"The realm we will be entering uses things like these, usually a bit shorter, as well as much larger versions that they call 'muskets'. They fire small lead spheres called 'bullets' that punch through armor, and leave large, bleeding wounds. Sometimes the bullet becomes lodged in the victim, slowing healing, and the lead can poison the blood."

"Heh." muttered Yama. "Wait until you see the three story tall metal thing that fires magic stuff. That was impressive."

When Ivan saw what Bennon put on the table his ears went back and he whimpered a little bit. "yeah I know something similar to that, it is what people in my realm use to kill my kind with. But I have learned how to evade the bullets so i think I will be fine" he said as he looked at the others.

Yama shrugged "I'll probably die, but oh well. If not I can heal myself or anyone else. Quiet now. Woooorking." She then returned to ignoring them while she sculpted.

Bennon raised an eyebrow.
"Evaid the bullets? I foresee discussions between us two on the days ahead. Long discussions. Full of details." he looked down at his bow, smiling contentedly. He had had to shoot the previous owner of the flintlock pistol. He was surprised that two of them had seen guns before. They were rare; most realms didn't harbour the correct mineral compounds necessary to create the black grainy powder used to fire them. He only had a small horn of it himself, taken from the corpse of the pirate he had slain. "And there is another thing. The people of the following realm don't know magic, beyond truly minor alchemical works. And even that they brand witchcraft and attempt to destroy with torture and murder. Me have to be very careful, and you, Ivan, will have to be quiet if we head through any towns or villages, and the gods know, we aren't going to go through any forts or cities if I can help it."

Ivan nodded about the bullets and about staying quiet. He didn't want other humans to spaz when they saw a talking wolf. They would kill him on the spot and he really didn't have plans on dieing anytime soon. But when he talked about evaiding bullets he smiled. He had learned how to from almost being killed many times. But now he had trained himself to catch bullets in his teeth and also moved ever so slightly so that the bullet would just miss him.

Yama finnished her sculpture with a sigh and rested it on the center of the table. It was not the finest thing she had ever made, but the lines were clean and smooth and portrayed their subject well. She stood and stretched before nudging the finished work towards Lilyanna. "You can keep it or sell it or whatever, my work usually fetches pretty good prices."

"So they're like arrows, but stronger?" Dracorix asked, somewhat worried. He tucked his wings in closer, hoping it would protect them better. At the mention of no magic, however, he relaxed slightly. "Then I'll have to stay completely out of sight, as I can't hide my wings. I'll stay nearby, though."

Yama leaned back into her chair and looked at Dracorix "Maybe, maybe not. If it's connected to a magic world they no doubt get travelers, and who knows what lives there regularly. Tell us more about this realm Bennon."

"The realm itself is completely nonmagical except for the occasional magic traces in various materials and substances, so alchemy is rare, but exists. Though they get the occasional passer-through that brings with it whatever magic it has, as the realm didn't used to suppress magical ability, but it makes it chaotic. You are never sure if what you are going to get is quite what you were attempting. Glyph magic seems more stable, but spells are completely random, and spirit magic is iffy." he pulled some sheets of parchment out of his pouch. "The truly difficult part is that almost the entire realm is under one kingdom. The king himself is paranoid of what is going on. Afraid that it is a personal attack on him, conceited as that may seem. Their military is organized and large, but don't really expect any kind of major attack, and taking back roads and going around forts is usually pretty safe. Most people are poor, with a small but wealthy middle class. The only other territories belong to a race of small goblin-like creatures that go by the name "Dan'tu". Short, squat, climb very well. Had one as a scout on my trip through. They are more accepting of the magical happenings, and always willing to help anyone with money. The hard part is finding them. I wasn't there for very long, so that's about all I know."

Dracorix nodded. "How well does shapeshifting work?" At the mention of the Dan'tu, he added, "Do you have their scent? Perhaps Ivan can find them again." He thought that was their best bet for getting through the realm.

"I don't know, no-one shapeshifted that I could see while I was there. I'm going to assume that it works like normal magic; eratic and chaotic. You could end up a half-wolf, perhaps." Iori chuckled over the last bit. It wouldn't surprise him.

Ivan sighed "I wouldn't mind being a half-wolf. At least I would be able to carry things and fight better." he said as he looked at Iori. "But if you do have there scent I might be able to track them, I am usually able to track any sent."

((OOC: No harsh intended, it's spelled "scent". ^...^ Just a friendly side-note))

((oh sorry about that, I missed that one))

It appeared nobody had anything to say, so Dracorix broke the silence. "Alright, looks like we're decided. When can we leave?" Personally, he wanted to go soon, being an adventurous type. However, if anybody had anything they wanted to do before they left, he'd be fine with it. Maybe he'd go off flying while he waited. Or test this world's shapeshifting levels more thoroughly...

Yama blinked "I was still wanting to ask that one girl and her kid about the world collapse, but I suppose I don't HAVE to since we'll be traveling through them ourselves. What we should do is collect the rest of our erstwhile companions. No point in leaving anyone behind." She stood and stretched before cautiously edging away from Ivan "If anyone knows where the others are..."

"You gather the companions. I suggest we go ahead and leave for the gateway, so I will go purchase a horse and cart for us. It will be necessary to carry the tents and food and water. If there is anything specific you will need, let me know so that I can pick it up on my way through town." Bennon stood, and pushed his chair in, replacing the pistol in his bag. "And from here on out we are a group. We work together, and therefore have a greater chance of survival. Remember that in the days to come."

((quick group count, I wanna know who I'm getting xD))

((Here obviously, I think we lost most of them though >.>))

((lol yeah, I'm pretty sure it's just Bennon, Ivan, you, and me, and we're all here, so... Unless I'm wrong, everyone's gathered.))

