"I want your word you'll help us," Alyssa says angrily.
"I promise!" He says in a cheery tone, a wide, friendly smile on his face.
Zaidel takes a few steps back, and begins to empty the contents of his bag of holding. While doing that, the big warrior notices he was also wearing a bandolier. Neat!
He begins to fish items out of the bandolier, which wasn't a lot: a piece of chalk, and dull marble sized ball. Thinking carefully, Zaidel slowly brought the glassy orb to his eyebrow, and on a whim tossed it in the air. It immediately began to orbit his head, radiating bright light.
"Oh my God! It's an ioun torch! I loved to buy them for my characters if I had the coin! Handless Illumination! Awesome!"
The big warrior looked up to the others.
"This isn't just 'a material plane'..but THE Material Plane! Aren't we? The home of Krynn, Toril, Golarion". Snapping his fingers in thought, Zaidel continued. "Drizzt, Caramon, Bigby, oh my god! Gandalf! Merlin! The Dungeons and Dragons cartoon, dragons, beholders, vampires, demon lords, unicorns..holy s#it! Every fantasy role-playing game world and creature is real! Every dream! Every nightmare! Including actual nightmares!" The big warrior sputtered in shock.
"I ..didn't see a key", spoke Zaidel, trying to process everything he realized. "This may not be my Heaven! But it's pretty damn close!
Joseph immediately takes a seat, clearly displeased at how long it will take. "On with it then! Oh, but someone should take care of the poor guy that you clubbed... Why'd you do that again?" Joseph turns and gives the man a suspicious glance.
"Come now, my work is of a sensitive nature, can't leave too many witnesses. Besides he is not dead, he'll be fine." The boy says, dropping Joseph's hands. "Just let me do my work than you'll never see me again...unless you want to..."
He gave Joseph a flirtatious wink. The vibes he was sending out were all over the place, but he seemed to be enjoying himself.
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Alyssa looks around at her companions.
He seems sincere, though I can't help but notice that he seems to be really pushing this key object. If he gets it, what leverage do we have? We can't be stranded here. We're being played.
She cocks her head. On the other hand, he does seem really sincere. I should trust him. It's not nice to make assumptions about other people. Let their actions speak louder than your misgivings of them. Give him a chance to prove himself.
Give him a chance.
She sighs, then moves forward to help the fallen man.
"Complete your ritual. Meanwhile, I'll tend to our fallen friend." She glares daggers at the man, daring him to protest.
"Complete your ritual. Meanwhile, I'll tend to our fallen friend." She glares daggers at the man, daring him to protest.
"Very well, I just need a volunteer to sit still during the process." He acquiesces. "Please, one of you come sit in front of me."
Joseph responds to the wink with a very noticable blush against his pale skin, regardless however he complies with the young mans request and scoots to the designated area. "Mhm, eight hours. Lets do it."
As Joseph sits and the boy extends his hands and begins chanting over him Alyssa addresses Ruskarl's head wound.
This isn't good. This man has already announced that he's a bad guy, and if he has access to magic, the uses for a key that can unlock 'anything' is definitely not a good thing to let him have. Speaking that aloud would probably be even less safe. What to do? Knock him out during the ritual? If only there was a way to find out how strength he really... That's it.
If this was a magical fantasy world, then this scouter might actually be the real deal. Reaching up and pressing the button on the small device, the green eyepiece came to life with a series of strange symbols and numbers. Bage stares right at the strange man, waiting for the equipment to calculate his power.
Ruskarl's consciousness swims back into awareness with distorted senses and a pounding ache in his skull.
Come on, what the f$@@? Just how bad is my luck? He thinks.
As his vision wobbles into focus he sees an absolutely gorgeous women looking down at him.
"Huh? Maybe my luck has changed, are you an angel?" He says aloud.
Bage knew his own power level was eighteen thousand, as he watched the numbers tick Alyssa came in at power level five, same as Joseph, which was expected for weak humans.
The boy's power level, when the ticking finally stopped, was four hundred and twenty. You could easily defeat him in one blow.
"I'm making the connection." The boy stated a few minutes in. "I can feel it!"
His hands became enveloped in dark crackling lightning and a strange red mist began to rise from the ground.
Josephs heart begins to beat wildly as the strange display rolls out before him. He does however grit his teeth and remain quite. Determined to get the answer too his situation even if he has to take a zap.
