feel like myself, in fact I know I'm not myself… I have absolutely no awareness of my waking life self. I am Gollum from Lord of the Rings… and that seems perfectly normal. I look around the area of swamp I am in and see a pair of hobbits lying in one of the few dry (relatively dry) places, sleeping uneasily. Frodo and Sam. Frodo has the ring, the ring that I both want to have and am afraid of at the same time, it's like an addict's drug when the addict is trying to go sober… it offers both salvation and doom at the same time. I decide I am too close to the ring, I had better get farther away, take a break from its presence. I move off into the swamp, looking to put a bit of distance between myself and the cursed item. I hear someone following me. It's Sam. He asks me where I'm sneaking off to. I am tired of him always being suspicious, so I come up with a reasonable excuse to be going off on my own. I say I have to take a crap. He says he's going to watch. I just look at him for a bit… you want to watch me take a crap? He says yes. Err… I feign taking a crap, and he does watch… he watches closely and asks why I didn't go. I say I can't go with an audience. We go back to the clearing where Frodo has just woken up. Frodo asks where Sam and I have been. Sam says I am a dirty sneak, and he saw me going off to do something suspicious. I say being a sneak is better than being a pervert who likes to watch other dudes take a crap… maybe Sam needs to come out of the closet?


Schoolyard Bullies
I am in the playground area of a school I don't recognize. It is a Jr. High School, and I am the appropriate age to be a student there. One thing makes this better than my original Jr. High School years, this time I am fully aware of some cool powers I have, psychic powers… telekinetic powers… pyrokinetic powers… I am playing with my telekinetic powers by moving rocks around using my mind. Most of the other students in the school seem to sense something weird about me so they avoid me. I am rather lonely, I keep my mind occupied with my powers. I see a few large boys chasing after a much smaller boy, the group of them run across the playground over towards the school where the smaller boy finds himself cornered by the school. I hate bullies, having been the target of teasing and verbal bullying most of my life, so I go over to interfere. I have no fear of becoming their target and getting hurt because I have my psychic powers. I go over and start making fun of the bullies. Wow, it sure takes a brave group of guys, grouping up five against one to push the smaller boy around… The bullies aren't pleased with my interference. I recognize the people… the smaller boy is Harry Potter, one of the larger ones is Duddley Dursley. Of course I recognize them… they are classmates! Duddley tells me to stay out of it, he's not opposed to hitting a girl. I say he should waddle on over and do it, then, fatso. He looks at Harry, then at me, then starts walking towards me. I use my TK to make him walk in place then make fun of the fact he can't even walk properly. I tie his shoe laces together with TK… he face plants right in front of me, I add he apparently can't tie his shoes properly, either. He is mad, Harry laughs a bit. Duddley threatens Harry and tries to get up. Too bad his feet don't move from the ground… he face plants again. He is confused, he gets up and his pants fall down. He tries to walk before realizing that… and face plants for a third time. Duddley's friends just stare. Duddley tells them to grab Harry. All of their pants fall down, now the rest of them face plant beside Duddley. The school bell rings, and a bunch of students rush out. A crowd gathers around us, everyone points and laughs at the big guys on the ground with their pants around their ankles.

Note: I fell asleep with the goal of meeting up with MoSh, who said he wants to get in contact with his guide and ask him a few questions, but before that MoSh had said he would help out in an attempt to heal my ailing pet, Frodo, who is a guinea pig who seems to be suffering from a serious illness. I don't know how much chance there is of doing a dream healing on that, but I figure there is nothing to be lost by trying. I fell asleep, aiming for a WILD, but epic fail…

I got up out of bed, annoyed at myself that I had been unable to successfully enter a WILD, I wondered what is going on with me that it seems to be so much trouble getting into a WILD. It either works wonderfully or epic fails, and I am getting pretty tired of it. I went into the bathroom to use the facilities before going back to bed, somewhere around the bathroom door I thought I had better do a RC , I did that, and discovered I was already in a dream! Now that I was lucid I completely forgot my need to use the bathroom and considered what my goals were, I didn't remember everything clearly, but I remembered MoSh was part of it, so I would start by getting to MoSh's inner world. I tried to open a portal, but nothing happened, wtf? I knew I was dreaming and that I should be able to open a portal, but it wasn't working, which was just another annoyance. I saw the closed door to my game room and focused on it leading to MoSh's inner world, but when I opened it, all I found was my game room. Frodo was in his cage making some soft noises that sounded more like groans of pain that purrs, so I went over to check on him, he didn't look good at all. That was when I remembered the goal of healing him, and I remembered MoSh and Pablo had both offered to help, so maybe I could do that first if I wasn't able to open a portal to find MoSh… um… but I still had to find MoSh…

I decided maybe if I could just get out of my own inner world I might be able to go find MoSh and Pablo, but I wasn't even sure how to do that… I cursed out loud at the fact I was lucid and yet I didn't seem to remember how to use my abilities that I have been using for so long. How to open a portal 101, sounded corny, but that's what went through my mind. Step 1: Decide on a destination. Done, I was going to Pablo's inner world. Step 2: Focus on the image clearly in my mind. Done, I had a nice image of the forest I have seen repeatedly in Pablo's inner world. Step 3: Use Through the Never by Metallica while tracing a circle in the air to indicate where the portal will open. Through the Never, that was the problem, I didn't have any way to play music. I went back to my bedroom to find my purse, I needed my iPod, that would have the song I needed… but I couldn't find it, there was nothing but $20 bills stuffed in my purse. I finally found a music player of some kind… it was weird, but I knew it would do, and I somehow knew Through the Never was on it… so I played the song and opened a portal, which I went through.

