This takes place during the game on 06FEB21
22
FEB/21
Herman crawled into his private place through Oni’s Sleeve. He rolled a giant piece of dung as he went. He collapsed on all six of his legs. He was exhausted. His shell felt so dry and raw that it drifted high above his body. He popped his outer shell and vibrated his inner wings. They barely made music. He felt drained. Both from his physical drying and for leaving Oni behind. Part of him wished he could bring Oni with him, but he could not. He slept for several hours.
He woke to the wonderful smell of dung. He munched down on some of the fresh dung. Within the familiar realms, and the nexus he did not need to bring food, but he liked bringing in some food with him. Oni’s gift of food always seemed more refreshing than the food that was plentiful here. He moved over to a small pool of water and laid his body within it, absorbing liquid as he did. He needed time to recover. The desert over the last five days has been terrible on his little body and mind. He needed more. He needed a spa day.
In the back there were two other exit tunnels. One went to the realm of the gods. The other went up into the nexus. It was an extradimensional space where familiars could gather. He did not go often. It was mostly a place for the estranged. Familiars that lose their master, or from their perspective, their familiar. If their master dies while they are in their safe place, they end up trapped here. Not completely trapped but mostly trapped. They could exit through someone else exit, but most never do. The real world is not a great place for a masterless familiar. They end up being really smart creatures just living off their own wits. It can be a lonely world. If you do leave, it is even harder to get back to the nexus. So most never leave. They open inns, taverns, and spas. Other services can be found too.
Herman went out to find a good mud spa. He went out into the nexus. He was on the street. It was busy. Herman had never seen it so busy. Many small creatures of all types were just milling around. He saw an old friend. A jank. She was a good-looking jank with mostly brown, red fur. She had two red stripes across her back. She was sitting against a wall of a tavern. Normally her tail swished back and forth but it was just lying there on the ground without movement. Herman called out her name, “Jinxie, how are you?” She looked up. Her eyes were filled with liquid. Herman approached.
Herman: “what is going on?”
Jinxie: “no one knows, but many have lost our master.”
Herman: “do you know what happened to your master.”
Jinxie: “a strange craze went over him. He started killing those within the house. He stopped talking to me immediately. I dove into my safe place.”
Herman twitched his antennae in a sad manor: “and now you are trapped.”
Jinxie: “yes. Most of them are too.”
Herman: “if you want to leave this place, I can help.”
Jinxie: “are you in Raam?”
Herman: “not currently but we are heading there.”
Jinxie: “maybe”
Herman: “I need a little spa time. Would you like to join me?”
Jinxie’s little snout smiles: “yes please.”
The two of them headed to the closest spa. Herman first found the mud baths and lounged in one for several hours. Jinxie took in a massage as she slurped up some herbal tea. They both sat together. Jinxie had all of claws cleaned and sharpened. Herman had his outer shell scrapped, “this feels so good. I cannot even tell you how good this feels.” He knew that Oni and the gang were hot and barely surviving as he took in a spa day, but he needed it.
Herman looked up at the display in front of him, “Do you mind if I change the channel.” The little female beetle working his shell looked up, “feel free.” Herman grabbed the little controller and changed it to see through Oni’s eyes. He was still feeling guilt for being here in comfort while Oni was there, working and sweating so much. Oni stopped working for a moment as if he knew that he was being watched. He looked up to the sun before continuing to work some leather. Herman looks over to Jinxie who is staring at the display, “you okay my friend.” Jinxie has a tear in her eye again, knowing she will never look through her master’s eyes again, “yes. It looks so hot. We never left the city. It was so much better in the city.” Herman shell shuddered with music again as it was cleaned.
Herman: “I will leave it on at my space if you want to hang out there.”
Jinxie: “that would be amazing.”
Herman: “just you though. I trust you, but not sure about others.”
Jinxie: “of course.”
The two of them spent the rest of the day bathing and enjoying each other’s company.
Herman First Date:
Herman’s shell was clean and felt better than it has in weeks. He looked over to Jinxie. She was finished but examining her claws. They were clean and sharp. She kept gently poking them into her own little arm. She was enjoying the small pricks of pain each claw created. She noticed Herman looking at her, and spoke a little shyly, “what?” He smiled, “I was just watching, no judging. Would you like to get a drink?” Her shy look transitioned into a huge smile, “yes.” Herman paid the spa with some of the gods gold, as they headed out.
