[IC] Through the Portal

[Esailia]

@Force and Fury@checkeredsoul@Yuuta@ReusableSword

Esailia wasn't able to focus. She had been trained to endure strikes, but that was when she was expecting the blow, when the rest of her instincts were active, not in a moment of furious rage. She lay there, catching her breath and staring at the darkening sky, as she recovered from her oh-so-graceful landing.

After several seconds of being on her back, she started thinking straight again. I was hit...I don't feel any sharp pain where I was hit, doesn't mean I'm not bleeding. Her hand came up to her neck, patting around a moment before bringing the gauntlet up to her face. No blood, good... She let the hand fall back to her side as she glanced down her body towards Victor and Rintor, feeling a tad bit better that the veteran finally had a sharp object aimed at the creature.

Not waiting to see if Ayana or Tori would help her, Esailia pushed herself sluggishly into a sitting position while keeping her gaze firmly set on the pair of men. But she smartly held her tongue this time, and rolled onto her knees before reaching for her sword to sheathe on her hip. She stood up and took a breath.

"Just keep both eyes on him." she shot over her shoulder, then to the group "Anyone see a place we can hold up for the night? We need a fire, and to set up a watch rotation."

It was clear she wasn't doing this just because it needed to be done. From the look on her face it was obvious she needed the distraction before she became a murderer herself, and potentially release a demon into an untainted land...

[Force and Fury]

"So quick you are to think I would kill you," Rintor replies, gaze unflinching from the demon. In one smooth motion, he lowers his dagger and returns it to its sheath. He turns to Esailia, then rising. "I apologize for the blow, but you needed to recover your reason. Rest assured he will not spill any blood here, unless he does so over my dead body."

Then he registers the Fox-girl's observation about the grass. This could be nothing, or it could be very, very bad. "You are right," he tells her. "This is...alarming, but we are not far from rocky ground," he ensure that his voice is loud enough for the others to hear. "I suggest that we make haste there before sundown. Then we can study this phenomenon without having to walk upon it." He begins suiting words to action. You still wear that mantle of command a little bit too comfortably, he reminds himself. It is no longer yours to wear. "Any opposed? Any other ideas?"

[checkeredsoul]

@Esailia @Yuuta Tori kept thinking about what she could do. Esailia was up already and Tori kind of felt bad for not helping sooner. Tori looked at Esailia to check for blood, she didn't see any so she didn't do anything. " maybe we can start a camp on top of a hill" Tori said then she thought that it was stupid to say it. " eh never mind " Tori moved her hair from her face to get a clear view of her surrounding area. "Ayana you know a bit about farming right" Tori asked. She wanted to know if the land around here would be good farming land if they could find seeds or a small plant.

[sntabe]

@Force and Fury and others, I think

Zeke paid little attention to the Crimson Marauder; one glance told him his comrades had it under control. Instead, he continued to study the soil, taking measurements and recording observations in his sketchbook, such as color, texture, apparent composition, and the like. He found a little glass vial from his bag and gently pressed a pinch of dirt into it with his little finger, sealing the container with a nub of clay.

He wished he could have brought more sophisticated measuring tools, but they were too inconvenient for a trip like this. No, not just that - some of the most basic tools were ones he had to go without, such as a scale and mass. That was something he'd have to construct himself, but if he didn't do it right, Zeke was bound to have skewed data. He was a researcher, not a carpenter, but he didn't trust anyone in this party enough to ask to make one for him. For now, he had to stick with what he'd brought.

Zeke pulled out his pocket telescope to examine the soil further when a yell broke his focus. He looked up to witness quite a scene: Esailia charged and yelled obscenities as Rintor defended the stranger, the changeling all the while behaving somewhat inappropriately for the situation. What is going on? he wondered, though only raised an eyebrow. He said nothing, sitting silently in the dirt, much preferring to watch than become involved. It was rather amusing.

