Open - The lost elder

Morpheus

”So this is the game they wanted me to join them in? So far this elctro whatcha call it looks real enough, they got my muscles right! Bonus points!”

_____Morpheus looked around slowly, his words holding both dignity and the iconic old man loudness with the failing hearing. His hands wrapping around an invisible cane as he mimicked tapping it against the ground before noticing he did not have it with him. Moving a few steps to check how well he could walk without his usual needed cane before grinning and breaking into a sprint enjoying the very clear lack of pain in his joints. Frame shifting quickly as he spun across the grass, hands pulled to his center before slamming them against a tree with a thunderous crack.

”Ha-ha They even work right so far!”

_____Moving to get some distance before her resumed slamming open palms against the tree, each resounding with a loud crack and a hearty laugh as the old soul tested the limits of his strength in this game world. A few minutes of beating up the poor tree was soon cut dead silent as Morpheus began rubbing his beard.

”I was supposed to be looking for something… a place… Bhaa I’m sure if i forgot it it was not important just like my meds.”

_____Shrugging his shoulders before he started to walk off into the woods without a real idea in mind outside enjoying the chance to move around freely without pains or his cane. His previous actions likely had drawn people to him, hopefully so since the old man was supposed to be searching for a town where his family was waiting for him. Moving to jump over a log before he grinned again, the things youth took for granted before losing it and wanting it again, that was one joy this game gave Alexander.

 

Endilix knew he didn't have a lot of time to play this game. He just needed a taste before his brother got home and yelled at him for trying out his VR system. Although Endilix looked at it like any other game. They lived in the same house, therefore they shared it, even if it was technically Emerath's system. If Endilix got in a quest or something, maybe his brother would just have to wait!

At least that's what he told himself while he still had bravado to do so. He knew that if his brother wanted to, he'd kick him out on the street. But he had said that many times before, and here he still was, playing his game. Who was the clear victor? The NEET, obviously.

But Endilix wasn't satisfied with the avatar he had been given, and despite needing to be fast, he still spent quite a bit of time, creating a rather muscular and bulky man that was a bit taller than him, but still had similar facial features and of course their blazing red hair. No matter what, Endilix just couldn't be himself without his blazing red hair. And with that, he was satisfied, as he popped into the game.

And boy was Endilix surprised. It was exactly as Emerath had described. The sights, the sensations, the sounds, everything felt so vivid and real. It was like he had just stepped outside his house and into a forest, that was how real it felt. And then there was the sounds. There were chirping birds, chattering squirrels, rustling leaves, a loud cracking of wood... wait, a loud cracking of wood? Like if someone was beating a tree?

Endilix ran over to the source of the sound, and turned a few trees to see an old man who appeared to be positively giddy at his life in this moment. Endilix had no idea what to make of it. Had he been the one beating on that poor tree?

Endilix stepped out from behind the tree he had been hiding behind to watch the old man, shouting after him with a, "Hey, old man! Where are you off to? Did you just start this game too? Or are you some wizened old one here to help out newbies?"

 

_____Of all the choices the boy could have made, he picked the set of words that drove Morpheus more mad than people telling him to stop drinking and to stop ‘forgetting’ his medicine. The veins on his head popping out like balloons as he clenched his fist and slowly began to turn towards the red haired boy who was once only seen in the corner of the man’s eyes. He looked ready to explode, and as he began charging forward he spoke only a few words to the youth, his words of great ‘wizened’ for the young yelp.

”I’m not old! I... AM... AGED WITH EXPERIENCE!”

_____If the boy did not move, likely understandable with the sight of a old man rushing him like a freight train he would be in for the great hammer. A single, simple and swift full blown uppercut to the boy’s chin backed with everything Morpheus could pack into it while he shouted his last few words at the top of his lungs. Grumbling to himself as he looked down at the boy with storm grey eyes, his beard hanging loosely before the once assaulting hand was reached out to help the boy up.

”How is that for Wizened old one advice you darn young yelp! Second piece of advice, NEVER TRUST SOMEONE YOU JUST PISSED OFF WITHOUT SAYING YOUR SORRY!”

____His loud shouting only spoke if the boy took the offered hand to him. Wrapping his large hand around the boy’s wrist before pulling him up and following the motion to throw him into the clearing almost to the nature of a rag doll in the winds of a hurricane, so Morpheus was seeking to call it as such. His Heroic might and Berserker master likely making such a scary possibility later on. Moving to roll his overused shoulder before glaring at the boy as if wondering what else to do about his words.

