bat_hacker
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Fantasy Terrorchild: Awakening
- Thread starter K0mori
- Start date
Don't Cause a Scene
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 3 Votes (38% - Range: 1-38)
Option 2: 5 Votes (63% - Range: 39-100)
Fae Roll: 87
"Apologies if you went poking around in my head," Seith says with a smile and a shrug. "I should've warned you that it's a bit of a... let's say menagerie...?"
You shake your head, thankful that you don't know what the elf means by that. A moment later, Corrinth, still disguised as Lachlaen, taps at the rear flaps on the wagon and then pushes a small crate with wax-sealed jars within - with preserved fruits and vegetables, ready to eat - through the opening. Then, a trio of long loaves of bread comes through, a pot of honey, a bottle of salad dressing, and finally, a large bottle of wine. "...Gods, do you think we have enough?" you ask sarcastically as Corrinth leans into the opening.
"I told them I was spending a week in Mardenaal and didn't want to eat the local food; it isn't grown in holy soil, and all that," she explains. "May I please come inside," she asks, clearly chafing at your restrictive compulsion.
"You may," Kulka answers, and Corrinth doesn't wait for your response before climbing in as well. The wagon is full to the brim, now, between all the people and excess foodstuffs, and Lachlaen's tall, elven frame is doing nobody any favors.
"Disguise yourself as someone smaller!" you demand as she accidentally steps on a corner of one of the bread loaves. A moment later, she's back in her normal skin and seated between you and Embryx, as it's the only way to avoid having to step over everyone. Embryx spares her a disdainful glance, but she doesn't complain, and soon, you all tuck in to a truly unsatisfying lunch.
You pick up the wine bottle and hold out your hand; with a little telekinesis, the cork pops out out and flies into your palm. You take several deep gulps of the stuff before anyone else's lips can touch the glass.
"The moment we get over the border," Sharyx suddenly says, "I'm killing the first thing we see with meat on it. It could even be a human - I don't care."
This actually brings a sneering smile to Embryx' face as she replies. "Mardenaal is right on the border, you know. You could just go to the butcher like a normal person."
"Really? I didn't think of that," Sharyx replies with deadpan sarcasm, again catching you unprepared for her sense of humor.
Thankfully, Corrinth eats without peppering you or anyone else with questions, which you had half-expected when she rejoined you. You still doubt that she fully understands what's going on, but you also suspect that she's hesitant to ask because she's afraid she'll discover more heartbreak in her recent past. Whatever the reason, you welcome the peace and quiet as you fill your bellies.
"This far west, they won't suspect you," Kulka says. "You should be free to wander, like we intended in Ellifarre."
Sharyx perks up at the thought. "That reminds me... did you find me some traveling garb, Embryx?" she asks. She hadn't had the chance to inquire about it since there was never an opportunity for your allies to explore Ellifarre on foot after the ambush began. Embryx reaches into her packed belongings and soon fishes out a few garments, passing them across to the princess, who immediately begins to undo the fasteners on her collar.
"...You're not going to wait until you have some privacy?" Embryx asks, tiredly.
Sharyx gives an unfriendly smirk. "I'll have privacy when you close your damned eyes."
"Fair," Embryx concedes as you all close your eyes or turn away. After a few minutes of struggling in the tight quarters of the wagon, the princess has managed to trade out her leather for a more inconspicuous ensemble in black and violet, the sort normally worn by merchants. Aside from her strikingly dark hair, there's little else which would suggest that she's different from any other drow.
"Well, how do I look?" she says, and although she asked the question to no one in particular, you're certain that she only really cares about your input.
You give a nod of approval. "...Shouldn't raise any suspicions," you mutter, trying to avoid encouraging the girl too much. "Go and have a look around once we're moored. I'd like to know whether you think conditions are good enough to reach Callia's Catch before nightfall."
Sharyx seems to accept the job readily and quickly finds a path through the overloaded wagon to the outside, dipping under the flap and disappearing to the outside world. You feel a bit down as you realize how you've had to travel so secretly over the past two days that you've missed much of the scenery in Sonnamille. It's just such a shame that their suspicion of tabaxi runs so deeply, and that your activities north of the border have made you so notorious that any discovery of your presence would probably be followed by a fair bit of destruction and a not-insignificant number of deaths.
For now, you have the princess out of the cart, and the opportunity to explain to Embryx and Kulka what you learned when you peered inside of Sharyx' mind. The only thing holding your tongue is the presence of Seith, whose tattooed body and blindfold have also rendered him unable to blend in.
1. Manipulation and Compulsion - You have plenty of tools that can help you in these sorts of situations, and you feel that now is an appropriate time to use them. You turn to Seith and warn him: "I'm going to cast a spell on you, elf. Everything I'm about to discuss with my sister and my elder is to be our secret, understand?" You quickly dial up a spell to make sure he won't be able to speak of what he's heard, nor will he want to.
2. Blind Trust - You decide to speak freely. Seith hasn't cared about much of anything since you met him, and so you figure this conversation will be nothing but idle entertainment for the voidsinger - not something that he would feel obligated to inform Sharyx about.
3. Try Something New - Now that you know you can read minds, you want to see if you can have a conversation with another telepath. Maybe you could communicate the idea in silence if you ask Embryx to join you for a bit of telepathy.
Option 2: 5 Votes (63% - Range: 39-100)
Fae Roll: 87
"Apologies if you went poking around in my head," Seith says with a smile and a shrug. "I should've warned you that it's a bit of a... let's say menagerie...?"
