When They Die: A Roleplay RP (IC, Open)

[Plzen]

Sven "Ray" Jensen

She turned to the flirt. "You can come, if you're fast enough to keep up, that i-" Her thoughts were interrupted by an odd reading on her radar. Her head whipped around to focus on it, but it was too far away to get an accurate ID on what it is at this distance - not surprising, as it was humanoid and had no equipment.

In a second, though, she was in the air - and at a few hundred knots, she'd be at the reading's location in moments.

That is awesome and I want one.

Ray was so impressed by the girl... well, flying away, that he even forgot to be upset at missing out a chance of standing first watch together. Sure, girls were nice and all, but...

That is so very awesome and I want one.

Staring up into the sky long after the flying figure disappeared from view, Ray contemplated with a thoughtful look on his face. Rocket? Probably. If so, where would you store the propellant? How would the rider be able to control the thrust? And to fit everything in that size... an interesting problem, an interesting problem indeed. But what Ray wants, Ray gets.

Sooner or later. What was one more problem to mull over in a life full of problems? Besides, being able to fly would solve so many other problems he was dealing with at the moment...

---

Sigrid-Anna "Sammy" Jensen

With Ray off daydreaming again, the task of actually being bloody useful naturally fell to his unlucky sister.

At least Ray carries enough junk for me to make camp out of.

Claiming a spot near the cave entrance for themselves, she set up the tarp on the camera stand, affixing the other end to a ledge on the cave wall with a heavy-looking rock. It was a crude shelter, but shelter it was. Their warmth would not be bleeding into the night, unlike, perhaps, some of the other unfortunate souls that fortune has seen fit to drag along like it had them.

She kept ruffling through her brother's backpack, helping herself to choice items occasionally. Hey, if Ray felt like daydreaming and leaving his pack unguarded... wait, what's that?

"...Ray?"

No response.

"Ray!"

"Huh," the boy reluctantly responded. "Why?"

"Why do you have beer in your school backpack?"

[Talchyon]

East - A clearing by the Forest, some distance away
Haverd Haengsson

Even though the sun was shining high in the sky, Haverd's eyes were heavy. It had been a long day, as if two whole days had been crammed into one. Which, for Haverd, was actually the case. He had had two whole days of being up, and some strenuous movements before he had come here. And the sleep that the giant had had before when he had woken up at the portal with all the others, was not like real sleep. if anything, it was like staring off into space for a while, and then realizing that you were doing it and then getting back to other things.

As he lay down in the large clearing on the outside of the forest, Haverd could hear the sounds of the others building their camp. And he grew sad. "Story of me life," he thought glumly. "Never get to be with the others."

Growing up in Arinetha had been alright, seeing as how there were lots of places to explore. Haverd hadn't gone too far - not as far as the legendary golden Viking Hossar Engeldsson, whom Haverd had gotten to see once as a young child. Engeldsson had gone far and wide, sailing the oceans past where others dared not go. His legends were many, but they were as real as the scarred Viking warrior in golden armor who had come to that special feast years ago. No, Haverd had instead kept to the mainland - mostly. He had explored every mountain, every hill, every valley, and had even gone across raging whitewater streams to see what was beyond. And it was on some of these treks that Haverd had found - to his astonishment - weapons and armor his size. Something he had never seen or had before.

Life in Arinetha would have been great for Haverd, if exploring was all he had to do. Alas. There was also having to deal with people. Haverd had been excluded all his life. He was large in his early years. He stood out, at a time when no other child wanted to be near him. While the other Viking children were training in combat, hunting, sailing and raiding, Haverd was kept out. By that time, it was clear that Haverd was going to be huge. That meant, he could not fit inside any of the buildings - not for feasts, not for training, not for hearing the legends passed down from the elder clansmen, around the fires. When the others would go sailing to raid other clans, people looked up at him and scoffed. "You'll sink our boat, you oaf!" "Stay behind! We don't want you this time!" And with each word, Haverd's heart grew even more depressed.

Haverd would try to fit in. If he saw a bunch of the other Vikings talking about current events, Haverd tried to be friendly and hopefully say something funny. But kids can be cruel, and adults even more so. Some would be polite, and after speaking to Haverd once or twice, then they'd go back to ignoring him. Others weren't so polite. And their words were like sharp arrows that stung every time. To the women, Haverd tried to be charming. Most were either annoyed at him, or frightened. No one - not one but his dad! - had wanted to spend any time with the gigantic man with a sensitive soul.

Haverd's dad was normal sized, just as his mother. Strong enough to skin an ox, but understanding. And smart, too. His mom had died in childbirth, but his dad took care of him. The two would always talk, and Haverd thought the world of him. But then, the time came when Haverd's dad got really sick, and no one in the clan could help him get better. The only one in his life who had embraced Haverd for who he was - and not just a big oaf who was occasionally useful at feats of strength - had died. That was a dark day, as were the months afterward. How was Haverd to know what to do?

Several months after his father's body was set ablaze on a small raft and pushed out to sea, Haverd decided he was going to go exploring again. It kind of helped, getting his mind straight and not so overwhelmed in grief. But this time, Haverd would go wherever. He was used to sleeping outside, since the clan could not have built him a house his size. This time, Haverd would simply go to go. See the world. Maybe travel as far as Hossar Engeldsson. And for several weeks, Haverd had done just that. One morning, on the path to see what was there, Haverd saw a bright light shining, and floating near him. Curiosity got the best of him, and Haverd was sucked into another world.

It was a hot world, full of sand and magic. And like as here, people from other places were also drawn. None of them his size. They were brought there to fight a guardian... only, the guardian never showed up. They walked over the hot hills, only found a city full of midget children, and after a time, giant locusts! WIth several good rounds of thwacking them with the flat side of his axe and crunching their bodies under his boots, Haverd found himself here.

And now, his giant head was resting on the ground. Part of his tunic had been pulled up over his head to make it darker. And the rest of the people in his group were all together, all in a cave, with Happy and James and the others he didn't know yet. And Haverd was alone, by himself, not fitting in. Sad at the memories of where he had come, and sad that his situation in this new group of people was starting out like much of his life before in Arinetha, Haverd closed his tired eyes, and felt sorry for himself at his misfortune as he went to sleep.

