((OP is not mine.))

>*Unn*...
You wake up, not knowing there you are. You find yourself in a small wooded hut, obviously not up in the Sky Nodes. The clothes that you crashed in are still on your body, caked in mud. You seem to have lost your spectacles, making your vision blurry, but you have spares in the Speeder.

You look around to see that it is simply decorated, with a single table, two chairs, a single window, and the bed that you are sleeping in, all made from wood. That is when you notice a girl next to you, latching on to you. She looked shorter than you, with a thin/lean build and a tanned complexion. Her short, black hair looked like it spent much time blown around in the wind instead of the usual long, combed hair that you are used to seeing up in the Nodes. You note that she is only wearing a breast-band and a skirt. You assume she is wearing undergarments. You do not know what you should do.

>>30686

Stroke her hair gently to wake her up and ask if she is your saviour.

You stroke her hair gently, trying to wake her up. She stirs and opens her eyes. They are strikingly green.

>Good day, God of the Sky.
What? Why would she think that you are a god? You are too stunned to say anything. Another person comes in, an old man dressed in many ceremonial robes.

>Welcome to our humble village, God of the Sky. It has been many years since any of your kind has landed here. I am Garram, Elder of this humble Village. You must have heard our prayers and came to us in your ball of fire. We have been plagued with a terrible calamity, a drought that has lasted for many seasons. You must do something to help us, please...

They seem to think that you are a god that came from the Sky. It seems that they are pinning their hopes on you as well. Your thoughts go to the invention that you would have presented to your Professor, if you had not crashed. You feel around in your pockets, pulling out a small disk with two dials on each side. It is a Rain Disk, an invention that you created in order to enhance cloud and rain production to produce more crops in the Farm Nodes. You wonder if it would help.

The Rain Disk works by drawing in moisture from the surrounding air, then condensing it into rain. The air down here might be too dry for it to be of much use.

>What is you name, God of the Sky? So that we may address you properly.
That was the girl speaking, still clinging on to you. Your Node upbringing tells you to try to preserve her dignity, but you are not sure what is accepted down in the Forest Lands.

((I gotta go...Please post and Stay tuned...))

Tilt your head in small gesture of acknowledgement, tell her your name and-

>Elder

Wat. Ermm, and explain that you'll do what you can to help.

>I-I shall do what I can, but I might not be able to completely fix your problem.
>Oh, that is no problem at all, Great One...Please show us your magic and rescue us from certain disaster! You have no need to infringe upon us as well, as you are our God. You may keep this hut to live in, and you are to be treated as one of us. Just ask and we shall bring you what you wish, if it is within our power!
Well, that is pretty convenient. You think about asking them to bring the wreckage of your Steam Speeder to you, to assess the damage. It will be your only way back to the Nodes. you also are wondering why there is a girl in the bed with you. She is not bothering you, but it is strange. You also wonder where exactly is this place. You know it is in the Great Forest, a much different world than the Node Cities, but you wonder where exactly.

((Wait...Is Elder your name or is it something else?))

>>30829

Ask about your broken speeder first, then inquire about why she's in bed with you, finally check with her exactly where you are.

>May you gather the pieces of a broken machine? It should have landed near me when it-
>Oh, YES! The Comet! Of course, we shall take a team of our strongest men to bring it here!
The Elder leaves you alone with the girl.

>Umm...Why are you sleeping in the same bed as me?
>It is because I am your wife! The village offered me to the Gods of the Sky and you answered, Silly~! They decorated me and offered me to the Gods, and we saw the comet that brought you here. It was a sign that you were meant to help us!
She looks at you with those clear, green eyes and smiles. It tugs something in your heart, but you don't know what. She much more...open than what you are used to.

>>30951
You gotta nip this thing in the bud or it'll keep building up until it really bites you in the ass.

Explain to her that you aren't a deity but one of the Gods of the Sky certainly could have arranged your for your arrival and that you'll do everything in your power to aid them.

Anything less will probably make them pissed off at you, and it'll buy you time to find a way out of there. Plus who knows, you might get some good karma for doing a good deed.

>That's what the other gods claimed in the stories~. They all landed from a fiery comet from the sky, and most claim that they were not gods. Only rarely one admits the truth and those end in tragedy...You are not a Demon, are you? I hope not, because you seem kind...I shall give my life to you~!
Well...They seemed dead set on the idea that you are a god. It doesn't seem to be going away soon, especially since the people have had others that came from the Node before. You vaguely remember some of their names and how they died...A spear through every orifice in your body does not sound comfortable.

You do see the logic in nipping this relationship in the bud. You do not age as quickly as the natives do. You know that for every 200 of their years, you age by one year.

When you think about it, it seems logical that they would think you as a god. The people who live in the Nodes such as yourself have complete mastery over technology while the Natives still need to create with wood. You live longer, are more advanced, and even live in the sky...But you know you need to nip this in the bud.

The girl shifts to get off the bed.
>Please, allow me to guide you through my village, teehee~!
She is very...Bubbly, as you have noted before. It is quite disarming for you...
It would not hurt to walk around. You need to get a good idea of how well the Rain Disk will work anyway.

>>30971
To a primitive race, sufficiently advanced technology will be indistinguishable from magic. Let them call you a god, just make sure to correct them any time they assign you a power you don't possess (technologically or otherwise).

As for the relationship... if you figure out some way to get back, maybe you can get find a way to increase Wife's lifespan.

Speaking of which, ask her what her name is.

>>30996

>I am Garram, Elder of this humble Village.

Thumbs up to your suggestion though, lets have a village tour in the meantime.

>>31000
That's the old guy who left to have people fetch the "Comet."

Not the girl.

>>31002

Ohgod brains not working.

>Teehee~! My name is Nixia, grand-daughter of the Elder Garram~!
She drags you out of the bed and outside into the village. You are amazed with how the village looks. Your hut is on the top of a large hill, overlooking the whole village. The village sat in a large clearing, surrounded by trees interconnected by vines except for a single, large mountain face. Everywhere is covered by grass, flowers and all sorts of other plants. People are actually socializing...There's even a bazaar...It's not like anything back in the Nodes...Everything up there is mostly made of metal. There is no need to talk when not necessary either. You never met anyone outside your field of study, nor outside your Node Area that you did not need to meet.

((I gotta go to sleep now...Please stay tuned...))

>Come on God of the Sky~! Follow me~!
Nixia drags you down a path towards the village. Every person you pass by gathers around you, crowding the way. It gets quite difficult when the whole village is clamoring around you to try to touch you.

>They all want to touch the God who Came From the Sky~!
Nixia seems to be enjoying all the attention that you are getting...
---
The search party comes back with your Steam Speeder, dragging in each piece. The speeder seemed to be heavier than they initially thought.

((Sorry if it seems to be really cut up...I gotta go...Please Stay tuned...))

