h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*A pinecone falls out of the tree and hits GL on the head, waking him up. For a few minutes he wavers between the waking world and the dreamworld where he had been walking up the side of a tree, in direct defiance of gravity, in order to reach the top where his diamond amulet lay glinting. He shakes off the sleep and ponders the dream. His dreams are normally useful in some way, but it is often so difficult to determine what they mean that he doesn't realize their use until the moment has past. This time, however, he feels sure that the dream offers some help with his current problem, so he spends more time than usual trying to decipher it. Finally, he smiles as he understands.

He pulls out his diamond amulet and holds it at arms length, pointing towards the base of the tree. He closes his eyes and concentrates on the amulet until beads of sweat form on his brow. Then he mutters a few words and opens his eyes. He now moves the amulet slowly and whereever the amulet points on the tree trunk, chips begin to fly. In seconds, he has carved a large notch from one side and is cutting towards it from the other. When the trunk has been severed, it falls towards the chasm. The tree is taller than the chasm is wide, so when it lands, it bridges the gap.

GL grins, gathers his things and walks across the chasm on the tree trunk.*

Siun: *Puts a frying pan over the fire and takes out a small package of what looks like dust.*

Quoth: *Gives her a decidedly odd look.*

Siun: *Smiles and puts the dust in the pan, adding as few drops of water to it. It suddenly explodes into anout six good-sized plump sausedges.* *Begins flipping them about the pan with a pair of heave bamboo chopsticks* I don't eat these myself, But I thought, What the heck, them menfolk would probably like a bit of meat... Or something...

*She shrugs and turns back to the pan, stirring at the contents occasionally.*

*singing*
Watashi no mune no oku ni
kaskara sasayaki da kedo
toki wa aimo itami mo
tsumu nu inori ga
todo i anata no sora ni
todouoni...

You misjudge my taste in meat, Siun, but thank you for the consideration.

*Vomar examines the piece of rabbit that he has set aside for himself before taking a bite*

If there were the materials for a Caesar (whoever that is) Salad, I wouldn't be eating this. Too much meat can be the early death of an adventurer.

*Vomar finishes his meal, and hears the chipmunk again. He stands and moves towards the tree, determined not to let anything interrupt this, as chipmunks and squirrels would probably serve for lunch later in the day. He steps closer,....closer....

WHAM! He hears a distant booming noise, and spins in that direction. Instantly, he reaches for the amulet, and begins searching in the direction of the noise. A few minutes later, he puts the amulet away and smiles*

My my, he does move quickly. We aren't far from meeting up with the next member of our party. He seems just about as determined as I am.

Quoth: I can hardly wait. *he hasnt eaten anything, despite Siun's best efforts*

Siun: *taking notice that no one is eating her cooking* *hurt looks to all around* I didn't poison anything...! *frowns, cooks up some tofu for herself and sits there eating it dejectedly* Would someone go and activate Canaru, please? the panel's right on his left ear. Push the stone on his earring.

*hearing rustling that definately isn't coming from either of the males*

Siun: *throws down her chopsticks, stands up defiantly, hand going for the sheathed dagger at her belt* What the hell is that noise...? *goes toward the tree it's coming from and has a look up* You in there! Out with you!!! You can't hide there all day...!

It's not that, Siun, it's just that I never eat much meat if I can help it, and this kind of rabbit tends to have less fat on it than sausages.

*Activates Canaru*

Siun: Thanks there, Vomar... Canaru!

Canaru: *blinking* Yes, Miss Siun...?

Siun: Guy. Tree. Sensors. *waves her dagger menacingly at the tree*

Canaru: yes, Miss Siun. *His eyes turn ever so slightly red and go ever so slightly out of focus.* I am reading three lifeforms in that tree, Miss Siun. None of them Human.

Siun: Squirells dun't make that much noise... *to the tree* Show yourself, coward...! Or are you too afraid of a little blonde woman?