"18,000!" Bage blurts out accidentally. He waves his hand awkwardly in dismissal as he gets strange looks.
18,000!? Maybe...maybe I really am a saiyan now. Can I go super saiyan? That would be awesome!
Oh, wait. The boy. When Bage sees the boy's low power level, he relaxes a bit. If something nasty did happen, he could stop him. Besides, it wasn't like they were giving him a weapon...though the key could unlock something that contained a weapon. Best to wait until he at least saw it.
With his decision made, Bage turned to the He-Man individual. "So you know where we are then? Some other universe or some such? Are there really dragons here?"
At the far edge of the meadow lies a young man dressed in business casual wear. He slowly sits up, and looks around, bewildered. He seems awfully confused, and cocks his head as is if listening to a voice only he hears.
He begins to frantically search the grass around him, clearly looking for something. Cursing when he doesn't find it, he scrambles towards some bushes and starts digging around in them. After several minutes, he emerges, thrusting some sort of silver object with a blue feather into the air triumphantly.
He stands up, dusting himself off. And suddenly notices all the other strange people. Before he gets a chance to greet or question them or where they are, he seems to hear that voice again.
"No Uncle, I don't think this is the First World, whatever that is. Yes, I see the group of people. I know I died saving that little girl, but clearly I'm alive again. Or dreaming. Or this is heaven or hell. You're right, I don't think it's the latter. I feel a connection to the land, and it doesn't feel evil or bad. How should I know? I just do! Look, I get your hundreds of years old, but until just now I never you could talk, so just cut me some slack, ok?!"
The object in his hand suddenly transforms into a staff, and smacks the young man on the head. "OW! What was that for? It's not my fault I didn't know you could talk. My dad never mentioned it, and neither did grandpa when I talked to him about you. Or rather fountain pen you."
Then the man with the cigarette is knocked out, and the boy steps forth, going on about some artifact key. Walking over to the rest of you, the young man who is possibly crazy and hearing voices eyes the mysterious new comer closely.
The young man's sharp insight tells him the boy is untrustworthy, though it is likely he will honor the deal as it seems he has no interest in making enemies of the group.
With his decision made, Bage turned to the He-Man individual. "So you know where we are then? Some other universe or some such? Are there really dragons here?"
"I don't know where exactly where we are, just what type of environment to expect. Theoretically, according some old Dragon Magazines I've read, Earth is one the same Material Plane as this one. I think there was an Adventure Path that took the players of 18th century Russia as well", thought the big warrior aloud.
"As for dragons, if we ever meet one, let's hope they're one of the good dragons, or at least not undead."|
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"Huh? Maybe my luck has changed, are you an angel?" He says aloud.
Alyssa snorts, though on the inside, she beams a little bit.
He think I'm pretty! I knew I was prettier than before! I'm.... oh, alright, Miss, is this really the time for that? No, it is not, although...... no, no, it is not. Make sure he's ok. Then worry about your vain beauty.
"Not an angel, just here to help. You took a nasty fall to the head. How are you feeling?"
"Not an angel, just here to help. You took a nasty fall to the head. How are you feeling?"
"Like hammered s$%~." Ruskarl said, sitting up.
"I didn't fall, something hit me!" He said, looking around blearily.
His eyes came back to rest on Alyssa. He smiled at her appreciatively. Not in any danger it seemed, he took a moment to orient himself.
"What's happening here Angel face?" He asked Alyssa.
Looking to The Boy, Zaidel's face became set.
"Excuse me", spoke the big warrior to Bage.
With deftness, Zaidel arms himself with the light shiny shield and walks over to The Boy preforming his ritual.
"I have a pretty good idea you can hear, besides your concentrating on other things. I just wanted to say: If you hurt him", the big warrior pointed with his now drawn sword to Joseph, "I hurt you."
Looking to The Boy, Zaidel's face became set.
"Excuse me", spoke the big warrior to Bage.
With deftness, Zaidel arms himself with the light shiny shield and walks over to The Boy preforming his ritual.
"I have a pretty good idea you can hear, besides your concentrating on other things. I just wanted to say: If you hurt him", the big warrior pointed with his now drawn sword to Joseph, "I hurt you."
"Believe me, the sorcery is harmless to your friend." The boy replied, as the red mist spread and the cackling lightning increased.
