Fantasy Shattered Continent

[Yahhah]

Dorn
Nearby/Mentioned: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
Outside the Drunken Trout​

The only thing that existed to Dorn was the sound of crashing waves, the worried grunts of Bjorn and the earthy smell of wood and stone that’d been brought up from the ground around them. Dorn could see very little in the small lightless shelter.

His hands were trapped within solid wood and his arms shook with exertion, he felt as if they were about to fall off in all honesty. He didn’t bother to think of how he’d managed to do this, it’d saved him and the bear from drowning that was enough.

Though now there was nothing but silence, a droning silence that told him that the waves were either gone or they were completely submerged, something told him through whatever connection there was between him and this wall that that wasn’t the case.

He could feel Bjorn shuffling from foot to foot behind him. Poor bear was claustrophobic, now came the question on how he was going to get out of this shelter turned prison. He barely felt like he could lift a doll let alone the massive wall in front of him and he didn’t have much range of movement from how constrained this space was. “Bjorn push against over here” he commanded as he used what little energy was still left to push forward. The bear hesitated, he might squish his buddy if he did so after all, though in the end the claustrophobia won out. With their weight combined they managed to collapse the wet wood where Dorn’s hands were trapped.

Bjorn charged out, taking care not to crush the half-elf below him. The bear was happy to be out in the open, shaking out his shaggy fur from what water had seeped through the wood barricade. “Let go!” Dorn said, pulling back while trying to hold down the wood with his foot as his hands were still very much stuck.

He eventually got loose, sort of, he pulled his hands from the wall but some of the bark had come with it sort of like handcuffs. He wiggled one of his wrists out of it and took out an arrow to work out the one that was still stuck. He absentmindedly looked around the clearing to see what was left.

A very tiny excuse of a building and a handful of people, among them the women he’d spotted just before summoning the wood wall. There was what looked to him a beast of a man shifting through the rubble and a pair of sleek feline shapes more towards the woods.

He was brought out of that as Bjorn bellowed loudly as if saying to the storm that he’d beaten it. Dorn didn’t feel like reminding the bear they’d only lived through it because of weird magical stuff Dorn couldn’t explain. He brought himself to his feet and stretched now that both his arms were free. He wasn’t completely sure what to do after that.

Tai’iq
Nearby/Mentioned: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
In trees outside of the Drunken Trout​

Tai’iq’s fur was fluffed up like some sort of roided up sea urchin as he shook like a leaf holding onto the tree trunk for dear life. The tree swayed this way and that as water rushed around it, using its massive weight to try and knock down the tree and eat Tai’iq’s soul. At least that’s what Tai’iq assumed, this was the water’s revenge for creatures drinking it all the time. Made sense to a terrified Tabaxi.

When the water went away Tai’iq didn’t move for a few seconds, he couldn’t believe it. A MIRACLE! Reason began to come back to Tai’iq’s head. He slid down the tree and landed on the ground. He sort of smacked the leaves and bark from his clothing as he did so. He took a few moments to get his hair standing smoothly as well.

After collecting himself Tai’iq looked around, the entire place seemed to be completely submerged. He sort of looked around now that he wasn’t terrified; he felt slightly guilty about not helping the blind cat lady, though he spotted them alive nearby so it’d worked out.

His ear flicked as the movements of others reached him and Tai’iq looked around at everyone else who’d survived. Sort of tough to pick many of them out though there was a slight cluster off to the side, what looked like a bear and another figure who was fiddling with something around their hands. There was another figure moving through the rubble who seemed to be looking for things.

Tai’iq’s eyes went towards the road and he just realized his drink cart was probably in ruins, he’d have to go looking for it to see what could be salvaged, and to see if the hirelings had survived. That was also important of course.

As Tai’iq was scanning the group of survivors he began to realize something about them. He knew two of them, old friends from back when he’d been a rapscallion, well, they were closer to the middle period he supposed. He glanced towards the shape of the feline that he had been speaking with though decided to see what was going on around the inn.

He was known for curiosity after all.

 

[Synergy JADE]

Δ ELYS Δ
Mentions: Yahhah Yahhah (Tai'iq)​

Gods damn this all the fiery asshole of Asmodues's leathery— Elys swore, clinging to the Kobold and the tree with all the strength her cat body had. Water pelted against her, driving her against the wood and threatening to send her sweeping away into gods knows where and—

Before a new crop of curses could come tumbling out, the water turned silver about her head. She growled low in her throat. Magic. Of course. The crashing waves seemed to freeze around her body, releasing the aching from holding the Kobold in her teeth. The water started to slip away shrinking as if being pulled into the ground and absorbed into the air all at once. Elys let out a hiss as her waterlogged body dropped to the ground, fighting the urge to groom her drenched fur. Instead, she raised her nose to the air and breathed in.

Neither the flood nor the earthquake or even Elynd's scent prepared her for the scent that now lingered in the air. Worse than fire, or even death... nothing. The mix of scents, of townsfolk, of the inner keep, anyone at all was just gone. They'd been there before. Faint, and she had tuned them out. But now that lack of smell shone like roaring fire in a pitch-black night. She turned to the Kobold that seemed to be coming to.

Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.

She sniffed again and found that thankfully the Tabaxi was still nearby. She breathed in again. 6 scents. Stronger than any human or animals she'd ever know. And the only ones remaining. She shifted, wincing at the slowness of the change. After 3 in less than an hour, she wouldn't be able to do it again until she'd had a breather.

"Tai'iq," she said, assigning him a golden coat and sharp yellow eyes in her head. "I need your help."

She grabbed her captive by the leather armor strap and began to drag the scaly body across the field to where the other survivors began to gather.

 

[Synergy JADE]

The Meeting After the Storm

location: In the ruins of the Drunken Trout | with: Entire Party| mentions: Elynd | tag: blitzfritz Yahhah B Bigmoe808 Saturn_moon

Δ ELYS Δ​

The Kobold let out a low whimper as Elys dragged it across the muddy ground. It would be awake soon. And she needed answers. She raised her hand to the small group of survivors in what she hoped was a friendly manner.

“Hello,” she called. “Are you all alright?”

***
☗ Kidari ☗​

It was over.
The roar of the water-gone. It took a moment for the tiefling to process that, and once she lifted her head, a clear view of the waters was seen-the surface shimmering and dancing with sparkles.
Kidari watched the water for a moment before hearing Ria’s voice, quickly turning to the other in her arms.

And then she collapsed.

“Wait- Nonono-” The hair on the back of their neck stood up as Ria buckled, and she was quick to catch the other. She couldn’t be… No. Kiki wouldn’t entertain the thought. Ria couldn’t be dead.
Footsteps approached, and Kidari perked up to see a...young girl? She wasn’t sure. But the mark on the other’s cheek let the tiefling raise an eyebrow. Yet she didn’t question it. The other was most likely trying to survive, so Kidari would turn a blind eye to a simple escapee.

But another approaching figure caught the tiefling’s attention, and it was another girl with scars across her eyes...must’ve been injured, from the flood or otherwise she didn’t know. But Kidari gave a wave to the one approaching, turning back to the blacked-out Ria, tail impatiently flicking and thumping against the ground.

***
♭ Tai'iq ♭​

After being asked to help in moving the prisoner Tai’iq came over and did what he could. Grabbing one of the critter’s free arms to drag them towards the group ahead. “Greetings Kidari, been a bit. Wish it could’ve been under better circumstances” Tai’iq greeted the tiefling. “We’ve got a little extra company, courtesy of this one” Tai’iq said, pointing out Elys’s catch.

***
Δ ELYS Δ​

Thankfully the tabaxi came and took Kobold’s other arm. Her human form was a lot frailer than it had been before the war. But no use howling over rotten duck. As they walked, the Kobold began to squirm, its tail flicking out and its breath growing more even. Damn. Was it awake?

