Personification Life: EPIC (IC Thread XI) [CLOSED]

[Northwest Slobovia]

On the Road to Ascalon

Amanda followed Thaddeus' gaze into the rearview mirror, smiled, and lowered her voice to avoid waking Henry. She was pleased, and with good reason: their passengers were from modern Earth, not from scattered all over the omniverse, and thus much less likely to try something strange when confronted by police with guns. One would probably even need to be woken for the checkpoint. "I don't think these two will give us much trouble." In fact, we probably should have done this the first time. Hopefully, the next time, we'll remember this.

Amanda let the rig drive on in silence for a minute before turning to the driver. "Thaddeus, do you mind if I ask you a question? You seem to have some sort of direct line to Demens. Since the end of the battle with the Fiends, he's really stepped up gathering his Chosen. By my count, we've had sixteen or seventeen new Residents join us, both through the chandelier and from being rescued since then. Is something up? Is he planning on launching an offensive soon? Because that's more new Residents than we got in the preceeding year and a few months since Sandy and I arrived."

[Northwest Slobovia]

RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK

OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
DIMENSION: Gallimaufry then 257P
LOCATION: Plotline All-Stops to Alexandria, Egypt
TEAMS: MU
RotLB

Lumba walked past the duo and toward the exit, she tallied their items out loud, not counting Primordial's purchases and came to a price after some quick math, "The datachip alone is worth at least 3000, but because you're new customers, I'll lower it to 2750! That gives us a rough total, not counting the gentlemen's items out there... near 9000. Shall I ready the necessary transaction papers? We normally charge a fee for that, but since you're purchasing some highly valuable items, the fee is on the house as well!"

Oh, boy! ₨9000! We don't have that kind of money! This was going to take some thought... Sandy seemed to be looking at Lumba as he rubbed his cheek, but his mind was elsewhere. ₨9000 was a few months' take, and Sandy was pretty sure that neither would his customers want or need that much alcohol on short notice, nor could he expand his business that rapidly to sell it any faster. He considered the holovideo: perhaps Lumba would want it, either for herself, or to ply customers with. Ferengi culture seemed to emphasize trade, so maybe she'd barter technology for booze. Maybe.

Sandy realized with a start that he was getting ahead of himself. "Oh, I almost forgot the other thing we needed! It's the most important one." He took a few steps towards Lumba; the distance seemed a bit far for conversation, and if she wanted to leave the holosuite, he might as well follow. "We'd like to get biological changes made to us: increase the amount of a specific protein. Do you have equipment that can do that?"

[Torsiedelle]

The arm was his father's? That made it all the more special for them to work on together. Torii knew that her friend wasn't unlike herself, with them both having their family issues and being distant from their own fathers, but to hear Marcus reminisce so fondly while she sat there in silence was humbling. He was sweet.

"Sure.", Was her only reply. She scooted closer and examined the arm; it was impressive, beautiful even. She smiled; she could see why his father chose it, and why he found it so appealing. She reached out to touch, but was quick to draw her hand back and wait for his reaction.

[Fraire]

The Lobby
Of course, there was only a man in an old grey uniform behind the desk. Volker raised his brow to regard Nathan, but rather than make comment about the breech of personal space (or slap the man into next Tuesday), Volker chose to gesture towards the door.

"Out there is Gallimaufry. It is a world inside a dimension molded by a Greater Being we call Demens. Greater Beings are omnipotent, more so than gods," the front desk cultist replied lightly, his Bavarian accent shlaughterink perfectly serviceable English. He settled into his chair and peered across the counter at the man. "You are in the Building which was built by Demens. And in this Building, up one flight of stairs, is the dining room. Free coffee. Go upstairs."

Nathan looked at the man up and down, squinting menacingly. "Uh, huh." Nathan nodded slowly. "Demons," he said, drawing out the "ee" and "s" sounds.

He slowly backed up, hit his leg on a chair behind him, stumbled for a second, regained his balance, then headed for the dining room, grumbling to himself all the way. "Free coffee...ergh...gonna give him free coffee...ugh...demons and...stuff...upstairs...lotta nonsense."

As he went upstairs, Nathan pondered as to what those strange people had meant when he first went through the gate. Save the world? Nathan thought he remembered them saying something about him being the "chosen one". Maybe he had heard wrong. "Eh, if it was important, it would come up again," Nathan said to himself quietly. When he got upstairs, Nathan went into the dining room and saw a bunch of freaks and weirdos. But at this point, why bother saying anything about it. Nathan grabbed some coffee and sat at a table at the end by himself, quietly drinking it.

[Swith Witherward]

DINING ROOM

The Lobby
Of course, there was only a man in an old grey uniform behind the desk. Volker raised his brow to regard Nathan, but rather than make comment about the breech of personal space (or slap the man into next Tuesday), Volker chose to gesture towards the door.

"Out there is Gallimaufry. It is a world inside a dimension molded by a Greater Being we call Demens. Greater Beings are omnipotent, more so than gods," the front desk cultist replied lightly, his Bavarian accent shlaughterink perfectly serviceable English. He settled into his chair and peered across the counter at the man. "You are in the Building which was built by Demens. And in this Building, up one flight of stairs, is the dining room. Free coffee. Go upstairs."

Nathan looked at the man up and down, squinting menacingly. "Uh, huh." Nathan nodded slowly. "Demons," he said, drawing out the "ee" and "s" sounds.

He slowly backed up, hit his leg on a chair behind him, stumbled for a second, regained his balance, then headed for the dining room, grumbling to himself all the way. "Free coffee...ergh...gonna give him free coffee...ugh...demons and...stuff...upstairs...lotta nonsense."

