Takes place during the game on 13MAR21
21
MAR/21
Weasleton moved his feathery hand to a shadowy part of the parlor, “we are going to need help.” Another devil looking man stepped out. He made eye contact with the other devil. They were both trying to stare each other down. Both had hands resting on weapons. The Sherriff stepped in between them, “Oggy! Hiccup! This is not the time. Stand down.” Oggy and Hiccups were both imps from different parts of the multiple verse. They had inner anger towards one another that would never be clear. Hiccup shifted his hand to a more relaxed position. The Sherriff huffed, “Oggy! Mayor! … stand down.”
Hiccup was a familiar from a completely different world. His master was initially a young human with great power. He had aged to become a powerful member in an evil empire under a lich like man named Copuox. Actually, over some ten thousand years he has lived, he has gone by many names, but currently this was the name known. Hiccup’s master had not needed him in those years. He was keeping a clear distance between the two. Hiccup’s world had only recently found a connection to the Nexus. Their town was barely started. Only a few familiars were permanently here. So, Hiccup and his couple of friends, hung out mostly here in their town. He has made some money over the years doing odd jobs, for everyone except the Mayor.
Weaselton: “I asked Hiccup to join us.
Oggy: “not sure why we need the forgotten.”
The Sherriff: “Hiccup is a good devil. Like you.”
Weasleton: “Herman needs help, and protection. We can’t do that.”
Oggy: “fine.”
Weasleton: “can you rush to find Herman, and make sure he stays safe.”
Hiccup holding out his hand: “no problem.”
Weasleton hands him one of the wrist displays. Weasleton holds the little white box in his hand. He was going through all the prophecies and oracle readings, “will you hold on to these for me?” He tosses them to Hiccup. Hiccup grabbed the box and popped it open, “what is it.” Weasleton looked down as memories flashed through him, “put them in your ears. They play music.” Weasleton looked off still thinking about old friends, “It is the last tunes of Toobee. When Oggy and I die we will be the last of Dragons Bane. I would like his music to continue on.” He wiped a tear, “If I make it back, I will come get them.” Everyone in the room knew Weasleton did not think he would make it back. Weasleton’s thoughts went to Bhalgod. He wished he was here.
Hiccup headed to the door. He gave a last glare and hand gesture to Oggy as he left the room. Oggy saw it and shifted his stance. The Sherriff placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him, “he is baiting you my old friend.” With Hiccup gone, Weasleton moved to a bookshelf and pulled a book revealing a small chamber beyond, “to the war room.” Oggy looked confused as he stepped into the small room, “you have a war room.”
Weasleton: “Yes. I have many rooms. I do not tell you about all of them. You gave Herman that wrist display right.”
The Sherriff: “yes. And he turned it on.”
Weasleton: “Great.”
They all went into the small room. The door closed. Weasleton pressed a button on the wall, and the room started to move. It felt like it was going down. The door opened and Weasleton stepped out into a large room. All of the walls in this round shaped room were covered by displays. Most of them were on and to different masters. In the center of the room was a table. The top of the table had a magical display of the nexus. Weaslton’s mountain was in the center. Even as they stood there, parts of the Nexus changed and grew. From his mountain he could get to any of the many towns and cities around the disk like Nexus.
He went up and opened a drawer. He pulled a multiple buttoned wand from it. He started to press the buttons in some specific order. When he was finished, one of the displays changed. They could now see through Herman’s display and see through Oni’s eyes. Oggy understood and could see the violation that was happening here. Only the connection between Master and Familiar was supposed to be on a display. No one else should be able to connect to your master, but Weasleton could. He was watching through hundreds of master’s eyes in this room. Oggy walked real close to Oni’s display, “Who is that in purple.” Weasleton Smiled, “that is the Purple Warrior. He must be in Raam.”