>Great God of the Sky! We have returned with your Flaming Comet! Please, do what you must to end this drought!
You observe your surroundings, taking note on the humidity and temperature. It's pretty dry, you are not sure if the Rain Disk will work or not, but there IS some stored moisture in it from your test run. It may be enough, but you may have to find a stream to absorb water. Even a puddle would do.

But first you check your Steam Speeder. It is understandably wrecked. You do not think it would be easily repaired without making some parts from scratch, not something easily done in a society that created houses out of wood. All of the supplies you keep in the storage area under the seat are there. You place your replacement spectacles over your silver eyes, instantly clearing your vision. You even find a clean change of clothes and a pack. It seems that your tendency to to be overly prepared payed off.

You are presented with several options. You already decided to help the Natives to your fullest extent. What you need to decide is whether to resign yourself to living in the Forest Zone and giving up hope of ever going back to your home or to try to repair the Steam Speeder, not a small task. There is also the problem with Nixia. She seems quite taken with you, but you are not sure of her true feelings. It is simple to make her live just as long as you live, but her family will age normally, dying long before her. The lives of these Natives are just a blink of your eyes. You could, if you decided, make yourself as mortal as they are.

You also wonder why your friend caused you to rash into the Forest. Competition IS stiff, as the accepted invention will be distributed to every friendly Node, but you would have gladly given up the grant for him. He knew that as well, since the two of you grew up together, something extremely unusual in the Nodes.

>>31191
Hmm... that is quite the predicament. Don't make any rash decisions about immortality or mortality yet. There's no rush, and we can't force anything on Nixia. She needs to fully understand and accept before we do anything.

Let's focus on addressing this drought problem first. How exactly does the rain disk work? I imagine it can only put out the same amount of water it takes in, meaning that we have to address the overall dryness.

How about creating a tower out of wood to lift the rain disk up high enough to reach a more humid atmospheric layer? Does that seem plausible?

Also, we might want to find out why there's a drought and see if we can address the root.

You try to remember how the Rain Disk worked. The instructions come easily to you as you spent three weeks memorizing your whole speech.

The Rain Disk works by absorbing the surrounding moisture from the Air and any sources of water. It converts the water into data, being able to store enough water to create a lake. You spin the dials to the correct settings, then throw the disk into the air. It condenses the moisture into a rain clouds, and the disk returns to the one who threw it. The intensity of the rain depends on how you set the dials. You then can move the cloud using the disk. With some fiddling with the dials, you found out that you can make a cloud dense enough to stand on, allowing you to ride on a cloud.

Building a tower of wood to reach higher moisture...Sounds plausible, but it may take a while and you aren't sure if the wood would catch fire from the dryness and heat. It may not look like it, but you are sweating under your heavy flying clothes.

>How long has the drought lasted? Perhaps I can address the problem directly.
>It has gone on for many seasons, we feared that the Gods of the Sky punished us for some transgression, but we discovered that a great Demon Creature has blocked the Waterfall and is also preventing rain from coming in from the clouds. We pleaded day and night for you to come, and now you will make things all whole again Edgar, God of Rain!
So it seems that there is something blocking their source of water, something that seems dangerous. You do not really have any weapons, since you avoided Weapons Development as a Focus of Study. The only things you have that may be of use offensively are your Scalpels, Small Knives, and the Rain Disk. You WOULD prefer not to kill anything you do not need to.

The creature sounds like an animal from the Nodes, perhaps the Cloud Serpent. It is known as a crop pest since it absorbs all moisture it touches and can prevent rain if it grows to its full length. The best known solution is to throw them off the Nodes and onto the Forest below, since they can not handle the pressure drop. You may have a new species on your hands.You also remember that they are Omnivores that prefer meat when they can get it.

((Gotta go...Please Stay tuned...))

You wonder if you should fight it. There might be another way to get rid of it...

((I gotta go...Please stay tuned...))

>>31223
Well, we need to see it first. I doubt that a scalpel or knife will help... if it could have been taken out with primitive weapons I'm sure the natives would have done it already.

We need to be sure of what it is and then try to figure out how it can be killed and what steps we can take to see that happen.

>May you lead me to the Demonic Creature? I would like to see if I am able to act against it.
>Of course, of course! It takes a God to defeat a Demon, of course! Nixia, please show the God of the Sky where the Demon Creature is.
>Teehee~! Okay!
Nixia drangs you up another path, leading towards the top of the stone face. It's extremely steep, and the walk is long. You did not have to walk this much back at the Nodes. By the time you reach the top, you are trying to catch your breath while Nixia literally runs circles around you.
>Over there! That is where the creature resides.
You can just barely see where she was pointing at. It looks like a round indent on the ground. There are many cracks in the dirt surrounding it. There is a cave in the wall. you also see the Demonic Creature. It looks serpentine, but not like a Cloud Snake. It is extremely dark-colored, with a scarlet underbelly. It's golden eyes survey its area and you hope it does not see you. When it opens its mouth you can see four pointed fangs dripping some sort of liquid. It does not look friendly.
>What are you going to do God of the Sky?
You currently have no clue. You do not recognize the creature. It looks too dangerous to fight up close. Perhaps you can condense the cloud into a floating bludgeon, but you do not know how well it would work against a creature that seems to be able to suck up moisture.

((I gotta go...Please Stay tuned...))

Hmm... unknown creature, dripping fangs, absorbs water... it's probably a grass/poison type. Which means we can beat it with psychic, fire, or ice.

Do you happen to know how to procure calcium oxide or calcium phosphide? How about potassium nitrate, or even crude oil?

Ask Nixia if the villagers have already taken steps against the demon, and if so to what effect.

Hmm...Since one of your focuses of study is in natural sciences you are pretty confident that you will be able to find Calcium Oxide, Calcium Phosphate, and Potassium Nitrate. Since most of the machines are steam-powered back in the Nodes, you have no use in learning to identify Crude Oil.

>Has the village taken any sort of measures to get rid of the Demonic Creature?
>Measures? We have been praying to the Gods to send us help, and you came. Some of the men tried to fight the Demonic Creature, but only a God can kill a Demon.

You look closely at one of the creature's "fangs" to see that one of them is a blade that seems to be resisting the dripping liquid. You wonder if you can get it, but you then remember that you do not have any fighting prowess at all.

>>31420
The only thing I can think of is making a firebomb. A simple molotov cocktail (the more the better) would provide a safe delivery system, saltpeter would cause quite the large explosion, then... I'm hoping... that this thing has high water levels in its body which will cause the quicklime and calcium phosphide to ignite brilliantly. This also lets you perform 'alchemy' for the villagers and grant them your 'magical artifacts' (make sure to get their help in fighting the creature), and you can even teach them how to make the firebombs, thus granting them 'divine knowledge'... or something like that.

It should... hopefully, fix their drought problem, prove your divinity (thus saving your life) and let you focus on getting back to your personal concerns.

>>31433

Explosives? You learned how to make one such as that in your lessons, but you did not pay much attention as you usually try to avoid combat situations. You do remember there being a lesson book in your storage compartment, and you have SOME skill in "Alchemy".