As he went upstairs, Nathan pondered as to what those strange people had meant when he first went through the gate. Save the world? Nathan thought he remembered them saying something about him being the "chosen one". Maybe he had heard wrong. "Eh, if it was important, it would come up again," Nathan said to himself quietly. When he got upstairs, Nathan went into the dining room and saw a bunch of freaks and weirdos. But at this point, why bother saying anything about it. Nathan grabbed some coffee and sat at a table at the end by himself, quietly drinking it.

Nila looked towards the approaching footsteps, then smiled as a young man grabbed coffee. The animosity radiating off him quickly changed that smile to a frown, however. It was identical to the attitudes she had encountered in Bielefeld. She thought to speak her mind on it, and was just rising with the most curious thing happened...

Nathan's clothing and the table and chair exploded into confetti. It was as though someone had pulled a Christmas cracker. The tiny bits of paper slowly drifted downward to litter the floor, leaving the young man standing in his corner. She blinked. He was stark naked. Constructs, like most machines, couldn't be befuddled by illusions (indeed, only potent magic as found in the Carnival Tents had any affect on an Overlord) so she saw only a perfectly normal human. To Romy's eyes, the illusion was potent. Painted across the man's bare chest were three words: Respect is earned.



In the lobby a floor below, Volker opened his outdated copy of the Underworld Times and skimmed the same boring articles. A smug smile, barely perceptible unless you knew the man well, tickled the corners of his eyes and mouth.


ON THE ROAD AGAIN •*¨*•♫♪

"I wouldn't call it a direct line," Thaddeus slipped the rig into another lane to allow an impatient drive to streak by. The old cyborg's "line" was nothing more than doing what he was ordered, though he would be the last to verbally call attention to the fact that he was Demens' bitch. The only silver lining to the entire relationship was that it kept him from being Her bitch and, considering she was lurking the Building once more, the prospect of using old contracts to keep her at bay was... well, not pleasant, but rather convenient. "I do odd jobs here and there. Fix things. Mostly whatever the Building Manager requires."

Requirements. Hrm. Requirements like going to investigate an unholy gas leak only to be poofed into a Davenport.

"Demens has been drawing people for a long while. They get the urge. They move to Vafflehelm, later Bielefeld. But the City was radically changing. Our infiltrated cultists and associates rebuffed. The leadership suspects the Devourer's agents might have suspected some sort of planned gathering due to the large numbers of supernaturals arriving in one location over time." He cast a knowing look Amanda's way before choosing an avenue in search of parking.

"Of course, the world was already slaughtering its supernatural creatures," he sighed. "They fled their homes like refugees. Makes sense they would head towards places that hadn't yet begun persecution. Klaus tasted the winds of history. Things repeating themselves. When Bielefeld started down the road towards ghettos, he and Minerva prepared to dig in. Underground went active. Without so much as consulting anyone, Demens made a move however. We suspect something happened in Bielefeld to throw the city off our trail. We also speculate Demens acted to counter an attack on us."

A parking lot sign pulled his attention from the conversation. The attendant stepped from his booth to accept 20 runes for a day's rate, and Thaddeus pulled the rig into a spot beside the sidewalk.

"All tunnels were cut," he spoke more softly once the engine's rumble died. "Chaos, Nifid, and other diggers. I'm sure the cultists fell back on protocols. Several were trapped between tunnel and Building. Some are still stuck in the chandelier. Some were freed when we got the plumbing sorted. Not enough remaining on our end to use as forces. Could be that Demens is supplementing those lost numbers. I honestly can't be certain."

The door cracked open but the old cyborg paused short of getting out. "We're also missing people, too. A Time Cop, Brit, Hans, Willow, a Luxan, and Yuna. Not too worried about them. Time Cops are potent, and Hans' inner daemon and Aegis are capable of handling sinister shit. Other Residents have vanished. Weren't anywhere to be seen in the village, and aren't registering as dead after the explosion. Myra reports the 'Froxians marched through a Gate. BOB reports the Bomb Shelter is locked and vacant. Not everyone's cut out for our future. I'm guessing Demens sent those people home. Then there's Neste and Septimus, also vanished. Might be on holiday. Might be on a mission."

His boots hit the pavement, and he cast his gaze back at the cab's occupants. "Really, we need to call a Building leadership meeting. Figure out what to do, see about getting our new people trained, and plan how to get through winter." He snorted. "Oh, and everyone remember where we parked."

The door closed with a soft click.

[Fraire]

DINING ROOM

Nathan looked at the man up and down, squinting menacingly. "Uh, huh." Nathan nodded slowly. "Demons," he said, drawing out the "ee" and "s" sounds.

He slowly backed up, hit his leg on a chair behind him, stumbled for a second, regained his balance, then headed for the dining room, grumbling to himself all the way. "Free coffee...ergh...gonna give him free coffee...ugh...demons and...stuff...upstairs...lotta nonsense."

As he went upstairs, Nathan pondered as to what those strange people had meant when he first went through the gate. Save the world? Nathan thought he remembered them saying something about him being the "chosen one". Maybe he had heard wrong. "Eh, if it was important, it would come up again," Nathan said to himself quietly. When he got upstairs, Nathan went into the dining room and saw a bunch of freaks and weirdos. But at this point, why bother saying anything about it. Nathan grabbed some coffee and sat at a table at the end by himself, quietly drinking it.

Nila looked towards the approaching footsteps, then smiled as a young man grabbed coffee. The animosity radiating off him quickly changed that smile to a frown, however. It was identical to the attitudes she had encountered in Bielefeld. She thought to speak her mind on it, and was just rising with the most curious thing happened...

Nathan's clothing and the table and chair exploded into confetti. It was as though someone had pulled a Christmas cracker. The tiny bits of paper slowly drifted downward to litter the floor, leaving the young man standing in his corner. She blinked. He was stark naked. Constructs, like most machines, couldn't be befuddled by illusions (indeed, only potent magic as found in the Carnival Tents had any affect on an Overlord) so she saw only a perfectly normal human. To Romy's eyes, the illusion was potent. Painted across the man's bare chest were three words: Respect is earned.



