User:Arrow Quivershaft/Campfire Chat
 | 3P story universe |
{{#ifeq: User |User| Campfire Chat | Arrow Quivershaft/Campfire Chat}}[[Title::{{#ifeq: User |User| Campfire Chat | Arrow Quivershaft/Campfire Chat}}| ]]
{{#ifeq: | |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }} | |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}} | ||
Author: [[User:{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}|{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}]] [[Author::{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}| ]]
}} |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}} | |
Author: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }} |
Author: [[User:{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}|{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}]] [[Author::{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}| ]]
}}
}} |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }} | |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}} | | Authors: ' |
Authors: [[User:{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}|{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}]]
}} |
{{#ifeq: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}} | |
Authors: {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }} |
Author: [[User:{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | {{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}}}|{{#ifeq: User |User| Arrow Quivershaft | }}]]
}}
}}
}} {{#if:| — see [[:Category:{{{category}}}|other works by this author]]}}
After a while, I woke up to tend the fire. Alex was there, sitting up straight in a somewhat lazy position. His breath rate indicated he was likely awake, though his eyes were closed. Probably trying to maintain nightsight. After a few moments of my movement, he spoke.
"I'm sorry I kept this from you." He said quietly.
I glanced over at Alex. "It would've been nice to know ahead of time, yes, since something I'll now need to keep track of in my decisions."
"I was ... afraid." he admitted.
"Of what?"
"The usual alien fare, government autopsies, probes, getting headline news, etc."
"I understand...the news and such did happen at first. It's kinda gone down in the past 19 years, although if you wanted to avoid making news, you've already failed that." I mentioned.
"Yeah, but I'm slightly different from your average harpy." Alex paused. "No offense."
"Fair enough; none taken."
"It's also why I don't want my soul, aura or whatnot fucked with.”
I let that slide for now. "So you're not from this earth...strange. I don’t blame you for wanting to stay out of news, given the concerns about the 4th realm..."
"Fourth realm? Aren’t there only three?” Alex asked. He learned quick.
"There's concerns that your existence is a harbinger of a fourth realm opening somewhere." I mentioned.
"Wait, there have been more like us?"
"You, Blossom, Nick Snider, and Nkosi, are the ones mentioned in the news."
"We've already been in the news?" he sounded a bit surprised.
"Indeed. I'd seen pictures of both of you before you even hired me. There’s a particularly popular picture of Blossom getting off a transport with RAF officers.”
Alex grimaced. "Oh fuck. And there I was trying to keep a low profile."
I smirked. "Kinda tough these days, especially when you're that unique."
"Let's hope you don't have to start fending off g-men too. What about the others?”
"Media stories about you are not at all consistent." I shrugged. “Probably because they’re all tripping over each other to have the news first.”
"Let's hope they keep calling me human."
"Hopefully." I paused. "I've been asking all the questions; that's not like me. You have anything to ask me?"
Alex smiled and dropped a hint. "Though I'm not quite human even in this form. ... questions ... dunno, let be think for a second."
"Sure, sure. Nothing better to do." I said nonchalantly.
"Hmm, aside from the money. Why are you doing this? Why are you out here?"
"I've always been fascinated with the realms, since I was young."
Alex nodded. "I can see why. A year ago I'd die to have a peek at this world."
"So yeah. After I got older, I went to school to be a Realms guide. Get the skills needed to be hired." I elaborated.
"And now you're out here saving tourist asses."
I scoffed. "I wouldn't quite put it that way."
Alex chuckled. "I'm sure."
"Usually, I stay behind at the camp while the warriors and stuff go out for the exotic hunting and exploring, right now.” Not entirely true but the best light to cast it in.
"Well, at least you don't get gutted by some freak." He went on. "It's a pity about those glittery freaks, I wish we had better weapons."
"Its part of the job, man. I really didn't want to get into fighting." Especially not another encounter with stormwings.
Alex nodded. "It's a pity I don't turn into some beefed up werewolf or something. Just a fucking raccoon." He changed the subject. "So, how many times have you done stuff like this?"
“Realmwalking? I couldn’t tell you off the top of my head. At least 20 to 25 times by this point."
"Nice. Glad you have experience, don't want to be turned into some bird girl or something. No offence," he added quickly.
I glanced to Dawn’s lodging. “None taken.”
"Hmm, did all the creatures here suffer the same fate as Dawn?" Alex asked inquisitively.
"Some did, some are offspring, others...I honestly don't know." I paused. "Heh, want me to scare you?"
"Hmm? After all I've been through? Be my guest." He grinned.
"They say that if you get devoured by all three heads of a cerberus, you're reborn as one."
"That must be fun,” Lex said dryly.
I shrugged a bit. "There's worse that can happen. Some of the most powerful gorgons can petrify you."
"Ah, definitely not fun." He frowned. "But then you're just dead. Not really that bad I guess."
"Well, sometimes they can fix that."
Alex nodded. "Let's just hope we don't bump into any gorgons."
"Yeah, I'd prefer to avoid them as well," I admitted.
"Of course, then there's the odd god, we don't want to meet them." he trailed off.
"Why are you going to see Selene, if you don't mind me asking?”
"...Another god did something to a friend, we're hoping that she can help fix it."