Herman reached out his hand to Jinxie. She looked at it for a moment and took it into hers. The streets around them were filled with all the creatures of the familiar. Here in the Nexus familiars walk as anthropomorphic versions of themselves. They are here as Humanesk embodiments of their real selves. So, the Kes’trekel would be a tall humanoid with a long neck complete with a carrion bird head. They have wings but cannot really fly in this realm. They can glide and so can jump off things within the Nexus and glide to a rest. Many Kes’trekel use the cliffs on the edges of the Nexus as a form of entertainment while in here.
The streets had two to three times the number of creatures still moving about. The smell of sadness, fear and confusion permeate in all directions. Groups of the older estranged are working through all the new estranged. They have cookies and teas out for everyone. One of the big boxes of the cookies has “Girl Scout” written on the side. In the masses of creatures were all the Raam’s common folk. Lizards, birds, small mammals and tons of beetles. Herman had met other estranged over the years and he knew that they were not all from Raam and its deserts. He met something called an octopus once. He actually ran the bar where they were heading.
They moved quietly through the street, heading to “The House of Og” This was Herman’s favorite tavern in the area. They had food and drink of all three types; imported, created, or crafted. Imported wears were the hardest to find. They were actually brought in by some familiar from the real world. As no familiar would ever reveal the realm of Nexus, this was always a difficult thing to do. Adding the difficulty most familiars do not have thumbs and cannot manipulate objects very well in the real world. They are valued highly in here. Created items are made in almost the same way within the Nexus as in the real world. Plants are grown and stuff manufactured. Although they are created here, they have value as they often are better than the crafted. In the Nexus you can craft most items. These are sad unsatisfying versions. So crafted wine might wet the whistle, but it will feel, smell and taste hollow. They are usually free in most taverns.
Herman strolls in with Jinxie in tow, “Ogdo what is the good word my multiple limbed friend.” The eight limbed tavern own smiles as much as a boneless face can smile, “Herman, seems like the Nexus just grew. What can I get for you and your…uh friend?” Herman looks for a small table for the two of them. he starts to head to one the far end, near the fire, “imported wine, hackberry if you have it.” Using his multiple limbs, he grabs a bottle, and glasses all at the same time, “that will not be cheap.” As Ogdo strolled up as if he was floating, Herman pulled out one of the coins he won from Torm and the other gods. It had a huge sword on one side. He slammed it down on the table in front of Ogdo, “will that do.” He grabbed it with yet another limb. He set the bottle down and poured the two glasses, “indeed.”
Herman and Jinxie started to enjoy the wine. Soon a small platter of cheese was delivered over to the table. They nibbled, drank and talked. They had known each other for some time, but this was something different, something new. Herman was so enthralled in Jinxie, he never saw the knife. Some colorful critic lizard was heading to their amora. He had a knife in his hand as he moved across the tavern. No one took much notice. This was a safe place. He moved up behind Herman. He would never had seen the knife at this point. Jinxie looked up just in time to see the knife coming towards Herman.
Jinxie who had almost all of her thoughts and eyes on Herman saw the knife draw back. She had been in combat a few times with her former master, and she understood where that blade was headed. Her tail was not truly prehensile, but she had practiced picking up objects with it for years. She liked the challenge. Her tail grabbed the tray of cheese and smashed into this lizard with a loud clang. The lizard was naive in his skills and almost scared of the very knife he carried. He held the knife so weakly and without any confidence that when the tray smashed into him, the knife slid up and entered into his skull just below his mouth. His last couple of breaths were filled his own blood.
Herman jumped to his feet and spun. Jinxie was now standing next to him. She was grabbing the thick wine bottle off the table. A tall Kes’trekel broke through the crowd that was now gathered around the dead critic lizard. Everyone knew this bird. He had been sheriff for a long time. There was very little for him to do. No familiar had attacked another familiar in hundreds of generations. The Nexus was a safe place. Evil and good familiars have been gathering here peacefully for that entire time. He moved his carrion bird around, taking in the whole space before looking at Jinxie, “what happened here.”
A gray and black Kivit spoke for Jinxie before she could speak, “the critic was about to stab the Hurrum. She grabbed a tray to protect him.” Jinxie was clearly shaken and her voice shuck as she spoke, “I didn’t mean to kill him, I was just trying to stop him.” Herman and the sheriff started to search the body. Herman pulled out a scroll and stood up. He unrolled it. As he understood it’s meaning he dropped it on the floor. He leaned his weight upon the table.
