The road to Sarwin...

[feathered_mages]

This is obviously not a post-industrial world. In fact, they shouldn't feel too out of place here. The randomly selected portal from the Nexus will set them down in a field not too far from a dirt road that bears the markings of wagon wheels. The surrounding area is lightly forested with deciduous trees in a colorful autumn display of foliage. The

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[on_this_stage]

And what a strange little group they'll have. Two almost identical people, one much older than the other, and both with feathers. The older one has two more than the younger.

All four of these vaguely similar people have tails. The two featherless ones have blond hair, and aren't quite as identical looking as the silver-haired ones, but it's still impossible not to notice. The fancier-dressed, irritable looking one seems older, and the happier one seems much younger. It's more the way he's acting than anything, as they're the same height.

At least they're all behaving!

[meuda]

"I want to see it too." Why not?

[terrabrat]

And, finally: "I could kill them all."

[feathered_mages]

One Waltz at least has more practical considerations than just seeing another monster or finding something to kill. Blaze has slipped over to talk to the villagers.

"Do they have any idea where the unicorn might have been taken?" asks Rydia. After all, they need to start somewhere.

"The goblins took him from the place he sleeps at near the gardens," says Mistral.

At which point Blaze comes back. "They think he might have been taken into the mountains, and that he was likely drugged. They can't give us much, but they said we could keep anything else the goblins have stolen and that we can stay for free at the inn when we get back. With dinner on the house."

This is sounding even better to Arashi. A free stay at the inn, dinner, and they get to kill things. Unicorn? What unicorn?

[on_this_stage]

"All that for a unicorn?" Hmm.

[meuda]

Awww, free dinner. Why is he here if not to cook things. :(

[feathered_mages]

Blaze makes his way over to tuck a wing around Meuda and whisper to him, "I bet they don't know how to make potato chips." And he'll want his potato chips, darn it.

"They just want him back safely, before the goblins eat him or something," says Mistral. "He's the town mascot."

[meuda]

"Maybe they do. It's possible." But the thought helps!

[on_this_stage]

He just looks at Rydia. He's only here to handle the young version of himself... and the idiot planet-killer.

[mist_caller]

"Hmph. They wouldn't make them just right," Blaze insists. "Only you and Mr. 44 get them just right."

"Well, where did they keep the unicorn and we'll see if we can track the goblins from there," Rydia says. If nothing else, it would be good tracking practice for the kids.

"It's this way," Mistral says, and darts off in the direction of the village's communal garden.

[meuda]

"What if they don't have ingredients?" Because Meuda didn't think to bring anything.

[terrabrat]

Kuja shrugs and follows! And... so does Kuja. And Zidane.

[feathered_mages]

"Then we'll just have to find some," says Blaze, following along with the others.

The unicorn's usual resting place is a sort of open grassy area near the garden. There's fresh straw bedding and a water trough, as well as a place where the villagers would bring him food. There isn't any fence, though - they never saw a reason for one, as they wouldn't have tried to keep the unicorn if he hadn't wanted to stay.

"How do we know the stupid thing didn't just wander off," grumbles Mikoto.

Unfortunately a nearby farmer overhears her. "First off, missy, unicorns aren't stupid creatures. Second, you have a look here..." And he'll show a spot in the straw where there's a few traces of blood.. and manages to turn up another of those miniature arrows. "Y'see? Goblin arrows.. don't be touching the tip now!" He pulls it back out of her reach when Mikoto tries to grab it for a closer look. "They're known to poison 'em."

[meuda]

"Okay!" Shouldn't be too hard. And that's part of the fun. :3

[angel_of_terra]

To Mikoto, quietly: "How do we know this isn't a setup? What a waste of time."

See, he's making friends. :D

[on_this_stage]

Eyeroll, and he ignores Zidane. What else can he do, besides Mute the idiot?