[OPEN] Suddenly, a newcomer appears -- Intro Post

[unsealthecatbox]

Who: Ange Ushiromiya + You
What: Introduction during the hike
Where: Somewhere on the path. There's some fog.
When: During the journey to Weathertop
Warnings/Notes: None

[One moment you're minding your own business and leaving after a meeting with someone you had wanted to talk with urgently, the next moment you're falling down a pit with leaves. There's also a voice in your head saying you-don't-know-what about some places you don't know and about how you will get the powers to help.

All Ange can think at that moment is 'I don't need this right now'. Or ever. She was too busy for this. But, as usual, she has no say in the matter. May as well try to see what's up with this, try to get done with it as soon as possible.

---

I

There's all this fog -- is anyone surprised? Where there are hills, there's fog. What you may not have expected, though, is another traveller approaching while you're resting with everyone else.

Maybe you'll hear her steps before you actually see her, due to the fog. When you finally do, you may see a silhouette approaching and stopping a short distance away. Ange can't see well through the fog, she sees a few vague shapes she recognizes as people. Several people, in fact. Is this where that weird force was leading her to? She isn't sure. Ange takes a deep breath and says loudly, with the kind of tone that shows she has her guard up]

Do you know the Borough and something about mirrors?

[Better make sure she's not about to get in middle of a group that may not even be the ones she's looking for. The voices specifically mentioned the Brugh and communication through mirrors, Ange even pronounced badly the name of that place to try to get someone to correct her. Only somebody in the same situation than her would do that, right?

II

Okay, things are relatively in order right now. She's with the group she's supposed to be, so all is fine on that regard. The problem is that she has absolutely no idea where to start with...everything she's supposed to do now, whatever that is. Those spirits really should learn to be direct and concise when whispering stuff, she thinks]

Okay, I think I have a bad grasp on the situation. Mind telling me what's the current plan?

[It seems to her she appeared in the middle of something, given how people are gathering supplies and look like they're on their way to some place. If she's going to be part of this, then she really wants to know what's going on] 

Comments

II.

[awfulcer]

[They're gathering up their things to start the morning hike on the second day of travel, and Dixon looks like he's actually going to die. No one asked him to take watch last night - both because they could tell he was exhausted to the point of delirium and because he's liable to get distracted and wander off - but that doesn't mean he got any sleep. He feels like he got hit by a truck, having to hike ten miles up a hill. The screaming pain in his back and shoulder and the ache through the rest of him kept any actual rest out of reach, which, he supposes, is ironic.

(It's not really ironic, but that's what you get for listening to Alanis Morrisette.)

But everyone's getting stuff ready, so he's staggering to his feet, feebly putting together the combination of animal hide water sack and dried meat tied up into his jacket. That's when he notices the new girl. He squints at her with suspicion]

Looks like the current plan is to walk. [He sounds pretty crestfallen by that. He gingerly picks up his pack and positions it over his shoulders as if he expects that setting it wrong will cause his whole skeleton to fall apart.] Where'd you come from? Are we just gonna pick up strays this whole trip?

[unsealthecatbox]

I arrived just a moment ago. Direct any complaints at the spirits, not at me.

[She sighs. Walking, huh...well maybe that's for the better. If they're walking, that means they're not yet wherever they're supposed to go to save the Green, if they do have to move somewhere. There's time for her to get used to these people. In a way she's glad for that]

I had hoped there was a clear course of action, but if all there's to do is walk then I imagine nobody has a clue as to how anyone's supposed to save anything. Figures.

[awfulcer]

Rude. [ Of course, it's not like Dixon hasn't been complaining about the very same thing. They're clueless, all of them, and their best idea so far has been sacrificing a turkey or whatever to summon a spirit that told them to take a hike. If this is saving the world, it sucks, and it's confusing.] You try coming up with a plan to save the world when the only folks who give you time of day is some dipshit birds.

[He takes one of the sacks of water he's supposed to carry off the ground and foists it at her.] Just because you got here late don't think you don't have to carry anything.

[unsealthecatbox]

That's how all magical beings are like. If they're not killing you for little to no reason, they're being cryptic and messing with you just to have fun. With some luck these spirits won't get in the way.

[Ange catches the sack of water, stumbling back a step to counter the weight of the impact. May as well help. If she's going to have to stick around for a while, then the last thing she needs is to be thrown out of the group for being uncooperative -- like hell she's going to be able to do what the spirits want all by herself. She wants to get done with this ridiculous new adventure that got pushed onto her, making things harder will only delay the completion of this whole thing]

Does that mean you all got here earlier than I did?

[awfulcer]

What do you think? [Dixon gestures at the rest of the group: the filthy, river-washed clothes, the men with stubble, the greasy hair, the general raggedness of the whole group.] We been here a few weeks. Maybe two. I lost count.