“Les mee gooooo,” a scratchy voice erupted from the creature and began to struggle in Ely’s grip. She listened as Tai’iq referred to her. Damnit. She hoped these strangers would offer a little help before they realized how clumsy this human form really was.

***
☾ Mouse ☾​

Mouse rushed over and without hesitation, unceremoniously dragged the unconscious woman up and out of the water. No point going through the trouble of dispelling all that water if she was going to just drown in what remained. She noticed the tiefling glance warily her way but said nothing which was better than what she could have hoped for.

It was then she heard the call of a young girl - wait, what girl? There had been no other girl before. Mouse looked over at the approaching tabaxi accompanied by a gangly, brown-haired, girl with a nasty scar across her right eye, dragging one of the lizard-like creatures behind them. The mountain cat that had been with the tabaxi before had vanished into thin air.

She raised a brow curiously but did not react. The day was weird enough as it is and she already had too many questions that she needed to make sense of. Hopefully, things would sort themselves out in their own time.

***
⊕ Medeus ⊕​

The splashing of watery footsteps alerted Meadeus to a new location, a picture was being painted before him. Placing the shield on his left arm, he made way towards this scene in the draining river.

Voices accompanied the sounds around them. One the worried quiver of a woman. The others were greetings from two individuals, half of which seemed acquainted with her. The splishing of a struggling creature that wanted to be freed from the gathering.

And finally...a silent one. The first one he'd been alerted of did not speak, but it did move closer to the group. They seemed to be struggling with several things at once. He was not certain what exactly was happening. Who was friend. Who was foe. So he spoke up.

"Hail, fellows, I'm a traveler. What goes here? Is everything alright?"

***
Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

“Leesss me go!” the Kobold howled. “Lets me goes!”

***
☗ Kidari ☗​

A startling amount of things were happening at once, and it put the poor woman on edge. But what really made her seeth was when the mute started handling Ria. Her love. She wouldn’t allow it.
”Let her go.”
It was a quiet command, but pointedly directed at Mouse. Kidari then quickly pushed the girl out of the way, replacing her hands with theirs, as the tiefling carried Ria to a safe above-water spot where she could easily see the other-without even a word to Meadeus. It was rude, and she did indeed catch the escapee’s movement in the fact that she meant no harm, but her tail showed that the stress was starting to make her frizz.
Walking back to the group, she crossed her arms, taking in who’s who. Only to stop next to the Tabaxi, a huff as she looked up at him.
”It’s been a while...Re’in.” She still hadn’t forgotten the name he went by, that was for sure. And she glanced at the hissing Kobold, who caught her attention as well. The girl wasn’t in the best of moods currently, and she decided to let said mood fly on the poor scaly dragonkin.
“And I can see that.” Kidari spoke with a hiss to her tone, walking around the blind girl and squatting down next to littl’ ol’ Lummy. With a flash the tiefling brought out her blade, holding it next to the Kobold. “...”

***
☾ Mouse ☾​

When the tiefling pushed her away Mouse threw up her hands as a sign to indicate she had meant no harm. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to help in calming them down and she watched as the tiefling dragged the unconscious woman further away from the group.

Mouse frustratedly blew a stray piece of hair out of her face and folded her arms. Should she have been surprised? Humanity was rarely kind but she thought under the current circumstances things might have been different.

Turning her attention to the others, she noticed that the large bearded man had now also joined them. Surprisingly, for a man his size, he was softer than she had expected. His accent was unfamiliar although there was the faintest hint of Chaan weaved into his words which set her both on edge but also offered a strange comfort amidst the madness.

***

Δ ELYS Δ​

The people smelled, well, tense. But for the moment they couldn’t afford for that to matter. The tabaxi was practically kin, right? She could trust him. And she heard them picking up someone unconscious from the group. The form smelled alive. But in human form in was hard to tell.

“LESSSS POOR LUMMY GO,” the Kobold screeched, almost managing to wrench his arm out of Elys’ grasp. “POOR LUMMY YOU LES HISSM GO!”

Elys gritted her teeth. “You there,” she called to no one in particular. “Someone help us. This Kobold knows something. The town is gone. And not just killed in the attack.” she stopped in front of the group, again overwhelmed by a scent she’d never quite smelled before. Like foreign magic. Almost. She swallowed and continued. “He smells like someone I’ve been searching for nearly two years. One of you please help us. He’s the only one left alive that might know what happened here.”

***
☗ Kidari ☗​

The tiefling was the one to replace Elys’s hand as she snatched the Kobold by one of its horns, holding it tight. She almost stared down the poor thing, something...sadistic in her glare.

“I won’t let you go.” with stress, and sh

Her words hissede lightly looked up to the blind one as she spoke. So, the girl caught him for information, eh? Simple enough. So, Kidari pulled up Lummy’s head so that the two were making eye contact, and grinned. Her canines were showing.

“Buddy. I need you to do a favor...and answer a few things.”

The dagger in her other hand was visible to the Kobold.

***

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

The Kobold winced at the sight of the tieflings canines.

“Poor Lummy,” he grumbled. “Everyone always picks on hims.” He turned up to face the tiefling and immediately shrank back. Smelly demonkind. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Not like good Kobolds.

“Lummy answers if you no hurts hims,” he said. “Lummy a verrrry good boy.”

***

⊕ Medeus ⊕​

Off to a rough start already. This is why he let Perseus do the talking for all these years. Though now, without his employer around, the lack of practice was coming to bite him in the ass.

The one who owned the voice filled with worry cut that stutter almost immediately. He wasn't quite sure what happened when the silent one approached, but the company had not been welcomed. The now angry one carried something away from the group, a swishing sound accompanied her movements. When she returned, she beelined towards the two companions detaining the struggling individual from before.

On one hand...he wondered if the prisoner was the one he should be assisting. On the other, the person who asked for help in keeping him that way mentioned something about an attack. From the rest of what she said, it seemed that this was indeed a village. A town, she said. Was. And before it's oblivion, it had seen battle. Likely from the Kold...was that a Kobold...the prisoner's faction.

A new sound appeared as Angry One approached the trio. The light humming of a knife being freed from its sheath. Reminded that there were no innocent parties among this gathering, Meadeus waited to see where this went. After all, he couldn't deny his curiosity. At the very least, the Kobold was being obedient and the splashing it created came to halt.

***

➹ Dorn ➹​

There was a group of people gathering nearby around what looked like an unfortunate trapped little critter. “Well let’s go see what that’s about” Dorn said, budging the bear in the side who looked up and sniffed the air and shook his fur out before trotting over. “Howdy everybody, caught one of the little fuckers did ya?” Dorn spoke.

There would be a loud audible sniffing between the cats as Bjorn joined them, looming over the kobold as the bear looked down at them curiously, giving a grunt of curiosity. “Bjorn, space” Dorn said looking at the bear, who grunted as if annoyed before waddling back and moving to stand beside the half elf to look at the others.

“Is he talkin?” Dorn asked, digging around in his pack with his still sore arms and pulling out an arrow. “You’ve got the right idea with the knife, in my experience there are two ways to make these kind of things talk, shinies or food, orrr you could threaten to stab them, which also works if you’re short on the other stuff.”

***

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

“Nooooooo,” the Kobold moaned as the half-elf notched an arrow. “Poor Lummy didn’t do anything!”

The Kobold shrank farther away from the slayer’s companion. “Please tell your dog Lummy is a good boy! He follows stinky tiefling and pointy human!”

****

☗ Kidari ☗​

She looked up at the half-elf, rolling her eyes. Kidari would’ve hid her emotions more...gracefully, with a bit of charm, but the whole situation with Ria made the girl lose all tact. She still didn’t let go of the Kobold, though.

