Siobhan stops in her tracks when she hears the sound of someone falling down behind her. She turns and sees Felitcia, her dress stained with fresh blood, her knees planted in the earth and her chest trying its best to heave out what little there is left in her guts.
The Celt feels a pang of sympathy and walks back to her side. Killing's never an easy thing to learn to do... wish I had someone to help me come to grips with that.
She doesn't say anything--all she does is hold out her hand for Felitcia to take once she's ready.
Jedediah stumbles forward, tripping over his coat. As the others quickly come to a halt he looks over at the apparently-normal-sized-drunk-woman, and grimaces awkwardly. Best to let the other miss handle this. In the meantime he sidles over to his larger like-colored compatriot, pulling on his belt. "Howdy again, whilest she comes to terms with all that, I say we make good on that offer I did propose earlier." He works on finding his way out of the huge coat again.
Alice assumes the men are to get on with the trading of ill-fitting clothes. Perhaps if we happen upon a doll…
She decides to join the women.
“Felitcia, what you did was as brave as it was necessary. Horrid, yes, but they sought to spill our blood, and they were laughing as they stabbed the good doctor.
“I’ll stand watch with Siobhan until you’re ready to put one foot before the other. But you’ve done no wrong, I assure you.”
Richard takes the clothes offered by the small green man. They’d do, in a pinch.
He finds some bushes to change in and slowly, gingerly, takes off his slacks and jacket. He feels the soft fabric of his tweed jacket, the coffee stain from lunch with his son the day before. The little splatter of paint from his wife’s easel. All of it seemed like it was gone, forever maybe.
Richard sighs heavily, a sob almost arising in his chest.
He walks out of the bushes wearing the small green man’s former clothes, his old outfit in a bundle under his arm. His tie, though, his favorite tie he chose to wear every Tuesday including the one he was taken on, is still proudly affixed around his neck.
Kneeling down, he hands them to Jed, ”Here, take good care of them. Please.”
Felitcia barely heard what Alice said to her but she did hear it and nodded slightly in acknowledgement. It took her a minute or two more to gather herself but she finally took Siobhan's hand and rose shakily to her feet. She noticed her fan, still in her hand, and bent over to wipe the blood off on the clothing the blue thing she killed's clothes in a spot where there was no blood before folding it and sliding it back through her belt.
Felitcia rose again and stood, shakily, and a hand went to cover her eyes. It seemed that, between the chaos of traveling here and the adrenaline of the fight her drunken state had gone away. Now it was time for a new stage, the hangover, one she was intimately familiar with. She looked blearily out from between her fingers, wincing at the light that came through and made her way over to where Richard was.
Felitcia tottered over to Richard and with the hand not shielding her eyes reached out to grab his arm. She said nothing, not asking permission to do so, and tried to hobble along in her heels as long and well as she could.
With Felitcia on your feet, Siobhan leads the way into the benighted forest. The air is the cool and crisp of early autumn, and a light breeze causes the branches of the trees to sway slightly. Occasionally, you catch glimpses of a starry sky between the leaves--stars that are completely foreign in their configuration. Wherever you have found yourselves, it's clear you are not on Earth anymore.
Every mile or so, Siobhan spots another concealed trail marker, pointing the way through the woods. After an hour of walking, though, you can hear the sound of rustling from a deadfall beside the trail. A few moments later, three enormous, multilegged centipedes skitter forth from the detritus, clacking their mandibles!
Jed begins to strip, then remembers the sting from the slap, and jumps behind a nearby tree to change. He emerges with Dr. Richard's clothing, now truly a hideous clash of genres. The professor's clothing is still oversized on him, but not to such a ridiculous degree that it looks like he's trying to wear a tarp. With some rolling of the pant leg and sleeves, Jedediah is now more akin to a trick-or-treating child wanting to dress up as a professor for Halloween.
Jedediah walks with a swagger through the forest, whistling a slow but jaunty tune as if this was another day in the life for him. But when the enormous centipedes emerge he jumps with a shriek, and a moment later another ear-assaulting CRACK! erupts forth!
The shot seems to land somewhere in the canopy above them. Jedediah hurriedly reloads. "Nope, nope, got it! Just gimme a sec-" The gun goes off again, making Jed jump in the air, although inexplicably after bouncing off a rock heads right towards the centipedes!
Siobhan raises her axe as the centipedes emerge, then nearly drops it as Jedediah's thunder-twigs start making unholy amounts of noise.
