Badarby

Graveyard Orbit

Saeyeon Kim

“Must be some misunderstanding,” Saeyeon thought to herself, rubbing some of the bruises on her arms. The misunderstanding got a lot of people hurt and likely a lot of property damage for the owner of this establishment. However, the bartender did brought up some surprising news. The town appears to have been terrorized by human marauders, with the town being without a sheriff.

She exchanged glances with the others of the group. The town must be desperate that they’re willing to enlist a newcomer to be sheriff. Saeyeon thought about the possibility of her being a sheriff. No, she decided, too much responsibility that would require her to remain in this town and she’d prefer trying to leave this place as soon as possible.

However, there is the question of money and weapons. Currently, she has neither. Being a deputy, even temporarily, would likely give her some funds and weapons, though the weapons would probably be temporary. Maybe they’ll let her keep any weapons she picked up from the marauders. It will be a chance she would have to take.

“I have military experience,” she said. “I’d be willing to help out for now, at least as a deputy.” Maybe her and the others’ good works in this adventure would clear them of any bills for the property damages they have caused.

She followed Castleton and Deputy Tarquin out down the street.

Smoke and Steel

Edwin Aeorouant

The leading officers of the Quinian force, Prince Edwin, Loan, and a couple of other men, gave their curtseys to the greeting party. Edwin studied Andronika for a bit. She was certainly beautiful up close. Her ferocity in leading her forces at Trefgodwig certainly left an impresrsion on the King’s forces when they relieved the city.

He could see why his brother felt it was advantageous to push for a marriage pact with the Hasikos lady. Especially if the Whites’ position prove to be far better than earlier.

“Lady Andronika, Colonel Vassos,” the Prince greeted, giving a bow himself and a smile. “The men of the Wolf King come ready for battle. The trifecta of the White Regiment, the Wolf Detachment, and the Western Army should be able to handle whatever Voron the Younger throws at us.”

“Our victory should be assured,” Loan said. “We do have the Dawnbringer with us. The Divine Father wills it.”

“My army is under your command in this upcoming battle,” Prince Edwin offers to Andronika and Vassos. “We come prepared to fight for the White Wyvern and her retainers.”

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

Wade leaned back a bit in surprise when a blue portal manifested from Lucas’s gibberish. What was in that notebook of Harry Coswall, he wondered, staring at the blue light with his mouth slightly open in amazement. They’re dealing with some kind of advanced technology not yet known to the wider public or some esoteric magic.

He was gonna excise caution about entering the portal but Lucas already went through. Wade glanced at the others and then to the glowing blue portal.

“Guess I’m going through,” he thought as he stepped through the portal and into the other side. He patted all over himself with his left hand. Nothing seems to be altered or removed. His rifle is still slung and his pistol still holstered. Wade sighed in relief. At least he’s not just smoldering bones for now.

Now that his bag checks were also completed he glanced at the background of the other room. His eyes focused on the murals. Wade whistled as he took a closer look. He got out his phone and snapped some photos of the wall painting and then withdraw the phone.

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

With the approval from Lucas and the others, Wade got out his lighter and rolled the spark wheel down into the ignition button quickly until a small flame blossomed. He then lighted the torch that Jack gave him and used that torch to light the other torches on the wall.

The room was soon dimly lit by the small flames. Satisfied with being able to see much more of the interior, Wade slipped his lighter into his pocket.

“Torches, get your torches over here,” he announced for the others in the group to grab a hold of and do their own part in lighting up the rooms.

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

"Indeed," Wade said to Jack. "I have a satellite phone that we could use to call someone for help but if we somehow ended up in the center of the Earth like in the Vernes book, I don't know if that would be helpful." Jack's concern is valid. Wade has packed plenty of supplies for the trip and as experienced as the ex-Marine is in wilderness survival, the Amazon isn't exactly familiar territory for him and likely the others. If they're not careful, they would just be another statistics in those lost in the jungle.

After some time was spent, an excited Lucas called out of a temple, causing Wade to follow closely. This was new development in the search for the lost expedition, one step closer in finding Cooper and the others. Wade turned on his flashlight and observed the interior statues and symbols. He took out his phone and, with the flash turned off, snapped a couple of photos of the interior, including the symbols on the walls and the statues.

"I got a lighter, think I should light the torches on the walls or should we continue to use our flashlights?" he asked Lucas as he opened his pack for the lighter.

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

"Stories huh?" Wade rubbed his chin after he placed the bug spray container back on his survival pack.

"One of my buddies, Jeff, the one who gave me a spare satellite phone," Wade began, taking out the phone from his pocket. "Swore that his old apartment was haunted until he punched the ghost haunting him.

"Years back when he moved to a new place, he heard from a neighbor that the prior tenant left in a hurry because of 'unexplainable' things happening in that apartment after some old man committed suicide years ago," he continued. "Now Jeff was a skeptic when it comes to the paranormal so he naturally dismissed the rumors. Until the day when he claimed to have experienced events like lights flickering, faint voices in his earplugs, his dog Ralphie staring at random places, the classical paranormal tropes."

Wade took a swig from his water and then continued on the story.

