Tales of Aedrorynn {IC|CLOSED}

[Tracian Empire]

Arno von Einzbern

"You must be lying.. Austria-Hungary hasn't collapsed.. yet. Yes, the country is in turmoil, but the army is still loyal to the Kaiser. The Monarchy won't fall..and neither will the German Empire. The war is lost, but your Emperor is asking for an armistice..and Germany is still strong, even if they're the nation still fighting. I don't know what the Third Reich is, I don't know what Nazis or Bolsheviks are, and it can't be 1944.. nor can it be 2014.. unless.." The ashen haired soldier remained quiet for a few moments. "Different points in history? That can't be.. time travel doesn't exist. We're all imagining it, maybe it's a new type of gas made by the Americans.." He was just... so confused. So.. lost. At least while in a trench, he knew what was happening. He knew what he had to do. To attack the enemy in front of him, or to die trying. But this? This was just.. so weird. It was impossible..

"I don't believe you..", the boy said, desperately trying to remain calm. "But...I am Arno Michael August, Baron of Einzbern, even if that's, well.. my father's title. I'm a Corporal in the 106. Landsturm Infantry Division "Krakow", of the Imperial and Royal Army of Austria-Hungary, presently assigned on the Western Front under the command of the 5th Imperial German Army Group. We were defending our trenches in the Argonne sector, against the Americans. The front was collapsing, and the enemy had taken the first defensive line, so we were ordered to attack it, in order to buy some time for the Germans to withdraw. I was running towards the enemy trench, and then I was shot, and I fell in a crater.. and then I saw a bright light. And then eventually, I woke up here.. does that mean that.. I'm dead?.."

[Parcia]

Arno von Einzbern

"You must be lying.. Austria-Hungary hasn't collapsed.. yet. Yes, the country is in turmoil, but the army is still loyal to the Kaiser. The Monarchy won't fall..and neither will the German Empire. The war is lost, but your Emperor is asking for an armistice..and Germany is still strong, even if they're the nation still fighting. I don't know what the Third Reich is, I don't know what Nazis or Bolsheviks are, and it can't be 1944.. nor can it be 2014.. unless.." The ashen haired soldier remained quiet for a few moments. "Different points in history? That can't be.. time travel doesn't exist. We're all imagining it, maybe it's a new type of gas made by the Americans.." He was just... so confused. So.. lost. At least while in a trench, he knew what was happening. He knew what he had to do. To attack the enemy in front of him, or to die trying. But this? This was just.. so weird. It was impossible..

"I don't believe you..", the boy said, desperately trying to remain calm. "But...I am Arno Michael August, Baron of Einzbern, even if that's, well.. my father's title. I'm a Corporal in the 106. Landsturm Infantry Division "Krakow", of the Imperial and Royal Army of Austria-Hungary, presently assigned on the Western Front under the command of the 5th Imperial German Army Group. We were defending our trenches in the Argonne sector, against the Americans. The front was collapsing, and the enemy had taken the first defensive line, so we were ordered to attack it, in order to buy some time for the Germans to withdraw. I was running towards the enemy trench, and then I was shot, and I fell in a crater.. andthen I saw a bright light. And then eventually, I woke up here.. does that mean that.. I'm dead?.."

Sean Roe

He almost felt sorry for the kid. He knew what he was feeling, having felt the same thing after Ia Drang, at least some what. "Master sergeant Sean Roe, 1st regiment, 7th calvery, United States Army. Last I checked, I was deployed to central Vietnam in July of 1969, those of you from before the '60s would still call it French Indochina." He looked at the Austrian kid, a pang of sympathy going through his heart. "The empire of Austria Hungary collapses at the end of your war, what we call world war 1." He took a moment and thought of something. "But, by the 30s, Austria as a country becomes a country known for its art and culture, and recovers relatively quickly, unlike Germany did."

He looked at the Heer soldier. "Your war, what we call world war 2, ends in July of 1945. Berlin falls to the Soviets in August, a US-British army stops 60 klicks west of Berlin to watch the fire works. The US drops a pair of atom bombs on Japan, forcing them to surrender."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

"I'm capable of standing. I'm doing so right now am I not?" Shilo said and sighed, "How I ended up like this isn't your business. Thank you though for offering your help, but I'll be fine without it. Also, why would I want to stick around, you were obviously afraid of me. Heck, your god forsaken eyes told me that you've never seen nothing but darkness, and no matter what I said you wouldn't trust me. So the best decision was to leave you be."

---

Something Big
On the same beach as Gerhard, Arno, Kaltsa, Sean, Zende, Wander and Meira
Haefyn Peninsula

---

As they spoke to each other, figuring out the fact that they came from different times, something big started to wake. Under the sand of the beach they stood upon something began to stir. The ground beneath the group started to rumble before it began to raise a few feet away from them. After a few seconds it became visible, the creature that they had awoken. It was a giant crab, with eyes that seemed to piece the soul. The crab was easily large enough to stand the same height as the average human male, and wide enough for multiple peope to ride on. As soon as it finished shaking the sand of its shell, it locked on to the humans that awoke it and gave a shrieky roar.