”Got something you want to say you young yelp?!”
@Endilix Takagi

 

Endilix hadn't actually expected to set the old man off with his words. He had expected even less for the old man to come charging at him. "Woah, WOAH!" Endilix tried to shout as the old man shouted and threw a punch at him. He had managed to take a step back, but this wasn't enough of a reaction, as the punch knocked him on the chin and sent him reeling backwards.

Endilix unceremoniously fell onto his butt into the dirt near a tree, his hammer and shield clattering against his back. "Hey now, that was rather uncalled for. I don't know you, and you're clearly up in age. It's not like I meant to offend you," Endilix explained as he rubbed his chin, a bit sore from the blow, but ultimately he would live. The old man offered a hand, and Endilix stared at it, his eyes squinted at him.

"First you punch me, and now you're helping me up? I don't buy it," Endilix explained, before pushing himself up on the nearby tree. "Look ol-" Endilix started, but caught himself as he said, "sir. I'm sorry for upsetting you. Are you a new player to this game as well? I just started and I really don't know where I am or where to go." Endilix huffed. He had considered being belligerent, but if his dad had taught him anything, it was to respect his elders. Even if they were prone to sucker punches.

"Just don't punch me again, alright? That hurt," Endilix pleaded, before he realized something. The punch had hurt. This game had pain. That was neat!

 

”Yes I am new to the game, I was asked to play with my granddaughter and my great granddaughter. But i forgot where I was supposed to be going to meet up with them…”

_____His once hostile air removed as he simply relaxed and shook slightly as if standing was slightly troubling him, but in truth just the energy built up and the thrill of being able to hit something so easily without falling over or using his cane to do such. Moving towards a tree while winding up another punch before trying to break a branch off, after a few hits he moved to snap the cracked wood away from the rest and used it to support his weight and give him focus to stop shaking.

”Then why are you talking boy? If you don’t know where to go, pick a direction and go. Games like this, they let you have that freedom to pave your own roads. Take the path you want, not find the one others already walked. Less you enjoy living a shadow of another then go do it.”

_____Morpheus tapping his cane to the ground a few times before he pointed it towards the boy nearby to help make his point. The kid needed to chose his story, that was how life always was both here and in reality. To live by what others told you to do was simply a wasted life and hopefully the boy saw that reasoning without a few hits to get it into his skull. Setting his cane back down Morpheus began to walk opposite from where the boy had come from.

”Sure sometimes you must follow the same crossroads as another you can’t expect help to always be there. Clearly the game gives no tutorial, much like life mind you… It is simply up to you and the people you meet who wish to offer a helping hand. Clearly you know how to walk and speak, so learn to run and yell, then to fight and scream, then where your heart or soul tell you to go. Live like that and you won’t have a regret when your on death row like me…”
@Endilix Takagi

 

"Tch," Endilix responded as the old man started to wax poetic after breaking a tree branch for a makeshift walking stick. The old man sounded like Eru, and it was more than a little annoying. He was supposed to be playing this game to get away from his brother, not meet an old man who sounded almost exactly like him! Well, maybe not exactly. There were some specific old man points involved in the little speech. Eru may have been an old soul at times, but he certainly wasn't about to talk about being on death row.

Endilix folded his arms as he watched the old man start to walk off into the distance, back the way that Endilix had just came upon entering the game. Endilix grunted and figured he should follow the old man. If the old man was so certain that this needed to be Endilix's story, then Endilix would write his story while in the companionship of this strange old geezer.

"Look, all this bull about making my own path aside, I'm really lost. And considering your little speech, I'm pretty sure you're lost too and just don't want to admit it," Endilix said as he caught up to his elder. "Why don't you tell me what you're actually looking for, because really I'm just along for the ride at this point. I don't have any real point to what I'm doing besides having a good time doing it."

@Morpheus

 

”No such thing as being lost if you are never trying to find anything in particular boy. And having a good time is all you need in life.”

_____Morpheus turned slightly to smile at the boy before moving on some more. He, despite walking in his randomly picked direction was clearly moving with a simple plan in mind that matched the boys and it was to have a good time while he still could. He wanted to experience more action and adventure, he was done with the romance after his wife’s death and relaxing grew tiring after a few years of it.

”Name is Morpheus, most call me ol’Grandpa though, least most great grand kids and grandkids all call me that. Long as you don’t call me Old man i don’t care what you call me though.”

_____Morpheus slowed down when he noticed something out of place. His eyes set on a small figure rustling around the bushes and for the first few moments not noticing it was a goblin or that he had some friends not far away. When he did notice it was a goblin, simple to say he was either ignoring the others or simply had tunnel vision as he charged forward to the closest target. It was both reckless and seemed to explain how the old man saw life, do things now regret later.

