Oftentimes, their glitzy facade was a magnet for road robbers and bandits. Luckily the Calculators had the numbers on their side. Not so much the number in their party as their ability to plot out and coordinate the path with the lowest statistical threats. The nine mathematicians stop at a small creek and sit down for a little food and water. Quietly they sit, weary feet and all, pulling out their adding machines and plotting the next best course towards AB.
"Mornin' Blokes," the man's broken rustic accent cracked from across the way. The Calculators quickly began pressing buttons on their devices trying to figure out the statistical reasoning for this event. The man walked closer apparently to introduce himself. At that time one of the Calculators stood up to confront the man. "Yo. Yo. Yo. I don't mean you scallywags no harm. "I just want to let you know that if you're trying to go south you can't." When this weird talking stranger came closer, the stench of beer and cheap wine was apparent. As if that wasn't enough, he was dressed in an all pink men's suit with sequined red hearts all over the place. Even odder than that was that he had the appearance of a rugged man who hadn't shaved in weeks. The stranger stops right in front of the creek. ‘My name is Lake Rivers," the scraggly man straightened his sunglasses as he sparkled in the sun.
"You are a drunkard and a fool", the mild mannered Calculator backed up after having said this. "We are Adders from AB. If you are here to rob us, you only have a twelve percent chance of escaping with your life."
"Relax you don't have to threaten me.", The pink, smelly man rubbed his stubble and pointed an index finger south. "The connecting bridge south is out. I need to go that way as well." All of the number crunchers began mashing on their tiny machines again searching for an answer to this problem.
"It would take something massive to knock out a bridge of that size, Lake...was it?," The young Calculator extends a hand. "My name is Vioh! What business do you have in the south stranger?" I need to get to Sinder city. That's south of AB. Maybe we can help each other get there.
"Sinder is the bridge city between Mis Le Mis and Graadis. Only Goths or Barbarians are allowed there.", Vioh backs up and begins punching in numbers. "Your heads diameter and the measure of your hands would indicate that you are not Goth."
Lake Rivers sits down with the other Calculators as if they'd been friends for years..."Yep you guessed it. I am a Barbarian. Well, retired actually."
Another Calculator starts punching numbers and soon they all join in. "The probability of a Barbarian who speaks the human tongue is six-thousand to one." Lake grimaces at their ideals of what he should be and brushed lent off of his sparkling pink outfit", Like your tongue is so advanced. Barbarians are as smart as any normal man. West Mis Le Mis farmers bought me last year in a slave auction. They took pity on my situation taught me many things about this land. They taught me how to speak and let me work and buy back my freedom. They even lent me these groovy threads." Lake Rivers adjust his pants a little.
"Pity?" The Calculators continue to bash their tiny machines. "I've never known anyone to let there property go like that. There is an eighty-five percent chance you murdered them and are a fugitive."
"If that were true, why would I be dressed like this?," The pink sequined man did a little twirl as if showing off his attire. This gets a chuckle out of the group and they all sit down again,
Lake speaks again. "I don't have proper clearance to cross states freely without prosecution. Let me join your team of Calculators Voih, and I will make it worth your while!"
"There is nothing you have for us Pink Barbarian," Voih adjusted his gold as he spoke candidly.
The newly dubbed Pink Barbarian stood up once more and struck back with much retort," Every month around this time. Lord Vosce hires a group of Calculators to journey up to Mis Le Mis's mountains to search for his dead son's ghost. Or something like that right?"
Everyone stops typing and fix their eyes on the shiny pink man with sunglasses.
"Vosce is an ancient priest and founder of the Adder's guild in AB.", The pink man continues. "Vosce has so many followers and an I.Q. rivaled by no one. Why would such a man waist his time on chasing a fairytale? Also, why would a man such an endless well of intelligence hire a bunch of novice Adders when he is King of you all?"
The baffled Calculators start punching figures into their gadgets again. Lake puts his hand over Vioh's device," I don't have clearance. If you help me get to Sinter city I will tell you the simple answer to that question and more,...if you let me accompany you into AB.
