>i hate this trip.
>not only have i had to sit next an overexcited elf biologist who wouldnt shut the fuck up about mushrooms, but the airship cabin is hot, sweaty, and smelled like ass.
>for 3. days.
>looking out the hatch, i finally see the destination.
>a trade hub outpost on the sea of sand.
>after deciding to come to the “other side”, i got a grant from my university to study the wildlife native to fantasia. Said that it would be a priceless discovery to them.
>i took it of course, since i wanted to see what this world was like too. 
>however, i think i may have underestimated how out of place i am here. 
>in a fucking windbreaker and jeans
>everyone here is dressed like their from the lord of the rings.
>it really smells..
>my feet hurt
>i hate this sand and heat
>there’s some lizards near the front that keep turning back and looking at me funny
>i wish i was at home now
>god why did i take this fucking trip ?
>leaning over, the elf says to me, “oh, have you heard of the history about this place ?” “i could talk about it all day, really interesting story. You see…”.
>fucking kill me now. 



>finally touching down, our airship starts letting us off at the dock.
>picking up my luggage, i make my way off the dock and into the market square.
>place is literally filled to the brim with people and creatures selling shit. 
>looks like mos eisley.
>at this point i feel really out of place.
>almost like some kind of time traveler.
>the uni told me that when i reached the port they would have someone waiting to meet me.
>great.
>while i’m waiting i decide to see if there’s a registry or something like it.
>since phones dont work here, nor could i even find a place to charge it, the uni and the guild they worked with gave me a book with names and other info about my stop before i left.
>the feeling in this port is so alien.
>i dont like it. 
> checking my book it says to look for an “adrien”, whoever that’ supposed to be.
>i’ve never met this person so i have zero fucking clue what to be looking for.
>i see what looks like a help desk, maybe they will know something.
>approching it the….bug ?..behind the counter suddenly jumps and straightens themselves out.
>”uh...hello ?”
>they do nothing.
>their wings unfold and start flashing symbols at me.
>BEHIND. YOU.
>i look behind me, and lo and behold, theres the waiting area.
>”um..thank you.
>HAVE. A. GOOD. DAY. SIR.
>”y-you too..”
>sitting don i take out my book again and start rushing through the pages looking for something that might help me.
>turning through the pages i notice something.
>almost none of the book is names and info.
>only the first half is.
>the rest of the book is sketches and biological info about creatures and animals in the new world.
>is this a beastiary ?
>what the hell is this book for ?
>oh no.
>the uni wanted to use me as an easy access way to send someone to fantasia.
>they didn’t want me to study the wildlife.
>they wanted me to bring back samples
>fucking great.
>no small birds or anything like that.
>just things that could step on me and not even notice.
>while grumbling about my fate, i heard someone stop in front of me..
>”hey, are you anon ?”
>uh..yes..?”
>”pleasure to meet’ya, i’m adrian” she chirped.
>looking up i see a tiny tanned girl with short, black, hair dressed in what looks light metal armor, with bits of bone and scales on it. 
>”wait, you’re adrian ?”
>i wasn’t really expecting this.
>turn out the guild adrian works for is in a contract with my uni.
>had to find a way to find new “recruits” as they say.
>still didnt like the idea of me being tricked into coming here…
>as were talking i notice that she’s had this massive weapon slung on her back
>”hey adrian, whats that you have there” i say, pointing to said weapon.
>”oh this old thing ?” she says, grabbing it and unfolding the whole thing in one swing.
>damn she’s strong.
>”this my friend, is a pike-cannon”
>the weapon looks like a massive revolver, with it switching to an axe head halfway.
>the whole thing is like 10 feet long.
>she also has a massive shield in the off-hand.
>what are we hunting again ?
>”it can fit everything, high-explosive, harpoons, tunnel rounds, heat stakes..”
>she was practically drooling at this point. 
>”everything you could ever want to bring on a hunt” she said, “and more”
>getting up and making our way down to an inn she explained to me exactly what we would be doing over the course of my “contract”, as she put it.
>basically me, her, and a few others who also took the job are contracted to hunt something in the area, usually some animal that got too close to a village or is killing to many herbivors.
>after finding it and killing it the contract is up and the body is hauled off by guild workers to turn into raw resources.
>but we as the contracted hunters are allowed about 1/3rd of these in the end.
>sounds like i got the short stick.
>after we check into the inn we walk up the stairs, and adrian starts rambling about which weapons she likes the most, or something about which monster she thinks is the coolest.
>i’m zoning out at this point.
>until something catches my attention.
>the armor she’s wearing isn’t exactly...modest.
>the short shorts between the leg armor leaves little to the imagination.
>she’s kinda muscular….
>i look back up and she’s staring right back at me.
>oh fuck
>”catch’a looking anon ?”
>i’m dead.
>she gives me a shit eating grin.
>”race you to the room !”
>fucking takes off leaving me in the dust.
>am i in danger ?