[Tracian Empire]

"No.. that can't be.. I mean.. I know that the situation on the home front is bad. The blockade, the famine..all those Slavic traitors. But the Empire won't fall.. it can't fall. We all fought for it.. we protected it.. we stopped the Russians, the Serbians, the Italians, the Romanians..it won't fall now. We won't let it fall. And the war hasn't ended yet.. we can still stop the enemy..", Arno tried to say, even if he knew that he was lying to himself. He knew the truth.. all of them, back there in that muddy trench, knew it. It was all in vain. Everything they had done, it had been in vain.. "World War 2? You're lying. I know that you're lying. This is the War to End All Wars. The final war, the Great War. There will be no other.. I know that..."

And then, something began to stir under the sand of the beach, and the ground beneath them started to rumble...and as he felt a twinge of fear, Arno did the only logical thing that he could do, or at least, he reacted instinctively, like a soldier in a trench - he threw himself on the ground, dropping his rifle and putting his hands over his helmet, as if he was bracing himself for an artillery attack.. and that's when it appeared. A giant.. crab, with red eyes, bigger than a human being.. and as it roared, the gray eyed boy tried to stand up.. and this time, he managed to do it, despite his weariness and the bleeding wound in his arm - fear was making him stronger. Visibly quivering, he took his rifle from the ground, aiming it at the crab... "What is.. what is that.. thing?..", he tried to ask, slowly taking a few steps back.

[Hothnia]

Feldwebel Gerhard Sweinger

Gerhard nodded at the boy. " Ja ( Yes), it's true. The Austrian- Hungarian Empire falls empire falls. The German does as well. Germany goes through a severe economic depression for more than a decade before uniting and becoming strong again under the leadership of the Fuhrer. In 1939, Poland attacked a German radio station and started broadcasting anti-German propaganda. So we invaded them. Britain and France declared war. We invaded the Scandanavian nations. Next fell the Netherlands, Belgium, and finally France. We took the Balkans with the help of Romania, Bulgaria, and Italy. We fought in Africa, we invaded the Soviet Union, what you know as the Russian Empire. We fought for a United Europe, but alas the Soviets are pushing back, the Americans and British invaded Italy and now France." Gerhard turned to the American. " We lose by 1945? I can't believe it. The Reich is still strong. I can foresee we are going to lose but not that quickly." He sighed. " You have too many machines, too many men. Germany could never keep up. I suppose Germany will never exist again, the Allies shalln't allow it."

Just then, a rumbling was felt through the earth, out of the sand rose a large crab, larger than a normal man. Red piercing eyes looked over the group and it opened its large mouth to let out a sound, like a mix between a scream and a roar. Gerhard shouldered his rifle and pointed it directly between the eyes of the massive crab. " I'm not sure son but it does not look friendly. I say we shoot." Gerhard carefully drew his bayonet from inside his left boot and attached it on the end of his rifle. " Is anyone here unarmed?"

[Charlia]

Okay.

Now she was frustrated.

She reached inside her coat, drawing out one of her guns, and pointed it at the horse. "Get back down, or I kill it," she said flatly. I'm not wasting a bullet on something like this, but does he know that? Besides, a horse could be useful later. "You're the only savage here, 'Mongol'. If it came down to a real fight, you wouldn't last more than a minute against me, considering how dedicated you seem to be to your little fantasy. Now either you get back on the ground, or you lose your main method of transportation. And if I'm feeling particularly upset with you, I might even take down the bird, too. Make you watch. What else have you got, huh? Nothing. You're alone, and you don't stand a chance against someone with a gun. So if I were you, I'd obey, now."

Naranbaatar,
Great... A Witch...
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

For the love of-!... Naro thought for a moment, his anger and frustration rising above acceptable limits for the current situation. Of course, it makes sense, why wouldn't there be some sort of witch or lunatic on this beach? Why wouldn't the spirits want to just torture me in the... whatever this is. Slowly, Naro dismounted from Manan, giving the horse a smack to send it running off from the situation but not before grabbing his heavier bow quickly and letting it drop to the ground near him as if it had fallen off the horse. Then, he focused his glare on the golden witch and held up his hands, showing that he wasn't going to pull any weapons. "What do you want?" he growled, his eyes seemingly staring only at her but in fact were searching for any sort of distraction or opportunity to get away.

"I want explanations," she replied coldly. "I don't know what's going on here or why we're here or where 'here' is, but I plan to find out, and until I know that you're not somehow involved in this, you're coming with me, got that? Now come on, and stay in my view, I don't trust you out of my sight."

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

"I'm capable of standing. I'm doing so right now am I not?" Shilo said and sighed, "How I ended up like this isn't your business. Thank you though for offering your help, but I'll be fine without it. Also, why would I want to stick around, you were obviously afraid of me. Heck, your god forsaken eyes told me that you've never seen nothing but darkness, and no matter what I said you wouldn't trust me. So the best decision was to leave you be."