[Xah]

Entropy

Haapsalu yawned. "Good, so, we are about to go to bed. While we have a gathering, does anyone have ghost stories or stories from their past? We are in a closed cave, if we are to sleep together, we might as well know each other. And a nice boring story might help to make us rest, yes?" He chuckled. "I'll go first if no one has anything to say."

Entropy leaned forwards, his visage no less ragged than before, his eyes sunken but bright.

"I can tell a story, a story of when the world was young and cities were new, when people were only just grasping the things we take for granted, like laws, money and writing," he smiled. "When a child was born, different to the others, who consumed his own mother in unthinking hunger, cast out of his tribe into the wilds, surviving only because some things are even too heinous for nature to deal with.

"Vengeance became his driving force. Vengeance against those who despised him. Who through understanding not the nature of the world, saw him as evil. Cities fell, armies died, deserts reclaimed them and they faded from history.

"But defeat came, as inevitable as it was deserved, for he became more obsessed with personal gain than revenge or justice. His foes learnt his weaknesses, used them against him and bound him in gold and amber, buried in the desert sands for all time.

"Nothing is forever, though, and he finally escaped, to a much changed world. Although things had changed, people have not and he still feels rejected and isolated."

He paused. "It's just a story though. To keep things interesting. Yes?"

[Rupudska]

In the Sky

The anomaly was temporarily abandoned, and the individual was pursued. Ruya's system notified her of a projectile, aimed in her general direction. It was a clear miss, and soon below her waved a country girl in freckles and overalls, grinning the largest smile one would think possible.

While the bullet aimed at her was a clear miss, Ruya put up an energy shield anyway - instinct more than anything, plus a display of what whatever was shooting at her was up against. Her rifle was following her eye almost as soon as the shield was away - she'd chastize herself for being so slow later - until she saw the girl below, and realized her clearly not-hostile intent.

Ruya's rifle went back over her shoulder as she landed a few meters away from the girl, so as not to knock her over from the exhaust.

"I suppose you have a reason for wanting my attention so badly, miss..?"

[Main Nation Ministry]

Center

The warrior heard the footsteps approaching and groggily opened her eyes. Upon noticing to whom the footsteps belonged, her adrenaline forced her awake. "Ah! Werai! Yerar!" She seemed startled, but she soon became half groggy, half alert, like a drunken stupor. She tried her best to snap out of her daze, but the day's happenings had taken their toll. "Hello, welcome, three, to the... new world. I am, Abigail, I am here to watch the portal." It would take her a bit to fully wake up, seeing as it was practically bedtime (even though the sun was high in the sky; she had slept face-down). She plopped on the ground in a two-knee kneel as she observed the characters before them. One was a sickly pale, while the other two seemed normal, at least, relative to the ensemble she'd previously encountered. "I'm sorry for the... the..." She began to fall back to sleep, partially thinking this was a dream, but desperately trying to keep herself awake.

Kyle Cameron
Celeste Irwin

Center

Kyle walked up to the sleeping woman, who Kyle thought appeared drunk. "Hey, wake up! Where the hell are we? Where's the Hub?" Kyle demanded, as she struggled to keep awake. "Portal? What portal?" Kyle said, where Celeste caught up with him. "What did she say?" Celeste asked. "Something about a portal? And the three of us?" Kyle wondered what she meant by three of us, until he looked back at the stone platform to see a man who looked like he had the same reaction as Kyle when he arrived. "Hey! Who are you!" Kyle yelled to the man, who doesn't realize is Victor Bates. Suddenly, Bates just...took off running. He darted to the west towards the mountains, away from Kyle and Celeste, as the two have no idea why he bolted.

"Who was he?" Celeste asked Kyle.
"Don't know, but something about him seemed vaguely familiar. So tell me more about yourself. Explain why the hell you're a vampire."
"I'm not a vampire! I'm a zombie. There is a big difference! So is it still 2017?"
"No, it's 2018. Are you from...Earth?"
"Yeah, of course I am! You think I'm some alien zombie?"
"No, not that! Look... If you arrived from 2017, I don't think you like what happened back in 2018. The whole planet appears to be currently in deep shit."
"What kind of...shit?"
"I think some sort of apocalypse was happening, then I got teleported to some space station, met some demon cowboy, then I got teleported again."

Celeste paused for a moment, then wondered about her home at Ohio. "You think people will survive?" Celeste said. "I..doubt it. People might survive, but possibly not for long. Look, let's get this woman woken up." Kyle said, turning back to the sleepy woman. "Listen up, wake up for once! Tell us where we are! And what portal are you talking about?"

[Pax Nerdvana]

East

Everyone had been situated. There was no urgent need for building the little village quite yet, so they could make it on the way back home. The giant wasn't present, but there was no danger. They would send for him in the morning; doubtless he wasn't too far off. Moss covered the floor of the cave in nice, plump mounds, each about Vrabriya's size, as per the dwarf's memory. Of course, he tended to exaggerate the height of humans, so they were nearly the dimensions of twin-size beds. Never doubt the ability of dwarves to harvest material.

The campfire was set, and those who decided to stay there for the night were all ready for bed. Haapsalu yawned. "Good, so, we are about to go to bed. While we have a gathering, does anyone have ghost stories or stories from their past? We are in a closed cave, if we are to sleep together, we might as well know each other. And a nice boring story might help to make us rest, yes?" He chuckled. "I'll go first if no one has anything to say."

James "Shrapnel" Dawson
James said,"You want ghost stories? I know some. There's this one my dad used to tell me, before he was killed by the avians, which was also when I became a cyborg. Anyway, the story goes, that during one of the early Martian rebellions centuries ago, a refugee ship called the New Hope blasted off Mars to flee the rebellion. According to legend, there was some sort of hyperdrive malfunction that them tumbling through hyperspace, appearing and disappearing throughout space. The legend goes that any ship who sights it is doomed. Just think about; a cursed ship tumbling through hyperspace, crewed by corpses. Is that ghosty enough for you, Happy?"

[Vulkata II]

East

Everyone had been situated. There was no urgent need for building the little village quite yet, so they could make it on the way back home. The giant wasn't present, but there was no danger. They would send for him in the morning; doubtless he wasn't too far off. Moss covered the floor of the cave in nice, plump mounds, each about Vrabriya's size, as per the dwarf's memory. Of course, he tended to exaggerate the height of humans, so they were nearly the dimensions of twin-size beds. Never doubt the ability of dwarves to harvest material.