She moves to attack a different centipede than the one Jedediah accidentally shot--more out of concern for being caught in the crossfire than anything else.
The last attack had caught him off guard. It would be different this time.
He raised his makeshift club aloft and charged in at the centipede, his body moving with speed, strength, and skill that he didn't know he had.
As they walked Felitcia felt her head slowly clearing and her feet badly hurting. She'd long since had to take her heels off when the uneven terrain made her nearly break an ankle when the heel caught on something and nearly snapped off. She had managed to hook them to her belt and now walked barefoot in the dark. Of course this wasn't much better but it did help her get over her hangover as she could focus on the pain in her feet.
When the centipedes suddenly attacked Felitcia pulled her fan out and glared angrily at the bugs. She might have had problems with killing the blue people but these were bugs and they would be something she could try to take her frustration out on. Felitcia moved forward to the centipede closest to her and made sure she couldn't easily be boxed in. Her fan lashed out at the bug and she hoped she could take it's head clean off.
Felitcia and Jed wound one of the centipedes, then Richard finishes it off with a mighty swing! Siobhan misses with her attack, and that centipede retaliates, jabbing her with its mandibles! The third centipede skitters over to Richard and bites him as well.
"Ha, still got it!" Jed crams another bullet into the chamber, then gives the pistol a twirl and lets it try to find the next centipede.
Siobhan winces as the centipede bites her calf and retaliates with several swipes of her axe!
Alice is horrified to see person-sized bugs towering over her bug-sized self.
“I think I should turn this very hungry caterpillar into a smoking caterpillar!”
She hurls fire from her hands!
Felitcia winced at the sound of the gun going off again. She really wanted to jam the loud thing up his ass for making such a loud sound. She tried to ignore it and moved to the next closest centipede before slicing at it twice in rapid succession.
Richard's orcish physiology easily shrugs off the poison, though the bite hurts.
He swings his club wildly at the centipede, trying to kill it before it hurt anyone else.
Felitcia moves to flank the centipede that attacked Richard. While she misses, the distraction gives the orc the opening he needs, flattening the giant bug with two strikes from his club! Jed’s shot goes wide, but Alice connects with a spark! As the last centipede thrashes in pain, Siobhan cuts it down with her axe!
Siobhan gives the dead crawly thing a couple of extra chops with her axe for good measure.
Then she winces as her calf starts to bleed in earnest. "...ne'er seen bugs that size before."
Alice says, “Seems I’m not the only one whose proportions are off.”
She looks at Siobhan’s calf (hard not to, as it’s simply less up than the warrior-woman’s face)… “We need to take care of that—you and Richard both. I think you’ve the right of it to press on where the markers point.”
"Lookin' like the critters stole the little lady's size. Maybe if we put enough of em down she'll return to normal!" Jed calls out with a laugh. He twirls his gun!..and manages to safely holster it again. He tries not to let his surprise show.
Alice can’t help but laugh.
A part of Alice had always loved the way of queens and castles. That part of Alice was ready to jump into Prince Leopold’s arms, and there is no question of where he’d have carried her, and to what end. That part of Alice seems to have been left behind, for the small part of her here has no infatuation with the prince. She feels as though she never had, though it was this same evening she was arguing with herself about the proper, the desired… such rubbish.
This sense of freedom she feels must be the American way. It’s noisy and drunk, yet no less academic. And the Irish way is decidedly barbaric*. Yet Alice has never known a woman to be more beautiful than the woad-painted warrioress. If they were the same size, Alice would give Siobhan a sister-hug for the unparalleled kindness she has displayed thus far.
Those who live behind castle walls miss so much of what the world has to offer…
These thoughts flash through Alice’s mind in an instant, thus her reply to Jedediah comes in the next:
“They can keep my size. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but I feel I am as I am because I’ve room to grow, and not just in the physical sense. Until I can control the change, I’ve decided to embrace it.”
Somehow, the cowboy making light of Alice’s predicament is equally supportive as a shoulder to cry on, and more fun. A giddy feeling causes her luminous skin to glow a skosh more brightly.
Siobhan winces as a flash of pain races up her leg from the bite.
"...I'll be alright. Just need to wash it and wrap it up."
After a few minutes to collect yourself, you continue down the trail. A few more hours pass, and you are definitely starting to feel the fatigue from the long march through the night. But at last, you can spot light in the gaps between the trees. It seems you are nearing your destination, wherever that might be.
