Horizon Walkers (Game Thread) Dead

[Josh123914]

Nettil tried to see through the rustling of the foliage, but simply couldn't. She considered manipulating the tree, but Jensa began to question her actions.
"Probably not the best idea to aim a spear at people we can't see. We don't mean any harm, just trying to get away from the people on the other side of the horizon. We aren't them."
Nettil sighed quietly, wondering if it had suddenly became hotter. "You're not wrong, but we don't know if what came through that Horizon is even a person. Assuming the new arrival was hostile, I would rather not be caught unaware." She stated quite calmly. "...Have you been in a similar situation before?"

"I am Iura, and I got here earlier through another portal... I thought this was an abandoned place."
Nettil cocked her head and called out, "My name is Nettil, and we have just arrived from another world. You haven't seen any activity from this horizon have you?" she asked, gesturing her staff at the Horizon far above.

 

[Thomas Barnsley]

So this really was a Horizon. And the people who just walked through it were probably Horizon Walkers. The little girl watched the elven one's receding back as he vanished through the translucent entity, socketless eyes somehow bearing a listless, glazed appearance. As if wind were howling around within her skull, lost and alone, but unfeeling nonetheless.

If anyone knew the way back to Sommerdale, it would be them.

Gyda resolved to wait a moment before going through after the group. She had it in mind to tail them for a while, to size them up. If they turned out too small... She could always just eat them...
So Gyda waited, hoping that when she did get through it would be at the exact right time; just after they had stopped paying attention to the portal and just before they were out of tailing range.

 

[hiei82]

As Ai stepped through, she was met with exactly what she expected; a tropical world overflowing with flora and - presumably - fauna. Life that would no doubt come in handy for her continuing research. "Ai, I aught to tell you here that I can bend plants to my will. With this in mind, well, why wouldn't I be elated here?" Nettil said, drawing Ai's attention. The ability to control plants was a powerful one indeed; particularly in conjunction with her own knowledge of Wu Xing. Suddenly, Ai had all the more reason to travel with the group.

And then a guy in an exceptionally bright suit of armor showed up. "I am Iura, and I got here earlier through another portal... I thought this was an abandoned place." Iura said. Ai nodded. "I heard that was the case. However, I also heard there are dangerous creatures on this Horizon so be careful."

 

[DarkRawen]

"My name is Nettil, and we have just arrived from another world. You haven't seen any activity from this horizon have you?"

"Not before now," Iura said, but added; "I have only been here for a short while myself, however." He examined this odd group, the dragon woman, the elf, the humans, and took note of two things. The group was overwhelmingly female, and they did not seem to know each other too well. The latter was just a feeling, not one Iura would rely on entirely, but an interesting one nonetheless.

"I heard that was the case. However, I also heard there are dangerous creatures on this Horizon so be careful."

"You need not worry for me," Iura replied. "I am not easily defeated. Of course, to think I cannot be defeated would be the height of hubris. So, if it is fine with you, I would like to follow you for a while, I will not talk if you do not want me to, and I can protect those of you who needs it. Only if it is okay with the rest of you, of course."

 

[Thomas Barnsley]

Even through the portal, Gyda could feel something. Something hideously... Right...

"Angel." she hissed, turning on the spot with a creak of bones and walking away. The girl would find her own way back to Sommerdale. Until then... This place had apparently just been freed of some kind of monster.
The inhabitants were celebrating their liberation, both from terror and slavery. The latter would return in its own time, and the former... Well, Gyda could help in that regard.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia just looked in the direction of this new person, Iura they said, at first, they didn't seem hostile after all so no needed to get to excited. Besides her getting excited usually made other people uneasy.

But she still got up and walked over to the others talking to this person. His baring and mannerisms, even the design of his armor reminded her of the Paladins back home, though, this Iura seemed less insufferable then those over glorified tin can sporting assholes. Lucia gave him a slight salute, as was only proper for knights greeting and meeting each-other for the first time. Least where she was from anyway.

 

[IFS]

The portal emptied Myrreh out into a lush forest of some sort, an unwelcome change in her opinion though her instincts already were running over how to best hide or track in such an environment. Oh my family will not like this, the growth may make it difficult to move, and the wet and warmth is unpleasant, she fretted to herself. She had of course taken note of the others nearby but they did not appear hostile and so could wait until she had addressed the concerns of her family.