>Nixia.
>Yes Edgar, God of the Rain?
>I...need to impart some Divine knowledge to the village in order to be able to defeat the Demonic Creature. Please, may you lead me back?
>It shall be my honor, Teehee~!

You walk the grueling path back to the village, ready to impart your knowledge. Luckily, you spot several quarries that may hold the materials that you need. When returning to the village and imparting your knowledge, the villagers become impressed. The get to work right away, following your instructions exactly. You worry about what sort of irreversible damage that you have imparted on the Natives.

Once finished with creating and testing the firebombs, you ask several villagers to help you fight the creature. None of them refuse.

Okay, you need a plan of action first. Well, a change of clothes first, but then a plan of action. What should the Villagers do?

((I gotta go to sleep soon...Please stay tuned...Also, is Edgar an alright name? I asked earlier, and Elder was an answer. i wasn't sure, so i chose something sounding close to Elder.))

>>31439
Edgar... is a terrible name, suitable only for butlers, really. And SZ never said his name was Elder, he said "tell her your name," assuming that the character already had a name, and then was contemplating the title. I vote for... Tabot.

Do you need sleep or food? You could announce the need for a "ceremonial meditation" or a "ritual meal of preparation" first. Say that it's to purify the minds and spirits of the warriors.


Oh... and... make sure to announce that although you're a deity, you're a minor deity, and the victory will depend on the faith of the warriors that assist you. Since the demon is great, your success is not assured... you haven't walked this earth for very long... you know, stuff to hedge your bets in case the initial try goes horribly, horribly wrong.

You don't really need to eat or sleep...No one up in the Nodes do. It gets in the way of research and advancement. You will, however, take a moment's rest in order to see if you can prepare something...But what?

>People of the Village, I am but a minor deity. I have seen the true power of the Demon, and I know that i will not be able to defeat it myself.
The villagers look put out, but you continue.
>However, I need the belief of everyone to become powerful. Please, believe in us all, and my will shall guide you to victory against this demon!
The villagers cheer, obviously happy.
>All Hail the Sky God Tabot!

Hmm...You could always check your storage space to see if there's anything special in there...

>>31534
Ooh, good thinking. Some special brownies might take the edge off of what's in store.

To the storage space!

Also, that was a terrible job of hedging your bets... but that's alright. Motivation is good too. We're still going to need some sort of battle plan. Maybe have a fast runner lead it into an ambush, or a trap to make it eat something explosive maybe.

>>31539

Special Brownies? What for? You do not need anything like that. You perform optimally without rest.

A plan...Well, it must be pretty fast, as it caught the men that tried to kill it previously. Perhaps you could try to lead it into an ambush with your cloud? It CAN go pretty fast when needed, but it's also made up of moisture. You are not sure how much is left, or how long it lasts...

>>31541
Wait, was there anything in the storage place or not?

>>31550
((Oh, sorry about that...))

You check your storage space for something useful...You find a special kind of Fire Starter that gets flames instantly hot enough to boil water. You modified it to have almost unlimited uses. You think it can set off fuses, but it might burn too fast...

>Hm? What is that device you are holding, God of the Sky? Some sort of Godly Weapon?

>>31652
"Actually no. Think of it as a... magical device. It can create fire instantly."

The high flame problem can be overcome by creating slow-burning, longer fuses. Just need strips of fabric to act as a wick.

Fashion long wicks for all firebombs and brief all the warriors on the plan. With the uncertainty of how long the water disk can keep up a cloud, we can't really rely on that. Hmm... what about that cave? Is that where the serpent sleeps at night? Ask Nixia, and if so, the plan is to lure it to the cave entrance with a cloud of water and immediately firebomb it out of existence.

If not... we'll have to come up with something else. Maybe something involving camouflage to let the ambush team get closer and require less from the rain disk.

((Gah...I gotta sleep now...And i will be away for about four days...Please Stay tuned and sorry for not posting...I actually need to think it over a bit more...I'm so nervous, I'm going to be GMing for the first time in real life...))

>Ohhh...magical Fire...
She does not seem to really understand, but you think she has some sort of idea.
>Sleep? Hmm...We do not really see the Serpent in the night time. We assume it uses the cave as its resting place. We can not get close enough to make sure...
So it might not sleep in the cave, but right now it's your best bet. You gather the warriors and tell them your plan.

>Hmm...You know, your plan seems extremely simple...I had expected something more...complicated or some sort of show of your godly force...No offense meant...
The one speaking was someone who looked like the leader of the Warriors. He looked pretty muscular and tan with several tattoos covering his arms, which you assume denote his rank. He is also holding a sharp-looking spear.

((My four days turned into tonight and tomorrow... I also gotta sleep soon...Please Stay tuned...))

>>32222
((Hey, great to have you back early =] ))

"'Godly force' manifests as more than just sparkling glows and flashy light shows. My power lies in my intellect, my knowledge of divine secrets. I understand the inner mechanisms of the workings of the world, and am here to help you use them to your advantage."

"Besides, the majority of my capabilities were stripped away from me with the passage into this land from the one above. Were we back in my abode, I might be able to entertain your every whim and fancy with fantastical displays. But while I am here, this will have to do. Do not worry though, this demon is a simple beast. We need not waste complex designs on such simple foes. The true beauty of this plan is its simplicity in form and efficiency in function."

>Hnn...
He does not seem satisfied with that explanation, but he does not call you on it. He soon motions for the warriors to do their meditations before the ambush. You hope that he does not try to go against the plan...Or at least deviate from it too much.

The group, Nixia, and you head back to where the Serpent was. You have armed them to the teeth with all the firebombs that you can make, given how everything needed to be extracted as quickly as possible. Soon you all arrive within throwing distance, and you create a cloud substantial enough to be seen but will not be blown away by the wind. Then, with the bait set, you all wait for the Serpent to appear at the entrance of the cave.

You first see its flickering tongue come out of the cave, trying to reach the cloud. You maneuver it further towards you, hoping that it does not become absorbed. You see it's head move out of the cave, trying to snatch the cloud. You can see the cloud getting more faint, but you need it to get closer. The cloud moves closer to the Warriors, attracting the Giant Serpent.

>Now!
You light the firebombs with the Fire Starter, then have the Warriors pelt the creature relentlessly. The explosives whip up a literal wall of smoke, obstructing your view. You tell the warriors to stop and to wait for the smoke to clear.

Once it clears, you see the Serpent's head, battered and bruised. It is also disconnected from the rest of the body. It is quite dead.

>YES!
The warriors cheer, all the while going to take the full corpse of the snake back with them. You are not sure it is such a good idea, but it does not seem like it will be able to harm them. Besides, you want to take a look at what happened to the Serpent to have it develop this way. You can also pull the sword out of the snake's mouth.

((I gotta go...))

>>32435
Success! I give Nixia a big hug and then make sure to check that the corpse is dead. No regenerating heads nonsense. Plus examining it to determine what exactly it is, if it evolved from something else, etc.