*Xai's head jerks in the direction of the distant noise and leans forward as he judges the difference, unfortunately the tree shakes when he does so. The woman approaches the tree and begins yelling at him in some gutteral language. Xai mummers a few choice oaths about blonde women and decides to be elsewhere. He falls backwards off of the tree and into a shadow. To the travelers it looks as if he has fallen into a hole.*

~~~~~~~~~~

*A large tree bridges the width of a massive chasm. And the man crossing that bridge gives off the familiar reek of magic Xai had early chased. Taking a chance he steps from the shadow.*

[Xai] I don't suppose you speak any of the ancient tongues?

*He continues to repeat the phrase in every language he knows... nearly all dating from before the cataclysm.*

*still running*

*hears tree fall, jumps. looks around like a frightened rabbit for a few minutes, then continues running*

Quoth: look, what are we waiting for? Im not hungry, theres nothing in the tree. I want to finish the task, get my money and then i want to go away. OK?

*Waits for Xai to finish*

My, but you know a lot of the old tongues! That second to last one is one I haven't heard before. If I had time I would ask you to teach it to me. Alas, as it is, I have some very important business to attend to.

*Looks shrewdly at the elf*
And I suspect your showing up here now is no coincidence.

*Vomar runs up to the hole, and tries to follow. Instead, his hand hits a shadow on the ground. He gasps in sudden realization*

Oh! Siun, Quoth, Canaru....I think we've just seen an elf! A non-Tolkienesque Shadowalker I think, although it could be Tolkienesque with shadow walking attributes, although those are rare. But still, it's quite rare. I've not seen one since before.

*Chuckles*

And even then, I never saw one fall out of the tree. For us to have seen it and heard it, I suspect that this elf hasn't practiced its art for quite some time. Either that, or it has recently awoken from some dark sleep. Or, and this is more likely, it's letting us see it. I wonder why?

In any event, we must be off as Quoth said. I'm done eating anyway.

*As Vomar turns to head towards the river, he hears the padding of feet. He looks behind him and sees a familiar figure*

Well, I'll be. It's that person from the Nearby Tavern that I almost arrested for bounty. I wonder what she wants....methinks we've had the fortune to pick up another traveler.

[ooc] Xai is akin to Tolkienesque elves... little taller....

*Xai is mildly impressed and switches to his native tongue.*

[Xai] i'm impressed with your knowledge human, but i really would have been surprised had you known that tongue.... it was last spoken on an island some millennia before your people discovered fire, actually it was old before my people had discovered fire... but that is neither here nor there.... *realizes he is rambling*

oh.... i'm sorry, it is very rare that i can find someone that speaks a civilized language.... i don't mean to pry, but how is it you understand me? you cannot be beyond your 50th year and as far as i can tell none of the ancient records survived the breaking.... no matter, i would travel with you... perhaps i could teach you the Atlanti tongue, since you showed some interest?

{{Xai}} i must definitely keep an eye on this one.... at least until i am sure his magik is no threat....

Siun: *tired of hearing the elf-guy speaking in tongues, she fishes about in a pocket for a few universal translators. She finds two and hands one to Quoth* Seems like we're the only ones that need em' eh? *giggle* *she slips the tiny device into her left ear* So gents. Are we going, then?

*raises her eyebrows ever so slightly and approaches the elf* XCan you understand me /now/...? ...Or is this confounded thing not working...? *shrugs* I'm Siun. *indicates Canaru* This is my... traveling-mate Canaru. Yes. So...


*rocks back and forth on her heels*

Canaru: Did you need something Miss Siun?

Siun: Ermmm... The bags, probably. And we'll need someone to extinguish this fire.

[ooc] ummmmm..... jade.... Xai isn't here right now.... he is with GL, i think.... or am i mistaken? oh i get so confused sometimes.....

OOC
waiting for judgement...

Xai and GL are together.

Canaru, Siun, Quoth, and Vomar are together.

Sea is running towards Canaru, Siun, Quoth, and Vomar.

Our two obviously villainous villains are in their tower, apparently too bogged down with RL responsibilities to post for the moment.

I think this is how it is, anyway.

[ooc] very thorough, thank you...

You're more than welcome.

*reveling in her correctness*