Editing World on Fire (section)

==== Events ====
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! Location
! Message
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| style="text-align:center;" | 5, 21, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | I'd be happy like a little girl if it weren't for the circumstances. Here is our secret! This is the storeroom with the firecrackers for the New Year celebration—we set up a dry cache for them, away from the villages. Halflings are way cautious when it comes to danger and fire, so I insisted on safekeeping these things in a secluded place. [[Frederick]] made small batches of them in his spare time, and once a year, the villagers brought themselves to curb their aversion to the scientist, for no one else could give them this beloved amusement. Each time, [[Frederick]] would get almost a year's worth of foodstuffs for the firecrackers; the halflings sure loved their big celebrations! The people of the Valley bragged that no one had ever seen fiery rains quite like this, not even in [[Bracada]], and would stop at nothing to show their neighbors up and enjoy some honest-to-goodness miracles.<p>Frederick would grin dryly and agree that indeed, nothing like that was ever seen in [[Bracada]].<p>“There, you just slip a couple coins to some dropout illusionist quack and get twice the spectacle," he muttered to himself as he carted away his hard-earned pay.<p>The crates contained onion-sized spheres that exploded with a deafening bang, spraying bright droplets of fire all over. Usually they were launched into the sky out of a long pipe dug into the village square like a spring pole, but now we could use them to arm a few sling-wielding [[halfling]]s. These perfectly uniform projectiles worked even better for throwing than stone bullets.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 8, 32, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | [[Frederick]]'s message spoke of "names and faces from the past", and he was going south... I assumed that he was going to meet some old acquaintances, and if so, they could only be meeting here, in [[Dry Ryehill]], a place where outsiders came to trade and were less shunned than in other villages in the Valley.<p>A mile away from the village, it was clear already that it was gone. Those who came here not only hungered for killing, but also for razing... Or maybe it was some twisted, alien approach to creation? What if these creatures are just as happy to contemplate mounds of burnt logs as a [[halfling]] is to behold a new, lovingly painted barn? And the earth scorched to a molten crust is as dear to them as his favorite, hand-ploughed gardens with huge carrots are to Grampa Haye?<p>And if they caught those who lived here by surprise, what did they do to them?</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 12, 20, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | As we approached the campfire, we saw a hastily abandoned camp. The footprints of a dozen two-legged creatures led away from it into the forest. Two decapitated carcasses of celestial guests were lying by the fire—it looked like someone began field dressing them, but left halfway through.<p>“Ah, those are [[halfling]]s…” you hear from the bushes. “Go away! Don't you dare follow us, or we'll have you taste steel, like we did to those freaks!”<p>Apparently, the men in the bushes are hardly nicer than the horned ones. Are they the same gang that brought mayhem to the neighboring valley five years ago? They’d been forgotten by now, but surely there was no way a new one would just pop up out of nowhere right here. Well, I guess trouble comes in threes.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 14, 12, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | The horned one lies on the ground, hit between the eyes a few times with heavy slingshot bullets. His head is cracked, one horn broken off. What seemed unthinkable yesterday is now sprinkling our land with its stinking blood. A beast, it would seem; but no, not a beast. His eyes were too intelligent until they faded. Not an [[elemental]] spirit, not a human, not a magic creature. And silence all around. Nothing more to argue about.<p>“We should inform everyone about this devilry at once!”<p>“How many of them are roaming the forests now, trampling our mushrooms!”<p>“We must prepare an ambush!”, I heard from the [[halfling]]s flocking around the vanquished creature. Suddenly the clatter died down, and I felt a dozen intense stares.<p>“[[Henrietta]], you know all the paths around here! You're the only one who knows where all the villages are!”<p>What an ordeal it is for them to go beyond the outskirts of their home village. All their lives, they had been afraid of strangers, and here was their fear embodied. Even dead, it made them sweat, but now they stood with their chins high and spat on the brown corpse. If there's more than one of them out there…<p>“Why, lads, where there is one, there gonna be others, right? We'd better get some heavy stones and go together!”, [[Kosta]], an elderly carter who was lamenting the horses, threw his hat on the ground. “I wanna make these singed hogs pay for my ponies! Show the way, lass—can’t we cut through the woods to the [[Tall Ridges]]?”