COMMENCE VOYAGE

[bathymetric]

Fun Fact: Did you know the Atlantic Ocean has a surface area of 41.1 million square miles? No reason.

...

There's something uneasy in the air as you come to.

Well, "come to" is an interesting word in this case. It implies waking up, which is not exactly what happens. None of you are in beds, nor are you really asleep in the traditional sense. One moment you're somewhere else, doing something else with your time, and the next? You're somewhere on board a massive cruise ship - maybe lounging on a deck chair by the pool, maybe getting some Gains in the exercise room, maybe enjoying the tasteful décor in the buffet - and you have no idea how you got here or how you might get back. This is not your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she isn't here.

What you do have, apart from 25 other unlucky souls, is a small smartphone-like device in your pocket with only a handful of things on it: a clock reading 11PM, a pdf of a ticket in your name on a special Atlantic Liners New Year's Eve Cruise, an app labeled Passenger Profiles with some basic information on your traveling companions, and a message:

Welcome aboard, passenger! Please feel free to partake of any of the facilities while you wait for the big event! Remember: when midnight comes, you better make your way to the theatre at the back of Level 1 for the main event! The Captain and the First Mate will be there to take care of you all personally, and to help you ring in the new year in style!

Well, that's a start. But what you do until then, it seems, is up to you!

Comments

[scouserer]

You could say that. Being involved with magic tends to have less desirable consequences.

[He doesn't elaborate any further--for now. But it's clear that this isn't his first rodeo.]

If the captain wanted us dead right now, he could've killed us already. While we're still alive, we're valuable--but for what?

[He shrugs. An aura of smug overconfidence radiates from him.]

I'm assuming that, whatever he has planned, we won't be able to get out of easily. Though, to be fair, he was able to kidnap you.

[dokkalfheimr]

...In the realms I'm familiar with, there are ways to bring me - or anyone else they choose - into other worlds. I've met someone from a world such as this one, and seen others from different worlds altogether. It isn't entirely unheard of.

It's usually for the sake of fulfilling a contract, in my experience. Being brought to another world renders you a servant to the summoner's will.

[scouserer]

[Ah. Now that causes Constantine to frown even more.]

Huh. Sounds somewhat like summoning a demon, if you don't mind me saying. And a shit gig, overall.

[Sorry, Frejya. He's...rude.]

What kind of contracts do people usually ask you to fulfill?

[dokkalfheimr]

[For what it's worth, she doesn't seem offended.]

Usually the summoned are asked to fight on behalf of another. The kingdom of Embla makes a practice of it.

Those that are summoned are people, however. Powerful ones, yes, but generally just people. Nothing otherworldly.

[...She doesn't know that Hel is playable.]

[scouserer]

Huh. Like pitting chess pieces against each other.

[Though, this does bring up the question....]

And what happens if you die in the process?

[dokkalfheimr]

[She considers it for a moment; her brow furrows a little.]

From what I've heard, the summoner from the world most like this one can raise the dead.

[scouserer]

That's one way to cheat the process, I suppose.

[He grimaces.]

Personally, I never was a fan of necromancy. Only so many times you can raise the dead before you lose a bit of yourself in the process.

[A pause.]

Question--do you happen to be a magic caster, yourself?

[dokkalfheimr]

In a manner of speaking.

[It's a bit weird within the mortal world, but.]

I suppose you would like to know what it is I do.

[scouserer]

Preferably. Unless you'd like to demonstrate, instead?

[When he woke up, he found himself untethered from magic altogether, which was...concerning.]

Couldn't so much as produce a single spark of flame when I found myself here. Want to confirm a hunch.

[dokkalfheimr]

Unfortunately, my magic feels distant from me now. I cannot sense it, nor can I call upon it.

Most of my power is limited to my realm, and drawing people there. While they are with me, I can give mortals whatever they like, or whatever I've deemed that they deserve.

...I can also change form if I so choose, though I have one that I prefer. I cannot simply appear as whomever I please.

[scouserer]

That's quite a range, lady.

[Constantine lets out a soft snort.]

Inter-dimensional teleportation, magic suppression, temporal displacement--what can't this guy do?

[dokkalfheimr]

Hopefully there's a limit to be found soon, if nothing else. Even i have my own within my realm; surely it isn't impossible to find this person's.