“First off, I won’t have a reason to hurt you if you’re cooperative.” She did give a glance to the bear...said bear seemed to follow the half-elf. Interesting. Kidari still had a grip on Lummy though, to make sure he didn’t move far.

“Wait… Stinky?” Kidari tuts, shifting the dagger in her other hand, a glint in her eye as she faced the lizard. “You shouldn’t call me stinky, of all things. My my, do you want to get hurt?” Her grin seemed more...vicious, and her voice more teasing. She rarely got like this, and it seemed that her emotions were starting to win out on showing itself.

***

☾ Mouse ☾​

The interrogation was going around in circles. The Lummy - at least that’s what she’d heard the creature refer to itself as - while seemingly pliant was just screeching nonsense incessantly and it was giving her ten kinds of headache.

With her whip still in her hand she gave a sharp flick, snapping the lummy’s ankle with a crack. She glared at the creature with hard eyes, a warning that if it didn’t start speaking coherently soon, there would be more of where that came from.

***

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

The small Kobold wailed at the sound of the whip then again when it snapped around his ankle.

“Please, please, thunder hands!” Lummy wailed. “Give poor, poor Lummy a question. Lummy will answer. Yous will see. Lummy do not need leather snake to answer!”

***

Bjorn​

This was perhaps one of the strangest things Bjorn had ever been a part of and he had been a part of quite a few things. His ears perked up when the little critter asked for a question, Bjorn would provide, he was the best at this. He got up on his hind legs and asked, ‘why did you attack everybody’ but to everybody else it would only sound like bear growls.

***

⊕ Medeus ⊕​

"Why did you and yours attack this town?" the Masked spoke up. "From my point of view, these folks don't seem very happy with you. And I'm inclined to think they're justified."

He maintained his distance. From the sounds of footsteps, the kobold was getting more than enough attention from the rest of the group gathered here. The two that held him in place stayed at his side. Angry One likely kept a knife to his person. Silent One had also begun moving, and the crack of a whip appeared soon after. And finally, two more individuals arrived in the area.

The first to speak up was a man. He joined in on the interrogation with little to no appreciation for the creature. The second was...different. By the sound of things, he was bigger. Much bigger. Even bigger than Meadeus himself. It made him question whether or not this was an Orc-kin when he noticed the number of footsteps coming from him were more than the normal two. A beast? Yes. This was Drobis, after all, home of the Beast Masters.

The creature neared the Kobold before the man told him to return. From there, he heard the grunt of a bear.

Ok. So Bjorn, Silence, Lummy, Re-in, Angry/Stinky, Cowboy, and the final one holding the Kobold...that would be Beacon. Meadeus had a label for each of the individuals here, now he could actually begin to learn what had happened.

"Who is Lummy? Why are you here? What did you do?"

***

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

So. Many Words. Lummy would have a hard time keeping them all straight. But Lummy did not want to face the Thunder Hands and her leather snake that made sounds like thunder.

“Lummy is Lummy,” he said. “Lummy is Lummy.”

What was the rest?

“Lummy attack because Lummy was told too. Lummy is a good boy. He always does what the Big Ones say. They said the Made Ones and us to take more to become Made Ones. Made Ones are very cruel. Not like Lummy. Not like Lummy at all…”

Had he done it? Lummy did not want to hurt. “Lummy kill the ones the Made Ones say. He take the ones Big Ones say to take. Now cat-girl take Lummy instead. So now Lummy is a good Kobold and he answer all the big questions.”

***

Δ ELYS Δ​

“What did you do with my brother, Lummy?” She had to hold herself back from screaming. Two years. Such a long two years. And the scent was unmistakable. “He looks like me. Sometimes takes the form of a bear. Stubborn and dumb as a stup but as good as they come.”

Tears formed at the edges of her sightless eyes.

“Please tell me.”

***

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

Words. Word. Words. But Lummy was a good boy. “I see many like this among Made Ones,” he answered. “Yes, Lummy did. Very ugly and hurt like Lummy.”

​

“Where,” Elys whispered, her voice cold.

“Follow the tunnel underfeet, yes?” he said. “They will lead you. Yes. Or Lummy leads like a good boy if you don’t hurt poor Lummy.”

***

☗ Kidari ☗​

The demonkin was smart enough to back off from the situation once others took over, but she still kept her dagger out just in case Lummy tried anything. And her grip was still tight on the poor Kobold’s horn, keeping him in place.

“As said, unless you give us a reason to, we won’t hurt you.” She glanced up at the others surrounding this dragonkin. “At least, I won’t.” Her tail flicked too and fro, all-too impatient to get back to where she left Ria.

***
⊕ Medeus ⊕​

"Wait," Meadeus took a step forward, his interest suddenly piqued. "Tunnels? What tunnels?"

☾ Mouse ☾​

Mouse looked curiously from the large bearded man to the gaping hole in the middle of the inn. Could he not see?

For the first time she took in the details of the stone mask over his face and realized that there were no eye holes in them. So he was blind. Or he had intentionally chosen to obscure his vision but she doubted that was the case.

Cautiously, she reached out and took his hand, tiny in comparison to his, and traced in his palm. BEHIND YOU.

***
Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

"Tunnels," Lummy repeated, confused why the new man did not understand. "They the dead roots of the world says Big Ones. Yes," he said, smacking his lips. "They how we escape and how we come. Roots, roots, dead roots."

 

[Synergy JADE]

Personal Cut Scene: Mouse
Saturn_moon ​

As soon as the last words leave the Kobold's lips, the voice of Asmodeus stirs inside Mouse's mind. With that, he leaves a single command.

"Kill him," it whispers.

 

[Saturn_moon]

MOUSE​

Made ones, big ones, hurt ones. The more words the lummy spouted from his mouth the more confused Mouse got. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose trying to tune out the creature's sniveling which was making it near impossible for her to think. Surely no one would mind terribly if she gave it another quick smack if it granted them even five minutes of peace and -

She felt his presence before she even heard him. It enveloped her like an unwelcomed embrace. "Kill him." Asmodeus whispered. In the past two weeks, she had grown accustomed to the smooth baritone voice her patron often used to disarm, charm, entice, and bend people to his will. It rarely worked on her though and was something she taken some pride in. His methods did not differ too greatly from those used by prostitutes to lure potential clients in. This, however, was a command. An order. A decree. His voice, cold and grating like stone against stone, sent a shudder down her spine. The unspoken threat hanging at the end of those two words like a noose around her neck.

It was one thing to kill one of these creatures in self-defense and another to murder it in cold blood. The fact that it was whimpering pathetically at their feet didn't make it any easier. "No, I will not." She replied, mustering all the bravado she could manage. "I cannot." The moment the words crossed her mind, she held her breath, waiting for, anticipating, Asmodeus's wrath.

Mention: Synergy JADE (Asmodeus)

 

[Synergy JADE]

Asmodeus​

Silence.

The formless spirit that had latched itself to the young woman writhed in anger. Disobedience. The spirit of Asmodeus hissed and He knew in that moment that if He had been there in the flesh He would have strangled the waif of a girl right then and there. He did not relish most killing, but his Power was not meant to be questioned. And the World Breaker could not be disobeyed.

"Cassandra," his voice boomed and he twisted knots of pain around her and slid them about like a net, invisible to all but him and the girl, and began to tighten them around her like a puppet's noose. The girl had more spirit than one so small should. But then again, that was the way of broken things, they were good at rattling in one's shoes. Though, maybe she would be more useful than He had first supposed? Maybe... another deal could be struck that might just settle the scales. Yes. He hissed and held her still.