You shake your head, thankful that you don't know what the elf means by that. A moment later, Corrinth, still disguised as Lachlaen, taps at the rear flaps on the wagon and then pushes a small crate with wax-sealed jars within - with preserved fruits and vegetables, ready to eat - through the opening. Then, a trio of long loaves of bread comes through, a pot of honey, a bottle of salad dressing, and finally, a large bottle of wine. "...Gods, do you think we have enough?" you ask sarcastically as Corrinth leans into the opening.
"I told them I was spending a week in Mardenaal and didn't want to eat the local food; it isn't grown in holy soil, and all that," she explains. "May I please come inside," she asks, clearly chafing at your restrictive compulsion.
"You may," Kulka answers, and Corrinth doesn't wait for your response before climbing in as well. The wagon is full to the brim, now, between all the people and excess foodstuffs, and Lachlaen's tall, elven frame is doing nobody any favors.
"Disguise yourself as someone smaller!" you demand as she accidentally steps on a corner of one of the bread loaves. A moment later, she's back in her normal skin and seated between you and Embryx, as it's the only way to avoid having to step over everyone. Embryx spares her a disdainful glance, but she doesn't complain, and soon, you all tuck in to a truly unsatisfying lunch.
You pick up the wine bottle and hold out your hand; with a little telekinesis, the cork pops out out and flies into your palm. You take several deep gulps of the stuff before anyone else's lips can touch the glass.
"The moment we get over the border," Sharyx suddenly says, "I'm killing the first thing we see with meat on it. It could even be a human - I don't care."
This actually brings a sneering smile to Embryx' face as she replies. "Mardenaal is right on the border, you know. You could just go to the butcher like a normal person."
"Really? I didn't think of that," Sharyx replies with deadpan sarcasm, again catching you unprepared for her sense of humor.
Thankfully, Corrinth eats without peppering you or anyone else with questions, which you had half-expected when she rejoined you. You still doubt that she fully understands what's going on, but you also suspect that she's hesitant to ask because she's afraid she'll discover more heartbreak in her recent past. Whatever the reason, you welcome the peace and quiet as you fill your bellies.
---
Hours later, the boat reaches its final stopping point, little more than a launching point near the head of the river. One of the deckhands rings the ship's bell to announce its approach, bringing you back from absent-mindedness along with the others. "Oh, finally," Embryx says. "I can't wait to get out and stretch my legs."
"This far west, they won't suspect you," Kulka says. "You should be free to wander, like we intended in Ellifarre."
Sharyx perks up at the thought. "That reminds me... did you find me some traveling garb, Embryx?" she asks. She hadn't had the chance to inquire about it since there was never an opportunity for your allies to explore Ellifarre on foot after the ambush began. Embryx reaches into her packed belongings and soon fishes out a few garments, passing them across to the princess, who immediately begins to undo the fasteners on her collar.
"...You're not going to wait until you have some privacy?" Embryx asks, tiredly.
Sharyx gives an unfriendly smirk. "I'll have privacy when you close your damned eyes."
"Fair," Embryx concedes as you all close your eyes or turn away. After a few minutes of struggling in the tight quarters of the wagon, the princess has managed to trade out her leather for a more inconspicuous ensemble in black and violet, the sort normally worn by merchants. Aside from her strikingly dark hair, there's little else which would suggest that she's different from any other drow.
"Well, how do I look?" she says, and although she asked the question to no one in particular, you're certain that she only really cares about your input.
You give a nod of approval. "...Shouldn't raise any suspicions," you mutter, trying to avoid encouraging the girl too much. "Go and have a look around once we're moored. I'd like to know whether you think conditions are good enough to reach Callia's Catch before nightfall."
Sharyx seems to accept the job readily and quickly finds a path through the overloaded wagon to the outside, dipping under the flap and disappearing to the outside world. You feel a bit down as you realize how you've had to travel so secretly over the past two days that you've missed much of the scenery in Sonnamille. It's just such a shame that their suspicion of tabaxi runs so deeply, and that your activities north of the border have made you so notorious that any discovery of your presence would probably be followed by a fair bit of destruction and a not-insignificant number of deaths.
For now, you have the princess out of the cart, and the opportunity to explain to Embryx and Kulka what you learned when you peered inside of Sharyx' mind. The only thing holding your tongue is the presence of Seith, whose tattooed body and blindfold have also rendered him unable to blend in.
1. Manipulation and Compulsion - You have plenty of tools that can help you in these sorts of situations, and you feel that now is an appropriate time to use them. You turn to Seith and warn him: "I'm going to cast a spell on you, elf. Everything I'm about to discuss with my sister and my elder is to be our secret, understand?" You quickly dial up a spell to make sure he won't be able to speak of what he's heard, nor will he want to.
2. Blind Trust - You decide to speak freely. Seith hasn't cared about much of anything since you met him, and so you figure this conversation will be nothing but idle entertainment for the voidsinger - not something that he would feel obligated to inform Sharyx about.
3. Try Something New - Now that you know you can read minds, you want to see if you can have a conversation with another telepath. Maybe you could communicate the idea in silence if you ask Embryx to join you for a bit of telepathy.
bat_hacker
Junior Member
3
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
3
Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
3
Breadman
Big loaf supreme
1
CHUUYAS_HAT
ᴏɴᴇ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ
3
hardcore.munchkin
Professional hater
1
turtwigwins
Member
3
LoriMahe
Ohoho!
