Warriors of Light: IC

"Babababaaaaaa ba ba ba baba!" Emily hummed as she struck a pose with her sword embedded in the ground. "Okay. So now for the question of what the hell is going on?"

"Yeah, what he said," Paul grunted as he managed to free himself from the pile of corpses that had pinned him down. He then started walking around the battlefield picking up his lost items. First retrieving his lost knife, then the bag of money that appeared in this new world with him.

Pat looked at the bag on his hip. It was under his register when... this shit happened, and now it was on his hip. Small thanks, he supposed.

"Okay, so, the way I see it, we got a choice, right, to say whether or not what we're experiencing is real or not." He pulled his phone out of his bag. He wasn't going to even try using it. "But here's the thing, something I don't think you guys are exactly getting, right now, about the supposed weirdness here, and it's that we can say the same thing for anything being unreal." He set his phone on the ground a little ways away, along with his keys and a pen. "So now things have calmed down, in the interest of trying to stay someplace I'm maybe gonna live better, I'm getting rid of all my shit from home. Who else wants to?"

Foot of the Great Tree

The only reason Alasdair was sweating was because he was sort of hot underneath his armor and his BDU. But he shouldered the Caber and reached for a handkerchief to wipe the sweat of his face. Then looked out into the damage they'd caused and knelt to examine one of the kills.

"... We are definitely not on Earth."

Battle aftermath

"I'm keeping my stuff for now, thanks. Never know when it might be useful." David remarked as he removed his claws. Now that the action was over, David's mind was brimming with questions What kind of world was this? Why had he been summoned? Why was he suddenly able to smash through bone like cardboard?

"Alright Miraelle, I think now's a good time for explanations." he said.

Elisa Topales
Big White Tree

Elisa stayed still, taking stock of everything as a flurry of thoughts and emotions went through her head at once. Shock over what she just did, apprehension over how readily she did, surprise at the fact she wasn't panting after all this and logic telling her to calm down, organize her thoughts, and think; focus. She took a deep breath, doing just that. Then the man with the hammer spoke. She just laughed at the statement.

"Nope, that's for sure," she said as she stood straight.

At the word's of the man who set his things on the ground a few feet away, she frowned. He had a good point but...she still kind of wanted to keep her phone. Especially since it had pictures of Carmelo in it. But if worse came to be, she would discard it. After all, at least she had her bracelet. She took this opportunity to examine the group. It was pretty normal bunch by her standards. Well, bar the gear they got from the tree. Except for the man with the hammer. She couldn't help but wonder what was his work.

Then she was reminded of the other questions as a man who was taking off his "claws" asked Mira for an explanation.

"Do you think we could do that while going somewhere safe?" she said as she glanced around. "Oh, and I'm Elisa. Elisa Topales."

Big Tree

"Eh, I don't think I'm gonna get rid of my stuff just yet. Could come in handy at some point, never know." Emi said as she stabbed her sword into the ground and leaned against it. "I guess we could see about introducing ourselves, might see about establishing a bit of where we're from, and our various situations. The name's Sarah Emilia Tanner. Though I generally would prefer Emi. From Houston. Nice to meet ya'll." She looked around at the others before focusing on the girl that started all this. "Though, you like... familiar... Can't put my finger on it..."

"I'd rather not give my stuff up just yet, when we barely even know what's going on..." Daniel said, before realizing something. "...Um, are there, like, sheaths for these things? I kinda need my arm to do stuff, and I don't think leaving this thing lying on the ground is a good idea."

Mira was pacing, her nerves were on fire and she couldn't stay still. She hopped over a dead Goblin twice and didn't slow down at all.

"Okay, so now we know that you really are the Warriors of Light. I mean, the way you handled that just proved it. But what doesn't make sense is how clueless you all are."

The princess sighed and turned to look at the Warriors.

"Okay, I promised you answers, so I'll give you answers. Keep in mind, I don't know everything but..I'll try to do my best to fill you all in."

"Okay, your questions. Shoot."

Yay, this game ain't dead! :D

"For starters, where the heck are we?" Daniel asked. "I mean, as far as I can tell this ain't New Orleans, but beyond that... Well, you mentioned "Hathoria" and "The Great Tree" before the trolls came in, but those names doesn't ring any bells."

"Fuck that." Was all that Patrick said before taking a deep breath, winding up, and bringing his staff down hard on his phone, shattering it into pieces. "You guys ever play Tactics Advance?" He took the time to point to them all. "There was a guy there driven to get everyone back. Including if they didn't wanna go." He pointed to the princess. Mira. "So, question then, yeah, do the stories ever say where the Light Warriors go after their quests are over?"

Hallelujah, Grim's back!

"Why do you need us?" David asked. "You wanted warriors for a reason, what is it?"

David thought for a few more seconds, before adding, "Oh, and what does pashnea mean? I've heard you say that a few times."

"And what the hell were those things!" Paul added gesturing towards the dead goblins as he walked up towards Mira, "They couldn't have been- I mean, those things weren't real monsters right?"

Emi walked over to one of the goblins and poked it with her sword a few times. "Certainly looks real... I'm just slightly curious about why this world aligns so much with Final Fantasy. Am I having another one of my lucid dreams again? Those are fun, but this feels... Strangely more real."

The Great Tree

Miraelle continued pacing, an hand running through her hair and a pained expression on her face.

"This doesn't make any sense! Why would the Asnamon-? Unless...no. No! This is the worse thing that could have happened!" Mira wailed.