The campfire was set, and those who decided to stay there for the night were all ready for bed. Haapsalu yawned. "Good, so, we are about to go to bed. While we have a gathering, does anyone have ghost stories or stories from their past? We are in a closed cave, if we are to sleep together, we might as well know each other. And a nice boring story might help to make us rest, yes?" He chuckled. "I'll go first if no one has anything to say."

Jack Horseshine

Jack sat near the campfire just as everyone else did, smirked at Happy's suggestion of ghost stories; though he wasn't the first to tell his own story being beaten by Entropy and James at first, both seem to have the same stories of death and being lost in the wilderness. Jack's wasn't far fetch as well.

Clasping his hands together he groaned before he squatted in a comfortable position.

"Right, guess it's my turn then.

"Any of you lads met a Jerry? They're nice now but ever since I was a lad of 16, back when during the second world war the Brits brought me along other folks of either Scot or fellow Irishmen no matter who they followed be it the crown or being a republic. Under the banner of the Royal Engineer corps and trained as Sappers we were putting up with machine gun fire with the yanks, the Frenchies, and whoever was on our side.

"Most days when walking in the French countryside we would see villages bombed all the way to hell, civilians and soldiers caught inside the gunfighting and buried either on the street or the buildings they used as shelters or whatever they did. Here and there we were tasked to pull some poor yanks out of their tank, some of them still burning and we had to put them out; only made the inside smell worse, sometimes their tank was flipped outside down."

Jack stopped for a second, recalling the memories of what was next in his mind. What he saw was evident in his face that it still disturbed him even after it was all over before he continued.

"But these weren't the worst. I didn't mind an empty baby carriage or the shoes of kids being stack in piles. What I did mind was Bergen-Belsen .

"Bergen-Belsen they called it, a concentration camp built by the Jerrys just as any other camp was, and it wasn't any different from any other camp we later knew but it was the first time I had to see, hear, and visit one. About 40 or maybe 60 thousand folks that stayed there were alive, barely, most of who I saw weren't people. Some of them were at the brink of death, skin hugging tight on their bones; others still looked normal but they sick anyhow either mentally or physically.

"They were better of than those lying outside just being food for the flies, tanned under the sun with no care in the world stack on top of each other. I couldn't even tell if they were dead or if they were still breathing somehow, some were already skeletons with some meat on them stuck like dinner stuck in your molars. Had the Jerrys who ran the place bury all of 'em too."

After his story he was then interested in the ground. Holding one of his hand Jack returned on repressing those memories he had.

[Zjaum]

East; The Cave

"Yes, beer! That might be a good thing to pass around, if you will be willing. I don't drink beer, but I am certain that many people here might need help going to sleep!"

Haapsalu listened to the people as they told their stories, mildly perturbed. He was taken with grief at most of them, far from the chilling thrill that he'd wanted to capture. The soldiers from his world told much scarier stories, ones that chilled his very bones. Shoot, the spookiest and/or gloomiest tale he could recall was about the goblin camp. Would've been sufficient for lulling folks to sleep, but... Oh, well, he'll tell it anyways.

"It was very black, and me and three more dwarves went into the goblins' kingdom. There were skulls everywhere, of all kinds of creatures: men, elves, dwarves, even their own kin. I approached the king, who had only a single eye and a staff made from the leg bone of a giant. We sat with each other, and we began to discuss... trade issues! See, the goblin king had been worried that the shipment of stone was three tons too small, but we countered that the system that we used to measure the stone had the correct height and width. The king insisted that the contract was made according to his measurement system. We stood against it by saying that..."


East: Havert's Location
Shapes from the north passed through the edge of the woods, in broad daylight yet still bearing an aura of night. Thousands upon thousands of them wandered, none of them making a sound, all moving in tandem. The direction of their travel seemed to point towards the cave, in which the party lay. First, though, they swept past Havert at the speed of walking. They were seemingly uninterested in the giant, and swept around him like a river current. The feel of these shapes produced a tickling sensation as they walked through him.


East: Ruya's Location

"I suppose you have a reason for wanting my attention so badly, miss..?" said the strange lady to the other strange lady.

"Nope, not really," stated the girl. "It's jest... ooh, Ah jest wanted to shoot ya so badly. I mean, thair's nothing out here that moves, ya know? Can't hunt, can't fight, can't even target practice, and then when a big target comes along you just gotta... ya know?" She bounded forward. "Name's Dinah. As in, someone's-in-the-kitchin'-with. Man, and you speak English, too? Must be mah birthday! Not that I keep count o' the days..." She pointed at the sky.

"Ah mean, there wuzz that Peter and that one guy and they lahked speakin' in Russkie, and then these two people start speakin' some gobble-de-gook that ah can't make heads o' tails outta; nearly drove me insane! Ennyways, came back to see what's the fuss, and I wanted to talk tah Happy 'bout somethin'. Who're you?"


West
The mountains of the west were perhaps a little humbler than their eastward brothers. Instead of white, snowy mountaintops, these hills were yellowed and fertile. If he wished, a man could establish for himself a small farm and live the rest of his days in relative peace and comfort. The mountains parted in such a way that one could barely make out a body of water in the distance.

The most interesting part, though, was the small stone structure, not unlike the portal through which Victor had just travelled. It was a ways away, but most certainly reachable. The water called out to weary travelers; here might be rest.


Center
"Listen up, wake up for once! Tell us where we are! And what portal are you talking about?"

She blinked her eyes to get a better view of her acquaintances. One looked like a corpse. She hadn't seen too many, but the girl's description fit all the ones she knew. She turned to the male... at least, the one still present. "For... for once? Have we meet before?" Vrabriya began to slowly return to waking. You are... in a new world, my name is Abigail." She didn't know quite enough English to explain their situation clearly. Sticking to the script has come back to haunt her. She tried substituting for a little improv. "I have a house, to the south. I have a friend who likes a... likes a..." She made a swinging motion like that of an axe. "He has a house, to the south. You and I go there?"