3
demytra
the writer
3
Try Something New
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 2 Votes (22% - Range: 1-22)
Option 3: 7 Votes (78% - Range: 23-100)
Fae Roll: 26
"...Embryx, I'm wondering what happens if you read my mind while I read yours. Would it be possible to speak in silence?"
Kulka cocks her head at you. "Sister, you could simply ask me these things, you know. The answer is yes," she explains, but then freezes for a moment as if she's realized the implications of your intent. "Although..." she adds, "it would be beneficial to you both to practice it here, in a safe environment."
"That's what I was thinking," Embryx says, giving you both a sly look.
Seith clears his throat to get your attention. "...Would you like me to plug my ears, while you're at it?" he jokes. You apparently weren't subtle enough to escape his quick deduction.
"I'd like you take a hint," you reply as you shoot him a glare. He merely holds up his hands as if surrendering before leaning back against the wall of the cart and tipping his head back, comfortable enough to take a nap. You turn your attention back to Embryx. "...I'm sure it will take me more time to read you than you'll need, so be patient, okay?"
Embryx snickers at you. "Who do you think I am? Take as long as you need."
You sigh, pushing away the intensity of your frustrations for the moment as you go searching for Embryx' resonating emotional threads. You close your eyes and feel her presence, recognizing her cautious concern, but also her overwhelming excitement to see you delving into her new favorite magical art. You relax your mind, searching for the thought common to her feelings, and then after a minute or two, you hear it:
Try opening your eyes, love.
Your eyes snap open so quickly in response to the suggestion that you don't even process it. Embryx' smile widens as you stare into each other, and a moment passes in which you're so captivated by this new level of intimacy that you can hardly remember what it is that you needed to tell her. But then, the memory comes to you, and a pang of anxiety and disgust races through the both of you.
I looked into Sharyx' mind, you explain as you regain your composure, ...and she's let her imagination run even more wild than before about our intertwined fates.
Embryx squints as she tries to understand the image taking shape in your mind. What more can she want than a marriage? she wonders.
She wants a miracle that will mix our bloodlines in a literal sense, you answer. She saw the way I altered the body and soul of that monstrous plant so that it would grow apples, and it gave her another idea: She's been fantasizing about getting herself pregnant so I can turn the unborn child into my own.
You feel Embryx' disgust and outrage well up inside of her, as if the feelings are your own - as fresh and raw as they were when you learned of the princess' sick fantasy yourself, several hours ago. Embryx breaks eye contact, her hand trembling as she grips her wand. She's lost her read on you, but you wait patiently until she gets it back. Her anger is white hot, and yet contained and refined. You believe her when she replies: Give me the word and I'll cut her down.
You resist the impulse to shake your head physically. Don't, you urge her. Syrith keeps proving that she's three steps ahead of us. After all the trouble she went through to make sure Sharyx would be in this wagon with us, do you really think she'd let you get a wild hair and strike her down?
Embryx wants to be upset that you won't support her here, but she can sense your helplessness and, even more importantly, your fear of losing her if a clash with Sharyx proves to be the idea moment in Syrith's eyes to cut Embryx out of your future. If not now, she questions, then when will you turn her away?
Even before you respond, Embryx knows the answer. When I have Rigatte, I'll stop at nothing to have control of my life again.
It isn't like you to let yourself be the victim, Embryx laments. I'm only putting up with this because the comet is nearly here already... But once it's gone, I want to see you make good on that promise - stop at nothing.
You smile grimly at her. You know that a reckoning with your goddess is coming if you expect to defy the course she's charting for the remainder of your life.
Maybe you'll find that the Eldest understands your plight; after all, she was the one who orchestrated your meetings with Rigatte, as well as the one who put Embryx in your life to begin with. Or maybe, you're merely being lured into a false sense of security, and Syrith will crush your hopes and dreams the very moment you let down your guard.
The canvas cover jostles as Sharyx pushes the flap open and climbs through, barely sparing a glance to the two of you as she makes her way toward the front, where Seith is sitting. She truly has no concern for your relationship with Embryx; just as she stated in Nytha's kitchen, she has no desire to be in love with you, no desire to build a life together - only to build an empire and a bloodline to rule it. Her perverse fantasy, a lust for divine blood to intermingle with her own, is driven entirely by the seemliness of realizing her place within the Valghemora lineage, and manifesting the Eldest's Design.
A thought occurs to you now: perhaps Syrith is as afraid of the volatile cocktail that she's created as you are. If she were to cause Embryx' downfall within your lifetime, you would attack her Design and her servants without mercy, beginning with Sharyx. Perhaps she would find a way to separate you from the Door and drag you down, but not before you would burn her intentions for Aelesh to the ground, and Zuklanar with it. However, you can only remain in a position to destroy her plan if you remain close to it, and so - for now - the best way to protect Embryx is to keep Sharyx within striking distance.
"Do you think we'll make it, Sharyx?" you ask.
The princess, unaware of your scheming, gives a benign smile that appears sickly due to the paleness of her complexion. "There isn't much snow on the ground right now; I think we'll reach Nald by nightfall."
"Good enough," you reply blandly. "When we get there, we'll find an inn and use hexes to get us all some proper beds for the night. By the time they realize something is wrong, we'll have already departed, tomorrow.
Embryx nods, as thankful as you are to not have to sleep another night in the woods, especially after such an uncomfortable ride. While sailing across Lake Nald will be just as unpleasant, you can at least take solace in knowing that the longer trip across the sea to Zuklanar will be launched form Mardenaal, meaning that you'll easily find a ship on which you can travel without anyone needing to hide themselves.