If everything checks out, then it looks like they have food for a while, and hopefully the rain will come back.

Hmm... I need to find that head warrior now and politely thank him for "not letting his lack of faith get in the way of his service."

Nixia hugs back tightly, then kisses you before running off to tell the Villagers the news. You are slightly surprised, but you recover quickly.

You look more closely at the head of the snake and determine that it will not regenerate, but poison still seems to drip from its fangs. You are not exactly sure what it might be, but it seems like a ground-dwelling species of Cloud Snake. Your guess might be completely wrong, but it is the only thing you can think of without all of your equipment back on the Nodes.

You look for the Head Warrior.
>I thank you for leading your warriors despite your lack of faith. Without your leadership, I would not have been able to rid you of this Monster.
>Hrmm...I never had a lack of faith. I doubted your power and the things that you are able to do. The stories write about how when the gods wage war, the skies thunder and day turns to night in an instant. The ones that end up on our soil created arrows that kill twenty in a single shot, animals that move without tiring, and cures to every disease. Your Divine knowledge is inferior compared to the stories.

((I gotta sleep now...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>32589
What an insufferable ass. I just helped him fix his drought problem and he's whining about how the exaggerated stories are better?! Alright, time to put this in terms he can understand.

"Who sleeps better? The farmer after a productive day's work, or the slackard after a day of lounging? Even if I could have, I would not have simply snapped my fingers and removed the monster. Your people would not have learned anything. By getting them directly involved, I'm helping your people learn how to take care of their problems, keeping them from growing complacent. Give a man a fish and he won't go hungry for the rest of the day. Teach a man to fish and he won't go hungry for the rest of his life."

I hope he gets it. Either way, I start heading back to the village as well.

>>32602

Fucking right. These people can't keep relying on "Gods" to save them all the time.

>>32602

You head back to the village, not caring what the Head Warrior thinks of your words. You can see that the wreckage of your Steam Speeder has disappeared from the center of the Village.

>I had the Warriors move your comet to your home, Oh Great Sky God Tabot...
The Elder thumps his stick onto the ground.
>We thank you for your help in ridding us of the Demonic Creature! We are forever grateful and indebted to you! Tonight, we shall hold a FEAST!!!
They are REALLY happy about the death of the Serpent, but should they really be saving up their food. You are not really sure if you can make enough rain with your disk.

((I gotta go...Please Stay tuned.))

>>32985
There's a lot of reasons to let them have their feast:
They have a giant carcass they need to eat before it goes bad, as their food storage probably isn't all that great.
A feast would raise the spirits of the whole town and symbolize an end to the period of suffering.
It's a good way to recognize and reward the efforts of the warriors.
If you turn it down you might seem ungrateful/arrogant and offend them.

Besides, now that the immediate concern is taken care of, we can see if the drought ends, and if it doesn't, we can get to work on that tower for the rain disk.

>>33001

Hmm...That IS true...Perhaps you should just get back to your hut and work on your Steam Speeder. It sounds like a good idea to do so...There's not much you can do about the weather, contrary to what the village thinks.

>>33079
Nah, I can work on the Steam Speeder tomorrow. There's a party tonight and besides, I promised I'd figure out what to do about this whole married situation when I had time. Now that the crisis is over, I think it's time to try to figure that out. Because it definitely won't be time once I get my Steam Speeder fixed and I'm ready to go.

The first thing I want to do is take Nixia back to our hut and have a good long chat with her.

"Nixia, I need you to listen to something that may be hard to hear, but you have to try to understand. I've helped your people get rid of the monster that plagued your village, so please keep that in mind when I tell you... that I am not a god. I'm no demon, you can be certain of that, but I am no god either. The world is not so clear cut between divinity and mundanity. The only "powers" I have come from what I know. I know the secret of making fire in a jar, so I shared it with you. If knowing that makes me like a god, then your whole village just grew closer to godhood. I know many advanced things your people haven't discovered yet... but I'm still a human just like you."

"Have I not eyes like you?" I reach a hand out and caress her face lightly, then take hold of her wrist with one hand to lift her arm up. "Have I not hands?" I gently place my other hand against hers, lining up our fingers. "Have I not organs, dimensions, senses, affections... passions?" I interlock my fingers with hers and hold her soft hand between both of mine. "Am I not fed with the same food, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as you are? If you cut me, I bleed. If you tickle me, I laugh. If you poison me, I would die."

>>33089

Nixia looks extremely thoughtful, as if she does not know what to say. Her face flushes, and her eyes seem to sparkle. You hear a dull sound, as if metal met stone.
>I-I have never seen eyes that were as amber as yours...I-I...have never seen any person with skin as light as yours. I have never seen anyone that came from the sky in a ball of fire...I-I...
She looks visibly shaken.
>I...would like some time to my thoughts...Please...I just...
She turns and enters the hut, not giving you a chance to speak. You are left outside with your thoughts. You also see a sword on the ground. You know it was not there before. Perhaps it was the object that Nixia had dropped. It appears sheathed.

((I gotta go to sleep now...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>33096
Well that... could have gone better. At least she's going to think about it instead of outright rejecting what I said. I know I laid a bombshell on her... and part of me aches for what she must be going through. I might have just destroyed her entire worldview, kicked over the sand castle of her faith, toppled the religion she'd never before had reason to doubt.

I pick up the sword, sheath and all, and then slowly walk over to the entrance of the hut, sitting down beside it. I turn the sheath over in my hands, but I can't bring myself to focus on it. I could go work on my steam speeder, but I doubt I'd be able to focus on that either. And I want to be here, if Nixia decides she's ready to talk.

I don't know if I did the right thing. In the end, I guess right and wrong are just words in this kind of situation. I did what I had to do. I couldn't just leave her like that, wrongly thinking I'm a god. I'm not a god, and I'm not worthy of that kind of adoration. I'm not worthy of her unconditional love. She doesn't even know me. How could she love me? The answer seems painfully obvious. She doesn't love me. She loves "Tabot, the God of the Sky." Only I'm not the God of the Sky. As I just made sure she knew.

As I lean against the hut... our hut... another thought occurs to me. She was chosen by her village to be presented to the 'god,' and now she knows I'm not god. I probably just reduced her perceived lot in life by several orders of magnitude. She went from being the wife of a god to the wife of normal guy. I might as well have just slapped her and told her she's worthless.

Why is this affecting me so much? Why can't I stop worrying about it? I just met her, and didn't even agree to our marriage. And yet... she does seem like a nice girl. She's so disarmingly honest, like she has this zeal for life. She's open... and soft. I think I do care for her, which makes the issue of leaving this place even more difficult. I think about the life I left behind, the world I'd known just a few days ago. I had a job there, a niche I fit into. But what if I stayed her? Maybe I could help these people and do more with my life than if I returned. But... but those are crazy thoughts. Aren't they? I have a life to return to, friends.

>Friends like Silve?