</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 15, 13, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | There was indeed a "hole" in the place the villagers had mentioned—a hole with smooth, seemingly melted edges, but somehow it wasn't too hot near it, and it didn't even look like something had been burning there. What could that mean? Some of those stars that fell in the night didn't announce their imminent arrival, but simply fell... wherever they needed to…? I froze, frightened by my thoughts, while the clamoring peasants kept waving their hands and rebuking me, as if it all were somehow my doing. I turned back to them and tried to think of what to say; suddenly, the outrage on their faces gave way to surprise and then to horror. Stunned, I realized that the villagers weren't looking at me anymore, but behind me.<p>A pair of sharp, crescent-shaped horns appeared above the hole. Then two huge red paws, and then their owner got out of the hole with a mighty leap. Straightening up, he inhaled gurglingly and let out two streams of smoke. Huge in stature, with lumpy skin the color of fresh meat— or with no skin at all?—here, in the middle of the village, he looked infinitely alien. The eyes of the strange visitor were fiery spots, and the air around his figure was churning like it does above a frying pan. I felt a wave of heat and a strange, iron-like odor or taste on my tongue—and then it was as if a chemical reaction had stopped, like at [[Frederick]]'s, when he’d let me drop some "im-ge-be-tor" in a flask. The monster's eyes became dim, its skin turned brown, the heat around it subsided, and I could finally get a good look at it. If one were to imagine a huge wild boar growing horns, losing its bristles, standing up on two legs like a man, and getting humps on its back and chest... that would still be a very rough and flattering description of the creature I saw. Its ugliness was striking.<p>The creature wiggled its huge head around and looked at the crowd. Its snare-like mouth opened, and a disgustingly long tongue fell out. With a loud clang, the monster took its first step onto the land of [[Eeofol]]. Funny, I thought, as if some good farrier had already shoehorned him....</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 19, 9, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | The sign at the gate reads:<p>"Experimental maintenance shop. Property of the mining company. Currently not hiring."<p>Looking closer, I noticed scratches on the sign. Barely visible smudges of dirt complement them, forming the symbols of a secret alphabet invented by [[Frederick]].<p>"...You'll soon come rushing here, like if it smelt of hot apple pies. This starfall breaks all the laws of cosmology: I've never seen such celestial phenomena described anywhere... the speed of passing celestial bodies, the deceleration exceeding all norms, flame streams with a vector opposite to... the strongest light filter broke... extremely interesting, but the situation forces me to leave the home. Names and faces from a past life have resurfaced; it could be dangerous. Be careful and don't forget our secret! I am heading south, and don’t even think..."</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 21, 5, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | We stepped through the door that opened before [[Frederick]], followed by a line of [[halfling]]s. None of them had ever been here before. Had it been any other time, they would have been struck by the sight of the elegant laboratory, topped by a [[Bracada|Bracadian]] dome; they hadn’t seen anything much nicer than plain stone huts and wooden barns. But no, the villagers had had enough shocks for the last few days, and the only thing they were looking for was a chance to plop down on the grass and rub their tired feet. We decided not to disturb the weary [[halfling]]s yet and first went up the hill so that [[Frederick]] could check on his creations being prepared for their first big flight. The sight was incredible! In the middle of a clearing surrounded by snow-capped mountains, three huge bubbles were swaying majestically in the wind, with a very large boat beneath each of them. I confess that even I gaped at the sight of the spider-like mechanisms moving deftly about the decks and tackle, tightening knots with their steel beaks and doing something else totally incomprehensible. Soon [[Frederick]] was back from his inspection of these, as he called them, [[airship]]s. With a hint of pride in his voice, he said:<p>“A job well done! My [[automaton]]s worked smoothly and without error. The tanks are filled to the top with water. All that's left is to put the orbs of fire in the furnaces, and we're ready to go! I'll steer the main airship, and the mechanical assistants will repeat my maneuvers on the others.”