She made a clicking sound nervously as she glanced about, where might they all stand? She supposed they could climb up into the trees if need be, or even topple them to make room, the water pool was a problem though as neither she nor her family could swim, though she supposed a source of water was always pleasant. Her concerns for her family were pushed aside suddenly by the urgings of the Hunt, the ground was soft so tracks would be somewhat easy to find, though there were all manner of smells and running water made that sense less useful. And these others, finally turning her attention to them she noted immediately how well armed they were, one especially seemed clad in heavy armor that seemed impractical for the environment. The group was quite mixed as well, different races and all without masks, part of her felt offended by the sight though she soon reminded herself that only in her home city was such an act of common decency observed. Still they seemed strong, some perhaps might even make decent prey at some point.

Oh, I should introduce myself, it's only polite, she thought suddenly stepping forward and giving a short curtsy to the group.

"Greetings, I am Myrreh Ia-El, that is Myrreh -El, a Hunter of the Masked city," she said, "what are your names and titles?"

To them she would appear as a small human woman with black hair and fair skin wearing a simple dress and a crescent moon shaped mask, smiling politely. It troubled her somewhat that the Hunters had no titles among their family, it made things terribly confusing at times and, she felt, made her introductions less impactful than they might otherwise be.

 

[Josh123914]

"I have only been here for a short while myself, however."
"And us as well. I am happy for you to join us." Nettil told Iura, the warrior's figure being notably imposing.

"Surrounded by those who's motivations I can't know, yes and I assure you had I made mind obvious I've have been attacked more often. And persons or no you can still try and communicate. Now please lower the spear dear."
"Oh, fantastic, well you can understand my insurance then." She said cheerfully, making a mental note what kind of travelling companion Jensa was going to be.
Dear.

"Greetings, I am Myrreh Ia-El, that is Myrreh -El, a Hunter of the Masked city, what are your names and titles?" "Hello!" Nettil greeted the new woman, lowering her staff and thinking for a moment in order to come up with a title. Several thoughts came to mind. Dabbling politician, merchant, mage. If she wanted to be particularly pretentious she could give herself some faux title, but best to keep such greetings simple.

"I am Nettil, the Herbologist" She stated calmly, lifting her hands up slowly, then dropping them. The branch Myrreh stood on seemed to move under the woman's feet, the end of it inclining steadily, halting to create a shape that would allow Myrreh to hop off her location and onto the ground with ease.

"As you can surely see." Nettil then said, laughing quietly.

 

[DarkRawen]

"I think the word is condemned, I never heard why but the shaman pulled resources elsewhere. Honestly surprised we haven't run into any guards on either side. Either way good to see the first face is friendly."

Iura nodded, though he knew nothing of this shaman or their resources. He also did not think he had meant condemned, it was a lush forest. Besides, could a place be condemned? Regardless, it would be petty to argue on the meaning of words, especially when all he wanted to do was to befriend the group. Words were simply words, the meaning did not matter as long as his intended message had gotten across.

He noticed that the dragon-like woman was saluting him, which he knew was a friendly gesture amongst those of rank. At least it was where he was from. While angels rarely held any kind of rank apart from their age, he had spent enough time on the ground to be used to the gesture himself. He saluted her as well, still a bit puzzled whether she was simply an odd looking human, or if she was a small dragon.

It should not be an issue long as she does not harm anyone.

"Greetings, I am Myrreh Ia-El, that is Myrreh -El, a Hunter of the Masked city, what are your names and titles?"

Thus spoke the newly arrived woman with a mask over her eyes. Iura wondered why she hid her face, was it for the same reason as he did, or was it more complex? Regardless, it did not matter, he was curious about why had asked for titles.

"I am Nettil, the Herbologist"

Iura spoke, unimpressed by Nettil's antics. "While I have been given titles by those who care for such in my world, I do not use any. Nor do I have the need to use my abilities to prove myself. You may, however, call me Iuratus or, if you like so many other mortals, find it too long, Iura."

 

[hiei82]

"Greetings, I am Myrreh Ia-El, that is Myrreh -El, a Hunter of the Masked city, what are your names and titles?" a strange woman said, appearing from a different Horizon. She seemed to be another person joining the group which was odd. "Is this how Horizon Walking usually occurs?" Ai had to wonder.

