The sun hung high in the sky over the small village of Loria, nestled just outside the sprawling Kingdom of Eldoria. Children's laughter usually echoed through the streets, but today, an eerie silence enveloped the village. It felt as if time itself had paused.

Task Force 141—a notorious crew of pirates—had anchored their ship off the coast. Captain Price led his men through the town, Ghost scanned the surroundings with his typical intensity, Gaz moved ahead, intrigued by the unusual quiet, while Soap bounced along, ever the energetic spirit, blissfully unaware of the growing unease.

“Something feels off here,” Ghost muttered “Where is everyone?”

“Maybe they’re all at the tavern, getting sloshed?” Soap suggested “I could use a drink after that last haul.”

“More like they’re all passed out,” Gaz replied, his brow furrowed as he pointed toward a nearby bakery. The baker was slumped against the doorframe, flour dusting his clothes as if he had just been in the middle of kneading dough. “Look at that.”

As they ventured further into the village, the surreal scene unfolded before them. A teacher had fallen asleep mid-lecture, while a couple of villagers had collapsed at a market stall, vegetables spilling from their baskets.

They continued their exploration something peculiar caught their attention at the village square. There, on a sturdy chestnut horse, was a figure slumped over the animal’s neck.

“Look there,” Price pointed. “What do you make of that?”

As they approached, they could see that you, a stranger in this land, had fallen asleep in an awkward position. The horse stood patiently, its big brown eyes watching the pirates with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Ghost stepped closer "This isn’t just sleep. It’s too uniform. It’s like—”

“Like a curse,” Gaz finished “They’re all in some kind of stasis.”

“Let’s see if we can wake this one up,” Price said, approaching cautiously. He reached out, gently shaking your shoulder. “Oi! Wake up!”