The group had become quite large, as Theo observed. He became flustered at the assault of greetings. First was a blue-haired and well-dressed young woman, bounding up to him and Gaius. With all her clinking bracelets and melodious voice, Theo felt an instant attraction, his spirits lifted simply by her presence. It was almost odd, conflicting with his characteristic cynicism. What's her Class? He thought suspiciously.
Before he could speak, the second person appeared, and this one reaffirmed his cynicism. Blunt and demanding, she was the type of person Theo never got along with. She described herself as a Witch, and Theo held in a laugh, covering it with his hand. Fitting.
And then the third came, a cheerful guy, a Samurai. Theo sent the pair a smile.
"Just call me Theo. I'm a...Sundancer." He gave a bow, flourishing his robes. The cluster of them, blue-haired girl, Veronica, Kieran, Gaius and himself, made five. He looked at Dead Dan, and the rest of the people appearing near the shrine, and quickly lost count. "I thought I was going to be in this alone," he said forlornly. "That's alright. Friends are good." He beamed at the group.
"So," Theo said, turning to his golden orb. "How about giving us a briefing?"
The orb spiraled into the sky, casting a flash of light at the people gathering below.
"I would like to thank you all for heeding our call. Our world is in danger, and you are the only ones who can stop it.
"I cannot tell you exactly what we are fighting, but it is a dangerous force. But before that, you will have to learn to fend for yourselves in this world. There are natural predators, ones that can be dangerous, but every creature has its use. You will earn food, equipment, and valuable combat experience from fighting them. You must grow stronger, as your success depends on it.
"You will see the shrine before you. There are many scattered across the Moon, and they are a great source of power for our people. If you can activate them all, as you have activated this one, we will be one step closer to liberation. But you need the power of four people to activate a shrine, so it is imperative you stay together. We will help you find them."
The orb finished, floating back down to Theo's side. Innumerable questions flickered through his mind, but before he could focus, the orb spoke again.
"Little light," she said. "Those predators I spoke of. You're about to meet some. It seems we've drawn attention."
Theo spun, eyes on the dim horizon. A buzz filled his ears, as several shapes flickered in the distance.
"Are those..." Recognition struck Theo's mind. "...mosquitoes?" He hardly filed mosquitoes away as "predators". But there was something else about them.
"They are similar in function to your planet's mosquito, yes," the orb said. "But these ones feed on much larger animals, and as such..."
Theo looked, his eyes wide in horrified astonishment. One was closer than the rest. It was over ten feet tall, spear-like sucker piercing the wind as thundering wings brought it closer at alarming speed.
"Everybody get ready!"
Before he could speak, the second person appeared, and this one reaffirmed his cynicism. Blunt and demanding, she was the type of person Theo never got along with. She described herself as a Witch, and Theo held in a laugh, covering it with his hand. Fitting.
And then the third came, a cheerful guy, a Samurai. Theo sent the pair a smile.
"Just call me Theo. I'm a...Sundancer." He gave a bow, flourishing his robes. The cluster of them, blue-haired girl, Veronica, Kieran, Gaius and himself, made five. He looked at Dead Dan, and the rest of the people appearing near the shrine, and quickly lost count. "I thought I was going to be in this alone," he said forlornly. "That's alright. Friends are good." He beamed at the group.
"So," Theo said, turning to his golden orb. "How about giving us a briefing?"
The orb spiraled into the sky, casting a flash of light at the people gathering below.
"I would like to thank you all for heeding our call. Our world is in danger, and you are the only ones who can stop it.
"I cannot tell you exactly what we are fighting, but it is a dangerous force. But before that, you will have to learn to fend for yourselves in this world. There are natural predators, ones that can be dangerous, but every creature has its use. You will earn food, equipment, and valuable combat experience from fighting them. You must grow stronger, as your success depends on it.
"You will see the shrine before you. There are many scattered across the Moon, and they are a great source of power for our people. If you can activate them all, as you have activated this one, we will be one step closer to liberation. But you need the power of four people to activate a shrine, so it is imperative you stay together. We will help you find them."
The orb finished, floating back down to Theo's side. Innumerable questions flickered through his mind, but before he could focus, the orb spoke again.
"Little light," she said. "Those predators I spoke of. You're about to meet some. It seems we've drawn attention."
Theo spun, eyes on the dim horizon. A buzz filled his ears, as several shapes flickered in the distance.
"Are those..." Recognition struck Theo's mind. "...mosquitoes?" He hardly filed mosquitoes away as "predators". But there was something else about them.
"They are similar in function to your planet's mosquito, yes," the orb said. "But these ones feed on much larger animals, and as such..."
Theo looked, his eyes wide in horrified astonishment. One was closer than the rest. It was over ten feet tall, spear-like sucker piercing the wind as thundering wings brought it closer at alarming speed.
"Everybody get ready!"