Her eyes widened.

"...You're kidding, right?" she asked flatly. "You didn't just say that. You didn't. You don't care about my feelings. You don't. None of you ever care. You might pretend to, but in the end you never do. Why are you saying... Why are you acting like..." She clutched at her head as if in pain, eyes darting back and forth wildly, continuing to mutter half to herself and barely even stopping to breathe. "And you're not even lying, are you? If you are then you're really good at it, but you don't seem like you're lying, you seem like you're telling the truth but you can't be, that's not possible, that's not how things work... Who are you?!"

Something Big
On the same beach as Gerhard, Arno, Kaltsa, Sean, Zende, Wander and Meira
Haefyn Peninsula

---

As they spoke to each other, figuring out the fact that they came from different times, something big started to wake. Under the sand of the beach they stood upon something began to stir. The ground beneath the group started to rumble before it began to raise a few feet away from them. After a few seconds it became visible, the creature that they had awoken. It was a giant crab, with eyes that seemed to piece the soul. The crab was easily large enough to stand the same height as the average human male, and wide enough for multiple people to ride on. As soon as it finished shaking the sand of its shell, it locked on to the humans that awoke it and gave a shrieky roar.

Meira had just joined the group when the crab appeared, causing her to drop her cigarette in shock.

Dang it... What happens if I run out?

The thought was rather irrational, all things considered, but her mind soon focused on the bigger problem, namely the giant crab.

She grinned.

"I have a knife, but that's kind of it," she offered to the German who'd asked if anyone was unarmed. "Not that I particularly care. I mean, of all the ways to die, this has to be"--not right, not right, this isn't how I'm supposed to die at all--"one of the most interesting, right?"

[Parcia]

Sean Roe

As soon as he felt the ground shake, the first thing that came to mind was an NVA tank, pt70 or some shit, but then he saw the beast rise up out of the sand and for once, he was at a loss for words. Then the kraut spoke. "Of course it's not fucking friendly!" Perhaps he jumped the gone a bit, perhaps this was a friendly ambassador to them from a race of sentient, pacifistic crab people. Then it roared, and he near shit him self.

"Fuck, cover me while i clear this piece of shit rifle!" He desperately tried to clear his gun, doing everything the little booklet had told him to do. Then he had an idea. sticking the but of the rifle in to the ground, planting it firmly in to the and, he set the heel of his boot on the charging handle, and praying he didn't fucking break his gun, pushed downward. He heard the screech of metal being dragged out of its place, and then the bolt handle went back with no resistance, the spent and deformed brass flying in to the dirt. Picking up the rifle, he brought it to bare, switched it to semi-auto, centered the head of the crap in his sights and fired.

[Kwadai]

Captain Paul Montgomery and Andronikos Arotras

As the Russian and the young girl spoke at nearly the same time, the Byzantine moved closer to converse with the former, while Paul continued speaking to the latter. Andronikos was not familiar with the "St. Petersburg" the man stated he was from, and though "Russian" sounded a little strange to him at first, he thought it familiar enough to the Latin name for the Kievan Rus that that was perhaps who the man was asking about. After the man who introduced himself as Kazimir Zhirov had finished speaking, Andronikos replied: "Yes, we too only recently awoke on this strange shore, and no, I am not of the Kievan Rus; I am from Constantinople, though before arriving here I was on campaign with our great Emperor Basil the Second in the Bulgarian Empire..."

Paul then overheard Andronikos mention that he was on campaign with Basil II, and after asking Anna to "Pardon me for a moment miss" he made his way towards the Byzantine and asked: "Excuse me Mr. Arotras, but did I just hear you say that you were on campaign with Basil the Second?"

"Yes, that's correct" Andronikos replied after turning back towards the cavalryman.

"But that's impossible, Basil the Second died centuries ago."

Andronikos chuckled for a moment, then shook his head and replied: "You are mistaken, I saw him with my own eyes in our camp not more than two days ago."

Paul looked at the Byzantine with a puzzled expression and pondered what he said for a moment. Was this man simply mad? If so, he was certainly making a good show of it, with armor and weapons that appeared quite accurate to the era.

"What is the year?" Paul then asked, hoping to possibly stump the man.

"Excuse me?"

"The year, what year is it?"

In a somewhat aggravated tone, the Byzantine replied: "It is the Year of Our Lord One-Thousand Fourteen, of course."

Unfortunately, the year checked out as well. "It was July the 3rd, 1863 when I arrived here." Looking towards the other two, he asked: "Could you two please inform this gentleman what the current year is?"