For one final hour, the wagon rolls on. You can tell that Sharyx is eager to resume her lessons, but seeing you cradling your partner gives her pause; instead, she looks to Kulka for a lesson, and the goblin, unaware of your quiet crisis, obliges, and spends the entire hour discussing the art of necromancy. Since she predictably began with the basics, there's little for you to learn here that you haven't already gathered through your own adventures, and so you tune out the discussion and simply daydream about your next private night with Embryx, which is fast approaching.
"Well, Agranne?" Seith asks, snapping you out of it.
You look back at him tiredly. "What?"
He tips his head toward Sharyx, who asks her question again: "We were talking about your divine power, and I was curious whether you would want to experiment with them further, tonight?"
As much as you don't want to spend any more time looking at the princess today, you can't help but consider that mastering your divine powers would be the best use of your time in these final few days before you confront the elders in Zuklanar.
1. Ignore the Calling - You shake your head. "It's been a long day, Sharyx," you reply, tensely. "I don't think I'm in the mindset to make any more miracles happen - at least not the type that you'd be keen to witness."
2. Yes, Let's - Your lip curls unpleasantly at her request, but you soon consider that if you aren't ready to harm the princess, you could at least scare her badly enough that she'll be less keen to fantasize about you. "You know what?" you reply, "Sure, Sharyx. Let's find a nice, private place... and I'll show you what I can do."
Option 3: 7 Votes (78% - Range: 23-100)
Fae Roll: 26
"...Embryx, I'm wondering what happens if you read my mind while I read yours. Would it be possible to speak in silence?"
Kulka cocks her head at you. "Sister, you could simply ask me these things, you know. The answer is yes," she explains, but then freezes for a moment as if she's realized the implications of your intent. "Although..." she adds, "it would be beneficial to you both to practice it here, in a safe environment."
"That's what I was thinking," Embryx says, giving you both a sly look.
Seith clears his throat to get your attention. "...Would you like me to plug my ears, while you're at it?" he jokes. You apparently weren't subtle enough to escape his quick deduction.
"I'd like you take a hint," you reply as you shoot him a glare. He merely holds up his hands as if surrendering before leaning back against the wall of the cart and tipping his head back, comfortable enough to take a nap. You turn your attention back to Embryx. "...I'm sure it will take me more time to read you than you'll need, so be patient, okay?"
Embryx snickers at you. "Who do you think I am? Take as long as you need."
You sigh, pushing away the intensity of your frustrations for the moment as you go searching for Embryx' resonating emotional threads. You close your eyes and feel her presence, recognizing her cautious concern, but also her overwhelming excitement to see you delving into her new favorite magical art. You relax your mind, searching for the thought common to her feelings, and then after a minute or two, you hear it:
Try opening your eyes, love.
Your eyes snap open so quickly in response to the suggestion that you don't even process it. Embryx' smile widens as you stare into each other, and a moment passes in which you're so captivated by this new level of intimacy that you can hardly remember what it is that you needed to tell her. But then, the memory comes to you, and a pang of anxiety and disgust races through the both of you.
I looked into Sharyx' mind, you explain as you regain your composure, ...and she's let her imagination run even more wild than before about our intertwined fates.
Embryx squints as she tries to understand the image taking shape in your mind. What more can she want than a marriage? she wonders.
She wants a miracle that will mix our bloodlines in a literal sense, you answer. She saw the way I altered the body and soul of that monstrous plant so that it would grow apples, and it gave her another idea: She's been fantasizing about getting herself pregnant so I can turn the unborn child into my own.
You feel Embryx' disgust and outrage well up inside of her, as if the feelings are your own - as fresh and raw as they were when you learned of the princess' sick fantasy yourself, several hours ago. Embryx breaks eye contact, her hand trembling as she grips her wand. She's lost her read on you, but you wait patiently until she gets it back. Her anger is white hot, and yet contained and refined. You believe her when she replies: Give me the word and I'll cut her down.
You resist the impulse to shake your head physically. Don't, you urge her. Syrith keeps proving that she's three steps ahead of us. After all the trouble she went through to make sure Sharyx would be in this wagon with us, do you really think she'd let you get a wild hair and strike her down?
Embryx wants to be upset that you won't support her here, but she can sense your helplessness and, even more importantly, your fear of losing her if a clash with Sharyx proves to be the idea moment in Syrith's eyes to cut Embryx out of your future. If not now, she questions, then when will you turn her away?
Even before you respond, Embryx knows the answer. When I have Rigatte, I'll stop at nothing to have control of my life again.
It isn't like you to let yourself be the victim, Embryx laments. I'm only putting up with this because the comet is nearly here already... But once it's gone, I want to see you make good on that promise - stop at nothing.
You smile grimly at her. You know that a reckoning with your goddess is coming if you expect to defy the course she's charting for the remainder of your life.
---
A few minutes later, the wheels on the wagon begin to turn as Corrinth and Sharyx work to guide the animal team off of the deck and down onto the shore. You and Embryx have moved so that you can be sure that no one else will get between you during the next portion of the ride, and you're surprised to find her leaning into you, instead of the other way around. You're certain that your underlying fear - that Syrith will attempt to remove her from your life in order to keep her control over you - weighs heavily as heavily on her mind as it does yours, and you do your best to reassure her. You gently stroke her hair and think about how you'll approach the coming turning point.
Maybe you'll find that the Eldest understands your plight; after all, she was the one who orchestrated your meetings with Rigatte, as well as the one who put Embryx in your life to begin with. Or maybe, you're merely being lured into a false sense of security, and Syrith will crush your hopes and dreams the very moment you let down your guard.
