You dream of Mentat annoying Dracula by constantly throwing a knife at him every time Dracula tries to speak. Then a giant pink T-Rex bursts through the wall and shouts out "OH YEAH!!!" sending you flying where you land on a ship. You can even feel the rolling waves of the ocean... wait. You are actually feeling that.

I peel my stiff form off the floor "Sooo, am I dreaming about being a stow-away or am I actually one this time..."

The thoughts come simultaneously.
You're actually a stow away.
You're probably a stow away.

The real question is are we in jurassic park, it seems our dreams are giving us insight into where we are going.

Well I guess we'll find out.

YES! WE ARE GOING TO KOOLAID MAN A T-REX! Mwahahahahahahah!

That is not what happened!

As much as the thought of Koolaid man-ing a T-Rex amuses me I try to slip over to a window, staying low and all as I recognize that most sailors are not kind to stow aways.

17:32, Today: Mew rolled 23 using 4d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,8,1,7.  Sneaking to window.

You notice you are on the deck of a ship and you manage to dart behind some barrels near the edge of the railings. You look over and see ocean as far as the eyes can see. Near the bow you see huge flying fishes leap out of the water. It seems that the are schooling with the ship.

You see other ships in the fleet. Seems like standard Age of Sail ships. With one major oddity. They seem to use huge bones along with wood in the construction of the ships.

The crew is a mix of a few species. There is standard humans. There are 2 foot tall cat beastmans running around and cooking for some reason. There are humans with long ears like an elf but they have scales and birdlike feet on their legs. And there are short stocky bearded fellows.

No one has noticed you yet.

KITTY!

NO. Besides that may be patronizing to them. Focus.

Are these whaling ships? I couldn't find any good images of the ships to identify if there are any distinctly non whale bones on them.

More importantly...what is your story if you get caught.

You better come up with something fast so you can practice, your a shit liar otherwhys.

Well we know jackshit about whaling soo.... I got drunk and my friends must have played a prank on me?

Really that's all you got?

Yep we have a rule, first one to pass out is sent on a trip.

You know, I don't know if this is quite dumb enough to work.

As I'm thinking this over I try and find a better location to conceal myself.

You Note that there is a ship with a Figurehead made from a skull. The skull looks to be from a dinosaur rather than a whale. And you note some of the weapons that they are carrying. One dude is carrying a massive two-handed sword that looks to be made of a Jaw bone of a massive beast. You know that one of you old friends would love to have it. There is also a guy with a mechanical ax that looks like it can turn into something else. Massive bows, Guns that are also lances and other weird armaments.

You manage to dart under the deck and find another hiding place with out anyone noticing you.
You also note that they are speaking English.
A guy comments to another guy while heading above deck
"I hear that we are getting close to the New World"

Oh thank GOD they speak ENGLISH.

New world, is this going to be an alternate America?

* movie announcer voice * Dino-America! Coming to a theater near you.

Sounds like they’ve been on the sea for a long time, we may be able to use that as a possible tactic if I’m caught and they don’t believe us.

True it does look bad that we’ve gone this long without being detected. More so the longer they’ve been at sea.

Are they compensating for something?

Whatever they expect to fight must require large weapons, if this is the case we may want to switch our tactics.

In Kingdom Hearts Sora had many keyblades…I think he attached new Keychains…Would it just be a physical object or am I limited by such a thing?…

I decide to give form to one of my two new keyblades I feel I’m capable of making, by using my “lucky” stone pendent as a focus and keychain. I remove the keychain on ‘Guard and Parry’ and attach the stone pendent. Placing ‘Guard and Parry’ ’s keychain on my waist.

Making Piece of Home Keyblade. If keyblades change with thoughts and efforts just ignore that last bit.

I may have to start wearing a belt… who knows how many I will have in the future.

I wonder if we can stay hidden all the way to this “New World”. Depending on the size of the settlement we may just be able to slip away or into a crowd as long as records aren’t too well kept we may be able to move unimpeded.