"You have displeased me, Cassandra," he told his prey. "But it seems an opportunity has presented itself that might lessen your punishment. Until then, you will await further instructions. And do what you can to silence the Kobold." He tightened his net of pain around her once more for good measure. It should feel like drowning in fire at this point. Like being trapped in a coffin lined with iron needles. And her pathetic companions would be none the wiser. "I will not be disobeyed twice."

With that, he released his prey and returned to Gates of Hell in order to strike another deal.

Mention: Saturn_moon

 

[Synergy JADE]

✵ Ria ✵
Location: Dream
​

Ria stood alone. Ashes drifted through stale air that smelled of old death, the kind of death that lingered centuries after the blood and rot have decomposed. Kidari was gone. And an incredible emptiness inside Ria told her that ages had passed in the time since Kidari had been killed… since all of them had died. They had failed somehow. And she had killed them. Before they could kill her she had destroyed them. And now she was empty. Now the world belonged to Him.

She walked on bare feet through ash that heaped around her ankles like snow. Had there been a dragon? Or had this been all Ria’s fault? She could not remember. Almost all the memories before He came had faded long ago. All but Kidari.

As the ash shifted beneath her feet she strode on the sun that hung like dying coals in the sky. It was so cold here… so cold.

At last, she allowed herself to stop at the place she had once called home. The place she knew before Kidari became her one and only. Among the piles of ash, a single scotched tower still stood, its doors rotted away until all that remained was a black skeleton with gaping eyes. Ria started to turn to wander back to where she had started. She could not be away from Him for long. A creaking sound echoing from the tower froze her in her tracks. Perhaps a rat had managed to survive? Yet even as the thought crossed her mind a cold clang echoed once more from the tower.

Could anyone else be left alive? Hesitantly, Ria made her way across the blackened ground until she stepped inside the rotting mouth of the tower. Even in the dim light, she could see a few discarded bones that bore the marks of the Made Ones’ sharp teeth. She cringed. Could there really have been a time when she didn’t know what the Made Ones were?

Clang. The sound rattled through the tower like the grinding of old bones on metal. Above. Made Ones mostly stayed below ground now. Most did. At least the Prince offered some safety there. With some hesitation, she found the sagging stones of the staircase leading through the tower and began to climb. Stairs would have to do now that the magic was gone. Her scars burned as she drew closer to the tower.

Finally, she rounded the last stairway and came into a single stone room. On the farthest wall huddled a chained woman, clothed in gold and what must have been white before the ash came. Her grey eyes rose to Ria’s, the intensity of both turned her feet to stone and sent flickers of long-dead memories coursing through her veins. Ria gasped at the mental impact, falling to her knees on the ash.

“Oh gods, what have I done?” Ria asked as a whirlwind of faces and memories crashed through her mind. “Who are you? Why did you give me back my pain?” Ria screamed and even bound the woman seemed to tower over her as proud and wise as a queen.

“God is dead,” the woman replied. “You cannot call or swear on a corpse. But you already knew that, child.”

Ria clamored to her feet and drew towards the woman. Nothing she could do could make up for her failures. But maybe she could free this woman. He wouldn’t allow Ria herself to die. But maybe this woman could escape Him. She reached out to the pure silver that held the regal woman in place.

“It is of no use,” the woman replied as Ria’s finger touched the metal chains. As soon as she did, a masculine scream of anguish erupted from the bonds. “You can not break Time itself,” the woman said as Ria sprang backward.

“What can I do?” Ria asked. “Please. I cannot face Him again.”

The grey-eyed woman bowed her head to Ria, a flicker of regret flashing through them. “Oh, child, you will face him many times.” The woman raised her chin and even the floating ash seemed to still before her gaze. “And many times you will fail. But with Them you might succeed. For now, this is a dream Auria of Runia. Only They can keep it from becoming real. You must not fail.”

Not fail? That is all Auria of Runia had ever done. Kidari…

“How do I do this?” Ria pleaded, tears rolling down her cheeks as memories that were hers and not hers swarmed in her head.

“Tell my son that the Coin of Fate has two sides,” the woman said her grey eyes suddenly sad. “Tell the Mouse that they must find more than just knowledge in their gift. Much like Knowledge, it will bring pain they must not break from. Tell the One Who Hunts he must grow life as well as end it. And tell the one you love that love does not end in death.”

Who were these people? And death? But it was already over—The woman’s face began to blur and her body began to drip like the wax of a burning candle.

“Please,” Ria cried as the world begun to boil. “There must be more we can do.”

The woman smiled a sad smile. “God is dead,” she repeated. “The burden must now go to Them.”