_____Clenching his hands slowly before kicking himself into a low gravity pivot motion when he was noticed. Knuckles and fist glowing softly before they met the goblin’s chest and for a moment it seemed utterly useless as the goblin snickered and his friends noticed Morpheus. Then the wind rustled the bushes and the tapped goblin was sent spirling into his friends while Morpheus rose not noticing the other goblins.

Delayed impact

 

Endilix rolled his eyes at how consistently philosophical this old man was. It was bad enough that he had to deal with Eru at home. Now he was plagued by an old man spouting wisdom at him in his game too. Still, it was more entertaining than just being lost in the woods.

Emerath followed the man considering what he should call him given the info he was presented. “All right, Morp,” was what Endilix decided on, eliciting a chuckle from himself at the silly sounding nickname. It was the least he could do after the punch earlier. His jaw still hurt from that.

But then they came across some goblins, and in a flash Morp was gone again. He struck one of the goblins, but the blow seemed to do nothing. “Yo, ol- ... Morp! Do you really think that’s a good idea? We’re beginners and that attack seemed to do noth-“ Endilix called out, before being cut off by the goblin going flying.

Endilix rolled his shoulders and pulled out a flimsy shield and hammer, before figuring that the old man wouldn’t be so useless after all. Though angering a pack of goblins probably wasn’t the brightest idea.

Endilix ran to catch up to his companion, before raising his shield to block a stone thrown from a sling that one of the goblins held. “I really don’t think this was a good idea. If I die I’m going to find you and haunt you ol- ... Morp. Either way, I’ll take what I can as far as these knuckleheads go.”

 

Never back down from adversity, charge forth for what you want and take it!

_____With some extra volume in his voice to try and snap the worry wort out of things before returning to the fighting. Open hands waving slowly before slamming into the goblins who got close to Morpheus with thunderous force. The mix of martial arts, heroic might, and berserker showing in each blow and movement the old man made while working around the area. Most of his strikes simply appeared attacks of chance until he got into the rhythm of the attackers.

_____You spend most your life fighting and you learn not to go full power to start until you know what to expect. Ducking down before pushing with everything into a rising uppercut to the first goblin he had struck, the glow around his fist dispersing as it sent the creature skybound. Quickly slamming his free elbow into the face of another goblin and kicking another out of his way as he gave pursuit towards the falling foe. Clearly the old fool had his fair share of fighter games or real fights with how he handled outnumbered situations.

_____Catching his target and quickly throwing them down onto his knee to crack the neck of the creature to the point of almost breaking the head clean off. Throwing the finished threat away Morpheus rushed back to the other creatures, a fair height jump allowing him to slam his knee into the next threat and drive the goblin into the ground with a loud creak and another lifeless target. Turning to the boy with a smile on his face, a slight show he was burning steam quickly but still thrilled by the fighting.

Don’t fall behind now, or I ain’t sharing nothing with ya for what we get for these.

_____Moving from his kneeling pose as one goblin swung for the back of his neck, without help it would likely hit but Morpheus would simply laugh and spin around to clothesline the goblin and toss it aside towards Endilix to deal with. While not many would likely remain it would appear they needed to work together or things might get a little tricky later on, and it was unknown of any more would be rushing in as one goblin shouted loudly.
@Endilix Takagi

 

Endilix just sighed more at the old man, who continued to rush in, spouting more nonsense. "Look, going for what you want is great and all, but is it really worth risking your life?" Endilix asked him, though he knew the old man really wasn't listening at this point. Another stone blocked, as Endilix watched one of the goblins rush at him. He supposed at this point he had no choice but to fight back, even if only to defend himself against the creatures.

A strike to the side, easily sidestepped, as Endilix smashed the creature with his shield, causing it to reel backwards. He finished it off with a solid slam to the head with his hammer, and if it wasn't dead, it sure was out for the count. Easy peasy. At least, so he thought until the slinger that had been throwing stones was forgotten and managed to ping the man in the side of the head.

Endilix grunted and put a finger to his temple after the blow, and pulled it away to see red. "Heh, good shot," he told the creature, before he turned and threw his hammer in retaliation. The blunt object whistled through the air as the slinger attempted to dodge, but the projectile was too fast. It smashed into its nose with a hard crack, and the creature was down for the count, blood streaming from its broken face.

Endilix casually walked over and wrenched the hammer from the creature's face, before turning just in time to see the old man fling another goblin his way, which Endilix quickly grasped his hammer in both hands to swing at the creature like a baseball bat. Once in range, Endilix slammed his hammer into it, sending it screaming as it flew through the air.

"Keep up? It's not like you left me any choice here. It's either I turn tail and run, or we finish off these knuckleheads. Let me tell you, Morp, I'm not a quitter. So that first one isn't even an option," Endilix said, still casually strolling across the battlefield to the old man as he pummeled his way onward.