The Kes’trekel sheriff picked up the scroll to examine it. Jinxie rested her kind hand on Herman’s shoulder, “what is it?” Herman looked at her. Others were gathering around with concern as well. Herman’s antennae swooshed around, “it is the end of peace in the Nexus.” It was a wanted poster for Herman. It was completely created within the Nexus. It was on crafted paper. The person that wanted him dead was just known as “Duece-Ace”. This will make the safeness of the Nexus no more. No familiar was safe here now. All peace was done.
Many familiars have used the Nexus as a place to gain information for their masters, but to hunt one of their own within the Nexus was unheard of. Most familiars will not harm another familiar even in the real world, let alone here. Herman and those around him, knew this was now a new danger from Tiamat. Up to now she had ignored this space, but that is over. Herman started to look around. No one here even carried a weapon, that would change as of today. Everyone would now arm up. The sheriff who’s job had been making sure drunks made it back to their personal space, was about to change. He would need help.
The sheriff looked up and cleared his throat: “OKAY, folks let’s clear this area out.”
Herman: “you know you are going to need others to help you now.”
The Sheriff: “I know.”
Jinxie: “I do not want to be an officer, but I can help.”
Herman: “are you sure.”
The Sheriff: “that would be great. What about you?”
Herman: “I can’t. It should all be the estranged, like you. I have other responsibilities.”
Jinxie: “He is trying to take down.” (Tiamat)
Herman jumping in: “Uh that is private.”
The Sheriff: “I am going to need weapons; this is going to go south fast.”
Herman: “and a jail. Ogdo might be able to help. He has importers.”
Jinxie leaning on Herman: “should we get out of here.”
Herman nodding to the Sheriff: “need help moving the body?”
Ogdo walking up: “can you guys get that out of here?”
The Sheriff: “we are going to move it now. We need to fathom the body.”
Ogdo throwing a sheet down: “this might help and keep the tray.”
Herman: “do you know anyone that can work leather… an armorer?”
Ogdo: “yes. But you will need real leather for it to be of any value. The crafted armor pieces do not last.”
Herman: “I think I can get some leather imported. Do you know an apothecary? That I will need.”
Ogdo, pointing to bird, but one Herman knew: “that is Neve, she runs a shop. Teas in the front.”
Herman: “thanks, let’s get this body out of here. Maybe we can delay the change.”
Jinxie: “no, I think the change has already happened.
As they grabbed the body, they watched the feel in the place change. Voices became hushed. All eyes, noises, and antennae are now constantly scanning the room. This safe place has now become the same as all the real-world places. Since these familiars all work against each others in the real world, they will all be working against each other here in minutes. They took the body back to the sheriff office. It was a two-room building at the end of the street. They placed the body on a table to search it better. Herman looked around, “you are going to need a bigger place for the watch.”
They searched the body. It was impossible to tell, but he seemed recently estranged. He had nothing on him. Those that have been here for a little while, start to carry gear, for their new lives within the Nexus. He had known. It was impossible to learn anything about him. The sheriff flips the knife in his hand, “here you likely need this more than I do.” Herman takes it. Jinxie walks around the space. She pulls a small table from the wall as a desk, “I will be back tomorrow, to create a poster to look for new recruits.” Herman took the knife. He removed the holder for the bodies belt. He looked to the door, “this is going to be bad.”
Herman and Jinxie headed out to head back to Herman’s space. They had to use a skill set never used here. They stayed to the shadows as they moved through the streets and alleys. They used alleys. No ever used the alleys, as the place was so safe. Now the alleys were going to be used. This made Herman frumious. He had watched Oni skulk around and laughed at him on the inside. He knew no self-respecting creature would ever sneak around. Jinxie must have felt his pain. She reached her hand and gently set it on his shoulder again, “calm down. If you are this angry you will not be thinking right.” He jerked to look at her, “no one just tried to kill you.” He made eye contact with her. Her eye sank into him, and he calmed down. Her words and calmness sank into his soul. He took several deep breaths, “sorry, I know.” They made it to Herman’s space.
Jinxie seemed nervous as they moved about his private space. They both looked at the display on Oni, but it was completely dark. She just stared at it. Herman noticed her concern, “he is fine. He is just asleep. Thanks for your concern.” She smiled. Herman moved from placed to place. He was nervous too. He had a ton of things on his mind. He was racing to every thought and its terrible end. He stopped moving and just started to look at her. It made him feel better. She was staring at the dark image. She turned the volume up to hear breathing. As he stared at her a renewed calmness came over him, “will you stay the night?”
She looked back, her head slightly tilted, with a coy smile.