Wildfall meets up with Sir Fumblies - and we get a little Glyn, too.

This is a set of three you rarely if ever see together, so drink it in and enjoy.

 
Jarlsboris Wildfall made his way to the outpost just south of Degrassi Knoll, braving the harsh winds and unpredictable weather. It shifted from sun to rain, or vice versa, within minutes if not seconds at time, seemingly at random. Right now, the rain had receeded. Unfortunately, the winds were quite fierce at the moment.

Wildfall pulled the hood tighter over his head, wishing he had access to his inheritance, but that money was locked up safely out of range overseas. No point wishing, though. He was used to roughing it. Ignoring the throbbing pain in his side and both arms, Wildfall pressed on towards the fort. Aside from all the military activity, there were enough guards to hold off a full seize attempt on duty. Wildfall sized up the army, quickly taking note of several Knob Goblins, Gnollish brutes, and even a handful of what Wildfall assumed were paid mercenaries. Temps, as it were. Wildfall approached the guards at the main gate and did his best to turn the Ireacan charm on.

Wildfall started with the traditional Ireacan greeting. "Hey fella. I heard you were a little short on manpower here. Friend o' mine suggested I might be able to lend a hand, as it were."

Before the guard could reply Sir Fumblies, who was out for a bit of a walk, showed up. Seeing Wildfall standing there the co-commander of the Blood Clan shook his head. "Now haven't I told you already, 'boris that after that whole slaver brawl that you didn't have to worry about gate checks."

Wildfall smiled broadly. "Yeah but I didn't know if you told yer men and I'd hate to get them in a tizzle over lil' ole me. So what's the word, Fumblies? I've been hearin' some pretty bad rumors from the locals. Somethin' about the world endin?"

"Well based on what I heard the rumor probably don't cover the half of it." Fumblies replied matter of factly. "Things were heating up and maybe just maybe people would work a way out of what was to come."

"I'd like to help," Wildfall offered. "Especially if you're dealin' with those iidjits, like my dad woulda called them, up and over in Degrassi. What'd they call them? Elite somethin's?"

"That could be quite useful man. Scaros is off in the Knob division helping to piece together a bit of a revolt. Bones hopefully is nothing more than vaporized ash somewhere but odds are he will be at Fernsworthy Tower. Konall is off doing whatever he does best which leaves the outpost in this shape. Do you have any command experience Jarl?"

Wildfall shrugged. "Eh, I used to own a hamster, but it ran away. Er, abandoned its post. Pro'lly some floozie hamster temptress got his attention. I'm sure I'd be great at it, though. I'd boss Blackpaws around- not that he listens. I'm pretty good at sneakin' around though. I could lead up a rogue strike force.. get some positional info.. intel. That other stuff you military folks like."

"Talk to Twitch about it and will set you up nice and useful like. Though you know Blackpaws doesn't really listen to anyone but his...dipstick, if you catch my drift. Settle in and don't get lost around here. You can find me in the War room trying to figure out how to handle this crisis," Fumblies commented in a slightly distracted tone.

"Lemme know if I can help," Wildfall offered, fidgeting. "Some of what's going on really reminds me of some old tales I heard in Ireaca growing up. I wonder if that might mean something. Anyway, where can I find Twitch at this time o' day?"

"I am pretty sure he can be found in the barracks. He had mission last night so is probably catching a nap." Fumblies decided he would ask about those stories later.

Wildfall looked around. "So over this'abouts ways?"

"Yeah but if you get lost have a rank and file show you the way."

"Alright, thank you, I'll go see what trouble we can make with the Goblins." Wildfall nodded and set out for the barracks.

"Penny for your thoughts, young'un?" chuckled Glyn as he walked over. "Seems like some folks believe in preparation around here - but what do you think is going to be a problem first?"