Weasleton started to look through all the hijacked displays. Many of them were smoked filled images of a city burning itself to death. He was looking for something. He pointed to a group of people moving across a street. He walked around to the other side of the table and pulled out a book. He was quietly going through his notes. It included drawings. He pulled the controller up and started to press buttons. He placed Oni’s display right next to a couple in the burning city. “Shit, shit shit. That purple warrior needs to be in Raam now. Oggy and the Sherriff watched as if he was a crazy old bird.
Weasleton turned off the displays for all of Raam, “We can’t watch those now.” He turned Oni’s display up on ten or twelve displays, “This is going to be hard. We are going to need a lot of help.” Oggy put his hand on the book to block Weasleton from reading, “What do we need to do.”. Weasleton slammed the book shut almost catching Oggy’s hand in its spine, “well we need to get Oni and that Purple Warrior to Raam. The problem is they need to be their now. By the time we will be able to help them, it will be tomorrow.” He circled the table in thought. “Okay, send out the call Sherriff. All we need to do is alter a little time.”
The Sherriff reached down to his wrist and hit a little button. All over the nexus little wrist devices vibrated. All of the forsaken knew the call. They were finally being summoned. They all knew that this was the sign that things had changed, and they could now get involved. Some had been waiting for this moment for nearly two-thousand years. They were about to join the fight against Tiamat. In every bar and shop, creatures started to move towards the mountain. They were the lost within the Nexus and they wanted to get into this fight. Most of them were here because of the five headed beast of a god. If they could stop her, they wanted to try.
Weaslton, headed for another discrete door, “go to the auditorium and open the outer doors.” He needed to grab a few items. He ran his fingers through the necklace he wore. It could get him back and forth, but how many times. He went up to the parlor on his own as Oggy and the Sherriff headed to the auditorium. Neither of them noticed that their wrist device did not vibrate. They were not going and did not know. Weasleton had plans within plans and theirs were not a part of this yet. Weasleton sat at his desk and started to craft a letter. He hoped Oni could read. He had not watched him long enough to know and knew the art had been lost by so many.
Oggy and the Sherriff started to welcome the creatures of the nexus as they entered the big room. Most stood in small groups as they were waiting for this all to begin. The room was about half full when Weasleton finally arrived. A hush started to come over the room. He walked up to a podium in the front. He looked down at a little number read out. He had enough for his plan, but he needed more to be safe. No one could feel it, but weasleton had set into motion the mountain itself. He was its master, and it was magically creating to two rooms he would need. He switched on a little display next to him and knew it was nighttime. Oni would be up soon for his watch. Time was short.
Weasleton waved his arms and spoke. His voice seemed to come from all angles. Oggy and the Sherriff came to stand at his side. “The time has come to act. Our ask is going to be dangerous, and many of you may die in the process” A hush went over the room. He waved his arms again, “so this is your last chance. If you are not willing to place everything on the line, leave now. You will not be able to leave after this.” He went silent and gave a few the chance to leave. Very few did. No one questioned it as they did.
Giving the room amply time to readjust after they left, Weasleton looked down to the counter and knew he still had a enough. A little more than enough. He hoped he had not miscalculated. He looked out to the crowd with a big smile. He looked at the two people to his right and left and gave them a smile. He was telling them goodbye even if they did not see it. He pressed a couple of buttons on the podium and a set of images came up. Vashir, the Purple Warrior was the most prominent image, but it included those of Oocho in his current scaley state. Images of Pakku, and the rest were all there but these were the images of importance today. He started to point and talk.
“All of you know I have been researching Tiamat for long time. What you do not know is that I have found many references in prophecies about the Purple Warrior. He finds the gems of power and destroys the ten eyed beast of hell. The Purple Warroior needs to be in Raam now. We are going to spilt into two groups. The Mayor will lead one group off to the right and the Sherriff will lead the other off to the left.
Each of you be exiting the Nexus, likely for the last time. The power of our combined departure will cause a vortex, that will let the Purple Warrior and his companions to get to Raam.” He did not mention the time dilation issue. “You will not be able to come back easily. If you want to find your way back, that is up to you. The group to the right will open up out in the desert. The group to the left in Raam.
