Rising Mists

They're drifting. No matter what instrument he uses to measure, or which way he turns it, Thorson can only reach one conclusion.

"We're off course," he murmurs, then goes to find Winton.

The jovial innkeeper is curled in his den watching the director's cut version of Sword of the Things on his GnomeHolo and enjoying his off-season vacation. Time is different in the Pausemists, so he can deeply relax and get ready for his next venture with the Protectors. He's looking forward to their next visit, hopefully in circumstances more pleasant than the last time.

That one was a bit too nerve-wracking for his tastes, and Larianne has never been the same. In some ways, he's glad for that, but in another way, he misses his simple, naive, and yes, rather slow-witted little girl. She's now gone for good. Such is life.

"We're off course," Winton says, interrupting Winton's reverie.

Winton gestures at the holo and the machine grows dim. Dang, it was getting to an exciting scene.

"Does that matter?" he asks the alchemist. "The Squirrel is supposed to be wayward."

"It does when I can't measure where we are. I've never seen anything like it."

"I have when I was very young," Ertrude bustles in, carrying a snack tray, "and I don't like it one bit! Last time, the mists got thicker and darker, and then..." she shudders, unable to go on.

"And then, the Unseelie Court arrived." Morrow, the inn's resident HouseGoblin, sets down drinks for all four of them, trying to remain calm while he does so.

Ertrude nods while Winton and Thorson look at them with real alarm.

"Horrible from what I heard from my elders," Morrow continues. "My great-great-great died in the fighting."

"So many did" whispers Ertrude, "and it tore at the fabric of time. Somewhere, there's been a shattering in the Seelie Court itself. Someone has changed the order somehow, and the rift hasn't been mended. That opens the gateway for the Unseelie to cross the borders. If we're caught in that pattern, we'll be pulled in."

"So that's it," Thorson muses. "We're being pulled by the force of the mists. Where will that take us?"

"To the borderlands between Seelie and Unseelie," Ertrude replies, "but it's been more than a century since any word has come from there. We have no idea what it's like now."

"Or where we'll land, or if we will," Thorson expands, then snaps his fingers. "Ertrude,, how much time do we have? Can you tell?"

"I'm not sure. The mists are still light in color and drifting in phases, so I would say, maybe six weeks of that silly clock time humans use, but that's just a guess."

Winton bolts from his chair. "No time to waste then. I'll try to contact Mithrandir at Squirrely's if I can. Thorson, do you think we could use that portal to reach the folks in Wolfenhague?"

"Doesn't seem likely, but I'll try. I'll go to call Vibrissa as well. She might have an idea."

"I can attempt to contact some of my goblin friends," Morrow puts in. "Our realm is closest to the Unseelies except for the wood trolls, and they might know something."

"And I'll go get Larianne," Ertrude says firmly. "I don't like her out in this fog!"

The lands around the Wayward Squirrel are still calm and quiet, but there is a soft fog drifting in. Larianne walks gracefully through it, her light brown hair several shades darker in the shadows. Her glance is no longer slightly vacant, but bright with intelligence. There isn't much she misses anymore, thanks to that serum injection she received from that impossible creature who rescued her from DeWinter's clutches and carried her through the tunnel to her home.

She should be thankful to him, and regard him as her angel, but she can't. She actually wants to lay into him with a kitchen cleaver, or at least a frying pan.

Saved? Yes! Intelligence at least triple? Yes! However, she is now twenty, when she was just about to turn seventeen before. Twenty! Three years of her life! Gone, just gone with the side effects of that syringe.

If she ever sees that so-called angel again...

The threats in her mind fade as she hears a nearby whimper. Ever kind-hearted, she loves animals, and the thought of one in pain sends her running toward the clearing.

As she enters it, a small dog comes limping toward her on three legs, his other paw held up. He is obviously in pain, and Larianne dashes to pick him up.

She wrinkles her nose. He could use a bath, and he is certainly an oddly put together mutt, but extremely cute in his own way.

"It's okay, little one," she says soothingly. "I hear Mum coming and she's a hedgewitch, so I know she can fix that paw."

"Thank you ever so, dear girl," the creature replies, causing Larianne to gasp. "I should appreciate that very much."

She laughs. "You're a match for Vibrissa in formal language, I have to say."

"Who is that?" asks the dog, snuggling down into her arms.

"Vibrissa? She's our friend, and the Feline Faerie Queen."

"A cat then? Oh, I quite love chasing those."

"I don't think she's the chaseable type, but it would be fun to see you try. Do you have a name, or do I need to give you one?"

"I am the Dilapidated Dog, but I usually just go by Lappy."

"Lappy it is, then, and Lappy?"

"Yes, dear girl?"

"You need a bath."

"Ah, that will do nicely, and then perhaps a bowl of stew and a pillow?"

Larianne laughs again, and carries Lappy towards Ertrude, while the rising mists around swirl and build, slightly darker now at the edges.

This is your first teaser, for your reading pleasure only. It's just to provide some exposition, and hopefully, some entertainment. Discuss or ask questions below, but mostly, just enjoy!

Very enjoyable... go teams.

The adventure begins...

and so it begins.

ONWARDS MEN (and women) WE SHALL BE VICTORIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

or if anyone has a dark character just kill the new comers and lets keep drinking evil grin

isnt it mostly women with a faint dusting of men :P

then lets hope all the men manage to woman up

Haha, that pic. <3 shrieking I can't waaaait! Larianne is gorgeous.

(Lady Frieda is just hoping all the humans can Weasel-up....) giggle

I thought Larianne was already done recovering from the last adventure?

bwahahaha.........

She is now. The picture was taken a while ago, BUT do you ever really recover from being aged three years? Hmmm, we shall see. ;)

what??? I don't remember reading anything about that in the last RP! Where did it say that she aged three years? o.o

You didn't read all of the paragraphs above, hun. It's right under Larianne's picture:

So I wrote a bit at the end last time about my character giving her some sort of antidote but I can't remember if anyone actually noticed and I know she can't be talking about him... It is just confusing in my brain that way. Looking forward to this new adventure.

No, it's not you she's talking about at all. This little "plot element" was suggested by a number of players at the end of Wayward 2, and it appealed to me. More to come.

As to the antidote you gave her? She wasn't poisoned in that sense, but just drugged and weak, and it would take someone more familiar with Wolfenhague chemicals than the Protectors would have been. So it was just a neutral element, as happens with most things players do to NPCs if it will affect the plot. wink

Hmmm..sounds interesting so far! :D Very enjoyable premise and I look forward to when our grand adventure starts. :)

Yeah I figured lol, thank you for the clarification all the same. n.n

Dun dun duuuuuuuuunnnnnnnn.....

I don't think we should trust the dog hahaha.

That's an odd thought. Now me, I will always trust a dog, BUT the dog may be much more than he seems...dun, dun, duuuuuuunnnnn....

I almost always trust dogs, but sometimes their behavior is odd and you've gotta keep a wary eye out :P He's definitely more than he seems hahaha - he's talking xD