Providing my new keyblade didn't give me away, I'll just try to stay under the radar.

With a thought you dismiss the Key-Shield and it takes it's keychain with it. You concentrate on your Lucky Stone Pendant and a new Keyblade forms. It is a two handed blade that appears to be made of stone. It looks like a key from a tumbler lock. And has a gargoyle cross-guard. You wouldn't expect to be able to lift it. But it feels just as light as your other keyblade in your hands.

You Manage to remain hidden until they make it to port that night. There where a few close calls with the perceptive hunters but you manage to out maneuver them and make it off the ship into the port.

OOC: Raise your Stealth to two due to managing to avoid detection from the Hunters.

Fascinating Keyblade size is irrelevant when it comes to weight.

With that minor revelation, I listen for cultural things like turn of phrases, name of the colony, Homeland, Occupation/purpose of the folks here, Species names for the dwarfs, elves, and cats.

Don’t worry about most of these things, they’re just what I’m listening for and as far as I know Palico is the only species name that is ever mentioned.

When we reach shore and I slip off the ship I try to act natural, like I belong here. I can't believe I actaully avoided them for the intire trip...

Now that we're on shore we should try and get a feel for the culture.  Like how money here works and who is in charge, if there are any jobs I might be able to do to acquire money because eating is nice.

You walk around the colony and observe everyone. It seems everyone here is ether working for the Research Commission or works to support them. One of the prominent groups that work with the Research Commission is the Hunters.

One group of them brought in what looks to be a dead t-rex except that this one has pink scales and a grey feathered tuff around its neck. They seem to be cutting it up to recover all the materials they can from it.

Another group brought in what looks to be a 9 yard long bright yellow iguana.  This one is alive and sleeping at the moment. One of the elves with scaled feet administers something into it's blood stream. They seem to be measuring it's proportions and there are several swarms of what appear to be fireflies posted around it.

The Hunters seem to always be partnered to one of those cat beastman. You heard one of them be referred to as a Palico. Now that you can take a closer look they are actually about 3 feet tall but they tend to be hunched over a bit.

The Hunters also seem to have someone that handles the Bureaucracy involved with the hunts. And makes sure they get their fair share of the materials from what they kill.

The colony is referred to as Astera.

Money semms to be called the Zenny and it actually makes sense. The smallest unit is a zenny which is a small copper coin. And different coins are worth a certain amout of the Zenny. Small silver coins seem to be about 10 zenny. Large silver coins seems to be worth about 100 zenny. There seems to be even more valuable coins.

The elf like race seems to be referred to as Wyverians. And the Dwarf like race seems to be referred to as Troverians. They are actually about a tall as humans if a little bit on the short end but they are as stocky as you would expect from dwarfs.

You also found a small old wyverian lady over a huge iron pot. You feel something odd about the pot. She seems to be doing chemistry but it feels a bit like alchemy.

It's about sunset at this point. You wander up to an restaurant they call the Canteen.  And... That is the hugest cat you ever seen. It is like someone told one of your friends that they have to play a cat beastman. Then he proceeded to finagle the system so that he got to play the manliest, most Swole cat that ever existed.

But he is not a character that your friend made  he is real and you are seeing the Meowscular Chef in all of his glory. He has Siamese style fur color but he is graying. He also has a scar over his right eye. It seems like the wound ruined his eye because he keeps that eye closed all the time. He is about 4 feet tall and is using a Guts style greatsword as both a spatula and a knife. There are other palicos helping him.

He has noticed you and is staring at you with his one eye.

I give a nervous smile, with a hat tip/ bow, not a deep one but a minimally recognizable one and walk over...

I hate doing this sort of thing, I want to observe you first.
Well you better get over it, nothing says I don't belong here like wondering around watching people.

 "Guten Tag. Is something wrong?"

SHIT does German even exist here?!

I try to keep my cool under the realization that I may have spoke a language that may not exist here.