Suddenly, Victor - that was his name? - Victor's appearance changed, and he spoke in a different voice. Zeke turned his head in curiosity, pointing an ear toward the man so as to better hear him. He'd not heard of the Crimson Marauder before, though of course, he'd not heard of anyone before. Zeke was as ignorant as ignorance could get in regards to people and current events; they were not things he cared much for. But now, he was regretting a little his lack of knowledge, though he'd certainly pick up the pieces.

Now Victor pronounced himself to be Argor the Destroyer, and spoke of Victor in third person, and of himself in the plural. He also mentioned a demon... and the grass changing colors. Zeke looked to the ground to see if it was so. He saw nothing. He bit his lip in frustration; these colors were like a sixth sense, something that he never knew. He wished that he could see what everyone else saw, that he could understand this visual clue everyone else took for granted.

Nonetheless, Argor appeared to be correct, at least by the others' reactions. Rintor commanded attention, and advised the group to make toward the mountains. To Zeke, that was the only logical option, and so he briefly voiced his agreement. He wanted to add that it could be a taint of the land, only indicated by the living creatures upon it. If that was the case, and it was dangerous, they might not find safety in the mountains, or anywhere. But he had no evidence to corroborate, and so refrained from mentioning it. If it was true that they were unsafe regardless of their location, there was no point.

Zeke stood up, though had a thought. He quickly pulled out another glass vial and stuffed a bit of dirt in it, in case there might be something there that he could measure. He didn't know whether this phenomenon was natural or magical, whether it was present only in the plants or in the soil as well, and so tried to gather what he could now. He sealed this vial, though made a notch in the clay so he could tell his two specimens apart, and gently pulled up a few blades of grass. He placed them discreetly in his pockets, knowing that he might very well be carrying a hazard with him, and went to stand by Rintor to show that he was ready to leave.

"I know this might not be the right time to ask," he began quietly, hoping the older man wouldn't mind, "but might you tell me whether the flowers and trees have changed as well? And perhaps the speed with which they change? I'm colorblind," he explained, studying Rintor's face and emotions. He seemed wise and thoughtful, though a bit judgemental. Surely he would understand Zeke's request.

[ReusableSword]

Argor looked the man next to him and smiled at his words, “Because of what and who I am Violence is always to be expected” he watched the smooth motion of the mans blade movement and came to a conclusion about this mans past, “Assassin” he whispers and turns to the girl mimicking him. Her question and her ability to try to mimic him was in a way flattering yet annoying, “Changeling” again he whispered before talking louder, “gar cuyir a adiik, Draar ve'ganir o'r ner ara” it was a test to see if she would be able to repeat his language. “The boy does not care what you do, and neither do I” he seemed to pause again as he looked at his would be attacker a bit closer, “that girl does look familiar doesn't she victor? Perhaps one of the ones that escaped the masters cages?” This time victor chimed in, “don't instigate the girl, remember we don't want to start a conflict.”

Argor continued to talk aloud to himself, “I'm not trying to start a fight I'm simply speaking aloud since there are two of us in here you know.” the man paused for a moment as if deciding what to do, “this place makes me uneasy” victor chimed in again, “stating the obvious boy, your instincts are tuned into a different world. Who is to say that running in this instance is the right thing to do?” Still, Argor and Victor both knew that getting to high ground would give them a better view of the land and looked to be free of this color changing grass. This approach was cautious and costly to protect yourself from something that was not understood and merely a guess. “Well I suppose we can test out the man eating grass question later” this time speaking to those nearby. They seemed to be deciding what to do while losing daylight, “well I don't know about the rest of you but I'm going to those hills, at least there I can get a better vantage point of the landscape.” without waiting for the others Argor began to proceed towards the stone covered hills.

@Force and Fury@Esailia@Regitnui@Yuuta
(Translation roughly translates to “you are a child, don't get in my way” Language Mando'a)

[Nagariin]

Numzom was just munching an apple, really, he was uncaring when he realized that a man, full of tattoos, and glowing, was in front of the party, he saw that the supplies crate were blasted open from inside, like from a demon. He walked closer to the man, still munching an apple, when he was approximately 3 cm away from him, he threw the apple and said "I dont know who you are, but im begging, dont hurt the party, even if the demon is bloodlust right now, i know you're innocent, The Crimson Marauder.