>i take off after her towards our room.
>i wonder what she meant by that.
>thicc brown thighs.jpg
>looking up she’s already halfway down the hallway.
>how the fuck does she run that fast with that gun on her back ?
>i finally caught up with adrian in front of the door.
>”man that was a good race anon, you really put up a fight !” she said in between panting.
>bruh i wasn’t even close.
>”well..i don-”
>”ahh never mind that anon it was great !”
>very polite.
>opening the door showed the room to look actually pretty nice.
>still pretty primitive, but no worse or better than somewhere in south america.
>tile floors with yellow-tan painted walls.
>Very spanish looking.
>”ohmygodthislooksgreat!”
>she can barely contain her excitment.
>i put my stuff down on a chair, finally getting to rest after that awful “flight” here.
>”hey anon catch”
>a heavy-ass leather bag hits me in the face.
>the fuck was that for ?
>”this is the clothes for you tomorrow. You know, so you don’t stick out so much”.
>opening the bag i find a green tunic with some tan patterns on the edges.
>and some brown pants made out of feels like dried leather.
>i like it.
>”did you buy these yourself ?”
>well..ya, cant have my pard looking like some city folk…”
>sweet.
>”thanks. For the clothes i mean”.
>”ahh dont worry about it, for an s-rank hunter like myself, buying some extra clothes is nothing !”
>somehow i dont believe that at all.
>well i’m going to go clean up, dont leave the room and dont touch anything you dont know, ok anon ?”
>”uh..ok ?”
>”cool” adrian said as she went to the shower/bathroom area.
>finally getting some time to myself i pull out the book uni gave me and go through it again.
>god theres a lot in here.
>most of it is second-hand info, but still.
>i cant believe stuff like this is normal on this side of the portal.
>i wonder how adrian deals with it, hunting them and all.
>stepping out onto the porch of the room, i can see the whole city.
>literally just in the middle of a sand ocean.
>amazing that it hasn’t been destroyed yet.
>Looking out farther, i hear the faint noise of bagpipes and drums.
>what looked like a procession of hunter was walking out towards a massive gong at the edge of the city.
>just blasting the drums and bagpipes the whole way to it. 
>really crazy sight.
>suddenly a massive creature breaches out of the sand at the edge.
>Like a massive whale, it dwarfs the city by a longshot.
>could swim right through us and not even notice.
>god why did i say yes to this trip ?
>it starts charging the city
>oh shit oh fuck
>”ahhh ADRIAN, GET OUT HERE !”
>its starting to pick up speed, i’m freaking out the whole time.
>”what is it anon, i was just finishing up ?”
>i pull her over to the porch and point towards the massive creature
>”YOU DONT SEE THAT SHIT ?!”
>”oh that, wait for it anon, you’ll like this”.
>the procession reaches the steps of the gong and the pipes go silent.
>only the drums now.
>they start fucking chanting.
>”AE-GAE-ON, AE-GAE-ON !”
>the drums get faster.
“AE-GAE-ON, AE-GAE-ON YURA YURA YURA !”
>the sand-whale breaches again right in front of the city
>shit shit
>the hunters smash the massive gong and the sound wave stuns the whale.
>was it hurt by it ?
>it falls over backwards, before swimming away from the city.
>nearly shit myself.
>”was that cool or what anon ?”
>you knew that would happen ?! like tonight ?”
>”ya, just wanted to freak you out a bit”.
>”also, that’s payback for staring at me on the stairs”
>”well, goodnight anon” she said before shutting her door.
>i dont think i can make it here much longer.





