The Meowscular Chef Still seem nervous but talks to you
"You are new here. Sorry you just seem... Different. This is the Weapons and Cathouse. The Best Canteen Astera. Where we have the Best Purr-oten that all the Hunters Eat to have the Best Gains."

No thought manages to begin forming in my mind before I excitedly blurt out with a light fist slam on the counter. "YOU HAD ME AT PROTEIN!"

You Surprise him and his fur stands on end for a bit before he gets it under control. He then smiles.
"Tell you what. I will go ahead and make you something good. And you can tell me what you planned on doing comming all the way here to the New World."

He gets to work Chopping up some meat that looks vaguely like beef using the greatsword on his back as both a knife and spatula. Then he fries up some rice and vegetables while the meat cooks. They both get done at the same time with the timing of an expert Chef. He then serves you the food on the plate with a flourish.
The meat is juicy but tasts slightly different from beef. Still great but different. The fried vegetables are also different than what you are familiar with. But at least the rice tastes like rice.

Before you start eating, he asks
"What would you like to drink? I have drinks from all the local breweries and juicers. I just got a shipment of Mead from Seliana.

I think for a moment on the question of drinks, normally I consider drinks (alcoholic) to be a special occasion thing like when my sister got married or to toast my first date. Which in a way leads me to an answer to his other question. "I guess I'll give mead a try. And to answer your earlier inquiry, back home my friends always had good stories to tell, I in turn had little to offer when such stories were told. I am here to make my own stories, the reason is a bit shallow, but it is mine, so I will own it as such."

I then gratefully eat the food (especially the meat) and give a silent toast. If I must be late returning home, I shall do so with stories for my children.

The Meowscular Chef nods at your reason. For coming to the new world.

"Well you came to the purrfect place to make great stories.  The Research Commission is still finding out things about the New World even after being here for over 60 years. I suppose you already joined with the Research Commission."


-------------
You eat the food and then give a toast to the stories you will make. And drink

It isn't as sweet as you would expect from honey wine. But it does counter the bitterness of alcohol to a degree that allows you to taste both.

You relax and eat your food. Taking in the mead slow enough  for your body to process it. After a hour or two of relaxing you hear a loud crash.

You spot it. That Large Yellow and Blue Iguana like thing has gotten loose and is wreaking things down on the Docks.

There is more that a little embarrassment on my face (most likely due to coming up with it on the spot) as I claim. "You know I may have forgotten a step. Wouldn't be the first time, who would I talk to, to fix that?"


After seeing what happened I guesstimate my jumping distance and if possible position myself close enough to jump above the creature summoning Piece of Home in the air. Provided this is the case I will attempt to land blade first into the lizard's back putting all of my weight into the blow.


20:25, Today: Mew rolled 47 using 9d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of (10+2)12,(10+6)16,9,2,1,(10+9)19,2,8,6.  Attack with Piece of Home +4 bonus dice.
20:29, Today: Mew rolled 23 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,7,5,7,4,4,6.  Damage with Piece of Home 7k3.
20:30, Today: Mew rolled 1 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  Volatile .
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:35, Sun 03 Nov 2019.

You Drop down onto the Great iguana like thing and cut into the meat of it's side, defecting off its ribs and ending up to it left side. It spends around and lunges at you teeth first. but you catch it's mouth with your blade and force it off to the side. It is open for your retribution.

Despite everything I can't help but smile. I'm fighting a beautiful creature, and while I'm a little sad that I'm causing it pain, I'm ridiculously excited about the whole situation. As it's jaw slides past me, I spin around managing to step around to the other side of its still moving feet I take an up swing at its side followed up by a down swing at it's hind leg as it passes.





17:09, Today: Mew rolled 24 using 6d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,6,2,1,9,3.  Attack roll 5k3+1die stunt.

17:10, Today: Mew rolled 25 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 9,6,7,5,2,9,1.  Damage with Piece of Home 7k3.