It was a delightful day in Tinkertown. The sun was smiling, its various flame-shaped fins rotating as the gears and cogs within churned merrily. The Jacks sprang out of their boxes with pride, the Slinks slunk and bounced about with glee, and even the Tin-Tin Soldiers were marching with a bit more spring in their step. The sounds of laughter and joy filled the air, and The Toymaker could not be more pleased. Today was a good day.

Then it happened. A portal opened in the merry land of Tinkertown, and the sun began to frown. You would frown too, if a portal opened in the midst of your face.

Inter-dimensional energy replacing cogs and springs, the sun, now broken, crashed to the ground with a harsh CLUNKACHUNKA! It shone no more, and its eyes were closed. The world was dark, the only light being the Lite-Brite Billboards, the Whiz-Bang Robots, the Twirlawhirl Tops, and the portal itself. This was not a good day at all. The Jacks hid in their boxes once more, trembling and whimpering. The Slinks slunk back up their stairs, too frightened to move. Even the Tin-Tin Soldiers, the bravest of the lot, broke into tears and began to rust.

The Toymaker was not pleased. All was supposed to be merry and fun in Tinkertown, and this... this THING came from someplace else to spoil their fun! How rude! Standing upon his balcony, The Toymaker spoke to his people.

"Toys and trinkets! Baubles and puppets! Playthings all! May I have your attention please!"

All heads turned to their creator; surely he would know what to do!

"This... this THING from the outside has interrupted our merrymaking, and The Toymaker has seen this plight. This cannot be accepted. Please do not be afraid; I shall build a new sun, and he shall smile even more widely, and laugh with the heartiness of Old Giver Christmas himself! And once that is done, The Toymaker himself shall travel through the portal and uncover what disturbed our fun! Perhaps it will be a new friend, willing to play games and tell jokes with us! Do not fear, The Toymaker is here!"

Cheers and applause came from the crowd, and merrymaking was soon to be had once more. The Toymaker went to his workshop, and began work on Mister Sun Mark II. He did his work without error or fatigue, for he, too, was a trinket. A metal jester, dressed in pumpkin pants and vest, donning a wide-brimmed hat with a fringed silver feather protruding from it, and a cheerful smile painted on his face. His shoes were curled into points, and his hands wore frilled white gloves. He would do his work swiftly, and then embark into the portal...

(Good first post?)

((Well, I think you were supposed to actually get into our world first post, but I think it's fine if you make another post to get there xD

Wow, this died. I haven't been on here in at least a month and it moved one post. SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING xD))

The Toymaker was finally finished. Pressing a button and turning some wheels on a whimsically-coloured panel, he began the process of putting a new sun into the sky. With a great churning sound, a door in the roof began to open. The toys of Tinkertown were delighted to see confetti burst forth from The Toymaker's Keep, and even more delighted at what came next.

Shining brilliantly, it rose. Gleaming gold and ever bright, the new sun smiled warmly upon the town, its eyes seeming to smile as well. Its face would make one think of a merry old man, a jolly old soul who delighted merely in seeing others happy. Decorated with an ornate filigree around the edges and keeping aloft with spinning rotors of simulated flame, Mister Sun Mark II looked down upon his kinsmen and sounded a great and booming "HO-HO-HO-HO!!!"

Parades were had and cheering was made, stories were told and music was played. Once again, the Jacks burst from their boxes with a bounce and a giggle, the Slinks slunk down the stairs in waves, and the Tin-Tin Soldiers twirled their guns as they marched. However, The Toymaker's duty was not yet fulfilled...

He opened a closet in his workshop; this measure was due anyway. Old Giver Christmas had given him very specific instructions on the matter. There was a time delay to its use, but it was a necessary thing.

Inside was another Toymaker.

Toymakers did not last forever, for they too were toys, and thus Old Giver Christmas himself made a new one when the old one was nearing its end. The current Toymaker saw that he may not return from his journey, and activated the new Toymaker, who would come to life within a matter of hours. Making the last of his preparations, the old Toymaker sped off...

Soon, another thing emerged from The Toymaker's Keep. Indeed, it was The Toymaker himself, on a giant balloon!!! The toys below marveled at the sight, and were even more in awe as he spoke to them. "My friends!!! I go now to the other side of this portal!!! I shall discover the cause and put things right again! I have left someone new in charge, and you shall meet him in a few hours time, but for now, have fun and play always!!!"

They cheered their loudest as he passed through the portal. Even now, as he entered, this new world was awestruck as well. As the balloon floated over an inn, it could be said that even such strange ones as dragons and wolfbrothers would find this unusual.

(Enter The Toymaker!)

Yama groaned and rubbed at her eyes. "I don't know. I fear that already we have been scattered. The things here are not all as benign as they seem. I will fetch Anyes." Rising to her feet with a sigh she collected her wood sculptings and shavings into her bags before making her way up the stairs. Within moments she was back downstairs, her face even paler then usual. "Anyes is gone. I don't know where but there was no sign of a fight. She seemed tough, there should have been a fight. I don't like this at all." Her eyes were dialated, bringing an illusion of added darkness to her bright eyes, deepening them to a forest green. A chill ran up her spine. She needed out, she couldn't be indoors right now. She wanted cool air, new leaves and a growing tree, but in this city of metal and wood she would settle for an open sky. "I'm going to check the outside of the window." In a half dash she made her way to the door, dodging around a sparking metaloid before bursting outside. But things were strange outside, there was a sense of awe, confusion. She looked up and her jaw dropped. She, in all her travels, had never seen so much color in one place at one time...