His would-be greeter made herself comfortable and, at her gesture, Rance dropped down as well, only making sure he wasn’t going to land wrong on a root or rock before flopping cross-legged to the forest floor. The fingers of one hand tapped a nervous pattern on his knee, but the fidgets were otherwise kept to a minimum. As alarming as the news that he was somewhere entirely strange was, the pale woman — Maea — was so calm that it was hard to fully panic. Under normal circumstances, he might have scoffed at being offered such patience, but in that moment he wasn’t about to turn away a freely offered hand.
He nodded as she offered he name — given and family, so either a pseudonym or she wasn’t a fae at all — and the fact that she was a local. That explained why she was traversing the wood around them with ease. The knowledge that Caido was an entirely different world drew a more dramatic reaction. Rance’s eyes widened and he sat up straight, fingers going still. Meddling gods he understood from his homeland, but a device that kidnapped people from other worlds and brought then to Caido? One active for, apparently, no reason beyond a god’s carelessness?
His mind was a whirl of confusion, lingering anger that could very easily find a focus on this ‘New God’, and an awakening curiosity. He never would have chosen to have fallen through a portal, but since he was already there….
”A lot of questions is an understatement,” he huffed a rueful laugh. ”Not sure where to start. First — Rance.” He tapped himself on the chest. He wasn’t about to give his full name to a stranger, but one name was safe enough.
”Second — does the portal do something to the magic of those it kidnaps?” He tried not to look nervous, but his fingers began their anxious tapping again. ”I had a… cloak. Which allowed me some abilities. I couldn’t find it after I sobered up, and my magic… feels different.” If he could get himself straightened out, then he could start asking questions about the wider world.
He nodded as she offered he name — given and family, so either a pseudonym or she wasn’t a fae at all — and the fact that she was a local. That explained why she was traversing the wood around them with ease. The knowledge that Caido was an entirely different world drew a more dramatic reaction. Rance’s eyes widened and he sat up straight, fingers going still. Meddling gods he understood from his homeland, but a device that kidnapped people from other worlds and brought then to Caido? One active for, apparently, no reason beyond a god’s carelessness?
His mind was a whirl of confusion, lingering anger that could very easily find a focus on this ‘New God’, and an awakening curiosity. He never would have chosen to have fallen through a portal, but since he was already there….
”A lot of questions is an understatement,” he huffed a rueful laugh. ”Not sure where to start. First — Rance.” He tapped himself on the chest. He wasn’t about to give his full name to a stranger, but one name was safe enough.
”Second — does the portal do something to the magic of those it kidnaps?” He tried not to look nervous, but his fingers began their anxious tapping again. ”I had a… cloak. Which allowed me some abilities. I couldn’t find it after I sobered up, and my magic… feels different.” If he could get himself straightened out, then he could start asking questions about the wider world.
