THE SQUAD DOES AN INTRO - [modplot] [event]

[wildermods]

THE SQUAD DOES AN INTRO
OOC POST
In their homeworlds, they suddenly hear water flowing over stone, the wind through the leaves, and the gentle rattling of Kodama. The hushed sound of treetops waving in the breeze lull them to sleep whether they want it to or not, and in what seems like a dream they fall through a tunnel that passes through layers of dirt and roots and then through seemingly endless boughs of trees.

During this impossibly long fall, spirits whisper in their ears. They tell them that they must save the Wilderlands and the Green. They tell them that they will be given the power or weapons to do it - or that they're already strong enough as they are. They tell them that in the times they're not needed, they may find themselves trapped in the faerie realm known as the Brugh, but that the mirrors will let them speak, and the mirrors will let them see.

And they tell them that they're about to become lost in the forest and that there are others like them, just as lost.

When they wake up, they find themselves in the ruins of an abandoned city; the forest has overtaken it, threading new life through the decay, but the green of the leaves and vines pales in contrast with the broken buildings and streets. Every single building in this city was once a vibrant shade of emerald, and even now, after the slow ravages of time, the green ruins glimmer like they're hewn from precious gems.

The only things that aren't that bright shade of emerald are the statues. Countless statues are scattered through the abandoned city, shaped like men and women and children and pets, all dressed in 1900s era Earth-style finery. These figures are extremely intricate, almost too detailed to be believably carved by a human hand. Many of them are smashed and broken.

Some of the statues don't look human. Among the humans are little beings shaped like china dolls that are made of stone like the rest, instead of porcelain. And in the middle of the city, standing near each other are three strange petrified figures: an axe-wielding man that looks like he was made of metal before being petrified, a man who looks like a human-lion hybrid, and a living scarecrow. All three have expressions of surprise or anger on their faces.

When the characters are brought into this place, the magic that brought them in seems to have trouble getting them all in the same place at first. They find themselves spending brief amounts of time in one spot (sometimes just minutes, sometimes longer) before they're teleported again. Each time they teleport they find themselves near someone new, someone just as lost as them. Those that don't speak the same language may find some difficulties communicating, but over time, the magic of the Wilderlands will kick in, and plant a whole new language in their heads. This magic works faster the more they emotionally connect with other and find understanding without words.

The teleportation keeps zapping them in different places all over the city -- and sometimes outside it, where they can see an abandoned road made of yellow brick that trails off into the distance. Fortunately, the people they keep getting paired off with seem like normal people just like them, and beyond that, they're entirely alone in the ruins.

Probably.

---

OOC INFO
✦ Post in actionspam format. Plots and mod-run events in the game are meant to be in actionspam format to keep a brisk pace.

✦ Please see the OOC post linked up top for more information about the event.

Comments

[awfulcer]

[With so little context, Dixon actually can't figure out that Hiccup's introducing himself.]

You mean that thing has no teeth?

[wherenoonegoes]

[The pair can't make out much, but "no teeth" does translate. In response, Toothless opens his wide, gaping mouth. There are indeed, no teeth.]

[Up until they pop out like a cat's claws.]

[awfulcer]

Jesus!

[Dixon practically falls over himself, hand instinctively going to a gun that isn't there, arm coming up with the shield. Then he rushes a bit closer to it, rather than away, trying to grab with his good hand at Hiccup's arm to drag him to safety.]

Look out, boy, that bites!

[wherenoonegoes]

[Toothless gets to his feet, growling at the readied weapon. Hiccup moves, putting himself between the two with his hands raised in attempt to ward both of them.]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Nobody's biting anybody. [The translation had kicked in enough for Hiccup to hear Dixon's warning.] Put away the shield. Toothless isn't a fan of people he doesn't know carrying weapons.

And you. [Hiccup focuses back on Toothless.] You know that freaks people out. Knock it off.

[Toothless huffs, but relaxes slightly. The dragon still glares at Dixon, though, waiting for him to put away the shield.]

[awfulcer]

This ain't even my shield! [Dixon yells, as if somehow that's the same thing as not actually having it on him. He backs away, but jabs and shakes his finger at both Hiccup and the dragon.]

Why the hell would you name a thing Toothless if it's got teeth? Fucking Christ. I could have lost my arm trying to drag you from that thing.

[He doesn't set the shield down.]

[wherenoonegoes]

You were not going to lose your arm. He doesn't bite people. At worst he probably would've just sat on you.

The name is an old joke that stuck. Hi, I'm Hiccup Haddock. The 3rd. Yes, it's another dumb name, it's tradition where I'm from.

[Toothless doesn't stop glaring, but he doesn't make any signs of wanting to attack.]

[awfulcer]

Fuck am I supposed to know that when that thing comes baring its teeth at you?

[Dixon's got a toxic cocktail of emotions going on, mixing the adrenaline comedown from being startled with anger at looking like an idiot. It's not something he's particularly good at handling.

He can't go storm off, though. He's pretty sure just ditching a kid to be alone with a dragon is against even the most basic easy-mode tenets of morality.

So he knuckles down on the outrage.]

[wherenoonegoes]

Maybe if someone hadn't started yelling and waving a shield around...

[Hiccup sighs. Dixon wasn't at fault, really. Running in and waving a shield was a perfectly normal reaction.]

Look, I'm sorry. It's been a stressful few days for both of us, even without all... this added on top. We obviously got off on the wrong foot here. You got a name?

[awfulcer]

A stressful few days? You think? [Dixon still looks a bit furious, shoulders tight, breathing through his nose, but he finally lowers the shield a bit. Not much. But a little.]

Dixon. [He keeps glaring at Toothless.] You could at least say thank you that I tried to protect you from a dragon, even if it didn't do nothing.

[wherenoonegoes]

[Toothless grumbles, clearly insulted. He wasn't an it. Hiccup wasn't much happier with the pronoun use either.]

He has a name. Considering you waved a weapon at my best friend, and I just stopped him from pouncing on you, I think we'll call it even.

[awfulcer]

[It doesn't even register with Dixon that the pronouns are the problem. He's not going to see the dragon as anything but an animal, possibly ever.]

Christ, kid, that's just sad. You might as well get a pet rock too while you're at it.

[wherenoonegoes]

[Hiccup, and Toothless, just roll their eyes. It wasn't the first time someone didn't get why Hiccup called the dragon his best friend, and it probably wouldn't be the last. Neither of them could really call upon the energy to care about Dixon's opinion at this point.]

Yeah, if you're just going to start mocking my choice in friends, I think we're done here. So...bye.

[With that, Hiccup turns, and starts walking away, Toothless following at his side.]