RP Discussion

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH]

Oh snap, another chapter for you to enjoy


STORY

Spoiler (Click to View)

The group stared at the newcomer, unsure of what to do next. The man calling himself Haseo Katana still had his rifle trained on them, his finger a hairbreadth away from setting in motion the next shot in his barrel.

“Now see here,” started Arjahn Mjakhim. “We have no idea where we are, why we’re here, and who you are, so do you really think we’re a threat?”
“OF COURSE WE ARE,” screeched Mary Cow. She raised her fists, the hair on them still burning from the previous encounter, and charged.

The others did not move, but rather watched with mild bewilderment as the bearded imp threw forward her left fist. Haseo Katana swung his rifle, bringing the butt round to counter the blow. The fist was easily deflected and Katana went in for a counter using his right knee. He didn’t see the blaze of Mary Cow’s right fist, careering towards his jaw. Springing backwards, Haseo Katana lashed out again with his rifle, knocking Mary Cow backwards. She rolled, saved from injury only by her beard. “Really? Is this how you treat me? You're my guest, act like one,” said Katana. Arjahn Mjakhim pulled Moo back, sitting on her to stop any further struggle.

“Where the schlompert are we?” queried Mjakhim, disregarding his companion’s protests and trying to bring the conversation back to a diplomatic level.
“You have a bizarre way of speaking, masked man,” replied Haseo Katana. “I’ll tell you more, but we will have to retreat to a safer place. I’m surprised the Apoteosi aren’t here yet…”
“We won’t be able to move fast,” said Zaliphone, who had been quietly observing the newcomer. “One of our number is down.”

“Don’t be so sure,” said the shadowed man. Indeed, Alex Starfade was beginning to stir. He groaned and rolled to his side, clutching at his ribs.
Zaliphone kneeled down next to him. “Don’t move. The aircraft crashed and we’re about to learn where we are.”
“Why… what… I feel like going home round about now,” groaned Starfade, scrunching his eyes and stretching.

“You will not be in a fit state to go home if you don’t move,” said Haseo Katana.
“And who are you to give us orders like that?”
“Someone whose word you shall trust if you want to survive.”
“Fair enough…” answered Starfade doubtfully, pulling himself upright. “Let’s go.” And the five of them started off towards some distant, tufted dunes. The landscape was desolate.

The sun was starting to rise, bathing the environment in a red glow. All around was a grassy desert, the various patches of grass yellow and febrile. The dunes rolled all the way to the distance to the North and East, and a sea could be seen far off to the South and West. The burning carcass of the airship was now to their left as they walked towards the rising sun.

“I think you can explain to us exactly what’s going on,” said Mjakhim. “Are we in danger? We’re not even from around here so who would want to harm us?”
“Well for one,” replied Katana, “we’re in danger for as long as we remain on the sand. My enemy has the advantage on this terrain. We need to go past those dunes over there and reach solid ground.”
“Enemy?” enquired Starfade?

“First, you should know where you are,” said the shadowed man, “Welcome to the beautiful island of Orsic. A name that was found on a damaged sign when man first arrived here about 100 years ago, probably an artefact from before the harvest... When the first settlers arrived, a government was formed to rule over this island. For a while, everything seemed to be going well, there was some harvest-worthy land and the settlers were self-sufficient. Then came the Apoteosi. They arrived in secret and placed their numbers among the various settlements on the island. At the beginning, no-one knew they were here. They slowly built their influence, spinning a web of power across the land. The first signs of their true nature was discovered when most of the local leaders from the following generation turned out to have the same subtle differences in their mannerisms compared to the settlers. Some of our people started becoming suspicious, joining the dots and working out that something wasn’t right. I was born in a family of these suspicious people, and was taught to identify those who were so similar to us, but who were somehow different. As my generation started to grow up, those who had had doubts were now certain something was wrong. The careful balance of the government was now in the hands of these strange people. We don’t know how they did it, but over three generations, they infiltrated the administration and are now in power. Most people don’t believe that they are outsiders… or rather, they don’t want to know. People have disappeared. People who said too much. So now, we’ve gone underground... to investigate, to find out the truth, and to eliminate the threat to our island and its people. I’m taking you to our council. They will know what to do with you. If you are worthy, you may be allowed to join our ranks...”

Mary Cow, who had been listening in silence, suddenly interjected. “But who said that we wanted to be in your little fungroup? I just want a way off this terrible place.”
“As long as there are tacos, I’m good,” added Arjahn Mjakhim.

Haseo Katana ignored them and continued, “In our many years of investigation, we’ve found out that they’re looking for something. They refer to it as a ‘key’, though we don’t know what it is exactly.”
He was interrupted by the ground, that had begun shaking beneath him.
“BURROWERS,” shouted Katana. “RUN!”

The five of them sped off towards the next set of dunes. The ground around them was vibrating and mounds could be seen coming towards them. Three forms erupted from the ground, surrounding the group and showering them with sand. They were forced to stop by three men, their sand-coloured armoured clothing culminating in a drill on their heads. It would have looked comical had the situation not been so unknown and dangerous to the four outsiders.

The group tensed…

TL;DR

Spoiler (Click to View)

Haseo Katana is part of a resitance movement against the Apoteosi, an unknown group that has infiltrated the Orsic government. The group (with Alex Starfade, who has woken up), go off towards a safe place when they are attacked by burrowers.