She seemed to be hyperventilating, and it took her a few minutes to sort things out.

Breathing deeply, Mira then turned to face them again.

"Alright, I can give you the short version. You're in a different world than where you came from."

"This world...it doesn't really have a name..but currently, you are in the kingdom of Hathoria."

"I don't want to dump everything on you in one go...so all you need to know is that a long time ago, four people were given by the gods four crystals that held the Essences of the Elements. Those four founded four great kingdoms that safeguarded the crystals and the world's balance. My mother is called Queen Pyranea. She's the ruler of Hathoria, which holds the fire crystal. Anyway, half a year ago, something happened to her. I mean, my mother was never the kindest person but...."

Mira shook her head, voice breaking as if remembering something painful.

"I think she's gone mad. She...ordered our airship fleet to attack Adamya. They didn't see it coming. It...it was a slaughter. She took the water crystal for herself...now she's looking to take the other two."

Miraelle shuddered. "I couldn't just let that happen! The crystals keep balance...if she takes them all, there's no telling what will happen to the world. So...I bided my time. I did my research. I read about the legend of the Warriors of Light. They were supposed to be the Champions of the Gods. Supposed to save the world when it needed them the most. I found a ritual that vould supposedly summon them from beyond the world."

"So I...stole the fire crystal and made my way to the Great Asnamon. I did the ritual....and called you."

She gestured her hand at them hopelessly. "Obviously, I failed."

Patrick really considered taking a swipe at this princess just to see if he could. This was some goddamn bullshit right here.

"So do you, like, need a minute to actually answer our questions like you said you were going to...?" He asked, hoping that she wasn't just trying to dodge. "I figure we'll be decent replacements for whatever shitkickers you were supposed to get seeing as we took out some goblins easily enough. Just... just..." He swung his staff down onto his phone once again. "Answer our goddamn questions!"

Mira glared. "Well, since you're obviosly not the Warriors of Light, I honestly don't give a flying fuck where you go!"

She chucked a rock at the one who had just spoken. "You want to stay here? Go back? I don't care! Fuck you, this world is doomed you pashnea bastard!"

She screamed. "Get out of here and get eaten by a godsdamned dragon for all I care!"

Emi held up her hands to calm down the Princess. "Hey, no need to fight here. I don't necessarily understand what's going on, but I think we might somehow be what you are looking for. That kind of stuff? There was no way we could have done that in our world. Being here has given us stuff that some of us have only dreamed of. I for one would love to help any way I can."

"Ow, son of a bitch!" The rock nailed Pat square in the forehead and his head jerked back, only for him to snap forwards with death in his eyes. "I'd fucking love to go, right now, and knock the bullshit right out your head, but, but..." Patrick realized he didn't know any names right now, and he just pointed at Emi. "She's right. We're the best you've fucking got and if we aren't going to be your saviors we can at least keep killing shit 'till you find some real soldiers to hire."

"I'm more than willing to help too, Mira," Daniel responded. "Though, um, how are we supposed to store these weapons. I'm pretty sure leaving them on the floor isn't going to be a good idea..."

David took a deep breath and let it out, thinking over Mira's words. It's not an ideal situation for either of us, but this is how thing's are. He mused, before nodding. Guess I'll follow her for now. I'll think about returning home if the possibility arises.

"Alright, I guess I'm sticking around with you, Miraelle." David said. "You know the most about this world out of everyone in the group, and following you beats wandering aimlessly and dying. In return, I'll do my best to beat off whatever your mother sends after you."

Elisa Topales
Big White Tree

Elisa's expression was grim at Mira's explanation. Now that was enough reason to go against her own mother. And it was understandable that she thought she failed. It wasn't like any of them warriors. And then suddenly she threw a rock at one of them. Admittedly, she thought he partially deserved that seeing as she did offer a explanation. A short one, true, but at least it was one. And she, herself, was hopeful. Like that other girl said, they were much stronger than back where they (presumably) came from. At least they have a chance.

She went near Mira, her equipment still at hand.

"Even if we aren't the Warriors of Light, I still want to help you," she said. "In anyway I can, as best as I can. That, I can promise."

Miraelle shook her head furiously, a pained expression on her face.

"No! Absolutely not! You people don't know what you're getting into!"

She started pacing again. "Hathoria is the most powerful nation in the world, and you...you don't stand a chance! I was gambling on the Warriors of Light, but now..."

She shook her head again. "No, the best thing to do is send you all home. I have to find another way...maybe the Elder knows something..."

"I don't want to get you all killed! Oh, this is all my fault..."

Patrick's heart went cold. He felt himself sinking away. This adventure, this out, this chance to make something of himself was falling away before his eyes. He couldn't move, he never could when the chips were fucking down. He could kill some horrible monsters and smash a phone, but people just telling him what to do were beyond him.

But also, fuck that. He was a goddamn hero now! He had magic! He had to hang onto that! He wasn't going to let this wizard chick ruin everything.

"Don't you fucking dare." He gripped his staff like a baseball bat and approached Mira, that cold anxiety steadily galvanizing into fury. "I'm not going back. You wanna see a badass?!"

Patrick swung his staff and attempted to smack a distracted, surprised, and defenseless person mid-pace while her back was turned, going straight for her head. Badass.

Emi appeared behind Mira, sword held up to deflect Patrick's strike. "HEY! What's the big idea asshole! There is no call for that. On EITHER side." She turned towards Mira. "Sorry Princess, but we're all you got. As far as we know, we can't get back home. And as far as you know, you're not getting anyone else. Its us, or no one."