<p>We went back to the [[halfling]]s. The peaceful scenery of the valley nested between the mountains seemed to have calmed the poor villagers—perhaps even a bit too much. Some were asleep, others were lighting their pipes. [[Frederick]] shook his head, grabbed an iron cone, and spoke into its top. The thing made his voice so loud that those who were resting leapt up.<p>“Enough sleeping! Go, go, let's get a move on! Time is very, very short: the [[demon]]s may appear any minute now, and then we will all be in big trouble. In the building in front of you there are supplies prepared—not a lot, but better than nothing. Take the crates and carry them where I show you, if you don't want to starve to death during the journey.”<p>“Hope those lazies didn’t forget the sack...", [[Frederick]] said with the cone out of his face, and I was the only one who heard him. Suddenly, someone touched my shoulder. I turned around and met [[Tavin]]'s gaze. He emerged silently behind me—but that was to be expected of a seasoned warrior like him. I wanted to greet him, glad that the Guard had survived, but there was something in his eyes that made me hesitate. [[Tavin]] squinted at me and said:<p>“If I had no trouble tracking down and finding you, those infernal beasts will do no worse. They've got as good a nose as the best hunting dogs in [[Erathia]]. Give me a week’s worth of provisions and a sack of your firecrackers. I'll lead them away from the valley. At the very least, I'll buy you some time, holding them back for a bit.”<p>“But… [[Tavin]], what are you talking about? We need you and your expertise! It would be suicide to go up against those beasts alone. Maybe they won't find the secret passage.”<p>“Don't try to change my mind, child. If my life saves hundreds of yours, that's the price I'll pay. That's why I became a soldier. Someday you'll understand.”<p>I sighed and, feeling weak in my legs, did as he asked. [[Tavin]] slung the sack on his shoulder, looked me in the eye again, and without another word or a glance back, he strode firmly out of the valley.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 23, 24, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | “You're alive!”<p>“Yes, I'm alive, and I'd very much like to know which [[Bracada|Bracadian]] demonologist I’ve pissed off. I've never even crossed paths with any. What a mistake.”<p>I didn't know what [[Frederick]] was talking about, but I was so happy to see him alive, I didn't even try to ask him anything. He, as usual, kept feeding me a mountain of thoughts and assumptions, as if I'd shown up at his lab in the morning and he couldn't wait to have my ear to share what he had cooking in his head...<p>“Some time ago I received a letter personally signed by [[Khazandar]]—I think I told you about him... the freest mind in [[Bracada]], for which he will surely pay sooner or later. I had not heard of him since I left those lands, but a few years ago a messenger from him found me, and we entered into correspondence. It seemed as though our connection has now been discovered. The signature in his last message looked forged to me; I decided that if I had been found indeed, I should act first. The letter proposed a meeting; [[Khazandar]], was supposedly going to send me a crucial component for a certain experiment... but there were demons waiting for me in [[Dry Ryehill]]—those are creatures from another plane of existence, you just saw them! Somebody summoned them, but neglected control, so they captured me, killing half the village meanwhile!"<p>“[[Frederick]]… those things… they weren't summoned. Or, at least, not by the [[wizard]]s certainly.”<p>“Not by the [[wizard]]s? What makes you say that? Those were some archetypal [[demon]]s—I'd seen stuffed ones in the [[Bracadian Academy|Academy]]’s museum!”<p>“Shooting stars. They came out of the rocks that fell from the sky that night.”<p>[[Frederick]]’s face fell; he began arguing, but I just took him to the place where the creatures were doing their ritual, and I showed him the huge crater at the village’s edge; the stone that had fallen there was so big that a [[devil]] could fit inside, maybe even a few. The rock had split open, and the cracks revealed something strange and unnatural. Either a tangle of angular pipes, or...<p>“Well, I’ll be— If only [[alchemist]]s [[Widman]] and [[Statten]] would have seen that! I don't even want to think about… I mean, I suspected it was not a real meteor shower. Wait, so it was a coincidence? [[Khazandar]]’s messenger was actually waiting for me? And you're telling me those things have already taken over half the Valley?! [[Henrietta]], we need to get back to my lab now! You go straight there right now, and I'll—I didn't tell you this, but [[Khazandar]] had once talked me into joining an interesting project, and I'd set up another research site in the mountains to the east. Now I need to get there, and you…”<p>“I'm going straight north. You weren't held here alone. Another prisoner said there's a detachment of [[Erathia]]n soldiers camped nearby. Apparently, someone escaped the Valley and was able to call them for help. Refugees are flocking to them now. [[Frederick]], listen! I know you don't much like [[halfling]]s. Sure, I myself feel like a stranger in my own land sometimes—but I've seen what the monsters do. We have to do something or they'll kill everyone and turn them into their filthy flesh. If we don't try to save someone—well, that’ll kill me.”