"Esailia, right?"asked the Half Elf, "Lets get going, i knew a lot of legends about this man, he destroyed hundreds of villages, but i know he's innocent, its just his inner demon. Come on, lets go" Numzom said.

[Yuuta]

Upon examining the soil, Zeke would find it more granular and coarse than the soil back home. It was mostly dark brown with sparse white specks mixed within. There didn't appear to be any bugs or signs of animal waste inside, but there was a faint scent of garlic. Likewise the grass in the soil seemed to have similar features. A bit dry, prickly and more coarse than the grass at home, and that same garlicky aroma. Both the soil and the grass seemed to be getting warm...
@sntabe

Ayane

Ayana perked up when Tori addressed her. "Oh, yeah. I know lots about farming. But we'll have to pick a place to get settled down first before I get started on a farm. And we've gotta build Esailia's cool guard tower." She look around, analyzing the mountains up ahead. "Hey guys," she said, addressing the whole party. "It looks like there's a nice hill over there. Maybe we should settle down for the night and make some plans for tomorrow." She pointed over to a dusty hill at the foothills of the mountains. The sun was now dipping down below the horizon and the light was starting to dim. Within the next our or so, there would be none left other than starlight. The hill was still a bit of a hike away from the mountains, but it gave them a good view of the surrounding land, and was not covered in the grass, which Ayane swore was starting to look different.
@checkeredsoul

[Esailia]

@Yuuta@Nagariin@ReusableSword@Force and Fury@checkeredsoul

In answer to Rintor she huffed, and headed towards the hill Ayane pointed out, not really caring to check for alternatives as she marched through the middle of the group. She was too ruffled to care about anything other than the memory the demon-man was forcing her to remember. And when Numzom ignorantly tried to defend Victor, the man whom she saw firsthand was NOT innocent, she glared ahead and responded with a growling "I don't care if where you came from the man was your deity. He took my mother away from me and I'll be damned if he gets to take any lives of this party."

The Mithra barely glanced back to see if anyone was following as she trudged ahead, though she did yell back "And get the wagon!"

[checkeredsoul]

@Yuuta@Esailia@Nagariin
" oh good eye Ayane " Tori says looking at the hill Ayane pointed out. Tori remembered she had brought some things for beds, she put her hand to her side to feel for her bag, but when her hand got there the bag was gone. " crap" Tori said. She looked around for the bag and it was nowhere to be seen. " um guys have you seen my bag" she said. The bag had everything in it, including extra arrows.' Maybe it's at the cart or something 'she thought. She had no time for this she moved her hair from her eyes and walked to the group.

[Nagariin]

@Esailia@ReusableSword

The Mithra didnt care about what Numzom said, but the party is lucky that it will start going to make shelter, after all, the phenomenon in this world is unusual, and very unlogical, like, how did the grass change colors?

Numzom just looked at Esailia and stated "I know, its heartbreaking, but have you ever got a spirit, or, even worse a demon inside your head? You just dont understand how it feels to share the same body with another being".

"I dont wanna talk about this bullcrap anymore, i really want to get a good first impression, but i havent started yet" said Numzom, then turning to Victor, and said "I defended you there, now if you try to do anything stupid to the party, think again. Welp, i know youre a demon, many of my comrades die to you, so i wont make you mad, cause i felt the wrath of Argor"

[BangoSkank]

Shel Applewood

Time was passing and the grass beneath their feet was changing, but into what?

The group's conflict had not quite come to blows, though it had been close, and it seemed time to move on. Ayana had made a good call, to Shel's reckoning at least. As Esalia headed out toward the hill Ayana had pointed out Shel trotted away from Rintor, Numzom, and Victor/Argor.

"I suppose it's got to be tough to be of two minds," he stopped and called to them, "but unless one of those minds knows what it is that is happening out here, we should probably all of us get going."

Coming up on the horse he reaches up to it, causing it to tilt it's head down, and he gives it a thorough spirited scratching.