The canvas cover jostles as Sharyx pushes the flap open and climbs through, barely sparing a glance to the two of you as she makes her way toward the front, where Seith is sitting. She truly has no concern for your relationship with Embryx; just as she stated in Nytha's kitchen, she has no desire to be in love with you, no desire to build a life together - only to build an empire and a bloodline to rule it. Her perverse fantasy, a lust for divine blood to intermingle with her own, is driven entirely by the seemliness of realizing her place within the Valghemora lineage, and manifesting the Eldest's Design.
A thought occurs to you now: perhaps Syrith is as afraid of the volatile cocktail that she's created as you are. If she were to cause Embryx' downfall within your lifetime, you would attack her Design and her servants without mercy, beginning with Sharyx. Perhaps she would find a way to separate you from the Door and drag you down, but not before you would burn her intentions for Aelesh to the ground, and Zuklanar with it. However, you can only remain in a position to destroy her plan if you remain close to it, and so - for now - the best way to protect Embryx is to keep Sharyx within striking distance.
"Do you think we'll make it, Sharyx?" you ask.
The princess, unaware of your scheming, gives a benign smile that appears sickly due to the paleness of her complexion. "There isn't much snow on the ground right now; I think we'll reach Nald by nightfall."
"Good enough," you reply blandly. "When we get there, we'll find an inn and use hexes to get us all some proper beds for the night. By the time they realize something is wrong, we'll have already departed, tomorrow.
Embryx nods, as thankful as you are to not have to sleep another night in the woods, especially after such an uncomfortable ride. While sailing across Lake Nald will be just as unpleasant, you can at least take solace in knowing that the longer trip across the sea to Zuklanar will be launched form Mardenaal, meaning that you'll easily find a ship on which you can travel without anyone needing to hide themselves.
For one final hour, the wagon rolls on. You can tell that Sharyx is eager to resume her lessons, but seeing you cradling your partner gives her pause; instead, she looks to Kulka for a lesson, and the goblin, unaware of your quiet crisis, obliges, and spends the entire hour discussing the art of necromancy. Since she predictably began with the basics, there's little for you to learn here that you haven't already gathered through your own adventures, and so you tune out the discussion and simply daydream about your next private night with Embryx, which is fast approaching.
"Well, Agranne?" Seith asks, snapping you out of it.
You look back at him tiredly. "What?"
He tips his head toward Sharyx, who asks her question again: "We were talking about your divine power, and I was curious whether you would want to experiment with them further, tonight?"
As much as you don't want to spend any more time looking at the princess today, you can't help but consider that mastering your divine powers would be the best use of your time in these final few days before you confront the elders in Zuklanar.
1. Ignore the Calling - You shake your head. "It's been a long day, Sharyx," you reply, tensely. "I don't think I'm in the mindset to make any more miracles happen - at least not the type that you'd be keen to witness."
2. Yes, Let's - Your lip curls unpleasantly at her request, but you soon consider that if you aren't ready to harm the princess, you could at least scare her badly enough that she'll be less keen to fantasize about you. "You know what?" you reply, "Sure, Sharyx. Let's find a nice, private place... and I'll show you what I can do."
Last edited:
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
1
CHUUYAS_HAT
ᴏɴᴇ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ
1
Breadman
Big loaf supreme
2
Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
1
bat_hacker
Junior Member
2
hardcore.munchkin
Professional hater
2
LoriMahe
Ohoho!
1
turtwigwins
Member
1
Yes, Let's
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 5 Votes (63% - Range: 1-63)
Option 2: 3 Votes (38% - Range: 64-100)
Fae Roll: 88
A frightful excitement plays in the drow's eyes; if she heard the malice in your tone, she isn't deterred. Embryx, meanwhile, cuts in sharply: "Private for all three of us, then, because I want to see this, too."
You look back at her and can tell that she's already predicted your intent, here. Whether she wants to prevent you from going too far or she merely wants to witness Sharyx' humiliation isn't clear - it could be both, honestly - but you won't disappoint her either way. You have a new tool in your repertoire, after all, so you won't need to guess at what frightens the princess.
You'll simply read her mind and get to the heart of it.
You give Embryx a faux-innocent smile and agree that she should come along. Sharyx, ever-eager to please the Terrorchild, doesn't protest the intrusion, either. Only a few minutes later, the wagon finally comes to a stop outside of an inn at the edge of Callia's Catch, and as you peek through the flap at the rear of the wagon, you're relieved to see that the nearby buildings are of a far more familiar style - standing separate from the trees and having regular thoroughfares in a logical pattern. While still distinctly elven in design, it nonetheless feels as if the culture of Turadal has bled over the southern border in some past era and taken root here. Perhaps the locals won't be quite so insular...
You climb out, followed by Embryx, Sharyx, and Seith, who remains behind to help lower Kulka down to solid ground. Corrinth arrives to join you after unhitching the animal team one by one to allow them to eat and drink, having now swapped her appearance back to her normal one. As you take a moment to check on the horses, she approaches you quietly.
"Hey, Agranne...? I was doing some thinking," she says, "a-about what I'm going to do once I'm free again."
You say nothing. To even reply with a "yes?" would imply that her freedom is already a done deal, and you aren't ready to give her that assurance. Nonetheless you allow her to finish her thought.
