Imagination
You don't know anything about this place and you're in great danger, so you decide it would be best if you had as many people defending you as possible. You'd rather stay with the Captain.
"Very well, you may stay with us, just don't make a nuisance of yourself. We'll also be on the move a lot, so don't expect a high comfort level, however whenever we make camp, you're welcome to stay in my tent. For right now though, you'll have to leave it, I'm having a meeting with Lyssia and a couple of my knights to discuss an important plan of action. Explore if you wish, but don't wander away from us, we'll protect you, but we won't baby-sit you."
With these words in mind Lyssia leads you back out of the tent, upon which another knight comes up to her with a message.
"Sergeant, a man has arrived at the camp."
"Is he hostile?"
"No, he says he was just passing through and figured maybe he could trade for supplies here."
"Tell him to move on, this isn't a trading post." Lyssia says and goes back in the tent.
Not knowing what to do next you follow the knight back to the man he was talking about. When you see him, he looks raggedy, but well equipped. He a sword by his side and his leather armor looks more like a patchwork taken from several other suits. The most notable feature is the big backpack on his back. You wonder if he's an adventurer.
"Alright you, move on, this isn't a trading post." The knight repeats to the visitor.
"Okay, okay, I'll go. But can't I just rest here for one minute? I've been walking a lot and it would be nice to at least know I'm safe for just a moment."
" well okay, but make it quick, and stay on the outskirts of the camp." The knight says and leaves. You continue to examine this traveler, who immediately knows you are.
"Well, how come you get to stay here? Army camps aren't known to house children." He asks while sitting down on a nearby log.
You explain your situation to this adventurer, and once again you get an unsurprised look from your listener.
"Got the impression you weren't from around here. I somehow could sense it. I always had that ability; it's come in handy a lot. But yes, the Nightmare Tyrant is very bad news; you would do well to leave this world as quickly as you can, no doubt Shadows are already on their way."
"Well I got this army to protect me!" you exclaim.
"Perhaps, but you said it will be awhile before they return to the Parran Empire where you can get properly transported back to your world, in the meantime they WILL be attacked by not just Shadows, but also by whatever they come across in their mission. Tis a long time to put yourself at risk. Not to mention I see a lack of magic in this camp, I wonder about their chances against Shadows if the Nightmare Tyrant unleashes his full power in order to re-capture you."
You're almost sorry you started talking to this man, within a few seconds he's managed to worry you all over again. Here you were thinking that you were going to be nice and safe.
"But but well what should I do?"
"Well, if we were back in Null, I could probably get you back home really quick "
Before the Adventurer can finish you interrupt.
"Null?"
"Oh, that's where I live. It used to be a great city of fantastic magical power a long time ago, but it was destroyed by its own petty bickering. The powerful wizards there began to argue among themselves, factions were drawn and the entire city along with several miles around it went up in a big ball of flame. It was a terrible tragedy that could've been avoided, but there was an interesting effect of the aftermath of it though."
"What happened?"
"Well, no magic works there now, hence the name Null. Powerful wizards can't get a simple cantrip to work there, let alone a spell. Even the Nightmare Tyrant's minions can't go there. Still, it's far from safe. Lots of the Forsaken live there."
"Who are the Forsaken?"
"Oh they're the unlucky folks who actually managed to survive the catastrophe. Not all of them bad, but understandably such a powerful magic disaster had an effect on most of their bodies as well as their minds."
While this is all very fascinating, you still don't see how this helps you exactly.
"While this is all very fascinating, I still don't see how this helps me exactly. I mean if no magic works there, how can I get home? And why would you want to live in such a place anyway it sounds dangerous."
The Adventurer moves closer to you and looks around before speaking.
"Okay, because I can sympathize with being in a tough position, I'll tell you a little secret. Magic DOES work there, but only in one area and it's only a place I know about as far as I know. There's a deep, but small underground dungeon in Null where magic seems to work, I know because that's where I live! I stumbled upon it completely by accident when I was exploring Null. Apparently one of the many trinkets that I had acquired in the past was a key of some sort. It began to glow and then the wall opened up the way for me. Pure random dumb luck. So I went in and discovered that entire section runs on magic or something like it at least. There are some sort of contraption that if you sit down in and visualize with clarity, your wish will come true! I tried it a few times and it was nice, but I'm a wanderer at heart and as such I couldn't just spend the rest of my days wallowing in eternal paradise, plus I was always leery that something bad might happen if I over used the contraption for greed. However I did see it as a good place to make my home away from the road. In fact I use this magic chair to quickly travel to towns and other cities, of course it's only one way, but at least it shortens the trip somewhat. You could probably use the chair to return home. Even if it doesn't work, I could always take you to the Parran Empire to get you back home. It would still be quicker and safer than traveling with an army that has to complete some mission before it can back home. Who knows what responsibilities and dangers it might incur along the way? Think also, in Null, you wouldn't be attacked by Shadows either. It's up to you though, but choose quickly because I have to be leaving soon."
