Fantasy Action Adventure Scifi A Growing Menace - *Any Character, Any Genre*

[Hawksearcher]

[please feel free to come and go as you wish! This is taking place in an inter-dimensional waypoint of sorts, so theoretically, any kind of character from any genre (fantasy, sci-if, modern, canon, etc.) could have ended up here, either on accident or purposefully. Even though this RP is picking up momentum, we are still open for drop-ins, although if you're nervous about joining cold-turkey, you are more than welcome to message me first. The only rule is to not kill other PCs without their permission, but you can consider anything I play to be an NPC ;)]

​

In a dark room with ambient blue lighting, several creatures chitter and stir. 4 black, Beetle-like fiends, approximately the size of Labradors, begin to rise from a nest of bright green eggs, glowing and shifting. As one of them stretches its gossamer wings and fans itself, another begins to twitch, and in a spasm that startles the other three, suddenly ejects a teal ring of light that shoots across the room and plants itself on the smooth, hard wall. From this crackling ring, there erupts a sudden gust of wind as a portal opens roughly the size of a person.

These are Blink Beetles, and they feed by tearing organic beings from their dimensions at random. These beetles have little control over who or what unlucky traveler is thrust into their space, and they are often the cause of strange, unexplained disappearances in the wildernesses of the multiverse.

You are one such unlucky traveler.

 

[Hekazu]

At one moment, Captain Rochdale had been there in his cabin, peering over the charts to triangulate the way of his crew away from Mt. Palmerston and towards Gaider's Mourn, the lone inhabited spire among the infamous Snares of the Unterzee. Beside him had also been the calculations on supplies required, and the documents on the recent purchase of fuel for the steamer. Yet all of those ordinary matters were torn away from him in the blink of an eye, the old Corvette soon left without its commander. Indeed, the brave crew of Poltroon's Regret would have to make do without the presence of their stalwart superior, for he and his notched bone harpoon were no longer anywhere near them.

Falling through this portal certainly was not the first of odd occurrences with parallel worlds the man had experienced, but this was no lush jungle, nor was he in the company of his trusty spectacled Silverer friend. In fact, the veteran Monster Hunter had not the slightest clue where he was, but what he did know was how to hunt beasts, both foreign and familiar, and these insects felt like something of both kinds all at once. Before he had even taken in the surroundings, he'd already used his good arm to hoist up the harpoon and flung it forth, spearing the first, most obvious of the threats in place through its open maw. A slightly stiff leg raised a boot to its upper jaw and kicked, the same hand that had thrown the harpoon yanking at it from the beast's gut. A handful of rose petals fluttered down from under the man's collar, the fingers of his stiffly hanging arm twitching.

"You picked the wrong veteran", he rumbled from under his wide-brimmed hat, one backwards step accompanied by the hoisting of the weapon returning him to fighting ready position. The battered wine red trench coat clinked slightly as his few medals followed along the motion, an offended 'tsk' calling for the challengers to do their worst.

 

[Hawksearcher]

The first of the four Blink Beetles screeched in surprise as the veteran captain barely hesitated after falling through the portal. It collapsed under its own weight after Rochdale yanked out the harpoon.

After collapsing, the first beetle gave one last spasm, and with a dying belch of energy, expelled one more portal against the wall. Perhaps this second portal would catch a second unsuspecting traveler, or perhaps it would just close empty a minute later.

the three other Blink Beetles chittered and scattered after the captain thrust forward, but overcoming their confusion, quickly formed a semi-circle around the captain, buzzing their wings and snapping their mandibles angrily.

Then, all at once, like a coordinated pack of wolves, the three aliens pounced towards Rochdale. Beetle 2 surged its wings and launched itself at his face, Beetle 3 charged to try to grip his arm, and Beetle 4 dove to bite at his legs!

 

[Hekazu]

Whatever these vermin were, they had the numbers. Yet clearly they didn't possess the amount of pack tactics to surround him. An attempt towards something like it was done, yet they left more than enough space for the monster hunter to manoeuvre in. Two quick steps to back right positioned him behind the one that remained on the floor, the harpoon skewering the insect between the plates of its neck. Behind this obstacle he was safe from the beetle that had thought to go for his arm, but of course just then one of them had to showcase the fact that it knew how to take to the air. It was time to improvise.