"...Anyway," she continues, uneasily, "I think I want to leave the coven for a while, you know? ...I think I've caused enough trouble, and taking a few years off would be good for me." She again waits for a response, swallowing hard before getting to her actual point. "I'd like to go home. And that's... That's the nice part," she says with a desperate smile, "after everything we did - what you did - I can actually... I don't have to hide. Being a witch, being a fae - it's not going to get me killed in Turadal anymore, if the new regime keeps its promises to us. I can go back, see if my mom's tavern is still vacant, and if it is, I could..."
"We'll see," you reply, coldly. You walk away, tired of looking at her and tired of listening to her - but more importantly, you're afraid. You're afraid of having to finally confront the decision of whether to turn her loose. You figure you'll need to spend some time reading her mind to get to the bottom of whether she's really changed or not. Even if you already decided to spare her life yet again, you definitely aren't ready to see her with a wand in her hand again, and this latest notion of leaving the coven might even be a hasty attempt by the changeling to appear as harmless as possible.
You'll wring the truth out, sooner or later. But for right now, your ire is directed at Sharyx, and you only feel like tackling one problem at a time. As you meet back up with the others, Embryx appears from the front of the inn and informs you that the owner is under her spell for the night. "Perfect," you tell her. "The rest of you can relax; Sharyx, Embryx and I will be in shortly."
"Be careful," Kulka cautions you before leading the others in alongside her dog. At the last moment, the creature stops in the doorway, turning towards you with an eerie cry and a gaze that's all too human, before Kulka tugs on its leash and brings it into the building. Sharyx' eyes linger on the door as they disappear into the warmth of the lodging. A cold wind blows through, and she stifles a shiver and rubs her arms through her sleeves to ease her goosebumps. Kulka didn't realize it, but her warning conveniently serves your aims as you set to work trying to pry into the princess' head again.
"We can go out behind the stables," Embryx says, taking the lead and Sharyx' attention so you can focus. As you shuffle along your stare practically burns a hole in the back of Sharyx' head - you're far from a master at this - but you soon begin to feel her trepidation and sense her inner voice. ...She wouldn't hurt me, not on purpose, you sense her tell herself.
Maybe she noticed your underlying misgivings.
...Syrith sent her to find me; she knows my heart. I must be part of her Grand Design; the greatest part - not only a stepping stone for the Terrorchild!
She's fixated now, not on the image of an apple in your palm, but on the wolfdog and its mournful howl - unease rising in the pit of her stomach. You slowly discern that it isn't for the dog itself that she fears, but something far more fundamental: betrayal... and control. Sharyx knows that you can show immeasurable cruelty, just as often and as easily as you can show patience and mercy. And when you decide on the former, your foes' membership within the coven is irrelevant to you. You've killed former friends and mentors, rendered others shadows of their former selves, and you rarely - if ever - display remorse for what you've done.
An unbroken thread stitches her entire world together - fifty years of ignorance and servitude to the forces of light, finally shattered by Syrith's embrace. She has placed all of her faith within you and your sisters to guide her toward her rightful place in the world. But what if her saviors hold no real fondness for her? What if it's only another trick? ...And what if you only mean to control her, as her captors once did?
She'll show me... She'll teach me... She'll stay by me...
She pushes through the harsh weather, her desolate prayers riding on assumptions built upon more assumptions. She's prayed to be worthy of your attention and grace, worthy of the Eldest's favor, but what if she's been wrong about all of it? What if embracing her heritage only brings more misery and an early end? ...What if Syrith doesn't care at all, and instead only wants another loyal dog?
She won't hurt me.
You realize that this is the moment you've been waiting for. If you can make her believe that your alliance with her goals is fragile, and that you're willing to hurt her if things don't go your way, then you'll have the advantage, going forward, like you should have had from the beginning - claims to ancient thrones be damned. Sharyx will tend to your wants and desires, and won't dare to think about bringing you into her royal family until you're good and ready for it. She'll be too worried about keeping her own blood in her veins to trouble you for any of yours.
"...You know," you say out loud to break the silence, "I wish I had brought Corrinth with us. I could use a pet like the one I made for Kulka."
Embryx snickers darkly at the idea as she comes to a stop in the clearing behind the stable. Maybe she actually found it funny, but either way, she's following your lead and playing along. "I wish you'd have thought of that this morning, love. ...So what are you gonna do instead?"
You allow yourself to cackle, knowing how your words are tormenting the princess inside.
A vivid image races through Sharyx' mind. You see yourself, as dark and frightening as you've ever imagined appearing to your most hated enemies. Your hands move and twist in some arcane gesture as your divinity manifests - not as a miracle, but something more infernal. She sees herself in the mirror, her face, her hands, her body altered and lupine, her voice denied to her; she can only whine and growl. And you, somewhere far away, too far away to see her, slay the false royals of Aelesh without the heir by your side, leaving nothing but chaos to reign in your wake.
"I'd need a dog to start with anyway, so I suppose I'll need to think up some other way to test myself. Maybe..." you trail off, searching for some other object or life force to tamper with using your divinity. As you summon up the power again, you notice the way that shadows bend as your power rakes through them. You release Sharyx from your telepathy so you can focus entirely on this new phenomenon, and within a moment, you grin madly as the shadows climb from the ground into an impossible mound, dripping upwards into the air and becoming a floating ball of shadow, in utter defiance of the moonlight. "Oh, yes...!"
"Hells..." Embryx says, utterly amazed by the technique. "That's not shadowmancy, is it? ...Is that ball necrotic?"
