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]

[ the soldier turns at your request, and you realize that they are strangely pale, and—in fact—ghostly.

it doesn't seem to bother them, though, and they bow. ]

Ma'am—their forces have scattered, and the city and surrounding area including the fields are secure. 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

[constellationprize]

... Is everyone okay?

[ looking at their face, her own darkens further - if it could be said to do so at this point - with worry, a hand extended in an attempt to cup their cheek ]

And you, too...

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ they look mildly surprised at the gesture. ]

We're still well-supplied with Essence, and the victory was quite decisive, so we're largely unharmed. What few injuries were sustained, the necromancers can patch up easily, ma'am; not to worry.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

. . . Okay. Thank you. Please keep doing your best ...

[ can she physically touch their head. she is trying to pat their head. ]

... Is there anything we can do for the townspeople...?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ you successfully pat a ghost head. a special achievement for aradia achievements in head-pattery. ]

If you could convince the Prefect to give himself up, that'd save a lot of time, and besides, Crow's not the best at, ah. Control.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

[ achievement unlocked ]

Alright. Can we go to talk to him...?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ they look out over the battlefield. ]

...I can lead you there, Commander, if you like.

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[constellationprize]

... Please. I think -

That if we can solve this using words, then that would be good, wouldn't it...?

Re: THE BATTLEFIELD

[handpuppets]

[ they look at you with the deep confusion of someone who isn't used to being asked opinions of someone in the position of a superior officer. ]

Well, ah... this way, then.

[ eventually you end up here. ]