In the lobby a floor below, Volker opened his outdated copy of the Underworld Times and skimmed the same boring articles. A smug smile, barely perceptible unless you knew the man well, tickled the corners of his eyes and mouth.

Well played, Swith
Nathan sat down, quietly drinking his coffee. Finally, a single relaxing moment. He leaned back, beginning to relax when, out of nowhere, Nathan fell onto the floor, cursing, as everything around him disappeared into confetti. The coffee spilled onto the floor and pooled around him. Nathan looked down. "Shit!" He immediately jumped up and tried to run to the stairs, but just slipping on the coffee and landed on his side. Nathan climbed to his feet, rubbed his side, and ran to the stairs, attempting to get back to his room as quickly as possible before anybody saw. As he ran, he noticed something written across his chest. He couldn't make it out in the haze of confusion and shock, however.

Romulus immediately turned his head towards the sound of the explosion in the corner of the Dining Room, catching sight of a man who was sitting there now naked and on the ground around confetti and spilt coffee, truly an unfortunate sight to have caught! He noticed as well that there was something blatantly painted on the man's chest that read Respect is earned, making it clear enough to the General that this man must've crossed someone he shouldn't have. Or is alternately a flashing magical pervert with an obsession with nudist honor, it was vague to tell as he has seen both already in his time.

Either way, just incase the man was one of those types, he felt best to set an example and standard to follow. "You're not welcomed around these parts, you depraved sicko! Just shameful, get some damn cloths!" He shouted at the man as he retreated to the stairs, waving a displeased fist in the air as he did so.

Nathan ignored the man. It wasn't his fault that this entire universe was clearly against him.

[Chedastan]

Romulus immediately turned his head towards the sound of the explosion in the corner of the Dining Room, catching sight of a man who was sitting there now naked and on the ground around confetti and spilt coffee, truly an unfortunate sight to have caught! He noticed as well that there was something blatantly painted on the man's chest that read Respect is earned, making it clear enough to the General that this man must've crossed someone he shouldn't have. Or is alternately a flashing magical pervert with an obsession with nudist honor, it was vague to tell as he has seen both already in his time.

Either way, just incase the man was one of those types, he felt best to set an example and standard to follow. "You're not welcomed around these parts, you depraved sicko! Just shameful, get some damn cloths!" He shouted at the man as he retreated to the stairs, waving a displeased fist in the air as he did so.

[Fvaarniimar]

"Oh certainly. Lifts are common across the universe. Though for us they came a bit late and partially to accommodate other races. Our version of stairs is something like a water lift. Our species being so aquatic, along with being able to keep water in the tube without airlocks now make them quite fast. We just jump in and swim up or down depending on where we wish to go. Most of our technology is heavily waterproof anyway. Its a sheer fact that we're around so much of it we can't afford to not make it so." Venla responded, plodding after her on two feet. Rwm would very much be able to note how slow she seemed to move like this. It was only her longer strides making her able to keep up with the smaller human. But it was obvious walking in this way was more of a waddle for her than a proper walk.

"And yes, worlds are spherical. Are you from a primitive world? Maybe feudal or earlier? Could you describe what your home is like and its technology? I'm sorry but I assumed you would understand all the terms I was using, its possible many of them come from a more technologically advanced society's language." She'd brought a small version of the map along with her, downloading it to a little datapad she'd pulled out of the console. She projected the hologram again, having it spin slowly. "See? Its a sphere, much like many fruits or eggs. Planets aren't perfect spheres, they tend to bulge at the equator due to tidal forces if they have moons. My homeworld has a few, though most are too small to be proper satellites. Only one is rounded by its own gravity." She changed the view of the little map, zooming out to show it included the orbits of the moons, one large and a few small captured asteroids.

"Most societies as they advance in technology tend to cooperate on a global scale. Working with other nations, kingdoms, empires for common goals. Its not always so peaceful of ones, but trade, especially of food and culture, tends to dominate over warfare in most cases. In my species it so happened that globalization came after the world was pulled together. One global culture and people, breaking down barriers of nationality and history for good." She finished up her little explanation. "So it could be some pestilences, but there's nothing indicating the whole world shares any single crop, or land connection. There's three main continent groups, who seem to have yet to have any sort of contact.... at least lasting contact."

"Anyway, I was thinking of bringing a team of people here back with me. its dangerous on the surface and the people here seem strong, and rational enough to not go exterminating the natives." She mentioned, her long tail waving behind her slowly as they waited for the elevator (what was taking so long anyway?) "Also, what kind of food do you have here?"

"I frequently eat nut paste with bread and honey.  The dish is popular with, instead -" Rmwtyliin stepped into the elevator, confident that Venla would understand how to use it - "fruit preserves." She tapped the two, and the elevator hurried downwards as though It were making up for lost time.

Parts of the information Venla had imparted stared back at her, in a tantalizingly alien script on Rmwtyliin's casually held pad. Discussion of these would however wait. "Not pestilence. Nothing that affects the whole sphere, nothing can it seems - yet it does. Impossible..." Yet the girl had encountered impossibilities. "Could people with incredible abilities do something to all the people of that world?" Cut out the interpreter, even. "Make them act cruelly directly if not indirectly?

"You are a woman of courage and honor.  Even given an excuse to leave them, you choose to finish a dangerous mission to help another people..."  Maybe it was time. Somehow it didn't seem quite so scary - merely exciting and unreal. To do less would shame Fvaarniimarns past and present...and I think I want to help, even though I could claim that medical skills are needed here.  "Venlah... If -" Stepping forward, Rmwtyliin realized that she still could back out. No. They say I am here for a reason - what if I can prevent this disaster? I am the Naaliiasz of Fvaarniimar, chosen by Demens. "I can help, I would be honored to join you.  I know some medicine, I am trained as a diplomat, I may understand an older sort of society more easily - nearby peoples were feudal as you said, and I have a translator, Dohnkin, who I think can translate anything." Scared! Building, Bob, Morbus...please help me have courage. "Uh, if you have information - you said you were studying these people. Could you give - no, tell me more about them?" Reading a dossier wouldn't work.

