Post by daedalus on Dec 17, 2020 2:00:18 GMT -5
After rescuing the captured Princess Calla, the group of travelers gathered around Zummi and the Great Book of Gummi, hoping to learn information which could aid in their journey home. Upon asking the book how the travelers could find their way home, it began to glow before the pages flipped onto a relevant page. Just as Zummi was about to tell the group what the book said about the marks each of them had, magical maelstroms erupted around each of the travelers.
Zummi attempted to prevent these maelstroms around each of the travelers from working their magic, but to no avail; as the marks each of the travelers had upon their body began to reappear, they experience an intense pain centered on the mark before their vision began to swim. As the Gummis and the area they were in vanish from view, the travelers are sent falling through what feels like nothingness; they cannot see each other, but they can hear each other; this is the case for a long few moments before a horrible stench began to fill their nostrils... that of trash, refuse, and decay. Their falling ceased as they landed on large piles of trash; the horrid scent of refuse filled the air, and those with strong magical ties found themselves weakened.
Surrounding the group of travelers was more of the same; miles upon miles of piles of trash. What appeared to be a billboard sat floating high in the atmosphere with the words "WELCOME TO HOL (HUMAN OCCUPIED LANDFILL)." As the group tried to collect themselves and the marks faded from view, they heard yelling in the distance; a raving gang had already found them, and was looking to use them for... bad... purposes. Wanting no part in any of that, the group proceeded started to defend themselves, with Alish managing to make a fool of the leader. This action caused the raving gang to start an inner fight of who should take charge... and seeing an opportunity, the group of travelers decided to get out of dodge. After the group boarded Daedalus, who had already transformed into his true form, he took off into the air and got out of there as fast as possible.
Now airborne, the group is truly able to see that the entire planet just seems to be mounds of trash. As they flew, they glanced around the area, looking for anywhere they could regroup; Mihr notices a swamp in the distance, and after a brief discussion, the group started to descend towards the landmark; as they did, a slightly familiar scent seemed to emanate from the bog, though none could place it just yet. Upon getting closer, they saw people in floating homes, each separated from each other while they tried to dig into the swamp as if using it as a resource.
Seeing nowhere to really land in the swamp, Alish used his earth bending to make a landing spot... However, this only proved to be a mistake, as after Daedalus landed it became apparent what it was really composed of: disposable diapers. The more the group looked around, the more diapers they saw, and the more they realized just what this 'swamp' was. Some of the group outright lost their lunch to the scent wafting up from the place, if not the very thought of just what they were standing in. After a very, very short discussion, the group left the diaper swamp, taking off into the air again to find somewhere else to regroup.
As the sun sets after flying for a few more hours, the group notices a large, flat, black expanse in the distance, with a neon glow in the farther distance. Having a landmark that seemed at least a bit better than the last one, the group began to make their way towards what now appeared to be a parking lot. Though it was full to the brim with cars and people. Finding a spot where he could land, Daedalus touched ground once again. The hodgepodge of people moving around them said nasty things to them, one mentioning a Bishop. Their small, few seconds of peace would not last long, as they would find themselves once again assaulted by a raving few individuals who want nothing other than to use the group for some... bad... purpose.
After dealing with some of the local populace, no others stepped up to challenge them. Fast food wrappers blew by in the wind, bearing the name of "Church and Munch." After a bit of discussion, the group decides to go to Church and Munch, intent on asking the leader there if there was any way to get off of this forsaken world. Opting to fly again, Dae and Mihr - now in his dragon form - take off into the air, making way towards Church and Munch. Landing outside of the building that was the Church and Munch, those that had to transformed into their human forms, some of which lacked clothing, and entered the line to head inside.
Eventually making their way inside, they actually find the inside to be in a surprising state: clean! At least as clean as a typical fast food establishment. Apart from bathrooms, there seemed to be a sort of church, complete with pews, pulpit, and a religious leader speaking of how salvation can be earned by consuming church goods and obeying the government. Approaching the church portion of the building, Alish began to speak to the leader once the leader was done with his sermon, asking how they could get off of this world.
After a bit of talking, and finding that they had no currency by which to purchase a way off-world, the leader told Alish and the group that the only other possible means was by a group called the Flesh Tenders. Leaving the Church and Munch, the group once again took off into the air, with Mihr taking dragon form as well and carrying some of the group. Beginning to seek out the Flesh Tenders, the group began heading in the given direction of west. During flight, the group notices a few weird little machines, jumping and making chirping noises. The machines seem to be landing on some of the unfortunate people below them, then exploding their heads. Unfortunately, the group is flying a bit too low, causing some of the machines to try and jump up to the dragons.