"Well, I guess you may as well try." Didn’t wanna pour TOO much water on that.
"It's all we can," He said morosely. "I wonder if they could do something about my shifting triggers..."
"No idea." I glanced at my mark again. Nervous habit, that.
"Well, we'll see." Alex resolved.
I nodded, gaze not moving. Eventually I looked up, and Alex was eyeing my mark as well.
“You looking at my Mark?" I asked, evenly.
Alex nodded. "Sorry."
"Not a problem. If I didn't want it visible, I'd wear a glove."
"Athene's a good god right?"
"By the general standards of good, yes, she'd be on the list. Companion of heroes, goddess of heroic endeavor, wisdom, and honor."
"Yep, good god." He shifted the topic. "Let's just hope we all get back in one piece."
"That's my job. Gimme some credit, man.”
There was a prolonged pause as I stoked the fire a bit. "By the way. One thing has been on my mind ever since we started out..." Alex said.
"Yeah?"
"Not that I don't appreciate her help, but why did Dawn come with us? I believe we only hired one dude." Alex noted.
"She's coming pro bono. I asked Blossom during dinner if she minded; she said she didn't."
"But in my experience only good friends do stuff pro bono." Alex nodded. Ah, crap. Time to divert.
"Dawn is a good friend of mine. Although she's very big into the adventure of it all. Ask her about it."
"Ah, I will."
"And she helps me. She's got more experience than I do, to be honest."
"Yeah, she's a good person." Alex said.
I nodded in agreement. "Indeed."
Another subject change. "Blossom’s sure of it but I don't know how receptive Selene is going to be to our requests."
"I don't know either. I can't tell you for sure, but my guess would be that if she does help, you may end up doing something in return."
Alex nodded. "And I don't like the sound of it."
I shrugged. "It's all you can do."
"Yep, if we want to get nick fixed."
I jumped on this slip up. "Nick? Is this the Nick Snider in the same reports?"
"Oh ... um, yes." he admitted.
I browquirked. "Huh. So you're all connected?"
"Yeah...” He didn’t seem to want to say more than that.
"Huh. So care to tell me what happened to him, or is that private? If I'm prying, tell me, and we can change the subject."
Alex took a deep breath. "You know that Nkosi guy, from the news?"
"Yep, yep I do. Kinda an oddball for a realm bigwig."
"He and Nick are the same person."
“Wait, what?”
"Well, they're not the same person right now, but they used to be. It's weird even for me." Alex admitted. "That's what you get for crossing Bast I guess."
"...bizarre. Crossing in what way?" This was...concerning, to say the least.
"Catching her attention mostly, from what I've heard."
"Ahh..."
Alex closed his eyes. "And now we're out to find a cure."
I thought for a moment. "So he crossed Bast...if the news reports are to be believed, Nkosi is kinda a big name person for Bast?"
Alex nodded and opened his eyes, eyeing me. "Which means that he might not want to leave."
This was bigger than I planned, and the worry showed on my face. "I *MAY* have an idea if Selene doesn't help. I don't know. I'd have to talk to Dawn and maybe a few others, do some research in the archives.”
Alexei frowned a bit. "What's that?"
"Nothing, right now. I need to check to see if it's even a possibility. I don't want to needlessly raise hopes."
"You might have already. What's plan B?"
"There is no plan B yet. I have an idea, nothing more." I shook my head. "And I'm not even sure the idea will work."
"Humor me."
"I'd rather not, at least not until I talk to Dawn. Apologies." I looked at my mark again, pondering.
Alex held up his hand. "No problem, I'll hear of it soon enough." He eyed my hand and then asked, "Does this 'idea' have something to do with your god and this code those shiny birds talked about?"
Bloody hell, he read me like a book. "...you're more astute than you let on."
Alex grinned. "Thanks."
"I've told you I'm a devout follower of Athene. That comes with a code of behavior I must follow." I explained. "I can't renege on a deal, for one. I must act with honor. I also can't cheat, steal, or use poison, and must try to protect others weaker than myself."
Alex nodded. "And where does Dawn come into the picture here?"
"Dawn comes into the picture because she can evaluate my idea. Long story short, there are power struggles between the gods."
"Ah, and Bast isn't a buddy of yours," Alex guessed.
"That would be a fairly succinct, if somewhat irreverent, way of putting it." I agreed.
Alex smiled. "Athiest."
"That's a difficult position to maintain in the realms," I mentioned.
Alex nodded. "I can understand that."
I shrugged. "I don't know. That's my idea."
"Playing gods off against each other. Dangerous game. ... Well, you /are/ a follower, that should count for something." Alex said, analytically.
"Yes, it is. And that's why I didn't want to raise your hopes."
Alex nodded. "Lets give Selene a shot first. Though I'm worried about what we're going to have to pay."
"That I can't say. Selene is a fairly benevolent goddess, but she doesn't always deign to interfere." I paused. "I was just thinking my idea because, in theory only, Athene would have a vested interest in denying Bast a powerful follower such as Nkosi."
Alex mulled. "What are, even benevolent gods, going to think of us, outsiders ...."
"Your guess is just as good as or better than mine."
"Let's hope Selene lives up to her reputation." He paused. "Hmm. Any spooky stories about the realms?"
I smirked. "Sure."