[Talchyon]

East: In the Clearing
Haverd Haengsson

East: Havert's Location
Shapes from the north passed through the edge of the woods, in broad daylight yet still bearing an aura of night. Thousands upon thousands of them wandered, none of them making a sound, all moving in tandem. The direction of their travel seemed to point towards the cave, in which the party lay. First, though, they swept past Havert at the speed of walking. They were seemingly uninterested in the giant, and swept around him like a river current. The feel of these shapes produced a tickling sensation as they walked through him.

Sleep had almost swept him over.. His drowsy eyes, covered up somewhat by his tunic pulled over his head, had been kept out of just enough of the sunlight to warrant in a nice, deep slumber.

And then, something tickled him. And again. And Haverd soon couldn't contain himself, but he was chuckling. And annoyed, at the same time. And the tickling feelings continued, until Haverd growled out (amidst laughs), "Cut it out!"

But to no avail. Whoever it was kept on doing it. So Haverd pulled down his tunic to the normal length, and adjusting his eyes to the bright light, was ready to demand that whoever was pulling this prank better knock it off... and he saw an unexpected sight. He startled, "Blimey!" at the strange sight of the small, almost darkly-glowing, (? - if that were possible), streaming ,glow-in-the-dark creature midget thingies. But not exactly. Haverd knew right away what they were.

"Spirits!" he said in shock. "Spirits! In the daylight?!" But looking down at the thousands of midget spirits that were wrapping around him, and some entering through him, Haverd got quickly to his feet. "Think, ya lummox!" Trying to crank his notoriously slow mind to action, Haverd tried to remember the words of the clan elders as to what to do with spirits. But they's were complex rituals involved with spirits, and materials Haverd was sure he didn't have. What to do with them?

Haverd thought, "Mebbe if I ask them politely..." And so he looked down at the spirits, and called out in a friendly, but polite, voice, "Yer honors. Midget spirits. Er... This is harder than I thought... I mean, uh, hey. Er."

And then, to himself, saying, "Haverd, ya oaf, yuh were never cut out to be a clan elder. Do somethin' else." And, finally noticing that the spirits were headed towards the cave, and to Happy an' the rest, the giant called out as loud as he could, "Happy! Er... This is Haverd. Yuh got some midget spirit-creatures headin' yer way!" Happy would know what they were, and maybe even the right rituals to know how to banish them...

[Rupudska]

"I suppose you have a reason for wanting my attention so badly, miss..?" said the strange lady to the other strange lady.

"Nope, not really," stated the girl. "It's jest... ooh, Ah jest wanted to shoot ya so badly. I mean, thair's nothing out here that moves, ya know? Can't hunt, can't fight, can't even target practice, and then when a big target comes along you just gotta... ya know?" She bounded forward. "Name's Dinah. As in, someone's-in-the-kitchin'-with. Man, and you speak English, too? Must be mah birthday! Not that I keep count o' the days..." She pointed at the sky.

"Ah mean, there wuzz that Peter and that one guy and they lahked speakin' in Russkie, and then these two people start speakin' some gobble-de-gook that ah can't make heads o' tails outta; nearly drove me insane! Ennyways, came back to see what's the fuss, and I wanted to talk tah Happy 'bout somethin'. Who're you?"

Russian? And with that accent... midwestern? Or just old? Ruya shrugged.

She climbed out. "Major Ruya el-Amin, United States of Liberion Air Force. I suppose you've been out here for a long time? You happen to remember what year it was when you got here?"

[Zjaum]

East: Main Camp

"So the goblins threatened to withhold their grain shipments if we didn't comply with the negotiations. We were both going to take it to the trolls, and the trolls always seemed partial to the goblins, but then-"

Happy cocked his head. There was a faint voice, but it was clear enough for him to recognize the speaker and translate its meaning. What the a-roo is he going on about? Midget-Spirit creatures or something. He hadn't seen anything so much as move outside of the warrior princess. There were a few times when he thought he saw images, but they always seemed to be mirages. "Okay, I will come up to see what the thing is!"

He arose from his bed and hiked up the side to the peak, just to get a good view. He had to squint a bit; it looked as if a fog had overtaken the forest... no, nope, definitely not a fog, oh golly, this was huge. "There is something big coming our way!" exclaimed the dwarf. "I really wish I had my axe!"


East: Ruya's Point

"Ah've been out here a lil' over a year. Place got cold and place got hot... startin' to become cold agin. When ah left... ooh... ya know, we didn't really kep track o' the tahme back then. Think it was sumthin' lahke 2017 or sumtin'." She leaned back. "So, you're some sorta plane thin'? Funniest darn plane I ever did saw. I don't recall seeing an airplane in the skahs since I wuzz... hm... this hah!" She horizontally waved her hand over a height that was only a few inches below her at best but that did seem to indicate a course of time, perhaps anywhere up to five years or so. Hey, you seen Happy ennywer?"

[Main Nation Ministry]

Kyle Cameron
Celeste Irwin

Center

"This woman is definitely drunk." Kyle remarked, as he saw what the woman was doing. Kyle heard the mentions of a house at the south, which he figured he can get there to attempt to learn more about this strange new world. "What did she say?" Celeste asked him, which he had his hand on his chin. "Chick here says she knows a house. I figure we can find some people there or probably a map to find some actual civilization." Kyle said to Celeste, where Kyle asked which way was south. "What are we going to do when we find civilization, though?" "Well, we were teleported here, right? I figure that we find a way to get back to Earth, figure out what the hell is going on, then we- Son of a bitch!" Kyle remembered something while he was in the Hub.

"What is it?"
"I just remembered! Maybe when we figure out how to teleport, I can teleport to the Hub and convince everyone to help fix our planet!"
"The Hub? What's that?"
"It's some giant space station that has literally the best technology that can help the whole planet. Everyone there is too busy fighting some race of aliens or something called the Ascendants. For all we know, if we got teleported here, then it's possible to get teleported somewhere else." Kyle said to Celeste, explaining his ideas to Celeste, as they both walked south to where Abigail pointed them.

