Your bags don't have much more than what is absolutely necessary so that they don't become too heavy. Just the objects that were mentioned. A sleeping bag, a small knife, a fire steel, an extra set of clothes along with a short waterproof cloth cloak (made so with the use of wax as far as you can tell) that can be worn over them to offer some protection from rain.
((I'm leaving it a bit vague in case I forgot to pack something absolutely necessary.
If you think there's something else one going to a camping trip or preparing survival gear would pack with them, then you can search the bag for it. Provided that it is not something beyond medieval tech level.
But if I haven't made some sort of enormous blunder and forgotten something very important, then those are the objects you have with you.))
River's bag looks larger and heavier. Along with the standard supplies you all have, he is also carrying some rope, a small metal cooking pot and a piece of canvas that could be used to make a crude tent with the use of a branch or stick.
"Oh, forgot to say, the communication pendants you are wearing work when anywhere on your body, so you could wrap them around your hand or put them in a pocket if you wanted.
We just considered the pendant to be the best form because it is easy to conceal underneath clothing and harder to loose if your body is damaged, considering someone would have to stab you in the chest or cut your head off to remove it. We believe that outweighs the danger of strangulation.
If you think they have become a liability, you can either break the circle or just stop wearing it and it should stop working. If they are damaged, he should be able to repair them, if given some time and energy."Yuppity duppers!
Search bag, aquaint myself with what's in it. Then run into the portal without regard for other things.
You stand in the centre of the square created by the rods.
Nothing happens.
Zechariah shrugged. There wasn't much else for him to say. Not at this point at least.
"I still don't know much about our target, but I guess I'll find that out soon enough, right?"
Pick up a pack and look through its contents. Once dialogue is finished, go ahead and enter the portal.
You stand next to Alan, who seems to be jiggling with excitement.
<Can you try to prevent him from killing himself again?>"Do not worry. I know I am responsible for them. I will take care of them."<Good. I don't want my effort to be wasted.>"Stellar? You there? We're starting now, so I'm not going to be able to talk to you again for a while. Good luck, okay? Take care of yourself."
I look myself over, seeing what I'm wearing, and if the Entities have forced me into one of my other forms yet again (and changing back to hybrid if they have). I then dig through my backpack alongside everyone else doing the same, checking its contents. I make a point of moving the water and fire steel to the outer pockets or top of the main one, where I can access them easily as necessary. I also check the clothing very carefully, looking to see which form they're intended for. Finally, I put everything away where I can find it again later if needed, heft the backpack and make sure everything is secure, and put it on and step over to the rods.
<Good luck to you too. Stay safe. I care for you. I don't want to loose you.>Assume you've transformed into hybrid form.
You make sure the fire steel and water flask are on the top of the backpack to render them more easily accessible.
The clothes are for your human form. As far as I understand, your hybrid form is a bit shorter and smaller than your human form, so both forms should be able to wear the clothing. It will just be a bit larger for your hybrid form, but nothing that would cause anything more than mild discomfort. You'll just have to lift the sleeves a bit. The trousers do not have any sort of hole for your tails though, unlike Theri's.
Generally assume you can change your clothes to whatever you want (within reason). The entities aren't going to have a problem with that.
You join the growing group near the rods.
"So you're my new team. I'm Nikolai. I can make machines and tools bigger and more powerful.
It would be good if I knew who you are and what you can do."
Claim a bag and search it thoroughly. It is important with Nikolai's powerset to know exactly what I have available.
Also check what I'm wearing. My usual outfit?
Usual outfit, although your green coat is a lot less modern. Still, the broken gas mask might look a bit weird considering where you are going. Strange that the entities did not remove it. Perhaps they thought it was part of your identity.
"So you're my new team. I'm Nikolai. I can make machines and tools bigger and more powerful.
It would be good if I knew who you are and what you can do."
"Ike! I can hear and smell rather well. And I'm also a bit faster than average."
To Drake: <Bye, dude! I shall return with tales of terror and explosions, I hope!>
To the portal! Adventure!
Make sure I've taken my pack along, too. Back to the woods at last, hopefully!
<Bye! See you soon! I'm certain you are going to have loads of fun!>You join the rest.
"Can you... Tsar? fire?"
"Please try that. I'd love to see you try that."((DEAR GODS TYPHOON HITS THEN THIS
I...missed a lot. And I really wanted to poke River too...nghh
Recap?))
No pressure. Mission hasn't properly started yet, although it will once you get through the portal.
Basically, your group is being sent along with River to another world. A murderer has fled there and River has asked for your help in finding and punishing him. From what River has said, said murderer is the same species as River (which means that he too possesses magical powers) but is much larger and looks very different from him.
You've been given some backpacks with some basic equipment, as shown in the beginning of the post. You've also been given magical pendants that allow you to telepathically communicate with each other in a short range.
Even if one of you dies during the mission, then that is not the end. River might be able to revive you.
I think that's all the important stuff covered.
And since River will be going with you, you'll have plenty of chances to poke him.
...
Must resist making an "I hardly know him" joke...