I briefly mentioned how there's no real set way to determine how to split up a story into smaller posts. Sometimes a lone handler would post one roleplay a mission, either a short piece or a much longer one. Sometimes, they'd be broken up into co writes.

This one probably could have been broken up but we kept it together to form a longer 'chapter' in the story. One with six different handlers contributing to it. It's different. Come watch as the smaller groups meet up and get things rolling!

I'd call it an awesome piece.

 
Glyn sat down in a flowery meadow, waiting on the first to arrive. Clad in only a trademark scarf and leather pants, he snapped his fingers to some beat inside his head. He picked up on the sound of growling coming from nearby but his sensors registered nothing, oddly. Playing along, his fingers tapped out the melody more illustriously, on occasion hooting and whistling along softly.

He sensed someone near. "Creepy ambiance, isn't it? Par for the course we're setting on, but it's frustrating that my suit is missing something that 'I' can hear. In any case, what's up friend?"

Shortly after, Sebastian Dash came into view, looking haggled and bothered. "Think that's bad? I keep hearing a whisper, like someone just a few feet away is calling for help. Very.. distracting."

"That might help with directing our efforts to Hey Daze actually - if it's not just someone having a good time at your expense. On the other hand, menacing growls usually translates as 'Go away, or become meal.' Oh, in case you're wondering - I volunteered to help the world get some more 'shirtless elf', as the girls declined."

"I hadn't wondered," Dash answered sharply.

"Pity, you were doing so wonderfully with open-minded trends till that comment."

"Sorry," Dash answered. "These woods are making me nervous. It sounds like Catrina but... wrong somehow. I wonder... Anyway, where are the others?"

Glyn winked and stood up; "They're accessorizing, and taking care of business?"

"And what accessories are you envisioning?" Tarvel asked, entering the meadow from the other side, dressed in her cysuit.

Dash shrugged. "Normally, I'd sense if one of you were by. Nanites and all. But that's totally blacked out in these woods. Somehow, it's more disconcerting than actually being able to sense you. Also, hello ma'am."

"My delightful and resolute companion, I shudder to think I could know what accessories suit you best. You two seem so comfortable 'au naturel' that my mind no longer wanders through fashion encyclopedias on your behalf." Glyn joked with Tarvel.

Tarvel blushed lightly but scowled at Glyn. "I trust you won't be so familiar when the mission begins properly. We may have lessened our formalities on this world, but I won't tolerate such remarks on the field."

"Oh, but that's what personal messages are for, Tarvel. Yes, indeed." <Dash, do me a favor and don't mention Aleena's arrival and expected entourage aloud. I haven't been just playing the fool till we're ready - I've been monitoring how our emotional states and physical response play out in the present environment. It's surprisingly statistically relevant thus far, and I... >

Dash was already interrupting. "I won't mention that to Tarvel, but can we please focus here, Glyn? We're about to head into Hey Daze. Hel, as the Vikings call it."

Dash said this not mentally, but aloud. While looking directly at Tarvel.

<Ahem. And I think we can work with this to open up a brief window to Hey Daze with Aleena's assistance. In future, my scientific explanations can be shortened and/or simplified for your benefit, but please don't interrupt.> Glyn arched his brow critically at Dash, before resuming his juvenile stance.

Dash seemed to try to respond 'telepathically,' as he called it, but seemed unable to, so with a frustrated sigh, he changed the topic. "You know you don't have to come with, right? If I can get a way into Hey Daze.."

"We are going on this mission to aid you and yours, Sebastian Dash," said Tarvel. "It is our pleasure to help. Though Glyn may decide to have an extended tour of the holding cell if this keeps up."

She grinned, probably not meaning it. Probably.

"Then I accept," Dash answered. "Of course. With my profound gratitude."

"We're more than happy to help," Tarvel said. "And besides, this will benefit us as well. This is a research opportunity that we can't afford to miss."

The others paused at a majestic sight that quickly unfolded before their eyes. In the skies not a half mile ahead of the group, a small spaceship, little more than twice the size of the elves' space cruiser but much more majestic, skimmed the tops of the forest trees. Before anyone could comment on what it was- one of Aleena's personal fleet- she and a handful of other figures, looking as majestic as angels, as well trained as elite soldiers, as elven as Prince, jumped from the ship with the aid of neither wings nor a parachute.

"Ahh," Dash said. "We'd better get moving."

<Shall we carry him, or walk the long way, Tarvel?> Glyn inquired light-heartedly. Returning his suit to its full-coverage standard, he'd quietly situated himself to Dash's left to stand as his accompaniment to the larger space elf group.

