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

Oh wait, that means I'm wrong. Dammit. Ah well. This is jolly well confusing, en't it?

God: Get on with it!

Indeed! But soon we will be all together and won't have to worry about who's where. Of course, then we'll need to figure out where the plot is going ...


Well, Xai, I had a teacher, long ago, who recognised my gift for languages and taught me all of the old tongues. At least, I thought it was all of them. Anyway, he had survived the "ending" and he taught me many things about the time before and about, um, other things. Then one day disappeared. He was very old, even when we first came together, so he must be dead by now. I still often think of him ...

*GL's eyes loose their focus and he walks on in silence, remembering.*

*Xai walks a respectful distance behind GL, giving him some quiet to remember the better days.*

{{Xai}} there is something very odd about this human.... i get the strangest feeling that i have seen him before, but that is far from possible.... i would have been in Avalon while he suckled his mother's teet.... must be my imagination....

[Xai] i do not mean to intrude, but where do we travel to?

*Darkness spiderwebs across his peripheral vision and is then gone, leaving behind an intense feeling of dread.*

{{Xai}} what in Oberon’s name was that?

[ooc] what is ’ ? i'm pretty sure i didn't type that......

*Comes out of his reverie*

Yes, I have been seeing things like that lately. I don't know what it is, but I do know that it is a manefestation of some kind of evil. My mentor told me of such things happening before the "end" and I am afraid that something terrible is building.

And that brings me to your first question. I am walking to join someone who I hope will be able to help stop whatever is brewing. He is currently in the town, which is some distance ahead, but I have made good time and hope to reach the town in a few days. Once there, I want to recruit some help, then set off in a direction that will be determined by, well, by powers beyond my understanding.

If I am not mistaken, you are a Schia Night Elf, and as such, you will also be interested in stopping whatever is underway. You are welcome to join with us, as I trust you because of what you are and who I am. There is nothing in me that contravenes your code. I must tell you, however, that I do not trust the man we are meeting, other than to believe he also wishes to prevent evil from gaining the upper hand. We will need to be very careful around him, but for now, he is essential.

{{Xai}} he continues to astound me.....

[Xai] how perceptive of you, did your... 'mentor' also tell you of our order? it is quite rare to find someone so well informed among your race.... maybe someday you will tell me who you really are, but that is not entirely essential right now.... what is important however is why you reek of magik but don't seem to have any magik on you, natural or otherwise.... you were the one in that prison unless i'm gravely mistaken and i rarely am about such matters....


[ooc] how refreshing to find someone that remembers what they read in the back log....

Sometimes, deep knowledge can seem like magic, but that is probably not what you are talking about. I am carrying something that has great powers, some of which I know about and others of which I have only faint inklings. The man we are going to meet is also carrying something similar. Together, we need to find a third, in order to keep it out of evil hands. The three together had much to do with the "ending", so this is of supreme importance.

*As he speaks, he splashes through a small stream and continues in the direction of the town.*


Well, I remembered that you were an elf but I had to go back and reread your first post to get the full name

*Vomar, Siun, Canaru, and Quoth stare at the rapidly approaching figure for a few more moments before coming to a decision*

If she intends to join our group, she'll be along shortly. Come, we must continue.

*Vomar heads to the grove of trees to see if a suitable ford lies behind, but notices an odd odour before going too far*

That almost smells like,....gunpowder? But that's not a product known to this land. It must be some crude magic at work.

*Vomar continues pushing through the grove before realising two things: first, this grove is much larger than he originally thought it was. Second, a gigantic fortress lies just before the river, pumping awful smelling vapors into the air, dumping orange colored slime into the river, and has several odd bits of machinery sticking out at odd intervals: a waterwheel, a windmill, a lightning rod, all were things that Vomar had at least heard of from his various interdimensional employers. But most of the other equipment just seemed too grungy and crude to recognize beyond the fact that it was machinery. Vomar looked around, and noticed that most of the trees in this area seemed to be very sick looking*

Shades of Akmuht the destroyer! Some vile magic is at work here. I must keep my appointment with Garius, but this senseless destruction of nature must be stopped!

*A thought crosses Vomar's mind*

Unless their exists some way to profit from this. Hmmm,....

