Author Note:
After a bit of burnout, and more than a bit of overtime at work, I'm back on schedule!
Chapter 7: Don't Make An "Africa" Reference
Warm and dry air, with tall yellow grass, bushy brambles, and a few dozen scattered trees. He'd wandered around the Overworld's Forest of Life for over an hour and, when he finally broke through the tree line, that's what he found. Curiosity overcame the young human at the marked difference between the two terrains, like someone had drawn a line in the ground where the lush jungle simply wasn't allowed, and he retrieved a grey scanner from his front pocket. Beams of light from the gadget's back traced over the scrubby bushes and rocks, breaking down the tiniest details of the location, converting them into code and an image to display on the device's screen.
"Looks cool" Will mused, securing his scanner and taking a long drink from a canteen. "Let's check it out."
The sticky humidity of the jungle evaporated under the high sun of the savanna as he walked, leaving his simple t-shirt and jeans feeling stiff while tiny insects zipped about, forcing him to swat them away from eyes. After some time, the grasses shortened, the trees became sparser, and in the distance he could see a handful of structures. Using his scanner to zoom in like a telescope, the buildings appeared to be round huts made of clay or similar earth with roofs of woven reeds or grass. Several anthropomorphic animals were gathering around a larger gazebo-like hut just off the center of the village, possibly a marketplace or meeting hall.
Taking a few minutes to mark the area on a crude map, Will sighed. "Buncha yokels, I bet. Doubt I'll get any good scans there. Still..." He packed up his notes and continued on, at the very least in hopes of getting a scan closer to Mipedian Territory. The lizardfolk were supposed to be extremely hostile to outsiders, but ever since his first battle in Chaotic, Will had been eager to scan a creature with the power of invisibility the tribe was known for.
A cry went up from the settlement as he approached. Ducking behind a low wall of uneven stone, Will could see many younger creatures were running about in a panic, while other older ones were grabbing weapons or shouting directions. The cause of this distress was quickly made apparent when several reptilian warriors emerged from thin air to begin ransacking the buildings. Baskets of food went flying, jugs of water were thrown to the ground, livestock was cut free and chased off.
"They're not not even raiding the place, just terrorizing them" Will thought with a frown. "What's the point?"
He watched from hiding while the Mipedians continued their attack. Occasionally one of the lizards would would grab a creature and push them around or yell at them, leaving their targets shaken but unharmed. Another group was entering huts and throwing things out, like they were searching for something. One creature, a tall humanoid giraffe, stepped up to confront the invaders, lashing out with a narrow-handled club topped with a thick knob.
The Mipedian dodged easily, knocking the weapon away with a single sweep of it's strong tail. The giraffe pressed on, attempting to strike with kicks and wild punches, while Will crept into position behind the fighters to get a better angle, scanner raised and ready for use. The lizardman seemed to grow annoyed with the creature' antics, took a deep breath and released a thunderous shout from it's maw that nearly washed over the villager, who leapt to the side at the last second. The attack continued past to Will's hiding place and struck the wall which shattered under the blast of the sonic assault, throwing him backwards. He felt a sudden pain and everything went black.
When he awoke, it was under the shade of a thatched roof, laying on something coarse but otherwise comfortable, and his entire body ached. He was having trouble focusing and made to sit up, reeling when a wave of dizziness overcame him.
"Easy there, kid" a soothing voice said, easing him back down. A damp cloth was dabbed against his forehead. "You took a bad hit. You've been out of it for a couple hours."
"'ll be fine" Will slurred, reaching around while his vision cleared. "Scanner". A trip back to Earth would fix his injuries in an instant so he could get back to his scan quest.
"We put your bag of things over here" There was a rustling noise and his backpack was pressed into his hands. Blinking away the last traces of fog from his mind, Will took a look at his surroundings. If he had to guess, he was in the pavilion the creatures were meeting under earlier, a simple construct of wood supports with a grass roof. A woman ("creature" Will had to remind himself, based on her reddish-pink skin) in gleaming silver armor with white hair, elfish ears and a young face was watching him curiously.
Opening the bag, he took a quick inventory, heart dropping into his stomach when he was unable to find his scanner. The pack was then upended, contents strewn about the bed for good measure, but no luck.
"What is it?" the woman asked, eyes widening at his collection of Earthly items like candy bar wrappers and AA batteries alongside Overworld coinage and a Flux Bauble. "Is something missing?"
"My scanner. It's a, uh, device. About this big" Will held up his hands to demonstrate the rough size of the object. "Grey with buttons and a big square of glass on the front."
