Horizon Walkers (Game Thread) Dead

[IFS]

The first slap caught him off guard and Alex had to stop himself from striking back, his reflexive strike stopping with his arm tensed and his right hand clenched into a fist. He took the second slap without flinching, glaring at her even as he considered her words.

"And where's my Blade?"

"Look," he said, a bitter note added to his normally cheerful tone "I don't know what happened to your eye or your blade, you had neither when I met you, maybe your journal can tell you that, I can't tell you anything more than this, if you value your remaining eye then do not strike me again."

''What exactly is going on?''

"Apparently her memory problems also bring to the surface violent tendencies," he replied "At any rate the source isn't here, did either of you find anything?"

This question was followed by a horrid wailing sound and a plume of oily black smoke rising into the sky.

"Well, someone did at any rate," he said "Lets make sure things are in hand."

Drawing his sword he moved quickly towards where the smoke had come from.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The flames met the creature and it practically exploded, the black mass that made up its form burning instantly releasing a column of thick black smoke and a horrid unnatural scream as the thing collapsed. The flames spread through the rubble it had been trying to surge through, burning them up just as easily and revealing a passageway into the earth, walls covered in more of the pulsing black mass. However some strange force held back the flames, even as the black substance burned it was replenished.

Alex arrived with the others behind him to behold the disturbing sight "the source..." he muttered, taking note of how the flames were held at bay "Damn. I've seen this once before, there must be a horizon gate down there, its feeding off it. If we can get to the gate and burn the infection thats clinging to it off then the rest should die, but..."

He glanced at the others, the last time he had encountered this he had only barely managed to avoid being infected by it, but the way this one was positioned there was no way to get close enough without such a thing being a certainty. The demon... he said he was immune to infection though.

"Des," he said, his tone sharp and commanding "You said you're immune to infection correct? You'll have to go in there alone to deal with it, anyone else would certainly be afflicted."

 

[Lunar Templar]

"Well that was a suitably horrid sound for a horrid creature" Riviera said to her self as she rubbed her ears and watched the humans discuss how they where going to handle the 'nest' that seemed been revealed. She pondered for a moment why she was not asked to simply burn the things, but ultimately shrugged and continued with what she was doing before.

Her kills still needed cooking after all.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Or of you guys."

Des frowned.

"You still don't remember us?" he asked, sounding a bit saddened by it. Even if she was behaving violent, being forgotten that quickly wasn't pleasant. Especially not since it made him remember all the times he had done the same, forgetting his loved ones once too much time passed for him to hold onto their names and faces.

"I promise that we had nothing to do with your eye, really. I don't know what happened to your blade either, but you can have mine if it makes you feel better. I--" Before he could tell her that he didn't need it, he stopped. There was this loud, horrible sound, almost painful, and Alex started running, the rest following him, Des included. As he saw the burned mass, he realized that the man they had dealt with it was likely just a symptom, rather than the cause.

"the source... Damn. I've seen this once before, there must be a horizon gate down there, its feeding off it. If we can get to the gate and burn the infection thats clinging to it off then the rest should die, but..."

Confused, Des tilted his head, and looked over at Kes, trying to see if she got it. Kes had been clever before, after all, and she would probably get this too. What was Alex hesitating about? Was there something else? Then he realized that the mortal probably was worried about the infection risk, which was understandable, if the mortal from earlier could get infected that badly, what was stopping the rest of them?

"Des. You said you're immune to infection correct? You'll have to go in there alone to deal with it, anyone else would certainly be afflicted."

"Why not just throw something? Get some fuel and a spark in a small enough container and arson is child's play."

Looking between the two, Des shrugged.

"I'll help if you think that is best," he replied. "But if someone can throw something, that works just as well too, right? Or... no?" To be honest, this was a little more thinking than Des was comfortable with, and he leaned over to the side.

"You mortals should be able to figure something out between yourselves, right? I'm fine either way."

 

[IFS]

"Why not just throw something? Get some fuel and a spark in a small enough container and arson is child's play."

