Horizon Walkers (Game Thread) Dead

[Lunar Templar]

She pondered the name 'Riviera', which was what she heard, as Alex began his story, and after a few moments decided she liked it.

"I've decided, I like the name, 'Riviera', I find the name pleasant sounding, so I shall be using it from now on so you all have something to call me." she said after Alex finished his story, then, with her PSA done, she settle in for what turned out to be a quiet ride to the bottom of the shaft.

at the bottom of the shaft they found a gate to another land, and with no reason to stay she entered it and emerged in the remains of, what she assumed was a human settlement.

"Welcome to my homeland."

She was right it seemed, though she saw nothing but destruction around her, the rain only adding to the desolate feeling of the ruined town. "We should seek shelter first, then worry about those covering you all wear." she said in reply to Des

 

[Terratina.]

Id had nothing to do but hover and listen to whatever story what was being told; how boring. No, boring wasn't the word. The stories themselves were interesting, tales of princess, conjurers, dragons and gods... However, they were just words. Well, not even that - simply air vibrated in order to produce sounds which had an agreed upon meaning. There was a much, much better way to convey those tales. If it could be called that. Regardless, the elevator reached its destination and the others continued forward, but not all. The... elf and one of the humans seemed to be unconscious. Though, Id wasn't really sure exactly what they were, as appearances could be deceptive and all. Id floated around for a few seconds, finding that the air above the elf was slightly warmer than the rest and that there was something strange about what Id assumed to be a human female.

Curious. Wait...

As soon as Id touched the female with a ghostly tendril, it understood. Back in the chaos surrounding proud roars, swipes of large paws and powerful legs jumping from one place to the next, there had been something which wasn't the Lion or Id inside the jumbled mental space for a moment. For one brief moment. What Id felt here and now was hardly a similar feeling, however, it was somehow familiar but subdued. Sleeping. Regardless, an opportunity was an opportunity. Id sank into Serragish, finding the exhausted woman easy to slip into. The arcane experiment was welcomed by nothing, apart from the slow static of an unconscious mind. Controlling the female's movements were simple enough, through her eye Id saw the other unconscious member of the escapee group. Id chose to scoop him and carry both of them through the Horizon to the world of grey cold on the other side.

The story the irksome man had told turned out to have some truth to it: the world in front of Id looked sick.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

He listened to the other stories but somewhere there he drifted off but he returned when they arrived at a new world. He ignored the glowing woman's question, she might ask again later but so far he just brushed it off.

Vaerys looked beyond to see the sad land that lay before him. The started to all upon them as the broken village before them where the shallow graves marked the lucky ones that passed this world. Some party member complained but Vaerys was focused on what caused such devastation, curious as he was.

"We should seek shelter first, then worry about those covering you all wear."

"Or we keep moving." Vaerys suggested. "Whatever did this to the village might return and I don't fancy being out in the open. Once we find a suitable place with four walls and several hundred soldiers, then I'll feel safe."

 

[IFS]

"I've decided, I like the name, 'Riviera', I find the name pleasant sounding, so I shall be using it from now on so you all have something to call me."

Alex had nodded when she said this "Riviera, a good name," he had said.

"Whatever did this to the village might return and I don't fancy being out in the open. Once we find a suitable place with four walls and several hundred soldiers, then I'll feel safe."

Alex laughed quietly, though there was some sadness in it "My people did this, inquisitors, a plague must have claimed this place in order to force them to such measures," he explained "We have no need to fear their return, for the time being the remains of the houses should suffice for shelter until the rain passes."

With that said he moved towards the one of the larger ruins, expecting the others to follow. He noticed that Serra had carried the unconscious Kyras through the portal with her, good that someone remembered to bring him, hopefully he wakes up soon.

He assessed the others again, some were dressed warmly enough that the cold wouldn't bother them, but others like Kes were not. Staying warm and dry until the rain passed would be quite important, and hopefully they could get some much needed rest. It feels like we've done nothing but run and fight since we left the arena.

