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