Ah, yes... there you are my sweet. We'll have to see to your health, of course, but it is so good to see you again.
You notice one of the compound's guards has trailed you into the room. "Boss, it's been so long. Can we please...?"
Very well, the mental voice says crossly.
The guard, and another who apparently overheard, rush over to the odd machine in the corner, each producing a rough tin cup from a belt pouch. They pour some liquid from the machine then come over to the aquarium, each reaching in and pinching one of the little tadpole-like things swimming around the larger creature. They drop them in the cups, swish the liquid around, then take a drink.
A slow, blissful smile, spreads across their faces and they stagger off.
There's a note of annoyance to the mental voice as it returns to you. Now, then, you will be wanting your reward, yes?
Kit would like to say that is the strangest thing he has seen being drank, but then again, he has seen quite a few strange people drink quite a few strange drinks!
Yes! Please! he says out loud.
"I'm with him," Iskender responds pointing his thumb at Kit.
He watches the weirdness before him.
Dakkar shrugs.
"Eh, might as well, though we may want a night's rest before going through. Still a bit weakened from that annoying shadow."
You may pass through the Red Gate whenever you wish. I have instructed Oulek to see to it that you are let in.
Now... do you have any further business with me?
You wouldn't happen to have a place where we can rest the night and a meal. He then remembers those people drinking the tadpole water. A hot meal?
You wouldn't happen to have a place where we can rest the night and a meal. He then remembers those people drinking the tadpole water. A hot meal?
The inn you have been staying at should be more than sufficient for that. The voice seems amused. If there is nothing more, depart, and return when you are ready to pass through the gate.
Iskender will go ahead and cast Mythic CMW on Dakkar...
Cure 2 points of ability damage
Not the most hospitable creature! Kit muses as they head back to the inn.
The crew bunks down for the night (after selling those things Kit has listed, and buying a ton of spurs for my rifle?)
"Alright now, is everyone ready to get out of here?"
I am! Kit says with a yawn.
"Off we go then!" Iskender heads off to, hopefully, leave this planet.
"Eh, whatever. But coming along seems better than sitting around here."
Oulek opens the door to Mr. Sarlu's compound as you approach and leads you into the portal room. The same tangle of cables, rings, and bizarre mechanisms meet you as before, as does the chained dwarf.
"They are ready to pass through," Oulek instructs him.
The dwarf nods and walks over to the central machine. He hammers on several buttons with worrying force, then places his palm on a smooth panel. With a howl the red ring shudders, arcs of energy crackling across it until its interior is filled with a shimmering pink glow.
The dwarf gives you a wink. "Step on through! Another world awaits!"
Iskender considers the dwarf's demeanor, and attempts to interpret his intent...
He smiles, "thanks! Shall we go through?"
At the lack of anyone offering up an alternate plan, Iskender steps on through the portal.
Dakkar shrugs and goes through.
Kit shrugs, As long as the other place has good ale, I'm game! He then follows the others.
You step into the portal. At first the play of energy across you is pleasant... but as the world around you vanishes, it suddenly twists, and you feel a wrongness in the pit of your stomach.
Even though you appear on the other side slowly, it feels like you've just been violently thrown out of something, and the wrongness remains in your bones.
Of more concern, however, is the faceful of seawater you get as you emerge on the wrong side of a beach.
Iskender gets on with moving to the beach.
Kit walks to the beach disappointed they didn't end up in a tavern.
Dakkar climbs up onto the beach, and looks around. "So, since no water was pouring through the portal on the other end, I don't think we can go back that way."
”One trip, and you’re an expert on portal tech already?”
"No. But it seems obvious. Besides, they said nobody ever came back, right?"
After struggling your way to shore, you can see a small shack up a small ridge. A dwarf emerges from it, a bundle of towels in his hand. He waves to you with his free hand.
"Hey there, off-worlders! Welcome to the arse-end of Rythes!" he shouts to you.
”He seems unsurprised at people arriving this way.”
Iskender reaches for a towel. "Thank you friend. What local drink do you serve warm around here. Warm to heat up my cold bones."
When he sees the dwarf, Kit will elbow Iskender and whisper, A dwarf! He should know where some good ale is!
When he approaches the dwarf, he will say, Greetings good dwarf! I have been at the arse-end of many places. What can you tell us about this place and have you always lived here? I am forgetting my manners! I am Kit, that is Iskendar and Dakkar and the two silent ones are Vashi and Dilwyn.
The dwarf laughs. "Honigal's the name. I wasn't expecting guests, so I don't have much for entertaining ready."
He points at the shack with a thumb. "This here's just my fishing shack, you see. If you're wanting what passes for a drink out here, Buckle's the only place resembling civilization out here."
He nods to the west, where a dusty trail is just barely visible going over a rise. "Wouldn't mind chatting for a bit while you dry off, though. I like it lonesome, but not that lonesome, if you get me."
Dakkar snorted out the last of the water from his nose, and sniffed the air.
"Might as well. So, not a very civilized place here, huh? That's fine with me."
”You have been very hospitable. May we ask how many have come before us, and where they have gone? Also, is there anything we can help you with? Kit is great with manual labor and such.”
As soon as Vashi flops onto the sand, slowly fluttering her wings in an attempt to dry them off.
”Dakkar also is good for manual labor. Vashi and I are largely just ornamental.”
Kit laughs and slaps Iskender on the back. Iskender! Why are you being so modest? You Love manual labor more than Dakkar and I!
He turns to Honigal. Don't let the weak-looking baby arms fool you! Well met Honigal!
Honigal laughs. "Don't worry, I'm not needing anything of that sort. To answer your question, though, you're the third group to come through in the past six weeks. Was about eight months before that that no one came through."
He pauses a moment, then adds, "You know this is your new hom now, no? That gate is one-way. No going back that direction. And as far as I know, there's not another way off the planet, unless there's a gate out in the wastes somewhere."
"Well, one problem at a time I think. There will be time enough to see about other ways to get out of here."
I've been in a lot of wastes in my life. Correction! I have been wasted in a lot of wastes. Don't think this planet would be much different! Do they have good ale here?
Dakkar shrugged off the worry.
"Eh, home is where your hoard is. Already like it better here than the last place. Wilderness I know."
"Don't know about it being good, but moosbeard ale will get you drunk, so if that's your standard, it's good," Honigal says with a chuckle.
A wistful look comes over his face. "You know, I hear the other baronies started recovering from the blight. The Barony of the Bloom's rightmost worshipful of their plants, and they trade crops with everyone now. Maybe they've managed to grow something that makes a better drink!"
"Well, our standard is a little higher than that. At least we would like to think so. There is clearly much to learn about this world. I don't suppose you have a library, almanac, encyclopedia, or other large reference document that will provide me a full basis of information to go on?"
I agree with my friend here. I am no connoisseur, but if drunkenness is the destination, I would like to at least enjoy the trip!