"This is just a type of Planar bleed, the things you are seeing; discharge as I reel in the artifact." He turned his head to look at Zaidel directly. "My only interest is in the Key, not harming your friends, I assure you."
"So, I know I don't know everything that's going on, like why you are all speaking Japanese" says Kei as he flashes Alyssa a sorry! look before continuing with "but I do know that it's usually considered a bad idea to give the bad guy what he wants. I don't think any of us know the rules here, but shouldn't we find them out before allowing a stranger to do whatever he wants to one of us?"
Zaidel nods, feeling his words were heard, and takes several steps back, but still close enough to provide aid if needed.
"So, I know I don't know everything that's going on, like why you are all speaking Japanese" says Kei as he flashes Alyssa a sorry! look before continuing with "but I do know that it's usually considered a bad idea to give the bad guy what he wants. I don't think any of us know the rules here, but shouldn't we find them out before allowing a stranger to do whatever he wants to one of us?"
The Boy shoots Kei a sharp glance.
"Let's not get ugly here, we already have a deal; I get my Key and I use my resources to discover the reality of your own plight. Fair's fair, and we need no longer be strangers, call me...Kamii."
"Like the forest spirit?" Zaidel questions.
"Like the forest spirit?" Zaidel questions.
Kamii gives a soft grin at that.
"Spirit? Perhaps, nothing to do with a forest though."
He seemed to be concentrating hard, making decent progress with his spell.
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"Like hammered s~~#." Ruskarl said, sitting up.
"I didn't fall, something hit me!" He said, looking around blearily.
His eyes came back to rest on Alyssa. He smiled at her appreciatively. Not in any danger it seemed, he took a moment to orient himself.
"What's happening here Angel face?" He asked Alyssa.
Alyssa quickly responds. "We're not certain, but it seems like we're waiting for some sort of ritual. We're a bit lost, and we've engaged in some sort of pact in return for help.
Ever the diplomat, she responds "You said you were hit. Do you know why someone might want to hurt you?"
This is getting more and more worrisome by the minute.
He had been awake for some time now and had already removed himself from the group and into the shadows.
It was unusual yes, but not the strangest waking up that he ever experienced. Broken voices in his head, like a weak and tentative sending spell that had only just managed to reach him. Foggy and dark memories of just what he had been up to during the stretch of time that had led to him arriving at this location... not that unusual considering how much he drank. To blunt, waking up in an unknown situation, amongst a group of strangers, and having no idea how exactly he had arrived there, was a situation that occurred pretty much once a week for him.
This time, however... this time. There was something... different about this group.
It wasn’t the fact that they themselves didn’t know what how they got here, as that was pretty common in these situations. It wasn’t the fact that they seemed to be in different forms than others, as that had happened before in circumstances like this. Nor was it the fact that these changes seemed to make some enthusiastic and happy, whilst others were deeply upset, almost on the verge of panic, and a wide diverse of reactions were part of the parcel with these experiences...
No... it was how... familiar they were, yet he knew for a fact that he had never seen anything like them before in his life. Like, the one who dubbed himself as Bage... the odd armour he wore, in conjunction with the device he wore over his eye... it was like nothing he had ever seen. Yet he knew them, and in fact, there was a sense of... Fondness? Happiness? Mirth? Or perhaps a combination of all three, that he felt upon observing him. And this... ‘He-Man’, and the way he held the sword above his head, shouting ‘I HAVE THE POWER’ brought that feeling of mirth bubbling up even more, as well as admonishment that he wasn’t doing it right... doing what right?! Then there was the young lad commenting that they were talking Japanese... a language that he knew, yet had never heard of before!
And when this... ‘He-Man’ began talking about where they were. Talking about Pathfinder as well as Dungeons and Dragons... there was just this... itch. This itch on the back of his head. An itch that couldn’t scratch and nearly had himself giving away his position in frustration until the appearance of the odd black-robbed boy finally distracted him. Now, this, this was something he was very familiar with... and he quite frankly could not believe that this group of people just agreed to the magic ritual to find this artefact. Despite having no reason to believe him and that he would keep his promise...
Still. A ritual to break barriers and wards... and a voice asking for him to make sure a seal was not destroyed? He had no reason to do so, beyond curiosity. These people, whoever they were, whatever this... ‘earth’ was... it was so achingly familiar, familiar in a way that he had never known before... so whilst the ritual continued, he prepared himself and his lamppost. Waiting for when the ritual would end and the artefact arrived...