Entering the kitchen, she spotted Romulus. Strong -obviously so. Red poop. Hoping against hope that Duncan would continue translating only to Venla's language, Rmwtyliin plucked him off her shoulder.  Gently holding him as close as she could to Venla, she informed the alien, "The man in knights' armor is strong, but he reacts by drawing a sword.  We visited a large settlement, we were stopped, and he tried to attack its guards.  The situation was not extremely dangerous, and attacking made it scarier.  After that there was no trust." Grabbing an apple, she wondered, Do I really need to mention the phone thing? She hadn't spoken of that since it had happened, save to Duncan. It was a simple mistake, which I will not repeat.

"I expect him to try to harm those he thinks are enemies. I doubt he understands his foolishness - but he is nice to Residents. You could ask carefully, I guess."

[Holy Lykos]

"Oh certainly. Lifts are common across the universe. Though for us they came a bit late and partially to accommodate other races. Our version of stairs is something like a water lift. Our species being so aquatic, along with being able to keep water in the tube without airlocks now make them quite fast. We just jump in and swim up or down depending on where we wish to go. Most of our technology is heavily waterproof anyway. Its a sheer fact that we're around so much of it we can't afford to not make it so." Venla responded, plodding after her on two feet. Rwm would very much be able to note how slow she seemed to move like this. It was only her longer strides making her able to keep up with the smaller human. But it was obvious walking in this way was more of a waddle for her than a proper walk.

"And yes, worlds are spherical. Are you from a primitive world? Maybe feudal or earlier? Could you describe what your home is like and its technology? I'm sorry but I assumed you would understand all the terms I was using, its possible many of them come from a more technologically advanced society's language." She'd brought a small version of the map along with her, downloading it to a little datapad she'd pulled out of the console. She projected the hologram again, having it spin slowly. "See? Its a sphere, much like many fruits or eggs. Planets aren't perfect spheres, they tend to bulge at the equator due to tidal forces if they have moons. My homeworld has a few, though most are too small to be proper satellites. Only one is rounded by its own gravity." She changed the view of the little map, zooming out to show it included the orbits of the moons, one large and a few small captured asteroids.

"Most societies as they advance in technology tend to cooperate on a global scale. Working with other nations, kingdoms, empires for common goals. Its not always so peaceful of ones, but trade, especially of food and culture, tends to dominate over warfare in most cases. In my species it so happened that globalization came after the world was pulled together. One global culture and people, breaking down barriers of nationality and history for good." She finished up her little explanation. "So it could be some pestilences, but there's nothing indicating the whole world shares any single crop, or land connection. There's three main continent groups, who seem to have yet to have any sort of contact.... at least lasting contact."

"Anyway, I was thinking of bringing a team of people here back with me. its dangerous on the surface and the people here seem strong, and rational enough to not go exterminating the natives." She mentioned, her long tail waving behind her slowly as they waited for the elevator (what was taking so long anyway?) "Also, what kind of food do you have here?"

"I frequently eat nut paste with bread and honey.  The dish is popular with, instead -" Rmwtyliin stepped into the elevator, confident that Venla would understand how to use it - "fruit preserves." She tapped the two, and the elevator hurried downwards as though It were making up for lost time.

Parts of the information Venla had imparted stared back at her, in a tantalizingly alien script on Rmwtyliin's casually held pad. Discussion of these would however wait. "Not pestilence. Nothing that affects the whole sphere, nothing can it seems - yet it does. Impossible..." Yet the girl had encountered impossibilities. "Could people with incredible abilities do something to all the people of that world?" Cut out the interpreter, even. "Make them act cruelly directly if not indirectly?

"You are a woman of courage and honor.  Even given an excuse to leave them, you choose to finish a dangerous mission to help another people..."  Maybe it was time. Somehow it didn't seem quite so scary - merely exciting and unreal. To do less would shame Fvaarniimarns past and present...and I think I want to help, even though I could claim that medical skills are needed here.  "Venlah... If -" Stepping forward, Rmwtyliin realized that she still could back out. No. They say I am here for a reason - what if I can prevent this disaster? I am the Naaliiasz of Fvaarniimar, chosen by Demens. "I can help, I would be honored to join you.  I know some medicine, I am trained as a diplomat, I may understand an older sort of society more easily - nearby peoples were feudal as you said, and I have a translator, Dohnkin, who I think can translate anything." Scared! Building, Bob, Morbus...please help me have courage. "Uh, if you have information - you said you were studying these people. Could you give - no, tell me more about them?" Reading a dossier wouldn't work.

Entering the kitchen, she spotted Romulus. Strong -obviously so. Red poop. Hoping against hope that Duncan would continue translating only to Venla's language, Rmwtyliin plucked him off her shoulder.  Gently holding him as close as she could to Venla, she informed the alien, "The man in knights' armor is strong, but he reacts by drawing a sword.  We visited a large settlement, we were stopped, and he tried to attack its guards.  The situation was not extremely dangerous, and attacking made it scarier.  After that there was no trust." Grabbing an apple, she wondered, Do I really need to mention the phone thing? She hadn't spoken of that since it had happened, save to Duncan. It was a simple mistake, which I will not repeat.

"I expect him to try to harm those he thinks are enemies. I doubt he understands his foolishness - but he is nice to Residents. You could ask carefully, I guess."