"Can't be sure it would go far enough to reach the thing," he said "we could try it but I doubt it would work, if Des here can get there without risking infection then I don't see a reason to waste supplies on lobbing things into the dark."

Plus it gives me one more chance to see how well he can be trusted. He's certainly not like the demons here, but that doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. I haven't encountered a single horizon where the word meant something positive after all. If he refuses then the only other option I see would be to see if Dalrel and Kyras can keep enough fire going long enough to reach the source while protected by it.

"I'll help if you think that is best,"

"I do, Des," he said "Its the least risky option, for anyone else it would likely be a death sentence but for you it should be easy."

 

[DarkRawen]

"I do, Des. It's the least risky option, for anyone else it would likely be a death sentence but for you it should be easy."

Des nodded and spoke in a rather cheerful voice. Not having to make a decision did that kind of thing to him, he could easily admit that he wasn't too fond of this "responsibility" that the mortals seemed to carry so easily.

"Yeah, okay, of course. Just wait a little, then," he smiled.

He didn't have any qualms about doing so, and instead went on, already carrying torches. It was better that he went, after all, not risking a thing, than that one of the others got too close trying to burn it. When he got close to the black mass, he looked at it, the mass was all around, covering this whole tunnel.

So there's a horizon gate in here.

Why was it there? It was feeding off the gate, right? Odd. It didn't do much for him to walk inside, nothing apart from him feeling a bit ill. Not in the illness kinda way, but the mass was eerie and icky. When he finally reached what he thought to be the end and the gate, he started torching the "demon" trying to burn the whole thing down.

Or isn't this a demon? Alex' definition is kinda confusing.

Regardless, whichever it was, now it was on fire, hopefully this would cause it to completely disappear.

Wait, if this is a demon... am I murdering it?

Spoiler: OOC

I was waiting for Avou, but as she never posted, I decided to just post regardless.

 

[IFS]

The fire took quickly to the black mass and it let out a shrill unearthly noise as the flames spread over it. The substance on the walls surged back to it trying to protect it only to be consumed as well and in a flash of intense heat and light it was over. Des would likely have some extremely minor burns as a result but the conflagration overall left him surprisingly untouched.

As soon as it became clear that the source had been destroyed Alex ran down after Des, he had to admit he was impressed with the demon. Not certain I can trust any of them of course, but as far as I can tell he isn't anything like the demons I'm used to.

"Come on," he called up the steps "I can't be certain how long this building will stand for, we should be through the gate before it collapses."

That said he turned back to Des and clapped him on the back "Good work, now we need to get moving. I'll go get the others at the camp so they don't get left behind."

With that he turned and ran back up the stairs and to the camp to try and let the others know they needed to leave.

Spoiler: OOC

Next GM can take over whenever now.

 

[Josh123914]

Alex rounded up the group and led them to another Horizon.
As they stepped through, the cold wet air was replaced by a breezy afternoon summer air, with some of the group peeling off layers of their clothing.
They found themselves atop a grassy field, with a large body of water to the left, and a large city looming nearby.
''....I'm home'' Dalrel mouthed unexpectedly. ''Years of travelling and..... I'm finally back.''
Of all the places they could have wound up, Dalrel was stunned.
''We have to go there, this is Ilyara! My home city!'' He told them, urging them forward.

As they found a nearby road, they began walking. A group of soldiers clad in crimson plated armour rode up to them on horseback to confront them. ''In the name of the Ilyaran republic and the Pentarium, you must follow us to the port.'' One of them said.

After the snarky comments of a few (and reassurances from Dalrel) they followed the soldiers to a large port outside the city walls. There, an elderly man with a weathered face and a grimace met them, and ushered the group into a nearby study of his.

''You.'' He said, pointing at Dalrel from his violet robes with a long yellow fingernail.
''....Are late''

Dalrel stared at him, confused. ''Seven years, has it been? Eight? How many years was it since you set out to strike your fortune through the portals? And what have you to show for it? What of the rest of your team?''