He stepped on top of the beetle he had just impaled to prepare for pulling the harpoon out, but he needed more time. And that time would be his through the oldest of the tricks in the book, if he had any luck. With his stiff hand, one he groaned to bend at the elbow, he tossed his hat at the approaching enemy, followed immediately by ducking. Both hands grasped the harpoon, and he yanked at it to pull it free, and if luck was on his side drive its other, only minutely less sharp end into the creature should it be passing above him as he had planned. And once he would have the numbers evened down… well then he'd have all the time in the world to deal with the final one, figure out what it could do… and how to combat its brethren without further nasty surprises.

 

[MonMis]

One beetle down and killed, three confronting the weathered Captain Rochdale, none would be aware of the portal that had spit out yet another unsuspecting victim of these fiends’ interdimensional hijinx.

Manira L’vie had been lurking behind a nearby building in the center of the metropolis on Omega. While this was truly the den of the most nefarious and lowest of lifeforms, their focus has been squarely on one particular Asari, another of their kind, who had been using their power, status, and greed to enslave those less fortunate in the anarchic city. Had it merely remained within the confines of the pitiful rock, it never would have caught Manira’s or any other justicar’s attention. But, Hessia Vera was suspect of stealing from other planets’ populations via trafficking…including those of the monastery housing the Ardat Yakshi, powerful Asari known for their deadly yet addictive mating tendencies, drawing on the life and power of those they ensnare regardless of species. With them, they would amass an army of the unstoppable. Manira could not sit idly by and still be able to adhere to the code of the justicar. Their role is to bring law and order to the Galaxy, by the code of Asari principles, through any means necessary.

That’s when they saw it, the exchange. Down an alley behind a building a few blocks from Hessia’s tower, a massive cargo rig had opened its bay door and filing out one after another were people of all varying ages, genders, and species, wrists in chains, shuffling along as they looked to be drugged up on too much red sand, and malnourished to the point of skeletal proportions. Then, bringing up the rear of this line, were the blue skinned people of the Asari, robed in the monastery garb of ones who had willingly chosen isolation over execution for their affliction. Hessia would use their defect for their own greed, strengthening these poor souls’ addiction, and simultaneously their power.

Manira did not need to see more. With their gun already loaded and heated, they stepped out from the corner from within the shadows and…

…fell.

With a gasp, their trigger finger let loose a shot into the air, but they would not know if it made its mark as darkness blanketed their vision. It was only with a grunt of pain and a flash of blue that Manira would open their eyes and find themself someplace not at all where they had thought they’d be. “What?” Blue eyes glanced around the room, taking in the site of two massive insects attacking what looked to be a human man, and one indent already dead on the ground. “Rachni?” They thought for a moment, not entirely sure what it was they were seeing but it looked similar enough to the previously thought extinct species of deadly insects of their own galaxy.

That’s when something moved beneath their rear where they fell. The beetle that had attempted to attack the captain’s feet would be stopped in their tracks as Manira had landed right ontop of its thick shell, pinning it to the ground. Soon after this realization, Manira’s body would glow blue and lift off the creature, floating in the air instead, only to immediately let loose another round squarely between its eyes(?) and ripping through its body end to end.

The Asari would turn and take a shot at each of the others that still stood after the captain may or may not be done with them, and any he might have missed. Only once and if it was quiet of these creatures’ lives, would Manira lower themself back to the ground and turn to the human with a hard but expressionless face and ask simply only one question, “where am I?” They did not know how they got here, but they understood a portal was the likely culprit. As for who sent the portal to them, and how, they would hopefully find out soon enough with this man’s answer.

 

[Hawksearcher]

With the dust settled and the trap portals closed, the two strangers finally found themselves in a moment of calm without mortal peril, but even as the Asari addressed the ship captain, the calm was interrupted by a bright flash of light at the other end of the room. Square against the wall, a man-sized mechanical door slid open automatically, and a wildly frustrated creature charged in, wielding a sort of vibrating spear.

“Finaadle!!! Confound it all!”

