Shrike's Heart (#2)

[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: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

Their forces have scattered, sir. But it seems that the local prefect has barricaded himself in his manor with a number of the townspeople rather than surrender; Crow's seeing if he can do anything about that.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Has he relayed what he intends to attempt?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

He... said something about "kicking the fucking door down and stabbing eyeballs until he gets to the Prefect," sir.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Where's the manor?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ She points. ]

Inside the city walls, to the west end of the city—it's one of the tallest buildings, so you won't be able to miss it.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Is there a way to contact him quickly?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

You could request one of the sorcerers send him an Infallible Messenger, sir, but it's probably faster and more economical just to run. This is the least well-supplied of the border trade cities, so they haven't been able to build out terribly large.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Right.

[And he sure does turn on heel and run for the manor.]

[Something tells him there isn't much time.]

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ you absolutely run for the manor.

When you cross into the main square, a man with sallow skin, black hair and bird-like features greets you, waving you over, while twirling a knife between the fingers of his other hand. ]

Eyyyyyyooooo, it's about time you showed up. They barred the doors; isn't that inconvenient? If you're strong, help me out.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

You're Crow?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

Crow that Heralds the Red Rain, that's me, but also that's a real mouthful. Life's short, right?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Right.

Lucky you, you've got some free time.

Stand down; your orders have been revoked. We'll take it from here.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

They what.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[justfuckingtryit]

Revoked your orders. Stand down, soldier. You're needed elsewhere.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

It's - "Crow," right...? I'm not really, but -

If we can get the doors open, then I want to try and talk to him...

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

That's me, that's me! A lot of people who want to talk today, it seems like, but that's not really my style, you know?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

That's okay. I'll do it...

[ ... ]

. . . I'll... take responsibility for whatever happens, too, so please don't worry - okay?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

I can guarantee you that I'm zero percent worried at all times and never take responsibility! So that works great.

But between you and me, I hope it doesn't work.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

... Why not - ?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[romanticlove]

[Running to the manor actually made her miss Quick as a Wink, not that she was complaining.]

Crow?

[Just a guess.]

Can we convince them to to end this peacefully?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

Wow, I'm popular today! Crow that Heralds the Red Rain, that's me.

I already gave him a chance to turn himself over, but of course he's decided to make this exciting by gathering a lot of the people here to use as meat shields.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[nihilmancy]

[Yeah, she saw this person in another memory. Not a fan.]

What will happen if they surrender?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

Don't you listen to orders?

...well, I only sort of do, but I know what question you're asking! You seem like the type to want to bleed for others, don't you?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[nihilmancy]

Obviously you do not.

I'm the type that despises inefficiency.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ he stares at you for a second, and—

bursts out laughing. ]

Lies don't suit your pretty face, miss! You don't really seem like that type at all. I'm an instrument of death, not an idiot.