However, before you can press on further, a hulking humanoid creature steps out of the undergrowth to block your path. The green-skinned woman ripples with muscles under a shoddy breastplate. With her tusks and sloping brow, she looks an awful lot like Richard. But as she brandishes a pair of knuckle daggers, it is clear that her intentions are far from friendly.
She does hesitate, though, when she sees Richard among your group. Her brow furrows, and she grunts a question in a harsh, guttural language.
With the last of the bugs defeated Felitcia said, "Ugh gross! I already hate this place. Things trying to kill us, not a car in sight, no paved roads. What kind of primitive place is this>?!" As they all continued on Felitcia started intermitentaly complaining about the uncivilized conditions of this kidnapping, the fact that her feet were hurting from having to walk barefoot, and anything else she could think of.
When the green woman stepped out to accost them on the road Felitcia looked at her and said, "Ugh, that is the worst look I've ever seen. And how many roids have you been doing to look that much like a man?"
Alice asks to be carried as fatigue sets in.
When the Doctor-Richard-like woman speaks, Alice asks, “Doctor, if a Gael understands the King’s English, might you understand this woman’s guttural tongue?”
There is nothing logical about Alice’s assumption, but the wig of logic has been smothered under the hat of madness. This too is a change embraced by Alice.
Siobhan remains on guard as the hulking green woman addresses the party.
Richard feels the words in his heart. They awaken something he did not know he had. In the same guttural language he replies, ”We are new to this place. What is this place? Who are you?”
”I am Urlka,” the green woman replies. ”I am scouting out the human settlement that lies ahead. You are orc, but not of our clan, and you travel with humans. Are you friend or foe?”
”I mean you no ill will so friend, I suppose. I am Richard, it is good to meet you Urlka. In truth, I’m not too sure where I am. Where all of us are, really. Forces unlike anything I’ve experienced brought us here from somewhere else.”
”Huh. Our camp is not far from here. You come with Urlka and speak to clan boss. Maybe he will help you, if you will help us.” The orc woman gestures for you to follow her.
Jed looks continuously back between the strange green man and the stranger green woman. "Huh, sure didn't sound like native speak, not like I know all the dialects though." He shrugs and follows along, whistling.
Alice feels like the conversation between the green giants is going jolly well, so she speaks with Jedediah.
“I think we have to think like the strange magic that changed us. Dr. Richard can talk to the big-and-green. It is equally logical—or ill-—that you should be able to fluently converse with the small and green. Maybe I am able to likewise converse with the smallest of all.
“I wonder if we can all speak the humans’ language since us women remain human, and you men were originally human.”
Despite her words and the confidence with which they are spoken, Alice is not entirely certain she can be thought of as human now.
Felitcia didn't care much about how the conversation was going, she just wanted to find a good hotel where she could get a good room with a soft bed and plenty of room service for the next few weeks. "As long as they have room service and a nice bed I don't care whe..." Felitcia thought she heard something then, a faint whisper, she'd been hearing something like it for a while now but it seemed to have changed when this green woman showed up.
Felitcia looked at her companions and asked, "Have any of you been hearing this strange whispering sound since we got here?"
"...whispering?" Siobhan looks over at Felitcia with a puzzled expression. "No, can't say that I have..."
Richard turns to the group, explaining what Urlka had said to him before nodding to the orc woman, "Of course."
He gives Felitcia a shake of his head. "Can't say I have either."
You follow Urlka off of the beaten trail. The orc leads you through some thick brush for a quarter mile or so. It is not easy going, but eventually, you emerge into a small clearing. A half dozen tents surround a central campfire, and you count ten other orcs moving about the camp, either keeping watch, cooking a meal, or sharpening vicious-looking weapons.
The sentries and Urlka converse, then they form up around you as they escort you into the largest camp. There, a large male orc in ornate armor chomps down on a haunch of animal meat--at least you hope that it is from an animal.
The orc wipes blood and gristle from his tusks as Urlka thumps her hand against her chest. "Warchief Kraglin, I found these people wandering in the woods. The orc among them has a human name and speaks like a human. But he claims he is a friend."
Kraglin peers at you dubiously. "Speak then," he says in the Common language that you all seem to be able to understand. "Tell me your story, that I might decide what to do with you."
"Y'all really stepped up your face painting, mighty impressive." Jedediah steps forward, puffing up his tiny chest. "You can call me Jedediah. Best damn card player and marksman this side of the Atlantic."
As they were led towards the greenskin's camp Felitcia thought the "whispers" were getting...not louder but more complex, more different ones, something! It also seemed that no one else could hear them so she started to wonder if she hadn't drunk more than she thought she had.