As some of the machines manage to land on Daedalus and begin to skitter towards his head, Cassandra, Alish and Mihr are able to knock them off, saving the dragon's life. At this point, the group ascends higher into the air so as to avoid any further chirping, exploding robots. After a bit more flying, the group spots what appears to be an insectoid being in the distance, though this one appeared sentient. Descending towards the ground and getting closer, the group landed on the ground and started to approach the insectoid being, Maeve and Mihr realizing from its human eyes, and what appeared to have once been a human jaw, that the being was... somewhat human, or at least that it once was.
After conversing with the humanoid creature a bit, the group learns it is one of the Flesh Tenders they had been looking for, and that they had the information the group sought. The flesh tender described that for the "standard fee", the group could have the information they wanted. A way off of the world. Through a bit more questioning, the group soon realized the "standard fee" was a piece of them; a chunk of flesh, since blood only went so far, so as to access their genes. As the group had this discussion with the Flesh Tender, others of its kind... in varying appearance, began to emerge from the area around them, effectively surrounding them.
While the group is pissed at this "Fee" from the Flesh Tenders, they realize there isn't any other way off of the world, and give their consent. From Daedalus and Mihr, flesh is taken from their hides, while Maeve suffers a large and long needle. With their fee in hand, another Flesh Tender addresses the group, telling them that their way off of the world was a shipyard to the northwest of their current location, and that they had to find some way onto the ships there in order to do so. A final question is asked; why was this world like this, and what should they expect ahead? The answer was it was a prison, meant to be of entertainment to others not on its surface.
Injured, exhausted, and broken, the group once again took to the skies, heading towards the indicated shipyards. As they within visible range of the shipyards, the group found themselves fired upon by energy weapons. While Mihr managed to dodge the incoming fire, Daedalus wasn't so lucky. However, this dance in the skies like leaves in the wind would not have to happen for much longer; Mihr, Daedalus, and Cassandra see some kind of distortion in the distance, with Mihr noticing it appeared to be a portal. Mihr of course wasted no time in pointing this out, calling for the other dragon to follow him as he danced through laser fire, obstacles, and thrusters to get to the portal. Dae wasn't quite so lucky, getting blasted and running into things numerous times, though somehow, those on his back managed to survive his 'potato in the wind' flying.
Both dragons make it to the portal, and after another bout of nothingness, save foul air, stenches, and thruster heat from the world they just left, the group are thrown onto green grass with a blue sky overhead. Apparently landing in a natural forest, the cried with joy after experiencing the hell they just went through, and wasted no time in getting clean in a river nearby before setting up a makeshift camp for the night. The nightmare of that past landfill world, was over.
Zummi attempted to prevent these maelstroms around each of the travelers from working their magic, but to no avail; as the marks each of the travelers had upon their body began to reappear, they experience an intense pain centered on the mark before their vision began to swim. As the Gummis and the area they were in vanish from view, the travelers are sent falling through what feels like nothingness; they cannot see each other, but they can hear each other; this is the case for a long few moments before a horrible stench began to fill their nostrils... that of trash, refuse, and decay. Their falling ceased as they landed on large piles of trash; the horrid scent of refuse filled the air, and those with strong magical ties found themselves weakened.
Surrounding the group of travelers was more of the same; miles upon miles of piles of trash. What appeared to be a billboard sat floating high in the atmosphere with the words "WELCOME TO HOL (HUMAN OCCUPIED LANDFILL)." As the group tried to collect themselves and the marks faded from view, they heard yelling in the distance; a raving gang had already found them, and was looking to use them for... bad... purposes. Wanting no part in any of that, the group proceeded started to defend themselves, with Alish managing to make a fool of the leader. This action caused the raving gang to start an inner fight of who should take charge... and seeing an opportunity, the group of travelers decided to get out of dodge. After the group boarded Daedalus, who had already transformed into his true form, he took off into the air and got out of there as fast as possible.
Now airborne, the group is truly able to see that the entire planet just seems to be mounds of trash. As they flew, they glanced around the area, looking for anywhere they could regroup; Mihr notices a swamp in the distance, and after a brief discussion, the group started to descend towards the landmark; as they did, a slightly familiar scent seemed to emanate from the bog, though none could place it just yet. Upon getting closer, they saw people in floating homes, each separated from each other while they tried to dig into the swamp as if using it as a resource.
Seeing nowhere to really land in the swamp, Alish used his earth bending to make a landing spot... However, this only proved to be a mistake, as after Daedalus landed it became apparent what it was really composed of: disposable diapers. The more the group looked around, the more diapers they saw, and the more they realized just what this 'swamp' was. Some of the group outright lost their lunch to the scent wafting up from the place, if not the very thought of just what they were standing in. After a very, very short discussion, the group left the diaper swamp, taking off into the air again to find somewhere else to regroup.