For the group in the Desert, there is a small oasis about a day’s walk from where you will be. Weasleto through up a map of the area.
For the group in Raam, there is a plan to gather at this tavern. A new map appeared. There is an old secret part that the humans do not know about. It will not hold us all, but it might be a good place to gather and make plans.
Many of you have been here a long time. Take nothing with you. You will likely lose it right away.”
Many in the crowd were holding some devices. They had wanted to bring a little hate back into the world and to the followers of Taimat. As they walked down the two halls to the right and left, they tossed many of their personal belongings. Some made sure to hold on to a single device. They wanted and hoped to bring their own personal brand of hate back into the world.
Weaselton turned to his two friends, “I will need to visit with Oni, tonight to prepare him for tomorrow. Can you two go into your rooms. Make sure everyone is fed and give them some water.” Oggy nodded. The Sherriff was looking off towards the door. He was thinking about it, but could not make sense of it. Weasleton grabbed his arm, “get you head in the game. This is it. By the end of tomorrow, this will all change.” Weasleton was not telling them, but the magic he used in the mountain will only last a little while. They had to act fast. He noticed that Oni was now on watch.
Weaslton stripped down. He stood naked in front of his two old friends. He reached over and tied a tiny scroll to his leg. The only other thing was a necklace, that he wore all the time. He ran it through his fingers, “I will not be gone long, depending on how smart this human is. It seems general intelligence has dropped while we have been here.” He looked at his friends, “now go and prepare the others.” Weasleton popped from existence with a yellow thwap.
Oggy and the Sherriff made one last look at each other. They knew this might be the last time they ever saw each other. They had been friends for a long time. They had built the town below. They did the leg work for what was going to happen. They moved to the right and left respectively. They stripped as they went into their rooms. They grabbed prepared food and started to send out food and water. The mood for the group changed from gloom to somewhat of a party. Each room was a circular, with several layers up to it peek in the center. On each shelf like ring there was a row of seats. In front of each seat was a yellowish mirror. There was one mirror for each creature. The one at the top room had one seat. This was for Oggy and the Sherriff. It took a long to time to feed everyone. This helped pass the several hours it took for Weasleton to be ready.
The mirrors all started to glow. In the dome at the top of the room Weasleton appeared in his three-dimensional glory. He was still naked, like everyone else. His fingers were still overly fascinated with his own necklace. He was stroking it the entire time. His voice now boomed in the rooms, “Please stand my friends.” The folks in the rooms did not know but the room on the right was hearing the same message but moments later. To create the time dilated vortex, they had to open them just right. The left first and just as it would lose energy, open the one of the right. “I am going to count down to one. I will say one and step into your mirror. three…two…one…Step.”
All creature stepped into their mirror. Oggy and the Sherriff both tried to step in their mirror but did not happen. Neither noticed that they were never summoned. Weasleton could not sacrifice them. He was willing to sacrifice himself, but not them. Dragons Bane lived on in Oggy. This was the one detrayal in all these years. They looked around as all of the creatures stepped into the mirrors, with an amazing yellow flash. The wind within the room started to roar. Oggy in an angry voice, “I will save you my friend.” Then the room went dark.
Weasleton watching his monitors saw the first vortex open, near Oni. He popped to the real world, likely for the last time. He had not been an actual owl in a long time. He forgot how hard flying was. He had gained a lot of weight over the last couple of thousand years. He wanted to wave towards Oni and more importantly the Purple Warrior. In this form, all it did is cause him to fly in a crude circle. It works as the fliers came to him. He entered the Vortex. He looked around in the seconds within the vortex. he was not expecting it, but the Nexus was below him. He debated stopping but knew they were following him. He flew out into the real world again.