On the other side of the portal I was exactly where I wanted to be, I took a step forward as I scanned the forest for any sign of Pablo, I tripped, and I face planted right there in the grass. What had I just tripped over? I turned to look and I saw there had been a fox right at my feet, and he was what I had tripped over, now the fox was just eyeing me with a mixture of amusement and concern. I got up and dusted myself off, since I had landed in the grass it hadn't hurt at all, and I asked the fox if he had somehow planned that. The fox shook his head, but I hadn't really meant it seriously anyway. I said I had come looking for Pablo, he had said he would help me heal my pet, which triggered the fox to transform from an adult fox to an adorable little cub and then jump into my arms. I caught the cute little bundle and gave him a hug before returning to my inner world through the same portal I had used to get there in the first place.

Once I was back in my own house, still holding a cute little fox pup, I saw MoSh was already there and seemed a bit surprised to see me back. He asked me where I had been, I just responded by holding up the fox, he said he had thought I was going to come see him. I said I had tried, but my portals weren't working very well. He said ok, then said he wanted to visit his guide, I said he'd agreed to help me heal Frodo, he said ok to that. We went into my game room where Frodo was in his cage, still huddled in the corner making some noises that didn't sound good, so we did a healing spell on him, then Nomad showed up and we did it again. I wondered if the healing spells had any chance of working if the little guy had cancer… I didn't want to be thinking like that, but I couldn't help it. MoSh said he hoped the little guy got to feeling better soon, I said I also hoped for that. MoSh asked if we could go meet up with his guide now, I said sure, I was not sure if I could open the portal, but I tried it… nothing happened. I still wasn't getting anywhere towards opening a portal, so I grabbed my music player and opened the portal as I ignored MoSh saying he would do that. I didn't want to admit I couldn't do it myself, it was too annoying. MoSh and I went through the portal and exited into his inner world. I looked around to see if I could find his guide, but I didn't see anyone else anywhere around. MoSh said he knew where his guide wanted to meet up, so he would open the portal. He did that, we went through, and we met up with MoSh's guardian.

It turned out that MoSh wanted to know if his guide knew anything about what might happen in the year 2012. I don't remember exactly how the conversation went, but Victor and MoSh were talking about it for a time, and this is what I remember. Victor said that the year 2012 doesn't indicate the date of some kind of fire and brimstone / rapture type end of the world, he said the end that could be beginning in 2012 is caused by much more mundane sources… people. And it's not something that will happen overnight, rather it is something that is already in progress, but will be more apparent after 2012. It basically has to do with consuming more resources than can be replenished, leading to some serious issues, basically if people don't start being more careful with how they take care of natural resources, there won't be anything left. But there is still time to change things before it's too late, so there is not necessarily anything serious to be started after 2012…

Victor talked about the different things that people are doing to self-destruct as well as destroying the rest of the world. Using too many resources will lead to shortages worldwide, famines, droughts, war… As he was talking about all of the negative predictions my mind wandered, and I realized I wasn't paying as much attention to that as maybe I should have since I have basically heard it all before, and I have little hope that anything is going to change before it's too late. The next thing I noticed was that MoSh was asking me if I was hearing anything Victor was saying at all. I said sure, I was, but I've heard it all before, and nothing is going to change, so what's the point? Victor was now talking about music, he was talking about remembering dream music in waking life. This was something I was quite interested in, so I was paying attention again.

Victor was talking about remembering the first part of the song being the most important part, because if we make sure and remember the first part then the rest of it will be much easier to recall. MoSh and I were practicing on a song I didn't recognize, he was playing his guitar while I played on an electronic keyboard. I tried the song the first time… epic fail. I thought I heard MoSh laughing… I was going to be annoyed, but I didn't allow that since I really had epic failed at the song… I tried again, and this time I did a bit better. MoSh was doing very well on his guitar, my keyboard playing still left much to be desired. We tried it one more time. I still thought that while his music rocked, mine was still second rate, but at least it seemed to be passable.. I was happy at the improvement I had accomplished, MoSh was talking to Victor about what else helps. Victor said that it is important to play the song ourselves instead of just listening to it. It can be done with just hearing it, but playing it makes the tune stay in the mind much better. I continued playing the song on the keyboard, and MoSh was playing along with the guitar, and I was wondering if I might be able to remember this IWL. I was hoping I could, then I woke.