Then he would take it for himself, and get more answers than this Kamii was currently offering.
Alyssa quickly responds. "We're not certain, but it seems like we're waiting for some sort of ritual. We're a bit lost, and we've engaged in some sort of pact in return for help.
Ever the diplomat, she responds "You said you were hit. Do you know why someone might want to hurt you?"
Either unaware or uncaring of the effect of his rude behavior Ruskarl climbs to his feet and has a moment of awkward unsteadiness, reminiscent of a new born foal first finding it's legs, before answering.
"A pact? What?" He looked at Alyssa quizzically, his vision still blurry.
He shook his head vigorously. "...As to why someone might want to hurt me it's kind of a list..."
His eyes suddenly widened. He grabbed Alyssa by the shoulders, demanding; "How long was I out?!"
Though a mere twenty minutes have past Kamii seems to reach the crescendo of his spell and, as lightning crackles and red mists whirl, he shouts a final, magical word and in a flash of light a platinum key blinks into existence, hovering within a white ball of light about a foot over Joseph's head.
"Perfect!" Kamii cries and reaches forward with his right hand to seize it...
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Either unaware or uncaring of the effect of his rude behavior Ruskarl climbs to his feet and has a moment of awkward unsteadiness, reminiscent of a new born foal first finding it's legs, before answering.
"A pact? What?" He looked at Alyssa quizzically, his vision still blurry.
He shook his head vigorously. "...As to why someone might want to hurt me it's kind of a list..."
His eyes suddenly widened. He grabbed Alyssa by the shoulders, demanding; "How long was I out?!"
Alyssa helps steady the man as he comes to his feet, looking at him quizzically. "By my estimation, you've been out several hours. Why?"
"As to the pact we've made, he said something about retrieving a key in return for help in our..... situation. Do you know something about it?" She's using hushed tones now, trying to keep out of Kamii's earshot.
This man, this apparition- he seems distressed. I guess I would be too, if I suspected someone knocked me out- but, then again, didnt I? Perhaps he's another soul, washed up- don't think like that, Alyssa, this is a dream, nothing more- but still- it feels more.... real, than ever before. I'm scared.
and sudden Kei was standing a few feet away, cupping the ball of light and the key within.
"Like I said, why should we give you a key that opens all locks if it doesn't belong to you, and you are the bad guy, other than 'because I asked for it'?"
Alyssa helps steady the man as he comes to his feet, looking at him quizzically. "By my estimation, you've been out several hours. Why?""As to the pact we've made, he said something about retrieving a key in return for help in our..... situation. Do you know something about it?" She's using hushed tones now, trying to keep out of Kamii's earshot.
"Bunny." Ruskarl says, his face absolutely crumbling. He glances off into the distance, looking so full of concern he might pass out.
He didn't seem to hear your other question.
and sudden Kei was standing a few feet away, cupping the ball of light and the key within.
"Like I said, why should we give you a key that opens all locks if it doesn't belong to you, and you are the bad guy, other than 'because I asked for it'?"
The white light fades and the key comes to gently rest in Kei's palm.
Kamii's features twist momentarily into a hateful glare before his expression comes to rest.
"Because I am perhaps uniquely situated to find out the answers to your questions. A simple trade for the Key, yes?"
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"Bunny." Ruskarl says, his face absolutely crumbling. He glances off into the distance, looking so full of concern he might pass out.
"Bunny. Explain. What's going on? Maybe I can help," says Alyssa, trying to keep her attention focused on the obviously distraught man, while also juggling her fear for the kid.
"Like I said, why should we give you a key that opens all locks if it doesn't belong to you, and you are the bad guy, other than 'because I asked for it'?"
"Please, kid, give it to him. You don't know what he's capable of. Just let him help.
Kamii's features twist momentarily into a hateful glare before his expression comes to rest.
"Please, just answer the question. We can all resolve this easily enough."
None of this makes sense. One's obviously concerned; he's oblivious to everything else going on. Meanwhile, the kid's being a typical teen- can't let him get hurt. Gods, this is too much. I just want to go home.
"Don't give it yet. This is a trade, and a trade we do not know the value of yet," Bage points out. "Tell us, how did we get here? Is there a way back and how? And what do you plan to unlock with this? Will you answer these?"