Kazimir Zhirov

Kazimir looked at Andronikus as he gave his equally lacking recollection of waking up on the seemingly lifeless beach. He then however opened his mouth to interject but stopped himself and simply took in what the other man continuing to talk about. When he finished the Russian couldn't help but comment on the ridiculous nature of his assertion. "Constantinople?", he chuckled. "Don't you mean Istanbul? The Ottoman city? What Bulgarian Empire? That land is also Ottoman", he explained and then nodded in agreement to Paul's statement about Basil II being dead for centuries. Why was nobody on the same page here? This was getting more and more bizarre by the minute. Obviously the Kievan Rus comment came as unusual too, that was also centuries ago. He continued to stare blankly at the two others as if they were sprouting additional limbs as they casually named dates, prompting Kazimir's mouth to open in o shape for a few seconds "What are you both talking about? Are you joking because it's 1793, December 4th 1793 if you want all the details", Kazimir responded confidently.

While waiting on a reply from one of his newfound companions, Kazimir tried to remind himself of anything that had happened before he woke up face half buried in sand. The only thing that came to mind was being at the ballet in the theatre before going down behind the building in heavy snow to where he had arranged to meet Sergey only to discover a blank spot in his memory and then arising like this.

[Brusia]

Captain Paul Montgomery and Andronikos Arotras

1014? 2017? 1793? For a moment, Paul started to rethink his initial "dead" assessment. Whatever was happening here was becoming more and more confusing every minute, and as Andronikos stood puzzled at the mention of "Istanbul" and "Ottomans" and Paul was becoming increasingly confused by the talk of "reenacting" something, it was clear that no one in the group would be able to clarify anything about their situation. After finishing his pondering, Paul looked to the group and stated: "I think, perhaps, it would be best if we all continued heading towards that farmhouse. To quote the Bard of Avon, 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark' and we are no closer to finding out what precisely that is by standing around here. With any luck though, one of the locals of...wherever it is we are, may be able to provide us with some answers."

Despite some additional confusion about the cavalryman's quote, the Byzantine scientist was only too eager to get some answers and replied: "I agree. The sooner we learn what is happening here, the better."

Looking at the other two, Paul continued: "Again, you two are certainly welcome to join us. The farmhouse shouldn't be too much farther now, but considering how little we know of this place, I think it would be safest to travel as a group."

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Naranbaatar,
Great... A Witch...
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

For the love of-!... Naro thought for a moment, his anger and frustration rising above acceptable limits for the current situation. Of course, it makes sense, why wouldn't there be some sort of witch or lunatic on this beach? Why wouldn't the spirits want to just torture me in the... whatever this is. Slowly, Naro dismounted from Manan, giving the horse a smack to send it running off from the situation but not before grabbing his heavier bow quickly and letting it drop to the ground near him as if it had fallen off the horse. Then, he focused his glare on the golden witch and held up his hands, showing that he wasn't going to pull any weapons. "What do you want?" he growled, his eyes seemingly staring only at her but in fact were searching for any sort of distraction or opportunity to get away.

"I want explanations," she replied coldly. "I don't know what's going on here or why we're here or where 'here' is, but I plan to find out, and until I know that you're not somehow involved in this, you're coming with me, got that? Now come on, and stay in my view, I don't trust you out of my sight."

Naranbaatar,
Great... Now I'm a Hostage,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Well, witch, you're not going to get any explanations from me. I'm in the exact same situation as you... except you don't have an aggressive sorceress behind you with some sort of... black wand." Naro said, glaring at her before shaking his head and walking over to the fallen bow, picking it up gently and making sure that the bow string was still unstrung and wrapped tightly around the main body of the bow. Then he turned back around and started walking toward the woman but was certainly coming nowhere near her at all. "Hurry up now. I assume we have a long way to walk before we find... anything." he explained, guessing from the fact that he couldn't see any smoke floating into the sky nor hear anything right now that civilization, if there was any, was a long way away.

[Kwadai]

Captain Paul Montgomery and Andronikos Arotras

1014? 2017? 1793? For a moment, Paul started to rethink his initial "dead" assessment. Whatever was happening here was becoming more and more confusing every minute, and as Andronikos stood puzzled at the mention of "Istanbul" and "Ottomans" and Paul was becoming increasingly confused by the talk of "reenacting" something, it was clear that no one in the group would be able to clarify anything about their situation. After finishing his pondering, Paul looked to the group and stated: "I think, perhaps, it would be best if we all continued heading towards that farmhouse. To quote the Bard of Avon, 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark' and we are no closer to finding out what precisely that is by standing around here. With any luck though, one of the locals of...wherever it is we are, may be able to provide us with some answers."

Despite some additional confusion about the cavalryman's quote, the Byzantine scientist was only too eager to get some answers and replied: "I agree. The sooner we learn what is happening here, the better."

Looking at the other two, Paul continued: "Again, you two are certainly welcome to join us. The farmhouse shouldn't be too much farther now, but considering how little we know of this place, I think it would be safest to travel as a group."