 

[DarkRawen]

"We should seek shelter first, then worry about those covering you all wear."

Des frowned, when... she'd mentioned that she wanted to be called a name during the latter period of that elevator ride, right? He was sure of it... Rivira? Riviera?

I think it's the second.

Anyways, when Riviera spoke. "Seek shelter where? I can't really see any places it'd be warmer, all the houses are burned."

Well, most of them were, anyways.

"Whatever did this to the village might return and I don't fancy being out in the open. Once we find a suitable place with four walls and several hundred soldiers, then I'll feel safe."

Why would soldiers make things safer?

Des thought to himself. These mortals might be used to other kind of creatures than he was, if something had burned a place like this where he came from, it was other humans. Still, he didn't like the thought of continuing on, actually, what he wanted to do was simply not be cold anymore.

I don't like this horizon.

"My people did this, inquisitors, a plague must have claimed this place in order to force them to such measures. We have no need to fear their return, for the time being the remains of the houses should suffice for shelter until the rain passes."

He looked at those houses again, they really didn't look like they would bring much warmth. However, the cold rain was unpleasant, and unpleasant made Des sad. "Okay, then, if you say so. Let's go," he finally agreed, and went ahead, not waiting for the rest to agree or disagree. It didn't take long for him to find a house that he thought was sufficient, and going inside.

 

[hiei82]

Kes didn't say much during the ride down. It wasn't that she didn't feel like "sharing" so much as she didn't have anything to say. She'd spent the vast majority of her life in underground cells or the Liem Colosseum. What stories could she tell? Stories of fighting monsters for the enjoyment of the crowd? Of living behind bars? What little she knew of her homeland were stories of the older slaves and the hazy half-memories of childhood. Kalidonia was as real to her as any of the stories. Still, she listened to the stories, trying to imagine the mysterious places. She didn't have a frame of reference for much of what they said, but it was nice to try and picture it.

After a long time they found and passed through the Horizon Gate. She was among the last to pass through, having settled into a nice spot on the ride down. As she did, she heard Des speak. "I think the ladies also need something to wear. If not for me, then for Kes.". At the words Kes shook her head. "I'll be fine." she said before looking around a little. The world was, admittedly, very cold compared to the land they'd crossed through but she found it jarring at most and not at all uncomfortable. She thanked her unremembered world for it; she'd been told Kalidonia was an unforgiving place which went through enormous seasonal changes.

As the group began to gravitate toward a large, mostly intact building Kes ventured out toward the ruins. She lifted fallen beams and stones in search of something dry enough that it would still burn. While she didn't require a fire, the others likely did.

 

[IFS]

Members of the group settled into the drier spots of one of the ruined buildings, gaining shelter from the wind and rain. It was already clear their stay was not likely to be pleasant, though it might at least give them some time to recover from the fights on the last two horizons. Those able to see or sense things others could not might pick up a lingering dread throughout the village, though it seemed faded and hopefully was only a remnant of what had produced it. As the last of them exited the horizon gate it seemed to waver and then fade into nothing, like it or not they were stuck here until they could find a new portal.

Searching the ruins of the house a number of items could be found that might ease their travels, wool clothes and cloaks which were singed but functional, even a blanket or two. In other places some stores of food had managed to remain relatively untouched by the blaze, and even what looked to be a few bottles of some sort of (probably alcoholic) beverage buried in a chest under some rubble. Kes in particular managed to locate a few piles of dry wood that had escaped both the blaze and the rain.

Alex helped uncover much of this before relaxing in one of the drier corners of the structure, he looked up at the dark sky before speaking to the group "We should probably rest for the night here before we begin our search for the next portal," he said "Especially given all the excitement we've been through lately, though we might want a few volunteers to stand watch while the rest of us sleep."

He would volunteer himself if no one else did, but the last horizon with its intense heat had left him feeling exhausted. His clothes were much more suited to the damp and cold of his homeland than to the desert they had exited.