I blink at the sudden, unexpected thought. It occurs to me that my life could use some re-evaluation. And it appears I've got time. I sit by the hut, fiddling with Nixia's sword while I take a good look at my life up til this point.



((Feel free to let me know about Tabot's life before the crash. From what it sounds like, it was pretty sterile and emotion-less... but I could be wrong. Also, how'd you like that Shakespeare reference? XD))

You remember life back at the Nodes, how everything was treated as an experiment...

You were born naturally, an act quite unusual among the Nodes. That did not entitle you to any special treatment. You worked hard on studying all the basics of General Knowledge in order to prepare yourself for your hard years as a Researcher and Inventor. You remember meeting Silve, the only person you could call friend, in a laboratory, the both of you working on a crude Steam Engine. It was unusual, now that you think about it, about how two students were working on the same type of project...Especially on the same kind of model.
You remember your Graduation from General Knowledge into your chosen fields of Study; Agriculture, Field Sciences, and Steam Mechanics under the cold stares of your family...How you felt when you rose to a high ranking position with your work on Steam Efficiency and use...How you began to become distracted by a few of the Female Researchers. How you worked tirelessly on your Rain Disk...Perfecting it...Working on your presentation...

You stop before it gets too far, when Silve sabotaged your Steam Speeder and allowed you to fall down to the Great Forest. You notice Nixia reading a book. You can just make out the words Fairy and God on the cover...It may be a book with the legends of the "Gods" and "Demons" that the Villagers referred to.

>Hello Sky Go-
Nixia stops herself.
>Tabot...I was just reading the legends of our Village...How the Gods appeared...Or at least, how others of your kind appeared to us. They really seemed to have the power of Gods...

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>33256
"Nixia, I'm... I'm sorry. I know it must seem as though I'm denouncing your faith, overturning your religion, but I'm not trying to. I just want to help you make an informed decision. Those people who came from the sky got their power from technology. our civilization has been around longer, and we've had time to learn more. Think about your own people. They discovered how to make swords for hunting and protection, and there's nothing magical about them. But imagine if you visited a neighboring tribe that had never seen a sword before. They would be in awe at this sharp pillar of metal you summoned from your holy sheath." I pull the sword out to demonstrate my point, waving it around with one hand before realizing just how heavy this thing is. I quickly put it back in the sheath and set it down against the wall.

"Now imagine my people, who know how to make boots that can make you fly, and sticks that can shoot lightening bolts, and imagine if we visited that neighboring tribe. That awe they would feel would be a thousand times greater, and they might think we were so much more advanced, we must be gods. But like you, we aren't gods. We just know how to make things, like you know how to make swords."

I go and sit down beside her, giving her an awkward side hug. "But Nixia, that doesn't mean you've been 'wrong' by worshipping the sky people, just maybe a little bit misguided. Your people love what the Sky Gods represent. They are mystified by the technology my people possess. That sense of wonder is a good thing, it just needs to be shaped into an eagerness to learn instead of a willingness to spectate and worship. Everything I can do, every power the gods have, they aren't divine abilities. They can be learned and built, and your whole village would benefit from it."

"And- and Nixia?" I look her in the eyes and fight back the queasy feeling in my stomach. "I... I w-want to stay here, with you and your people. I can try to teach you as much as I know. I mean... that is... as long as you're okay with being the wife of plain old Tabot instead of 'Sky God Tabot.'"

I grin briefly, but then realize the implication of what I just said and I try to hide my horror at my own wording. "But you don't have to st-stay married to me, if you don't want. I just meant that- I won't leave if you decide you don't want to be my wife."

>...TeeHee~...
She giggles, but she does not make eye contact.
>Even if you say you are not a god...It still does not change how anyone sees you in this village. If you do not consider yourself as a God, my people shall still call you and others of your kind who come from the sky Demons or Gods...It is just that simple.
She giggles again and pecks you on the cheek.
>I understand that you are considered average where you come from but down here, it is different...You have knowledge beyond what we can even dream of...
She turns her attention back to her book.
>This was my favorite book to read when I was young...It has all the tales of the Gods, or whatever your kind is called, that have appeared in our village...Eliza the Summoner of Demons, Frantz the One who Wields Lightning...Edgar the Tyrant Killer...
You see each of the illustrations, recognizing each of them. Eliza was the inventor of the Steam Speeders, drastically replacing the Crawlers, crab-like automatons, that had been widely used...You actually had a lesson with her once. Frantz was considered the greatest Steam Cannon Gunner to have ever existed. He died after the last battle between the Nodes. And Edgar...The illustration looks like your great-grandfather? You knew he had a trinket from the Great Forest, but you assumed he had found it in an abandoned village. He majored in the History of the Forest, how we came to live in the sky while people like Nixia lived on the ground. He was actually the first researcher to begin the studies.

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>33317
Well, I guess that settles it. I won't be able to redirect the village's misconceptions. I sigh slightly but nod my head. "I... can deal with that. Maybe we can get them to accept me as a humble god." I chuckle slightly, and lean in to look at the book.

"I actually know of all these... gods. What did Edgar the Tyrant Killer do? He looks familiar."

>>33326

>Edgar the Tyrant Killer was the first god to appear to our humble village. It was a much different time back then. Back before there was the cliff face and waterfall. It was said that he fell in love with a servant of the Last Monarch that ruled our village. He vowed that, for her hand in marriage, he would rid us of the tyrant that plagued our lands. He first took the villagers to safety on a metal, crab-like creature. He then openly challenged the Tyrant, facing down his armies single-handedly. It was said that he had command over the lightning itself, bringing a God's wrath upon the army. Soon he eradicated the fighters and faced down the Tyrant on a human's terms. They stayed in a deadlock for three months, never loosening their grip on each other...Then on the final day of the third month, the tyrant fell. Edgar tore down the palace that the Tyrant had built for himself, brick by brick. In its place he caused the earth to move, and he created out cliff. He went to take the servant's hand in marriage, and took her into the Realm of the Gods. But around ten months later, the servant returned. She did not fit in with the Godly beings, and became homesick...And so she lived, never fitting in with the villagers and exiled from the Domain of Gods. She had died, alone. Mysteriously, a grave for her was erected and legend says that every 200 years Edgar the Tyrant Killer appears to pay his respects...
You remember how Edgar had always disappeared every 200 years, claiming that he had important research to do...It must be to visit Great-Grandmother's grave...Her name was unusual for someone who lived in the Nodes as well. It was something like Prosea...You had also found it odd that she was absent from anywhere on the Nodes, but you never really thought about it before. You have also never heard of some of the inventions that you Great-Grandfather used except for the Crawler. You gain a new respect for him...

Nixia sighs contentedly, then moves to place the book back on the shelf.
>Perhaps we should get ready for the feast, My Sky God?
She smiles mischievously, and enters another room in the hut.

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>33383
Wow, no wonder the lead warrior said I didn't stack up compared to the gods of the legends. I guess that means I have some ground-walker blood in me. Interesting...