<p>“...Yeah, well, there might not be enough hands... in fact, that would be most helpful. Yes! Ahem. That's right, we can't just stay aside! Now listen: take everyone you can to my lab. Three hundred, maybe five if I can get those old [[Gavin]]’s underpants to fly too... Someone’s gotta help me settle down when our flight ends.”<p>“Flight? Are we gonna fly like birds?”<p>“Not exactly, but it's our only chance if the [[devil]]s continue to destroy everything in their path with such abandon. Trust me as you always have, and you'll soon see it yourself. That’s it, then! I'm going to the mountains.”</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 23, 24, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | A palisade was an unusual sight for these places, yet someone had cared enough to build it. It gave me some hope, even if faint. The sentries were steady and waved cheerfully, inviting me to the camp.<p>My companions fell to the ground right as we stepped inside the walls; several days with barely any food or proper rest had taken their toll on them. They were unaccustomed to such deprivation of their fleshy, well-fed bodies. I went straight to talk to the commander. He was standing in the center of the camp, giving instructions and waiting to talk to the new arrivals.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 23, 18, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | The ragged cohort lined up for battle. Commands were heard, but no longer in [[Erathia]]n. Some alien tongue, crude and animalistic. Shields and surcoats over their armor were thickly stained with blood—they didn’t even attempt to clean them. How could they dare to betray? To submit to this vile force? What had broken the will of these experienced soldiers— was it the fear of imminent death.... or of being turned into alien flesh?<p>It doesn't matter now. There is only one way north.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 26, 11, 0
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | I love discovering new things, but I hate surprises. That's the beauty of the process: developing a theory and then practicing it to achieve exactly what you expect. The theory, of course, can be as bold as you like...<p>That unusual starfall could not help but attract my attention, even though I was thinking about other things that night. I'm not ashamed to admit—the unraveling of this phenomenon was the most unpleasant surprise in my life. All of us, the scientists of [[Enroth (planet)|Enroth]], even those who do not yet suspect what has happened, were confronted with a fact: rocks can fall from the sky. And not just fall, but carry guests that no one would willingly invite into their home. Now I think: what if they are not stones at all, but something akin to our airships, only more complex and perfect—or maybe only fragments of such a ship that has crashed? Is it possible that up there, so high that we can't see it even with telescopes, city-sized hulks someone crafted are flying somewhere on their business, carrying whole nations, exchanging signals and sometimes volleys of monstrous guns? And where do they dock—for their harbor surely cannot be on our planet, can it?<p>I caught myself thinking. What I would like most of all now is to find a common language with one of the aliens, to listen to their stories about their native places, to ask a thousand questions... for some reason they didn't throw me straight into the cauldron where they made their warriors from the dead flesh. Maybe they saw in me someone with whom they could reach an understanding and agree on something? Maybe I should have....<p>As I thought about it, I didn't notice we'd reached my old lab. Hearing [[Henrietta]]'s command, "Ready the shells!", I looked up to see a large group of aliens blocking our way. This time they were lined up in a sort of battle formation, and there was a clear leader, a lean, scarlet-skinned horned one clad in black armor, as if covered in a thick layer of soot. He stepped forward, looked me straight in the eye... and scraped a claw across his throat, licking his thin lips.</p>
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| style="text-align:center;" | 5, 25, 0<p>5, 26, 0<p>6, 32, 0<p>6, 33, 0<p>18, 27, 0<p>24, 8, 0<p>25, 9, 0<p>26, 10, 0</p>
| style="padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | -move for AI<p>''Note: ONLY applies to {{red}} AI player.''<p><center>'''Contents:''' {{Mv|Nullify|Nullify}}</center></p>
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