paradisabeyond | Winchester/Fairfield Expedition

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!winchester/fairfield

Winchester/Fairfield Expedition - The Town of Fairfield

[You saw the towns some time ago, but it still took a good couple hours of treading past the farmland around it before you actually reached it. They have a distinctly "old western" type of feel to them, with their dusty, unpaved dirt roads and the collection of buildings-- most of them obviously wooden-- sitting side-by-side along either side of the road.

More observant residents may notice that the nearer they come to the town, the more people that look up and notice, and subsequently hurry off or head inside. And even if you didn't notice it as you closed in, it sure becomes apparent once you step under the archway of the town; there's no one around. The tumbleweed that rolls by almost seems to be mocking the residents.

Another thing that becomes apparent is the state of the town. Besides having gone eerily quiet, some of the buildings have been wrecked. There are gouges in the wood, where it hasn't been punched through or torn apart. Rails are broken, and a few of them even have damaged or missing doors.

Are they too late?]

DR. BREWER | HEATH | RECONSTRUCTION

((ooc: ~~No sections this time. Comment freely and make your own! There will be a section by the mods soon~~~ Sections updated!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Her concern filled eyes return to his face] I'm so sorry to hear that. We'll do everything we can to make sure you don't lose anyone else.

[She follows his gaze to their sleds]

We're not wanderers, exactly. We're from a castle not too far from here.

[But that's not the most important thing, here. Time for a subject redirect!]

You called them "Collectors." How did they get that name?

[It seems that is not something he was expecting to hear]

That's what we've all started to call them. It's what they do. Collect. People mostly.

[He's not about to let that castle thing go]

I wasn't aware any of the castles were inhabited any more.

That's horrible! There are things like that where I'm from. With any luck we'll be able to stop them... or, at least keep you safe.

[She pauses for a moment. Oh man this is a can of worms...]

Cair Paradisa is. I don't know about all of the others but those we've come across look like they've been empty for years.

We really appreciate the help, we've been-

[He frowns, confused]

Cair Paradisa was empty. Everyone left it, I- when did it repopulate itself? None of the other castles have done that. Except maybe-

How long have you people been here?

I've been at the castle over two years, myself. As far as I know, though, people have been there for over 5 years.

[She pauses]

It was empty? You mean... people have lived there before?

There were, yeah. But they left a long time ago. Even before we left our own castle.

...Your people didn't travel near to the Totem Coast, did you?

[She shakes her head]

I don't think so, no. Why? What's out there?

Nothing good. It's best you stay away from there, there are things there that can't get out again.

Things that... can't get out. Okay. Yeah that's good to know. Thank you.

[She swallows, not even wanting to think about what that could possibly mean]

How long have all of you lived here?

We moved out of our castle about...two years ago? Maybe three? It's hard to keep track. Some of us were in Draconis for a while, before we eventually had to leave it.

Why did you have to leave? What happened?

Our castle lost its mind.

I think I saw reports of expeditions to other castles finding things about that happening...

[She pauses, reaching out to touch his arm]

I'm sorry. What can I do to help?

[He offers her a weak smile] Some of us got out, that's what matters.

What we need now is help making this place safe. So we can stay here, and be protected from those things.

[She nods, looking around]

You were able to get the radio to work before so you guys must have some kind of power that works here, right? What about magic?

No magic. [He jerks a thumb at the kids behind him] No natural power, either. Heath's usually our sign for that. We just used the technology already here. We don't know who left it or even how it started working.

So you have existing tech but no magic? That's so weird...

[When he gestures to the kids her focus changes]

How many children are here?

That radio's the only piece of working tech we've come across in a while.

[He shakes his head]

Not many, only a handful. Draconis was a mess, not a lot made it out. The only reason Heath did is because he's not exactly an average kid. You just can't tell right now because we're in the dead zone.

[Way to break her heart, dude. She nods, making a conscious effort to focus on the task at hand and not think about how many didn't make it out. Her gaze turns to Heath]

I'm not your average person, either [She smiles slightly] so I know what you mean. [Turning back to him] This place doesn't look like it could withstand much more at all. You should come back with us. All of you.

[Heath sends her a flirty grin, apparently he has no yardstick when it comes to that]

I'm sorry, but we can't do that. We're done with castles, after your own goes crazy and tries to get you all to kill one another, you never want to go into one again.

[She'll pretend to ignore that, Mister. She's a married witch! She gives him a warm smile back, though]

Okay I can understand that... even though it makes us look pretty loony for staying there, ourselves. [she chuckles] Is there anywhere else you can think of where you guys can go?

We'd like to stay here, actually. If we get the defences right, this would be a brilliant place to settle. We have houses, farmland for crops, it'd be perfect.

If it weren't for those pesky aliens, right?

[She smirks]

Well we'll see what we can do about that.

[He gives a soft, humoured smile] They do show up when you least expect it to turn everything upside down. [He might not be talking about the Collectors right now]

Great, thanks, it'll mean a lot to all of us.

Story of my life. [She snorts, thinking of how many times demons had shown up to ruin some event]

How many of you are here? Could all of you fit inside one building? It's easier to defend one than a bunch of them?

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