"What are you doin' Reyansh?" his friend Jeff asked him.

  They marched along a narrow path in some dried looking wooded area.

  "Nothing." he said, turning away with the book he was studying carefully.

  "Come on! Let me see." he tried to look over Reyansh's shoulder. "No. You'll just make fun of me again."

  "I won't I promise! What am I, some kind of asshole?" his voice as always had the southern drawl that made him so endearing to Reyansh. Perhaps this time he would be kinder about it.

  He begrudgingly showed him the tome he was examining. Jeff eyes went wide at the depiction of two Arkai being intimate.

  "AHA!" Jeff bust out laughing. "See! See Jeff!" he raised the tome to hit him with it.

  Jeff raised his hands defensively, he still couldn't help but to chuckle as he said; "No, no- it's fine! You should study this stuff, you're made for it Mr.biologist!"

  "These creatures can reproduce Jeff! It's important to know! Also, look here-", "No! Chanel- you look!" he hid behind the large preying mantis. Who responded in a confused american southern voice; "What?"

  Reyansh was pointing a diagram. "Look here- it says if Arkai consume powerful members of certain species- their bodies begin to resemble those they consume! It's evolution through consumption!"

  That brought Jeff back around. He looked at the Venn diagram representing arkai and their prey.

  "Why would evolution work like that? You'd think whatever gets eaten isn't worth copying, right?"

  "No, but everything exists for a reason, creatures who survive to the point of being consumed have traits and abilities worth mimicking, and that's the way Arkai have evolved. They eat each other apparently, and that's why there's so much diversity in Arkai peoples."

  Reyansh was pouring over the tome.

  Chanel and Jeff seemed skeptical that any of that information was relevant.

  "Then what's the plan Reyansh? You eat people until you look like 'em?" Jeff asked.

  "You underestimate my desperation to not be a giant insect Jeff. What if we find corpses, if you cook them a certain way I'm sure that-"

  Chanel cringed visibly; "Okay Hannibal Lector, creepy."

  "It's for medicinal purposes! Would you think a blood transfusion is cannibalism!?", another Arkai who had been travelling with them chimed in; "How much does it change you anyway? I'm sure it's not like we'd get skin instead of shell at some point. -I can't believe I'm having this conversation."

  Reyansh nodded and waved a chitinous finger- "Exactly. You'd be surprised Kevin, I see depictions of historical Arkai figures who have warred with humans growing skin or hair. To varying degrees. It is possible. But it seems the higher level a human is, the more potent the effect consumption has. And it seems the being must be completely and totally dead to extract this thing called; 'essence'."

  "You might want to keep that information to yourself Reyansh." Jeff elbowed him. "Some of these guys might take that information and do something stupid with it." he nodded over his shoulder at the caravan of Arkai players traveling with them.

  "What does it matter, they're not real people Jeff. Even if we have to consume NPCs-",

  Chanel interrupted him angrily; "No, Reyansh. That's plain evil. Eating corpses to not be alien freaks- that's one thing. But you've seen how Arkai NPCs act, imagine seeing a human NPC. Do you think you could do that?"

  Reyansh considered this. "In any case, perhaps we could join some army. Would that provide a moral excuse you require for taking new lives?", "No. It's wrong Reyansh.", "What if there's a building a man set on fire- to kill babies. Then-", "I'm not having this conversation with you Reyansh."

  She walked away to another group of travelling Arkai.

  ""...I'm just trying to help.", Jeff put a clawed hand on his shoulder. His prawnfish head conveyed empathy, somehow. "We all know you mean well Reyansh. Being stuck like this is no ones cup of tea. But there are lines you just don't cross."

  "I'd wish I could have a cup of tea. Normally." he said after a time. Jeff removed his hand and slapped him on the back, causing Reyansh to fumble with his book on Arkai biology. "It's a world of magic Rey! Who knows what'll happen? That's how I try to think about it. Helps keep me sane in all this. Imagine all the good stuff that could exist!"

  "I just can't help but focus on the bad."

  "You smart type always do that. Stop punishing yourselves. Look-" Jeff pointed ahead. There was a walled city ahead of them- like most cities were in this world. The slate grey wall was made of many boulders stacked and then mortared. The hulking wooden gate looked wide enough so that 6 carriages could ride in side-by-side.

