壱

[oneeyedfish]

...I smell dirt.

*after getting up and looking around* No, wait; that's sulfur. This isn't where I went set up camp...is it?

Mm? *looking up* ...Huh. It can't be a good omen for the sky to be that color. Is a storm coming, I wonder?*stoops down, pinches a clump of charred dirt between his thumb and forefinger, and studies it for a few seconds,

Comments

[bigstebowski]

...My, my, another defenseless human. I certainly do have to wonder what pleasure Overlord Baal gets in kidnapping your sort.

[oneeyedfish]

...

What are you talking about? Kidnapped? I'm standing in the outdoors.

[Private] ...His ears... [/Private]

[bigstebowski]

I would suggest finding shelter, but shelter here is generally as dangerous as the outdoors.

Sometimes more so.

[oneeyedfish]

[Private] He said something about an "Overlord Baal"... [/Private]

Anything would be safer than on top of an active volcano, so I'm headed for the castle I'm seeing over there in the distance. Is that the "shelter" you were speaking of?

[bigstebowski]

One, yes. One word of warning, my friend: you may find yourself changing your opinion of safe quite soon, especially once you get into the castle.

Rather, I should say if you get into the castle.

[oneeyedfish]

...

You seem like a guy that has a lot of information, but are just waiting until the time is right to reveal it. Would I be mistaken?

[bigstebowski]

Perhaps.

Or I may be more than willing to reveal what I know and simply wait to be asked.

[oneeyedfish]

...That's reassuring.

I didn't go to sleep on a volcano, and through all my traveling, I've never seen a place like this. When you say "kidnapped", you mean I was brought here? How?

[bigstebowski]

Yes, that is exactly what I mean. You, myself, and many others have been brought here against our wills.

How? Why, through the power of Overlord Baal, of course! The King of Kings, the Lord of Terror, the Tyrant Lord--call him whatever fancies you; he is our gracious host.

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[oneeyedfish]

What's so gracious about kidnapping a bunch of people against their will?

[oneeyedfish]

...What does he expect us to do? Does he have any intention of sending us back?

[bigstebowski]

I would think allowing us to live when he could so easily extinguish our lives is quite gracious. Don't you agree?

Sadly, I must admit to not knowing the Overlord's expectations, motives, nor intentions.

[oneeyedfish]

*groans quietly in the back of his throat* ...

I guess I could just walk back. Is there some kind of barrier stopping everyone from leaving that way?

[bigstebowski]

Yes, there is a barrier of sorts. Several, perhaps, if we consider being on an entirely different planet than our home to be a barrier.

[oneeyedfish]

Different planet?

...

You're serious, aren't you.

[bigstebowski]

Look up. Did your world have a red sun?

Did your world have demons?