"I didn't see it when they brought you in" she turned to look around the room. "Is it important?"
Will started roughly shoving things back in his bag. "Yeah. I can't get home without it"
"Is everything all right?" another voice asked. Looking up, a silver-skinned minotaur with grey fur around his head and shoulders entered the room. Up close, Will could see that he had curved black tribal tattoos on his arms and legs. He was holding a walking stick, but seemed to have no trouble getting around.
The woman stood aside to let him through. "The human is missing something. A scanner, he called it."
"My name is Will" he said indignantly.
"Ah, yes, introductions. My name is Drabe." The creature gestured to himself, then the white-haired woman. "This is my student, Aivenna." She gave a polite nod.
"We came here to help the villagers, but arrived a good bit too late. You were hurt when we found you. How are you feeling?"
"Sore" Will replied, zipping his backpack up and flexing his shoulders. "Thanks for taking care of me, but I'll be fine once I find my scanner."
"We'll gladly help you," Drabe said, offering Will a hand. The boy refused and stood up on his own, sliding his bag into his shoulders.
Aivenna and Drabe followed Will outside the pavilion where the villagers were cleaning up the mess left by the Mipedians. Shards of broken pottery were being collected and deposited in baskets while families gathered their scattered belongings, returning them to their huts. He saw a few children with tan fur and hooves crying softly, comforted by an older creature that looked like their parent or older sibling.
"I saw what happened." Will took in the scene with distaste while they walked. "What were they after? Looking for something? Someone?'"
Aivenna shook her head sadly. "Nothing so clear cut. Mipedians and Overworlders have been fighting over the Broken Edge for as long as anyone can remember. This was another drop in the proverbial bucket."
"So the Mipedians were trying to drive them out?" Will scoffed. "This whole thing is a...whatchacallit, a territory dispute?"
"There's more to it than that, but that's the short version, yes" She looked over to where Drabe was talking to the giraffe Will saw fighting earlier. The long-necked creature had his arm in a sling and was looking irate while Drabe administered some kind of salve to it's injuries. "Every day it gets worse. A village drives off a band of Mipedians, the Mipedians retaliate, and the village attacks the next group to appear."
"That's dumb." Will crossed his arms over his chest.
"I agree, but the Mipedians claim its part of the Al Mipedim desert, Overworlders claim it's part of the Forest of Life. Each side views the other as intruders."
Inwardly, Will scoffed. Both tribes were wrong: He saw that for himself when he scanned the area earlier. This place was it's own location between, but separate from, the forest and desert.
"Then each side should stay out" he offered. "Mark it as a big Neutral Zone that no one gets."
This got a laugh from Aivenna. She clapped him on the shoulder and offered to introduce him to someone named Vidav sometime.
Will nodded unenthusiastically, finding and rushing to the section of wall he where was knocked out. The pair searched in silence for some time, each moment passing without finding the scanner making Will more and more anxious. Drabe joined them just as Will heaved a defeated sigh and dropped to sit on the grass.
"No luck then, I take it?" The horned creature asked, eying the two quizzically.
"No!" Will grabbed a small stone and hurled it as hard as he could toward the forest.
Aivenna and Drabe exchanged a look. "I've seen a few humans before." Drabe said "They use those devices to travel around Perim and play a game, correct?"
"Yeah," Will picked up and threw another rock. "But it's also how we get back to our own world. Kinda. It's complicated. Short version is, I literally can't go home without it."
"I see. Maybe some of the villagers have seen your 'scanner'?" Drabe cast his gaze over the settlement. "It couldn't hurt to ask, at least."
"I guess so" Will brushed some of the dry grass from his pants and trudged into the village. With the pickpocket that had stolen his scanner his first day in Perim, at least he had a plan. He knew where where his scanner was and how to get it. This time..."I swear, I'm duct taping that thing to my hand next chance I get" he grumbled, approaching a resident at random.
Many of the creatures were too preoccupied at the time of the attack to help him, with only a few creatures knowing he was there at all. The village children were fairly unhelpful too; having never seen a human, or many strangers, really, they were more interested in asking questions about where he came from than answering his own. The only one who seemed to have a clue was the giraffe creature with the injured arm.
"I think I saw it."
"Really?" Will perked up instantly. "Where?"
"Mhmm. One of the Mipedians has it, I think. A brown one with a fin on his head. I saw him pick up something when they were retreating, not too far from where we found you."
"What?! Why would it even do that? I swear, does every player in Chaotic have this problem, or am I just cursed?"
"I...don't know?"