Tarvel stared at the space cruiser, shocked, almost not noticing Glyn's question. She recovered, poorly. <Well, uh... let the human walk if he wishes. We're in less of a hurry than he is.>

Dash had already taken off full speed, of course. And for a guy lacking cybernetics, he could move. The others caught up, but before they could get to Aleena, they bumped into some other figures.

----------

Three heroic figures made their way through the supernatural section of the Distant Woods section of the Loathing Kingdom. The birds watched from afar and the evening winds bristled the branches of the spooky, disfigured trees. Shroomian mushrooms grow under the damp shade of the trees. Betwixt a row of willow trees and rows of rock too rough for any mere human to cross, of course, lie a path. Always a path. In. Out. To. From.

Along a path rumored to have been walked by Boris, Gunther, Jarlsberg, Gorgonzola, Sneaky Pete and Shifty the Thief at one point or another, our heroes made their way deeper into the woods, passing one unusual oddity after another.

"Okay," Todd smirked. "I know I've been here a while but I gotta ask. Who are these guys again?"

"I don't know," Wildfall answered. "But I'm trying to narrate here. Ahem. 'They calmly made their way into the forest, fearlessly in defiant of the mortal dangers that would probably keep guys like Dash or Daisuke terrified every step of the way..."

"Excuse me, Mr. Wildfall, but exactly why do you do that?" Fahari glanced over.

"I figured I was supposed to," Wildfall said, frowning. "You need more of a sense of humor, ya know?"

Fahari shrugged. "I laugh.. Ha ha.. See?"

"Sure," Wildfall said. "But I dunno if 'ability to laugh on command' is quite the same thing."

Todd laughed at that. "Don't worry about him, honey. He's harmless." He nudged Wildfall playfully in the ribs.

"We have company, gentlemen." Fahari nodded ahead.

"Why it's that cute fox that fell into my arms! And a purr-fect Feline, and one limber youth! Yay! Unfortunately, we're going to meet a Queen so proper face, proper face!" grinned Glyn, as he waved jauntily at the other party.

Todd looked at Glyn for a moment before glancing at Wildfall. "When did I fall into his arms.. and why does he think I'm 'cute'? Did I do something I'm gonna regret hearing about while I was out?"

"Probably wouldn't be a first time," Wildfall answered. "Probably not even a top 100 story."

Todd chuckled. "Yeah I remember this one time when... HEY!" Todd shot the fighter a dirty look.

"Sorry, had to get you back for making a scene - come say hi to some returned folks, will you?" responded Glyn. "We're also looking to head 'southbound' if you get what I'm saying. And I know you're taken, but nice tail you've got." Glyn left that compliment open to one of the two anthromorphs present.

Farahi looked puzzled. "But you are headed north?"

Todd was looking like he was trying to decide whether he should ask the question on his mind.

Glyn: <It would be worth staying a spell in the brig to finish this, Tarvel. Oh so, so tempted...!>

<I don't know, this might be a more fitting punishment,> came Tarvel's response.

Dash again took the lead, soon meeting up with Aleena, whom he embraced warmly. "You didn't mention this would be an in person delivery, Aleena."

Aleena smiled and hugged Dash tightly. "Sebastian, it's good to see you again!"

Five beings stood behind Aleena, some of them busy setting up equipment, and two of whom Dash knew quite well from their adventures together.

"Sebastian?" Todd smirked.

Dash turned to Todd, perplexed. "What, Blackpaws?"

The smirk stayed put. "Heh. I know what my name is.. didn't know yours before."

"I dunno," Wildfall said. "After a few of those beers last night, you didn't seem to remember your name very well."

"What can I say? Ninja beer sneaks up on you." Todd shrugged.

"Wow," Dash said. "I remember your friends. Vaguely."

"Vaguely?!" said Cyber Sunset, grinning. "I saved your life almost as often 's you saved mine! Vaguely. Hmph."

"We have not had the pleasure of being introduced," Aleena smiled.

"Not you," Dash said. "I remember having to bail us out of your ideas going wrong more than a few times. The others. Aleena told me about them after we were marr.. well, I better not get into that weirdness." Todd's eyebrows went up at the half-word.

<Welcome, little ninja we call Val. Current mood warning?> queried Glyn privately.

<Aleena will tell you, I'm sure,> Valaria replied.

"Please," Aleena said. She knew that a hundred little conversations could break out amongst the gathered, and wished to focus everyone's attention.

"Allow me to introduce myself and my party. I am Aleena, Queen of the Morlencír. These Morlencíri are Valaria, Jen, Sylenia, Zachane, Glyn and Tarvel. Our companion is a hero from Honorburg, the estimable Cyber Sunset."