Ria opened her mouth to say more but instead found herself opening her eyes in an ashless world. Over her stood the most beautiful creature in the world. She hadn’t failed them yet. There might still be time.
~~~~~~~~
Mentions: blitzfritz (Kidari) B Bigmoe808 (Medeus) Saturn_moon (Mouse) and Yahhah (Dorn)

 

[Bigmoe808]

Either way Meadeus looked at things, there were no good answers.

For starters, there was the flood which ripped him from his ship. Though a force of nature it may be, a powerful one at that, it was not the result of great rain from a monsoon. The phenomenon was the after math of a prior phenomenon, that huge explosion he heard off in the distance. An earthquake caused the everything which happened in Drobis.

Now, he wondered, what caused the Quake. A silly idea popped in his head. That somehow, the group this Kobold belonged to had an elaborate system beneath the earth which collapsed in on itself. That these little mongrels were behind his misfortune. Admittedly, he had enough shame to realize how ridiculous that notion was, but, it did not make him feel any easier when the next concern popped up.

"These tunnels, how big are they? How far do they go in Drobis" and hopefully only in Drobis. It was bad enough that he had no real idea where he was. That a quake rearranged the map was bad enough, but, a caving underground labyrinth would only made the surface that much more difficult to navigate. Depending on the situation, even Lore's River could've changed in its behavior.

He was going to ask more questions when he felt something touch the palm of his hand. Surprised, he turned his attention to person responsible.

Silence. He named so in his head, for they were the only one here to not make a sound. He did not know why they touched him, but was curious as to why. Was there something they needed of him, or was he unaware. From what he could tell, the hand that touched him was small. The fingers behind their tips were smaller. A woman? Apparently so Silence was.

"Did this creature come from tunnel like it says?"

 

[blitzfritz]

She had enough. Kidari, not wanting to deal with the little Kobold-Lummy, it says-that much longer, finally stood up, their irritation bubbling back up with how the tiefling's tail was flicking like an angry cat. She dipped out of the conversation, giving a wave, mumbling a quick "I'm gonna check on Ria." before slipping off to where she set her love down.
They set the sorceress down underneath a tree not too far from the group, and Kidari could sense that Ria was still knocked out...so she set herself down beside her lover, gently talking one of Ria's hands and rubbing her thumb across the other's palm. She did this until Hadria's eyes fluttered open, seemingly shaking herself from the dream that the other was stuck in.
Kidari was ever alert for her lover, and perked up when her significant other was awoken. Her breath light, the tiefling spoke; "Ria? Are you okay?"

 

[Saturn_moon]

MOUSE​

Pain wrenched through her body, fierce and unforgiving. It burned like a thousand suns and yet when she looked, there was not so much as a flush on her skin. Her vision began to blur and it took everything Mouse had to remain standing upright. Still, it was difficult to hide the anguish from her face and she turned to the trees as if keeping a lookout for more dangers although she knew the greatest danger lurked within her. "You have displeased me, Cassandra."

Suddenly, she was back at the brothel in Madame Dorothea’s chambers, lying naked and prostrate on the floor. The Madame’s cane strikes her bare back with a loud crack! over and over again until angry red welts formed and then some more. Fists clenched, nails cutting half-moons into her palms, and teeth gritted she refused to cry or scream. Instead, she channeled the pain to the space once occupied by her soul, now left abandoned and empty, and let it fuel her anger and determination. I will not be broken. I will not give them the satisfaction of watching me break.

The world came back into focus as the levels of pain reached an apex. “I will not be disobeyed twice.” Mouse let out an audible gasp as Asmodeus left, taking with him the suffering he had inflicted upon her. Her body swayed, caught off guard by the abrupt release, and she quickly reached out to a nearby tree for support. Behind, she was vaguely aware of the deep rumble that was the blind man’s voice but her head was still too jumbled to make out the words he was saying. Had he been talking to her? Or was he addressing the Lummy?

The Lummy... She glanced back over her shoulder, certain the dark circles under her eyes had gotten a little darker after that ordeal. The lizard-like creature was still there, still alive, and still whimpering. In all honesty, a part of her had hoped to find it dead so that it would no longer be her burden to bear but that fates were rarely that merciful. Neither was Asmodeus and he had made his conditions perfectly clear. Mouse groaned internally. She needed to figure a solution to her predicament and quick.

 

[Synergy JADE]

Malevolum “Lummy” the Kobold​

"These tunnels, how big are they? How far do they go in Drobis," Stone Face said. "Did this creature come from tunnel like it says?"

Lummy scowled. "Tunnels is big. Big is big," he said. "But poor Lummy ran for months from bottom of world. Yes. Yes. We come here to get more best creatures for Big Ones. They need the sharp teeth. And the people yes. They are needed. Yessssss."

He tried wiggling his toes just to see if the nasty rope would let him go. "Lummy come from tunnel. The Big Ones only must be in tunnel and Made Ones too. Until the Biggest One comes. Yes. Lummy a good boy and he show you the tunnels. Very nice tunnels they are."

 

[Yahhah]

Dorn
B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
Drunken Trout Inn​

Dorn and Bjorn sort of glanced at one another as Lummywent on about some word that didn’t make sense to either of them. Dorn had never heard it and Bjorn didn’t pay much attention to any two leggeds besides Dorn so neither of them made heads or tales over what the kobold was talking about.

Though Bjorn did hear what the kobold said about tunnels and began to shuffle his feet uncomfortably letting out grunts of nervousness. It wasn’t often Dorn could understand his bear buddy without magic but right now it was loud and clear.

‘Please don’t make me go back into a tiny space’ Bjorn looked at the half-elf beseechingly. The bear extended a paw and poked the pack upon Dorn’s hip as if reminding him they needed to find a Combine base to get a promotion, most likely to change the subject of tunnels. Dorn looked around at the other people, the tiefling was doting over a fallen woman, the giant of a man nearby was near a younger woman, and then there were the two beside the kobold a feline tabaxi and another woman who looked half blinded.

None seemed to be paying him any attention so he turned to Bjorn and grabbed the bear by the sides of the head. “It’s alright buddy, I’m not going to make you go in there if you really don’t want to” Dorn said looking the bear in the face. “I’ve got a gut feeling something big is going to happen down there though.”

Dorn said, addressing the bear. Though then Lummy started talking again and the half-elf looked over. “So, Lummy, was it? You mention there’s a giant thing inside the tunnels, how likely is that thing to pop up out of the ground and start eating and destroying everything?” To Dorn it sounded like a good 70 to 80 percent likely, he had yet to hear of a giant tunneling monster that just appeared and was chill.

Tai’iq
B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
Drunken Trout Inn​

“A tunnel… Made one.... Giant one!?” Tai’iq repeated what was said with growing mystery and exclamation. That would sure make an excellent ballad....

The tabaxi had been silent as he sort of ran different lyrics for music about this whole situation in his head, most of which had been him trying to decide whether or not rhyming trolloc with bollock was in bad taste or whether or not he truly cared.

It was sort of nice to see Ria and Kidari alive once more, at least enough for him to not hold it against the latter one for prodding his old scoundrel days. He gave them the excuse they were worried about their fallen friend and were being snippy. The girl Elys wasn’t speaking much though she did seem quite angry at this little scaly thing for keeping things from her about her brother.

Tai’iq’s eyes worked overtime sizing up the people he had yet to meet, a ‘mousy’ looking human female who had yet to speak a word, something seemed to be troubling them though he blamed that on the situation, quite a bad day in all honesty. They had been with the majority during the questioning, threatening the tiny lizard.

There was a big intimidating man Tai’iq would not want to get into a fight with there as well, he stood stoicly, the tabaxi found himself not being able to discern much from him. Quite odd, he prided himself on studying people. Though he seemed more fair minded, stepping in to actually question the lizard just before the cat person had had the sense to join in.

Then there was the last man who was accompanied by a bear who seemed like they were trying desperately to exude that they knew what they were doing but were in the process of giving their bear a pep talk.

What was it about the fates and bringing such odd groups together? On second thought Tai’iq didn’t feel like questioning it. Imagine the lyrics he could make out of this.

Hyborean

Ashland​

Thunder crashed throughout the day that had turned to night under the oppressive maelstrom of clouds. Burke, a lumberman pulled himself from the wreckage of a working shed. His right ankle shattered, though through the fear and adrenaline he felt as a nightmare moved through the town he had grown up in.

Burke was a man from Ashland, he made his living battling monsters and hunting beasts, though he’d never seen one like this. It wasn’t even so much that he’d seen it. Burke had yet to clap eyes upon the monster though he had heard it and deep in his core he could feel the immense presence this beast gave off.