When they finally reached the encampment Felitcia looked around her in disgust. This wasn't a town, it wasn't even a hamlet, it was primitive, dirty, and it smelled! She was a bit intimidated by all the big green people thought and she muttered something about, "they so were not getting a tip."
"...I am Siobhan, a warrior of the Gaels and survivor of Rome's pitiless conquests." The woad-painted woman finally says. "I should be dead, but by some miracle I am not."
"I am Richard Farthington. A teacher and a scholar. We all came from elsewhere, from a place called Earth. Some powerful forces beyond anything on Earth brought us here, changing some of our forms. Truly, I know nothing of this world, nor how we all got here."
He points at Jed, Alice, and then to himself, "These two were bigger once, and I was much smaller. Neither me nor Jedediah were green-skinned either. Earth was home only to humans."
Richard pauses for a moment, assessing the surroundings before speaking again, "Though these new bodies, we must have them for a reason. I, for one, have found great use from this new body that I have. I am stronger and hardier than I ever was before being taken here. Your people must be a mighty one."
Warchief Kraglin laughs heartily. "Yes! Orcs are the mightiest of all people! You are lucky that the gods deemed fit to make you one of us! Not a scrawny goblin! You are meant for great things, Richard Farthington.
"I know not of this world you come from. 'Earth.' It is a dumb name. This world is called Golarion. You are welcome among our clan for the time being. It is possible our shamans can awaken your true potential with a sacred ritual. If you are willing to participate, we can see what each of your true strengths will be. Then we can make plans from there."
Jedediah, having no idea what a 'goblin' is, doesn't even know he should have been insulted. Jedediah considers earth being a dumb name. "I suppose it can be confused with the ground, so it ain't the smartest name around. Golarion though?..." He begins to really start processing what Richard was saying. He once again sidles over to Felitcia. "Miss are you quite certain we didn't partake of an impressive concoction of unidentified recreationals together?"
Felitcia looked down at Jedediah and rolled her eyes as she said, "Yeah, I'm sure, I've never been in a Western and that's the only place peopel talk like that now days."
Siobhan looks around the encampment with a curious eye.
"...it would be rude of me to turn down hospitality when offered."
Alice smiles at Richard as he explains her part of the predicament in a way that is concise and appealing to the green giants. Orcs. She then steps up and looks up, up, up at the chief.
She does her best to enunciate as she is certainly not whispering, but might seem to be.
“Thank you. Yes, I am willing. This world has changed me, and if your ritual can help me understand why, my mind is an open book.”
Feed your head, she tells herself.
"It would be an honor."
Part of him was nervous, without a doubt. And yet...much more of him felt an almost childlike wonder at what was going on. He had dreamt since he was a boy of being a mighty hero, one for the ages. Now, he might have a chance at that in this strange new world.
Felitcia listened to Richard's translation and considered the offer. This place was abysmal and no where near what even a wild animal should be living in. It was also the only place they had for now and she really wasn't going to survive on her own out there. If this "ritual" would get her something that could help she wasn't going to outright infuse.
After a few moments Felitcia shrugged and said, "I guess it's the only way but I swear if this involves and orgy or farm animals I'm going to be pissed."
Kraglin laughs again at Felitcia’s comment. He does not, however, confirm nor deny what the ritual might entail. ”You must be tired. Go. Sleep. The shaman will prepare the ritual for the morning.”
The warchief has Urlka escort you to one of the other tents, which the orcs arrange to make room for all five of you to rest inside, complete with bedrolls and fresh clothes. The outfits consist of hide breeches and vests for the men and effectively fur-lined bikinis for the women, as well as sturdy leather boots for all. (The best the orcs can manage for Alice is a swath of fabric to wrap around her like a dress—it will cover more than her DRINK ME label, at least.)
The orcs post two guards outside your tent to keep an eye on you, but otherwise leave you to your own devices.
Siobhan sits down and winces as she rubs her bitten calf. When she sees the clothes laid out for them, she compares them to the ones she's currently wearing.
Alice gladly accepts the fabric. She uses her stiletto pen to make some cuts, and the DRINK ME label’s string serves as a belt. She dares to bare her shoulders and allows for excess fabric below the waist so the dress fluffs put rather widely at the knee.
She twirls about. “Oh, what a step up! You never know the comfort on skin until you’ve covered up in a piece of paper. I am right out done with labels!”