Kazimir Zhirov

Kazimir observed the reactions of the other two men after he added yet more useless numbers to the heap of things that were coming together in a way that was about as understandable as a jigsaw with each piece being from a different box. That considered he was more than relieved when Paul suggested they head in the direction of an illusive farmhouse he didn't realise existed until it was mentioned. Glancing at Andronikos and then back to Paul taking the girl in somewhere in between Kazimir nodded without hesitation at the invitation. "I will join you. I fear going alone in this place, as you put it, may not be the wisest decision", he replied. He was clueless as to what dangers lurked on this beach, or more worryingly beyond it.

"Besides you both seem...well equipped", he added acknowledging their weaponry and armour, in comparison with his comparatively lacking attire and rapier. "But I hope that won't be necessary", he quickly continued only to realise what he was just after doing. How could he fall into this so quickly? What if none of this were real? Having said that, it all seemed far too real for his liking. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss the grey clouds and snow", he mumbled barely audibly as he looked into the distance trying to spot the aforementioned farmhouse to no success. "We should probably move as soon as possible", he stated, looking to Anna to wait for her decision.

[Charlia]

"I want explanations," she replied coldly. "I don't know what's going on here or why we're here or where 'here' is, but I plan to find out, and until I know that you're not somehow involved in this, you're coming with me, got that? Now come on, and stay in my view, I don't trust you out of my sight."

Naranbaatar,
Great... Now I'm a Hostage,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Well, witch, you're not going to get any explanations from me. I'm in the exact same situation as you... except you don't have an aggressive sorceress behind you with some sort of... black wand." Naro said, glaring at her before shaking his head and walking over to the fallen bow, picking it up gently and making sure that the bow string was still unstrung and wrapped tightly around the main body of the bow. Then he turned back around and started walking toward the woman but was certainly coming nowhere near her at all. "Hurry up now. I assume we have a long way to walk before we find... anything." he explained, guessing from the fact that he couldn't see any smoke floating into the sky nor hear anything right now that civilization, if there was any, was a long way away.

"I'm sure there's someone around here somewhere," she replied coolly, and started walking. "You can stop calling me 'witch', by the way, since I'm not one, and start calling me Samantha. You can tell me your name if you'd like, or not. I don't particularly care either way. As long as you behave yourself, the details of your behavior are none of my concern."

But if you try anything, I'll put a bullet through your brain.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Naranbaatar,
Great... Now I'm a Hostage,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Well, witch, you're not going to get any explanations from me. I'm in the exact same situation as you... except you don't have an aggressive sorceress behind you with some sort of... black wand." Naro said, glaring at her before shaking his head and walking over to the fallen bow, picking it up gently and making sure that the bow string was still unstrung and wrapped tightly around the main body of the bow. Then he turned back around and started walking toward the woman but was certainly coming nowhere near her at all. "Hurry up now. I assume we have a long way to walk before we find... anything." he explained, guessing from the fact that he couldn't see any smoke floating into the sky nor hear anything right now that civilization, if there was any, was a long way away.

"I'm sure there's someone around here somewhere," she replied coolly, and started walking. "You can stop calling me 'witch', by the way, since I'm not one, and start calling me Samantha. You can tell me your name if you'd like, or not. I don't particularly care either way. As long as you behave yourself, the details of your behavior are none of my concern."

But if you try anything, I'll put a bullet through your brain.

Naranbaatar,
This is Hell, not a Beach,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Why would I tell a... a foreigner like yourself my name?" Naro muttered, before sighing and deciding that being difficult at this point in the situation was a complete mistake and that he should play the nice hostage. "My father named me Naranbaatar. You may call me Naro if I may call you... Sam?" Glancing quickly overheard but without using his neck to do so, Naro noticed that Xantel was still circling overhead protectively. Thankfully, due to his position in front of 'Samantha', there was no way she could have noticed the glance and therefore had no reason to look up toward the sky and see one of the three tricks Naro still held in his hand. All he needed now was an adequate distraction. Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other, progressing down the beach.

[Charlia]

"I'm sure there's someone around here somewhere," she replied coolly, and started walking. "You can stop calling me 'witch', by the way, since I'm not one, and start calling me Samantha. You can tell me your name if you'd like, or not. I don't particularly care either way. As long as you behave yourself, the details of your behavior are none of my concern."

But if you try anything, I'll put a bullet through your brain.

Naranbaatar,
This is Hell, not a Beach,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Why would I tell a... a foreigner like yourself my name?" Naro muttered, before sighing and deciding that being difficult at this point in the situation was a complete mistake and that he should play the nice hostage. "My father named me Naranbaatar. You may call me Naro if I may call you... Sam?" Glancing quickly overheard but without using his neck to do so, Naro noticed that Xantel was still circling overhead protectively. Thankfully, due to his position in front of 'Samantha', there was no way she could have noticed the glance and therefore had no reason to look up toward the sky and see one of the three tricks Naro still held in his hand. All he needed now was an adequate distraction. Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other, progressing down the beach.

"Hey, Sam! Whatcha doin'?"

Samantha would have completely frozen, had she been anyone else. Instead, her grip on the gun tightened, and she nodded stiffly. "That is... an acceptable arrangement," she replied coldly. "Please walk faster. The sooner we find someone who can tell us what's going on, the better."