Will sighed. "No, you're fine. I'm just frustrated. I don't wanna be stuck here"
The giraffe mumbled something under his breath. "Sorry, what?" Will asked.
"I said 'Tell me about it'." He grimaced and adjusted his sling. "I don't want to be here either. I want to explore the Forest Of Life, see Kiru City, visit the Runic Grove. But these people are my family, I can't leave everyone behind."
Will nodded. "I see"
Holding out his good hand (hoof? Will wasn't sure what to call it, with it's three hard, black fingers) the creature introduced himself as "Gyrnix"
Introducing himself properly, Will asked Gyrnix about the attacks, how often the Mipedians came, and what measure they normally took to drive them back.
"We can expect two or three days between 'visits'" he said "and around eight or nine of them at a time."
"THREE DAYS? I don't want to be here for three days!"
"Try being here for thirty Solons. What would you rather do? Track invisible scouts through unknown territory?"
As a matter of fact, no, Will did not want to do that. He was told that while mundane weapons like spears, clubs, and knives were plentiful, actual Battlegear was in short supply, consisting of only a few captured pyyoblasters.
"...and each one is fully loaded, but we can't get extra ammunition."
"Weak" Will's thoughts drifted to the only other piece of battlegear in the village. "Then why don't you all just leave? It's only a matter of time before the Mipedians get tired of trying to chase you out, and settle on a more permanent method"
Silence. "You've never been in kind of position, have you?" Gyrnix asked. Will shook his head.
"More generations of my family than I can count have lived here. We're a part of this land, and we're not going to leave because someone else thinks we should. How would you feel if someone came into your home, waving weapons and demanding you leave because they want it?"
"I guess I'd want to dig in and fight back." Will admitted. "But how are you supposed to go off on a grand adventure if you're here fighting off Mipedians?"
"Exactly"
An awkward quiet followed this, broken by a low horn that sounded throughout the village. Will jumped at the sound, expecting another attack.
Gyrnix chuckled "No worries. It's just dinner. Completely nonlethal, unless my sister is cooking."
Evening meals in the village were apparently a community affair, held at a collection of tables, benches, and stools in an open area just past the building Will woke up in. Pieces of unknown meat were being turned on a spit above a metal mesh upon which sat a wide variety of grilled vegetables, while a large pot of stew hung over another fire, bubbling merrily. A few creatures were singing songs and telling jokes around the fire as the sun sank into the horizon. The entire scene reminded Will of a summer camp.
Drabe approached him while he was trying a piece of the odd meat. It wasn't bad, with a flavor similar to venison, but with a tangy aftertaste.
"How are you?" The Overworlder asked. "I imagine it's been difficult"
"Not gonna lie, I've been better" Will set his bowl down, hands reflexively reaching for a scanner that wasn't there.
"I'll admit, you seem to be taking it well. The few other humans I've met would be a sobbing mess by now."
"I think I've just convinced myself by now that it'll work out. If Gyrnix is right and a Mipedian has my scanner, he'll show up at the next raid. I get it back then." the human stated confidently.
"No offense, Will, but can you fight? I can't imagine they'll give your scanner back if asked politely" Drabe's tone was light, but there was an undertone of serious there.
"I know a little bit. My family..." Will stopped himself. They didn't need to know about his personal life. "...they taught me how. But hey, I didn't see you or your student during the fight. Where'd you come from?"
Drabe nibbled on what looked like a carrot or thin turnip before answering. "My role in the Overworld is as a Caretaker. There are several of us that make it our duty to watch over the wilds of Perim. My specific purview is over the Forest of Life, protecting it from those that would do harm."
"Like a ranger or druid" Will guessed. "When something like these attacks happen, you get called in?"
Drabe frowned a bit "I don't know what a ranger or druid is, but yes, basically. As Overworlders, we have a duty to protect each other, and when we heard about these events, we came immediately"
"Judging from Aivenna's armor, she can fight, but what about everyone else? They didn't look to eager to take up arms, except Gyrnix. Do they just hide until it's all over?
Drabe looked thoughtful. "You have an idea?"
"I've got a Flux Bauble in my bag" Will told him, pulling out the battlegear. "We could get everyone together, and flux them somewhere else"
"We could" Drabe agreed. "But fluxing is random. We could wind up in a Danian nesting ground, an Underworld prison, or somewhere outside the known borders of the Overworld." He inspected the sphere carefully. "Many of these have cool-down times. Have you ever noticed such a feature with this?"