The strange thing seemed to barge into the room with the intent of attacking the two strangers, but instead ran past them to the blink beetle that started the whole mess, poking it with the spear and then kicking it in the side.

“I thought I had you fixed, Cix!!! You couldn’t wait until your follow up appointment before you started ripping holes through time and space?!” This caretaker’s voice whined and garbled, and was quite unpleasant to listen to. “Now you got the others killed and landed me with an insurance claim that’s going to cost me the new Porchx I almost saved for!”

Panting, the disgruntled thing had scarcely even acknowledged the other two by this point, but finally, with his tirade at an end, he turned to the nest in the middle of the room, began carefully collecting the eggs into a pouch, and addressed the captain and the justiciar:

“Look, you two, I’m terribly sorry about this. It’s an uncommon mistake that happens from time to time here in The Highway. According to the Kardashev scale, what level of civilization are you each from?”

[note to readers: if you are interested in joining, there will be a convenient jump-in point a few posts from now :) ]

 

[Hekazu]

So it was those gates on the walls. That was what was happening over here. It was about that much that Captain Rochdale could say he understood as blasts of unrecognisable energy flew past him and fried those beetle-like fiends that had been attacking still. He ceased exerting his stiffer limbs and moved to remove the harpoon in a more relaxed manner, gritting his teeth as he settled back to his usual posture. It was never comfortable, but worst it was whenever he had just exercised the arm or the leg.

And just as soon as he had finished settling back in, yet another petal fluttering out from beneath his tall collar, he was addressed by this strange humanoid. Looked like a reflection of someone too close to the shapeling arts, or someone that had applied them to themselves a hair too much for it to be sensible, but something told the good captain that this might well be the natural state of the person. "An excellent ques-" he had begun to respond, but was interrupted by yet another entrant, though this one using a door instead of a less physical portal. A lizard of some kind? Armed. Rochdale was quick to hoist his harpoon again, his dark eyes narrowing at the approaching figure.

It was close that the weapon wasn't flung forth, but the one thing that drew the border there was that this one was clearly sentient. He hunted monsters, and while men could be counted amongst their ranks, he had no proof yet of anything like that of this individual. In fact, after a moment of collecting their wits it appeared like this lizard possessed basic knowledge of manners.

Yet despite all that they still were terribly confusing to him. "The what scale?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow underneath his hat, his pitch black irises observing the more talkative company in the room. "I hail from Her Enduring Majesty's London, year 1899 the second, from my good steamer Poltroon's Regret from upon the vast Unterzee. Captain Rochdale", he introduced himself, slowly moving the harpoon away and back to hanging by his side, its tip dangerously close to dragging upon the floor.

 

[Hawksearcher]

As rose petals drifted down from Captain Rochdale's jacket, they made a speckled pattern of red and green with the blotches of bug blood scattered along the ground.

The strange alien shuffled his feet a little, seeming uncomfortable, annoyed, or some other similar emotion in response to the captain's question. "Actually, simply not knowing the Kardashev Scale answers a thing or two about your civilization. Dr. Joopis Tooki, at your service, Captain. Did you say... 'steamer'? As in, 'steam-powered'?"

He then turned his long, crane-like neck to confront Manira. "And you, traveler, what type of civilization do you hail from? Surely with your advanced gadgetry, your people have at least expanded beyond your planet genesis?"

 

[MonMis]

With their gun still armed, and before they could get any succinct answer from the human, Manira quickly lifted their weapon towards the newest addition to the room as soon as it entered. However, a round would not loose towards it as it scurried towards one of the beetles instead, yelling at it as if the creature could understand it. Could it? And what even was this species of sentience?

The Asari tilted a brow in confusion before it then turned to the two of them with its question, their firearm lowered but still not holstered. Kardashev Scale…perhaps this being knows of humans as well. But if that were the case, then they would also know that Earth’s hypothetical scale of technological advancement was hopelessly outdated and not useful in understanding where one hailed since it was first hypothesized before they discovered Element Zero. The idea of requiring so much energy as if directly from their very star just to travel through the galaxy was utterly ridiculous.