While the others began to introduce themselves - Nettil the Herbalist, Iuratus, etc - Ai waited until it seemed her turn then spoke. Clearing her throat, she introduced herself again; this time properly. "I am Soong Ai, Jiàoshòu of the Xia Imperial Academy, though you may simply call me Ai. I am honored" she said to Myrreh as much as Iuratus, bowing slightly to each.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Lucia liked this Iuratus already, especial since people who cared for titles where usually the ones to hide behind them as a given for something they'd yet to actually earn, still, a proper introduction was in order. "Lucia Draken." she said with small wave of greeting "Much like Iuratus, I've been given, or earned many titles I've no taste for using, but if you truly need one, 'Captain' will do, as that was my rank in my nations military before they betrayed me." she added. It dawned on Lucia after she said that, that it opened the door for questions here to left unasked, to now be asked.

Though, since no one really seemed interested in her past, she figured it wouldn't amount to anything.

 

[hiei82]

"Not heard of the Xia , but I'm sure the honnor is as much mine as yours? What business brings you here?" Jensa said.

Ai, hearing her refer to herself as a 'Princess', bowed somewhat lower to the woman in turn. As a fellow member of the aristocracy, Ai understood that a certain amount of respect was due such individuals. "I am unsurprised. Xia prefers to remain isolated from the affairs of other Horizons. We do not allow most travelers to even enter Xia and guard the Horizon Gates closely as a result." Ai answered to the first part of her inquiry.

"As for my business, my Jiàoshòu discipline is that of Wu Xing; a branch of Alchemy. I'm traveling to expand my knowledge and find new materials with which to experiment." she said, leaving out the part of her 'curse'. She had it under control and their knowledge of it would only serve to upset them. If it became necessary, she would inform them in the future.

Turning her attention to the dragon-person, she also bowed more deeply than she did most of the others. She recognized the individual as one of draconian ancestry and of the significance therein. Dragons were the messengers of the heavens after all, though she didn't really resemble a proper Lung. Perhaps she was of some other, foreign breed. "I am sorry to hear of your betrayal honored Lung-Born." she said, while indicating that she was willing to listen to her story if she wished to speak of it with her tone.

 

[Anti-American Eagle]

As Kyras stared into the water, he felt energy flowing in and around him. The last time he had felt this was perhaps a year before his capture, before the five long years of his life had been stolen from him. All of the nonsense he had allowed himself to walk through eased in his body and mind as he pulled from the land around him. He smiled, breathed deeply, and allowed the water in his hands to fall back as another approached.

Another that seemed to have something off about them stated their name and asked for his. After the others replied to her, he stood and did the same, "Kyras of the Red Ravens."

 

[Josh123914]

Nettil looked around and shrugged. "Well, it is great to have some new companions with us, but I would like to explore the area."
She said, spinning his feet around and walking in an arbitrary direction.

Nettil had noticed that further and further from the Horizon, the world became more harshly humid, and unsettlingly warmer. She had barely clawed her way through a few metres of the foliage before her long brown hair began to get caught in the brambles and branches. After struggling some more to carve a path for the group, Nettil noticed she had reached the point where her body was deciding whether or not it would sweat, and that just would not do.
Instead, Nettil turned her attention to a vine overhead, yanked it down, and tied her hair together with it. The vine was moist and sticky, but she used her magic to refine the plant to remove most of the gunk.

After a bit more work, Nettil found herself in a clearing. Looking at the ground, it wasn't ground anymore, but cobblestones. The trees were absent bar a few saplings, and the area that was dominated by thatch roofs and stone columns, which was itself being consumed by grasses and mosses.
Nettil thought it oddly serene, until she noticed nearby was a large cat-like monster that was strung up near a tree branch. Its flesh appeared to slough off its bones, and half its torso had disintegrated completely. "Ugh, ewwwwwww" she said audibly, considering how she could bury the grotesque site without having to look at it again.

 

[booksv3]

Hissa blinks his eyes and allows the soul that had been mixed with his dissipate, rubbing one eye as they go back to normal and the supersight he had been using fades. Using that sight he had seen those new to this world walk through the horizon and be joined by one who had been here before. Moving over farther on the thick branch he was squatting on with his claws dug into the wood he watches the almost pinpricks of movement in the distance as he thinks. A frown coming to his forehead as he considers his choices.
Joining the would make it easier to survive, but it would mean having to be around them.

