World Lore, Dice Rolls, Tables and Cypher System mechanics (Dropbox Folder)
We jumped into the next available cab. It was a tight fit. You’d think when there were pachydermous sized persons in the world you’d have pachydermous sized vehicles. But maybe that’s just me. We could have waited but Pachy didn’t seemed to mind. I sure as fuck would. I often complained about seats not fitting my long legs. But that was human nature, maybe that didn’t exist here. Or it did in the humans, maybe elephant men were different?
We didn’t go far. Literally a few blocks away. What the fuck? We could have walked.
The pachydermous fella paid for the cab with a wave of his hand and we were scooting out of the cramped ride.
I looked around and found a nice condo standing in front of us. It looked like someone took good care of it. But there were flashing lights across the street and I was sure this was still a noisy place to live. Not that I had lived in much better of a place.
“Come on in.” Pachy said.
I followed him through the larger than average sized door. See this is what I meant.
I was greeted with the smell of books and a soft lingering smell of home cooked food. It was absolutely amazing. I felt immediately at home.
A strange looking creature slithered around my legs. It’s body covered in fur, but it moved on a belly of scales. I would have jumped at the site of a snake but this particular creature was purring as soon as it touched my ankles. I reached down and scratched it’s back and it coiled around my hand.
“Seems Barnabas likes you.” The pachyderm said as he led me through book lined halls to the stairs which I half expected to be stacked to the brim with more books but it was free and clear and elegant looking, it spiraled up into a second floor and possibly a third, but I lost track of it as my host made the floor creek as he started up the stairs. “Don’t worry, they haven’t broken yet.” He chuckled.
The snake cat thing curled up my arm and wrapped itself around my neck, it’s head pushing against my cheek and I had no choice to but to pet it’s furry body to settle it down. “What is Barnabas?” I asked.
“Barnabas is a purrsnek. Don’t you have them where you are from?”
“Not exactly.” I said. “We have cats that purr and we have snakes which are long and scaley and definitely don’t purr. But no purrsneks.”
Pachy nodded. “It’s always so fasinating learning about new worlds. I don’t know as if I’ve ever met one like you.”
“A human? I’ve seen lots that look like me here.” I said.
“Ah, yes. But not one from your dimension. You are rare. Magic doesn’t exist in your world right?”
I nodded. “Yeah, how’d you know.”
He smiled. “IREC doesn’t pull from magical worlds. The like making you need them here.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Who knows anymore. They are as corrupt as any other corporation in New Everlight. So you know about this?” I tapped the scroll at my side.
“Not exactly. There are contracts like that floating around the city. Usually very dangerous people. And I’m afraid you are looking just as dangerous.”
“You mean the entity that holds the contract is dangerous.”
“No, Chaos magic is dangerous. You are dangerous.”
“Like I’ll blow up in people’s faces.”
Pachy nodded. “Exactly.”
“How can I control it?” I asked.
“Not any way I know of. It’s Chaos after all. It’s not meant to be controlled.” Pachy opened a door just past the stairs we’d climbed. “You can stay here. Wash up and join us for dinner. Barnabas doesn’t like the water.”
“Please don’t tell me if he gets wet he spews out evil versions of himself.”
Pachy laughed. “No. Nothing of the sort. But his bite might make you a little sick. And for a hooman it might kill you.”
I nodded looking at the snake like cat thing wrapped around me and nodded. “I will make sure Barnabas does not bite me then.” I scratched the cute little head and it purred in my ear. “How can I find my friend?”
“If you have your compass you can find anything.”
“Uh… I’m assuming that was in the bag with that got stolen. As I have no compass.” I would have pulled out the pockets in my jeans or hoodie but that wasn’t really easy to do as the movies thought they were.
Pachy looked at me. “Hmmm. Let me think on it. You shower, clean up and we’ll figure it out. Until then you can stay here.”
“Thanks.” I said and the elephant man left the room closing the door behind him. I looked in the mirror surrounded by books and sighed. “What am I going to do?” I said to my reflection and that of the purrsnek wrapped around me.
The Mind of Nox 