As Burke threw his body forward, trying his best to run for the town gates three bolts of lighting struck in unison. Revealing the silhouette of a towering beast with a toothy maw outlined against the lightning. A pair of wings soared over him seemingly taking the place of the sky as the monster let out a rumbling bellow which seemed to shake whatever buildings were left.

With a crash the beast landed on its forelegs, sending clouds of dirt to cloud Burke’s gaze, fear gripped his heart so much that he could not move a muscle. The dragon pushed its head forward through the dust it’d caused revealing a malevolent white face covered in long healed scars.

A pair of yellow eyes studied the man like a man may look at a particularly interesting insect. The dragon opened his jaws and a buildup of blue lightning fired from its maw, blasting right towards Burke who regained his senses in time to throw himself away from the bolt which blasted into the ground and flowed forwards until it hit a stone wall, making the stone shatter as rubble hit the ground.

Burke attempted to drag themself away from the monster pathetically. The dragon lifted his head, a long forked tongue snaked out of his mouth to lick his muzzle which had a few drops of blood still upon it. He tilted his head towards the human.

Hyborean extended a claw, catching hold of Burke’s bad leg making the human cry out in agony as he was dragged back towards the dragon. Burke turned to look the dragon in the eye and let out a scream as a pair of jaws extended towards him…

Only for them to stop. Burke opened his eyes, expecting to find the afterlife only to see his tormentor letting out a booming laugh at his own misfortune. “Just kill me” Burke demanded, this seemed to catch Hyborean off guard.

Hyborean had yet to run into a small creature with the willpower to move under his gaze, and yet this one was shouting defiance at him. The dragon smiled cruelly. “No. I don’t think I will” Hyborean decided, going into a lying down position where he rested a claw upon his chin.

“Why not, you scaly son of a bitch?” Burke shouted, now he was intentionally provoking. Hyborean didn’t think there were any smalls with that sort of courage. The dragon yawned in a nonchalant fashion.

“I’ve killed many a small in the last half hour. You’ll die on your own anyway, I need not be bothered.” Hyborean stated, examining a claw. The human struggled to their feet before rushing forward, as fast as their little broken leg would allow. They began to beat the dragon’s belly.

Hyborean was content to sit there and let the little critter tire themself out. The man went on for a few minutes before their leg buckled and with a snap their shattered leg went in an unnatural direction and they fell over, unable to move.

Hyborean looked down at them, his eye narrowed, though his face was amused, as amused as a dragon could show anyway. He threw his foot forward and crushed the tiny human to paste in much the same way someone would swat a bug.

 

[Synergy JADE]

✵ Ria ✵
Mentions: Yahhah (Tai'iq) blitzfritz (Kidari)​

"Kiki," Ria breathed and looked up to find the beautiful lavender-tinted face of her lover. As she did, Chomp wrested his way out from Kidari's cloak and scattered over, his scorpion's tail wagging happily. With a sound that was part howl, part bark, and part purr he greeted Ria, waggled over, and began chewing with obvious pleasure on her leather boots. Ria glanced up and surprisingly, she found that Kidari was no longer her only company. Standing in a disheveled cluster of people was the most peculiar assortment of survivors she had hadn't experienced since well— Tai'iq.

Ria bounded to her feet to her surprise, found that they were strong. She threw her arms around the tabaxi and laughing, pulled out a gem she'd been carrying around in her pocket since searching some ruins with Kidari weeks ago. Pulling away, she thrust into his hands. He'd appreciate it more than she ever would.

"Tai'iq," she laughed. "You old sparkly scoundrel." She looked him up and down and her smile widened. Judging by the fine clothes and the gilded jewelry, it seemed the "Re'in" she'd met in the days after Runia burned had gone off and had the audacity to make something of himself. Kidari had always been her light, but Tai'iq, when he hadn't been trying to rob them, had been lightened their hearts with many a tune and ballad before the Dark Days came. Dark Days...

Suddenly the full force of the dream washed over her again and she turned back to Kidari. There was so little time. She didn't know why she knew that but the dream had felt real somehow. Absently she reached up and rubbed her aching head. She wiped her scalp and a thin layer of ash drifted from her forehead making her stomach turn to stone in an instant. She reached out with her fingers and caught it in her palm, rubbing it between her fingers.

Time. It was running out. As she looked around, a linger silver and gold web shimmered in the air above the group's heads. Something was happening and Ria was certain whatever it was had something to do with what she'd just seen.

"We have to move," Ria said to the strangers. "Three different attacks in less than an hour. Someone wants something very badly. We don't want to be here if they find out they lost it."

​

 

[Synergy JADE]

Δ ELYS Δ
Mentions: (Indirectly) B Bigmoe808 Saturn_moon blitzfritz Yahhah ​

Elys nodded as a new voice joined the crowd that had gathered around the Kobold. The new voice was ordering them away from here, and even though her very breath reeked of magic, she seemed 'bout as determined as Elys felt. Magical folks were always an odd lot, but they weren't really meant to be questioned. Plus Elys' mind was made up. She had to get home one of these days and she sure as the hottest Hells wasn't going home without her brother.

"I'm going where this dumbass came from." Elys said, a little embarrassed by her country accent after hearing such fine folk talk. Why didn't magic folks never seem to swear as much? "I've been looking for my brother for 2 years and he's the first clue I've gotten since I lost my sight. I have to go in the tunnels. I must." She wondered what they all looked like. There seemed about seven of them by the smell. "And my name's Elys'. I owe you for what your folk did back there."

She waited and hoped. Something about that scent told Elys she should stick by these strange individuals. But if they didn't see it the same then she would be on her own... again. She chewed her lip and waited for an answer.

 

[Bigmoe808]

Destination
POV: Meadeus​

The point in asking questions is to eliminate them.

His only gave birth to more.

According to Lummy, the tunnels were greater than one could imagine. And that was coming from a creature that belonged beneath the earth. Months. Humor would suggest that his legs were short, or that an underworlder could not possibly know what a day is well enough to describe a month. Meadeus was not feeling particularly comedic, he would accept it for what it was.

There was something more to be said about the makers of said tunnels, however, his concern for their existence was not as great. They sent the kobolds to do their dirty work, it mattered not so long as they kept to that way and away from him. Big Ones. The Cowboy and Re'in did not like the sound of them, the former being fairly creative of what might come to pass. Drobis was home to many great beast, the natives made it their pride and life's work to bend them to their will. Now it was their turn to be on the receiving end of the yoke, with his company caught in the middle.

And to add on to the growing list of strange things, more strangers. A new voice joined the group, accompanied by the sloshing of footsteps that came over from Angry. A woman with an overall positive attitude in the situation at hand, rather chipper in comparison to the others. Meadeus titled his head at this one, wondering if he had miscounted somehow during his earlier assessment.

Strangers to him were well acquainted with each other. Ta'iq, as she dubbed Re'in, was approached by the woman and seemingly embraced. There was a strong connection between the two, a history they shared which gave hope to them presently. Comrades? Companions? Lovers? What he was more interested in was what she said after.

Three Attacks. Not even an Hour. Time to Move.

He was about to ask what it was that someone was searching for, she seemed rather knowledgeable. But then Beacon spoke. Her real name was Elys, she was searching for her brother, and the Kobold Lummy was under her charge until she found him or was disappointed. The tunnels was where she would go and her mind was dead set...however, the words came with a bit of hesitation. She was asking if any of the other group members here would go with her.

And there Meadeus saw his own chances slipping away. This group would not remain here for much longer. Perhaps some would join Elys for the tunnels, while the rest would travel across the land, potentially splitting ways sooner if not later. He thought to Elys searching for her brother, how she had not seen him in years.

Reaching into his pocket, Meadeus brought out one of his possessions. A bronze medallion with the symbol of a horse reeling above a storm cloud.

"Lo. Pardon that I did not introduce myself very well the first time. My name is Meadeus, I belong to a merchant company known as the Tempest Stallion" he made sure the medallion faced the correct end "I would like to ask your assistance in returning to them."

He to had someone that he must find, it would not do to take as long.

Synergy JADE Yahhah blitzfritz Saturn_moon

 

[Saturn_moon]

MOUSE​

More questions and answers that weren’t exactly answers were thrown around as Mouse deeply contemplated the ethics behind killing Lummy. She had a sneaking suspicion that Asmodeus already had a claim on the creature’s life – a knife held steadfast over its heart – and even if she were to spare it, it wouldn’t be long before death came knocking once more with a harsher death sentence. Would it then not be a mercy to grant it a quick and painless death?