"No life out here, no bees on the flowers, no bugs beneath the rocks, doesn't seem like a good thing does it? Don't think we want to be out here when whatever is happening finishes happening. Let's get going, the sooner we get off this weird grass is the sooner we can set up camp, which is the sooner I can get a proper stew going."

The horse neighs and shifts from foot to foot, Shel reaches up to administer further scratches but it doesn't seem to be interested in his scratches any more. He climbs up onto the carriage and looks nervously from the party to the hill Esalia is headed toward.

"Please, can we just get going? I don't like this and neither does our horse."

[sntabe]

@BangoSkank @Esailia kinda @Nagariin

Zeke continued to watch and listen. Already their group was falling to pieces. He considered the chances for their expedition to last, and evaluated what had gone wrong. There had been two instances of disarray, one about authority and one regarding this Crimson Marauder. Both had been caused by the Mithra.

Admittedly, the first disagreement was inevitable, and she happened to be the one to place herself in the middle of it. Though the situation could have been handled better, he didn't fault Esailia for her efforts; however, in context with her recent outburst, Zeke wondered if he should. While he couldn't personally say that he understood what it felt like to lose someone, he did know that keeping one's composure was an ability that any trained soldier, such as Esailia, should possess.

But what baffled him was why the half-elf would continue to provoke her. As he listened, Zeke had to make an increasing effort to maintain a straight face. Who was he to tell her - or anyone - that she didn't know what it was like? Sharing a body with another being? He wanted to say, 'Try multiple.' He wanted to say, 'Try being me, I've spent my entire life trying to enforce my dominance over ceaseless chattering voices. Suppressing them, controlling them, subverting them to my will - do you know what it's like? Do you truly know what it's like to stand in the water and hold your hands out to the ocean and try to keep back the waves? And all the while the tide pulls you in until you can't tell where you are or what you're fighting against? Do you know? And then as you struggle to stay afloat people say that the sea you're drowning in isn't real, that you just need to calm down. Get a grip. Get a grip on what? I am drowning and all you can do is tell me to get a grip on nothing.'

What a hypocrite Zeke was.

He clenched his fist and bit his tongue till it bled. Foolish. He gave himself three deep breaths, and then he would be calm. He couldn't let something such as this control his emotions. One. I am fine. Two. I am in command. Three. I can grip anything, even nothing.

Zeke licked his lips to rid himself of the taste of blood. It was still there. He sighed heavily into his sleeve as he wiped away the wetness in his eyes. He was still angry, but now he had burned himself out and he was more tired than anything. He would let Numzom know his thoughts, but later. Now was not the right time.

Still, he glanced to Esailia, storming toward the hill. She was bound to be sore that someone defended her mother's murderer but not her, so for her sake he finally took action. Zeke stepped forward and tapped the half-elf's shoulder once lightly. "Pardon, sir," he said in a low and firm voice, his tone lacking the respect of the words, "but I request that you... stop talking. Perhaps it's true that she doesn't understand your or the Crimson Marauder's predicaments, but we don't know hers either. We all have our share of tragedies, but we shouldn't place one above the other. And whatever the issue is, it's between those two. It's best for all parties that we stay out of their business. Hm? Thank you."

Without waiting for a response, Zeke briskly strode away. He did not care for a conversation with Numzom. He examined the wagon and the destroyed provisions crate, making sure everything was still secure. He doubted anyone else would. "I hope the food supplies are still intact," he mentioned jokingly to Shel, "otherwise we'll have another quarrel."

[Regitnui]

Rhen mulled the Crimson Marauder's words. Was that Infernal he spoke? Which dialect? The changeling was hardly fluent, but she replied, "Gar cuyir a adiik, Draar ve'ganir o'r ner ara." She ducked her head. "I know I'm not good at your language, but I can learn. And I can offer you companionship in return. My kind understand how badly mortals need touch and connection."

She stepped away from him, balancing her book on one hand and dictating the recent occurences. "Most worryingly, the grass has changed colour as the sun set. While similar things have been known in our world, the experts in our party appear quite worried. A lack of animal life in the area gives us ample reason to make for rocky ground." Shutting the book, she took hold of the horses' reins and began to urge them and the cart towards the hill.