Victor Bates

West

"When I get my hands on that kid, I make sure I crack his neck to make sure he suffers.." Victor thought, as he was walking now, due to being in a state of lethargy. Bates wanted to get revenge on the world and whatever hell he was send to, thanks to some Hindu reincarnation bullshit he became a victim to. However, it appears that he was finally alone. Solitude to himself, so he can start planning. There didn't seem to be any animals here, so he can nap near the river. It was the stone structure that was the point of interest, which Bates wanted to examine closer. If there was anything he can use as a weapon, he will use it. He didn't care of heading home, he wanted to get his revenge, no matter what.

[Pax Nerdvana]

James "Shrapnel" Dawson
James Dawson saw Happy get up. He decided to follow, just to see what was up. He grabbed his duffels, and stood up. He came up behind Happy just in time to hear somebody saying something about needing an axe. James said,"What's the problem? What are we dealing with here?" He placed his right hand on the grip of his holstered handgun, ready for an attack.

[Vulkata II]

East: Main Camp

"So the goblins threatened to withhold their grain shipments if we didn't comply with the negotiations. We were both going to take it to the trolls, and the trolls always seemed partial to the goblins, but then-"

Happy cocked his head. There was a faint voice, but it was clear enough for him to recognize the speaker and translate its meaning. What the a-roo is he going on about? Midget-Spirit creatures or something. He hadn't seen anything so much as move outside of the warrior princess. There were a few times when he thought he saw images, but they always seemed to be mirages. "Okay, I will come up to see what the thing is!"

He arose from his bed and hiked up the side to the peak, just to get a good view. He had to squint a bit; it looked as if a fog had overtaken the forest... no, nope, definitely not a fog, oh golly, this was huge. "There is something big coming our way!" exclaimed the dwarf. "I really wish I had my axe!"

Jack Horseshine
Jack almost lost consciousness hearing Happy's story midway, taxes and accounting wasn't what he called undesirable horror that would keep you late at night, those were what his memories were for. Not caring if there was a rock on his way that could crack his skull wide open he shifted his weight anywhere and fell on the soft grass.

Before consciousness was knocked out Happy's alertness woke him up, rubbing his eyes Jack tried to understand what Happy was saying but all he got was 'big coming our way.' Half awake Jack tried to stand up but stumbled like a sober man as he did so, grabbing his Bessy he looked down about the dwarf.

"Everything big is afraid of something bigger." He stated as he started the welder itself, ready to melt the electrode if necessary, "Maybe if we set the forest ablaze they'll be too scared to come near us?"

Then, a smarter idea came into his mind. Looking around their camp Jack noticed there were a few of them missing.

"Hey has anyone seen that giant fella around? Maybe he could scare them off."

[Zjaum]

East

"What's the problem? What are we dealing with here?"

The dwarf pointed at the edge of (his) horizon (to Jack, about half a mile away), where what seemed to be a shoulder-height fog seemed to roll across the bright day. The fog gave the eerie reminiscence of an army, to the point where one might see sections of fog and identify them as individual beings. Haapsalu was mildly concerned but ultimately more curious than anything. "I... I do not know. I do not see this thing before. It feels old, but it is the newest thing I know." He attempted to feel if there were any arcane powers from within the horde. "Whatever it is, the creatures themselves do not have magic. None that I have seen, anyways."

"Hey has anyone seen that giant fella around? Maybe he could scare them off."

"That was the giant fella who called to us!" Haapsalu called back down the hole of the cavern. "I think he is all right, but I do not know!"

The army approached at walking pace, but the party had no means to escape it, not when they at best moved at the same pace. It was an army of thousands at least, and they soon approached the cave. Their appearance dimmed the entrance to the cave, making the lighting considerably easier for sleep, all things considered. They stopped mere feet in front of Jack and Haapsalu, surrounding the entrance and pausing for a mere moment. Small chunks of the cloud, perhaps ten or twelve in total, moved into the cave and passed through the nearly-slumbered travelers.


West

If Victor wanted his weapons, there were plenty of objects around that could be used for crude weapons at the foot of the portal. Hand-sized logs, and wieldable stones, and all manner of natural items that humans have used to kill for millennia. Most appropriately, perhaps, was a clearly-manmade human spike, driven into the ground and decorated with a flag at its handle. The flag was merely a small piece of cloth, probably taken from some article of clothing, but it was a seemingly-sturdy, and an effective stabbing tool. A small symbol, a couple horizontal and one diagonal lines crossing a vertical line, adorned the cloth. This didn't seem natural; someone was here before, and had probably crossed through the portal.


South

Abigail tried leading the group, but she usually only stayed with the duo or even fell behind. The meadow stretched south for far longer than it did towards other directions, and the walk was several hours before the house was even in sight. Rather than the sprawling civilization Kyle had hoped for, there were only two log cabins, a mile or two apart from each other. One rose about a meter off the ground but was both complex and large in terms of area. The second was two meters but relatively simple-looking, like a stereotype of the building structure. Vrabriya headed to the latter of these. "I... am sorry, I must sleep. There is food here, if you wish." Which was true; there was an assortment of vegan options: bread, wild fruits and vegetables, and an assortment of other things.

The only sign of sapient life for miles around, though, seemed to be a lone, seemingly formless shape even further to the south. It could easily have been a mirage, or a figment of Kyle's imagination, but there was also the faint glimpse of a skyline behind her.

[Pax Nerdvana]

James "Shrapnel" Dawson
James said,"Slag, that fog doesn't look good. It looks like there's some sort of army in there. What should we do? Got any plans, Happy?" He reached behind into his one duffel, and drew his blaster, just in case they were to come under attack, even though he hoped they wouldn't. He stared into the depths of the fog, waiting for something to happen.

[Talchyon]

East: A clearing
Haverd Haengson

The midget spirit creatures were a funny sort. Other than tickling the giant who was trying to sleep, they marched off - if you could call it marching - towards the cave. After yelling, the tired giant who had now been roused looked at the now deserted clearing where he himself was left. And he tried to sort out his options.

"Blimey, but those midget spirits didn't even really have legs, now that I thinka it. Do midget spirits need legs? Argh. Haverd, think. What would Dad do? Would he stand here like a lazy person and try tuh figger out if midget spirits have legs? No! What would he'd do? I don't know that Dad was an expert on spirits. But he would help 'is friends. And when 'is friends needed 'im, he'd go out and be with 'em."