While lost in thought, the fiery-haired woman awoke and approached the group looking like she had just seen a ghost. “We have to go.” She said, sparing any pretenses. “Three different attacks in less than an hour. Someone wants something very badly and we don’t want to be here when they find out they lost it.” Traces of her magic still lingered in the air, a reminder of how powerful this woman was, and Mouse was struck once more by a mix of awe and fear. Go the woman had said, but go where? Her only goal the last two weeks had been to get as far away from Chaan as possible. She had simply picked a direction and ran. Now, she stood at a crossroad, faced with choices that offered no amount of confidence. For the longest time, Mouse was driven by the thought of dealing justice upon the people who had enslaved her. It was what kept her sane and fighting for the last decade. That fire still burned in her heart but perhaps not that brightly; the flame tempered by other more pressing needs.

Mouse was wary of this group of strangers and she realized now that she had unconsciously kept her whip firmly held in her hand the entire time. From what she had seen, every single one of them was extremely capable when it came to killing and highly unpredictable. In other words, every one of them could not be fully trusted. Still, after everything that had happened, the last thing she wanted was to be caught in a similar situation on her own. Safety in numbers or so they say.

The girl whom Mouse was sure had been a mountain cat – or was she actually a mountain cat that had turned into a girl? – spoke up. She introduced herself as Elys and declared her decision to venture into the tunnels which Lummy had mentioned. Elys apparently was also blind. Mouse cocked her head. This girl was either crazy or stupid. Possibly both, although her determination was certainly admirable. However, as absurd as Elys’s plan was, Mouse had a feeling that the tunnels might also lead her to Asmodeus. While she had not the slightest idea of what she was going to do when she met him, her intuition was telling her that it was something that needed to be done if she wanted to reclaim her freedom.

The bearded blind man was named Meadeus and he exuded an air of calm and patience despite his intimidating size. He was looking to find his back to his merchant company. Mouse considered it. Not a terrible path to take as merchants and slavers often followed the same routes. If her intentions were set on making peace with her past, this was definitely the way to go.

Then there was the fiery-haired woman and purple tiefling. They had yet to introduce themselves and their intentions but at the moment they were her best bet at learning how to control her magic which was something she needed to accomplish as soon as possible if she didn’t want to accidentally blow off the head of the next person they met. How exactly she was going to broach this subject with them was still a huge question mark. This left the tabaxi and half-elf with his pet bear.

Grabbing the nearest branch she could find, she wrote in the muddy ground at their feet 'MOUSE' then signed the corresponding letters with her hand before pointing a finger at herself.

Synergy JADE blitzfritz B Bigmoe808 Yahhah

 

[Yahhah]

Dorn
Nearby: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
Outside of the Drunken Trout​

Dorn got no answer from the little sniveling weirdo. Alright. The other people that were around seemed to be trying to think of what they should do next. The girl who’d brought the little lizard guy seemed very intent on going into those caves to chase their brother and the red head was also intent on doing something, but they didn’t specify where.

That left some of the other folks giving introductions. He figured he should at least join in on that. There was something going on that was for sure and anyway it was already time for conversation and it was kind of a rude thing not to introduce yourself.

“The name’s Dorn, I’m with the Combine. This is Bjorn, say hi Bjorn” Dorn said patting the bear on the shoulder. Bjorn got up on his hind legs and waved his paw from side to side giving out a friendly growl as he did so.

“Moving huh? Not a bad plan” he said.

He noticed the big guy, Medeus speaking about losing some friends of his. “Any clue where you left them?” Dorn asked, tilting his head slightly. He would be lying if he wasn’t trying to think of an excuse to keep the bear out of the caves, well there was that and his selfish want for a promotion.

Tai’iq
Nearby/Mentioned: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
Outside the Drunken Trout inn​

Well it was good to know that Ria was not in fact dead. The cat man was silent during the embrace as his pupils expanded at the sight of the shiny thing. Just because he was now a business man did not mean that his old appreciation for things on the jinglier spectrum were gone.

The tabaxi took about 10 seconds admiring the gem before he shook himself and put away the shiny thing. “Yes, it is good to be seeing you well again, Ria. And you as well. Thank you for the… Thoughtful gift” Tai’iq said to the pair he had not seen for quite awhile.

“Oh yes, introductions” Tai’iq said clasping his claws together when he noticed there were some he had yet to meet. “The name is Tai’iq Ovirridian De’larosan the First. A pleasure to make all of your acquaintances” the tabaxi gave himself an introduction.

When the one called Medeus brought up his missing crew that reminded him of something he should probably check on. “Oh yes, I too have a little something to check on, time permitting… Wait? Someone wants something?” Tai’iq said a little confused,

 

[blitzfritz]

Kiki sighed, glad that Ria was awake, before Chomp wrestled his way out of the tiefling’s coat. They didn’t mind the dragon intrusion, but she still had to find a more permanent way to cap the psudodragon’s scorpion tail so he didn’t accidentally sting anyone. Before she could speak any more, Ria was quick on her feet, approaching the familiar Tabaxi companion.
Kidari was right behind, of course, a low tone admitting from the demonkin’s throat. It seemed that everyone was introducing themselves...and some of them had different ideas on how to approach the newfound pickle that they stuck themselves into. First on the list-introductions.
They cleared their throat for a moment, looking to Ria and Tai’iq a moment before speaking. “Kidari’s the name. I am with...” My partner? My lover? Do any one of these unfamiliar people accept love outside of the societal norm? “Shit, get back on topic!”
“... I am with Ria, a partner to her.”
Kiki could never really escape the Drobesi accent that she had every so often when speaking. And “a partner” was vague enough to be seen multiple ways, so the tiefling would settle for it. If Ria wanted to point it out and correct it, she could.
Elys, Medaeus, Dorn with his bear Bjorn, Tai’iq, and the little mute girl who had written her name in the ground. Kidari’s ears visibly perked up at the mute, their tail flicking in curiosity-something about them was familiar, somehow. A connection, perhaps, but Kidari cocked their head for a moment as they inspected the girl; they wouldn’t leave Ria’s side for the moment-not until the sorceress chose where to go.
Multiple options were presented: go into the tunnels with Elys to find her brother, head with Meadeus to find his crew, or head with Tai’iq to find what he left. All were options away from where the ragtag group of seven were at the moment.
The tiefling turned to Ria, crossing their arms as they lowered their head and their voice to the sorceress. “All of the options lead away from here. I’ll follow where you go, to keep you safe.” At this angle, Kiki could properly see any injuries while the other was standing. No permanent ones, from what they could see, but there were a few persisting marks on her neck-
The tiefling's eyes widened when she realized what marking were on Ria's neck, and their tail curled a little in embarrassment. "Oops."

 

[Bigmoe808]

Meadeus
Yahhah​

His mask turned towards the question, but his mind flew back to the darkness.

"We were up the river, our ship was preparing to dock at the capital."

Where was he, now, relative to that place. It seemed so far away despite everything transforming so quickly.

"That's when the quake happen. I could hear it, right before it hit us, all still and then-" he moved the medallion before clapping his hands "Pop. Any vessel that wasn't capsized by the flood, yet, was dragged further down stream. Though couldn't tell you how far, was thrown off before ours tipped over."

Meadeus had already been over this part in his head before. If the boat did flip, the chances of his crew living were very low. What happened at the river would not be a quick or clean process even if his fellows didn't follow in the same path that he did.

"And now I'm here." He thought about it for a moment, considering the factors that stack the odds against him in this moment. Then he returned a few questions of his on. "Has the local geography changed?"

This was Meadeus greatest concern, second only to Tempest Stallion meeting its end. Even he could walk in a straight line upon request, at least stay on a street or highway when by himself. But this was not a time or place when such feats would be remotely efficient if enough at all.

"First, I will check the river. But even if I did find my company, leaving these lands will prove difficult considering all that has happened..."

The mask turned back to the creature, Lummy, before looking towards the new comer-Ria.

"And is still happening" he gave Dorn his attention once more, but he spoke broadly for any takers "I am in need of a navigator, as you can see, and promise compensation for any help you can offer."
Synergy JADE Saturn_moon blitzfritz

 

[Synergy JADE]

Δ ELYS Δ​

Elys was exhausted. But she needed to change back. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The dim shadows turned to darkness in her vision and in a moment stood as a couched mountain cat form again.

As the others stood discussing she padded off in search of the scar of earth where the tunnels lay. With a deep breath, she meditated on the smells wafting from underground.

