It was the best night of the week for Emmeline, the night where The Family Circle meets and parties away long into the night. Even better, this week was her turn on the decks, and she had what she believed was a killer set all lined up for the night.

Around halfway through, some new faces turned up, not an unusual thing as these parties were open to all. Noticing this, Emmeline nudged her volume control up further, before calling out to her newest guests,

"Welcome, newcomers! Come join the party, you'll find no safer place than right in the middle!" her powerful, soprano-like voice boomed over the speakers. The newcomers seemed taken aback but were quickly absorbed by the crowd.

As the show went on, people came and went until there were just the newcomers left. As Emmeline finished off her closing track, one of them came to speak with her.

"Got a request, sweetie?" she asked, smiling.

"In a way, yes. Emmeline Summersong, you are hereby 'requested', as you put it, to attend the Elder Freeman's office," one of the newcomers, a somewhat uncomfortable looking woman no older than 25, responded.

"The Elder Freeman..." Emmeline paused for a moment, deep in thought. "I see. Any particular reason?"

"No idea. All we were assigned to do was to make sure you attend," the woman replied.

Emmeline's brow furrowed, unsure what to make of the situation, before finally responding.

"Fine, sure. I'll go." she announced, unplugging her media player and pocketing it before anyone else noticed it. "Lead the way..."

"I'll talk to her!"
"No, I will!"
"Listen, Rob, XO Stanton personally told me to-"
"WATCH OUT!"

The two MEN FROM AREASI have been chattering away as they walk side by side, approaching the camera from the background. The desert streches out in all directions. Suddenly, just as the two of them stagger back in shock, we see the great bulk of a GIANT LIZARD slowly entering the scene, very close to the foreground. The camera tilts up to show us his leathery head as the beast hisses menacingly, ready to pounce on the two helpless men... And then the animal shudders as if hit by something, its eyes go glassy, and a second later, it falls to the ground, dead.

"What the..."
We hear steps approaching, and we see the men recoil in fear. The steps stop just as we see a fur boot stepping on the lizard's head, and a hand reaches down to pull out the obsidian-pointed arrow protruding from the back of the skull.

"Thank you, good folk," says a female voice, raspy and dry as the desert around them. "I needed some bait to lure her out of her lair, and you two provided it."

Rob elbows his friend in the ribs.
"OK, you talk to her then."
"No, you talk to her!"
"No, you wanted to..."
"OK, you can go now, guys," interrupts the female voice again, now exasperated; both men turn to face the speaker.

Now the camera slowly pans up from the fur boot still on the lizard head - it follows taut muscles under tan skin, a thigh adorned with a huge tattoo of a lion in red and gold with a mane of flaming blue, then cured leather made into the traditional war bikini, then an impossibly flat stomach, then the bikini bra, then two piercing eyes that look as if professionally made up although they are of course not made up at all, framed by (wild but suspiciously well styled) curly brown hair.

"Well, then?" says the barbarian, with a no-nonsense voice.
"Y-you are Ask... Arska, yes?" stammers Rob.
"Arska of the Flaming Lionesses, yes," she replies impatiently.
"Our leader, Freeman Stanton, wants to... would like a word with you. If you want. Please?"
"Freeman Stanton," she repeats, frowning. "Is she your matriarch?"
"Not e-eeeh, I mean, yes. Sort of. Yes he is. Patriarch, more like..." but he stops abruptly when Arska lets out a hearty, booming laugh.
"A male matriarch! Good one, town dweller," she says a good while later, wiping away laughing tears. "City folk and their weirdness, never a dull moment. Very well, lead the way," she says, and shifts the spear to her other hand, grabs the lizard by its tail and starts walking, dragging the beast along all the way to Areasi.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:26, Tue 09 Mar 2021.

Maharet straightened. These "requests" were becoming a nuisance to her quiet life, but she needed to abide by them. After all, she might not find another town to be quite as welcoming to a sor.. someone like her.

"I'll be on my way then, good luck sir." And she stepped out of the office.  Once into the main thoroughfare, she prodded a pile of sand disguising itself among other piles of sand with the foot of her staff.

"Get up lazy grains. I need you to find.. and she read the names off the file." The pile became something like a small wave, and gave its mistress the best hurt expression it could manage before whisking away around the corner.

Busy eating a recently-acquired fresh meat snack, lightly cooked, Rhy Gor is watching people move in and out of the gate. He rested calmly against his mount in a shadow made by one of the nearby rocks against the sun. His eyes taking in all the life of villages and cities and noted how different it was from his tribe.

He'd seen a few, but not all were happy to see his kind. He finally finishes and walks through the gate himself with the bone-fang in one hand, and the leads to his glowing smilodon friend, though in the day's light it was just a vague different color at night the beast warned larger predators away.

He strolls in to see if there is anything new to this village, as he hadn't been here since he was a child.

Buddy Bear finished drawing the forgotten ancient diagram on the side of the road. It handed the chalk back to one of its new friends-- not its Friend, unfortunately, but these children didn't need a Friend-- and tossed the stone across it.