"It could be," you reply, transfixed on the orb. "If I could place necros within, I could throw it at someone... maybe even in broad daylight! What do you think, Sharyx?" you ask as you hurl the shadow in her direction.
She screams and cowers as the shadow impacts her, leaving her drenched in an unexplainable darkness that gradually dissipates, harmlessly. You laugh at her, but then apologize, having gotten your point across. "...Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," you lie.
To her credit, she seems to recover her composure quickly after the shadows melt away into normalcy. "I... I don't know what to think. I'm not sure what I just saw, or how shadowmancy works..." she says, stiffly.
"You don't want to know," Embryx teases. "Not yet, at least. Besides, Agranne, that sounds like a lot of trouble for someone who can just snatch souls out of people's bodies. Why bother scaring the shit out of people if they all end up dead, anyway?"
You smile again and shrug. "Because it's fun," you reply, before turning back to the princess. "...You look cold, Sharyx. Maybe we should go inside?"
She nods, frightfully, and the three of you head for the safety of the inn.
"Agranne," Kulka says, "the inn can only provide us with two rooms for the night, and each only has one bed - and only one of them is a proper bed for two. Now, as you know, I don't need a bed, but that still leaves us in an awkward position. Unless we want to evict some guests from the building and claim another room for ourselves, then we'll need to agree on sleeping arrangements."
You immediately sense the problem. If you and Embryx take the room with the full bed to yourselves, that would leave Corrinth, Sharyx, and Seith to squabble over a bed only large enough for one person. You look to Embryx in disbelief that she didn't gather this information when she was hexing the innkeeper.
1. Take the Small Bed - "Okay, fine, Embryx and I can share the small bed, and the three of you can have the larger bed. How you figure that out is up to you," you reply with obvious exasperation. "Maybe Corrinth can make herself small again?"
2. Take the Large Bed - "Embryx and I will take the larger bed, Sharyx can take the smaller one, and Seith... He can be a gentleman and take the floor in your room," you say, stifling a laugh. Kulka gestures to Corrinth quizzically, but you shake your head. "Corrinth, you can sleep out here with the dog, for all I care."
3. Use Wildshape - "...Godsdammit," you curse as you realize that there isn't a way to solve this wherein everyone is happy with their sleeping arrangements and without more headaches to deal with in the morning. "Embryx... Maybe we should just wildshape ourselves into a couple of wolves and go sleep in the snow."
4. Evict the Guests - "...Alright, fuck it." you say as you run out of ideas. "Let's turn someone out."
Option 2: 3 Votes (38% - Range: 64-100)
Fae Roll: 88
A frightful excitement plays in the drow's eyes; if she heard the malice in your tone, she isn't deterred. Embryx, meanwhile, cuts in sharply: "Private for all three of us, then, because I want to see this, too."
You look back at her and can tell that she's already predicted your intent, here. Whether she wants to prevent you from going too far or she merely wants to witness Sharyx' humiliation isn't clear - it could be both, honestly - but you won't disappoint her either way. You have a new tool in your repertoire, after all, so you won't need to guess at what frightens the princess.
You'll simply read her mind and get to the heart of it.
You give Embryx a faux-innocent smile and agree that she should come along. Sharyx, ever-eager to please the Terrorchild, doesn't protest the intrusion, either. Only a few minutes later, the wagon finally comes to a stop outside of an inn at the edge of Callia's Catch, and as you peek through the flap at the rear of the wagon, you're relieved to see that the nearby buildings are of a far more familiar style - standing separate from the trees and having regular thoroughfares in a logical pattern. While still distinctly elven in design, it nonetheless feels as if the culture of Turadal has bled over the southern border in some past era and taken root here. Perhaps the locals won't be quite so insular...
You climb out, followed by Embryx, Sharyx, and Seith, who remains behind to help lower Kulka down to solid ground. Corrinth arrives to join you after unhitching the animal team one by one to allow them to eat and drink, having now swapped her appearance back to her normal one. As you take a moment to check on the horses, she approaches you quietly.
"Hey, Agranne...? I was doing some thinking," she says, "a-about what I'm going to do once I'm free again."
You say nothing. To even reply with a "yes?" would imply that her freedom is already a done deal, and you aren't ready to give her that assurance. Nonetheless you allow her to finish her thought.
"...Anyway," she continues, uneasily, "I think I want to leave the coven for a while, you know? ...I think I've caused enough trouble, and taking a few years off would be good for me." She again waits for a response, swallowing hard before getting to her actual point. "I'd like to go home. And that's... That's the nice part," she says with a desperate smile, "after everything we did - what you did - I can actually... I don't have to hide. Being a witch, being a fae - it's not going to get me killed in Turadal anymore, if the new regime keeps its promises to us. I can go back, see if my mom's tavern is still vacant, and if it is, I could..."
"We'll see," you reply, coldly. You walk away, tired of looking at her and tired of listening to her - but more importantly, you're afraid. You're afraid of having to finally confront the decision of whether to turn her loose. You figure you'll need to spend some time reading her mind to get to the bottom of whether she's really changed or not. Even if you already decided to spare her life yet again, you definitely aren't ready to see her with a wand in her hand again, and this latest notion of leaving the coven might even be a hasty attempt by the changeling to appear as harmless as possible.
You'll wring the truth out, sooner or later. But for right now, your ire is directed at Sharyx, and you only feel like tackling one problem at a time. As you meet back up with the others, Embryx appears from the front of the inn and informs you that the owner is under her spell for the night. "Perfect," you tell her. "The rest of you can relax; Sharyx, Embryx and I will be in shortly."