"Naturally, he tries to explain away all the events; earplugs being Bluetooth sets picking up signal somewhere, the lease being pretty cheap so the quality of the walls and lights not the best, and dogs are known to stare into empty spaces. But they were constant and he begins to believe that his apartment may actually be haunted. During that episode, the boys and I saw that he didn't get enough sleep due to that. He finally got a priest to bless his apartment one day with holy water and then after the priest left, Jeff punched the wall."

"He shouted and I quote, 'If any of you ghost fucks are going to haunt my place, then cover your share of the rent or get out.' and then made loud noises throughout the night until his landlord came over and tell him to shut up due to noise complaints," Wade added "Evidently, Jeff said that the paranormal activities stopped happening afterwards but he wasn't sure if it was thanks to the priest blessing his apartment or him punching a ghost or a combination. But he's been a believer of the paranormal ever since and still has a vial of holy water just in case."

Smoke and Steel

An army of 4,000 marched from Ebengrenzstadt to Elvesland. Two kinds of standards were held up proudly by the men; those with white wyverns to represent Andronika's regiment and those featuring wolves for the Carnelfennian royal detachment.

Loan and Prince Edwin rode their horses at the front of the line of troops. Loan knows that the White Army is small in comparison to the other forces. From the rumors he heard, the forces of the White Wyvern are among the smallest in this war of five claimants, even with support from the King. The Western forces will be the bigger army in this alliance against the Easterners. He hopes however that despite the small size, the Whites will fight with distinction that could encourage more supporters to the cause. They did held out against Voron's forces at Trefgodwig before. Will they be able to recreate their success as before?

The Whites soon approached the military camps near Elvesland, where Andronika's entourage should be located. It is time to greet Lady Andronika and the gracious hosts of the Western Empire.

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

"I came from Texas where it's hot and humid for most of the year and I'm still not used to this," Wade replied. He patted on his survival pack. "I don't anyone, no matter what they pack or where they've been before, could prepare for a trip to the Amazon.

"Though I did came prepared and I'm doing alright right now," he added. "I hope the group before came in prepared."

He held out his bottle of bug repellent. "Still plenty of where that came from, if you want to protect yourself from the bugs for a few hours," Wade offered.

Lost World: The Lost Expedition

Wade Sim

While Wade is accustomed to hiking through the wilderness since as a child, he really hates the humidity and the wetness. At least the trees and the breeze provided some protection from the sun. He sprayed more of the bug repellent spray on his arms and face, really any part of the body that is exposed to the damn bugs. After rubbing the spray on his skin, he wiped any excess spray from his hand onto his pants. According to Lucas, the expedition leader, they're getting closer to Coswall's last known location. He hopes that the map that Lucas has leads them to some kind of structure that provides some refuge.

Wade grabbed his gray thermos from his survival pack and took a swig of water for some hydration. He thought of the satellite phone that Jeff gave him for regular communications with his friend. If the kook Coswall did find something that is a scientific breakthrough and lead to the group's disappearance, like finding a hollow earth with dinosaurs, would the satellite phone do anything to reach word out to Jeff and the others? He read the Jules Verne novel and seen the Brendan Frasier movie. Guess all they could rely on would be their own tools and weapons if they're in a similar trouble.

Wade's train of thought was interrupted by Lucas's grunt as the 20 year old tripped over some roots and landed on his stomach. Wade, rushed forward.

"You okay, kid?" he asked to Lucas as he got up. "Any scratches?"

Graveyard Orbit

Saeyeon Kim

A bottle flew towards Saeyeon and she ducked just in time to see it bounce off the head of a black haired dhasath man charging at her, causing the dhasath to fall down with a loud thud. That guy let out a groan. Saeyeon darted her eyes to be on the lookout for any flying bottles while positioning the pool cue like a spear, trying to make quick jabs at the bigger dhasath man trying to get close.

"Can't we talk this out like civilized folks?" she said, dodging a right then left hook punch from the big dhasath which she countered with a whack of the pool cue to his side. Unfortunately, the dhasath man was quick and grabbed the cue and with his strength, pulled the cue away from her.

"Human bitch," The dhasath growled, now having a weapon.

"Oh dear," she thought, reaching back to the pool table for anything she could pick up. Her right hand picked up something round, like a ball, and she quickly threw it at the big guy. A red and white pool ball emerged and bounced harmlessly off his chest. Now he is furious and swung the cue at her. Saeyeon quickly ducked just in time to hear a whoosh over her head and then with her strength, kicked the dhasath's left shin. This seems to work as the big guy dropped the cue to grab hold of his right shin in pain. Saeyeon stood back up and then pushed him away with a kick to the chest, causing him to stumble back and trip on the pool ball on the floor.

The other dhasath who was hit by the bottle was able to get up while holding the neck of the bottle, likely having the intention to swing it at Saeyeon. Saeyeon already grabbed a pool ball from the table and threw it at the smaller dhasath's head, who instinctively raised both of his arms to protect his face while the ball missed. Saeyeon then grabbed another pool cue from the table and made a quick thrust on the dhasath's belly. He dropped the bottle and held his belly while groaning.