It was transparently obvious that her 'please' was simply a formality, but at least she was doing that much, right?

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

"Shilo Weardhyll. Just a god forsaken good for nothing. That's who I am." Shilo said, "Not the kind of guy who kids around with his words. I don't kid when it comes to observing others. If all your going to do is question who I am and why I act as I do, then I have no need to stick around. I'd prefer to find some sort of civilization before noon."

---

Giant Crab Battle
Haefyn Peninsula

---

The bullets fired from Sean simply bounced off the crabs shell like they were nothing more than pebbles. However, it did cause the crab to focus its attention on Sean. It raised its larger claw and slammed it into the ground and dragged it through the sand, sending a large cloud of sand air born. Under the cover of the cloud the crab began moving positions, hidden by the cloud.

[Charlia]

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

"Shilo Weardhyll. Just a god forsaken good for nothing. That's who I am." Shilo said, "Not the kind of guy who kids around with his words. I don't kid when it comes to observing others. If all your going to do is question who I am and why I act as I do, then I have no need to stick around. I'd prefer to find some sort of civilization before noon."

"No!" she practically shouted, then flinched as if expecting some sort of retribution for her sudden outburst. "I... I'm sorry," she mumbled. "Just... Don't leave me alone. Please."

I don't want to be alone. Why can't you be like everyone else? I don't know what you want, how am I supposed to make sure you don't leave?

Oh, come on. Does it even matter? Everyone leaves eventually. They get tired and throw you away. He'll just leave faster.

I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be alone anymore.

"I... I'll do whatever you want," she offered, stumbling over her words as she tried to keep herself together. "So, please, take me with you..."

[Faal Lot Himdah]

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

Shilo just looked at her and sighed. She's being honest. No longer trying to hide what she is feeling. She's lonely at her core, so much that she's offering herself up just for the possibility of companionship. God... I guess I've been backed into a corner...

"Fine." He said and started walking, "You can come with me if you want."

[Charlia]

Shilo Weardhyll
Some Beach
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

---

Shilo just looked at her and sighed. She's being honest. No longer trying to hide what she is feeling. She's lonely at her core, so much that she's offering herself up just for the possibility of companionship. God... I guess I've been backed into a corner...

"Fine." He said and started walking, "You can come with me if you want."

She thought she might cry, really, just from the sheer relief of it. She hated being alone, hated it so much--being alone just meant thinking too hard about too much and memories crawling over her skin, can't get the feelings to go away can't make them stop no matter how hard she tries, and she wants to scream but she can't even bring herself to cry and it hurt.

"Thank you," she said breathlessly, and practically jumped to her feet, running to follow behind him. "Thank you so much. You... You won't regret it, I promise. I promise."

Eventually, she thought, he might turn out to be like the others after all. She'd survive. It wouldn't be so bad. It never was, not really. And since there was no other way that anyone would ever stay with her, would ever care at all, she'd gotten used to it.

It was better than the alternatives, anyway. Being alone forever, trapped in her own mind, or... worse.

She didn't think about that, though. She didn't. It only made her feel worse.

She wondered, briefly, what she would have to do in order to get this one--Shilo, she reminded herself, although she would probably just forget his name later, there were so many names and faces blurring together--to say something kind to her. She always felt a little bit better when they said good things about her. But they were always unpredictable at first, before she learned how they reacted to different things. Some dispensed kind words more freely. With others, it was almost impossible to get them to say anything positive.

She wondered what Shilo was like. So far he didn't seem very friendly... It might be harder with him. But she'd try her best, of course. It was better than being alone. Almost anything was better than being alone.

Almost.

"...M-my name's Charlotte," she continued quietly, fidgeting as she followed him. "If... If there's anything you need me to do, just let me know, okay? I'll do my best to be useful..."

[Tertuath Hath]

Kaltsa Auswa

All he could do was stand there, mouth open and body slightly leaning forward as the other strangers began to realize that the impossible had happened. They were all truly from separate points in time, though all from distant lands and remote futures. The wars they spoke of, with numbers impossible for him to comprehend, with names that made no sense in his mind.

What was a panzer? A Soviet Union? What is a Kaiser?"

As the questions all began to churn in his mind, his growing curiosity was curbed by a thought that pushed itself from the depths of despair and fear. As they began to tell each other how their wars ended, how many had suffered and died, Kaltsa finally found the courage to speak. Slipping his spearhead beneath his belt, he wiped what little sand was still on his clothes before starting:

"I am Kaltsa Auswa, from the lands surrounding the great oasis city of Kucha, whose land hugs the north of the great Taklamakan desert." He paused, his pride dying down as he remembered the dreaded year before his arrival in this land.

"We...we were just farmers, me and my father. We grew pomegranates and raised sheep before the Tang Dynasty decided that Kucha should submit. We were given spears and told to follow our king to battle. Last I remember, a lance was going to pierce my chest while my father bled unto the sands."

