04-11-2016, 10:00 PM
Another long voyage.
Zack had always wondered how personal energy and the need for rest worked in this realm where he could summon anything else at whim. He had decided not to test it on this trip shortly after setting out, however. One thing was for certain, and that was that he would need every ounce of his strength if he was going to be any help to the coalition that dared challenge the all-powerful overlord of the Ashen Steppes. Truly, it was a fool’s errand. Immortal or not, only the most insane and idiotic primes would dare to challenge this sleeping beast.
He already felt a kinship with them.
Still, as exciting as it was, Zack didn’t get in too much of a hurry. He travelled quickly, but carefully, ever mindful of the typical terrain hazards of this volcanic world. The journey took longer than expected, but was more or less fruitful. Nealaphh’s post advertising the campaign against Volvagia was viewable to anyone with Dataverse access, so with such a bold statement came the appropriate attention.
Zack camped out with various caravans on his journey to Death Mountain, some of them belonging to locals to the Steppes, and others comprised of nothing but tourists. The latter were a skittish bunch, being visitors from far more stable ‘Verses. They wanted to be close enough to say they saw the fight, but far enough away to not actually be a part of it. Still, Zack enjoyed sitting and swapping stories with all types of people on his journey. In it, he’d learned some of the depths of the different realities that the Omniverse touched.
He knew when he was getting close to Death Mountain by the thinning of the crowds. Not many people wanted to venture near the Goron village and the Institute’s encampment, despite the former having the reputation for being one of the more welcoming places in the ‘Verse. Before long, he broke down his flimsy motorcycle into Omnilium and continued the rest of the way up the harsh terrain by foot.
Zack had a very recognizable silhouette. Even one that didn’t know the ex-SOLDIER could guess what he was about, as the enormous sword that hung from his back was typically the first thing about him that a stranger would notice. He made his way into the camp with ease, attracted to the same gathering of primes as everyone else. Evidence of his extended stay in the Steppes was easy to spot. His skin was a bit darker, and the black ash that the wind carried everywhere was stained onto himself and everything he owned. Yet, beneath it all, he had a warm and almost innocent smile. Upon spotting the two he recognized, his eyes lit up like a child on Christmas.
“Miranda! Colonel!” Zack immediately exclaimed as he joined the group, abstaining from making a proper and broad greeting. If one weren’t paying attention, they might have thought he’d been there all along. “Man, is it good to see you two are alright. We didn’t know what to make of what happened to you two at Bowser’s place.”
Zack scanned the group again, and spotted one more individual that he recognized. He’d never learned Dresden’s name, because they’d only been acquainted for less than a minute before a bursting lava flow had caused everyone to run for their lives. Still, the spellcaster had come to his group’s aid before, and here he was again, ready to help with another noble cause.
“Hey, Warning Shot! You made it, too!” Zack said, knowing no other name to call the wizard. “Glad to see you survived. We were worried about you.”
Before continuing to catch up with his friends, he knew he needed to get to the point of his arrival. Zack looked over to the one he knew was Nealaphh. It wasn’t hard to guess which one was calling the shots around here, so he gave a firm and polite nod.
“According to Drake Oneir this is the place to be,” Zack addressed the godmind. “So count me in as one more dragon slayer.”
Zack had always wondered how personal energy and the need for rest worked in this realm where he could summon anything else at whim. He had decided not to test it on this trip shortly after setting out, however. One thing was for certain, and that was that he would need every ounce of his strength if he was going to be any help to the coalition that dared challenge the all-powerful overlord of the Ashen Steppes. Truly, it was a fool’s errand. Immortal or not, only the most insane and idiotic primes would dare to challenge this sleeping beast.
He already felt a kinship with them.
Still, as exciting as it was, Zack didn’t get in too much of a hurry. He travelled quickly, but carefully, ever mindful of the typical terrain hazards of this volcanic world. The journey took longer than expected, but was more or less fruitful. Nealaphh’s post advertising the campaign against Volvagia was viewable to anyone with Dataverse access, so with such a bold statement came the appropriate attention.
Zack camped out with various caravans on his journey to Death Mountain, some of them belonging to locals to the Steppes, and others comprised of nothing but tourists. The latter were a skittish bunch, being visitors from far more stable ‘Verses. They wanted to be close enough to say they saw the fight, but far enough away to not actually be a part of it. Still, Zack enjoyed sitting and swapping stories with all types of people on his journey. In it, he’d learned some of the depths of the different realities that the Omniverse touched.
He knew when he was getting close to Death Mountain by the thinning of the crowds. Not many people wanted to venture near the Goron village and the Institute’s encampment, despite the former having the reputation for being one of the more welcoming places in the ‘Verse. Before long, he broke down his flimsy motorcycle into Omnilium and continued the rest of the way up the harsh terrain by foot.
Zack had a very recognizable silhouette. Even one that didn’t know the ex-SOLDIER could guess what he was about, as the enormous sword that hung from his back was typically the first thing about him that a stranger would notice. He made his way into the camp with ease, attracted to the same gathering of primes as everyone else. Evidence of his extended stay in the Steppes was easy to spot. His skin was a bit darker, and the black ash that the wind carried everywhere was stained onto himself and everything he owned. Yet, beneath it all, he had a warm and almost innocent smile. Upon spotting the two he recognized, his eyes lit up like a child on Christmas.
“Miranda! Colonel!” Zack immediately exclaimed as he joined the group, abstaining from making a proper and broad greeting. If one weren’t paying attention, they might have thought he’d been there all along. “Man, is it good to see you two are alright. We didn’t know what to make of what happened to you two at Bowser’s place.”
Zack scanned the group again, and spotted one more individual that he recognized. He’d never learned Dresden’s name, because they’d only been acquainted for less than a minute before a bursting lava flow had caused everyone to run for their lives. Still, the spellcaster had come to his group’s aid before, and here he was again, ready to help with another noble cause.
“Hey, Warning Shot! You made it, too!” Zack said, knowing no other name to call the wizard. “Glad to see you survived. We were worried about you.”
Before continuing to catch up with his friends, he knew he needed to get to the point of his arrival. Zack looked over to the one he knew was Nealaphh. It wasn’t hard to guess which one was calling the shots around here, so he gave a firm and polite nod.
“According to Drake Oneir this is the place to be,” Zack addressed the godmind. “So count me in as one more dragon slayer.”