 

[DarkRawen]

When Des searched around for something to use, he quickly discovered some clothes and cloaks that could be used, even a decent, if half burned, pair of boots. Putting on the larger of the cloaks -a woollen one that fit him quite well- , he brought the rest to the person he felt needed it the most, Kes. Even if she had said she wasn't that cold, he figured she wanted something less... well, not just rags, and even gave her the pair of boots.

"Hey, Kes," he smiled, and handed her the least singed of the coats, a long skirt and the boots. He simply put it in her arms. "Here's clothes for you. Even if you say you're fine, I'm sure these'd look good on you."

Without waiting for a reply, or even giving her the chance to give them back, he went over to Serragish, still carrying some clothes.

"Are you cold as well?"

 

[Josh123914]

Dalrel woke hazily, shivering through his cloak and layers. Rummaging through his satchel, he donned a dark crimson vest and re-attached his cloak. ''What did I miss?'' he asked, refreshed from his long sleep, and soaking on his arm and ass since somebody must have dragged him through a puddle without asking.

 

[hiei82]

Kes had a large log over her shoulder when Des approached her. "Hey, Kes, here's clothes for you. Even if you say you're fine, I'm sure these'd look good on you." In his hands was a slightly singed coat, a long skirt, and a pair of boots which he handed to her quickly. "I said I don't-" she started to say before he pivoted on his feet and walked over to Serragish.

Kes just shook her head and made her way to the mostly-intact building that they were using as temporary shelter. There she set down the log (and the clothes) and began trying to start a fire. A few minutes later, the one who'd been asleep - Dalrel - awoke. "What did I miss?" he asked, drawing Kes' attention. "We walked through a Horizon Gate at the bottom of that tower. Now we're in Alex's homeland. Some find it cold apparently." she answered while making sparks to light the fire.

 

[Mr.Ivebeenframed]

"Especially given all the excitement we've been through lately, though we might want a few volunteers to stand watch while the rest of us sleep."

"Aye, I'll stay on watch." Vaerys said to Alex, walking up to him and giving him a pat on the shoulder to reassure him. "This dwarf still has plenty of fight in him. If any of your inquisition friends tries to sneak up on us, it'll be my axe that'll be asking questions."

With that, Vaerys began to sharpen his axe. It had been awhile since he had done so and the sound of sharpening blades always seemed to calm him. A part of him wished that they would be bothered that night. He was aching for another fight.

 

[Josh123914]

"Especially given all the excitement we've been through lately, though we might want a few volunteers to stand watch while the rest of us sleep."

''Aye, I'll stay on watch.''
''I will too'' said Dalrel, ''What else am I gonna do? Sleep again?'' He said, thinking he was really funny.
Taking up his post and attempting to dry pieces of his cloak, grimacing at the clothing donated to him, but stuffing it into his bag nonetheless.
"We walked through a Horizon Gate at the bottom of that tower. Now we're in Alex's homeland. Some find it cold apparently."
He heard from the one making sparks. ''Well, it is, and damp too.'' He said, moving him out of the way. Flicking his wrist several ways he produced a small ember that hovered from his palm. He smiled, and then blew it onto the timber, causing a substantial fire to kick off.

He turned, and asked Kes this one, ''Whats the story with this village? Did you all find it like this or did you cause it?''
Its a wonder this village was even able to burn with the torrent of rain above.

 

[Lunar Templar]

"I shall take a turn on watch as well" Riviera said as she lay semi close to the fire. The rain and cold didn't bother her, even with her thin fur it got colder back home. "So how should we determine who takes watch first? Draw lots or go in the order we spoke up?" she asked, wanting to get the guard rotation out of the way before any one settled in for a nap.

 

[hiei82]

Dalrel started the fire with ease using some form of magic. Kes stood and turned, but remained near the fire to dry off a bit. "Nice trick" she said with a half smile. It was a very useful trick that.