He paused again, the realization hitting him that while he lived, stranded in this strange place with even stranger people, that his father had been dead for centuries. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

"Do any of you, any of you, at least know what became of Kucha?"

As the words escaped his lips, the ground beneath them shook and heaved, a spray of coarse sand erupted into the air. From beneath the sands emerged a massive beast, eyes red as blood, with immense claws. It's bellow ripped through the air, making Kaltsa's ears ring slightly as he pulled the shard of his spear from beneath his belt.

Am I going to die?

[Hothnia]

Anna Del Favero

Anna's mind spun around in her head, trying to comprehend what was going on. " Wait, so you guys say you aren't from 2017? Did the US or Russian government build a time machine and bring you guys to the future? Oh," Anna looked over at Paul. " by the way, the Confederacy loses." She turned to the man in the armor. " You said you're from Bulgaria? Well, that's still around." Anna looked up at the sun, which was slowly moving across the sky. " Is it ok if I stay with you guys? I'm a little afraid of being alone. " Anna's faced turned red. " I'll go alone if you don't want me though." Anna turned towards Paul, her face lit up hopefully. "Can I?" The loud bang of guns firing echoed in the background. Anna cringed at the sound. " But if we're going to go, let's do it quickly. I don't want to be caught in that."

Feldwebel Gerhard Sweinger

Things quickly went from bad to worse. The foolhardy American had done something with his strange weapon before shooting a large sum of bullets at the beast, all of them bouncing off harmlessly. Now the creature was throughly mad. " Quit your shooting, yank! Doesn't your mind know that it's not going to work? Don't waste ammunition!" Gerhard drew his Luger service pistol and tossed it to the woman who had said she was unarmed. " You are no longer unarmed. Use it wisely." Gerhard turned his attention back on the crab, which had focused on the yank. Just then, the crab smashed its leg's into the ground, spraying up a large bunch of sand into the air, hiding the beast from view. Gerhard leveled his rifle and ran forward at what he thought was the middle of the cloud, his bayonet glistening menacingly. Just before he entered the sand cloud he yelled " For Deutschland's Gloria! ( Germany's glory) Deutschland Über Alles!" ( Germany above all else!")

[Castle Crashers]

Adriane was in an odd predicament, to say the least. One moment she was about to perform a top secret operation in taking out a particularly famous drug dealer for a few not-so-subtle competitors whom were going to pay her generously for the kill, the man's head nearly within her sights, the next...a flash of light, the sound of waves crashing against the sand, and all to find herself cheek-to-sand with a beach. Well, this is...unpleasant. She thought as she groggily sat up from where she had been lying, wiping the sand from her face and her side with a look of general disgust. Now, there was a big question at hand: how did she get from the window of a third-story building in the middle of the night to a sunny beach, somewhere near noon or so? Had she been drugged, knocked out? She didn't remember feeling anything...and the flash of light felt a bit misplaced. She couldn't have...died now, could she? She didn't remember hearing or seeing anything else...and that whole mischief about a paradise after death felt like a lot of hokey to her. Perhaps, maybe, somehow she'd fallen asleep and she was dreaming? If that was so...

...I wish to be surrounded by...cats. She thought, sitting silently for a moment as she observed her surroundings for approaching felines. After a moment...nothing happened. This must be real, then...odd...none of it makes sense... She thought as she finally stood, brushing off her legs as she picked up her rifle from the sand and dusted it off the best she could. She frowned as she looked around once more...she seemed to be alone. It felt surreal, like it wasn't right...and it was about then that she picked up what sounded like faint voices over the crashing waves...and one terrible, loud roar. A bit alarmed by the noise, she kept her rifle aimed low and began jogging down the beach towards the source of the noise, wondering what it was she'd find on the other side of the horizon.

It didn't take long to stumble upon the scene, one that looked like something straight out of some fantasy movie...and she began to really question her sanity for a moment. There were a group of around seven or so people in front of her, some taking shots at the gigantic crab, others simply wondering frantically what they should do...and she sighed. Well, I guess before I can figure out what the hell is going on, I have to help take care of this first. She thought, wasting no time lifting her rifle, taking in a breath as she settled her sights on the crab's eye after it swung for one of the boys. When she was certain she had the leftmost eye in her sights, she pulled the trigger, a loud pop filling the air as the bullet flew for the eye of the monster.

[Brusia]

Captain Paul Montgomery and Andronikos Arotras

Paul grinned and replied: "Very good, I do believe that is the safest course of action" when the Russian agreed to join them. That grin was soon replaced by a frown however, as his face began to turn pale and he looked down quietly at the ground for a few moments when the young woman stated that the Confederacy lost the war. He knew from the beginning that that was certainly a possibility, but after the numerous battles the Confederates had won up to now, he had started to believe they stood a good chance of winning the war. A million questions began to flood into his mind: Where did things go wrong? What happened to my Regiment? Will my family be alright? But as he pondered these questions, he wondered if perhaps Anna was wrong. He had no definitive proof she was from the future after all; perhaps she was simply being facetious, though he hardly found it funny...

