The Oddestsey II: Return to Odd

The fish rolls its eyes....
I wont count that as a question as I cant answer it to guild standards...

I would *guess* that the higher power is almost certainly the shadow collective - its basically just the combined power of all the shadows which somehow amounts to one being. No one knows much about the shadows at all really, I mean they appeared not long after all the Lords fell a thousand years ago this week..... and they seem to be energy vampires.... but there is very little we know for certain about them in our psychic fishipedia, what with considering that they make more than half the world almost uninhabitable at any one time... I mean Im quite impressed you guys are out here at all what with how many there are in these woods at night...

alternative question 2: tell us what benefits might we get from entering the village ahead, especially ones we might overlook?

The fish seems quite happy,

Oohh, I can do this one, thats easy.... well quests! Im sure you could get loads of quests, you adventurey types love quests right? Hmmmm.... and shops to buy stuff, and food..... hmmm... food is always good.... hmmmm.... it seems there is someone there too who would join you in wherever you go.... hmm.... well.... errr.... oh and be sure to show that dodecahedron to a mage - he can show you some more functions.... and errr.... there is a diamond ring lost behind a rock near the entrance, and the owner will give you a reward for it.... the owner is the banshee by the way hmmm..... also there is knowledge in there.... I dont know what exactly but apparenly two of you have been here before, and that knowledge may interest them in how the world has changed... Oh and ask after Randall Steel.... hes not there, but looking for him will put you on the way to discovery

The fish has an intense look of concentration on its face for a moment...

Errr... is that enough? Oh and apparently the spiced pork is particularly delicious, what with it being the Doomfall festival and all

Chapter 6

Those interested proceeded over to the presentation, which turns out to be a powerpoint presentation on an ancient desktop pc running windows 95. The presentation seems to have been hastily amended today to update it, there are numberous typos in the bits that reference current events. In there already is a lean looking elven woman with two rapiers who the party presume to be the other fallen.

The presentation runs down the basics of the world:

- This universe forms what is essentially comparable to a plug hole cover - when things fall out of other universes they don€™t cease to exist but are instead €˜caught€™ by this world. This means that this universe contains things that have fallen from every other universe, ranging from a single bacteria in some cases, to entire galaxies. This world is an alternate earth that fell through, though no one seems to know exactly from where, and its population is comprised of all manner of species from any number of different earths is a strange very multicultural melting pot.
- The world used to be run by a number of €˜Lords€™ beings of massive power who acted as kings, though their individual temperament varied greatly. However, a thousand years ago this year they vanished in varied fashions. Some seemed to die of illness, others went down in spectacular battles against foes, although no one can remember who exactly those foes where.
- There are rumours of the most powerful Lord still living, though his floating castle crashed into the mountains not 20 miles from here, but no body was ever found as with the other lords. If he still lives he is well hidden.
- Today is exactly one thousand years to the day since the castle crashed, hence the Doomfall festival - after the lord a €˜Lord Doomforall€™ - a name with which two of the party are all too familiar.
- Since the lords where broken the shadows emerged. No one knows exactly where they came from, although some seem to be vaguely human, some are utterly alien. They seem to be guided by some greater consciousness but are all individually mad. Not directed but more herded. They make anywhere in the dark impossible to inhabit without them being taken unless you are a race that naturally emits lights.
- They attack by swarming over a foe, leaving a dark ectoplasmic residue. No one knows exactly where they are taken. People will occasionally return from this, but almost inevitably they are different than before and shortly disappear again, never to be seen again.
- The northern reaches of the world are only inhabited much in the summer, and in underground (and magically protected) cities like this or floating cities that roam around.
- There is a prophecy that the shadows will only leave when someone who was once one of the Lords returns to his citadel.

The Octopus looks between those present - and then addresses them.
€˜I totally forgot - this woman is named Ferri, and she€™s just as new here as you. Can I suggest that she tags along with you lot, if you are all together you can help each other adapt.

Ferrienna joined the party

Dirge and Cerberus check out the town. This world makes a welcome change from slaying zombie animals and combatting Aliens. For now.

OK so the ecto-blob I found earlier is where Sucker used to be.

Im going to go around gathering intelligence on whether these shadows have any weaknesses apart from light and if anyones ever managed to kill them.

Perry will remind the Baron that he too has 3 questions left to ask the golden fish :proud:

Baron Update:

- Ask the fish where one can find more technological devices, ones of importance with the ability to get us home. If we can fall here, Im damn sure we can fall back...

damn straight baron. Brutus asks the Baron to ask fish boy if he has ever seen the floating city and if the lord is still alive. brutus strolls over to the food willing to stuff his face yet again.

Right, Im sure you dont need me to answer in roleplay style for all this questioning, so its list time:

Frank:
- People think they have killed shadows, but the numbers of them make others unsure of whether they just regenerate later. They arent vulnerable to physical damage but any kind of energy attack which produces light (lasers, fire, electricity, glowing radiation etc) seem to be able to harm them. Energy based magic is particularly effective, but use of necromancy draws them like frenzied sharks, regardless of light. The only surviving necromancers live in the sky cities. Even using it here would make them tunnel through the rock to get to it.

Baron
- Due to the nature of technology falling into this world, it is mostly luck of the draw as to where it appears, though usually a few A.A.E (above average earth) pieces of technology can generally be found anywhere. The best bet for really advanced things are some of the really high tech cities. The nearest is 40 miles to the south and is refeered to as Mechus - it is build inside the vast corpse of a gigantic robotic dinosaur like thing. The next nearest is Databank - a single spire of mixed alien technologies 75 miles to the west. Though the fish quickly inputs data on several other significant ones into the PDA that can be accessed if wanted later.

Dirge
- Without any particular purpose, Dirge finds himself in the pawn shop. The whole thign is filled with everything imaginable, there are extensive weapons, armour, magic, technology sections, as well as books, jewellry, clothes amoung others. You cant see the owner immediatly but you are sure if you looked about a bit you could find him.