"Like this," it said, and jumped across the diagram in little numbered hops. "Now you try!"

One of the Freeman's constables, the older and senior one, looked at the other. "Are you kidding me?"

"The Boss said he wanted the bear."

"Well, then what the Boss wants, the Boss--" the constable started to reply, before looking around. "Hey, where did he go?"

A small paw tugged at his uniform tunic. "Hello, Mister Officer! I'm Buddy Bear, and I'm your friend! Does somebody need my help?"

The elder constable couldn't find the words. All he could do is look at his partner in disbelief.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:04, Thu 11 Mar 2021.

Freeman Stanton's Office.

The Sands quickly the summoned ones for the council's people to bring back.

Once gathered, the six are addressed by the Freeman. "Good morning. What I have to say cannot leave this room. Only the Council of Executives are aware of the crisis at hand."

He brings out photographs of the Throne and Sword you have all seen through the glass countless times. "The Starmetal Sword has been stolen by agents of the Twelve Majestic Wizards of the Dream Lands. Without the sword, it seems the Throne lacks the ability to keep the machines in the collective running. We have mere months of food and water, perhaps a year if we ration."

He folds his hands and looks down over his thick glasses. "I am asking you, our finest, to recover the sword, before it is too late."

He pulls out another photograph. It depicts a man in a spotted animal hide robe wearing a stone full face mask that suggests a skull. "This man is Neander Thalberg. One of the Twelve, he is still in good standing, but distant to the others, neutral in his politics, and apparently uninvolved with the theft. He is the undisputed ruler of the town of Flintrock."

Tucking away the photos, he seals the valise.

"Any and each of you can, of course, walk away and go about your business with nothing more said."

He pauses.

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel though the Burning Wastes to Flintrock and convince Thalberg to give aid to Areasi that will buy you more time to recover the sword. If at all possible, convince him to share information that might be beneficial."

"Of course, due to certain delicate inter-community treaties and agreements this must be, as they say, off book. Should any of you be captured of killed, The Council will completely disavow any knowledge of your actions, or even that the problem exists. Good luck."

He sits back, his chair creaking alarmingly, as if it might self--destuct in the next ten seconds.

Maggs stood off to the side near her friend, Scale, trying to keep a bit of distance between herself and the motley mix of creatures filling up the overcrowded office. She didn't like crowds. But this disparate bunch were fascinating...the strange little robotic bear, in particular. She couldn't keep her eyes off it...how did it work? She'd have to ask Scale if he'd come across anything like it before. Maybe it would let her have a look inside it.

But then something the boss said grabbed her attention.

"The Starmetal Sword has been stolen by agents of the Twelve Majestic Wizards of the Dream Lands. Without the sword, it seems the Throne lacks the ability to keep the machines in the collective running...."

The Starmetal Sword stolen? The machines at risk? This was bad. Very bad. She glanced at Scale to try and gauge his reaction...but, as always, it was hard to read the Vek. Well, of course they had to get the Starmetal Sword back. And of course she would help. After all, she knew the Burning Wastes better than most...

Scale made sure to keep Maggs close, but he did not need to keep her in line of sight. Her scent would tell him weather or not there was anything to be concerned about. Panicked warmbloods stood out to the Vek...mostly for hunting purposes. Not that Scale hunted humans...anymore.

"All machines that depend on one sword to function very poor design, yesss." He said with his hissing purr. "We succeed or fail, you must have back up system in place."

Arska was pissed off: they had made her leave the giant lizard outside. She was resigned that someone was going to pilfer it before she made it out of that strange building. Well, she could always hunt another one, but it was rude of them. What was wrong about dragging a dead animal inside? City dwellers!

And even ruder, the Matriarch of Areasi hadn't even deigned come out to speak with them! She had sent that old man to deliver her orders, what poor taste. She looked around the assembly, studying the others - there was a big Beastman, a Vek (ah, she liked those, very good hunters, they were), something small and fluffy she had never seen before, and three other women. One looked like a scavenger, Arska knew her kind. The second one must be a Barbarian from a different region: Arska didn't know which tribe used tube tops and miniskirts instead of leather bikinis, but those heels looked impractical for hunting. The third one was a redhead, stunningly pretty and dressed like someone important.

"Ah, you are the Matriarch of Areasi?" she said to Maharet, bowing to her. "I am Arska of the Flaming Lionesses. At your service." She studied the pictures with interest, tapping them with a dusty finger, with nevertheless perfectly styled nails.

"These drawings are excellent, they look so real! Who made them? You, old man?" she said. Skilled artisans, she could respect; naturally, making pretty pictures that looked real wasn't as useful as crafting bows and spearheads, but she was a very open-minded, for a Barbarian.

She heard the rest of it, frowning. She didn't understand why a sword was needed to run a city, probably it contained spirits - but it didn't matter, it looked like a sick weapon in the old man's little drawings, so she was totally cool with searching for it. So she nodded in agreement.