As the sun sets after flying for a few more hours, the group notices a large, flat, black expanse in the distance, with a neon glow in the farther distance. Having a landmark that seemed at least a bit better than the last one, the group began to make their way towards what now appeared to be a parking lot. Though it was full to the brim with cars and people. Finding a spot where he could land, Daedalus touched ground once again. The hodgepodge of people moving around them said nasty things to them, one mentioning a Bishop. Their small, few seconds of peace would not last long, as they would find themselves once again assaulted by a raving few individuals who want nothing other than to use the group for some... bad... purpose.
After dealing with some of the local populace, no others stepped up to challenge them. Fast food wrappers blew by in the wind, bearing the name of "Church and Munch." After a bit of discussion, the group decides to go to Church and Munch, intent on asking the leader there if there was any way to get off of this forsaken world. Opting to fly again, Dae and Mihr - now in his dragon form - take off into the air, making way towards Church and Munch. Landing outside of the building that was the Church and Munch, those that had to transformed into their human forms, some of which lacked clothing, and entered the line to head inside.
Eventually making their way inside, they actually find the inside to be in a surprising state: clean! At least as clean as a typical fast food establishment. Apart from bathrooms, there seemed to be a sort of church, complete with pews, pulpit, and a religious leader speaking of how salvation can be earned by consuming church goods and obeying the government. Approaching the church portion of the building, Alish began to speak to the leader once the leader was done with his sermon, asking how they could get off of this world.
After a bit of talking, and finding that they had no currency by which to purchase a way off-world, the leader told Alish and the group that the only other possible means was by a group called the Flesh Tenders. Leaving the Church and Munch, the group once again took off into the air, with Mihr taking dragon form as well and carrying some of the group. Beginning to seek out the Flesh Tenders, the group began heading in the given direction of west. During flight, the group notices a few weird little machines, jumping and making chirping noises. The machines seem to be landing on some of the unfortunate people below them, then exploding their heads. Unfortunately, the group is flying a bit too low, causing some of the machines to try and jump up to the dragons.
As some of the machines manage to land on Daedalus and begin to skitter towards his head, Cassandra, Alish and Mihr are able to knock them off, saving the dragon's life. At this point, the group ascends higher into the air so as to avoid any further chirping, exploding robots. After a bit more flying, the group spots what appears to be an insectoid being in the distance, though this one appeared sentient. Descending towards the ground and getting closer, the group landed on the ground and started to approach the insectoid being, Maeve and Mihr realizing from its human eyes, and what appeared to have once been a human jaw, that the being was... somewhat human, or at least that it once was.
After conversing with the humanoid creature a bit, the group learns it is one of the Flesh Tenders they had been looking for, and that they had the information the group sought. The flesh tender described that for the "standard fee", the group could have the information they wanted. A way off of the world. Through a bit more questioning, the group soon realized the "standard fee" was a piece of them; a chunk of flesh, since blood only went so far, so as to access their genes. As the group had this discussion with the Flesh Tender, others of its kind... in varying appearance, began to emerge from the area around them, effectively surrounding them.
While the group is pissed at this "Fee" from the Flesh Tenders, they realize there isn't any other way off of the world, and give their consent. From Daedalus and Mihr, flesh is taken from their hides, while Maeve suffers a large and long needle. With their fee in hand, another Flesh Tender addresses the group, telling them that their way off of the world was a shipyard to the northwest of their current location, and that they had to find some way onto the ships there in order to do so. A final question is asked; why was this world like this, and what should they expect ahead? The answer was it was a prison, meant to be of entertainment to others not on its surface.
Injured, exhausted, and broken, the group once again took to the skies, heading towards the indicated shipyards. As they within visible range of the shipyards, the group found themselves fired upon by energy weapons. While Mihr managed to dodge the incoming fire, Daedalus wasn't so lucky. However, this dance in the skies like leaves in the wind would not have to happen for much longer; Mihr, Daedalus, and Cassandra see some kind of distortion in the distance, with Mihr noticing it appeared to be a portal. Mihr of course wasted no time in pointing this out, calling for the other dragon to follow him as he danced through laser fire, obstacles, and thrusters to get to the portal. Dae wasn't quite so lucky, getting blasted and running into things numerous times, though somehow, those on his back managed to survive his 'potato in the wind' flying.
Both dragons make it to the portal, and after another bout of nothingness, save foul air, stenches, and thruster heat from the world they just left, the group are thrown onto green grass with a blue sky overhead. Apparently landing in a natural forest, the cried with joy after experiencing the hell they just went through, and wasted no time in getting clean in a river nearby before setting up a makeshift camp for the night. The nightmare of that past landfill world, was over.