Wildfall shrugged, turning to face the space elf. "Couldn't say. I feel like there's a lot more to the story that I might be missing, but the way I figure it is, if Kadlin's up to no good, the first thing we should do is take out her soldiers before they get more of a foothold in Degrassi Knoll. Between there and their hideaway, they could easily storm the outpost, or even Seaside Town and once they start gaining ground, takin' over lands, that's when we're in serious trouble."

"I thought she'd be too busy with her own pursuits to organize a take-over; but, she did inherit some capable figures from The Feline Empire - the Elites, the turn-coats and so on. A pre-emptive strike on her terrifying, augmented followers then?" asked Glyn, for once sounding like a combat veteran preparing for another war.

Wildfall shrugged. "Makes sense to me. If she wants the Elite there, I'm guessing we don't. So what's your role in this?"

"Hmm - most likely, advance warning and combat medic. As capable as I think Konall and Sir Fumblies' forces are, it's always good to have someone accustomed to handling surprises. Following that thought, why don't you tell me what folk tales and wild stories come to mind right now?"

Wildfall shrugged. "Weird stuff. Like the world ending, and 'time itself' being threatened when 'all the world's forces focus on one spot.' Probably nothin', but then again it sure feels like what's going on."

Glyn nodded along to Wildfall's response - there were a greater number of erratic observations accumulating in the area. Glyn kept finding 'things' too ephemeral, transient, and vague to define and explain to anyone native in the world of Loathing - especially as he loathed using those three adjectives ever since that Ghost World trip.

"Others mention 'help from the stars," Wildfall added, again with a shrug. "'Visitors of our ilk' - and that from an elf tribe. At least, that's what I was told at home. I don't study up much on elven mythology."

"Mm-hmm, your friend Todd likely has - our lifestyles match his at times. But, don't know how long we'll be here, or how much help we can give..." admitted the Morlencir elf. "Thank you for speaking with me Wildfall - I need to excuse myself for a stretch of time."

Wildfall smirked. "Sure thing. Guess I'll see ya on the battlefield then. Least I know who to run to if I have to get patched up. If I break a leg or somethin."

With that a strangely agitated Fumblies came out of the main keep. While he was often seen to be agitated over something since he had split from the Feline Empire, this was something different. Fumblies had a look on his face that would scare even a Brute if it had been a battle situation. He caught Jarlsboris Wildfall just as Glyn walked away and took a deep breath before speaking. "Jarl, have you got yourself situated yet?"

"Just headin' to get my orders," Wildfall said, casually stretching his arms behind his head. "Unless ya got a bigger job for me."

"Settle in and be ready for anything." Fumblies commented slowly while looking towards the gates as if trying to figure something out.

Wildfall nodded. "Hey, there's Switch now. He seems agitated over something."

"You mean Twitch. I am guessing it is about something about the take-over in the Knobb." Fumblies nodded slightly after commenting somewhat absently.

"I'll go help," Wildfall said. He rushed over where Twitch was. "Hey, Twitch. Fumblies wanted me to see if I could lend you a hand."

"Good deal. Need all the help we can get with that airship that has showed up." Twitch accepted Wildfall’s offer for help while Fumblies headed towards the gates.

"Airship? Ouch. Anyway, just let me know what to do and when we move out," Wildfall answered. "I'm anxious for a lil action."

Twitch nodded slightly. "Well you can hook up with the unit that is heading out at dawn."

"Great, where do I leave a wakeup call?"

"Leave it with the unit commander." Twitch sighed. "I will have Tus wake you up in plenty of time."

Wildfall nervously waved that idea off. "The brute? Oh, that's alright, I have a feeling I'll be up in plenty of time."

Wildfall muttered as he walked off, "Since I don't think I'll be sleeping much."

While this was taking place, Fumblies slipped out of the outpost to go handle what he hoped would be short but profitable personal mission.

There we go! Nice lil bit, huh? I'd say more but I'm anxious to get this mission posted. Maybe then I can dig into Final Fantasy X / X2 (the steam version) some more!

The next couple pieces hit the Mysterious Island of Mystery again, then we get back to Todd and Dash.. and others.