>after the hotel stay adrain says she’s going to help me get equipped.
>teasing me the whole time about how out of place i am here.
>thanks i hate it already.
>”come on anon, lighten up !”
>”i would but the teasing isn’t helping..”
>”...bitch…”
>”what ?”
>”nothing….”
>walking into what looks like a outdoors shop adrian runs up to the cashier.
>its a kobold.
>a very old one.
>do they know each other ?
>”anon, this is tebitha. She helped raise me when i was a little brat”
>”she also runs this here hunters workshop, lets me get all the good deals”
>”oh hush, you were never a brat. I want to get a good look at your friend here”.
>the kobold stepped out from behind the counter.
>looks like a small lizard/dog in an old-timey dress. 
>she drops down like 2 feet.
>was she standing on books ?
>the little 3 foot kobold walk up to me and adjusts her glasses.
>”ohh, there you are”
>nearsighted i see.
>“ah, Its a pleasure to meet you anon...adrian has told me so much about you”.
>”she did ?”
>nani the fuck ?
>i turn to look at adrian whos beet red and breaking down in the corner.
>”yes, she told me for weeks how excited she was to have a new hunting partner. She want on and on about how she couldnt wait to get to know you”.
>i’m about as red as adrian is right now.
>”she also told me how she couldn’t wait to-”
>”ok thats enough granny” she said cutting her off. 
>she grabs me and starts dragging me to the back of the store.
>starts muttering something.
>”heyanontheressomethingiwanttoshowyouinthabackcanyoucomewithme?”
>”um...sure..?”
>”dont let her get carried away anon, she’s a fast learner” tebitha chuckled back.
>”gramma stop you’re making it weird !” adrian whined.
>she finally pushed me through the backdoor into what looked like a small workshop.
>”now with that out of the way, we can finally get down to business..”
>i hear the door lock.
>is this how i die ?



>”welcome to my room anon !”
>looking around the “room”, aside from the workshop stuff i start to notice the bed and other things around.
>like clothes, armor parts, and food.
>what a slob.
>”oh, so you..live at the workshop ?”
>”well ya, where else would i live ?” she chuckled.
>”your own place, or maybe your parents ?”
>she suddenly got very quite and moody looking.
>oh shit, i went somewhere i shouldn’t have.
>”i..uh..,i dont have any parents anon..”
>fuck.
>”i didnt know them, and tebitha raised me from when i can remember..”
>oh.
>”i’m sorry adrian..i didnt mean to bring that up..”
>”nah its ok..you would have found out sooner or later…”
>at this point i’m trying to slavage the situation.
>fuck she’s tearing up.
>”h-hey how about you show me that gun of yours ?”
>she instantly perks up again.
>”sure anon..,that i can do” she says wiping at her eyes.
>situation averted.
>she picks up the massive...gun ? and sets it on the workbench.
>god it looks heavy.
>”so, how does it work ?”
>i feel stupid asking.
>”well anon, you need these”.
>she tosses me what looks like a coke can sized shell.
>this thing must weigh like 5 pounds. 
>”with that, anything you think of can be put in it and fired. And i mean anything..”
>that damn smile again.
>”shit like rocks, metal stakes, clumps of thorns, anything that can be stuffed in these shells can be fired.
>damn thats metal.
>”so, you just slam the lance part into a creature and fire ?”.
>”yup pretty much !”
>these people are crazy.
>the rest of the day nothing too crazy happened.
>mostly just adrian explaining to me the ins and outs of hunting culture.
>the rules of what you are allowed to hunt, taking contrats, etc.
>although tebitha poking in every few minutes asking if we “needed anything” was a little weird.
>kobolds man...
>the night came soon, so adrian offered me to stay.
>oh.
>”come on its fine, you can sleep on the couch in here”.
>”really its fine, i can just stay in the hotel again..”
>”anon, we both know you cant afford to stay there again.
>she’s right.
>fuck.
>”ok adrian, if it makes you feel better….i can stay the night”.
>”yes ! i’ll go get the extra pillows !”
>well guess i’m staying here then.
>looking around i guess its not sooo bad.
>other than the smell of old meat and gunpowder.
>ugh.
>adrain walks back from the closet holding some pillows.
>wait.
>the pillows have little drawings of monsters on them.
>all. Over them.
>cute.
>”if you say anything about these pillows i’ll gut you in your sleep and make a hat out of you”.
>”i didnt say anything..”
>”no, but you were thinking it”.
>clever girl.
>i start getting settled on the couch and..wait.
>this couch feels weird.
>yup.
>its made of scales too.
>this is going to be a long night…