Dalrel fumbled at the mention. ''Dead.'' He mumbled.

''Of course.'' Said the old man. ''You Horizon Walkers sicken me, coming and going wherever you please, never caring for the consequences. My name is Ael, and it is my job to ensure you're sort don't come and destroy this city.''

He then turned to Dalrel. ''You have a debt to pay off.'' He stated. Reminding Dalrel of how he left Ilyara all those years ago. ''But it will be repayed if you and your... motley band of brothers here can do a job for me.''

He then shuffled through a nearby cabinet, recovering a letter, sealed in wax.
''Take the ship that is leaving port for the island city of Greater Holem. There is a herbologist in the Mora district. Deliver this to her, and I will consider your debt to be paid.''

With little more said, Ael commanded a few guards to escort the group out, before finally leaving them.

Dalrel then looked at all of them.
''Does anyone have any questions?'' he asked, still processing what just happened to himself.

 

[DarkRawen]

Des wasn't really used to the feeling of having a burn. He hardly knew what one was, actually, only that some of his clothes had been burned, and that the skin close to that felt sore, a bit itchy too. It hurt, though.

Ouch.

"Good work, now we need to get moving. I'll go get the others at the camp so they don't get left behind."

Des smiled to Alex, though still in pain, and nodded. "Yeah, we should get going." He liked being praised. And so, they continued.

Walking into the next horizon, a much more pleasant weather and place seemed to greet them. Green grass, water, a pleasant breeze, and best of all, a not very destroyed town. Hoping they could enter it, Des followed the mortals, especially Dalrel who knew the place well, only to be disappointed.

"You Horizon Walkers sicken me, coming and going wherever you please, never caring for the consequences. My name is Ael, and it is my job to ensure you're sort don't come and destroy this city."

What is this mortal talking about?

What was so different with travelling through Horizons? Confused, Des examined the old man. He looked unpleasant. However, he hadn't expected that they would be turned away and have to leave, something to do with paying debts and delivering something. Des didn't want to do that, though, he wanted to sit down and enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, talk a little more to Kes and perhaps talk to some other girls as well.

Instead we have to walk again.

He wasn't sour, but a bit disappointed. Well, more than a bit. Des didn't really understand why the mortals seemed to be in such a hurry all the time.

"Does anyone have any questions?"

"Why can't we rest?" Des whined, and gestured towards the town. "Why won't they let us in? What did you do to them?" He rubbed one of his burns. "I don't like that the pain is still there, when does it stop?" It was different from getting cut, hurt in a different way.

 

[hiei82]

"....I'm home" Dalrel mouthed almost immediately after entering the new Horizon. The world itself was surprisingly familiar to her. The climate of the new world was remarkably similar to that of Liem, the only world she'd spent any significant amount of time in. While the others changed layers of clothes to prepare for the new level, Kes - being more or less unaffected by changes in temperature and humidity - sat down with her back up against the gate and waited. She briefly considered heading down to the lake to catch some food, but decided against it given the limited time.

When the rest were ready, Kes stood back up and followed them down to the road. She spent much of the time looking at all the different sights. Where Liem she'd either been confined or too busy escaping to look around, and the previous two realms where the area was bleak and largely lifeless, this Horizon was clearly both alive and well off. She wondered how long until someone tried to enslave the group.

Sometime later, they were escorted by soldiers to an elderly man; apparently Horizon Walkers weren't very welcome here even when one of the members was a citizen. Dalrel chatted with the man for a time, apparently they knew each other or of each other somehow. To Kes, the interaction was strange indeed.

They spoke of debts to be repaid and almost immediately there were objections. "Why can't we rest? Why won't they let us in? What did you do to them?" Des whined while gesturing towards the town. It seemed a valid question to her. Still, the talk of debt intrigued her for "debt" was how many ended up in the slave pits of Leim.

"What is this debt of yours-" Kes asked, wanting to understand the problem, "- and why do we need to go to this "Greater Holem" place?"