I look after Nixia with wide-eyed curiosity. Well... I don't know the preparation rituals in this village... I suppose I should allow my new bride to show me. =]

I follow her into the other room.

>Teehee~. Please do not peek, My Sky God...
She playfully pushes you out of the room and drags a screen across, obstructing your view.
>What you are wearing is fine. Not many people will complain because you are a God~.
After a while, she enters the room wearing an unusual set of clothes. They were both colored in an unusual porcelain white, with a detailed, flame-like embroidery on the fringes of the outfit. The shirt had a stiff collar around the neck, with wide sleeves. Instead of the usual skirt that the most of the villagers wore, she wore a pair of wide bottom trousers. It actually looked like an outfit that you have seen before...From a photo of your Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother together perhaps.

((I gotta go...Please Stay tuned...))

>>33771
Hah! What a tease.

"Wow, that outfit is stunning." I eye the flames and give her a roguish half-grin. "I'd say it's fiery hot." I consider asking her if the clothes are some sort of ceremonial outfit given to the wives of gods, but I figure she's talkative enough that I probably don't need to ask.

>Teehee~! This dress was tailored after what the servant wore when she returned from the Realm of the Gods. She taught our village how to spin the fibers in which they become stronger...This outfit is the original, passed down to every Elder of the village to their children. I am glad you like it~!
She spins around once, then grabs a hold of your arm.
>Shall we go? The feast shall not start without you...

((I gotta go soon...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>33948
"These clothes may be ancient, but I'm certain they've never before been framed by such beauty." I give her a warm smile and then nod. "But yes, you're right. We wouldn't want to keep everyone waiting." Hmm, I wonder what special rules might come into play during the feast. I'd better take this time to find out before I wind up surprised.

"Um, are there any rituals or customs I should know about before we get to the dinner? Anything I'm supposed to know or do or say?"

>Hmm~...Probably not. There has never been a God who had attended a feast before. To my knowledge, you are the first one~!
Oh goody, going into uncharted waters...There is probably a saying for this from the Nodes, but you can not think of it now.

((I gotta go now...Please Stay Tuned))

>>34036
"Huh, I would have thought other gods would be honored at feasts too. Ah well, let's do this."

>The other gods have never stayed long enough for a feast...You shall be the first one to stay with us...
Nixia blushes slightly. You can feel her clutching you more tightly. You feel the urge to look at the sky.

The feast goes on without a hitch. The tables were set around a huge bonfire...The villagers played what seemed to be their traditional music, a combination of several drums, flutes, and chanting. It's quite haunting, especially with the dance that went with it...It was quite refreshing, dining under real stars...You see many comets flying through the sky and you wonder...How many are real comets?
---
The next day, you wake to see Nixia clinging onto your torso again, but you do not mind...Until you see yourself shirtless. What did you do last night?
You hear pounding on the door.
>Tabot the Serpent Slayer, Bringer of Rain! You have a visitor from the godly Realms! It is Edgar the Tyrant Killer, he is asking for you! It has something to do with the comets that fell in the sky!
It sounds like one of the messengers of the village...You also can hear cheers echoing from the village.

((I gotta go now...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>34088
Wait, do I not remember what I did last night? Did I get drunk at the feast?

Um, alright, I check to see if Nixia is awake. If she's not, I try to exfiltrate myself from her grasp without rousing her. Then I throw a shirt on and answer the door, thanking the messenger and asking if it's urgent. If it is, I'll accompany him back, but if not I inform him that I will be right down. Then, if Nixia still isn't up, I'll gently wake her and ask her if she'd like to join me and meet Edgar the Tyrant Killer. Cue getting dressed quickly before heading into the village.

I think Nixia'd really like the chance to meet Edgar, so I'd like her to come with me if at all possible.

>>34088
Well, lets go say hi to our ancestor.

>>34224
You might have gotten drunk, but it would have taken more than what the Villagers had in stock to cause you to black out...

You carefully make sure that Nixia is still asleep, then you try to move out of her grasp. You succeed in wriggling out of her grasp without waking her, then answering the door after putting on a shirt.

>Greetings, Tabot the Serpent Slayer! Your presence is required in the village immediately! Edgar the Tyrant Killer requested you by name. It has something to do with the comets in the sky during the feast.
It seems extremely important, but you still take the time to gently wake Nixia.
>Hmmm~?
>Nixia, another god has appeared in the village. It is Edgar the Tyrant Slayer. Would you like to-
You do not get the chance to finish when she runs out of the hut. You decide to take her cue and follow her, the messenger hurrying along.
---
You arrive at the village, but you can not seem to reach your Great-Grandfather because of the crowd surrounding him.

>Tabot! You seem like such the light in the proverbial tunnel after all that has happened!
He's looking good for a man who is pushing around 5 million years.

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>34371
"Hello, Edgar the Tyrant Killer," I place extra emphasis on the title and grin as I say it. "It's good to see you too. So what is it that has happened? Do you want to find somewhere more... personal to talk?" I eye the crowd. I know this must be a huge event for them, what with Edgar being a god and all, but it's still rather intrusive.

>Hm?
Your Great-Grandfather was slightly busy being touched by the children of the village.
>Oh, yes of course. Move along now, my holiness will wear off if you handle me like that. Come on now, we shall go to a truly private place for me to explain the situation.
He leads you out of the village and into a deep part of the forest. The two of you walk until he stops at a clearing where there is a single stone in the center.
>Hello, Ceilio...It has been a while...
This must be the grave of your Great-Grandmother...You feel slightly awkward. You are not used to such a sentiment as a grave for a loved one, nor are you truly familiar with the concept of death.

>Great-Grandfather...What is the matter?
>Ah, Tabot...You have grown splendidly. It has been two weeks since your disappearance into the Great Forest. Everyone gave up on finding you...M'yes...I have worried about you.
He sure is spouting a lot of malarkey. He never really cared about how you were doing, and officially washed his hands of you when you never chose History of the Forest. There is not a single conceivable reason for him to-
>Yes, I know that you don't have any favorable feelings towards me Tabot.
He loses some of his kind edge.
>It is just that, you are my only family left. The node has been conquered, and many have been killed. I only escaped by the skin of my teeth. I figured this was my wake-up call to connect with the only blood I have left!

...What? The Nodes has been...Conquered?
>It all started with that traitor...What was the name...Silve? He had given his presentation on a special sort of device that created a barrier as so that ships of certain wavelengths could pass while others were to be blocked. But in fact, the other Nodes already had the codes, given to them by Silve himself. He led to all this death and destruction, and I will not hesitate to rip his organs out and eat them as pasta!
Lines of spit trail out of Edgar's mouth as he becomes more excited and small craters form under his feet, but that is not important right now...Silve betrayed the Node? Was that why he caused you to crash into the forest? To spare you from the slow death, or to ease his conscience that he will not be betraying his friend to his face?