17:11, Today: Mew rolled 7 using 2d10, rerolling max with rolls of 1,6.  Volatile.


18:25, Today: Mew rolled 24 using 6d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 8,9,1,4,5,7.  Attack 2.

18:27, Today: Mew rolled 35 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6,5,7,(10+7)17,1,(10+1)11.  Damage with Piece of Home 7k3.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:29, Sun 10 Nov 2019.

Your moment of pride in what you have done is cut short as you notice its tail pull back to swing. You instinctively fall back away from the tail and shoulder roll. Coming to Your feet a surprising distance away. About 6 feet away.

You notice that you instinctively used your inner light to help you roll skillfully out of the way. About half of it is replaced with the familiar feeling of Darkness from before.

Also the Piece of Home is now glowing with your inner light. Sparks and embers of light occasionally falling from it.

The Giant Iguana has turned around and found you unexpectedly away. You have a moment before it does something else.

I adjust my stance and notice the car sized lizard's eyes seem to be following the sparks and come up with a dumb plan. I throw Piece of Home above its head and to the left. If it actually looks up I run up and punch it in the eye. If not I'll resummon it to my hand and charge.

You throw your sword and it Almost works. The Lizard's eyes follow it instead of you fror just a moment which you take advantage of to charge in. It's eyes return to your movements and you summon your sword back just in time to slash him between the eyes.

It barrels forward. Attempting to run you over. But you dodge to the side easily and maneuver out of the way. It continues forward for about 8 yards. Before coming to a stop.

I decide that it may be best to approach it from above and leap up to the lower branches of the elder tree, so I can jump down with a heavy slash.

10:16, Today: Mew rolled 21 using 5d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,8,6,5,1.  PoH attack .

12:36, Today: Mew rolled 27 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 7,8,6,(10+2)12,1,7,1.  PoH Damage.

  if I can't jump that high I'll settle for trying to shift my weight so I can land on it.


12:52, Today: Mew rolled 16 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of (10+6)16.  Darkness check.
 I forgot to turn off reroll max.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

You leap to the low branches of the Elder Tree and run on the branches towards the giant lizard. You leap down into a downward slash leaving a deep gash on its side. It looks like it is close to being on it's last legs.

It turns raising a fore claw up and takes a swing at you. You leap back. Easily dodging it's attack with the help of your inner light. Your keyblade is glowing brightly now easily lighting the area up with your light. Sparkling points of light drip from the keyblade before dissipating a short distance away.

Then you see the strangest sight you have seen yet.
A Palico that is rather large for its kind but not as large as the Meowscular Chef fall from the sky and shouts "NEKO PAWNCH!"
And strikes the head of the lizard with the full force of of his strike. Before leaping off of the monster.

You note that he seems to have the standard siamese fur colors of Palicos.

"Hit it again! Then it will be weak enough for my shock trap and sleep bombs to capture it!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Fri 07 Feb 2020.

"I have niether of those things...Hitting it however," I angle Piece of home low and stab up at the joint between its torso and foreleg. "I can do."


13:35, Today: Mew rolled 26 using 5d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 4,7,8,(10+1)11,7.  Attack.

13:35, Today: Mew rolled 22 using 7d10, keeping the 3 highest rolls, rerolling max with rolls of 2,9,6,6,6,7,3.  Damage .
13:36, Today: Mew rolled 9 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 9.  volatile dice.
14:12, Today: Mew rolled 7 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of 7.  volatile dice .

You go in and stab your Keyblade into it shoulder joint. Producing a long gash through it's hide. It roars in rage and snaps at you. You sense the incoming hate a fraction of a second sooner with your inner darkness. You dodge the bite by a fraction  of a inch.

While it is distracted,  the large palico rushes in and sets down a small box that put out six prongs and then electricity arcs between the prongs and catches the lizard. Then the large palico throws what appears to be smoke bombs near the Lizard's face and the gas knocks the lizard out. At about this point the box apparently runs out of power.

