The world is dark. A thick darkness that is made all the more choking by the fact that the ground is black and ashy and the sky is ebony. The pinpricks of stars are so far away they seem more like tiny wear spots in the darkness rather than celestial bodies shining with heavenly light. In the distance, perhaps fifteen miles away or so is a city that shines like broken glass. Turrets and spires leave jagged spikes in the sky and despite it being the only source of light in view do not give the impression of being welcoming.
Cynwyd lies on the ground, black ichor leaking from his mouth and nausea grips him, causing him to vomit up the inky, putrid stuff once more. It reminds him of the foul waters that almost drowned him when he battled the Cthulhu like creature.
Xander, in a strapping blonde body and dressed in the shining armor of a valiant knight is unrecognizable to any who might know him. The strength and quickness in this body are still notable even when the traumatic relocation has left his muscles aching and his head throbbing. Like Cynwyd, he has a sword, but neither sword seems possessed of any special powers and both appear dull and almost costume like in the smothering darkness.
Marita lies on the ground, her ability to breathe seems almost as compromised as her ability to shift, although her lungs eventually reassure her that she can still do one even if she can’t accomplish the other. A willowy blonde Kay lies motionless on the ground, her clothing suggesting she was struck by lightning although in truth it was probably whatever energy brought her along with Marita.
Lumi, a petite pretty blonde is kneeling, rubbing her eyes and blinking frantically as if she’s had something thrown into her eyes. “I can’t see,” she gasps fearfully and her head swivels back and forth anxiously, “Hello? Who’s there? I can hear you breathing. I know you’re here,” she finishes sounding both frightened and dangerous.
Serafina and Varan, two young children, clearly brother and sister, stand together holding hands, placing themselves between the very pregnant Marita and Cynwyd and Xander whom they seem to consider outsiders.
Mace who looks rather ill and is dabbing blood from his nose, eyes, and ears, leans over Marita and checks her pulse. “Are you okay?” he asks worriedly, his hand shaking enough that Marita knows there is no way he can accurately check her heart rate.
She would probably be more okay if her water did not just break and a contraction seize her with such severity that she bites her tongue hard enough that her mouth is filled with blood.
Making matters even more bizarre is the fact that neither hide nor hair of the Pattern or Logrus can be detected. While those who are adept at magic sense magic is present in this world, their ability to tap into it seems blocked at the moment. It is a bit like a Russian man going to China and attempting to converse with someone fluent only in Mandarin. They both are aware the other is speaking, but the ability to communicate voa speech simply does not exist without more knowledge being exchanged.