Voih pockets his device and stands eye to eye with the pink stranger. They are about the same height save that Lake has maybe 40 pounds more muscle. Voih speaks. "Our homeland is the current information center of the world. It's named AB because of its alphabetical location on the globe. Throughout the centuries people have come from far and wide to commission advice from AB. Us Calculator's have always given accurate predictions and been able to spot deception and stop it well before it could ever become a threat. Be honest in your intentions or we you'll have me to deal with! We'll help you get to the gate of AB unharmed. At that time we want that answer you have for us."
"Sound like a deal to me. Yeah baby! Everyone follow me to AB." Lake Rivers starts walking towards the bridge."
"Wait if the bridge is out, shouldn't we go around? Voih started walking.
"Nah! I was just lying about that. The bridge is fine. I was just messin' with you all. I always wondered if I could get away with lying to a Calculator." The Pink Barbarian leads the way, up the hill with a very agitated group of Adders behind him.
Rain began to fall by noon in north Mis Le Mis. Master Adder, Norte and the woman known as Ryhasola were on the the outskirts of Vosce capitol when the group decided to go around the lengthy garden. Norte was in front with Ryhasola in the rear. Adder punched numbers in the rain while the other two whispered or hummed random tunes.
Adder's voice cracked. "When we meet the Lord, let me do all the talking you too. I've dealt with him in the past and my calculations say that well find Vosce very reasonable this time around. Norte skipped a little as if to gain even more of a lead ahead of the group. "Papa, why is it getting so cold?" Ryhasola pulls out a small dagger and Norte unsheathes his slingshot. Master Adder pulls up his calculator and moves his cowl a little showing a hilt with a tiny symbol engraved on it.
The clouds grew darker still as the rain began to pour. The wind became so cold that for instances the rain was sticking to the travelers like snow. As a thick mist engulfs the brave travelers, they huddle together back to back in the middle of this catastrophe.
"Demon! Everyone get together!", as soon as Adder yelled this Ryhasola was tugged into the thick mist not even having time to let out a scream. ‘Papa what should we do? Norte screams over the wind as he pelts about three rocks into the creamy fog. An electric shrill gurgle can be heard in the distance. In moments, the fog clears up a little and Ryhasola can be seen in the grips of what looked like a silhouette of a minotaur. She uses her sword with little avail and jams it into the beast's arms. Ryhasola is flung back about twenty feet into a nearby fruit patch. "Poppa it's gonna kill us!" as soon as Norte screams that, the Demon starts hobbling towards Adder in a mysteriously anamorphic way.
Adder reaches for his sheathed dagger and draws it readily. The conflict escalates with each swing from Master Adder's sword. The mathematician's reflexes suggest he's been in a sword fight or two in his day. The large shadow anomaly counters the puny dagger swings by batting its arms at Master Adder. Adder's small but very sharp blade cut clean through the milky mass. As soon as the black milky limb hit the ground, it transformed into about forty slithering pythons. "Norte pulls out his calculator and begins punching in numbers as the snakes angrily inched towards him.
Norte dropped the calculator in all of the confusion and in seconds the snakes had completely engulfed both the boy and the device. Ryhasola let's out a painful groan and charges back at the minotaur shaped demon and with Adder's help manage to get a few good blows in. As they cut through the fabricated smoky body, the snakes around Norte subside and change their direction going after the two attacking the demon.
Sensing their bodies' peril the huge black pythons move faster and with more murderous intent than before. The demon swipes its massive tale and trips both Ryhasola and Master Adder now. The same snakes that were biting and covering Norte just seconds earlier were now doing the same thing to them.
Seconds before the two Calculators were completely covered, a brilliant blue light breaks through the thick mist and hits the demon right between the eyes. It let's out one more shrill electric shrill and sinks back into the ground. As quick as the entire threat had arisen, it had passed. Norte stands up covered in snake bites. Dazed and confused he attempts to walk over to where his father is. Delirious from the snake wounds, and though his blurred vision Norte sees a man standing over his father and Ryhasola...,"Where are...your shoes?" Norte passes out.
Ryhasola reaches in her pouch and runs over to Norte getting him to sip something out of a bottle. Master Adder leans against a tree and looks into his shaking palms. His calculator shattered on the ground nearby he speaks aloud to any that would hear him. "This demon appeared from nowhere! This wasn't in my equation at all! Stranger...you saved our lives. What is your name?
