Shrike's Heart (#1)

[idolpro]

The woman before you is beautiful—fair of features, with lovely golden skin and luxurious long black hair, petite. You have the immediate and distinct impression that she's just let go of your hand, and she steps back, and smiles.

It's not quite a happy smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "There's just nothing I can do, as things are. But the way is there; it just needs to be lit."

You open your mouth—maybe to say something, or to express confusion—but you have to cough, and taste something metallic, spattering black blood onto the ground in front of you. Then you realize—blood seeps from opening wounds in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your face. It rims your eyes and trails from your nose and you feel like you're dissolving—

—and you fall through the ground like it's the surface of a lake, and go down, down, down.

> Wake Up

Comments

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[jokesaboutrighthands]

[picking up the fancy spear he stole from cardigan's shrine]

Alright, let's get it over with.

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[mind_blown]

Cool.

[time to go kill some beasts.]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[handpuppets]

[ you both head out the single door, weapons in hand and

oh boy those are, a lot of very like—like a wolf plus a horse and it's all made of murder and teeth. and there's like three of them.

what do you do? ]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[mind_blown]

[inventory powers-- determine powers are not on.]

Guess there's no chatting this one out.

[he wants to kill some beasts, honestly, so he'll probably attack.

determine which is the closest, and go from there, calling it out to Kou]

Going for the big one up front.

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[jokesaboutrighthands]

[moving to stop Jason from walking out]

Wouldn't go out there unless you're real confident, kid.

[Kou is taking up position on the side of the door]

They're too big to fit more than one in at a time.

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[mind_blown]

[he considers pointing out that this is overly cautious-- and he can be cautious.

but when he's ready to fight.




basically, he is real confident.]

Big risk for us in that.

[but bigger risk in going alone.]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[handpuppets]

[ well the teenage girl just wandered out there so

hm. ]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[jokesaboutrighthands]

Even if we just get one, I like our odds a lot better--

[and then. kestrel]

--son of a bitch.

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[mind_blown]

You were saying?

[TIME TO RUN OUT THERE AND BE A BIGGER TARGET.]

1/2

[handpuppets]

[ YOU RUN OUT THERE AND BE A BIGGER TARGET.

Honestly, you've got one knife, and there are three of them with mouths full of knives, which is not great, but then—

It's dark light midnight outside, which is why it's all the stranger when suddenly, standing there, you find yourself surrounded by a light like the sun, surrounding you. ]

2/2

[handpuppets]

[ When it fades, you feel—good, and the knife in your hand's turned to a strong, gold-colored metal.

And you're pretty sure you can take these things on. ]

Re: 2/2

[jokesaboutrighthands]

[what the fuck was that and can i get some

though his goal is LESS to be a bigger target and more to wait until something target Jay and look for an opportune moment to stab it

he's not really super proficient with a spear but he's got good muscle and reflexes considering his age]

Re: 2/2

[mind_blown]

[welp. time to put those reflexes to the test.]

Hey, ugly! Over here!

[honestly, why not approach this with some style, arcing in a high front flip just to stab the closest one in the head]

Re: 2/2

[handpuppets]

[ You slice through the creature's head like it's butter, splitting it from top of the head to bottom of the muzzle. Holy shit.

The other ones are definitely paying attention to you now, so now might be a good time to flank the others, or something. ]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[claestrophe]

[ FREEZES

... I guess I wish I'd started an indoor garden, that's what I do. ]

Re: EVENT: NIGHTFALL

[syncintohell]

[ He's running out to grab her arm and get in front of her, with the axe he still has from the last area ]

You ought to not be out here!

1/2

[handpuppets]

[ you run out there and put yourself between the girl and the monsters.

Honestly, even with the axe you feel a little under-armed, and there are three of them with mouths full of knives, which is not great, but then—

It's dark light midnight outside, which is why it's all the stranger when suddenly, standing there, you find yourself surrounded by a light like the sun, surrounding you. ]

2/2

[handpuppets]

[ When it fades, you feel—good, and the axe in your hands has turned to a strong, gold-colored metal.

And you're pretty sure you can defend this girl. ]

Re: 2/2

[syncintohell]

[ EXCELLENT ]

Stay behind me. I believe, if they approach, I should have them well in hand.

[claestrophe]

Huh!? I'm not?

[ but she just APPEARED HERE, isn't that how dreams work? how did she mess up a DREAM ]

Where was I supposed to go!?

[ also what was that light display just now

what's happening ]

[syncintohell]

In this case it was more a matter of where not to go. Do not go traipsing out to meet wolves in the future.

[ HE DOESN'T KNOW EITHER BUT IT FEELS PRETTY GOOD ]

[handpuppets]

[ they are, at the moment, paying attention to the big stabby threat of the artist formerly known as Jason, which is also helpful.

one of them gives you a look, but that big golden axe is... a deterrent. a big deterrent. ]

[claestrophe]

[ Honestly, she's inclined to agree with this advice? wolves... dogs.... they seem pretty scary!! however-- ]

I didn't know there was one! I just wanted to plant my seeds!

[ you'd better believe now she's going to start checking doors before she exits

for hungry looking canines... ]

[syncintohell]

Once the creature is repelled, you may do that, but absolutely not any sooner!

[ HOPEFULLY IT'S KEPT AT BAY IN THE MEANTIME ]

[claestrophe]

Yes....

[ Even Kestrel can't argue with that logic. However, that does lead to an all-important question. ]

Are you really going to use that on it?