Not really sure if I want to go back if I am what I think I am, Bage thinks. Always best to know a way out, though.
"Bunny. Explain. What's going on? Maybe I can help," says Alyssa, trying to keep her attention focused on the obviously distraught man, while also juggling her fear for the kid.
"I have a seriously injured companion waiting some ways from here, I need to find her medical help quickly. You seem to have some natural healing talent, do you have healing spells as well?" Ruskarl inquired, his tone rather desperate, as if his sense of control had gotten away from him completely.
"Tell us, how did we get here? Is there a way back and how? And what do you plan to unlock with this? Will you answer these?"
"For the first two questions the answer is I don't know yet." The boy replies with a sour look on his face. "As to what I want to unlock, I'm simply looking to retrieve a present for my elder sister."
"Look, I'm not looking for much, simply that you honor the deal already struck and return my Key to me." The boy says plainly. "And I will use my not inconsiderable resources to discover the answers to your questions. Why be foes when we can be allies?"
Zaidel steps forward and extends a hand up to Joseph.
The Vulture King says to Ruskarl, "I can heal her, remove any ailment she may possess." He then turns to Kamii and says, "I cannot say that I fully trust you. If we are to give you the Key, you must truthfully answer our questions. I am not opposed to being allies, but allies must trust each other."
Joseph begins to shiver after Kei swipes the key from Kamii. "Guys, we NEED answers and he's the only one that can give them to us!" Joseph takes Zaidels hand, standing with the assistance of the incredibly solid support. Then extending a hand out to Kei.
"We're all scared here, let's focus on making friends for now. Give me the key."
"I agree Uncle. That Kamii shouldn't be fully trusted. He does seem like he won't betray us, but I think that's more out of fear than anything else." The young man now holds a walking stick capped with a blue feather, that he seems to be talking to.
"To be fair, this arrangement was made without all of us present being in agreement. Granted, none of us know the others, but if we all are connected to this artifact, all of us should give our consent."
John spots the man in the shadows, but says nothing for the moment.
"So far everyone has acted with honor", spoke the big warrior to the golden asi-..tian man. "Let's us continue to act accordingly."
When the artefact, the Key, finally arrived. He tensed up, hand ready to throw his weapon, legs ready to launch himself forwards out from the shadows he lurked. When someone that was not Kamii grasped the Key first, however, he was surprised. Then amused as the discussion swiftly became a debate. It seemed that this group was even more divided and split than he had anticipated. Some people wanting answers before handing over the Key, and wanting more information about what Kamii wanted to do with it. Whilst others believed in the lies of honour and trust, wanting to hand the Key over as had been the deal.
Either way, he remained tense and ready to make his move. Waiting to see how else the situation might evolve from here on out. There was one thing for sure though - if they attempted to hand the Key over to this Kamii, he would attack. Kamii was not getting the Key until he decided he would get it.
The Vulture King says to Ruskarl, "I can heal her, remove any ailment she may possess."
Ruskarl looks at the Vulture King sharply. "Will you come with me? We must leave immediately."
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Alyssa looks to Ruskarl. "Look, I don't know what you think I am. I'm not a witch. But I will come and help, as I can." She readies herself to follow the man.
Before she leaves, however, she turns back to the group arguing over the key. "Please, let us be reasonable. I don't know why you feel so strongly against giving him the key, but we did have a pact. And, if you wish to re- neg on the deal, then we should all be a part of it. I call for a vote. I vote to trust Kamii. The rest of you vote, and majority wins. Simple enough?"
She turns back to Ruskarl. "Please, lead on, sir. Time is off the essence."
Kamii leans back and pinches the bridge of his nose as if he is developing a headache. "Ok, look, I'm a reasonable guy, but you must first decide among yourselves how you want to handle this. Figure out what's up and sort yourselves out. I'll wait."
Kamii crosses his arms and falls silent, ignoring most of what is said to him until the group of the lost decide how to handle things.
Alyssa looks to Ruskarl. "Look, I don't know what you think I am. I'm not a witch. But I will come and help, as I can." She readies herself to follow the man.
"Thank you." Ruskarl says to her, seeming to lose a bit of his wild tension, still he doesn't leave until the humanoid bird, the one with the healing power, responds.