But then the human of this group answered with something apparently neither of the other two were prepared for. Manira’s brows both shot up their forehead. They knew of London, but year 1899? That was a year long before the human astronomer who first suggested the self-named scale, nevermind the finding of eezo. But how was this possible? This portal, it was not like a mass effect relay that provided instantaneous transportation in space like they previously thought, but instead also a hole through time itself. Even in their time this was not possible. Practical physics had refuted it what with the ability to travel at FTL speeds and no time travel occurs, despite what once was believed when such speeds were still hypothetical. So…how now? And how so drastic?

As the new creature turned its attention to Manira, it would be met with a slight break in their typically stoic and neutral expression, a hint of severe confusion and disbelief briefly on their face, before reverting back to its normal hardness. Their eyes shifted to the being and they tensed their jaw, their fingers still on the trigger of their rifle. “I am an Asari Justicar. I cannot answer your question as our technology does not fit anywhere on that obsolete scale. Nor does this line of questioning matter at the moment. I was in the middle of an important mission and I, for now, am requesting that you send me back. Lives are at stake without my interference. Should you refuse, then you are considered an obstruction of justice, and I will need to remove what is in my way.” They said with a threatening tilt of their head and another gesture of their gun, though they would not lift it to aim just yet.

 

[Hekazu]

Rochdale's eyes narrowed as it became obvious that this strange creature was looking down on him. "Yes. A steamer. A naval vessel operating with a steam engine. There is no wind under the crust of the Earth. And Hell is close by for all the need of coal a Captain can fathom", he responded, intending not to humour a line of inquiry that would downplay his now likely distant home. Though of course, this holier than thou Asari Justicar would do it in his place, suggesting that whatever was going on here was secondary to what she thought was important.

"Do you listen to yourself, woman?" Rochdale huffed, shifting the harpoon in his hand to prepare for a quick jolt to action should the mood of the conversation deteriorate to that point. "Neither of you have any idea where I am from. I don't have a clue what you think you are still trying to achieve with barking orders as if your title held any authority, but as you can see the door is shut and the things that made it are dead." Another huff paced the light rant he had gone on, though the Captain soon continued: "Reality calls. You are either stuck, or you'll get out by asking politely like a lady. Or a gentleman, if that's what you happen to be."

If nothing else, she should realise she had very little to win in this situation, with two armed individuals in the space and at least one of them ready to slay living at the drop of a hat. Speaking of, he should be picking up his before it soaked in all the gunk on the floor. But that was a worry for a time when weapons were not going to be pointed around, or such actions were no longer implied.

 

[Hawksearcher]

[Note: to new players, scroll to the bottom to see how to join from this point forward!]

At the Asari's criticism of the "obsolete scale," Joopis' head swiveled a bit with some interest, and nodded quickly, while raising a hand up apologetically. "No need for obstructions at all! I really should be apologizing to you two anyway, at least I would if my insurance adjuster wouldn't have a field day knowing that I went out of my way to admit liability."

Bringing a long slender thumb to brush up against his chin, he added thoughtfully, "The Kardashev question is my favorite to use, just because it tends to get such a wide range of responses. Even calling it obsolete gives me a few hints of how to categorize you, bold traveler."

At the captain's rebuke, Joopis placed the eggs he held into a mechanical pouch on his waist, which closed and sealed with a hiss. "Your companion is quite right--you don't know where you are, and even though the name 'Asari' sounds vaguely familiar, I can't quite say I'd know where to place you off the top of my head. As for you," Joopis looked at the frustrated steamer captain, "I've heard of so many Londons, I'm just as likely to send you to a London that is so completely alien to you that you wouldn't recognize food if you saw it. I guess there's nothing to it, then. We're just going to have to do this the hard way."

If his final statement sounded foreboding or menacing, it was not joined with an immediate threat of violence, for at this point, he had completely stowed away his spear and placed it on his back. He waddled over to the sleek doorway he had opened and pressed a button, which caused the doorway to close, cutting the group off from the white, foreign room that had sat just beyond. He then pressed a few other buttons in quick succession, and after a brief hum, the doorway opened again, this time revealing quite the sight. Stepping out from the side of a large energy tube, the group was met with a dizzying array of blue lights, alien chatter, and floating vehicles and pathways, all suspended in this single high-tech tunnel.