Sighing quietly to himself and pulling out a half formed arrow from his quiver he slowly scrapes its shaft with his claws as he watches them move in the distance. The movements easily replicated from the thousands of times he had done so in the past he pays little attention to it, sliver after sliver of wood slowly floating down through the air below him. Looking down at the now straighter piece of wood and sliding it over his palms Hissa drops it back into his quiver before climbing back down the tree and moving closer towards the group in the distance.

It had been only a day since he himself had came into this horizon and Hissa had yet to meet anything really terrifying but it was always a good choice to assume there was something that would try to kill him if he was not careful. Itching a scratch on the side of his neck and swatting at a few of the bugs that try to land on him he moves a few hundred yards closer and climbs half way up a tree trunk looking towards the group, now they can almost be made out without using his take over.

Frowning still and watching them he doesn't hear the large thing moving behind him until its almost to late. Stiffening as he feels a breeze that shouldn't be there Hissa throws himself forward just ahead of a wrist thick rope thing that slaps the place he had just been. Spinning and pulling his bow out he can feel his eyes widening as a large spider crawls out of the gloom behind where he had been and lifts itself on its legs to look down at it. Pausing and keeping himself still other than his hands it takes him 4 seconds to string his bow, those seconds ticking by almost to slow as the spider opens its giant mandibles and spits a glob of acid towards it.

Jumping back again and pulling an arrow out he sets it on the string draws and fires it in less time than it takes Hissa to hit the ground behind him. Hissing to himself and pulling another arrow out he looks at the spot the acid had hit as it smolders and starts eating away at the ground and tree it had hit Hissa swallows and quick fires an arrow towarsd the gigantic creatures eyes, hitting the center one and making it scream in rage and pain as it starts thrashing its front legs making furrows in the ground. Running towards the monster spider and getting under its legs he draws an arrow on his bow to fire it into its belly when he has to throw himself to the side as it slams its body down throwing rocks and dirt around.

Dropping the arrow and grabbing his shoulder as he glares at the spider Hissa spits out a curse at it as he grabs the shard of rock and pulls it out of the muscle, mentally thankful it had gone with the grain and not sliced it in half. Scrambling to his feet and looking back towards where the other horizon walkers were gathering Hissa growls to himself as his options go from two to one and he starts sprinting towards them as he holds his bow in his uninjured arm. Keeping himself low to the ground and gathering his oldest and most known soul to use he sprints through the jungle as fast as he could.

Glancing back only once to see where the spider was, assuming it had fallen behind, Hissa widens his eyes in surprise as it seems to be slowly catching up to him. Forcing himself to run faster he bursts into the small clearing the other Walkers he starts yelling at them before he is two steps into it, not stopping as he does.
?GIANT SPIDER ON MY ASS KILL IT!?

Looking back and yelping he jumps out of the way as another glob of acid comes flying out of the folliage and splatters over the ground, several drops hitting the back of Hissa's back and burning it causing him to scream in rage and pain as he tumbles into the dirt. Rolling around and scratching at the burning wound Hissa jerks himself up and pulls an arrow from his quiver to string it and jerk it back he glares down it.
?Show yourself you disgusting monster!?

 

[IFS]

Myrreh listened carefully to the others introductions, herbologist was hardly a title, though the strange ability Nettil seemed to possess to animate plants was something to keep in mind. Two of them rejected titles, in the case of the scaly woman it seemed a reaction to being outcast, while Iuratus seemed too proud to rely on them. Then there was the professor, a rare but respected position she supposed, and lastly the princess. Myrreh rather doubted that she was such, the city had a few such figures and they were rarely seen in public let alone in the forest surrounded by strangers, as indeed some of the other strangers seemed surprised by this title. A lie? Or was the supposed princess an outcast, or otherwise visited by unfortunate circumstances. As she hopped off of the root Myrreh considered all of this carefully as she made note of the additional stranger rushing towards them, fleeing from some creature or another.

Once the newcomer, another scale covered creature, began shrieking she gave the matter slightly more attention. The creature he was fleeing from didn't look particularly threatening, though the princess, Jensa she reminded herself, seemed interested in it.

"Hello. Mind if we talk a little before we fight?"

"It is outnumbered," she commented, "instinct should dictate that it retreats."