Many of the creatures on the desert side, grabbed a companion or two and flew through into the vortex. They came to join their friends on the Raam side. Some we caught in the vortex when it closed on both sides. They were back in the Nexus but coming through the vortex left them as an animal from the real world. They had their long intelligence but would never speak a word again within the nexus.
About a third of the hundreds of familiars died in this process. Of the survivors about two-thirds ended up in Raam. This included Weasleton who’s magical necklace no longer had the power to take him back to the Nexus. He perched on a roof top. He was out of breath but wanted to watch as he made the prophecy come true. The Purple Warrior had to be here now, not tomorrow. He looked on with a little joy as Dragon’s Bane was bringing the end of Tiamat. He saw his companions moving into the shadows and heading to the new hideout. He wished he had the earbuds but was happy to know those songs would live on, especially in multiple worlds.
The last of the familiars were scattered over the desert and back within the Nexus. The ones in the desert headed to the oasis, hoping to get there before they died.
Herman and Hiccup go after Jinxie
Herman was getting close to town. He had to start moving slowly as the town seemed to be heading his direction in mass. He hid as large groups of citizens walked by heading to the mountain. He could not know if they were looking for him, so he hid. Just as he reached the edge of town, he heard a voice to his left. “hey. Are you Herman? Weasleton sent me to find you.” Herman did not move. Hiccup thought about his words, “well I guess the Sherriff and haaaa the Mayor sent me too. They thought you could use a little help.” Herman did not know for sure if this was a trap. He trusted those guys so if that was true maybe he should trust this guy. The voice came out again, “I already see you. You are not hidden from me. If I was going to attack you, I would already do it.” Herman stepped out.
Hiccup: “my name is Hiccup. How are you now?”
Herman: “I am Herman, I guess you know that. I am good”
Hiccup: “well, tell that to your face.”
Herman did not get the joke. He looked over the devil of a man. He looked a lot like the Mayor, but much younger, “are you related to the Mayor?” Hiccup with a little anger in his voice, “NO!”. He started to head to town, not bothering to hide in any way, “let’s go to town.” Herman decided he was there to help him, “let’s head to the jail.”
The town is now somewhat hollow as they arrive. The streets that were alive are mostly empty. They easily headed over to the jail. The door is open as they approach. Hiccup puts his hand in front of Herman, “something is wrong… you take the left and I will take the right.” They draw their weapons and headed up to the door. They both slam their backs to the right and left of it. Herman using one of his extra hands, counted down, “three…two…one…” Herman rushed in to the left and hiccup went right. The room is a wreck. A scuffle happened here. Jinxie is gone.
Herman saw a scroll posted to the wall with a dagger. He rushed up to read it. Hiccup started to carefully step through the room, trying to recreate the scene in his head. Herman read the note aloud. “I have taken Jinxie. I will trade her for you. My master just wants you, not her. I am holding her at the watchtower the connects. Come alone.” Herman turned and stepped toward the door.
Hiccup: “What are you doing.”
Herman: “I am going to save her.”
Hiccup: “we will, but we will need help.”
Herman: “it said to come alone.”
Hiccup: “I know what it said, but it is a trap.”
Herman: “well let’s go then”
Hiccup smiling: “I know a few guys. They are friends from my world.”
Herman: “let’s hurry”
Hiccup led them through the still mostly empty streets to a tavern. Inside sitting at a table where three creatures. One seemed to be made of mostly pure light, one looked like a pig man, he was huge, and the last had skin that looked like wood or leather. They all looked up as Hiccup came in. Hiccup ran other to them, “gentlemen, I need your help.”
Hiccup: “friends, this is Herman, and the Sherriff wants us to help him.”
Herman: “hi”
Hiccup: “Herman this is, Lumon, Louis V, and Bacon. Some friends from my world.”
Lumon: “hi”
Bacon: “howdy”
Louis V: “hi”
Herman: “how can this help, he said to come alone.”
Hiccup: “first off it was they, not he. Second, they will not expect this. I will explain in route.”