 

_____Things took a turn for the worse it seemed, Morpheus watching carefully as the goblins seemed to retreat but he still held his stance and watched the area with all of his senses. It was not surprising to him that they would change tactics, but it was early then he was hopeful for. This game was most definitely interesting, Slamming his fist to his open hand before he grinned and rushed forward towards the new threats. But with each dashing punch he attempted the foes did just that to out maneuver the on foot threat.

”This may prove more difficult… BUT THAT WILL NOT STOP ME! Hell if I gave up each time things got hard I’d have never made it out of the military! BRING IT ON!”

_____Rushing after target again and again Morpheus proved both his stubbornness and recklessness as arrows began to find their mark along his body while mostly just grazing him or his clothing. This was a fight that got him excited, he wanted to show both himself and the game that even in his old age he could still kick ass and take names. While he was unsure if the goblin’s had names to take he would simply call them goblin one, goblin two and so forth.

”Get back here ya cowards! Fight like real men! If you don’t I’ma call you all coward’s one through twelve! If this was the army you be scrubbing the toilets clean with your own toothbrushes for this!”

@Endilix Takagi

 

The hairs on the back of Endilix's neck stood up as the goblins changed tactics, and he watched as they ran away into the woods. It was enough that Endilix almost gave a cheer. At least, until he heard the howl of wolves. No, of course it wouldn't be that simple, and of course Morpheus wasn't about to back off.

"Morp! Don't charge in!" Endilix tried to call out, but the old man was already in the middle of the swarm, arrow after arrow pinging the man as he watched. Endilix grunted, as he ran towards him, slamming a goblin that was paying more attention to Morpheus than anything else and managing to knock him from the wolf. But the wolf didn't particularly like being smacked in the face with a sheet of metal, as it grabbed onto the shield and tried to pull it away.

Endilix grunted and swung his hammer around to smash it into the side of the creature, which yelped and let go, before grabbing its master in its mouth and running off into the woods again. "Stupid things..." he commented, as he ran over to Morp and tried to deflect some of the arrows being flung their way, going back to back with the old man in the center of the circling goblins. "Look, you got any ideas here? I think we need to figure out which one is the leader and take him out. The rest will probably scatter if we can at least do that much."

Endilix managed to block quite a few of the arrows, but he could feel a few stick here and there. He was thankful that he wasn't playing on realistic, but they still wouldn't be able to do this forever. "Morp, you hear me?! Go after the LEADER!" he shouted at the man, hoping to at least direct the fury.

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_____Morpheus was not exactly happy to get orders from the younger generation, however he did have a point. Slowing down his chase and quickly slamming his feet to the ground locking himself steady with enemies rushing around him. Arrows sailing past or into him as he inhaled slowly building up everything and fusing some of his mastery into the mix before grinning and waving hands to his ears to warn the youth before he shouted.

”Bring me a worthy adversary!”

_____Consideralbe bold words and extremely loud as small waves cut across the area sending the wolves coiling from the effect of greater hearing. Clenching his fist again Morpheus shot after the first threat. His fist cracking the ribs of the wolf while his momentum sent it tumbling over onto the rider. His fist bleeding from the impact however slowly turning towards the other threats and slamming the bloody knuckles to his open hand grinning slightly.

Well, go get him if you know what is good for you lot!”

_____His voice still amplified from his mastery and adrenaline as the old man took stance and looked to the younger figure who fought alongside him, a slight look of surprise how his voice was louder but not that much bothered by it or fully thinking about it. This fight was not going to simply let him talk about it, cracking a few knuckles Morpheus shouted again and rushed forward still not willing to back down and fully intent on dragging the leader out if he had to.

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It seemed that Morpheus had made enough of an impression on the goblins so as to make the leader step forth. They were still circling, but at least it was obvious, as the creature barked orders and presumably shouted obscenities at the other goblins, that this was the Khan they were looking for.

Morpheus was busy dragging goblins around, so Endilix made it a point to go after the leader. He was more successful than he could have originally planned.

As he swung his hammer, he managed to catch the wolf of the Khan off guard, and sent the creature to the ground, throwing the Khan into the ground, as the archers continued to shoot their arrows. A few struck Endilix, but he simply threw himself at the Khan as best he could. The creature was much stronger than the other goblins, and fought back pretty fiercely, as the wolf came back to its senses.

The wolf howled, and the Khan cried out for the beast, as Endilix tried his best to use his weight to contain the Khan in the grapple. So he called out to Morpheus, "Keep the wolf away from the Khan, before he uses the range to his advantage again! I'll try to kill this sucker! Keep the wolf away!"

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