The palico lets out a sigh of relief
"Paws-some! It is fur-tunate that we recaptured the Great Jagaras. It would have been a Cat-astrophe if it rampaged through Astara. The Reasearch Commission will be glad and will probably reward Mew... that glowing sword...?Key? Is unusual. What is your name?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:47, Wed 12 Feb 2020.

So. Many.. CAT PUNS! I can't help but to smile and a little bit of a giggle escapes as I say. "My friends call me Mew."

This is going to be fun should I start a tally for how many times you lie by saying 'my name is mew'?

"Nice to meet Mew Mew! My name is Maocules."

With that more people show up and are stairing at your glowing Keyblade.
One guy that appears to be in his forties with a giant greatsword made from a jawbone steps forward.
"Good work subduing the Great Jagaras. We will need to investigate how it got loose. I am the Field Commander here. I think I would have heard of someone in the Sixth Fleet that uses such an unusual weapon that glows. What is your name and where are you from?"

I try to think fast, "I *may* have forgoten to do some paperwork before hopping on the ship, doesn't help that I made it a game not to be spotted the whole way..." I drift off for a second and decide to go with a partial truth. "I'm from a small place called Hermitage, I don't think I've ever seen a map that showed where it was." My face does look legitimately confused by that small fact, if it wasn't on Google maps, I had never seen a map of Hermitage.

The Field Commander raises an eyebrow and then stares at you for a long uncomfortable moment.

"... I suppose that I can overlook such a blatant disregard for protocols if you are willing to sign up with us. We could use a hunter that is that good at stealth and is skilled enough to take on a Great Jagaras Unarmored and not get a scratch.

What is your sword made of? I haven't seen a sword like that one before."

The long pause gives my brain long enough to worry that they don’t believing me, my stomach tightens up and it takes all my willpower not to squirm. His response is sweet relief even though I still can’t shake the feeling that he may not believe me.
“O-of course, as for the material I honestly have no idea.” I kinda trail off as I start to legitimately wonder what it is made of, Warp-stuff? Aesoth? Aether?

The Field commander nods.
"The Researchers will no doubt be curious about it and the glow it produces. Never seen a stone weapon, nor one without an edge that still cut.

Since you didn't do the paperwork. I assume that you also didn't go though the Basic training. And I also assume that you didn't get assigned a Palico partner or handler.
You seemed to work well with Maocules. Despite his... oddness. I will partner you with him if you don't have any objections to that. We will give you a set of basic armor and a basic apartment for now. Do you have any questions?

"No questions here. It all seems pritty straight forward."

They train you for about 2 months in the various tools that the hunters use such as the common slinger/Cluch claw. The Research Commission seems to be fascinated with your Keyblade. And quite a few show up during your weapon training to observe how the Keyblade cuts. The consensus it is that it produces some sort of magical effect that does the cutting when you want to cut something.

You are given a set of heavy leather armor. A slinger/Clutch Claw, a swort sword that they call a knife used to carve monsters, and a shield.

Maocules is assigned as your Palico partner. You find out that he is the son of the Meowscular Chef. And he is... rather odd. For one he insists on using his claws to hunt monsters.

You are also assined a handler to take care of paperwork and find you missions.

Do you do anything else durring those two months or do you focus on learning?

I'd mostly be getting the hang of the slinger/clutch claw, i.e. learning to move quickly with them, what I can shoot with it, what it would be good for, aim and switch hitting with them. I'd also be getting used to working with Maocules and Nanashi, as well as training with medium armors. All in all for the most part I'd be focusing on learning.

You do the basic training. Hunting Jagras's for practice and eventually Great Jagras's.

They give you a chain coat, a chain hood and A slinger/clutch claw.

Nanashi come to you and says.
"Your qualification mission is coming up soon. It is to hunt a Barroth in the Wildspire Wastes. What do you think you need to get ready?"