"It very well could be interlopers. That's what I was looking into, heading down to the surface in disguise to see if I could ask to see what had changed in the last decade or two. If we went to a few places and they answered the same, we could find a source. Though again, we'd have to be careful to not use the wrong language for the area. Its during a time the whole area doesn't have one language, like I assume your world is. I only know one of the dialects" Venla finished with, stepping out of the elevator following after Rwm.

"Sounds something like this" She said, before going into a language that sounded like nothing on earth, clicks and warbles, sounds obviously hard for venla to replicate. "My mastery of the language is poor, as its a language made for those with mandibles, arthropoids. The species there, the Xo'Lokakoi, are insectoid in origin, predisposition for monarchy and autocracy, along with religious beliefs."

Then Rwm pointed out the man, and his reputation around here. He was a warrior, which would be useful, but Venla wouldn't want to cause a scene by slaughtering the natives like cattle. "He might not be the best idea of someone to come along. This mission would require subtlety, someone who could at least try to blend in. Though to be fair you're a bit short for most of their species. They seem to on average be about Two meters, to use the human measurement systems. Think a very tall human." She said, plodding over to sit in one of the larger seats available, the fungal bear-otter alien glancing over at the man, along with the one accompanying him. She gave a polite wave of a tendril, before looking back towards Rwm. "I would be happy to have you along, Rwm. I'm glad you're moved by concern for them too."

[Swith Witherward]

DINING ROOM
Nila the near-naked lizard snorted at the General's remark. "Lots of Residents don't wear clothes," she crooned to the man. "And lots of Residents wear masks, or entire body suits." Her head tilted. "I don't think Demens would have brought him if he wasn't welcome."

Nostrils flared to sniff at the newly arrived otter-bear thing and her companion. "You are akin to something we constructed," she smiled kindly. "Are you Convocation?"

[Chedastan]

He turned his head back towards Nila, "Oh I know why he's here, but he's human, and he was naked, that's the difference between him and the other Residents as far as I'm concerned. So Gods forbid one of our youngest here saw him pass by while he retreated away, like her." He then said as he saw Rwm and a surprisingly big fungal infested mammal with her enter the Dining Room. When he saw a wave of tendrils coming from the infested one, Romulus raised his hand to try to politely wave back as well. Though he hoped the infested one didn't bring with it anything else, the Udam Campaign had shown him what horror could be brought by such creatures of the infested variety.

"Please tell me you two didn't see the naked man that streaked by?" He then abruptly asked as he stepped a little closer to them, making it more blatant that his height was clearly standing above 2 meters at around 8 feet. Though he realized he was a still a few inches shorter than the infested mammal, not that it really bothered him though.

[Fraire]

Nathan ran up the stairs to his room, nearly forgetting which room was his on the way. As soon as he got to room 4H, he burst in and looked around. He locked the door and sat down on his bed, breathing heavily from running up four flights of stairs. Nathan let out a long sigh. He looked down at what was on his chest, but couldn't make out what it said. He looked at his chest in the reflection of the shiny counter. It was hard to make out, but it seemed to say 'respect is earned'. "What the heck does that mean?" he said. "Ugh...Now what?" He looked around. Nathan looked for more clothes and, luckily, found a plain t-shirt and jeans. It looked pretty much like what he was wearing, except cleaner. He let out a sigh of relief. "Oh thank god," he said, picking the clothes up and putting them on. Going commando was better than being naked. There may have been more clothes, but these were the necessities.

Nathan walked back downstairs, barefoot, and went to straight to the communal dining room. He had seen it across the hall earlier and maybe nobody would recognize him, although that was unlikely. He would just sit down for a while and try to forget the whole ordeal. This was a terrible start to his new life in what he assumed was some crazy alternate universe.

Nathan walked in, waited for something awful to happen, then relaxed and sat down. It looked like that was a one-time occurrence.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Ascalon, The Littles/UGA

His boots hit the pavement, and he cast his gaze back at the cab's occupants. "Really, we need to call a Building leadership meeting. Figure out what to do, see about getting our new people trained, and plan how to get through winter." He snorted. "Oh, and everyone remember where we parked."

Amanda mostly nodded through Thaddeus' answer, though she raised an eyebrow at the mention of Willow's name. She turned to the cyborg, visibly worried, when he said Septimus was missing. But as Thaddeus was already on his way out of the truck, Amanda waited until she'd climbed down and gone around to the driver's side before answering. Her tone reamained perturbed. "Septimus is missing? Who's political leader then? Who's keeping up our relations with Mayor Mercer?" The thought that nobody was maintaining good ties with the neighbors bothered her. One simply didn't do that. She shook her head.

When she spoke again, her tone started firm, but softened as she changed subjects. "Yes, we really should call a meeting very soon if we're adrift. Maybe we should hold elections."

"I've parked here before. We're three blocks over and four up from the University." She gestured in the direction of an immense skyscraper rising high above the closer buildings. It straddled the multi-level highway they were recently on. "We're on the dorms/liberal arts tower side. That's why I had you come this way: it's easier to find parking on this side."

"I need to borrow something from the law library. It'll take less than a minute to download, and the Littles is a good place to start exploring the city."

While she waited for the new Residents to join them on the sidewalk, Amanda sent Sandy a short text letting him know where she was.

[Altito Asmoro]

Julia Harker
Ascalon

Julia walked out from the rig, and the downtown is really good-looking, for a city living in the midst of fantasy and realism. Well, perhaps something would be achieved in here. Perhaps. Holstered her pistol in the holster after checked it, she gazed through the downtown's skies, before directed her movement to the sidewalk.

When she approached Amanda and Thaddeus, she did mentioned something about the Littles, which intrigued her. "Sorry, Amanda, but what is the Littles? And why is it a good place for exploration?" as she curiously pointed it out to Amanda.

[Northwest Slobovia]

Ascalon, The Littles/UGA

Holstered her pistol in the holster after checked it, she gazed through the downtown's skies, before directed her movement to the sidewalk.