 

[Josh123914]

Dalrel sat down on one of the wooden steps leading up to the port, and prepared himself for the stream of questions by people that could only be more bewildered than he was.
"Why can't we rest? Why won't they let us in? What did you do to them?" He heard Des ask.
Dalrel composed himself and sat upright, explaining.
''Des. We can rest on the ship, it'll take a few days to cross the bay. As for entering Ilyara...'' He looked past the grey stone walls to the few spires peaking out into the sky. ''I can't go in, not with this debt.'' He told them regretfully.
''Years ago, myself and a few others were sponsored by some investors to explore the Horizons, bring back treasure, and chart the worlds. That was years ago, and now they must be looking for their money''
Dalrel then realised he should count himself lucky, considering what they could have done to him, and that he currently wasn't rotting away in a cell.

Then Kes piped up about their destination.
"Why do we need to go to this "Greater Holem" place?"
''It's where this letter is going'' He said, waiving the document. ''...It's an island in the middle of the bay, dominated by the city of Holem. It is big. Probably the largest city you will ever see.''
He explained, exhaling loudly.

An hour or two passed before the ship was ready to leave the port. Fishermen returning from their latest catch, and merchants expecting shipments crowded the port as Dalrel and the others boarded the ship. Ael approached Dalrel one last time before he boarded.
''When you reach the city. Don't leave the port. Someone will find you. Which shouldn't be hard given your company'' He said, pointing to the current ensemble, before leaving Dalrel to the task at hand.
The crew, clearly identifying the group as Horizon Walkers, eyed them suspiciously as they brought them below deck to their small, cramped rooms. Dalrel sighed loudly, before opening his eyes widely.
''Is Serragish with us?'' He asked, as he felt the ship lurch forward as the anchor is reeled up. ''And Riviera?'' He asked, concerned now by the negligence of the group.

As night fell, the group along with about two dozen others on the ship were ushered into a small dining room and were fed. Salted Cod and bread were the main dish, with a bit of butter or prawns for those lucky few.
One trader snapped his fingers, asking for stories, or for jokes, or anything to pass the time, as the ship rocked from a sudden drizzle of rain.
''Come on. Anyone! Even the Walkers.''

 

[Lunar Templar]

Riviera had been busying her self with cooking, and her self hadn't really noticed what the group was doing, they hadn't asked for her help so she figured she wasn't needed. It wasn't till after she finished cooking and she went looking for them, by scent tracking ,they she realized they'd found a new horizon, and just ditched her.

She simply shrugged, not like she wouldn't have done the same if it was her world on the other side. from the ruins of that town Riviera just drifted through the forests, completely avoiding humans whenever she could, bad things happened the last time she was around a group of them, the few that did see her where left with only rumors to tell and no proof to back the claim of seeing a 'giant cat like monster'. She drifted for weeks? months? years maybe? She wasn't sure how much time passed before she picked up the familiar scent of a Horizon gate again. She was originally going to simply ignore it, she knew what it was this time and wasn't interested in a repeat of what ended up happening the first time she went through a gate. Her gut was telling her differently though.

A little voice in the back of her mind told her 'this could be the one that takes you home' and much as she tried to quell that thought, 'but you don't know it's not the one' hung thickly over her, and with the gate starting to close she thought to hell with it and jumped though, and would have been thrown off a cliff if it hadn't been for a rather large tree that was growing out of the cliffs face.

After she got her self back on the ground by the cliffs edge, she saw trees, miles and miles of trees. Not that it looked any different then the world she just left. She'd been living in a place where humans fear to go do to some reason or another so a sea of trees was hardly new or surprising. It wasn't until she'd gotten down from where she was to the tree line when this profound sense of familiarity started coming over her, smells mostly at first, then she came across a few animals she knew very well.

She was home, but the strangest feeling washed over her as the realization that she'd been gone for a many years started to hit her. She was home, but very likely, she had no place to return to. Her disappearance had been sudden and those that vanished and reappeared after long stretches suddenly where rarely welcomed with 'open arms'.