Will nodded. "About thirty seconds"
"A lot can happen in thirty seconds. Fluxing away may protect them from the Mipedians, but it may also move them from the frying pan to the fire. Are you willing to take the risk? Put that many lives in your own hands?"
He thought about that for a minute. If he fluxed out with all the villagers, they would potentially be safer than here, but then he'd have to flux around at random until he got close to this location again in order to get his scanner back. If he handed it off to one of the villagers and stayed, he'd lose a useful piece of battlegear. But if they stayed, one of them could get hurt in the fight that was sure to happen. Would they even leave if offered?
With that thought, Will stood up and walked away, mumbling to Drabe about not feeling well. He'd never eaten food from Perim, and told a few creatures here so. Hopefully, they'd think the meat disagreed with him and not ask questions. Finding his way back to the cot he woke up in, he sat down and tried not to panic.
One day. He'd been here less than one day, and was starting to lose it. Talking to them like they were regular people or something. He didn't care about their backstories or day-to-day activities, he cared about getting his scanner and leaving.
Stretching out on the makeshift bed, Will tried to focus. Drabe said he'd met humans before. Maybe he had a way to get a hold of some other Overworlder that had human friends, like Jacob. They could port here and take a message to send to his Earth-self, let himself know the situation. Letting that idea comfort him, the stress of the day caught up with the boy, and he drifted off to sleep.
Strange dreams haunted him that night: Lost in an endless expanse of sand, running towards something just to be pulled back by an invisible force. Transforming into a strange hyena-like creature, but not like in the Battledromes; it was more akin to a werewolf movie, his limbs twisting and stretching into a new form. When the light of the rising sun forced his eyes open, he felt more tired than before.
Rubbing his eyes, Will stepped out of the pavilion to see Aivenna and Drabe were talking to Gyrnix. Many of the villagers were going about their business, weaving baskets, or mending clothes. They all looked like females or children, with none of the men he saw last night in sight. Curious, he approached the three most familiar creatures.
Exchanging greetings with them, Will asked where everyone else was.
"Out hunting" Gyrnix replied. They should be back in a few hours. In the meantime, we would ask for your help"
"Mine?" Will was suspicious. "With what?"
"I know a little of the game you humans play, 'Chaotic'." Drabe said. "You battle by turning into us, using the powers and abilities of various creatures."
"Yeah..."
"We want you to fight alongside us" Aivenna cut in. "You've won many battles in this game, yes'?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Will put his hands up and took a step back. "Chaotic isn't quite like that. We borrow memories and instincts and stuff, too. And it's not permanent. It's not like I have all those combat reflexes in my head and ready to use or anything. I can't even use attacks like you guys do."
"That may be," Gyrnix said "but too many of the villagers here are tired of fighting. Of them, only me and a few others are even willing to do so anymore. We need all the help we can get." He looked at the human pleadingly.
Aivenna spoke up again. "We have weapons here you can use. I can train you, if that's what you're worried about."
"We won't force you" Drabe placed a hand on Will shoulder "we will return your scanner should we find it. We simply offer you the chance to reclaim it yourself"
He stood there silently for a good bit, meeting each creature's eyes before letting out a sigh.
"Lets get to work"
"I've always wanted to try one of these outside the dromes." Will hefted the weapon experimentally, straining a bit under the weight. Aivenna had given him a pryoblaster and was now marking a tree stump close to the forest tree line with a crude face. On her signal, he gave the trigger a hard pull, a gout of flame erupting from the triple barrels with the recoil knocking him back on his behind. A few dozen yards away, the makeshift target exploded.
"Okay, that was awesome."
"A very nice shot" Aivenna agreed. "You have experience with these kinds of weapons?"
"My dad taught me how to shoot, yeah"
"He must be a great warrior"
"Something like that." He may be warming up to the residents, but Will wasn't quite ready to start telling them his life story. The entire day was spent with the female Overworlder, learning how to dodge with the heavy weapon, shoot on the run, and how to manipulate the various settings. Some of these were new to him, such as when she showed him how to adjust the output to generate a thick cloud of noxious smoke.
After a quick meal consisting of roasted vegetables, Drabe took a turn tutoring Will that night. Instead of combat training, the minotaur taught him strategy, like watching the ground for depressions from invisble foe's footprints.
Gyrnix was helpful, even with an injured arm, relaying stories of previous attacks and approaches of the Mipedians. This went on for two more days, weapon and maneuvering drills during the day, and tactics at night. Each night as Will drifted off to sleep, physically and mentally exhausted, he wondered if the next day would bring the lizardfolk back. The dawn of the third day saw this train of though come screeching to a halt.