"Very well, you may stay with us, just don't make a nuisance of yourself. We'll also be on the move a lot, so don't expect a high comfort level, however whenever we make camp, you're welcome to stay in my tent. For right now though, you'll have to leave it, I'm having a meeting with Lyssia and a couple of my knights to discuss an important plan of action. Explore if you wish, but don't wander away from us, we'll protect you, but we won't baby-sit you."
With these words in mind Lyssia leads you back out of the tent, upon which another knight comes up to her with a message.
"Sergeant, a man has arrived at the camp."
"Is he hostile?"
"No, he says he was just passing through and figured maybe he could trade for supplies here."
"Tell him to move on, this isn't a trading post." Lyssia says and goes back in the tent.
Not knowing what to do next you follow the knight back to the man he was talking about. When you see him, he looks raggedy, but well equipped. He a sword by his side and his leather armor looks more like a patchwork taken from several other suits. The most notable feature is the big backpack on his back. You wonder if he's an adventurer.
"Alright you, move on, this isn't a trading post." The knight repeats to the visitor.
"Okay, okay, I'll go. But can't I just rest here for one minute? I've been walking a lot and it would be nice to at least know I'm safe for just a moment."
" well okay, but make it quick, and stay on the outskirts of the camp." The knight says and leaves. You continue to examine this traveler, who immediately knows you are.
"Well, how come you get to stay here? Army camps aren't known to house children." He asks while sitting down on a nearby log.
You explain your situation to this adventurer, and once again you get an unsurprised look from your listener.
"Got the impression you weren't from around here. I somehow could sense it. I always had that ability; it's come in handy a lot. But yes, the Nightmare Tyrant is very bad news; you would do well to leave this world as quickly as you can, no doubt Shadows are already on their way."
"Well I got this army to protect me!" you exclaim.
"Perhaps, but you said it will be awhile before they return to the Parran Empire where you can get properly transported back to your world, in the meantime they WILL be attacked by not just Shadows, but also by whatever they come across in their mission. Tis a long time to put yourself at risk. Not to mention I see a lack of magic in this camp, I wonder about their chances against Shadows if the Nightmare Tyrant unleashes his full power in order to re-capture you."
You're almost sorry you started talking to this man, within a few seconds he's managed to worry you all over again. Here you were thinking that you were going to be nice and safe.
"But but well what should I do?"
"Well, if we were back in Null, I could probably get you back home really quick "
Before the Adventurer can finish you interrupt.
"Null?"
"Oh, that's where I live. It used to be a great city of fantastic magical power a long time ago, but it was destroyed by its own petty bickering. The powerful wizards there began to argue among themselves, factions were drawn and the entire city along with several miles around it went up in a big ball of flame. It was a terrible tragedy that could've been avoided, but there was an interesting effect of the aftermath of it though."
"What happened?"
"Well, no magic works there now, hence the name Null. Powerful wizards can't get a simple cantrip to work there, let alone a spell. Even the Nightmare Tyrant's minions can't go there. Still, it's far from safe. Lots of the Forsaken live there."
"Who are the Forsaken?"
"Oh they're the unlucky folks who actually managed to survive the catastrophe. Not all of them bad, but understandably such a powerful magic disaster had an effect on most of their bodies as well as their minds."
While this is all very fascinating, you still don't see how this helps you exactly.
"While this is all very fascinating, I still don't see how this helps me exactly. I mean if no magic works there, how can I get home? And why would you want to live in such a place anyway it sounds dangerous."
The Adventurer moves closer to you and looks around before speaking.
"Okay, because I can sympathize with being in a tough position, I'll tell you a little secret. Magic DOES work there, but only in one area and it's only a place I know about as far as I know. There's a deep, but small underground dungeon in Null where magic seems to work, I know because that's where I live! I stumbled upon it completely by accident when I was exploring Null. Apparently one of the many trinkets that I had acquired in the past was a key of some sort. It began to glow and then the wall opened up the way for me. Pure random dumb luck. So I went in and discovered that entire section runs on magic or something like it at least. There are some sort of contraption that if you sit down in and visualize with clarity, your wish will come true! I tried it a few times and it was nice, but I'm a wanderer at heart and as such I couldn't just spend the rest of my days wallowing in eternal paradise, plus I was always leery that something bad might happen if I over used the contraption for greed. However I did see it as a good place to make my home away from the road. In fact I use this magic chair to quickly travel to towns and other cities, of course it's only one way, but at least it shortens the trip somewhat. You could probably use the chair to return home. Even if it doesn't work, I could always take you to the Parran Empire to get you back home. It would still be quicker and safer than traveling with an army that has to complete some mission before it can back home. Who knows what responsibilities and dangers it might incur along the way? Think also, in Null, you wouldn't be attacked by Shadows either. It's up to you though, but choose quickly because I have to be leaving soon."