"Welcome to the Interdimensional Highway!"

[Note: Quite similar to the picture above, although the Interdimensional Highway also has dozens of glowing portals embedded into the side walls at regular intervals, each one embedded in a doorframe-like mechanical contraption. The Highway extends and branches out every so often, and even though one can see beyond the protective cerulean shield surrounding it, there does not seem to be an end to the root-like system. The rest of the space the highway is suspended in is just a colorless haze.]​

As Joopis stepped out into the overwhelming area, not checking to see if the other two were following, he began speaking with a very matter-of-fact tone.

"I will assume neither of you have been here, judging by your bewildered reactions to my earlier questions. This network is a waypoint system of sorts, connecting every possible dimension in the ever-expanding multiverse. Every portal you see along the main Highway represents an entire universe, sometimes a familiar alternate reality of an established reality, sometimes a bizarre representation of another being's imagination. Sometimes it's filled with magic. Other times, mundane technology, or laws of physics completely unique to that reality, or voids filled with nightmarish creatures. Most portals have some helpful labels to give you a summary of what to expect within."

Just along this stretch of the highway, Joopis pointed to several different portals, each affected by a different state. "Most universes, whether by accident or intentional experimentation, will eventually discover the Interdimensional Highway. It's a near certainty, given enough time. Blue portals are dimensions that have already officially established a connection to the Highway. Red portals are dimensions that are deemed too hazardous for casual travel, and thus require special permission to enter. Green portals are universes that have not yet officially discovered interdimensional travel--they're one-way doors. You can enter the dimension, but you won't be able to easily get back to the Highway. Frames with no portals represent universes that are still being fabricated, or universes that once existed but have disappeared, or some other thing has happened, rendering that universe completely unaccessible."

At this, Joopis pulls out a small device, and taps on the screen a few times.

"There you go. Tell you what, as long as you don't tell my insurance adjuster, let me just transfer some credits to each of you for the troubles. ◘1,000◘ each should treat you quite nicely here. Your money is merged with your unique bio-signatures, so all you need is to wave your hand at a merchant stall--you see them at certain junctions along the Highway."

Joopis then shrugs, and waves his hand first in one direction of this tunnel, and then in the other direction. "Good luck getting home. I don't envy you."

[Note: to those interested in joining from this point forward, there are plenty of ways you can spin a character entrance, whether it's a character who is familiar with interdimensional travel, or perhaps a character discovering their own dimension's portal to the Highway and venturing into it. Either way, for the sake of staying succinct, I personally recommend you time your character's entrance to run into the Captain and the Justiciar :).]

 

[Fatal Nymph]

What a waste of a perfectly good day, though the end result of all the time wasted, worth more than most would think. The day started out with a boring travel of space to a way point for the interdimensional highway point. The cosmic system on display, giving her new ideas and itching to get them down. Then from her gate the woman entered in to the overly popular gathering of people and things. Even in such a large space she felt overly crowded, and the harsh white light never helped anything any.

Finally a small shop ran by what looked to be a kin of cathulu with pudgy fingers barely able to grasp onto the items it sold. This one was a dark ashen color and it tentacles warbled when irritated. "I have a paid for and awaiting package. Please don't drop it or I will make you pay for the replacement via credits or other means." The creature chittered and its tentacles warbled from her crude comment. And with a gleam in its eye it dropped the item to the counter. Her hand lay flat on the couch her, the package in her hand as if the creature had meant to do so. With a big inhale she glared but said nothing. The scanner was held forth and with a waiver of her hand the verification needed was given.

The tallish female turned around to see Joopis with a group of unfamiliar people. With a quick tuck of her purchase Zava ran over and all but tackled the poor soul. A dog descended anthro was clinging to Joopis. Her ears of fine white hair melded into the hair on top of her head. A strip of white fur ran up her forearms, and her tail was of the same fine white hair. Black and gold cloths formed loosely to her frame. "What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

 

[Hekazu]

The hard way. Hearing Joopis agree with all of what he had said made the Captain sigh internally, but none of that would quite match to the feeling that sank into his belly as he looked to his left and right on the highway. He drew a deep breath and recalled the conversation he had had with a friend when everything had still made sense. Before London had gone through its transition. When science, especially Mathematics, had merely been a structure to understand the world around them. Not something to apply in order to change it. And that conversation made his heart sink. He'd held on to a faint hope, but now that hope was shattered into fragments he hadn't even been aware his hope could shatter into with how minuscule it had been to begin with. But here he was, holding fast to just one of them.