There were few enough predators that would take on such numbers as her family alone, even another hunter of the city would hesitate and she knew her brothers and sisters of the hunt were far more relentless than a common predator. The creature hadn't seemed large enough to require such a glut of prey either, not all at once at least. Perhaps it might stalk them for a time, but unless it was particularly voracious she doubted it would attack now.

 

[DarkRawen]

Iuratus listened, patiently, for the rest to introduce themselves.

"Lucia Draken. Much like Iuratus, I've been given, or earned many titles I've no taste for using, but if you truly need one, 'Captain' will do, as that was my rank in my nations military before they betrayed me."

"I am sorry to hear that as well, Lucia Draken," he said, speaking after the very polite woman. Ai, her name was. "Betrayal is one of the greatest evils there is." He wondered what the rest of the story was, but it was not his place. Besides, their attention was soon brought to someone just as scaly, but smaller than this dragon-like woman.

"GIANT SPIDER ON MY ASS KILL IT!"

Why would it attack? Was it threatened, perhaps? Or is it intending to kill?

The life of someone who could think and act was a little more important than that of a spider, but if it was just defending itself, perhaps there was another solution.

"Have you considered maybe not shooting at it? Hello. Mind if we talk a little before we fight?"

Spiders do not normally talk.

 

[Lunar Templar]

"I am sorry to hear of your betrayal honored Lung-Born."

"I am sorry to hear that as well, Lucia Draken, Betrayal is one of the greatest evils there is."

both Ai and Iuratus said. It's was kinda odd to get sympathy, but she wasn't gonna turn her nose up at it. "Indeed it is. But the story will have to wait for better surroundings" She said, and almost as if on que, some one came running through the brush, yelling about a spider.

the group then discussed what to do about said spider. Lucia thought on this for a moment. "If the spider attacks we deal with it, other wise I see no reason to kill it." she said after a few moments.

 

[Josh123914]

Nettil gazed towards the destroyed settlement, thinking about what may be inside the handful of ruined buildings. Some of the houses were perched up high on stilts, while others had solid brick foundations. The buildings themselves surrounded a large artificial pond, with water that had an almost luminous glow to it.
Out from a bush popped another traveller, screaming about a giant spider.

"Show yourself you disgusting monster!"

Nettil walked towards the man, pulling him back onto his feet. "It's okay, we're friendly." she told him, ensuring she make eye contact while doing so. Nettil then looked up towards the bush and saw a faint rustling, so she did what she could to open up the area. She took steps towards the bush and thrusted her arms sidewards. The jungle cleared rapidly, revealing a spider that was nearly her height sitting on a low-hanging branch.

Nettil let out a cry of terror as its clicky mandibles let out a horrific "REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" noise, and Nettil barely had enough time to back away and conjure a chest-height cobblestone wall between herself and the spider before it pounced at her.
Nettil slumped down on the wall and looked to the group. Except when she checked behind her, she saw that a second spider was scuttling towards them from the settlement, the element of surprise seemingly something foreign to that beast.
To add to this, the cat carcass was gone, and instead a third Spider appeared in that direction to make matters worse.
"Well? Kill them!?" she urged the group.

Looking over her wall Nettil frantically punched the air. Vines sprouted from the ground and the trees to paralyze the first Spider. One or two caught the monster's leg, but it saw no signs of slowing, and shot a gunk of acid at her wall, turning the very cobblestones Nettil relied on for protection to a grey paste.

 

[booksv3]

Moving back from the one who had helped him up Hissa frowns at it as it makes eye contact and tries to sooth him, muttering in his own mind.
I am not an animal to be soothed.

Watching as the person who had moved him goes forward to raise a stone wall after seeing the spider he grunts in surprise at the power it displays, something powerful if he saw right. As it screamed in a high voice and hunkered down behind the stone wall it had formed it pointed at something behind everyone and yelled again. Something about... THEM?!

Spinning on his heels and pulling the arrow he already had notched on his bow Hissa narrows his eyes and lets out a hissing breath as the motion pulls on his wounds. Pausing before releasing the arrow it flies forward straight towards the horrible thing, the point sliding between the armor of the body and leg to imbed itself. Almost severing the leg it makes the spider unbalanced as one of its front legs stops working suddenly. Moving to the side where less of this group stand while pulling another of his arrows out he notches it but doesn't draw it back as he watches to see if the rest of the group will come to their companions aid. Taking a deep breath he allows the take over he had been holding go and can feel his muscles become legs springy and movable.