"Sounds like a party," Dash said.

"That's where I remember him from!" Todd muttered to himself.

"The equipment Zachane and Sylenia are working on is a portal generator. We believe it may 'force' open the pocket dimension you call Hey Daze. Some of us will remain to guard the portal, and some of us will accompany Dash on his mission," Aleena continued. "Sebastian, do you wish to brief us on our task?"

"Open a gate to Hey Daze," Dash said. "Get in and despite potentially apocalyptic opposition, somehow track down Catrina, and anyone else that comes through separately. Get her out so we can figure why and how the demons got to her in the first place.. and how we can use this information to figure what's going on with Kadlin and the cursed sword. Easy enough with this army. Hopefully."

"Yeah.. Speakin' of anyone heard from the big guy? I'd have thought he'd be in the thick of this." Tod spoke up.

"We believe Konall is in Hey Daze, but do not know his whereabouts beyond that." Aleena replied. "We lost track of him some time ago."

Todd's look at Aleena was.. strange. "No. I meant Cattaras. You remember- big muscular tiger you used to.. um.. nevermind."

Aleena gave Todd a shamed look. "I have... not heard from Cattaras for a long time."

"Yeah, I gathered as much." Todd glanced between Dash and Aleena. "'Course.. none of us really heard from you, hon."

Aleena returned to her royal tone. "We've been exceedingly busy. If you wish for our attention, simply speak with Dash or any other Morlencír. Dash, you may choose which of us will accompany you. The others will remain behind."

Sylenia gave Cyber Sunset a hug. "I'm with you."

"So who's going?" Dash asked.

"I'm not being left behind!" Wildfall complained.

"It's dangerous," Dash said. "I say we take anyone willing to go, and split us into groups. Not that it'll matter. Hey Daze has a nasty habit of splitting people up, often and repeatedly. Also, there's some groups of demons there that could give some demigods a run for their money. There's a very good chance this will be our most dangerous mission yet. Believe me when I say it's worth it. Believe me when I say saving Catrina's soul is absolutely the right thing to do here. That said, we could use many, many hands on deck in case Kadlin tries something. And I'm convinced she will, soon. If she hasn't already started moving already.

"Quite frankly," Dash concluded. "For all we know she could be in control of Seaside Town as we speak."

"I owe the big guy big time." Todd shrugged. "Besides, until she went crazy I hear Catrina wasn't that bad a bitch."

"Just try and keep me from going," said Tarvel with a grin, certain elements of her cysuit beginning to hum ominously.

"Valaria, Zachane, Jen and I will stay behind. We'll send in a squadron of drones to fly cover after you go through the portal..." Aleena said, though she trailed off as a male elf began to speak.

"... which will be up... now," finished Zachane.

An oval 'hole' ripped open in the middle of the air. Taller than your average person, it was large enough to step through. Rimmed blue on the sides, but shone red in the middle. Hey Daze red. It was like peering through water, but one could see a plain and an angry red sky above through the portal. If one walked around the portal, its oval shape did not change, but the view did; a check through the portal revealed its site to be clear of foes. For now.

"Excellent," said Cyber Sunset. "What're we waitin' for, then?"

"Stay together," Dash said. "As best you can. Keep an eye out for each other, too. And since I'm the only one here to have been to Hey Daze.."

"Dash is in charge," Aleena finished, letting out a soft giggle.

Without warning, Dash jumped through, quickly followed by Cyber Sunset, who was no stranger to dimensional teleporting. The others followed suit, with Todd and Wildfall being the last two left behind.

"Todd, have I ever told you to go to..." With that, Wildfall jumped through, grin on his face.

<Good luck. We'll keep the portal open to maintain a line of communication. Be careful,> Aleena messaged Dash, Cyber Sunset and Sylenia. <Keep me appraised of your progress.>

"Jen, call for some drone support. We're not going to let anything take us by surprise on this side of the portal. Send a squadron into Hey Daze to run a distraction patrol. Zach and Val, please set up camp and some defenses." Aleena was determined to bunker in. Nobody would be taking their portal without a fight.

The elves began their work.

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Going through the portal: Dash, Fahari, Wildfall, Todd, Tarvel, Glyn, Sylenia, Cyber Sunset
Staying Behind: Aleena, Jen, Zachane, Valaria

See? Awesome, huh? Some of the characters are from the same writer / handler. Aleena & Jen. Todd & Fahari. Dash & Wildfall.

Now that the forces are through the portal, action and fights can't be too far behind! There's an action co write ahead... but not from any of these characters. (That'll come later.)