Amanda's eyes widened she caught sight of Julia's gun. She started to hiss "Oh, shit!" but let it die on her lips; no need to draw too much attention. Amanda quick-walked to block Julia's path and bystanders' view of the pistol. Amanda's voice was low but firm as she flicked her index finger to indicate the gun. "Those are tightly regulated here, and you can be arrested for carrying one without a license. Leave it in the truck. We'll go downtown later and get you legal with the city."

"I'd ask how you got it through the checkpoints, but I already know the answer to that. The border police don't want to make the wife of the goose that lays the liquor-filled eggs unhappy." The explanation was partly for Thaddeus: doubtless, he knew how the city worked, but he may not have known what Sandy did for a living. Amanda expected the old assassin had cyborg ears that were as sensitive as the Wolf's Ears, and he was probably eavesdropping on every conversation on the block out of professional habit.

[Mincaldenteans]

RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK

OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
DIMENSION: Gallimaufry then 257P
LOCATION: Plotline All-Stops to Alexandria, Egypt
TEAMS: MU
RotLB

Oh, boy! ₨9000! We don't have that kind of money! This was going to take some thought... Sandy seemed to be looking at Lumba as he rubbed his cheek, but his mind was elsewhere. ₨9000 was a few months' take, and Sandy was pretty sure that neither would his customers want or need that much alcohol on short notice, nor could he expand his business that rapidly to sell it any faster. He considered the holovideo: perhaps Lumba would want it, either for herself, or to ply customers with. Ferengi culture seemed to emphasize trade, so maybe she'd barter technology for booze. Maybe.

Sandy realized with a start that he was getting ahead of himself. "Oh, I almost forgot the other thing we needed! It's the most important one." He took a few steps towards Lumba; the distance seemed a bit far for conversation, and if she wanted to leave the holosuite, he might as well follow. "We'd like to get biological changes made to us: increase the amount of a specific protein. Do you have equipment that can do that?"

Lumba's smile faded just a tad at the edges. While the city was highly advanced, procedures such as genetic modification, re-sequencing, augmentation and the like were some of the things she made a habit of steering clear of. Her home-universe did not take kindly to it and if the Federation had their way, they'd likely send their Starfleet to impose a galactic-wide ban. It was practiced, but it was most certainly kept tight lipped and only the most well connected Ferengi knew of scientists and doctors (or mad-men) that did it for a modest fee, let alone wealthy enough to personally afford a piece of (reliable!) equipment. While Lumba would certainly boast being one of the more successful businesses in Ascalon and privy to such information, it was double-edged. There was the 74th Rule of Acquisition ("Knowledge Equals Profit") to adhere to, and more importantly that loose lips sink starships, therefore more than profit was at stake.

I wonder what they're up to... Lumba mused, imagining whispers in the dark and clandestine missions. The items in question, with the exception of the Baron's, only painted a more vivid image.

"Sorry, I don't sell such equipment, too bulky for customers to lug out of my store, not to mention the cost of maintenance while it sits on the shelf until the next buyer. You'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid. At any rate, I'll draw up the paperwork and -oh Oecammi there you are, see to these items for packaging," Lumba said with a grateful tone as she didn't need, or want, to be peppered with further information on body modifications.

"This one is happy to comply," Oecammi singsonged her acknowledgement, the tall Tzenkethi had silently appeared behind Lumba not wishing to interrupt her. She gracefully took the items and glided out, the Ferengi followed as well as the group.

"Did you make a transaction?" Lumba inquired as they made their way to the console. The Tzenkethi's outfit changed a paler hue and Lumba could tell from the change that the deal had fallen through.

"He has declined, but assures that he would be back for the purchase. Would you like this one to place them on hold?" Oecammi inquired.

"Hmm, we may have a regular customer here, but a sale is a sale... Place the items it on a higher rate just in case anyone else comes for it," Lumba said with a nod. Whether the upgraded cost would stay the same when the Baron returned was another matter entirely. The Tzenkethi handed Lumba a datapad, its sleek burnt-orange device began bleeping as she ran figures and details of the contract.

Assuming Sandy still intended to purchase the times, Lumba reviewed the data and turned toward Sandy and Dora, "Ah, here we are. Standard contract and transaction purchase details. Please take not of the Sections 4 and 5," Lumba said, handing over the Ferengi datapad to Sandy, "Oh, one more thing," Lumba reached over and tapped a button, changing the Ferengi angled flowchart-like text script into standard English format, "There you are, take your time, make sure the items are in order."

Section 4:
Lumba's Entertainment, LLC (hereby known as LEL) is not responsible for any malfunction, damage or lost property upon transaction. Additionally, LEL is not liable for any damages, lost of property, or life and not accountable of any legal entailment that involves the Buyer. Upon purchase, the Buyer acknowledges complete ownership of said item(s) and is solely responsible in accordance to the law.

Section 5:
Lumba's Entertainment, LLC (hereby known as LEL) provides no refunds. Satisfaction is not guaranteed.

[Primordial Luxa]

RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK

OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
DIMENSION: Gallimaufry then 257P
LOCATION: Plotline All-Stops to Alexandria, Egypt
TEAMS: MU
RotLB

Primordial wandered over to Sandy just in time to hear the cost of their combined goods and suddenly felt much more confident about his estimations. He still didn't have the cash to purchase any books but at least he hadn’t been interesting in something that expensive. He could see a look on Sandy’s face of deep thought as he tried to consider potential barter solutions, but the Baron didn’t interrupt. Instead he moved closer to the counter with a friendly smile trying to show support for the team’s leader. He didn’t know if Sandy wanted his assistance but he made himself available in case he did.

[Fvaarniimar]

Dining Room
"Thank you, Venlah. Could I pose as a small child?  Are their children small?"  Do they have children? Was the opposite possible?