The five of them started to head out. Herman wished his armor was ready but could not waste the day it still would take. Hiccup started to explain that his friends had skills that these guys would never see coming. Lumon here can dim himself and be almost completely invisible. Herman looked over as he reduced his light level and disappeared. He will be at your side the entire time. Louis V here can transform and be with you the entire time. He can make stuff and people stick to him. Louis V changed into the satchel that Herman now wore. He will drop off when the shit hits the fan. Bacon here is a brute. Herman looked a huge beast, its tusks reaching out of her smiling face. He and I will take care of any of the ambush that will come. They will not expect him at all.
The travel to the tower took half the night. As they approached the old, ruined watchtower, Hiccup and Bacon moved off to the north, to stay hidden. Their job was going to be the hardest. Bacon was a great warrior among the familiars but was not stealthy. Hiccup used his skills to help him hide and move up slowly. Herman walked up, seemingly alone. Jinxie was tied to a post in the center of ruined building. Lumon drifted off to the south to move up to her. A foul looking carrion bird stepped out. He squawked, “stop right there, Herman.” Herman stopped. The bird stepped up a little closer. He appeared to be alone, but they knew that was not true.
Lumon moved into the watchtower from the back he went to the pole where Jinxie was tied. There were three hidden creatures ready to attack Herman. He whispered to Jinxie in a voice that sang like an angel, “I am here with Herman. I am going to free you. Close your eyes. Do not open them or move until you hear the screams.” She closed her eyes as tight as she could. She was scared but stayed still, in her fear.
Herman was about hundred feet away from the broken tower. The birdman about twenty feet in front of him. His cracked voice came out again, “drop your weapons.” Herman looked at him with disdain as he slowly stripped them off, “let her go.” The bird looking at the satchel, “what’s in the bag.” Herman looked down, “a map, and a few coins.” The bird smiled, “throw it here.” Herman removed it and tossed it to his feet, “let her go.” The bird started to laugh, “yeah right.”
Hiccup and Bacon moved up to two creatures on the north side. They felt there was more on the south side. They did not see the three within the tower.
Lumon started to pray out loud, “may the light of Ra enlighten you.” All three within the tower turned just as Lumon changed his light level and flashed all his inner light blinding the three. A flash popped within the tower for just a brief moment.
There was not a plan, but Louis V had known Lumon a long time, he used this distraction to change and grab the birdman, sticking him to the ground. Herman grabbed his weapons off the ground. Arrows flew from the two man on the north and from the unseen creatures on the south. Herman moved quickly but two arrows struck true. Hiccup moved up and ended one of his creatures before he could reload. He had hoped Beacon would take out the other, but he charged. He moved with a speed his size did not suggest. He gave out a great roar of his Halfling master barbarian tribe. He charged completely across the battlefield to engage the two on the south.
Jinxie opened her eye. All three of the creatures were blind. One of them laughed as it was clear he was a bat and being able to see made no difference to him. Lumon attack and killed one of the three. Jinxie grabbed a bolt off the dead body and started to attack the other blind creature. The bat attacked Lumon. They sparred. Lumon would have lost this fight but Jinxie gave the bat just enough distraction that the two of them finally killed this last man.
Bacon charged past Herman and straight towards the two bowmen. One took off running. The other one held his ground and pulled a sword. Bacon smashed into him, sending him flying through the air. Bacon started to square off with this flung creature. He was badly wounded but defended himself well. Bacon took a couple minor wounds as he finished him off. Bacon looked up hoping to see or smell the one that ran off. He was too far and Bacon could not find him. He turned back, frustrated one got away.
Hiccup yelled to the other bowman as he pushed the dead one off his blade, “surrender, and you live.” She looked at him and her dead companion. She scanned the rest of the battle, seeing her dead compatriots all over it. She dropped her weapons and put her hands in the air.