  "A human settlement. Finally. See? Good things are coming." he walked ahead. No doubt to negotiate on the groups behalf with the guard who was quickly beginning to panic at the front gate.

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  Loud church bells began to ring and shouts were heard. "Arkai!", "Rouse the guard!", "Send word to the king!"

  Reyansh sighed. This would be a long day.

  ---

  The precession of bug people and their caravan of wagons were stopped at the gates. The guard who had been outside had went within and was now shouting at them from behind closed doors.

  "Begone monsters! We desire no quarrel with you but if you force our hand we will send you back to whatever pit in tartarus you climbed out of!"

  Jeff raised his hands as he approached the gates. Fully aware of the armed crossbowmen on the walls. Even some robed figured held their magical items from wands to tomes which levitated in their hands. Some of them were clearly not human.

  "We come in peace! We're simply looking for other players!" Jeff called out.

  "Play- what? Listen here monster! You and yours better clear out before the commander sir Ro-", "That'll be enough, guardsmen." a voice sounded.

  "But sir- the monsters-", "Are not attacking, are they? There is such a thing as peaceful nonhumans guardsmen... Need I remind you that this is not Adun? I suggest you re-evaluate such prejudices.", "But Arkai sir?", "It's a development, I'll admit... Now let me through, I shall negotiate on our fair towns behalf."

  The gate unlatched and a man stepped out, followed by dozens of soldiers dressed in plate. He smiled at them;

  "We were just training and heard there was some commotion at the gates. What say you, Arkai? Long way from home, are you not?" he spoke confidently and in a polite manor. Seemingly unbothered.

  "Yeah, we ain't in Kansas anymore that's for sure." Jeff began. The knight wasn't wearing his helmet, and carried it under an arm. He made a confused face at the word 'Kansas'.

  "-But I meant what I said. We come in peace, we don't know about other Arkai, but this group? We're chill.", "Chill, yes. I see." he looked over the group and their wooden / metal wagons.

  "And what is your intent this day?" he asked.

  "Erhm, yeah- you see, we're part of a group that spans the world called 'players', and this group comes from another place far, far away. And so we're trying to get in touch with other 'players' that live in human lands."

  Did Jeff come up with that on the spot? Reyansh was impressed.

  The red haired man with goatee nodded nonchalantly, as if pondering this.

  Then drew and slashed with his sword in one clean motion.

  Jeff didn't expect it at all and made no move to dodge it. The man redirected the slash realizing this- but it was too late as a few of Jeffs fingers fell to the dry leaves below.

  The man looked at Jeff with more blatant confusion. And Jeff looked towards his hand. Then towards the caravan behind him.

  Then fell to his knees crying- grasping his wrist. Green blood spurted from the missing stubs of his chitinous fingers.

  "AAAH! MY FINGERS! AAHAHAaaa~!" he cried. He held his hand out to Reyansh; "My fingers Reyansh~" he sniffled, causing his prawn-like 'feelers' to tug upwards.

  Reyansh hurried over- tearing some fabric from a blanket. "I'm coming Jeff!" he quickly wrapped the bleeding stubs.

  Chanel stomped forward past them- she loomed over the commander- a 9 foot tall imposing preying mantis form caused the red headed leader to take a step back.

  "What was that for!? Why are you going around chopping peoples fingers off!" she shouted angrily. She looked to a guard on the wall and pointed to redheaded knight with a sickle shaped claw- "Arrest this man! Right now! That's assault!"

  The guards on the wall exchanged confused looks.

  "I apologize..." the commander spoke, seemingly unsure. "I may of... Misinterpreted this interaction..?"

  ---

  It took some explaining, but they told the knight commander the truth. Of course Jeff was beside himself, nursing his wound by a campfire. Potions were allowing the limbs to slowly regrow themselves, but they were very low quality.

  Commander Sir Roland now sat with them at one of the many campfires that had been erected.

  "Again, I apologize I did not realize. 'Players', you say?", Reyansh and Chanel were speaking with him now. Apart from the group.

  "Yes for crying out loud! We're not really Arkai, we're beings from another world that see this one as a game! What's so hard to understand?" she was venting at him still.