>>34814
Or possibly to get me out of the way? But even more distressing... "How could I have missed it? I worked with him for so long. Did I miss the signs? Were there any signs...?"

Wait. "Did... did you say... 'only family left'? Everyone else is- is dead?" This must be a joke. A really bad joke gone too far. There's no way it could be true. And why did he even come down here? What am I supposed to do about it?!

You think back to the times you worked with Silve...Admittedly you never had many chances, as you had conflicting views on combat and the focus of research in the nodes. He had believed in the advancement through war theory, on how technology would boom through war and destruction. You only thought of war as a necessary evil that would only be used as a last resort. This still did not stop the two of you from being close to each other.

>Yes yes, everyone related to us is dead, I saw it with my own eyes. We were the closest to the ships, and we also had unrestricted access to the weapons of our node. We were the prime target of their genocide. I came here because it was the only place I thought of. It was complete coincidence that you were here...So, you made a name for yourself? That is quite a feat.
You could cut the tension with a knife. The returning humidity does not make it any easier.

((I gotta sleep...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>34839
You found me out of luck? So nobody even searched for me? No, forget it, it's not important now." Most of the questions buzzing around my head don't seem very important anymore. Even my annoyance that they hadn't sent a search party for me no longer fazed me. If they'd found me, I'd probably be dead along with everyone else.

"How did you escape from the carnage? And do you have any sort of plan? To... take back the Node? or are you going to lay low down here?"

I suppose I ought to try to make amends with Edgar if we're going to be spending any extended amount of time together.

>Plans? Why should I have plans right now? The enemy is armed to the teeth with two nodes' worth of weapons technology. I don't see how we will be able to take them on with a bunch of Natives.
He throws his hand into the air in exasperation.
>I may as well lay low here until I think of something.

>>35029
"Alright," I nod slowly. Edgar might be a bit eccentric, but since we'll both be staying here, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to come to an agreement with him.

"Look, I'm sorry I disappointed you by not choosing to study the Forest. At the time, I did not see the importance of it, and it wasn't my main interest. But now... now that I've actually spent some time here, I can see why you tried to push it on me. There's an... honesty here I'd never experienced back in the Nodes."

"Now, that doesn't justify disavowing me entirely. That was pretty cold. But... I... am glad you're talking to me now. How 'bout we try to start over?"

>Time can not be turned back...We may not be able to "start over", but we may move forward and not dwell on the past. Come, we must meet with our worshipers.
The both of you walk back to the village in silence.
---
Several months pass without much happening in the village. The rain returns with a vengeance, showing you the true power of water. Edgar can not walk a single step without being mobbed by villagers. You also notice that from time to time, villagers have been disappearing.

((Gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>35032
Interesting. It would seem we have a mystery on our hands. Possible causes: ritualistic sacrifices (unlikely considering they would probaly be sacrificed to me and Edgar), hostile tribe kidnapping villagers (somewhat likely, as the villagers would probably know how to watch out for that kind of thing), people from the Node above abducting subjects for experiments (moderately likely, since they would have the technology to take villagers unnoticed, do not have qualms about killing people to achieve their goals, and are keen on weapon production and testing).

First steps: confirm that I'm not the only one noticing. I'd like to meet with Edgar and Garram and see if they know what's going on. I think a census might also be in order to count the number of villagers and keep track of deaths and births. Then possibly increase guards to keep watch.

You ask some of the villagers if the had noticed anyone missing during the last few days. They answer that they have noticed a few missing people, but all of the ones missing have disappeared in the Forest, which is not too out of the ordinary.

You meet with both Garram and Edgar to discuss the problem.
>Hmm...Perhaps Demons are stealing away our villagers as a revenge towards the two Gods among us?
The Elder taps his staff on the ground. He seems extremely tired lately for some reason.
>Please Elder Garram, relax.
Edgar soothes the Elder, then gives his opinion on the problem.
>It's those people who took over the no-...I mean, There are rival Gods who are jealous of our power, and have been taking the villagers probably. I may need to speak with Tabot in order to form some sort of plan to convince them to stop.
>*Sigh* Yes, yes...I hope that you will stop them, Gods of the Sky...For now I shall increase Guards at the borders as well as taking this...census of everyone who lives in this village as well as the births and deaths. It will not be easy with all of them...
Garram sighs again, and exits the hut. You see that he moves with a hunch for some reason.

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>35100
It was just a suggestion, not an official request. Hmm... "Elder Garram seems to be a bit on edge recently. Is he still of good health?" The man is my father-in-law, and as pressing as the case of the disappearing villagers is, I can't help but worry about him.

"So you suspect those who conquered our Node as well? Do you really think we can talk them into ceasing these kidnappings?"

>It's hard work to run a village, Tabot. It's just that, he beginning to feel the stress and it hit him hard. I would prescribe a few medicines to him, but this matter is much more important. Yes, I believe that the new inhabitants of our old home are kidnapping the Natives in order to perform experiments with drugs in general. In fact, our own node used them as well. It was a stroke of genius to many of the researchers. They are close enough to us, but different enough that we would not care. It allowed accurate results for any experiments that we made. I know it seems cold, but consider our community.
Edgar sighs.
>We won't get them to stop, if that is what you are asking. But I finally formulated a plan to take back the node that will take at least two people. I need to stay on the ground, so you need to find someone to volunteer. Make sure to make them understand that they will die if this mission is not a success.

((I will be away for a while...Please Stay Tuned...Ahh...Summer is ending, which means I can't really go on TgChan too much...))

((I'm back for now though...))

>>35277
((Oh right, sorry. I meant to post earlier.))

I find it both difficult and easy to believe that our Node had kidnapped villagers. I'm sure I wouldn't have cared just a few short months ago, even though now it seems like a horrible thing to do.

"You have a plan that will take only two people to take back the entire node? That's excellent. Tell me what the plan is so I can figure out who the other person should be and what skills or abilities they need."

>Hrm...Well, is it that important? All you need is someone with a nimble figure. Perhaps that Native girl I see clinging around you. When she's not doing that, I see her swinging on trees and vines. It worries the Elder sometimes, as he does not hesitate to tell me whenever we are together.
Edgar seems reluctant to tell you what the actual plan was. You sense that there is a bit more to this plan than he is telling you.
>Edgar, tell me what is the plan. It will not do to rush in without preparation.
You make sure to be stern. He pauses for a moment, then relents.
>Gah...Fine. It was not all that big of a secret to keep from you anyway. My plan is to destroy the Node. It may seem childish, destroying the Node just so the invaders can not have it, but it must be done. We can take out a chink of their population and temporarily stop the kidnapping. That will give us time to move the villagers to a different area. We shall use our "Godly Influence" to try to sway the villagers into leaving if they prove too stubborn. There is a small entrance hatch that is at the bottom of your old home. I had placed it there when I first owned the house in order to cover up the gaping hole caused by my crashing into the Node's outer surface. From there, i expanded it to lead to many of the important buildings in the node, most specifically, the engine room where the flotation core rests. The plan is to shut it down or destroy it, then escape. It is simple, but it is also quick. Our kind thinks in months and years. They will be expecting a dish served cold. Instead, we shall strike while the iron is hot, and move quickly. This may take some time to implement, as you have yet to fix that infernal contraption of yours. You have repaired some of it, but you will need certain metals that will probably take some time to acquire. Hopefully no one will be abducted in that time period.