The arrows entered Herman and he fell to the ground. He had never felt pain like this. He could die and he knew it might be soon. They may have rescued Jinxie but might have been successful in killing him. The birdman was not wounded but confused by the sticky bag wrapped around his feet. He half-heartedly stabbed at it. He should have been more true in his attack, Louis V dodged the blows while holding firm. Herman pulled himself to his feet. He had his sword in one hand and his dagger in another. He was stumbling and half staggered as he moved forward. He lunged both weapons into the birdman with reckless abandon, knowing he might die as he stabbed the distracted foe, “die you piece of shit.” Louis V let go of him as the birdman died from Herman’s attack.
Jinxie ran out to Herman as he fell to the ground again. He was about to bleed out. Lumon moved up, “by the healing light of Ra.” A healing light came from him and hit Herman, mending the most critical of his wounds. He was still wounded but he would not die. Hiccup pointed his blades at the female lizard, “pitter Patter.” She moved out into the open. She kept her hands up the entire time. Herman sat on the grounds reeling in pain from his wounds. Bacon stomped back, “I missed one.” Herman looked up, “thank you my friends.”
Hiccup pointed to the ground, “on the ground.” The lizard dropped to the ground.
Hiccup: “What’s your name?”
Gila: “Gila.”
Hiccup: “who sent you.”
Gila pointing to the Birdman: “he did. You know… things changed. He offered money.”
Hiccup: “you are mercenary?”
Gila: “I guess I am now. I just became estranged and need money.”
Jinxie: “get a job.”
Gila: “like what?”
Hiccup holding his hand out: “you don’t need money here. If you need something you can summon it. Here is some food.”
Jinxie seeing nothing happened: “why is there no food?”
All of them tried to summon some basic resource, but nothing came. They were all in a shock. Things are changing fast in the Nexus. They should have been able to just create a little food, but none came. All of them knew this was bad. Gila looked at them trying to figure out what they were doing. Herman was feeling a little better and stood through the pain.
Herman: “are you still going to kill me?”
Gila: “nope. Plus, I missed you on purpose. I just could not do it.”
Jinxie, angry: “and why would we believe that?”
Gila: “you can’t, but it’s true.”
Lumon: “I wonder if they know about this in town. This will break the Nexus even more.”
Louis V: “bad gas travels fast.”
Herman: “let’s head back to town.”
Gila: “what happens to me.”
Jinxie: “Not sure, but let’s put her in jail until we figure it out.”
Herman staring at Gila: “will you go back to jail peacefully?”
Gila: “I will.”
They tied her hands and headed back to town. They had to move slow as Herman was wounded and could not walk fast. The town was mostly empty. Herman wanted to know where everyone went. They stopped at the edge of town. They wanted to do a quick check before heading in. Just as they were about to come out of their hiding spot, a huge yellow flash appeared above them. A human fell from the sky and landed with a thump on the ground. It took him a long time to get his lungs to work again. They were about to approach when small yellow flashes occurred above them. Birds started to pop into existence, each carrying other creatures. They all started to land all around the ground around the man.
Herman thought of Oni. He had almost forgotten him in his pursuit to rescue Jinxie. He checked his wrist display. Oni was landing on the ground in Raam. He was covered in large insects. Herman wished he could help, but he knew it would be a few days before his wounds would let him join him.
Weasleton’s Note left for Oggy and The Sherriff
In the Parlor, Oggy and the Sherriff find a note Weasleton left for them.
“Dear oldest friends,
I knew I would not come back. I did not know if I will die in the process. I hope to live on and to survive. I will return if I can. I could not let you two suffer in this world. Take on the challenge of the town that I have now left. Build it up into the great place only you two can. Share the wealth on my lair only with those you trust. Long live Dragons Bane.
I think Oni’s companion, the Purple Warrior is the key to destroying Tiamat’s hold on this world. He has already started. Tiamat is weakened because of him. He must now find the other three gems and destroy them. Help them if you can. Our hidden space is no longer hidden. We need to go to war as only we can. I will rally the survivors on this side, if I can.
Your friend Weasleton.”