Life's actually going really good right now. 

Everything that could be good is good on New Life... my snowy base is looking great, there's no interference from the Watchers, or rumours about a new life series. I don't even have any friendly disputes here. And, as I finish my newest build, I smile, thinking this might be the most content I've ever been.

'Hey... Martyn?'

'OH MY GOODNESS GRIAN WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?!'

I turn, backing away, tripping over and landing in a heap of snow. Grian - who ISN'T whitelisted and didn't tell me he was coming, let alone appearing behind him- stands there, not looking at me, fidgety, almost nervous.

Something's wrong.

'I... used Watcher magic to get here. I need to talk to you about something.'

'Life Series? Watchers? Wait, didn't you have that sculk situation? Did you manage to sort it out?' I return to my feet, brushing off the snow, surprise shifting to concern.

'It's... about that... the Sculk. Well... it's away from the server itself but...'

'MARTYN! SCOTT'S CHASING ME! HELP!' 

Another unexpected, but slightly less unexpected, voice comes from my waystone behind, as Jimmy teleports to my base. Then stops. 

'GRIAN?! What- why are you here? HOW are you here? Wait- what happened to your WINGS?!'

'Oh my goodness, I didn't even notice.' Experience of seeing Grian beaten up and flightless  in the Life Series means I didn't spot he's only got one wing and has scars that definitely weren't there before. Something really bad happen. 'Are you ok? What happened?'

'It's a long story... look, Jimmy... I was just going to tell Martyn. I don't want to get anyone else in danger. And you're... slightly prone to getting yourself in danger.'

'I can just listen. I can't to do anything dangerous by listening!' I want to mention the fact the entire job of Listeners is to do something dangerous by listening, but it's the wrong moment. 

'Fine. The... sculk situation... didn't improve. It got worse. It possessed more people. Like... me. And... Cub and Xisuma... and Pearl... and Tango...'

'TANGO?! My- my Rancher?!'

'Yes... And we saved everyone possessed... except Pearl. Who disappeared to another world we can't get to. And took Scar with her. And...' A glance at me, then at the ground again. 'And Ren.'

'Ren?!' 

'And it killed people as well... Skizz and Zedaph and... And Xisuma couldn't live with... what he'd done. And I just thought it would be good to tell you about Ren because you're friends and... and that's it. That's what I wanted to say.' Years of knowing him tell me Grian's close to crying. I'm still in shock. Ren's been taken by evil magical beings, and there's no way of getting him back... all I know is that I need to help. A glance over at Jimmy, who's just staring wide eyed at Grian, then me, then back to Grian, before running over and hugging him.

'Don't cry Grian it's ok.'

'Jimmy- just- you're hurting my wings.' He doesn't hear. 'Jimmy please. Tim- Just...'

'It's ok. Everything will be ok... me and Martyn will help you, won't we?'

'Jimmy... you're hurting him...'

'No- no- it's ok, Grian it's ok I'm...'

'TIM STOP!' 

Jimmy hits the ground. I see the utter terror on Grian's face as he backs away, apologising constantly, unaware of how dangerously close he is to the edge of the mountain. And I don't know what will happen if he dies. I run forwards, grabbing Grian's hand and pulling him towards safety. He doesn't yell, or protest. He just starts crying. 

'E... Everything's going wrong...' He mumbles through the tears. 'And I'm scared for Scar and Ren and Pearl... and... and I'm scared of the sculk...' By this point I've sat Grian down on a pile of snow, a hand on his shoulder, and Jimmy's crept over to join us. 

'It's alright. I'm definitely coming to the server to help save Ren. And... Jimmy? You said you were coming too?'

'I need to see Tango. Check he's ok.'

'See? We're going to help you.'

'No... no no you don't understand...'

'What don't we understand?' Jimmy frowns. 

'You can't... I can't let you put yourselves in danger...'

'Grian, we've survived the Life Series!' Insists Jimmy, who died first every time in the Life Series. 'We can survive this too.'

'Hang on... me and Grian might've both won but... you really didn't. But that's not the point. If you need help, we can give it. And I'm not taking no for an answer.'

'Martyn please...'

'JIMMY! I've gone to EVERY OTHER WAYSTONE EXCEPT THIS ONE ARE-'

Scott's voice, interrupting the moment before cutting off.

'What's going on?'

'Scott, I'm not bringing anyone else into this. Jimmy shouldn't have been told anyway.'

'Ok, now I'm curious... why is Grian here and why is he keeping secrets from me?'

I look between Grian and Scott, who really should be told something's up with his crazy ex-girlfriend Pearl, accept that I might get murdered for speaking, and explain.

'Pearl's been possessed by sculk and is trapped in another dimension no one can get to.'

'WHY WEREN'T YOU GOING TO TELL ME THAT?!'

'I'M SORRY! The last time be brought someone in it was Skizz. And now Skizz is dead!'

Silence.

'Wait... you mean permadead?' The truth of what he said earlier finally sets in. 'Oh my goodness...' Grian nods. Scott's fallen silent. For a moment, we all have. 

'You should've told me.' 

'I'm sorry! I can't do anything right, can I?'

'We never said that!' Insists Jimmy. 'Just... let us into Hermitcraft, we'll see what we can do.'

'No... Jimmy, you're staying here.' Interrupts Scotts, to a whole lot of furious noises. 'Let the adults deal with this.' 

'I- EXCUSE me?! I need to be with Tango! He was possessed by sculk! He's my RANCHER!'

'FINE! But no fighting, or trying to fight, or I will get Doc to physically restrain you to stop you acting stupid and dying. Martyn, Scott... you're too stubborn to stop and can actually fight. Come on.' Grian stands, summoning a portal in a flash of purple magic and walking through. I follow, Jimmy and Scott behind me, into Hermitcraft and the danger beyond.

New characters!

New people who can dieeeeeeeee