[Days of the week don't really matter here, nor does any sort of calendar. He hums a snatch of "Manic Monday" and sighs, looking up the trail.]

What's your deal? Everyone here's a superhero or an alien, so far as I guess you're probably a pirate or some shit.

[unsealthecatbox]

I see. How bothersome...if I had known I'd be arriving so late I'd have arranged some sort of dramatic entrance.

[Said with the dryest tone she can muster because she's not amused. Was she some sort of afterthought? That's how it feels to her, since she seems to have arrived so late]

Look at me. Do I look like I'm anything other than a normal human?

[awfulcer]

Like what? [It may be the dryest tone ever, but Dixon's thick as a post and doesn't pick up on the sarcasm.]

No, but I don't know. One of the guys here looks normal and has a dragon. I got no idea what your deal is.

[unsealthecatbox]

I don't know. Last one I did was crash through a window. I suppose I could have tried walking through the fog in a commanding manner.

[Ange puts a hand on a hip, staring at Dixon with something that seems to be borderline condescending yet puzzled. Are things really like that here? Well she did see a form through the fog that could or could not be a dragon, but she didn't check closer. Maybe he's telling the truth]

I mean it, I'm a normal human girl. I don't know what kind of people you all are, but I'm nothing extraordinaire.

[awfulcer]

[Dixon winces at the window comment. He knows she can't possibly know, but throwing someone out a window is a recent and painful fuckup in a long line of painful recent fuckups.

He meets her condescension with a thuggish, offended glare.]

Well, we ain't all the same, and I'm a normal human, too. If you are what you say.

[unsealthecatbox]

[Another normal human...hmmm...that's a bit unexpected. She had supposed everyone was some sort of weird magical person, and while she's definitely not letting her guard down nor believing him, she supposes she can cut him some slack]

...I'm sorry you're involved in all of this, then. Normal people are the best toys those with magic like to mess with.

[She's used to it already, but at least she had gone willingly in her time with the witches]

[awfulcer]

Well, that's great. I always wanted to grow up and be a toy for some jackass to chuck around.

[He wasn't even thinking of it that way - as if he were being yanked around by an entity he could actually feel slighted by - but now he is, and he feels even grumpier about his current troubles. The lack of cigarettes, the hike, the crushing sense of responsibility, the being surrounded by teenagers acting like they know more than him, all these things he seriously didn't ask for.]

We might be the only ones here who are, anyway. Like I said, most of the people here are from different planets or species. We got one chick from Bermuda.

[unsealthecatbox]

Any particular oddities I should watch out for?

[Watch out, she says, as if she's going to be ambushed by anyone in the group]

[awfulcer]

The dragons? I don't know, I don't like most of the people around here.

[What a surprise, with a charming, friendly personality like his. He's got some bruises and cuts on his face from fights he's spoiled into over the last few weeks.]

Just so you know, we're going to be walking all day. And all of tomorrow and the day after, too. And probably after that. [That note of despair comes back to his voice, but he figures at least she should probably be able to keep up some. She isn't carrying a ton and seems young and able enough.]

[unsealthecatbox]

Is it because you're not a people person or because they're annoying to be with?

[She can sympathize with not liking most people, that's for sure]

That should be fine. It's not what I'm used to, but hiking hasn't ever hurt anyone.

[She holds the sack of water she has, testing its weight just in case. Yeah, she supposes she can carry it, maybe another at once]

[awfulcer]

Can't it be both?

[The glare he shoots her is a decent rebuff to "hiking hasn't ever hurt anyone". Hiking hurts plenty. Hiking for ten miles when you're a middle-aged lifelong smoker with a binge-drinking problem and no prior experience hiking is up there with waterboarding.]

[unsealthecatbox]

It can. At least you won't be the kind of person that tries to force people to get along with each other. I should be grateful about that, I guess.

[She manages to react as nonchalantly as possible to the glare. Get some exercise, old guy!]

Don't worry, I'll stay out of your way for the most part. I don't mean to insult your hospitality, but I'm not much of a gregarious person either.

[awfulcer]

Too much effort. Screw that.

[He starts his weary, resentful trudge.]

Good, then we'll get along fine. It's not like I have much breath for talking during this trip anyway.

II

[greyerrant]

[ An enormous man looks up at Ange from a seated position, having taken a moment to collect his thoughts before responding to her. ]

We're traveling, marching, and expect to be attacked along the way. The plan is to keep watch, move as quickly as we can, and take care of each other to survive.

[unsealthecatbox]

In other words: we're waiting to see what happens.

[At least until they get to wherever they're going, and even there it doesn't mean they'll make progress in what they want to do. For someone like Ange, who'd have liked to be done with this unrequested situation as soon as possible, it's rather irritating.