With a sigh, rubbing his tired eyes, the giant wandered back into the forest towards the cave. He could tell he was going the right way when he saw the spirits - that now resembled a fog, only with a few shapes to them. Likewise, hearing the words of James, Happy and Jack, he knew he was going where he needed to be.

The standoff between the midget spirit fog army and Haverd's companions was a sight that baffled the giant. He walked closer, until he was standing in their midst. And if he accidentally squished one of the midget spirits under his giant boots, well, he wasn't trying to, anyway. But standing there in their foggy midst, he gave a kind of friendly salute to Happy and said to everyone there, "Er. Yeah, so, I was just there almost sleepin', an' within a wink, these midget spirits were surroundin' me and like goin' the short way through my skin and all. Don't know what they're about. Was hopin' Happy knew what to do. Er. I'm kind of a baffled meself."

[Rupudska]

East: Ruya's Point

"Ah've been out here a lil' over a year. Place got cold and place got hot... startin' to become cold agin. When ah left... ooh... ya know, we didn't really kep track o' the tahme back then. Think it was sumthin' lahke 2017 or sumtin'." She leaned back. "So, you're some sorta plane thin'? Funniest darn plane I ever did saw. I don't recall seeing an airplane in the skahs since I wuzz... hm... this hah!" She horizontally waved her hand over a height that was only a few inches below her at best but that did seem to indicate a course of time, perhaps anywhere up to five years or so. Hey, you seen Happy ennywer?"

Ruya shook her head. "Nah, they're just Striker Units. Run on aether naturally produced by all life, but only Witches like myself produce enough to use them to their full capacity."

She shrugged. "Pretty common in my world, and I'm guessin' that it isn't in yours. And no, haven't seen Happy since I left the camp."

[Zjaum]

"Slag, that fog doesn't look good. It looks like there's some sort of army in there. What should we do? Got any plans, Happy?"

East: The Camp

Haapsalu shrugged. "It does not look like any sword or axe can defeat them, and I have never seen them. Your guess is as good as mine."

The foggy shapes moved out of the way of Haverd's footstep except for one poor soul. Upon crushing, the shape lost its form, vanishing like smoke and dust into the landscape. Not that anyone noticed, but the dust faded into the ground, and the smoke lifted to the sun, and soon neither could be seen again.

At this new development a hundred figures flooded into the cave, descending the steps and sometimes jumping down onto the cavern floor. There was a frenzy inside, like cobwebs brushing up against the heroes, none really doing any damage other than discomfort or slight annoyance, but throwing the sight of most of the crew into a hasty confusion. The rest swayed back and forth, maintaining the perimeter that they had made, but no longer as clear as they once seemed.


East: Ruya's Location

Dinah cocked her head. "That's funnee. Happy's always down thair withis fancy house and all. Reckon he's not gonna be long in the camp, but never you mind that." She stamped her foot. "Whale, shoot. Gess ah can always come back when he's not busy." Her eyes sparkled. "I saw sumthin' spectakuhler! It's... It's..." She paused and had a mischievous grin. "It's gonna be a suhprize! I been itching to share it with some-un, and ah was so cot up in sharing it ah dinit stop to realize there wuz uther peepl tah share it with! She went to the back of Ruya's Striker Units and mounted them. "Wouldja be willing to take me there? Been a couple days walkin', and ah Reckon with this birdie ah can get there in a few seconds!" She wasn't exactly the brightest of individuals, nor the most risk-averse.

[Main Nation Ministry]

Victor Bates

West

Bates walked up to the flag and examined the symbol. Was it from them? Victor wondered, as he checked to see if it was the same flag from the nation where he had been. It wasn't the same flag, but it could imply he was still in whatever world he was previously in. Nevertheless, this looked like a decent weapon for Bates to have in the meantime. Crouching down to grip the bottom of it, he struggled to pull on it a bit, due to being firmly planted in the ground, until he managed to get it loose. Pulling it out from the ground, Bates held it like a spear to make sure it was possible to use as a weapon. There didn't seem to be anyone else here who could have planted the flag. There wasn't any evidence to make it seem that a whole dozen of people were passing by, so Bates theorized that one person could have walked by here.

With the flag spear in hand, Victor went over to the body of water in the distance. He could use a drink of water anyways. He bent down to use his hands to cup the water in, so he can drink it. It wasn't the typical fluoride purified stuff, but it will do for now. The stone structure was still in the distance, but Victor figured that after he rested for a hour (along with attempting to do a quick piss near some bushes), he could continue his journey to the structure.

Kyle Cameron
Celeste Irwin

South

Kyle and Celeste were walking south, until they realized Abigail was following them. Kyle briefly looked behind me to see the woman following them. "That drunk lady is following us." Kyle remarked as they saw two log cabins in front of them. "At least, this place looks inhabited." Celeste said, as Abigail managed to catch up with them. "I'm going to check what she has for food. She probably has some ground meat or something I can nibble on." Celeste said to Kyle, as she followed Abigail in her house. Kyle was about to say more, until he saw something in the distance. Was that a mirage? Part of his imagination? It's.. A skyline. "Celeste! After you done, come back outside! I think we're back on Earth! I see something that looks like a city!" Kyle yelled for Celeste, as he saw the skyline.

After Celeste exited the house with some bread for Kyle, since she decided to make herself a bit of a salad to eat from the vegan stuff Abigail had. "Is that an actual city?" Celeste asked.
"It has to be. We might have been transported back to Earth. If so, then we can probably figure out where the hell we are on Earth, then we can take a taxi back home."
"If we're on Earth, what city are we near? You think we're at Canada?" Celeste guessed, due to the log cabins near them.
"I don't know, we can figure it out, as we go." Kyle said, walking over to the other log cabin. "I'm going to see if someone is in here. I'm going to convince them to call a cab or something." Kyle said, knocking on the door of the other log cabin.

[Vulkata II]

"
East: The Camp

Haapsalu shrugged. "It does not look like any sword or axe can defeat them, and I have never seen them. Your guess is as good as mine."

The foggy shapes moved out of the way of Haverd's footstep except for one poor soul. Upon crushing, the shape lost its form, vanishing like smoke and dust into the landscape. Not that anyone noticed, but the dust faded into the ground, and the smoke lifted to the sun, and soon neither could be seen again.