Dung, he approaches! Almost instinctively, Rmwtyliin yanked out the nearest chair. Her face was blank - arguably a little too blank. Submit, nonthreatening, seat at table to discuss - what am I doing?! I shall not back down to a man! My ancestors would laugh - Emm would laugh! Yet I am sitting - standing I am indecisive and awkward - sit.

She tried to make it look casual, secretly relieved. Below his notice. Not looking up, her picture of him was drawn from memories; the sword she envisioned was larger than she.

A polite section of Rmwtyliin's brain pointed out that they'd sat cordially on multiple occasions. "Hello, Rahmuulahs." Duncan could be trusted with quite a bit, after all. Use of a translator provided an extra level of safe distance, without being an overt insult.

---

RAIDERS of the LOST BOOK

OPERATION: BIBLIOPHILE
DIMENSION: Gallimaufry then 257P
LOCATION: Plotline All-Stops to Alexandria, Egypt
TEAMS: MU
RotLB
<Primordial. Pssst. Aren't the books we're going to save incredibly rare?> Although Nick meant to pace his inquiry out question by question, in his excitement the intent came through: Lumba sold rare books for high prices. Copying a digital file was as easy as hitting a button. They could trade the promise of some valuable books, copies of all those they'd photograph, for whatever portion of the funds Sandy lacked. <Oh...You got that? Okay, yeah. Kind of a down payment.>

What Nick of course was neglecting to consider was that that would mean revealing the plan to Lumba...

[Holy Lykos]

Dining Room

Dining Room
"Thank you, Venlah. Could I pose as a small child?  Are their children small?"  Do they have children? Was the opposite possible?

Dung, he approaches! Almost instinctively, Rmwtyliin yanked out the nearest chair. Her face was blank - arguably a little too blank. Submit, nonthreatening, seat at table to discuss - what am I doing?! I shall not back down to a man! My ancestors would laugh - Emm would laugh! Yet I am sitting - standing I am indecisive and awkward - sit.

She tried to make it look casual, secretly relieved. Below his notice. Not looking up, her picture of him was drawn from memories; the sword she envisioned was larger than she.

A polite section of Rmwtyliin's brain pointed out that they'd sat cordially on multiple occasions. "Hello, Rahmuulahs." Duncan could be trusted with quite a bit, after all. Use of a translator provided an extra level of safe distance, without being an overt insult.

"Children would be close to you, I'd say. But you could also pass off as a small adult, some of their lower classes have a tendency to smaller size due to nutrition and heritage." She replied with a nod. While the other two approached the large alien pulled out a seat for herself, it groaning a bit from her weight as she got comfortable. The fungus wreathed around her shoulders and up the side of her head glowed a bit brighter for a bit, becoming almost neon bright, before going back down to its normal dull brightness.

"No, I didn't see a naked human, must have left before our elevator arrived on this floor. She looked up towards the warrior, blinking placidly as her long tail curled around the chair to not get in the way of anything. "And no, I've never heard of something called the Convocation. I am Huvidu-Zaan, if you're curious. Not a constructed being, but one of a rave that evolved to appear this way. Who may you be, little reptilian one?" She asked, her voice having a kind tint to it, even with how gruff it sounded. "And you, surprisingly large human?"

If the General bothered to check, she was pretty much only wearing a very loose tunic with pockets, of a slightly off white color. Her eyes glowed too, the iris having the same tint as the glow of the infesting fungus on her form. She glanced at the man walking in, wondering why he sat alone mostly. Everyone else seemed to come up and say hi, but not him? Oh... Wait he was one of the ones who arrived earlier, wasn't he? Right, he must just be nervous or something else.

"My name is Venla, known as the Bold."

[Altito Asmoro]

Ascalon, The Littles/UGA

"I'd ask how you got it through the checkpoints, but I already know the answer to that. The border police don't want to make the wife of the goose that lays the liquor-filled eggs unhappy." The explanation was partly for Thaddeus: doubtless, he knew how the city worked, but he may not have known what Sandy did for a living. Amanda expected the old assassin had cyborg ears that were as sensitive as the Wolf's Ears, and he was probably eavesdropping on every conversation on the block out of professional habit.

Julia nodded thoughtfully, perhaps she should asked about whether or not she could brought her pistol along. "Ah, alright Amanda. I'm sorry as well, I should been asked about this earlier," as she returned to the rig, and dropped it. Bringing along a spare clip, perhaps, is another better thing. But something tells her it will gives same effect.

Once she returned, she...of course heard of Amanda's inquires regarding checkpoints.."What do you mean with the checkpoint? Judging from your wording...it seems that someone in this group, which means either you or Thaddeus since both of you are here longer than me and Henry hold something that strangle the needs of the border police dearly, right?" as she inquired curiously to Amanda.

[Chedastan]

Dining Room

He had curiously looked down at Rmw when she suddenly pulled a chair to take a seat with a strange blank expression on her face, he then came to an possible realization and worried that she might've seen the naked man. But Romulus breathed a sigh of relief when Venla had confirmed that neither had seen him.

He looked back down at Rmw and greeted her as she did with him. "Hello to you too, Rmwt- Rmwtyli... Rmw!" He still had troubled pronouncing her full name, much to his own embarrassment no doubt. He turned his head up towards the tall Venla, noticing her glowing eyes.

"I am General Romulus Aphrodisiac, of the Wilhelm Imperium, it's nice to meet you, Venla." He hadn't introduced himself that much in awhile, he found it welcoming to finally do so again. "Care if I ask what you two were discussing when you walked in here?" He then asked Venla.

[Fraire]

Dining Room
Nathan sat there, annoyed. He was usually a pretty calm person, but this whole experience was a new one. Then those words suddenly entered his mind. 'Respect is earned.' What could that have meant? Was this some initiation ritual or something? Maybe that was it. They were hazing him. It made enough sense.