The Ranglie tribes in the woods sometimes speak of a lone female living alone among the trees. Many rumors abound as to why she lives in relative solitude, some think she's a witch, others think she's an exile, but few have ever tried speaking to her and none have asked her why she lives alone.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Des. We can rest on the ship, it'll take a few days to cross the bay. As for entering Ilyara... I can't go in, not with this debt. Years ago, myself and a few others were sponsored by some investors to explore the Horizons, bring back treasure, and chart the worlds. That was years ago, and now they must be looking for their money"

Des didn't particularly care for the rest of the story, only nodded. "Yeah, okay. Are there a lot of ladies there? I--"

"Oh would you shut up, it's just some burns."

Des frowned, he wasn't sure what he had done to upset Serragish so much, nor did he know why she had gotten so violent after her home horizon. Had something bad happened there? Or was it something he had done? The thought of having made her angry wasn't a pleasant one. However, suddenly Serragish started burning herself, only to somehow make his burns go away.

"How did you do that?" he asked, though she didn't intent on replying. Even so, he smiled brightly. "Thanks!"

Eventually, the group continued on, though, by the time they were ready to board the ship, the group was smaller.

"Is Serragish with us? And Riviera?"

"No," Des replied. "I don't think they wanted to be with us anymore."

Both Serragish and Riviera were gone. Two of the ladies, even though he had tried to he nice to them.

Then again, mortals always have their own plans.

It was inevitable, but still sad, and he kept thinking of it. When it was time for food he, tired of thinking, walked over to Kes and took the seat next to her.

"Hi," he said, and frowned. "You're not going to leave too, right?"

He ignored the mortal asking for people's stories, Des didn't have much of a story to tell.

 

[hiei82]

"You're not going to leave too, right?" Des said, coming over and taking a seat next to her.

Kes looked over to him and said "First chance I get." in the most stoic, straight faced way imaginable. She waited for him to laugh before realizing her attempt at making a joke was a flop. "That was a joke." she added, trying to lighten the mood. Truthfully, Kes wasn't having a great time. It wasn't the group; they were fine she supposed. It was more the ship. There was something about the swaying of the boat that just disagreed with her. Combined with the omnipresent smell of fish... it was just wrong.

Turning to Dalrel and the captain she called out a question. "So how long is it to this giant city place?" she asked, hoping the answer would be "Not Long.". When the large group started to ask for stories and no one immediately spoke up, Kes was tempted to tell a tale from her elders, but between another woman spoke up first. Kes was more than happy to hear a tale instead; probably less losing her dinner that way.

"I know a few stories, but they aren't exactly my own." the woman said, drawing a response from Kes. "What's it about?"

 

[DarkRawen]

"First chance I get."

"Oh. Okay." Des frowned. "Are you sure? Is there anything I can do to make you want to stay?" He asked, completely serious. Even if Kes wasn't used to compliments, perhaps she'd stay if he offered her something else? However, she then spoke again.

"That was a joke."

"That's good to hear," he smiled, warmly. "I'd hate for you to be gone." Then someone, a woman from another table, offered to tell a story. That got Des' attention, although, of course, he still paid attention to Kes as well. And a little to the rest of the group too, because why not. They were nice people, and if they had something to say, then he'd hear them out.

"I know a few stories, but they aren't exactly my own."

Kes asked what it was about, though, honestly, Des didn't care too much about such, he was instead trying to catch a glance of the woman.

 

[Josh123914]

After the young woman finished her poem, a silence filled the deck. One of the crew shook his head as the ship shook from the heavy rain and the billowing winds. ''Not the best time for a story like that, eh?'' He said gruffly.
A few more stories were spread. One of the Sand Serpent's daughter, and her desire to see. Another of the men of the Grange, with their clothes weaved out of branches and lillypads, and of the 1st Senate of Holem, how the envoys were all murdered, requiring heads of state to attend their own meetings from now on.

