Oren had started the evening as one of simple relaxation. Sometimes the life of an adventurer was one you just needed a break from- it was simple as that. And make no mistake, Oren was an adventurer. Some would even say a hero. But the half-satyr sometimes just got urges. A want and a need to return to the wild for a while to rest and recharge. This forest looked as good as any. Someone at one point had told him it was the Arcane Forests in the human kingdom of Cerulean Depths, and that the Arcane Forests also wandered into Orc territory but at the time Oren didn't care.<br/><br/>So for the past fortnight Oren was just enjoying himself in the wilds. When he was cold, he put some clothes on. When he was hungry, he ran down something. When he was thirsty, he got some water from the streams. He kind of was starting to miss female "companionship" but sometimes to appreciate it more you have to go without for a bit. He was fine with that but it was starting to make him feel a little edgy. Today had been a particularly good day, as he had found a pond with a big rock over it. Just diving off of it wearing nothing but the little band holding his hair back was perfect. Hell, that little band and an occasional interaction with a magic marching pack was the only sign that he wasn't completely feral. As the sun set Oren had just laid back by a tree and watched the stars come out. Yes, he'd head back to civilization tomorrow but tonight he'd just relax.<br/><br/>That was the plan anyway. He had wandered into the Orc territory at some point. Who knew? Alright- 8 Orcs would have been a big problem by himself. Actually he was being too generous. In a straight fight 8 Orcs would probably of totally smashed him into paste. But 8 Orcs versus a Piper who knows this? And was in a forest where he had plenty of opportunities for mischief?<br/><br/>The first kill was to get their attention on his own terms, a crossbow bolt through the throat. He hadn't even had time to put on clothes, just grab his backpack and run. The second, third, and fourth were a simple trick- a ghost sound illusion to lure them into a fire trap. Number five was a trip vine to drop him head first on a propped up spike on a rock. Number six was a simple sneaking up and stabbing. All right- he was running out of ideas.<br/><br/>Seven and Eight however, well- his luck had run out.<br/><br/>"<strong>A naked elf? That's who has killed the rest of us?</strong>" Urk Sharptooth growls to his last friend in Orcish- his mighty club held ready to smash Oren's head in.<br/><br/>"<strong>We'll lie.</strong>" he replies, holding Oren's arms behind his back.<br/><br/>The Goddess smiled upon Oren that day- He thought he was the luckiest man alive. A bright light had then shone, like a solid wall of light was thrown among the three of them. From behind them to be precise. The sudden slack in the Orc behind him wasn't something he was expecting- but Oren took advantage of it. Slipping his arms out of the loose lock, Oren lunged forward and tripped the other Orc- pushing Urk toward his friend and sprinting forward. It's the scream that gets Oren to turn around and even then it takes a moment for his eyes to adjust.<br/><br/>There was a sort of dome where they stood now, one that extended far upward and seemed to made of a strange silent lighting. The Orc that was holding him was laying at the foot of the dome- or half of him was. It's like something split the creature in half, the front half laying face down in front of him and the back half was just gone. The other Orc had apparently been pushed by Oren into the lightning-silence-dome, and whatever it was doing to him he was screaming in pain. The screaming stops before the dome seems to disappear.<br/><br/>Oren kicks a rock at where the bodies of the two Orcs lay now. Well, one-and-a-half orcs but the point was made. The rock passes through without being altered in any way. No light show, no forces, no energy, no cutting.<br/><br/>What was it?<br/><br/>Oren heads to his gear and starts putting things on to investigate. Some pants in case of sentient beings, some rings for protection, a bracelet for some hardening of the body, and an amulet to light the path. Putting on the pack, he begins to walk. The first thing he notices is that there's an obvious line in the plant life, the grass on the far side was a completely different shade of green.<br/><br/>-----------------<br/><br/>The walk into the new territory was a strange wonderland for Oren. The plant life looked like the ones he was used to- until he looked closer. The grass, the vines, the bushes, the trees- he didn't recognize any of them at all. It was like walking into a completely new forest- one he's never even seen before.<br/><br/>"<strong>You aren't from anywhere near here, are you?</strong>" he asks an Oak tree.<br/><br/>"<strong>I've been around, I've been in a lot of forests. You my friend, I've never met anyone like you before.</strong>"<br/><br/>And then he breaks the tree line and sees his first modern house.