"Got it - go to Flintrock, find Skullface, convince him to help Areasi, kill him if he won't. Matriarch, will you give us some of those little ceramic disks for our help? I miss beer like the one the elders of my tribe made, and that man at the beer-building always says he won't give me beer unless I give him disks."

She punctuated that pounding the floor once with her spear. Weird ways, but she humored them - she was very tolerant, for a Barbarian.

"Well, I'm fine, aiding you, It is a good place to rest, and I've been here before when I was young and was treated kindly."" Rhy Gor says aloud. "I'm willing to as soon as the others are ready. Though I think we should not wait long, the city needs this to continue as it was..." Rhy Gor stiffens his grip on his staff and nods to the man. He is worried for the safety of the town, for peaceful villages are fewer than he'd like.

Emmeline studied the photos, recognizing the sword and throne immediately,remembering the histories drummed into her head when she was a little girl. Although her exterior was calm, the mention of the Twelve Majestic Wizards of the Dream Lands set her blood boiling. She had heard of them, of course - one hears things all the time at parties, most of it useless trivia but occasionally little nuggets crop up, and the fact that they had stolen the Starmetal Sword proved that all the tales were true.

"Fine, I'm in. Sounds like it'll be a hell of a show," she said, smiling and cueing up a playlist on her old music player.

"Prepare for the party of your lives!"

Arska was slightly startled by the sudden burst of sound, apparently coming out of nowhere, until she realized the speakers the other tribal carried. She nodded appreciately, hitting the ground with her spear, keeping time with the music.

"Ah, you are a boom-witch? Good to have you in the team then, sister. Good for morale in long travels, yes."

And so it was to have a Beastman like Rhy Gor on you side, but that was so obvious it went without saying. That was going to be an interesting voyage, and she might yet find some clue about the raider's whereabouts on the way to Skullface's domain. Arska had a good feeling about the whole thing, in spite of the weird way in which that adventure had started.

"Well, it is quite a bit of travel I imagine, shall we get to move towards our goal? We can hash out anything more as we travel. Rhy Gor says with a voice that rumbles a bit like distant deep thunder. "I'd hate to leave this fine place to suffer like my tribe has more than once."

He looks around at the others ready to go, his feet used to walking or traveling with his feline mount he doesn't have a deep urge to grow roots now when it is time for things to be done.

[OOC] If Maharet and Buddy do not respond tomorrow, I will open the Episode 1 thread on Friday. Let me know if there is anything you want to do before leaving town.

"I'm happy to help!", Buddy announced in its syrupy synthetic voice. "Friends help friends in need. That's what friendship is about!"

Maggs cocks her head at the sound of the robotic bear's synthetic voice, her frown instantly disappearing to be replaced by a look of intense curiosity. She was glad it was coming with them...it would give her time to study it...get to know it.

Seeing how the Matriarch of Areasi is rudely ignoring her, Arska shrugs and turns towards the source of the chirpy little voice. She takes a knee, still holding her spear, to poke softly at Buddy with a curious finger.

"You talk, fluffy one? What are you made of? Stay close to me, desert lizards would like a taste of you, little friend," she says, amazed.

"My name is Buddy Bear, and I'm your friend!" The little doll giggles. "I'm not edible! My original outer coating contained chemicals known by the State of California to create a risk of reproductive harm." It pauses for a moment, and says, "But I replaced that a long, long time ago so now I am safe for hugging!"

Buddy Bear throws its little arms around Arska's neck.

Maggs watches as the lion woman kneels down to talk to the strange little bear, her eyes widening as it throws its arms around the warrior.

Buddy Bear...sounds like ancient speak, she thinks, and she has heard the word California before. This creature must be full of ancient lore. So much she could learn.

Maggs continues to watch in fascination.

Arska smiles in pure delight as it hears Buddy talk.

"You speak! How cute. Who is that California woman and why does she want to reproduce with... ah-AHAHAHAHA!"

Arska drops her spear and starts laughing incontrollably.

"Ahahaha... flu-fluffy one... hahaha... ticklish... ahahahahaha!" She rolls on the floor, tears running down her face as the little bundle of synthetic fur clings to her neck.

"Ticklehugs are the best hugs! This fur is lots and lots better than my old fur!"

[OOC] I PM'd Maharet, and if no reply by the time I get online tonight, I will open Episode 1.

Arska rolls over the floor, laughing loudly, bumping against feet and legs and assorted things on hte floor.

"Ahahaha, stop... hahahaha STOP!... hahahah... someone... hahaha... get... this... hahaha... thing... hahahahaahahaha...off me... HAHAHAHAHA!"

Buddy Bear releases Arska immediately and takes a step backward."Does anyone else want a hug?"

As the sun sinks lower in the sky, our band of would be heroes and saviours passes through the ancient gates as we cut to commercial.



[OOC] Episode 1 Thread is open.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:46, Sat 20 Mar 2021.