The melancholy man looks over at Norte and Ryhasola..."My name is Theodore Copper Steelman!"
"Mornin' Blokes," the man's broken rustic accent cracked from across the way. The Calculators quickly began pressing buttons on their devices trying to figure out the statistical reasoning for this event. The man walked closer apparently to introduce himself. At that time one of the Calculators stood up to confront the man. "Yo. Yo. Yo. I don't mean you scallywags no harm. "I just want to let you know that if you're trying to go south you can't." When this weird talking stranger came closer, the stench of beer and cheap wine was apparent. As if that wasn't enough, he was dressed in an all pink men's suit with sequined red hearts all over the place. Even odder than that was that he had the appearance of a rugged man who hadn't shaved in weeks. The stranger stops right in front of the creek. ‘My name is Lake Rivers," the scraggly man straightened his sunglasses as he sparkled in the sun.
"You are a drunkard and a fool", the mild mannered Calculator backed up after having said this. "We are Adders from AB. If you are here to rob us, you only have a twelve percent chance of escaping with your life."
"Relax you don't have to threaten me.", The pink, smelly man rubbed his stubble and pointed an index finger south. "The connecting bridge south is out. I need to go that way as well." All of the number crunchers began mashing on their tiny machines again searching for an answer to this problem.
"It would take something massive to knock out a bridge of that size, Lake...was it?," The young Calculator extends a hand. "My name is Vioh! What business do you have in the south stranger?" I need to get to Sinder city. That's south of AB. Maybe we can help each other get there.
"Sinder is the bridge city between Mis Le Mis and Graadis. Only Goths or Barbarians are allowed there.", Vioh backs up and begins punching in numbers. "Your heads diameter and the measure of your hands would indicate that you are not Goth."
Lake Rivers sits down with the other Calculators as if they'd been friends for years..."Yep you guessed it. I am a Barbarian. Well, retired actually."
Another Calculator starts punching numbers and soon they all join in. "The probability of a Barbarian who speaks the human tongue is six-thousand to one." Lake grimaces at their ideals of what he should be and brushed lent off of his sparkling pink outfit", Like your tongue is so advanced. Barbarians are as smart as any normal man. West Mis Le Mis farmers bought me last year in a slave auction. They took pity on my situation taught me many things about this land. They taught me how to speak and let me work and buy back my freedom. They even lent me these groovy threads." Lake Rivers adjust his pants a little.
"Pity?" The Calculators continue to bash their tiny machines. "I've never known anyone to let there property go like that. There is an eighty-five percent chance you murdered them and are a fugitive."
"If that were true, why would I be dressed like this?," The pink sequined man did a little twirl as if showing off his attire. This gets a chuckle out of the group and they all sit down again,
Lake speaks again. "I don't have proper clearance to cross states freely without prosecution. Let me join your team of Calculators Voih, and I will make it worth your while!"
"There is nothing you have for us Pink Barbarian," Voih adjusted his gold as he spoke candidly.
The newly dubbed Pink Barbarian stood up once more and struck back with much retort," Every month around this time. Lord Vosce hires a group of Calculators to journey up to Mis Le Mis's mountains to search for his dead son's ghost. Or something like that right?"
Everyone stops typing and fix their eyes on the shiny pink man with sunglasses.
"Vosce is an ancient priest and founder of the Adder's guild in AB.", The pink man continues. "Vosce has so many followers and an I.Q. rivaled by no one. Why would such a man waist his time on chasing a fairytale? Also, why would a man such an endless well of intelligence hire a bunch of novice Adders when he is King of you all?"
The baffled Calculators start punching figures into their gadgets again. Lake puts his hand over Vioh's device," I don't have clearance. If you help me get to Sinter city I will tell you the simple answer to that question and more,...if you let me accompany you into AB.
Voih pockets his device and stands eye to eye with the pink stranger. They are about the same height save that Lake has maybe 40 pounds more muscle. Voih speaks. "Our homeland is the current information center of the world. It's named AB because of its alphabetical location on the globe. Throughout the centuries people have come from far and wide to commission advice from AB. Us Calculator's have always given accurate predictions and been able to spot deception and stop it well before it could ever become a threat. Be honest in your intentions or we you'll have me to deal with! We'll help you get to the gate of AB unharmed. At that time we want that answer you have for us."