His morning training session with Aivenna was cut short by a small humanoid goat he recognized as a villager running up to them with fear in it's eyes. Exchanging a look, Aivenna and Will broke into a sprint back towards the settlement. The pyrobaster was still quite heavy to him, and Aivanna was much faster, so Will arrived after she did, barely able to make out the form of six or seven Mipedians blinking in and out of view as they terrorized the populace.
Bracing himself against the kick of the rifle, Will squeezed off a shot. A ball of flame shot from the end of the weapon, nearly striking one of the lizards who vanished at the last instant. Aivenna was currently engaged with a dusty yellow-scaled Mipedian while Drabe was grappling with a brown reptilian with a tall cranial crest. Will's vision practically zoomed in on this and he could hear Gyrnix's voice. Brown Mipedian with a fin on his head.
Swinging the weapon around, he fired off another blast, this one nearly hitting Drabe, but breaking the struggle between the two. Drabe took the opportunity to reach into his vest and hold up a ring of white crystal.
"Song of Truesight!"
Triumphant notes filled the air, an eerie white spirit leaving Drabe's body to fill the crystal. A shimmering veil of light washed over the crested Mipedian who's form flickered and solidified. Many of the Mipedians, Will noticed, dove for cover as the notes played, fearful of being the target of the invisibility-cancelling spell. The crested lizard shifted his beady gaze between Drabe and Will, before deciding a strategic retreat was in order.
"No you don't!" Will shouting, leveling the pyroblaster at the running Mipedian. The mugic seemed to have broken the invaders nerve, sending the rest of them running before they could be effected next. Before he could shoot, a length of cord went whirling past him to wrap around the fleeing Mipedian's legs, sending it sprawling face-first to the ground. Aivenna pounced on the downed Mipedian, holding him fast while he glared in fury at the vanishing backs of his fellows.
Looking around for the source of the attack that downed their prisoner, Will saw Gyrnix was standing nearby, toying with a pair of bolas with his good arm, almost identical to the set wrapped around the lizards legs. "Good throw!" he called out, setting down the pyroblaster. Gyrnix smiled in return and set about informing the villagers of the Mipedian's withdrawl.
Aivenna was using a length of rope supplied by Drabe to tie up the Mipedian properly when Will stomped over, dropping to his knees and roughly searching through belt pouches and bags until his hands wrapped around smooth, familiar metal. With a loud "Ha!" of triumph, he pulled his scanner from the lizard's belongings and gave it a few experimental taps. The screen blinked to life and he clutched it to his chest.
"For the record" Will looked the Mipedian in the eye and held up his scanner "If you had left this alone, you wouldn't be in this position." With the rope tied firmly around his snout, the Mipedian couldn't do much more than give the human a hard stare and struggle against his bonds with a snarl. "What'll you do with him?" he asked the Overworlders.
"We have several prisons in our lands." Aivenna said. "They'll be more than sufficient to hold him until we come up with a more...permanent solution." The Mipedian seemed to pale at this, eyes widening in fear.
Drabe hushed his student. "More than likely, he will be sent back to Mipidem Oasis after enjoying some Overworld hospitality. I hear the Royal House has a special punishment for Mipedians that are captured in enemy lands." If the reptilian looked white before, he appeared outright terrified now.
While Aivenna and Drabe figured out the logistics of prisoner transport, Will headed back o er to Gyrnix.
"You have your scanner back" the creature noted.
"Sure do. Ready to get out of here. How 'bout you?"
"Me?" his long neck tilted curiously.
"Yeah" Will reached into his back and withdrew his Flux Bauble. "Pack a bag, and I can give you a lift. Somewhere nice, not too dangerous?".
"You would do that for me? To be honest, I got the impression you didn't much care for us"
Will shrugged. "Thanks to you guys, I got my scanner back. That means a lot to me."
Gyrnix's gazed upon on the battlegear with longing in his eyes.
I can't leave" Gyrnix said sadly, "One threat to our village may be gone, but there will be more, and, well, you've seen the others; they still refuse to fight back."
"This place won't last long if that keeps up"
"I know... if I could ask a small favor?"
"Sure"
"Drabe told me a bit of how your game works. Could you scan me? That way, when you play your game, I can still travel Perim in spirit, at least"
Will nodded, activating his scanner to send lines of light tracing over Gyrnix's form. The giraffe-man smiled and bid Will farewell, followed by Drabe and Aivenna. Gripping the scanner tightly, as though someone might try to take it again, he pressed the button that would return him to Earth.