>i feel something heavy on my chest.
>slowly opening my eyes, i see no other than adrian standing by the couch.
>oh, you thought she would be sitting on me ? pervert.
>it’s the big-ass “gun” on my chest instead.
>”anon get up ! i’ve been yelling at you for the last 15 minutes !”
>”oh ? you have ? i didn’t even notice”.
>”ya, clearly”
>getting off of the couch i notice that she’s already geared and ready to go.
>early bird huh ?
>”uh..why are you dressed like that ?”
>”well, while you were asleep like a dorotz egg, i took it myself to arrange the first expedition, along with some special friends from the guild”.
>i wonder what that means.
>”also, i got these for you”.
>she dumps some heavy pieces of metal and leather on the couch.
>its armor.
>”cant have my partner looking like a rookie”.
>that smile again.
>damn.
>”so where are we going then ?”
>”barma, you’ll love it. Lots of rolling green hills and lush forest, just talking about makes me want to return sooner”.
>”oh, so you’re from barma ?”
>”no, but i stayed there for a few years and it was really nice..”
>nice.
>man putting on this armor is a fucking pain.
>way too many little straps and tiny bits.
>i think i may need some help.
>”h-hey adrian, can i get some help here ?...i’m kinda stuck”.
>”here, let me get that for you”.
>she steps a bit closer to help me.
>fuck too close, too close.
>she practicaly pressing up against me.
>this isnt good.
>”hold still anon, you’re squirming too much !”
>too close.
>”really i-its ok, i can finish it myself !”
>”just stop moving dammit !”
>a knock on the door sends her jumping into me even more.
>great.
>”oi adrian, the airship is about to leave, get your ass out h-”
>an old man with with slick gray hair, and a massive sword made from a jawbone walks in, along with a shorter man wearing bone armor.
>they see her tangled up with me.
>”oh i see your busy, its ok, we can tell them to wai-”
>”no-no-no its not like that guys really !” adrian freaks.
>”just make it quick, we have to leave”, he says while winking at her.
>they leave through the door and i turn to adrian.
>”here just put the rest on and hurry anon”
>”who were those guys ?”
>”just some old friends from barma, ace and grug. They just love to give me shit”
>”oh…”
>”we can finish this later..” she said while poking me in the chest.
>that smile again.
>shit.
>we grab our bags and hurry into port where the commision airship is.
>it looks a lot more comfy than the one i came here one.
>thanks cheapskates.
>on our way up i see humans working with kobolds and elves loading cargo and gear into the cabins.
>their dressed a lot more like researchers than the hunters are.
>less dirty and grimy.
>i run over to adrian to see when we leave.
>she’s talking with the other hunters from earlier.
>oh boy.
>here comes the teasing.
>as i walk up behind her he looks towards me and smiles.
>oh shit.
>”well there’s the man himself, was waiting for you and adrian’s quickie to be over with so we can move out”.
>”u-uh, thats not what we were doing..”
>”no need to be shy about it mate, she’s quite the catch to the younger lads around here !”
>i look over at her and she’s red as a beet, hands covering her face.
>i feel exactly the same.
>god can this end any sooner.
>”tickets please, tickets to barma !”
>coming off the ramp of the ship is a kobold, dressed in the same researcher outfit as the others.
>a lot brighter too, their skin isnt as splotched and faded as tebitha.
>he comes up to us now.
>”tickets please, we dont have all day” he told us in an almost scottish sounding voice.
>suddenly adrian lights up like a bulb.
>”obi ! you’re here !”
>she just picks him up and crushes him.
>”its been so long !, when did you get here !?”.
>she finally sets him down, as he dust’s himself off.
>”just last week adrian, commision brought us here on account of the barma trip”.
>he looks at me.
>”oh..so this must be the earth lad.”
>he adjust his glasses, almost like getting a closer look.
>”obi domner, kobold and member of the research crew” he said sticking his hand out.
>”anon, human ?”
>”i see you a’ve a sense of humor”
>i guess.
>”well if thats all i suggest we get going then” he said.
>we followed he up the ramp onto the airship.
>this one is a lot better than the last.
>its still open cabin, but a lot cooler, and has these big deck windows to lean out and see the sky and ground.
>neat.
>we get led by obi to the crew area, all the while he’s going on about how important the barma trip is to the commision and how having an “off-worlder” is going to help with research.
>whatever that means.
>”and now, for the main room”
>he open the door and the main room truly is a wonder.
>large wooden floor, and seating thats that kind of back to back couch types.
>along with massive cases of books, and other assorted research.
>amazing.
>”man this has changed a lot since i last flew on it” said adrian.
>”it really has..” echoed ace.
>”..smash ?..” added grug.
>fucking grug
Choosing our own tables and interest points in the room, everyone spread out to do their own thing.
>i feel a lurch, and rush to the windows.
>finally leaving this desert shithole behind.
>at least i hope…
>i turn to adrian at the table, she has an almost giddy expression.
>”excited ?”
>”like you wouldnt believe !’ she replied.
>”i cant wait to see how much barma has changed..”
>”i bet, but, are you sure i wont stick out, not being a hunter and all ?”
>”you’ll be fine anon, you’re with us, remember ?”
>i guess she’s right.
>”also, your breastplate’s on backwards”.
>so thats why its been poking into my side.
>while i’m trying to undo the straps she leans over the table.
>”i can help with those later..”
>that smile again.
>help.