Nathan was getting somewhat bored. He wondered what was outside of the apartment building. The door was right there. He could easily walk up and go to it. That entrancing door that lay only a few steps down the hall. But it was just a normal door. Besides, he was outside the building when he went through the portal. Outside was nothing important.

As Nathan lay there in thought, he overheard some people behind him. They were talking to each other. But then he overheard something about someone streaking through the lobby. In a split second, Nathan realized they were talking about him, talking about how he was simply some "naked man" and a freak. Already, he had a bad reputation. Nathan pictured the next few weeks being extremely uncomfortable for him as everyone who saw him would give him a look of disappointment and shame. Nathan looked down and rubbed his hand through his hair. The he thought to himself that maybe nobody would recognize him. He had been here for less than a day, so nobody would have recognized him at that instant. Therefore, it made sense that they wouldn't instantly remember his face at that instant. If he were to walk by them, he might be able to see if they recognized them as he passed be. It was a terrible plan, but he didn't have anything to lose except his dignity and the chance of ever making any friends here. Nathan thought it over for a minute, but couldn't find a snag in his plan.

After thinking it over for a minute, Nathan got up and slowly walked by the people trying to draw attention to himself while also trying not to make it seem like he was doing it on purpose.

[Northwest Slobovia]

"What do you mean with the checkpoint? Judging from your wording...it seems that someone in this group, which means either you or Thaddeus since both of you are here longer than me and Henry hold something that strangle the needs of the border police dearly, right?" as she inquired curiously to Amanda.

She watched as the Englishwoman put her gun away, then grinned hugely and chuckled at assumption. "I wish. No, Sandy imports fine alcohol into the city. He needs to get tax stamps at the border -- validated QR codes, really -- but since the city is corrupt, the tax he's paying is to one of the mobs that runs the place. The border cops are on the take, too."

"I'm" -- she stopped and considered her phrasing, given the possibility of secret police this close to the University -- "happier with a more straightforward system. Sandy views the control and taxation of alcohol by a small group to be no worse than many other governments do, so he happily works with the system. Which means he sometimes brings in bottles with damaged QR codes that don't scan... for the guards to seize as 'contraband'. What happens to said contraband after being seized is anybody's guess, but the border patrol seems very happy when they find it."

Amanda didn't give Julia much time to consider that, as she took a step back and turned partway round. "Anyway, to answer your previous question, this" -- her dramatic, sweeping gesture encompassed all the buildings around them -- is the Littles. It's a collection of ethnic neighborhoods, some from recognizable Earth cultures, others xeno minorities. It got the name because some of them have trite names, like 'Little America', 'Little Lagos', and 'Little Weensy Witherward'. The last is one of the xeno enclaves, but some humans like the ambience. I've never been there, so I can't say."

"The Littles is a good place to start learning your way around the city because parts of it will be familiar. They're also a bit friendlier and more tolerant of people around here, probably because of the University and shoppers from other parts of Ascalon."

[Danceria]

Dining Room

Sully cursed silently as he darted towards the dining area where Venla had called the meeting for her diplomatic mission. Remembering the mission last minute after spending most of his days touring the building and fooling around with his room to see if his theory about the Building replicating his thoughts were true. Had a bystander not informed him casually that Venla was holding a meeting in the dining room, he might have blown off the whole mission accidentally.

With one hand attempting to tame his current rat's nest of a hairdo, the other smoothing out his current outerwear, he briskly entered the dining room and smiled at Venla "Sorry if I'm late..." he apologized with a wry smile, making his way towards the other would be volunteers "If I recall, we're headed to a pretty cold climate, so should we stock up on appropriate gear and lots of hot chocolate?" he asked with a smirk. A sense of humor would always be necessary for survival, and negotiations. Sully was by no means planning on leading the negotiations, but he'll keep his eyes open for any tricks the species would pull on Venla. If the upright otter's gonna be "the Bold"... the Arab thought to himself I best become "the Sly"...

[Fvaarniimar]

Dining Room
Rmwtyliin grinned at the thought of posing as an actual adult, but quickly realized that a child could be better. Less quickly suspected, less noticeable - is a small adult noticeable like a tall Fvaarniimarn? Will the Eaters-All-Sucking - the translation on which she'd settled for "Devourers" - notice us?

Rmwtyliin mentioned none of this, as Romulus was present. She could easily imagine him ready to slaughter bug people, and it made her shudder. Instead she scribbled the gist of her thoughts, along with, 'Admit Sehll?' The more she thought about it, the more she thought that maybe Venla needed to know. It may disqualify me.

Romulus' continued attempts to pronounce her name continued to impress Rmwtyliin..."Thehnnk, Rahmmmih-ee-oolllahs. Ih-ee-oo trah-ee..." Even if some were rather grating. "I was always told that Rmw is, for outsiders, the trickiest part of my first name." Hopefully he'd take the hint and try an abbreviation which he could pronounce easily.

Although his consistent attempts earned Romulus some credit, even Venla the brand-new alien was trusted more. Females got the benefit of the doubt until proven too brash. Men had to prove that they would suppress violent urges - and Romulus, to the girl's knowledge, would not even try.

Presumptuous as it was, Rmwtyliin believed it wisest to personally nip Romulus' curiosity in the bud. To buy time, the princess prattled about recent weather...

Must be boring. Yet how to make something so scary and exciting seem uninteresting? Must be true - she desired neither to be given away by some forgotten detail nor to give Venla an unfavorable impression. Cannot continue stalling! Too obvious - If he finds out somehow, my intent cannot be obvious. I do not need an enemy! It then almost has to be relevant...It came to her. She almost laughed. "We were discussing my height."

And then Sully burst in. Red poop, red poop, red poop!!!! Romulus was certain to ask now. Furthermore, she rather doubted the new arrival's capacity for discretion, although his ability to prepare seemed more than adequate.