  "Please understand sir, I know this is an unbelievable story- but it's true. Do you not have any individuals in your uhm, beautiful city- that claim to be players?"

  He looked between them as if they represented a long days work. And he sighed. "Yes, we have some individuals who claim to be that... Luckily you came here, and not Adun. Or you'd likely all be dead about now..." he ran a hand through his neck-length hair. "..This matter of other worlds- it's not so difficult to believe. There are worlds like tartarus, or heaven after all. Not to mention the lands of the dead where the boundaries between worlds is thin. But worlds like yours? Where people can create worlds inside of other worlds? That's... New."

  "We can prove it, if given the chance." Reyansh said.

  They raised a hand- "And you'll get it. But until then, there is precedence for this in our lands. Another reason why you are so lucky to come across our kingdom first. The king is kind towards life of all kinds, the druidic king is long-lived and blessed by Esme herself. He grants any roaming band that comes in peace with a special grant to help establish themselves here. It'll take some time for his kings emissaries to arrive from the capital, but I suspect they will approve your citizenship post haste. If what you say is true, you certainly qualify. With hope, within a months time you will be the first Arkai citizens officially recognized by the king of Dellerose.", he smiled and chuckled; "We'd have to build you an embassy!"

  "Embassy- but we do not represent the Arkai.", "Then this 'player' embassy then, it matters little. Though... We can't allow a large number of you into the city, -yet. I'm sure you understand? Perhaps a few could be allowed under careful watch. And the rest of your camp can remain out here- off the beaten path if you would be so kind. Until you receive the kings grant, we'd be more than willing to trade until then. Starting with this-" he tossed Reyansh a healing potion.

  He fumbled with it- he wasn't used to his new hands yet. He managed to not drop it at least.

  "I feel terrible about hacking off that poor sods fingers. I expected it to be some ruse to catch us off guard, but the way he reacted- no Charlton could fake that. That was a poor kid who's never seen combat in his life."

  "We come from a mostly peaceful land..." Chanel said. Sir Roland nodded; "You are in like company then. Our borders are open- but not to the criminal or depraved."

  "Sounds good to me." Chanel saying hopefully. Reyansh was more skeptical.

  Roland stood up and bowed politely towards them. "Well then, I'll see to it that it's done. I'll send word for the kings emissaries and begin the immigration process. In the meantime, would either of you like to see the city?"

  "We could? And you wouldn't mind?" Chanel asked.

  He shrugged; "It's the best way to calm the citizens nerves- to see for themselves that you mean no harm. Unless you'd prefer to-"

  "-We'll go. There is one more- a small one, she would like to accompany us as well." Reyansh was sure Edith would want in on this. The little ladybug took being trapped pretty badly compared to most.

  "Very well. I'll show you around on my way to the nobles estate." he led them to the front gate.

  "Where you going Reyansh?" Jeff asked from his campfire, where he sat with a few other Arkai players.

  "Just negotiating, don't worry. I'll be back soon. How are your fingers?", Jeff looked at the bloodied bandages he wore; "...Growing. Make sure they pay us back for this! This is bull!", he waved the bloodied appendage at him.

  "I plan on it. Here. From the assaulter." he tossed the red vial Roland had given him.

  Jeff clutched it in his hands as Reyansh followed Roland into the city.

  Chanel appeared behind them with a three foot tall ladybug on her back. Or thorax.

  As they entered the city they saw many frightened but also curious faces looking back at him. Of all kinds. Beastkin, and things that didn't even have a humanoid shapes. Goblins and other monsters could be seen moving about as well. Harpies, winged beasts, it was incredibly diverse.

  It seemed they did in fact get lucky finding this nation.

  "Look at all the monsters Rey! I think we found a home here- at least until we find the other players and figure things out." Chanel looked around happily.

  He didn't respond. Reyansh knew first hand better than to expect a utopia, no matter where you lived- there was always pecking order. No land was so perfect. He'd hope for the best, and expect the worse.

  He looked over to see Edith petting a furred wyvern creature about her size.

  "Edith, why are you petting random creatures? Stop it. It could bite."

  The creature looked over to him with an annoyed look- "I don't mind." it said in a shockingly human voice.