CHOCOLATE DESTINY, ARC 2

"Cults have that way about them." Amos huffs but keeps blathering "We need to keep going."

"Fine with me...say, how good is your body at handling addicting properties of drugs?"

Amos raises one eyebrow conveying a skeptical face. "Not well. But I have my own methods and if I can rest for an hour I will be well equipped to handle these cultists. Let's move on and make camp somewhere hidden from their dark motivations."

"Damn, guess that means we can't go on all night then. Lets find somewhere off the main road to rest."

Lying prone from behind a hill, Gray observes Estelle's caravan turn around and begin the trek back to town with the people. After he is sure they would not be able to see him, he gets up and runs to catch up with Amos and Oni-chan. I mean Touka.

"Hey guys, I know I was being forced by the townsmen to be purified, but why are you guys running?"

Gray gasps, exhausted from running so much.

"Same deal with him." She pounts her thumb at Amos. "Me, I was going to leave tonight anyway for reasons."

"And what happened to your gangster buddy Ali?"

"He... somehow died... or maybe he didn't die? I'm not even sure anymore. All that I know is that he is no longer with us, and will forever be so."

Gray attempts to formulate a way to describe the scene he saw on the day of Ali's passing but is at a loss for words.

"So, what now? To the capitol?"

"We were headed there anyway so feel free to tag along. Names Touka Nishikujou, and you are?"

“Lee Gray, please to meet you."

Gray falls in with the temporary group, and attempts to use his memory of Estelle's map to plan out the path to the capitol.

"If ya need a place to stay in the capital city I'm sure I can get you a room with the Kishimas...just hope you don't mind snakes." She chuckles abit at her words, then takes off her eye patch so she can see the full road as she walks.

As they travel Amos scans the surroundings for the third obstructed view he can find and tries to setup camp a little ways into that location.

While amos is setting up camp, she goes out searching for a stream or lake to drink from.

It has been quite some time since the gang has last seen a farmstead. The road is lit only by starlight and the waxing moons. Amos finds a small dirt clearing shielded by a dense thicket. Touka finds a pond nearby, and sees what could be a river farther up the road. Gray surmises that they should continue to head due northwest so they can meet back up with the northern road.

She dips her fingers in the water and sucks the wetness off her fingers to test for any impurities in the water.

(Chemical analysis used)

Amos uses the break time to scrawl into one of the gloves he purchased and write on the parchment.

Amos does his nerd things. Touka senses the water is pretty impure, but doesn't have anything immediately harmful.

When everyone returns from their tasks Amos begins the discussion of what to do next. "We're both happy to follow you to the capital Touka but we need a more immediate plan to be one hundred percent sure cultists won't eviscerate us and wrap our intestines around poles in the night. We could move a little bit further out but I'm starting to get hella tired."

"In my humble opinion, we should take things slowly so to make sure we are well rested in case anything happens. Pushing ourselves to outrun danger will only leave ourselves vulnerable in case danger somehow does find us."

"If you guys could resist addiction, id give you something to keep you awake for a day or so, but alas you can't so my plan is null."

"I would rather not test my ability to resist some shady drugs, so I guess we should establish camp?"

Gray sets up camp for the night, and starts the journey again the next morning, trying to find a nearby town on the walk.

"Fine with me, I need less sleep than you two so I'll keep watch." She then tosses her bedroll to Lee. "No fires, could attract unwanted attention."

Saying that she lays back against a tree and stays at attention looking out for intruders, keeping her club next to her. Whenever she gets tired, she uses chemical production to run half a cup of coffees worth of caffeine through her body to stay awake.

Amos is concerned about Touka's constitution but leaves his questions for another day and goes to sleep.

Amos and Lee Gray wake up after an uneventful slumber as the sun crests over the tallest hills. Touka is jittery, cold, and bored out of her mind from sitting by a tree all night and constantly taking caffeine. All three feel rather hungry. They get up and are about to start on the road again when suddenly a huge glowing sphere appears several feet in the air nearby, crackling lightning and pulsing with power.
It disgorges a man wearing strange clothing and holding an even stranger device onto the ground, and promptly disappears.

Touka changes her clothing to long pants, boots, and a long coat to keep herself warm, also putting on her eyepatch over her discolored eye.

When she sees the man she simply blinks. "I must be more tired than I thought."

"Oh my," Richard says as he stands up and dusts himself off. He stands average height, with sandy brown hair and brown eyes. His strange clothes consist of a long white jacket, a blue shirt with buttons, and nice grey slacks. His shoes are stylish, but not suited to the cold weather and rough terrain.

He turns around and sees the strange group before him. "I was so sure it was going to work that time. But I must apologize, I'm being rude." He strides forward and holds out his right hand. "Hello, my name is Richard! Do you people shake hands in this world?"