"Sound like a deal to me. Yeah baby! Everyone follow me to AB." Lake Rivers starts walking towards the bridge."
"Wait if the bridge is out, shouldn't we go around? Voih started walking.
"Nah! I was just lying about that. The bridge is fine. I was just messin' with you all. I always wondered if I could get away with lying to a Calculator." The Pink Barbarian leads the way, up the hill with a very agitated group of Adders behind him.
Rain began to fall by noon in north Mis Le Mis. Master Adder, Norte and the woman known as Ryhasola were on the the outskirts of Vosce capitol when the group decided to go around the lengthy garden. Norte was in front with Ryhasola in the rear. Adder punched numbers in the rain while the other two whispered or hummed random tunes.
Adder's voice cracked. "When we meet the Lord, let me do all the talking you too. I've dealt with him in the past and my calculations say that well find Vosce very reasonable this time around. Norte skipped a little as if to gain even more of a lead ahead of the group. "Papa, why is it getting so cold?" Ryhasola pulls out a small dagger and Norte unsheathes his slingshot. Master Adder pulls up his calculator and moves his cowl a little showing a hilt with a tiny symbol engraved on it.
The clouds grew darker still as the rain began to pour. The wind became so cold that for instances the rain was sticking to the travelers like snow. As a thick mist engulfs the brave travelers, they huddle together back to back in the middle of this catastrophe.
"Demon! Everyone get together!", as soon as Adder yelled this Ryhasola was tugged into the thick mist not even having time to let out a scream. ‘Papa what should we do? Norte screams over the wind as he pelts about three rocks into the creamy fog. An electric shrill gurgle can be heard in the distance. In moments, the fog clears up a little and Ryhasola can be seen in the grips of what looked like a silhouette of a minotaur. She uses her sword with little avail and jams it into the beast's arms. Ryhasola is flung back about twenty feet into a nearby fruit patch. "Poppa it's gonna kill us!" as soon as Norte screams that, the Demon starts hobbling towards Adder in a mysteriously anamorphic way.
Adder reaches for his sheathed dagger and draws it readily. The conflict escalates with each swing from Master Adder's sword. The mathematician's reflexes suggest he's been in a sword fight or two in his day. The large shadow anomaly counters the puny dagger swings by batting its arms at Master Adder. Adder's small but very sharp blade cut clean through the milky mass. As soon as the black milky limb hit the ground, it transformed into about forty slithering pythons. "Norte pulls out his calculator and begins punching in numbers as the snakes angrily inched towards him.
Norte dropped the calculator in all of the confusion and in seconds the snakes had completely engulfed both the boy and the device. Ryhasola let's out a painful groan and charges back at the minotaur shaped demon and with Adder's help manage to get a few good blows in. As they cut through the fabricated smoky body, the snakes around Norte subside and change their direction going after the two attacking the demon.
Sensing their bodies' peril the huge black pythons move faster and with more murderous intent than before. The demon swipes its massive tale and trips both Ryhasola and Master Adder now. The same snakes that were biting and covering Norte just seconds earlier were now doing the same thing to them.
Seconds before the two Calculators were completely covered, a brilliant blue light breaks through the thick mist and hits the demon right between the eyes. It let's out one more shrill electric shrill and sinks back into the ground. As quick as the entire threat had arisen, it had passed. Norte stands up covered in snake bites. Dazed and confused he attempts to walk over to where his father is. Delirious from the snake wounds, and though his blurred vision Norte sees a man standing over his father and Ryhasola...,"Where are...your shoes?" Norte passes out.
Ryhasola reaches in her pouch and runs over to Norte getting him to sip something out of a bottle. Master Adder leans against a tree and looks into his shaking palms. His calculator shattered on the ground nearby he speaks aloud to any that would hear him. "This demon appeared from nowhere! This wasn't in my equation at all! Stranger...you saved our lives. What is your name?
The melancholy man looks over at Norte and Ryhasola..."My name is Theodore Copper Steelman!"