Ch. 1 - The Beginning of the End

To the creatures of Perim, humans were an odd but lovable beings. Humans were strong yet weak, courageous yet cowardly, humans were many things to them. Some think of them as friends, others mere allies or a great source of information.

However there are the few that create more than the surface bond of 'friendship'. There are few humans that have wormed their way into the heart of a creature and firmly plant themselves there. In some cases, some make a 'family', others are brothers and sisters, some are parental figures, and some are the best of friends. The bond between creatures and humans grew stronger with every experience and many creatures that have taken a liking to a human grew protective and sometimes possessive of those they found worthy.

Overworlders are what you can say are the "open-minded" tribe. Though they are stubborn and prideful, and it would take a lot for an overworlder to change their mind from their belief, they knew what was right and how to face up to their responsibilities better than any of the other tribes. They are often the more 'peaceful' tribe, often trying to create peace between the tribes. The bonds the overworlders create together often stretch far and wide, that at times it was hard to tell who they didn't know. However, that didn't mean they were weak. Those bonds that they forged in time and memories, created something special in each overworlder. Something only one of their own could have. Few players had this "spark", and even fewer are genuine. However once an overworlder acknowledges that "spark" in a player, they are theirs. The player in question is an overworlder, part of their tribe. They will do just about anything to keep who their tribe was, safe.

Underworlders are the counterparts of the overworlders. They are not only stubborn to a fault and more prideful than an overworlder, they have a massive temper the size of a city. For each and every one of them. To be accepted by an underworlder, there are many trials and difficulties ahead. To prove your loyalty was a death wish itself, and most often than not players wouldn't go that far. But there are the select few that would and have earned their right to stand with them. Though weak in body, humans that survived and earned their right as an underworlder are strong in spirit. Underworlders aren't one to talk about feelings and often expressed themselves through actions instead. These often lead to violent results but at the end of the day, this was what they were satisfied with. Players that earned their place with them have earned their loyalty. Underworlders do not give their loyalty to just anyone, but once you have it nothing, no one, could have your back better than they did.

Mipedians are mysterious creatures. Their invisibility made them even more mysterious. The great lizards often are often couldn't be found and it would take months for players to even take a scan. Mipedians were secretive, protective of their tribe. Humans, Chaotic players, were once viewed as a threat. Mipedians avoided them like a plague. However just because they like to hide did not mean they were cowards. Some of Perim's fiercest warriors lived in the Mipedian tribe. To befriend a Mipedian was an uphill battle for sure. Much like an underworlder, they had tempers that were as hot as the desert they lived in. However, once you pass the rage of a desert and the scary claws and fangs you'll find a great friend you can trust. Someone who had your back. Once a Mipedian sees as their own you'll find not one but many more backing you up.

Danians are the most stubbornness creature you can meet. Their element is the earth, which is hard and unmoving most of the time. Danians are much like the earth, they move as one and work as one. Danians are, well, loyal. They are connected in a way no other tribe understands. Their mind as the Hive was more than just communication or commands, it's a way to be connected. It's a way to belong, to be together despite being far apart. They work together in harmony and as a team. For one to accepted by the Danians, you must be accepted by all of them. Whether it was respect or mutual loyalty, humans that were accepted to stand by them were of the same heart.

These four tribes were often at war with one another but when the humans came, everything slowly changed. While the adventures that followed lead to many dangerous situations and some had lost friends along the way, the humans had changed the tribes in ways they never imagined. Now they were at peace, after centuries of war and chaos, there was finally peace.

And this my dear readers is where it all began. The 'peace' that changed everything. . .

The four major tribes of Perim were gathered; the Overworlders, the Undrworlders, the Mipedians, and the Danians, at the capital of the Overworld, Kiru city. They were all meeting under the tribe alliance and with them were guests, Codemasters as their humans often told them about. There were only three of them out of the seven; Codemaster Crellan, Hotekk, and Amzen. The three Codemasters had gathered something of interest to the tribes, as well as warnings.

"Thank you for meeting us on such short notice." said Crellan, looking at the fearsome creatures around him.

"Just tell us why you got us together already," said Chaor, impatient as always. The others around the table shifted in about in irritation and vague agreement.

"Yes well I suppose we should," said Crellan as he gestured Hotekk to move forward with the device in his hands. Hotekk placed the round device on the table. He pressed a button and in a blue flash of light the room was engulfed. Everyone opened their eyes to see two floating planets.

"This," said Crellan pointing to the shining blue planet. "Is earth, where we humans come from. And this is Perim," Crellan pointed to the more colorful planet that was in reds, whites, yellows, blues, and more. "And this wave-like barrier around both our worlds, and in between it, is what keeps creatures in Perim stay in Perim, and humans in Earth." The creatures all looked at the hazy wave-like energy between the two worlds.

"But then how are you humans here, if this barrier does not allow for creatures to leave their world?" asked Lore, interested in the topic.

"Ah well you see we're not really here," replied Hotekk. "We may seem real, and we can still eat and drink as we please, but for intents and purposes it is only our minds that are here in Perim, our spirits. Our bodies still reside on Earth where we go about our daily lives so no one is suspicious of where've been."

"You mean you're all basically spirits with a solid form?" asked Maxxor in surprise. The Codemasters nodded, leaving the creatures stunned.

"It's the reason why we can port to different locations as fast as we do," said Amzen. "We're only transporting our minds, making it faster since we have no physical matter to reconfigure when we port in and out of Perim."

"That aside," interrupted Crellan. "There is grave news, the barrier between our worlds is weakening. The weakened barrier can allow things to pass through the barrier and end up either on Perim or on Earth." There were surprised gasped and worried faces.

"Will we have to watch out for missing creatures?" asked Mudeenu.

"No," replied Hotekk, shaking his head. "For reasons we don't know entirely, it is only animals from our world that are being sucked into your world. We believe it has something to do with the Cothica binding creatures here to Perim, but we are not certain. Humans do not have anything really binding us to our world, the animals and creatures there either."

"Then what danger are you speaking about?" asked Odu-Bathax, narrowing his eyes. The Codemasters, shifted.

"The danger we speak of is a certain species from our world." replied Crellan, Hotekk pressed a butten on the device revealing a creature black as darkness with a white boney mask that surrounded it's face with glowing red eyes. "This is what we call a Grimm. For as long as humanity can remember there has been one species that has threatened us, and that is the Grimm. They're stronger, faster, and certainly more durable than us humans. When they are young, they are easy enough to kill and get rid of. But when they have survived for decades or even centuries they amass intelligence on the level of human capability." Maxxor and other leaders grimness, they knew how troublesome humans were on their own with next to no attacks, they could just imagine what those creatures could.

"And they only have one purpose in life," said Crellan in a chilling tone that they have not heard a human speak in. "Their only purpose is to hunt and kill humans." The creatures in the room suddenly grew hostile towards the creature that was presented to them. They presented a threat to their human companions and their families. These Grimm were a danger to their humans.