New Beginning 21: Awesomeness Revisited

[Zaleramancer]

"Of course, I am a scheming untrustworthy villain. But I'm also on the payroll." The raspy voice said in a tone of amusement.

"Unfortunately, the master is currently indisposed by an invasive force from another dimension. Several of his allies and friends attempted to assist him, only to be delayed and diverted by this.. sphinx. Now it falls to me to find them."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"So he is a scheming vizier."
"Now now, Sherman, we shouldn't jump to such conclusions so hastily. After all, he may be a creepy butler."
"Wow! A butler!"

"Nevertheless, if what you say is true then this is an incredible opportunity to get in you masters good graces. Where are these interdimentional ruffians, so that I might give them what for! After that, I'm sure this Zale fellow will be more than amicable to my request. In fact, as a show of good faith on my part..."

He flourishes his cane and points it at the spinx. There is a sound of a door, a heavy door, opening and then closing very quickly. The spinx vanishes in that instant.

"There. That's one problem out of your hair already."

[Mik_Hael]

...fair enough, but, if a single one of the soulless comes near me, the existence of this world is forfeit.

"The floor below us shifts as the bubble moves quickly beneath the surface in order to find an empty area before surfacing, I study the faceless carefully in order to insure this is the best option.

[Philote]

"How much further until we reach this person who can release us?" I ask

[Zaleramancer]

"We're here."

The leafy tunnel opened up to reveal a scenic glade, circled with showy trees. A dark skinned woman in robes sits on a stone bench, her back to you.

[Zaleramancer]

Zaleramancer wrote

Marv the Miscreant wrote

"Thank you, narrative voice in my head."

I make my way further down the path. Expecting another event to halt my progress.

On the other side of the river a swampy forest grows, with the path leading directly into it.

[Philote]

"Greetings" I call "We require your assistance."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

I follow the path into the swampy forest, expecting another detour...

[Zaleramancer]

Darkness begins to fall, and the trail gives way to a raised wooden path above swampy waters. Croaks and chirps of animals echo through the tall and dark trees.

Far off, a light flickers.

[Zaleramancer]

"You must be those intruders. I hope you haven't come to burn down the rest of my garden." She growled, without bothering to turn. "I see you've brought the God-Killer with you."

The blonde girl began to examine the ground with great interest while slowly moving backwards.

[Celadon's Penultimate]

I follow my verdant guide intently. I wonder where she'll lead me?

[Mik_Hael]

...
...
...
..zzzzzzzzz

zz"snort!!!!' Wah, what?!....sorry fell asleep....

[Marvelous Miscreant]

A light! Was it an exit? Maybe another detour? or perhaps it was Zale. Whatever it was, I was going to find out. I run towards it.

[Zaleramancer]

You sink to the waist into the soggy mud and water as soon as you leave the wooden path. The light dances between the trees on the edge of your vision, to indistinct to get a good look at.

[Zaleramancer]

One of the pale figures approaches slowly, it holds an old fashioned radio protectively with both hands.

[Mik_Hael]

Radio....I wonder if it gets Jazz? Do you have Jazz here?

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"Ugh, gross..." I try to split the mud and water to create a dry path.

[Zaleramancer]

Silently, the faceless figure holding the radio twists one of the knob.

"Thank you for releasing it. I require the managers to adequately direct the other castes. They're dreadfully stupid." A light and somewhat tired sounding voice emanates from the radio, crackling slightly.

[Mik_Hael]

I feel your pain, I created my own world once, I couldn't get the mindless to stop killing each other...finally settled with repeating the same day continually.

So what is this place.

[Zaleramancer]

Like a swampy red sea, the dirty water and mud parts to show the semi-solid mud bottom of the swamp.