Before he could air his gripes, an apparent friend of Joopis lunged at the strange creature, this presence equally strange and if Rochdale had not just been hit with a reality as ugly as it was, it would have called him to bring forth his harpoon once more. But as it seemed, this was to be par the course from here on out. There were no rules. There was little to no way to tell a hostile species from a docile one. To look at a person and use humanlike complexion or rubbery skin coupled with tentacles as a sign of civilisation was no longer valid. This new arrival reminded him of the Marsh-Wolves, similarly light in fur, only this one was also dressed. The colours suited her.

"His formerly live specimen performed a spontaneous abduction", Captain Rochdale answered in Joopis's stead. "And I have just been told that this highway is essentially an infinite set of possibilities out of which one is the one I came from. It does not take a master mathematician to tell that the odds of me finding back on my steamer approach zero. And it approaches that zero with zeal and all the haste." With a sigh, he looked around at the immediate gates, and lo and behold luck was not on his side today. And what was to even say it would open on a part of the globe he recognised? Considering also that, he might as well scratch the final digits off the train of zeroes that was as long as this highway itself.

 

[Hawksearcher]

Being a rather flat-footed humanoid, Joopis immediately loses his balance as the chipper dog anthro embraces him. They go tumbling down, Joopis letting out a startled “Yark!” After getting a closer look at her, though, he then exclaims, “Zava, we need to get you a bell, you silly mutt!”

The pair make their way to their feet, and Joopis scratches the back of his head before gesturing to his two new “accidents.” “What do you know, Java, the veterinarian didn’t properly fix one of my blink beetles last week, and Cix popped out not one, but TWO newcomers! Of course they attacked, and these fine folks just defended themselves. I’m going to have to hatch a completely new brood now.”

Joopis looks apologetically to the two strangers, then back to Java. “It’s a fargen shot in the dark, but I don’t suppose you’ve heard of ‘London’ or an ‘Asari Justiciar,’ have you? It’s one thing for a dimensional term to sound familiar, of course it’s completely another to actually know which dimension travelers could be from.”

Joopis notices that Captain Rochelle seems rather dejected at his navigational prospects, understandably so. “Fortunately, Captain, the Highway does contain waypoint maps here and there. Finding one can be it’s own challenge, though…”

 

[Fatal Nymph]

As Zava embraced Joopis, she felt them both tumble to the ground. Suprise spread across her face before being called out for not having a bell. "Never!" That was the only response she could come up with, as her witty sarcasm was on a delayed schedule today. The mutt, as Joopis called her, got up and started to dust herself off when she heard one of the new people speak. Her eyes of golden hues found a deep red trench coat, it looked well worn. She looked further up to see a popped collar, a bit of red stubble starting. Finally, back in a standing position the anthro continued to study him as he spoke about what she at this point assumed was the blink beetles, but they had been fixed. Which was vexing all on its own. And the poor male seemed to only just realize what was common core knowledge to her, she tilted her head slightly before looking to Joopis for an answer.

Her friend provided that answer and it all made sense now. "Congrats on being a father of two dimensional beings. I can help if I get time to help with the next batch, they are cute when they aren't dimension snatching people." His next question was a bit off putting. She tilted her head the other direction as her mind tried to process the places she had been to. "I know a couple Londons, but it would help narrow it down by which type of steamer. Core ran, elemental, heat driven, magic, there are so many." She shook her head. "As far as Asari goes, I've heard that species before but never actually met one."

Joopis reassured the captain in a not so comforting way. "Joopis! That's not helpful. Sounds like we need to hit up an information broker first. I have a few in mind that won't cost me and arm and leg, unlike my tattoo ink." Hopefully those dark sea eyes would find some sort of hope. It was never a good day when one's world came crashing down around them, or in this case completely disappeared. The Asari appeared to be taking things at least better than the captain currently.