Since she clearly will have to stick around she decides she won't be a dead weight to the group. If she can prove she's not some unneeded tag-along that'd be better away, then she'll have more chances of trying to find out what the spirits that brought her here want -- and how she can get out of whatever trap they already have prepared for her. Magical beings are major jerkasses, after all]

...I'll see what I can do to help until I figure out what these so-called powers I got are supposed to be like. Until then don't expect any miracles from me.

[greyerrant]

You have powers? Interesting. I am simply... what I was, though somewhat lessened.

[ He shrugs his massive shoulders, and continues ]

There are no miracles, only men.

I am Garviel Loken. [ He stands, offering a hand. ]

[unsealthecatbox]

[Ange doesn't shake the hand, instead she steps back, very reticent to even shake hands. Nothing personal, Garviel! She's not friendly]

...Ushiromiya...my name is Ange Ushiromiya. Nice to meet you.

[She looks at him, puzzled. She had thought everyone received some sort of power from whatever brought them here, but if only a few got them...well that sure is like a punch to the gut to her, now she's certain the spirits gave her magic to mock her -- knowing she would dislike that a lot]

You were...lessened? That means the spirits didn't give you anything and instead screwed you over?

[greyerrant]

More or less, yes. I am somewhat weaker than i was previously, and many of my implanted genehancements appear to be nonfunctional.

[ He clenches a fist. ]

I do hate this... magic and these spirits for doing this. But there is a duty to be done, and people to protect. So here we are. And the pleasure is mine, Ange.

[ He remembers to smile, after a moment. ]

Are you from the Dragon kingdoms then? I thought they were wiped out. [ Japan in his time is very much a remnant after several apocalypses, after all. ]

[unsealthecatbox]

That is a rather stupid move from them. We're supposed to help them, there's nothing to be gained by being weaker.

[Thanks a lot, spirits]

If by Dragon kingdom you mean Japan, then yes. I assure you it's not wiped out at all. Some even would say there's too many people.

[greyerrant]

Strange. Well, then you are from Terra, at least. I am from Cthonia, though my allegiance is to Him on Earth, and humanity, as always.

[ He smiles, clearly relaxing a little once he realizes she's definitely human ]

[unsealthecatbox]

...are you implying you're not human?

[That's the point she's getting, at least. Dixon was right, the number of normal everyday humans here is really, really low]

[greyerrant]

Certainly not!

[ Loken looks positively offended at the implication he isn't human. ]

While I may have been gifted with certain genetic enhancements and modifications in order to make myself a member of the Legiones Astartes, I am and always will be human.

Mortal is a different story, mind.

[unsealthecatbox]

[Hearing Loken is human despite everything he said seems to put Ange at somewhat more ease. She doesn't seem apologetic in the slightest, but it's good to know she's not so alone among a lot of unusual people.

She's not in a hurry to be ostracized again, after all]

Good. Not too long ago I was wondering if I was an outlier here. It's somewhat nice to know there are other humans here too.

[Even if one of them is...apparently an immortal human]

Where I come from usually it's not good news to be immortal. It comes with a big price -- or so that's what multitude of stories say.

[greyerrant]

The price is eternal service. I live and die for the glory and survival of humanity and the Imperium of man.

[ He looks resolute, and somewhat unconcerned about this price. As though for him it wasn't much to pay after all. It really was not. Life expectancy in a youth gang of Chthonia was vanishingly short. </small.]

I

[cleansingstrike]

Aye, the mirrors themselves serve as communication trinkets. 'Twould seem that they're powered by magic.

[Nothing out of the ordinary there.]

I've not yet visited the Brugh myself, and I would not wish to lead you astray with incomplete information.

Though I do know that some of our allies remain isolated within its walls.

[unsealthecatbox]

[Hmmm...this seems to match the bits of information she has. Maybe this group of people really are who she's supposed to stay with. Ange approaches, still not letting her guard down. It'll be a very long while before she finally does]

Mirrors that work as telephones...I guess that's not the strangest thing I'll ever hear about.

[Is it better or worse to be trapped there? She doesn't know, but it sounds like they're the backup, judging by what the spirits said]

At this point any information would be welcome. The spirits that whispered to me were very cryptic -- which isn't surprising at all.

[cleansingstrike]

I would advise that you be wary of heeding whispers from the unknown. Though the same whispers were met by mine ears as well.

[A brief pause.]

We are to fight, you and I.

To fight and save this land.

[unsealthecatbox]

I know...not much good comes from listening to spirits. [Ange should know better, but she seems to get into a lot of trouble by listening to witches and working with them. To her this is one similar problem, although one she entered less willingly] I see. Saving a land I didn't know about, and having no reason to actually want to. There have to be better ways to recruit people to this cause than forcing them to do it.