"Well I'm guessing I'm not the first to hunt one, can I look at some research on them? So I can know what to expect?" I think for a moment "Anything I should know about the Waste itself? Do you know any hunters who might be free right now I could ask for advice about the terrain? Or any preperation I should take?"

"Indeed. That is the case and it would be advisable to do so. You can talk to an Researcher about them or read a book on their habits. I also know a few hunters that you can talk to. Who would you like to talk to first?"

I give him a quick salute with a "Thanks. I'll start with the Literature." and trot off for the "library".

He bows back and goes on his way.

You go to the Library and a researcher helps you find a compilation of materials on the Barroth species.

It gives info in their physiology and habits and behaviors.
They are docile until they detect an intruder. then they give off a single warring by sounding their horns. if that doesn't scare the intruder off they relentlessly attack.
their most dangerous feature is their Head Horns and plates that they use to plow through the environment.

Since it's nostrils are on the top of its head it can almost completely submerge itself in the cool mud to protect it from the heat of the day. It is Usually found near water sources in dessert regions.

It's main diet consists of insects.

When fighting it will usually try to ram or smash you with its heavy head. But it will occasionally smack you with it's tail or legs.

I do my due diligence at putting the information to memory, then I ask around for a researcher or hunter who is familiar with the species, in hopes of learning anything that would not be in the books.

The researcher directs you to an old hunter that came in on the Fourth Fleet.

You find him relaxing by his house on the outskirts of the town. His hair is gray and the he still has a lot of the muscles of his youth. There are all kinds of greatswords decorating the house.

"So you are that unusual member of the sixth fleet. The one with that odd stone greatsword. I Heard that you where looking for information on Barroth. That is good. Smart hunters find out all they can about their prey before the hunt."

I strike a strong 'heroic' pose. "Ah I see my reputation has prec-" But I break down with laughter, as I'm unable to finish the statement in all seriousness. "But yeah, any additional advice you could give that's not in the literature would be awesome."

The old hunter chuckles at your Heroic statement.

"heh. A sense of humor.  That is good. Hunters that take things too seriously tend to not last long."

He thinks a moment on your question.
"The first bit of advice that I have is to get to know the monster before you try hunting them for real. Pike fights with them and learn their patterns. Next bit of advice is to always respect the monster.  They are invariably stronger than you and can quickly knock out or even kill a careless Hunter. Let me show you something."

He starts pulling out a barroth armor set from where he stores his armors and he also pulls out a barroth Greatsword.

"I see the you are still in your Hunters Guild basic armor. So I assume that you haven't hunted anything beyond Jagras and Great Jagras. So do you know why hunters have armor and weapons made from the monsters that they know and have hunted countless times?"

"I suspected it was something akin to using local wood for shingles and siding, if it grows in the area it will have some resistance to the local conditions. As for weapons nature is in a constant arms race if something can't fight back it will most likely die, nature isn't perfect but it does tend to lose the obsolete weaponry. Unlike my homeland the fauna here are big enough to be practical for taking advantage of what they've already developed."

"Hmmmm... Interesting answer. That is partially correct. Let me demonstrate the other part."

He takes his armor into the next room and you hear him putting the armor on. He comes out with the Armor made from Barroth bone and horn and he feels different. You can feel that he is somehow tougher than normal.

"Constructing Armor from a Monster takes a lot of materials. Necessitating Repeated hunts of the same type of Monster. Hunt one type of Monster enough and One becomes intimately familiar with the Monsters Habits, Nature and Power. Such that one can learn to embody a part of the Monsters Power. That is why we Hunters always respect the Monsters we hunt. Experienced Hunters can even embody part of two or more Monsters at once."

My eyes widen with fascination and my head shifts back and forth, as I attempt to understand the principles of what he is doing to embody the creature. "I don't understand how it works, but I think I get it." I thank him for the instruction, make the final preps for my hunt and meet up with Maocules, so he can lead the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:22, Sun 30 May 2021.