[center][h1][url=http://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/2800337]John[/url][/h1][/center]
So their kidnapper was a whole tier above the elven enemies. The plot thickened. John felt like a fantasy movie protagonist. He and Darius were the main characters, Darius being the sidekick buddy. But relying on movie tropes being true here was low, as the encounter with the bear suggested. Either way, they requested help in exchange for their trust, and that was a fair trade. [b]"Very well, I will help you. As for Darius, I will let him make a choice for himself."[/b] 

The scientist looked at Darius briefly. [b]"The powers of magic I have, as amazing as they are, unfortunately are yet inferior to things we have back in our world. Even without magic, we created many wonders, as well as terrible weapons. Weapons that can erase a city from the map from the other side of the world."[/b] He sighs. John was never a fighter. He abhorred direct conflict partly because he was physically frail. Avoiding physical activities added to John being horribly out of shape. The thought of physical exertion scared him a bit, even if in this world he doesn't really need to deal with exhaustion. The scientist preferred shock and awe approach, to strike the enemy so brutally once, as to dissuade them from any further actions right there and now. The Preta Project was one such thing, being as much as a physical and psychological weapon. He was a fan of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - the show of force which forced an immediate surrender, and Japan was better off for it. But in this world, there are no such things. John's magic will have to compensate. [b]"But since none of that exists here, I will help you with my flesh and blood."[/b]

John stepped forward slowly. [b]"It is a custom in our world to perform a handshake with acquaintances and people you made a deal with. It is a gesture of trust and solidarity from both sides. Would you accept this gesture?"[/b] he asked while raising his hand for a handshake. It was very risky, so John kept his distance, waiting for the captain's reply. He was not sure why he was doing it, but it felt like the right thing to do. Something to make this whole ordeal go on the right foot somewhat.