>a few hours later...

>this is just as boring as the last airship trip.
>nothing but clouds and sleeping.
>everyone is just fucking sleeping.
>lots of warm air and nothing to do will do that.
>adrian is just crashed at the table, drooling.
>she’s almost cute, when she’s not teasing me.
>almost...
>donthavethosethoughts.jpg
>i guess i’ll look around while everyones out.
>maybe the bookcase has something interesting.
>nope.
>not even written in english.
>its all in kobold runeshit.
>or elvish.
>great.
>i go back to sit at the bench, maybe sleeping like the rest will make this trip go faster.
>at least i hope…


>man sleeping feels pretty nice.
>no.
>not anymore.
>feel something tapping on my shoulder.
>slowly open my eyes.
>adrian ?
>”anon get your ass up, we’re almost there !”
>”h-huh ? we’re in barma already ?”
>”...not exactly…
>obi bust into the cabin, followed by some other kobold researchers.
>”morn’in laddie’s, time to ship out !, port’s in view”.
>what ?
>”top deck top deck come on lets go !” he barked again.
>me and the rest of the group make our way to the top of the ship.
>obi’s still barking at the crew like he runs the place.
>short lizard syndrome ?
>”hey anon, check this out !”
Adrians over near the rail, pointing at something in the distance.
>”over there, you see it ?”
>keep squinting.
>i cant see a fucking thing.
>”uh, adrian...i dont see what you mean..?”
>”ugh..”
>she just grabs my head in a chokehold.
>”just look THERE dumbass !”
>between the chokehold and the forced looking this is hard.
>oh, that’s what she meant.
>a massive seaside town comes into view.
>wow.
>”pretty nice, isn’t it ?”
>”ya, by the way can you let go now ?”
>”oh..”
>she lets go, trying to avoid looking at me.
>awkward.
>”quite playin around you two, we’re about to land !”
>”sure thing obi !” she called back.
>”come on anon, lets get to work”.
>that smile again.
>dammit.