At this new development a hundred figures flooded into the cave, descending the steps and sometimes jumping down onto the cavern floor. There was a frenzy inside, like cobwebs brushing up against the heroes, none really doing any damage other than discomfort or slight annoyance, but throwing the sight of most of the crew into a hasty confusion. The rest swayed back and forth, maintaining the perimeter that they had made, but no longer as clear as they once seemed.

Jack Horseshine

Backing away from the hordes of newcomers that didn't look friendly and disturbing a cobweb every now and then Jack held dearly unto his toolbox and arc welder, grinding his teeth together with his eyes darting back and forth trying to look for an alternative route or an escape path to where they could escape it didn't look like it was possible. Being the nearest one to Happy and one of the folks that were in front of the army that didn't look nice(or looked anything at all.)

Opening his toolbox he found some bobby pins, a few tools, electrodes, and that was it. Though it wasn't in his character to be nice to somebody Happy still was his boss and did promise to pay him.

"Well Happy looks like you can still die even after dying I think." Jack said to him, darting his head to the little man and the army that was in front of all of them, "Unless we got some sort of heavy machine gun or anything that kills with prejudice this is the end of all of us if my time as a sapper ever taught me anything.

"Just a damn shame we didn't get paid with that gold you promise."

[Zjaum]

East

Haapsalu paused. At such a time as this, he was thinking about gold?... Well, in earnest, that's probably what he would have thought about a few years ago, and probably would think if he didn't suddenly have a score of new friends. "We have been halfway to the gold, sir! We get gold soon enough, do not worry!" His sincerity was mixed; he couldn't comprehend death, even from circumstances such as this. That said, his assurance was partly a placebo; the morale of an army decides an entire war, depending on the circumstances. "Besides, if Havert crosses, I'm sure that-"

A thought occurred to him. Havert was able to pass through the masses. He didn't seem like he would be more or less help than everyone else, and he would be better used as a liaison. He'd move a little faster than anyone, and, as... intellectually challenged as he might be, he can at least carry a message. If any more newcomers came through the portal, or if Vrabriya was able to fetch any more of the crew, perhaps that might make a difference in the siege. Sure, it'd be a couple dozen instead of a dozen as opposed to a thousand, but it would certainly help alleviate their troubles. Worst comes to worst, Haverd can make it out alive to keep their legacy intact.

"Haverd!" Haapsalu shouted up at the giant. "I need you to go get Vrabriya. I do not think she is likely at the portal anymore. She would be..." Haapsalu adjusted his position to get a better view. He pointed in a direction to the southwest. "That way. Keep walking in that direction, and you should find it. Two wood houses. You shouldn't miss it. Tell Vrabriya that we are in this cave. Also, I would really appreciate my axe."


South

There was no lock on the door, and in fact the knocking was enough to push it open. There were only a sparingly few windows, next to what looked like a fireplace that seemed to double as a kitchen, next to a living room, and a couple other key places. The walls were adorned with stark, crude symbols. They might be considered art, or at the very least reminders of what was the owner's home. The floor as a foot below ground, with ditches that could direct any rain water back into the fields. In the back were stairs leading towards what could only be another section of the house, this part probably dug into the ground.

Abigail had followed the duo shortly after they left. She desperately wanted sleep, but she wanted to remember in case she forgot. She approached the zombie and human and began speaking in the best English she could: "Hello! This is the house of Happy. I need his... delai... axe! I need his axe." She approached what seemed to be a makeshift chair in the living room. Resting on its side were a greataxe and two tomahawks. She fetched them and returned to the entrance. "I will... uh... I will..." She put her hands together and held them against her cheek. That was the universal symbol of sleep, yes? With that, she bowed and returned back to her house. She would at least have a few hours' rest; that's all she needed to continue.

[Talchyon]

East, by the cave
Haverd Haengsson

Haverd gulped as soon as his giant, heavy foot came down on the midget spirit that was now trying to resemble thick fog. Squishing the midget spirit wasn't what he had been trying to do. It just kind of happened. "Oops." The giant said. Looking down at the frenzy of activity after he had accidentally stepped on the lone spirit, Haverd called, "Er. Sorry. Wasn't tryin' to do that." Something told him that these words were probably wasted, seeing as how they probably didn't speak the same language. If they spoke at all, that is.

East

Haapsalu paused. At such a time as this, he was thinking about gold?... Well, in earnest, that's probably what he would have thought about a few years ago, and probably would think if he didn't suddenly have a score of new friends. "We have been halfway to the gold, sir! We get gold soon enough, do not worry!" His sincerity was mixed; he couldn't comprehend death, even from circumstances such as this. That said, his assurance was partly a placebo; the morale of an army decides an entire war, depending on the circumstances. "Besides, if Havert crosses, I'm sure that-"

A thought occurred to him. Havert was able to pass through the masses. He didn't seem like he would be more or less help than everyone else, and he would be better used as a liaison. He'd move a little faster than anyone, and, as... intellectually challenged as he might be, he can at least carry a message. If any more newcomers came through the portal, or if Vrabriya was able to fetch any more of the crew, perhaps that might make a difference in the siege. Sure, it'd be a couple dozen instead of a dozen as opposed to a thousand, but it would certainly help alleviate their troubles. Worst comes to worst, Haverd can make it out alive to keep their legacy intact.

"Haverd!" Haapsalu shouted up at the giant. "I need you to go get Vrabriya. I do not think she is likely at the portal anymore. She would be..." Haapsalu adjusted his position to get a better view. He pointed in a direction to the southwest. "That way. Keep walking in that direction, and you should find it. Two wood houses. You shouldn't miss it. Tell Vrabriya that we are in this cave. Also, I would really appreciate my axe."

Haverd was more than thankful to be sent away from the midget spirit army. No doubt, squishing the one had led the rest to get upset, even though it was an accident. With a fist, the Viking giant patted his heart, in a clumsy kind of salute to Happy. Then, he took off in the direction Happy had pointed.

On the way, Haverd crossed hills and dales, puddle-areas like the ones he had passed earlier, and lots of interesting but barren scenery. Some of it was downright pretty! Others, well, what he was seeing wasn't always the most interesting sights. But as he went, Haverd repeated the message in his head several times to make sure he didn't forget it.