((Gah...I will be away for a moment...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>35431
"Absolutely not." I shake my head adamantly. "I'm not bringing Nixia along on a dangerous mission." Just how genre unsavvy does he think I am?

"Your plan will work, but I'll find someone else in the village who is nimble enough." It strikes me that I'm putting her life above that of someone else I don't know as well, but fuck it: I don't care. "I'll get to work on repairing the Steam Speeder, and I'll figure out some way to find a capable assistant in the mean time."


Okay, first is coming up with a list of needed materials. Then brainstorm possible places I could salvage or find the metals from. After that I can start arranging expeditions (either solo or in a group if dangerous) to retrieve them.

>Well...I guess you could use a different person to watch your back...You are really separating from your former shell my Great-Grandson.
Edgar smiles and walks away, presumably to draw up the finer details of the plan.
---
You take a look at the Steam Speeder to assess the situation. There are many broken parts, but you feel you will be able to fix the Speeder. You need to replace the rusted out engine, a few pieces of the frame, and probably some of the rusted patches of the metal plating as well as adding in a new seat for the second pilot.

You do not think the quarries will have the best metal for the task, but it is safer and right in the village. You know of a cave along the river that may have some of the light-weight metals that you need, but it is also prone to flooding. You HAVE heard of a second passage there. You can also try searching for some of the "comets" that fell a few months ago for some scrap metal. You are quite sure you can locate one, though you do not really know the Forest Area as well. You could probably ask Nixia to guide you through the Great Forest.

((I gotta go...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>35715
That sounds like a splendid idea. It'll give me a chance to do something productive with Nixia, and I'm sure I'll find some useful spare parts. If I'm lucky I'll find an intact engine, although I'm not sure if anything I find will be free of rust either. At the very least I could try to melt it down for the metals.

I'll leave the quarry for later, and the cave for third.

You go off in search of Nixia to ask her to be your guide through the forest. You see her among the women of the village, discussing...something. You are not quite sure what they are talking about, but you get the feeling that she will tell you in time.

>Hello Tabot, teehee~! How are you doing?
>I am doing fine. I would actually like to search for some of the comets that have fallen from the sky. They may be able to help me repair my own comet, though you do not have to worry about me leaving any time soon...
She nods, but looks a bit distracted.
>Are you okay?
>Y-yes Teabot...I was just thinking. Please, allow me to guide you through the forest. I shall be waiting at the entrance of the village.

Nixia walks off. You have a feeling that she may be hiding something from you. You may have an inkling of what it is. It seems like many people are looking stressed in the village lately, but it may be because of the kidnappings.

((I shall be away for a while...Please Stay Tuned.))

>>36357
Nixia's distracted, talking with the women of the village... Could she be... pregnant? The possibility almost breaks my concentration and it's all I can do to not excitedly press the issue. If she was with child- my child!- then it's up to her to let me know when and how she wants to. Oh but I hope she doesn't wait!

But then again, it could be something else. Best to just let it go for now and assume it isn't that. Although, if she is pregnant, I'm not sure having her gallavanting about is such a good idea. But I doubt I could stop her anyway. I'll just have to trust that she knows, understand, and appreciates the responsibilities that come with-

Argh, gotta stop worrying! All I can do is be there for her and give her my love and support. I find some kind of bag or sack to hold anything useful we find, and any of item I might need (like a small weapon, some water, a light or torch or whatever if we'll be out for long). Then I immediately head for the village entrance.

You walk towards the entrance of the village, picking up several sturdy bags to carry any parts you find. You see Nixia patiently waiting for you, leaning on one of the large posts. She looks up at the sky in a daze.

>Hello?
>Oh, you surprised me Tabot...Teehee~! Please, shall we go?
She hold you by the hand and drags you into the forest. You hope that the both of you will not encounter any harmful creatures.

((I may not be able to post as often anymore because of school, so please bear with me...Please Stay Tuned...))

>>37463
"You seem to be a bit distracted as of late, Nixia. Do you have anything on your mind? Anything you'd like to talk about?" I focus on trying to keep up with her over the uneven terrain. Although I know I should be keeping watch for any source of danger, I find that unless I specifically focus on it, it easily slips my mind. I guess I can attribute that to my upbringing on the Nodes.

>T-there is nothing the matter...Everything is a-all right. Nothing to worry...Everything will be fine.
She does not seem to want to tell you what is currently on her mind, though you are not sure why.
>One of the comets that you have pointed out should be close by...
Nixia points towards an area where one could obviously tell that something had crashed. Where trees used to be were crudely hacked off stumps. You could see a crater in the center of the mess, with the Speeder in the center, still intact. You have no idea where the pilot went.

((Gotta go...Please Stay Tuned.))

Really do you have to do this on quest there is only like one person who enjoys it, can't you just exchange emails or AIM with them and do it over that.
This entire thread is just Blundering Writer (a person who craves people to acknowlege him) and Durandal (a man who clearly craves attention from quest creators) writing a very poor circle jerk story. I mean there are so few people who actualy pay attention to this I wouldn't even consider it a quest.
Please take this somewhere else even in /txt/ would be better.

((Hmm.....))

>>42830
Can you try to word that in a less jerky manner?

I haven't really read the story since the beginning, but it looks perfectly fine. I'll try to catch up and make some suggestions later.

Yeah, the point may have been valid but it was overshadowed by the unnecessary rudeness. I feel sorry for Blundering because he's got a really interesting story but not many people are willing to take the time to read.

>>43077
>>43067
Welcome to the internet my friends, I would be more okay with this if it was under text or if it was writefaggotry, but its not a quest the fact that you>>43067 are the first suggestion I have seen in this thread is a testiment to that.
And you shouldn't feel sorry for Blundering Writer He should know that not everyone will like his work and some may be more vocal about it than others.

>>42830
>>43088
hey, I've always been meaning to read this quest, it would be a shame if they took it elsewhere.

I know I will, at some point, read up and have a few hours of entertainment. why do you want to take that away from me?

>>43122
Why is it your taking this attack personally?
If you enjoy it so much why do you not participate?

The only people I see participating in this quest on a daily basis is Durandal and occasionally SZ the fact you are saying you need to read up on this and I have never actualy seen you participate indicates my point that this is simply writefaggotry that does not encorage the participation.

Durandal!swQABHZA/E 2009/09/12(Sat)16:01 No. 43247 ID: acdc9b
File 125279646891.png - (11.95KB , 725x108 , Tada.png )

>>43214
Why are you taking this thread so personally? If you don't want to see it, you can hit the minimize button (see pic).