"Whats the story with this village? Did you all find it like this or did you cause it?" Dalrel asked. Kes shook her head. "It wasn't us; Alex says it was the "Inquisition"... whatever that is." she offered. "Something about a plague he said; you'll have to ask him for more."

Turning to Riviera, Kes shrugged. "I don't care what order we take watch; I'll take whatever watch needs me." Kes said, moving away from the fire. She grabbed the clothes Des had given her and walked around a still-standing wall to change. No sense letting them go to waste when her own clothes had long since gone ragged.

 

[Terratina.]

"Are you cold as well?"

Cold, shivers, increased metabolic rate, reduced blood flow, the icy bite of the wind and rain - that was the thing mortal described as cold, correct?

"Yes." Serragish-Id answered and looked down at the pale ashen elf still in hand, "He's losing heat more rapidly than me though."

The elf was then put down by the fire as others began talking about taking watch and as the possessed woman sat down next to him. Warmth, heat energy sensed by the integumentary system, blood rushing to the skin's surface. It was a... relief.

However, there was one thing in the back of Id's mind: how long should it stay in the woman's body?

 

[DarkRawen]

"Yes. He's losing heat more rapidly than me though."

Des nodded, and watched as she put down Kyras. He looked through the clothes he was carrying, and gave her a blanket and the last decent coat among them.

"Here, the blanket is for him, and the coat is for you," he said, smiling. While Des still wasn't sure what he thought of her due to the incident with the dying mortal earlier, she was still a lady, and clearly had some concern for others, seeing as she had carried Kyras thus far. "If you need more, just say so, okay? It might be a good idea for you to rest now, since you were rather tired before." With that, he sat back down.

The other mortals were discussing guard-duties, and while Des could easily have offered to stay up, everyone else seemed eager to do it first. He put the rest of the clothes down, those who needed them could take them, and looked at the fire. It burned fiercely, and it, together with the shelter and the coat, was enough for him to feel comfortable. Not as comfortable as being close to a beautiful lady, but far better than how things had been for a while.

Speaking of beautiful ladies, did Kes change yet?

He looked around for her, and, after a short while, she returned, wearing the clothes he'd brought her. She was already pretty on her own, but the clothes looked a lot better on her than the rags had. Des smiled brightly, and stood up to greet her.

"I knew they'd look good on you," he said, complimenting her. "You look beautiful." He noticed that she wasn't wearing the boots, perhaps her kind of mortal didn't like boots, or perhaps she simply didn't need them. Even so, he was still beaming, happy that she was wearing better clothes.

"They're not uncomfortable, right? They look like they're a good fit, at least."

 

[hiei82]

"I knew they'd look good on you,You look beautiful." Des said as Kes returned from changing. Kes stopped at the words and stared suspiciously at him for a long moment. "They're not uncomfortable, right? They look like they're a good fit, at least." he finished.

Kes spoke up almost immediately. "I don't know what you want but you can save the flattery; whatever you think I have I don't." she said simply before taking a seat on the opposite side of the fire from Des.

 

[IFS]

"This dwarf still has plenty of fight in him. If any of your inquisition friends tries to sneak up on us, it'll be my axe that'll be asking questions."

Alex was glad some of their number were volunteering to take watch, though this response worried him, ordinarily he was confident in his fellow inquisitors ability but he had seen the dwarf fight. While it was unlikely they would make an appearance he would prefer not to see his fellows injured or killed.

"Thank you, but please if inquisitors do appear don't attack them," he said, just wake me and I will handle them."

With that said he settled in by the fire that Dalrel had whipped up and closed his eyes, quickly falling into a light sleep. Others similarly rested or kept watch, and the hours passed quickly, the rain faded and the clouds lightened as day began to break.

In these early hours of the dawn Dalrel noticed a strange carving in the wall next to him. An eye, though it appeared oddly lifelike, taking a closer look it blinked and vanished only to be replaced by a half dozen more identical carvings scrawling across the scorched wood each seeming to examine him and occasionally blinking out of existence.