After the meal, the passengers were ushered back to their cabins and to sleep. The storm subsided and the weather cleared.
For a few days, Dalrel had little to do to pass the time, but they were moving westwards. One morning, shipmates were spotted dragging what would be their supper from the ocean, as well as barrels of water up from the sea floor and drinking it. ''What are you, blind?'' one of the sailors asked. ''This water is fresh you fool! It's a lake the size of an ocean.''

On the fourth evening, the passengers noticed spires in the distance. Large ones that pierced the sky and disappeared above the clouds.
To the south and North-east they spotted large structures from one horizon to the other. They couldn't have been islands, the island with the spires peaked in a different way.
''They're the bridges. Connecting the wet, green north to the arid, orange south. Running through Holem.'' Dalrel explained. Each bridge went on for miles. With houses and shops dotting their sides. Both culminating at a marvel of marble and wood.

The island of Holem was oval in shape and at least six miles in diameter. Richer areas were walled with stone, and built from marble, brick and granite. Poorer shanty settlements hugged the coastline, and formed barges out to the sea.
The group's ship landed in one of the cleaner (if not busier) ports, as every minute another ship would pull in or pull out. Dotting the port were fisherman with carts full of their catch, or silk merchants with their fabrics in caravans. Men and women from all shapes and cultures sprawled the granite port. 4-armed red men towered over others, while men the size of large children, with clothes made of tree bark haggled over prawns.
But looming high above all else were the Towers. The colossal monuments to engineering and decadence cast a shadow over the island depending on the time of day. Between the towers were many small bridges, which were in themselves the size of houses. Large viaducts and aqueducts dozens of feet higher than the bridges brought water to those inside the Towers.

 

[Josh123914]

Dalrel and the rest of the group disembarked, as a snow elf approached them. The snow elf had long silver hair down to his waist, and had skin the palest shade of blue. He wore an open velvet jacket, and loose fitting pants that ended abruptly several inches before his ankles. ''Dalrel Alress of Ilyara?'' He said, greeting him as they stepped off the ship's ramp.
''My name is Sal. I am your escort to get you all through the city. If you'll follow me.'' He half asked, half ordered, waving them through the busy port.

As they passed under the marble arch that separated the port from the city proper, the group stopped as Sal entered a large warehouse, leaving with two other horizon walkers. One was a dour looking robed man with a weathered face. The other was what could only be described as a female dragon, with legs instead of claws.

''Now, if you'll all follow me to the herbologist.'' he said. motioning them through the street.
Words flew around them, houses towered over them as buildings leaned overhead to shut out the sun. Women gagged over some ugly looking dress, while some businessmen discussed how a blockade to the north affected their shipping.
The streets twisted and turned. Became narrower at points, and then widened again for no discernible reason. In one corner, half-naked women called down to certain men in the group prices for their 'services' as pyromancers and wind shifters dueled one another, while at the next turn, the streets were all but empty for a few old people that hissed as the Horizon Walkers passed.

Just as Dalrel was about to ask what and why it was taking so long to reach the Herbologist, Sal took a sharp turn through an alley and onto a surprisingly clean street.
''Here we are'' He exclaimed, leading the group into a marble shop. The floor was clean and white, with stone pillars erected to support the ceiling (despite the building having 3 floors). Lining the windows and the well ventilated rooms were walls that had vines and trees and flowers blooming. With clay pots filled with different coloured soils neatly displayed behind a counter.

''Sal!'' A woman called from one floor up a spiral staircase. ''Down here, with guests'' he replied cheerily. ''Oh. Oh.'' the young woman replied, revealing herself from a balcony at the other end of the shop. She jogged down the staircase and met the group.

Dalrel handed her the letter from Ael. ''Hmm. Mmhmm'' she mumbled, occasionally looking up, and then back down at the parchment.
''Says here that I am meant to sort you people out'' She said vaguely and bluntly.

''But if you're to stay the night I have to ask this. Who are you people? Here, in my home?'' she asked, hazel eyes darting from one person to another.
''Well, one at a time.''