Amos slowly stands up in a disoriented haze and shakes Richard's hand. "Yes, in some places." Amos looks around to check for Torean farmers or traders that might be passing by. After confirming none are nearby he rubs his face with his hands and speaks "So .... you just popped out of the air? You a wizard or something?"

"A wizard? Hahahahahaha!" This isn't a mocking laugh.  It's a true, big, from the belly laugh. "Of course not! Wizards aren't real.  I'm just a physicist!  Don't you see my badge?"  He indicates a mark on his coat that looks like this:

"You mean you are one of those... people who sit in a basement doing unspeakable things? What brings you here?"

Gray smiles, trying to not seem offensive.

"Unspeakable things?! Well, my work is a bit confusing at times, and when I speak about it I can put people to sleep, but I'd hardly say it's unspeakable. What sort of physicists do you people have around here anyway?" He hefts the particle gun in his hands, a little nervous about what dangers may surround him.

"Never heard of a `physicist` only mages." She turns to her companions. "Shouldn't we get going, one of you does have a town full of zealots after him after all." She looks pointedly at Mr. Grey

"Quite. Hey Richard, you're welcome to tag along and detail the life story of physicist wizardry and the artifact in your hands and I strongly recommend you do or you'll get 'purified' ".

"I may be purified! You are being chased by dangerous zealots?! This does not sound like the safest world I've stumbled into. I would be glad to join your group. You all look like quite a rough and tumble bunch. I sure hope we won't get attacked."

"Then lets go already." She starts walking, stumbling a little as she goes but continues on.

Amos makes a crooked frown at Touka's exhaustion but leaves it alone. He looks Richard and Gray in the eyes, shrugs, and moves on.

Richard begins walking. As a child and young adolescent, he spent a great deal of time as a Boy Scout, so he is used to hiking, even in mountainous terrain such as this. As he walks, he whistles a cheerful tune.

Even though he is apparently being chased by angry cultist zealots who are going to purify him, Richard is having a pretty nice day.

You notice a young red-haired boy walking down the road behind you. He has a knapsack on his back that is rather large proportionate to his frame, and something shiny hangs from his neck.

She turns her head behind her to say something when she sees the boy. "Oi whats a kid like you doing all the way out here?" She breaks away from the group and heads toward him.

"Heeeeeeyyyy Daliu. How you been kid?"

"Do you three know this child? What is he doing so far away from his family? This is hardly safe for a child." Richard moves forward and crouches in front of the little child, getting on eye level. "Do you need help? Are you ok? Where are your parents?"

"Sorry, I seemed to have forgotten you in the church. I just hope that father didn't do anything unspeakable to you Mr. Daliu."

Gray looks deeply concerned over the young redhaired boy.

Daliu has the face of a boy who has lost everything, but found respite in his faith. He pats Richard twice on the face, and presents his holy symbol.

"Hello, sir. You can see I am not alone, for I have the power of God on my side. All who walk with the Lord have nothing to fear, even the children you are so concerned about."

He smiles at Lee Gray. "You worry for nothing. Father Mayhew was very kind to me, and relieved my spirit of all its burdens. You should have been purified too-"
That Shadow

Daliu's face twitches inconspicuously, but he fights through the static to finish his thought.

"...it would have done you much good, Lee Gray."

Gray shakes his head.

"Yet another prodigious youth has fallen to the opiate that plagues the masses, and yet the tolerance that my culture has taught me tells me to accept it."

Gray sadly pats Daliu on the shoulder.

"But more importantly, do you know that you are now standing heathen to the father that once raised you?"

Daliu shakes his head and grabs Gray's hand.
"The Swaggafid are practical to a fault; they'll accept any Faith with real power. The Cook and The Prince held The Swagger above all else, but would not spurn Torean's God."

He pats Gray's hand and releases it, turning towards the group now.

"Let me introduce myself, to the two new travelers in our group. My name is Daliu Ayime, last son of House Ayime, last member of the Lil' Prince's Spectacular Coterie, and the last hope of this suffering world.

"A great evil lurks over our lands. Surely you can all feel it. Ancient kingdoms march to war. Ghouls run amok. Angry refugees loot and burn the property of innocent townsfolk.

I'm traveling to the city of Domiente to root out this evil. I would be glad to travel with everyone for a while, until we go our separate ways."

"What exactly counts as heathenism by your new found faith Daliu?"

"I am not a trained priest. My newfound connection with God gives me strength, but I don't know all the tenants. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me case by case. Father Mayhews taught me a little bit."

"'Last hope for this world' eh?" She laugha a little at his words. "Pretty big claims for one as small as you. The names Touka Nishikujou." She gives a slight bow to him.

Daliu bows back. "Well met, ma'am. I don't have to be our world's last hope. If you volunteered to fight the evil as well, I'd only have to put in half the effort."

She laughs again. "Just remember kid, a person who is a saviour to one man, is a conqueror to another."

She focuses back on the rest of the group. "Anyway we ready to go?"