For all the Crimson Marauder's fearsome reputation, deserved or not, he was still a man. Yes, half his soul was a demon, but her kind had infernal blood in them, yet another reason why changelings lived in the blind spot of society. As Rhen walked, she took care to subtly accentuate her current form in her motions. If the Marauder was watching, his human mind should take notice. And if someone else did, then she might not have to sleep alone anyway.

@ReusableSword

[Nagariin]

@sntabe@Esailia@ReusableSword

The astronomer patted his shoulder and told him to shut up, or in a more polite way, stop talking. Numzom answered"Okay, i will stop talking, i just want to have a good first impression here, its all ruined, thank you for reminding me".

Then he stepped to Esailia and said "Hey, umm, im sorry, about earlier, but you have to stop accusing Victor, i know that Victor has done a lot of bad things to you, but, my best friend, my partner, died to him too, his name was Richie, a human, a great swordsman, even General. Fuorth would send him to the New World if not for his death, i wouldnt be here, again, sorry for earlier".

Numzom felt kinda guilty, he just made two people dislike him "Hey, its fine, ive been with you for 6 years now, i may be annoying at first, but, you like me now, dont you?" Numbo said suddenly.

"Well, yeah kinda" replied Numzom, while walking with the party to the hills.

[Force and Fury]

The demon attempts further mockery. Rintor has seen it before. Beings like that thrive on the perceptions of others: the fear that they generate and the notion that they're powerful. Were it not for the magical shackles that he'd willingly put on himself, Rintor would slice the man's neck open in an instant and proceed to kill the demon as well. It isn't about morality, but rather scale of harms. Sometimes , some innocents must die so that more innocents are saved. An odious thought, to be sure, but practical, and the right choice.

Rintor can only answer the odd scientist's question with an admission of his own. "I can see colour," he begins, "but I fear I've taxed myself too far with all of this recent lightbending. I'm out of practice, and ironically, temporary colour blindness is one of the first consequences a lightbender suffers when he overextends himself." No need to mention the others yet, and pray I don't encounter them. I am dangerously rusty. "At this point, I'm following the others' lead and trusting in their judgement."

He walks quietly, watching, listening, and letting the others sort themselves out. He will have order prevail here even if he has to personally pound it into each and every one of their skulls. There are too many self-important people, hotheads, and liars. He's guilty of being the first himself. The sun is low. Colour starts returning to his world. The grass is strange. He's struck by its appearance. That doesn't mean that it's automatically a threat, but when dealing with an unknown, it's best to minimize your variables. It would be best to reach bare ground.

He watches Esailia stalking ahead of the others. For a moment, he's selfishly glad that he comes from a faraway land. Were there more people from the deep south, perhaps he would be as infamous as Victor. Perhaps his past actions would come back to haunt him. Perhaps he would be threatened with death. And he would deserve it.

Rintor Otorik divides his attention between his surroundings and the half-elf, who's approaching Esailia and trying to offer some sort of apology. Clueless child, he thinks. All strength and no brains. Surreptitiously, his hands brush the hilts of his daggers and he checks for the threads. It's so much easier - less taxing - for him to lightbend at night. He hopes that he won't have to, but he is ready nonetheless. There is little grass where they are now. The ground rises and falls. The mountains loom overhead, and a thin halo of sunlight crowns the summit of one of the lesser ones.

[Yuuta]

The party made their way to the top of a foothill. The ground was harder, but to the party's relief, grass free. A few scraggly bushes sprouted up out of the tough ground and the breeze caused small clouds of dust to swirl about every so often. From here, they could see that it was only the grass that seemed to be undergoing a shift in color. The trees, bushes, and rocks all retained their original color, at least as far as anyone could tell until night fell, rendering most of the landscape too dark to see.

The night sky was was completely alien. A large golden moon was the most prominent feature, lighting up the center of the sky, as well as countless stars, some of which had pinkish tints to them. A smaller, pale moon was observable, though it appeared much farther away, and the stars made no pattern that would be familiar to an astrologer from their home world. It was clear that this was not the same sky.