"Find the Fur-babe, Abigail. Tell her 'bout Happy an' the cave an' all. And get Happy's axe." There was something else Happy had said. But it kind of slipped Haverd's mind. He kept going, until he could see the two tiny wood houses Happy had mentioned. And on the horizon, what looked like a larger city. Haverd felt glad they weren't going to the city just yet. He always felt a little self-conscious when he was around large groups of people. Besides struggling to think of things to say that wouldn't embarrass himself, Haverd often found himself either picked on or ignored. "Best to stay in the countryside and roam," he thought.

Finally he had come to the house, a sturdy looking tiny shelter if there ever was. Next to another one pretty much like it. Not knowing whether Abigail was here or not, Haverd got down on his hands and knees and tried to peek in through the empty door of the first house. Nothing. "Hmm," the giant muttered to himself. So he scooted over and peered in through the open doorway of the other house. And sure enough! There was the Fur Babe, Abigail; along with a few others Haverd didn't recognize.

"Fur-Babe-ya! Er, or Abigail if yuh perfer! And you other two folks I don't know just as of yet. So, Happy sent me. He said they're in a cave, um, that way." Haverd, still on his hands and knees, pointed back the way he had come before putting his hand back on the ground. "And... er... Happy wanted me to find you. And he'd like his axe. And... what was it? Other people should come too and join us? I think that's what he said. But, it's kinda important, 'cause of a whole bunch'a midget spirits that we found that are kinda upset 'cause I squished one of 'em. Er. Right, I think that's all."

To the other two, Haverd looked at them - a man and a woman, both wearing strange clothes. He then remembered his manners. "Sorry 'bout that. Hadn't interduced meself. Me name's Haverd. Haverd Haengsson. Pleased ta meetcha."

[Frisct the II]

At the Portal
Gwinn
What is this warmth? What happened to the cold stillness of that frozen reality?

Confusion clouded Gwinn's mind as he opened his eyes to see a wide expanse of green. He could no longer see any of his classmates or Holy High. Was this some elaborate illusion procured by one of the more mischievous gods that inhabited the building? It couldn't be. Everything was too real and without flaw. It seems as though I am no longer near where I was, and maybe not even in the same universe.

Having no perception abilities, Gwinn did not have the slightest clue about where he should go. He formed void light platforms underneath his feet and ascended into the crisp, cool air. He saw many things from his new height: a large group of shapes moving to the East, mountains to the North, and what looked to be two houses before a city in the South. The most interesting direction of the three was East, but Gwinn figured that he could find out more about the world in which he now resided if he went South instead. Having decided to proceed South, he accelerated the platforms underneath his feet until he was proceeding exceedingly quickly towards the two houses and the city.

South
Something near the two houses caught Gwinn's attention as he neared them. It looked to be a large person. How interesting. I never would have guessed I would sooner see a giant in this realm rather than the one of gods I came from. At this point, Gwinn realized that he had not had much practice with landing at the speeds he was traveling at and began to panic slightly. Uhhhhh. Well I certainly can't crash into the houses or the person. That would be quite rude. He averted his course and crashed a short distance from the house. The impact caused a dull thud to echo around and a large amount of dust to rise. Gwinn got up from the ground coughing, hoping that he hadn't made too much of a disturbance. He looked around and saw the two houses and, not sure whether or not to approach the location, stayed where he was and kind of observed the large person speaking through a comparatively small door. He seemed to be talking someone.

[Zjaum]

"Fur-Babe-ya! Er, or Abigail if yuh perfer! And you other two folks I don't know just as of yet. So, Happy sent me. He said they're in a cave, um, that way." Haverd, still on his hands and knees, pointed back the way he had come before putting his hand back on the ground. "And... er... Happy wanted me to find you. And he'd like his axe. And... what was it? Other people should come too and join us? I think that's what he said. But, it's kinda important, 'cause of a whole bunch'a midget spirits that we found that are kinda upset 'cause I squished one of 'em. Er. Right, I think that's all."

South

Vrabriya had gone off to sleep at her house. She got a few hours' rest, which was all she needed before she could continue. She noticed the giant walking down the area from a distance and walked out to meet him. She was tired, to be sure, but not tired enough to cease functioning. The giant's words were understandable, but their conveyance lacked any strong sense of urgency. There were a number of words that she didn't know, most notably "midget spirits." Regardless, these were the same orders that Haapsalu had given her prior. Perhaps he was impatient. Haapsalu tended to get exaggerated or braggadocious from time to time.

She nodded at the giant, waving her arm at him in case he didn't get the message. "I go to have axes!" She shouted upwards.

She turned around just as the ground was impacted by... something, she didn't see well enough to notice. Dust blew through the air, and she waved her hands in an attempt to clear her vision and nostrils. "Hello! Welcome! I am Abigail! You are in new world!" She made a quick bow and, unsure of what to say next, both in concept and in English, awkwardly headed towards her house.

She was stopped again by another impact, this time coming from the makings of a city to her south. Smoke, chaos. The ground itself seemed to move, as large blocks of stone began lifting from the streets, forming walls and spheres.

Abigail paused. "This... this is not... new. I not see this before." She paused. Not just the happenings in the city to the south; the entire city was a phenomenon. She looked down at her feet, her eyes contemplating thought. She wasn't necessarily specialized in axes, but she knew how to use them. Haapsalu didn't seem like he'd need her or his axes for a while; he could wait a tad longer. This... this looked like a crisis. "Hello! Big human! Small human! Two humans! Come if want!" She returned to her home, fetched the tomahawks and great axe she'd stowed for safekeeping, and hurried out the door. "I don't know this!" she shouted as she pointed to the commotion. She began a jog. Whatever it was, she may already be too late. This, however, would not stop her from doing her best to see what this paradox was: a metropolis in a world without life.


West

The great shadowed forces began to move out of the cave, one by one. Their actions made little impact, and all the adventurers were still alive. They wisped back up the stairs and all stood in formation at the entrance. The battle was... won? Few casualties on either side, and nothing close to resembling a victory.

Haapsalu was just as confused as everyone else. He called down to his compatriots below. "Hello! I don't know what may be happening, but it seems like they have stopped. Did everyone have otherwise good sleep?" He looked at the army, which was still as a stone. "I think they will let us go to mine for gold?"