*Quoth stiffesn at the sightof the fortress*
Quoth: look, Vomar, I'm not here to go into a fortress. its a simple recovery. not a quest. you'll have to pay me more than you can afford to get me to risk my head in there

Siun: *staring intently at the assembled machinery* Intriguing....

Canaru: Would you like me to scan the premisis, Miss Siun?

Siun: Certainly, Canaru. I would like to see if they are as mechanically inept as they seem.

*looks at Quoth*

This isn't just about you, you know...

*sea keeps running, having gotten lost somewhere in RL-land for some time, and finally catches up with the figures she had spotted in the distance. she recognizes vomar the bounty hunter and skids to a stop, falling onto her behind in shock*

[sea] oh, dear! excuse me...

*she climbs to her feet, keeping an extremely wary eye on vomar*

[sea] allow me to introduce myself. i am sea. ugh, WHAT is that SMELL?

*she notices all the machinery and gapes*

[sea] th-the fortress?! oh, we've got to get out of here before...

Siun: *gives her a scathing look* Before what?

Canaru: *who has bee scanning the fortress* Miss Siun, there appears to be some activity near the gate. A large group of carbon based lifeforms are assembling behind it.

Siun: So it's going to be that way, is it...? *cocks a menacing eyebrow in the general direction of the fort* *looks over at Sea* So what exactly is in there? I want to know what to expect...*her hand is resting on the dagger at her waist*

Canaru: *looks condecendingly down at Siun he's much taller than her, remember? * I told you, Miss Siun, there are several carbon based lifeforms.

Siun: *sighs angrily* But what /kind/ is what I want to know. *looks over at Sea, notices that she is panting from running* Would you like something to drink...? You look a little... pallid.

*Meanwhile, GL and Xai have been walking and talking and have covered much ground, both literally and in their conversation. They approach the same river, but on the other side and somewhat upstream. The fortress is not visible, but there is a faint tang in the air, which does not go unnoticed.*

I can smell gunpowder. That is a most incongruous smell to be found here, where I expected no human life to be found. It is coming from downstream, directly in our path. Perhaps it might be best if we weren't seen, so let us cross as soon as we can and use the cover of the woods.

*GL begins looking for a place to cross, heading further upstream as he goes. A short way along the bank, he finds a small wooden dock, with a small rowboat moored alongside. On the opposite bank is a matching dock, but without a boat.*


I suspect we have company somewhere nearby.

*Vomar sighs*

Believe me, Quoth, you'll get hazard pay for this. You don't know what I choose to afford. I'm the best bounty hunter in this (and, according to my clients, many other) realm, and that means I'm expensive. I've got enough stored away to make you happy.

Now, I don't know if this can be stopped, or if I want to stop. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't investigate.

*Vomar arms his crossbow, and prepares to meet the carbon-based life forms, whether they be men, women, monsters, or something even worse*

*Vomar sighs*

Believe me, Quoth, you'll get hazard pay for this. You don't know what I choose to afford. I'm the best bounty hunter in this (and, according to my clients, many other) realm, and that means I'm expensive. I've got enough stored away to make you happy.

Now, I don't know if this can be stopped, or if I want to stop. But that doesn't mean that I shouldn't investigate.

*Vomar arms his crossbow, and prepares to meet the carbon-based life forms, whether they be men, women, monsters, or something even worse*

[sea] i always look a little pallid being this close to the fortress. it's a pit of bad memories.

*sea takes a sip of the profferred water and looks at the things behind the gate with wide eyes*

[sea] i was about to say, "before those things come to get us..." they're sentinels. evil things. they kill you by sucking out all your bodily fluids through your ear.

*sea watches vomar move toward the gate and calls out timidly*

[sea] vomar, be careful, and make sure they don't even get remotely close to your head...

*A twig snaps to Xai's left and in one smooth motion he draws fletching to ear and releases. A shriek is followed by a very satisfying thud.*

[Xai] i believe you are correct... we are not alone....

*A twig snaps to Xai's left and in one smooth motion he draws fletching to ear and releases. A shriek is followed by a very satisfying thud.*

[Xai] i believe you are correct... we are not alone....

[ooc] sorry bout the double post