Ayane looked up at the night sky in awe. It was such a pretty sight with stars and a moon more colorful than back home. She reached up as if to touch them, but then she shivered as the first night breeze chilled her skin. "It's getting cold. Maybe we should make a fire," She said, looking at Esailia, and then at Rintor, the two people who seemed to really be taking charge of this operation. "I think they gave us some camping supplies in the wagon to help us until we get settled." She tested the dirt with her foot. "I can start digging a fire pit if you want."

[Esailia]

Standing on the hill, with a suitably wide enough plateau to camp for at least one night, Esailia started for the far side, shield raised and sword at the ready. She didn't respond quite yet to Ayane as her gaze flickered across the landscape for any possible moving shadows....it still irked her that they'd not yet seen any sign of animal life, intelligent or not. After nearly two minutes of gazing out, Esailia finally turned back to the party and nodded towards Ayane.

"Sounds good. I'll check for any standing torches while I'm getting the stuff for the fire. We need rocks for the edge and if there isn't any, wood for fire to begin with." The soldier proceeded to the wagon. She glared at Victor as she passed, but said nothing. There was so much to say that it couldn't all be said that night...

"A fine young woman, and so well disciplined. I am proud to have been your mentor, Esailia." The man said, clapping a hand on the girl's shoulder, clad in her dress uniform. "Passed all my tests with flying colors, and not a scratch on you."

Esailia's furred ear twitched. Why did that memory pop into my head? I don't think anyone could keep a level head when confronted with someone who stole their entire life from them... The Mithhra shook her head, the tip of her tail now twitching regularly as she rummaged through crates in the wagon.

[checkeredsoul]

@Esailia@Yuuta
Tori and the group made the trip up the hill, Tori was still looking for her bag. She looked in the cart, she was listening to the others but not really knowing what they are saying, Esailia was looking for torches next to her tori saw her bag under some boxes. " I found it, thank god." Tori looked through the bag seeing if she has wat Esailia needed, turns out she had two torches in the bag, " hey i got torches if you want them" she said looking over. " oh and some food if you're hungry" she said, maybe everyone was hungry she didn't know, if someone were to ask she would most likely say yes. Now she just had to wait for the answer to her offers, better to make friends here than to not know anyone.

[Nagariin]

The party arrived at the hill at night, the landscape view of the New World is just fascinating, with the golden moon above their heads, Tori offers some food and some torches to anyone who wants them, Numzom gladly answered "Ah! Finally, ive eaten my whole bags of apple on the way here, but, what kind of food? and by the way, Numzom, glad to meet you. Numzom smiled at Tori and waited for her reply.

@checkeredsoul

[Esailia]

Esailia shook her head at Tori when she held up some handheld torches, reaching further into the wagon and yanking on a pole over six feet tall. When the other end came into sight, it had a large open-topped cage "We need these kind to light the edge of camp." she explained before reaching back in to grab several more to tug free. Before she left the back of the wagon, however, she rummaged around and found some starter firewood, already precut in the even the expedition was unable to gather its own before the first night. The Mithra hopped off the back of the wagon, dropping the firewood at the wheel, then scooped up her original task; the standing torches.

With these in arm, she lugged them around, spiking the poles into the ground at regular intervals around the top of the hill, encircling the group in light before the main campfire was fully underway. Then, without caring to even eat, Esailia dropped her pack near the perimeter of camp, sat down with a heavy clank against it, and stared out into the night...

Esailia's hand could be seen lifting from where it rested on her knee, to her throat. Maybe she was adjusting her armor, but no telltale clinking of such an action could be heard...I doubt any of them understand just how bad I had it because of that monster...

The soldier suddenly sat up, twisted around and reached towards something on her pack. At first in the light it looked like a long piece of thin wood, but a moment after Esailia resumed her previous position, she brought the item to her lips...It was a flute, and the tune she was playing was eerie in the current location. Haunting and yet melodic, with purpose in each long note, she played without a single mistake. She would play for minutes if left uninterrupted, seeming lost in simply playing the song.