Turns. Even at this distance, she could smell the tunnels that wound like empty roots beneath the earth. Water dripped with the remains of the flood and echoed from the walls, giving her a sense of the size of the gaping mouth of the cave. Just when she was ready to stalk back to the group, a soft sound broke the emptiness.

She leaned forward and listened. “Hehhhh,” like the whimper of a newborn kitten hummed in the air like sad music. She cocked her head as the sound whined in the darkness. With the flattening of ears, she turned back to the others. Something was down there. And it was hurting.

Elys bounded back to the group and growled. Turning back into a human would grant her speech, but it would also probably render her unconscious after a full day of transformations. So instead took hold of the girl whose shirt smelled of ash and death. Well, more so than the other one.

***

✵ Ria ✵​

Ria watched in shock as reality misted and where a young girl had stood a mountain cat, the size of a Great Dane stood before the gaping hole in the earth. The girl’s ears twitched and laid flat and the cat form came bounding back, taking Ria by the hem of her shirt. Even on a mountain cat’s face, the creature wore an expression of desperation.

“We need to move,” Ria said, allowing the large cat-girl to pull her forward towards the underground opening, seizing Kidari as she did. “Let’s go down long enough to see if we can learn anything more about this. The village is gone. People are dead. We are the only survivors in this. Let’s at least see if we can learn anything and if the way is clear we can part ways after. And—”

Ria stopped at the entrance to the tunnel. From the darkness below, the faintest muffled sobbing echoed through the halls.

“There’s someone down there,” Ria called, letting go of Kiki’s hand and leaping into darkness.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Mentions: blitzfritz (Kidari) and the general party is present B Bigmoe808 Saturn_moon Yahhah

 

[blitzfritz]

The girl, Elys, shifted into the form of a mountain cat-Kidari couldn't hide her suprise at the shifter. But the cat bounded off to the entrance of the tunnels, then came back and started pulling Ria.
Kidari naturally followed, of course. They didn't really have a choice, did they?
Looking into the tunnels, she could hear muffled sobs echoing through. The tiefling definitely perked their ears up at that, and as Ria dropped down into the tunnels, Kiki turned back to the group. "Whether you're coming or not, I don't think you would want to stay here."

And with that, Kidari crouched, launching herself down into the dark tunnels.

 

[Saturn_moon]

MOUSE​

Although she had her suspicions, Mouse couldn’t help but alarm at the sight of Elys’ form shifting before her eyes. Within seconds, all traces of the gangly teenager had disappeared, replaced by a large feline with tawny-beige fur and ferociously sharp fangs. Mouse’s grip on her whip tightened and she instinctively stepped back as the mountain cat slinked past. Elys made her way towards the gaping hole in the ground and prowled carefully along the perimeter almost as if she was studying it.

Seeming to have sensed something, she suddenly bounded back and began pulling at Ria’s, as she had now learned was the name of the red-haired woman, shirt in a bid for her to follow. “There’s someone down there!” Ria called out. If Mouse had been alarmed before, she was now downright flabbergasted as she watched Ria, followed by Kidari, leap into the hole without hesitation.

They’ve lost their minds. She thought as she ran to peer over the edge, dragging Lummy alongside her. Squinting, she could just about make out the bottom of the tunnel about eight feet down. Looking back at the remaining group, she frowned with uncertainty. Was jumping into a dark hole from whence terrifying and vicious monsters had just recently emerged really the smartest thing to do? Probably not, but at least they had an idea of what to expect down there. She hoped.

Not wanting to waste another moment, mostly because she was sure that any more time spent thinking about it would only lead her to the conclusion that this plan was completely insane, she shoved Lummy over before gently lowering herself down into the abyss.

Synergy JADE blitzfritz B Bigmoe808 Yahhah

 

[Yahhah]

Dorn
Near the Hole
Mentioned: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
​

Dorn stood still and watched as one by one the women that were assembled all made their ways into the gaping hole. One of them actually seemed to turn into some kind of feline which raised a couple of questions. Dorn wasn't entirely sure going in there was the right move. Of course the motto of the Slayer's Combine was partly about protecting the realm, but Dorn was pretty sure he remembered the quiet girl exploding a monster so they probably didn't need his help. He glanced over at the big blind guy before he looked over at Bjorn who was nervously clawing at the earth below. He waved his hand to speak with the bear and said "You know you don't have to go in if you're scared" Dorn told the bear. The armored grizzly lifted his head and looked over at Dorn as if he was hurt by that statement.

Apparently, Bjorn didn't like enclosed statements but he also didn't like to be told he was scared of things. The bear straightened up and seemed to take a steadying breath while looking towards the hole. "I'm not scared of ANYTHING!" Bjorn roared before the bear took off. He rushed and Bjorn hopped into the tunnel, disappearing from sight. Dorn sort of blinked twice while he watched his buddy before shrugging and looking at the other two guys who hadn't left yet.

"Well, I should probably go after him." He said, pointing after the bear before he sort of casually walking over and hopping into the tunnel.

Tai'iq
Near the Hole
Mentioned: B Bigmoe808 blitzfritz Saturn_moon Synergy JADE
​

"Well, I will join in just a moment. Feel no need to wait" Tai'iq said, bowing while he forgot the only person still around was blind. The tabaxi turned around and sprinted back the way he'd come. Tai'iq was fast, his speed had gotten him out of quite a few probable death situations, and even though he was decidedly less lean and fit than he'd been back in the old days he was still very fast. Tai'iq made his way back to the cart and found the cart and one ox which seemed very wet and also traumatized. The tabaxi clicked his tongue and went over to the cabin which also seemed wet and abandoned. With no sign of either the driver or the old guide.

Well, they probably knew how to climb trees. Honestly who could tell, humans were a very diverse bunch. The tabaxi went over to the back where all the actual drinks were held and began to go through them. There was a lot of broken glass which forced the cat man to be a bit careful, though among the bunches of broken glass. Nothing.

Aw well, perhaps the two men escaped and took some of the merchandise. Either way he supposed it wouldn't be that important. Tai'iq spent a few moments unhitching the bovine which did not move before he sprinted back and spoke to the big blind man. "And that is my business" he called over before moving over to the hole in the earth. "Well, only one way to see what's down there. See you on the other side" Tai'iq said before hopping down as well. He stopped for a moment before jumping, hearing the crying. "Well that is... Disconcerting" he said before shrugging and climbing down.

 

[Bigmoe808]

Meadeus
Location: Mouth of the Hole

One by one, those that were once now were no more. The little stars dimmed, the living echoes deafen. The ripples faded until smooth. The world returned to stagnation and swallowed him back into its tinkering quiet. Meadeus stared blankly at the center of the gathering, but his thoughts turned to each individual that departed from it.

Kicking his boots into the muddy earth, he reached down to gather some stones. Pebbles, really. He wasn't peculiar about their shape so long as they yield a good size. With a handful to bare, he immediately began to dispatch his quarry. A flick of his wrist and the little rock flew straight into the earth and landed with a thud. And like this, he began to walk in a straight line while repeating the.

Fwsh

Thump

Fwsh

Thump

Fwsh

...

...

...

Clack

He tilted his Mask before kneeling it closer for inspection. Here was the beginning of where existence met its end. He placed his finger into the ground at his feet, confirming that it indeed existed. Then he reached out that same hand into the empty void further beyond. Open space and stale air was all that shook it, greeting him with callous trickle of water. He remembered asking Silence about the Tunnels, closing his grip and releasing the other stones, he accepted the Kobold story...or rather the others' interrogating him. The creatures claims were much wilder than just a hole in the ground.

Now. What to do from here? His request had been politely turned down and he still had to find his group. Yet, given the situation on the surface, he would have to wait for the environment to clear up from its mess to have a legitimate chance at finding anyone. And that's just the natural catastrophe, there was still the likely hood of a roaming band of kobold's.

Yet.

The Mask leaned again.

Down there. There was another option to be had down there. A specific and structural tunnel and little more than a road with walls and a ceiling. It would be much easier to navigate than the ruins of the over world. Course. It wasn't like Perseus was inside of it out of the sake of convenience.

His fist tightened.

This could very well be a waste of time better spent. Checking the river directly should be the first place Meadeus looked. However, getting there would either risk him getting lost or require him doing nothing at all but sitting at the village until later. These tunnels, however, he could spare a moment trying to understand them. Maybe finding a safe route out of Drobis if they were in tact. As wild as that idea might've been, there were starting tally more benefits than not when considering this hole. Standing up, he took one step forward and fell into nothingness.

An entrance to another realm, he thought it would look bigger.

Saturn_moon Synergy JADE blitzfritz Yahhah​