>about an hour or so later, our airship slides into the dock.
>its like some rickety wooden scaffolding with some docks on it.
>flashbacks to the sand ocean.
>the deck lowers and we start stepping off on by one.
>first thing that comes to mind here.
>its big.
>like, really big.
>way bigger than the last town.
>so many people and creatures.
>even with the clothes and armor adrian gave me, i still feel like i stick out.
>”alright laddie’s, here’s the deal” obi started shouting again.
>great.
>”we are only stopping for 6 hours, and only that much”.
>”within that time, we will be gathering supplies for the rest of the trip”.
>man that little guy had this all planned out.
>”so no three hour loo adventures, no taverns, and no siùrsach’s !”.
>”got it ?!”
>we all nod our heads.
>”good now if yo-”
>his head darts to the side near a market corner.
>its some….dog man ? selling books.
>i look back at obi and he’s fuming.
>adrian speaks up.
>”you ok there obi ?”
>the little webbed fins where his ears would be are at full mast.
>”shola, i’m fine lass, just finishing some business”.
>he just marches over towards the dogman.
>”does he know that guy ?” i ask.
>”dont know, never seen him before..”
>huh.
>”hey adrian, what is that guy anyway ?”
>oh, he’s a kobold anon !”
>what.jpg.
>”uh...but i thought obi was a kobold ?”.
>this is just getting confusing.
>”their both kobolds” she answers smugly.
>there goes that smile again.
>”but they dont even look like the same species ? how does that work ?”.
>”well anon, hundreds of years ago, the kobolds were one species. But they drifted apart and become different, creating a schism between the two”.
>”is that why obi looked pissed ?”
>”probably, they two types dont get along well at all”.
>great.



>”these look good ?”.
>”nah, too busted…”
>we’ve been stuck here for 3 hours so far.
>while the others have been able to find what they needed, me and adrian have been stuck looking for fresh shells.
>suprise suprise, their rare out here, assuming you don’t make you’r own.
>which MOST hunters do.
>except adrian.
>just fuck my shit up fam.
>getting gyped by halflings over broken shells stuffed with cotton is enough for me.
>”hey adrian, remind me again, why you dont make your own damn shells ?”
>”i told you earlier dumbass, i dont have the money for it !”
>This search is making us both angry and tired.
>damn i’m hungry.
>maybe this town has seafood ?
>”hey, we only have three hours left..i dont think your going to find any shells here…”
>”ya, i guess your right…. i’m sorry i yelled at you too...”
>is she apologizing ?
>thats a first.
>”hey uh...we can get some food if you want ?..”
>maybe this will cheer her up.
>she wipes some sweat from her head
>”that actually sounds great right now anon” she said.
>there’s that smile again.
>looking around for a bit we found a food cart selling what looks like a kabab.
>its some spongy looking white meat on a stick.
>ok i guess.
>hand the cart...bird ? his money.
>”wait ! your paying ?”
>”well...ya, ?” i reply.
>she’s looking really red now.
>”......thanks…..”
>finally i feel like i have some control here.
>after eating both of us are feeling a bit better.
>”hey adrian, what was that meat anyway ? it tasted kind of like beef”.
>”whats beef ?”
>heh.
>for real ?.
>”its uh, from a cow…”
>she’s just staring at me with this blank stare.
>”whats a cow anon ?”
>”they dont have cows out here ?”.
>what is this place ?
>”no, out here we eat what we hunt, call it payback, hehe..”
>”so you guys out here dont eat animals that eat plants ?”
>she just starts laughing in my face.
>”hahhaha, ya imagine that anon, an animal that eats plants”.
>is she fucking with me ?
>”ya hahah, i was just messing with you adrian”.
>”you sure have a good sense of humor anon, good joke”.
>yeah haha.
>a joke...



>after the snack me and adrain kind of drift around the market, looking for anything else we might need.
>"hey anon, maybe we should find obi, it's getting kind of late..".
"yeah, we probably should.
>that's if the little fucker didn't kill himself already in a fight.
>







































>