Lost Adventures of the Lost Crew

After landing the airship and leaving Liam in charge to handle repairs, I make my way towards our savior. I slid down the ladder and approached the bulky old man with salt and pepper hair.

"Glad you got us out of that hairy mess. For a second there I didn't think we were going to get out of that in one piece. Thanks."

"Well seeing that you guys shot out of a hole in the sky in that mini zeppelin of yours, I knew I had to intervene." Giving me and my ship a quick look over. "Since you ain't part of the experiment nor one of us, who exactly are you?"

"We're just explorers; our job was to investigate where that portal led. Once we went through, we ended up in the middle of that battle." I reach out my hand "Name's Norm, Captain of that ship. You?"

He eyes my hand and then locks his glare back to my eyes. After a few seconds of rough tension, he grabs my hand gung-ho and pulls me in for a bear hug. Realizing that I have met a troublesome character, all I could do is let out a sigh in my head while struggling to breathe in his arms. After what felt like a lifetime in his embrace, he spares me. Only to see his toothy smile through his thick beard.

"Explorers aye!? Now that sounds interesting, Captain. Everyone here calls me Observer, feel free to use it. Now, how about we exchange while we drink? Come! Come!"

Without giving me a moment to process what was going on, he puts his arm around my shoulders and drags me to one of the edges of this large cave-like hanger. Much to my surprise and dread, there was a fully stocked bar awaiting us.

We situate ourselves on the stools and while I observe my surroundings a little closer, he reaches over the counter and grabs us a bottle. After moistening up our throats and pouring our first refill, I decide to start.

"So, who exactly were those two men and what was going on?"

"You guys really ain't from around here." He takes a moment to stare into his drink, then downing it. "You see, those two are kings and their kingdoms have been going to war for centuries."

"Centuries?!"

"Aye, and from the looks of things, it ain't gonna stop. Nor at this point, do we want it to stop."

While I was utterly confused by his statements, he pours himself another generous glass.

"Go on, explain. All you've said so far is making me more interested."

"Well, you guys did get dragged into this mess." His breath lethargically leaking out before finishing his third drink. Seeing myself falling behind, I join in.

"The war started back in the day during a congress of kings when suddenly a drunk nomad man barged in. How he got there or why he was there, that for matter, no one knows. But since the meeting was drawing to a close, they all decided to enjoy the surprise jester. But while they were enjoying the entertainment of him stumbling around, the drunk asked a question to all those who were present. Everyone laughed off the silly question, but two. Those two kings argued about the answer, neither giving ground to the other. Until eventually, the other kings tried to interfere, but in the end, war broke out between them."

"What did the drunk ask?"

Grabbing the bottle and refilling our glasses.

"That's the thing, we have no idea. It's been lost to time, forgotten! But here's the real kicker... the people who have been fighting all this time... they have forgotten too..."

"What?! How can something so stupid be true?"

"Aye, it's illogical, crazy even, but that is the truth. Human nature I guess."

"I guess you got me there. Human nature is rich with stupidity."

Feeling the truth of my fact, he raises his glass and I meet him halfway with mine. We down our drinks but when he was about to refill my drink, I wave my hand in denial, for I knew I will need my mind to make any sense of this. Him seemingly understanding my meaning, just nods and finishes the bottle. Grabbing a new one, he looks at me and shrugs.

"I gave up long ago trying to understand, I just observe."

He gives up on the glass and starts drinking straight from the bottle.

"The longer the war went on the more the history was forgotten. Sadly, that's not even the worst part."

"What could be worse than forgetting the reason they are fighting?"

He lets out a small cough and takes another swig.

"They ended up worshiping the drunk."

Him noticing my look of utter astonishment encourages him to continue.

"As time went on, they created, no, they distorted their history to justify themselves. First, the drunk became a wise man, then a fellow king, finally ending as a god. They created religions and view their faith as the correct one and view the other as heretics. They fight for their god not knowing what that even really means. They fight because they believe they are right, right about what? No one knows."

Completely blown away from this tale, that I wish was a tale, I ask the only logical thing possible.

"Then what of you? Why has no one stopped this?"

"Don't think others fanned the flame of war nor stood by, that would be wrong. At the start of the war, they both completely blocked off the outside world because the other kingdoms were against this whole ordeal. There's no real contact. Attempts were made to stop them but each time they alienated themselves further. Due to that, the outside world decided to stop interfering and to observe, thus making this the experiment and me having this job."

Giving up on even attempting to rationalize this, I reach over the counter and grab myself a bottle.

"So, everyone's job here is just to watch what happens out there, just for the sake to see what happens?"

"Aye, since we can't stop it, then why not gain something from it? Trust me, I understand what's going on and how it seems, but this is my job and I plan on doing it." The bottle now being empty, he reaches over for a fresh one. With the pop of the cork, he switches topics. "Now then. Since I've told you about us and them, it's time for you to tell me more about you, Captain."

Seeing as he was still unfazed by all he had drank, I knew this was going to be a very long venture for myself. But since I almost died today and he saved me, I might as well entertain him and regret this tomorrow.