While Paul was on the brink of a panic attack, Andronikos, a little offended at being mistaken for a Bulgarian, replied to the young woman: "No, I am from the great city of Constantinople; I was fighting against the wretched Bulgarians when I arriv..." The Byzantine was interrupted by the sound of the gunshots in the distance. "What is that ungodly noise?"

Fortunately, the familiar sound of gunfire served to wake Paul out of his daze and return him to the here and now. With danger now seemingly imminent, he knew these people would need his help and that his questions were going to have to wait until later. When Anna looked towards him and asked if she could stay with them, he grinned to try and comfort her, then replied: "You are most certainly welcome to accompany us." After both Anna and Kazimir recommended they get moving quickly, Paul nodded, then approached the side of Anna's horse and offered to help give the young woman a boost to get back onto her saddle. After she decided whether or not to accept the boost, he mounted his own trusty steed and, ever the officer, addressed the others:

"If there are no objections, I'll ride up front and lead the way. Mr. Zhirov, I would appreciate it if you would keep an eye out for enemies to our left; Miss Del Favero, I'd be grateful if you could do the same for our right; and Mr. Arotras, if you could please guard our rear..."

The Byzantine quickly nodded and got into the requested position, as the group began making their way through the unknown and towards their objective...

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Naranbaatar,
This is Hell, not a Beach,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Why would I tell a... a foreigner like yourself my name?" Naro muttered, before sighing and deciding that being difficult at this point in the situation was a complete mistake and that he should play the nice hostage. "My father named me Naranbaatar. You may call me Naro if I may call you... Sam?" Glancing quickly overheard but without using his neck to do so, Naro noticed that Xantel was still circling overhead protectively. Thankfully, due to his position in front of 'Samantha', there was no way she could have noticed the glance and therefore had no reason to look up toward the sky and see one of the three tricks Naro still held in his hand. All he needed now was an adequate distraction. Slowly, he put one foot in front of the other, progressing down the beach.

"Hey, Sam! Whatcha doin'?"

Samantha would have completely frozen, had she been anyone else. Instead, her grip on the gun tightened, and she nodded stiffly. "That is... an acceptable arrangement," she replied coldly. "Please walk faster. The sooner we find someone who can tell us what's going on, the better."

It was transparently obvious that her 'please' was simply a formality, but at least she was doing that much, right?

Naranbaatar,
That was... Strange,
Southern Haefyn Peninsula

"Faster isn't the key to travelling long distances." Naro said, immediately devolving into the speech he typically gave inexperienced soldiers when they got curious as to why the horde moved so slowly. "It's moving at a constant speed that you can keep up even through the entirety of the night and then some that's the trick. If you sprint or gallop to a destination, you will simply tire your house or yourself out before you reach there. Whereas if you simply walk at a comfortable pace, you could make past where you would have to stop for a break and possibly even make it to the destination."

Looking back at Sam for a moment, Naro decided that learning a bit about his enemy would be useful. He turned back toward the front for a bit and picked up his pace a little. "My father taught me that. Did your parents teach you anything that you remember to this day, Sam? Perhaps how to so efficiently threaten strangers that don't want to hurt you?" he asked, chuckling slightly as his nip at her.

[Hothnia]

Anna Del Favero


Anna did not accept Paul's boost. " Hey! I Can get up myself!" Anna put her left leg in Lucky's stirrup and swung her right leg over the horse's body, sitting comfortably in her saddle. She adjusted her sun hat and took up position in the confederates right. " Uh, I'm not really sure how Im going to guard the right, I'm kind of unarmed. " I'm sorry Turkish dude, I didn't know. Would you mind telling me your name? And by Constantinople do you mean Istanbul?"

[Granis]

Wander watched on as the members of the group with guns fought the crab, feeling useless. He wasn't really sure if he could do anything though. It wasn't like he had any particularly powerful weapons, after all, and the crabs shell was likely to be too thick for most attacks.

But damn it, someone was going to get hurt!

He was quickly proven correct in his assessment, as the crab began to chase Sean, raking its claw through the sand to hide itself in the cloud.

And that was when Wander decided he'd been waiting uselessly long enough.

He quickly dropped his backpack on the ground, pulled out a large hatchet, and sprinted across the sand to the other side of the cloud. When he got there, he closed his eyes and dove right in.

So, you think that just because I can't see you, I can't find you? Well guess again. I've fought humans who thought the same, and they all made the same mistake. Even if I can't see you, I can still HEAR you!

And then he leapt off the ground, sure from the thudding of the crabs legs in the sand that he'd found his mark. Sure enough, he landed on the crabs back, and while there was very little in the center to use as a hand hold, he was quickly able to scramble over to the side, using the edge of the shell to keep himself from sliding off.

"I really hope this works!" He shouted, eyes still closed.

And then he brought the hatchet above his head, before swinging it down into one of the scuttling legs, hoping to god that the joints would be weak enough for it to actually do something.