"Be careful," Kulka cautions you before leading the others in alongside her dog. At the last moment, the creature stops in the doorway, turning towards you with an eerie cry and a gaze that's all too human, before Kulka tugs on its leash and brings it into the building. Sharyx' eyes linger on the door as they disappear into the warmth of the lodging. A cold wind blows through, and she stifles a shiver and rubs her arms through her sleeves to ease her goosebumps. Kulka didn't realize it, but her warning conveniently serves your aims as you set to work trying to pry into the princess' head again.
"We can go out behind the stables," Embryx says, taking the lead and Sharyx' attention so you can focus. As you shuffle along your stare practically burns a hole in the back of Sharyx' head - you're far from a master at this - but you soon begin to feel her trepidation and sense her inner voice. ...She wouldn't hurt me, not on purpose, you sense her tell herself.
Maybe she noticed your underlying misgivings.
...Syrith sent her to find me; she knows my heart. I must be part of her Grand Design; the greatest part - not only a stepping stone for the Terrorchild!
She's fixated now, not on the image of an apple in your palm, but on the wolfdog and its mournful howl - unease rising in the pit of her stomach. You slowly discern that it isn't for the dog itself that she fears, but something far more fundamental: betrayal... and control. Sharyx knows that you can show immeasurable cruelty, just as often and as easily as you can show patience and mercy. And when you decide on the former, your foes' membership within the coven is irrelevant to you. You've killed former friends and mentors, rendered others shadows of their former selves, and you rarely - if ever - display remorse for what you've done.
An unbroken thread stitches her entire world together - fifty years of ignorance and servitude to the forces of light, finally shattered by Syrith's embrace. She has placed all of her faith within you and your sisters to guide her toward her rightful place in the world. But what if her saviors hold no real fondness for her? What if it's only another trick? ...And what if you only mean to control her, as her captors once did?
She'll show me... She'll teach me... She'll stay by me...
She pushes through the harsh weather, her desolate prayers riding on assumptions built upon more assumptions. She's prayed to be worthy of your attention and grace, worthy of the Eldest's favor, but what if she's been wrong about all of it? What if embracing her heritage only brings more misery and an early end? ...What if Syrith doesn't care at all, and instead only wants another loyal dog?
She won't hurt me.
You realize that this is the moment you've been waiting for. If you can make her believe that your alliance with her goals is fragile, and that you're willing to hurt her if things don't go your way, then you'll have the advantage, going forward, like you should have had from the beginning - claims to ancient thrones be damned. Sharyx will tend to your wants and desires, and won't dare to think about bringing you into her royal family until you're good and ready for it. She'll be too worried about keeping her own blood in her veins to trouble you for any of yours.
"...You know," you say out loud to break the silence, "I wish I had brought Corrinth with us. I could use a pet like the one I made for Kulka."
Embryx snickers darkly at the idea as she comes to a stop in the clearing behind the stable. Maybe she actually found it funny, but either way, she's following your lead and playing along. "I wish you'd have thought of that this morning, love. ...So what are you gonna do instead?"
You allow yourself to cackle, knowing how your words are tormenting the princess inside.
A vivid image races through Sharyx' mind. You see yourself, as dark and frightening as you've ever imagined appearing to your most hated enemies. Your hands move and twist in some arcane gesture as your divinity manifests - not as a miracle, but something more infernal. She sees herself in the mirror, her face, her hands, her body altered and lupine, her voice denied to her; she can only whine and growl. And you, somewhere far away, too far away to see her, slay the false royals of Aelesh without the heir by your side, leaving nothing but chaos to reign in your wake.
"I'd need a dog to start with anyway, so I suppose I'll need to think up some other way to test myself. Maybe..." you trail off, searching for some other object or life force to tamper with using your divinity. As you summon up the power again, you notice the way that shadows bend as your power rakes through them. You release Sharyx from your telepathy so you can focus entirely on this new phenomenon, and within a moment, you grin madly as the shadows climb from the ground into an impossible mound, dripping upwards into the air and becoming a floating ball of shadow, in utter defiance of the moonlight. "Oh, yes...!"
"Hells..." Embryx says, utterly amazed by the technique. "That's not shadowmancy, is it? ...Is that ball necrotic?"
"It could be," you reply, transfixed on the orb. "If I could place necros within, I could throw it at someone... maybe even in broad daylight! What do you think, Sharyx?" you ask as you hurl the shadow in her direction.
She screams and cowers as the shadow impacts her, leaving her drenched in an unexplainable darkness that gradually dissipates, harmlessly. You laugh at her, but then apologize, having gotten your point across. "...Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," you lie.
To her credit, she seems to recover her composure quickly after the shadows melt away into normalcy. "I... I don't know what to think. I'm not sure what I just saw, or how shadowmancy works..." she says, stiffly.
"You don't want to know," Embryx teases. "Not yet, at least. Besides, Agranne, that sounds like a lot of trouble for someone who can just snatch souls out of people's bodies. Why bother scaring the shit out of people if they all end up dead, anyway?"
You smile again and shrug. "Because it's fun," you reply, before turning back to the princess. "...You look cold, Sharyx. Maybe we should go inside?"
She nods, frightfully, and the three of you head for the safety of the inn.
---
Inside, you're surprised to find the other three sitting together by the fire instead of resting in their rooms. "What's going on?" you ask them as you enter.
"Agranne," Kulka says, "the inn can only provide us with two rooms for the night, and each only has one bed - and only one of them is a proper bed for two. Now, as you know, I don't need a bed, but that still leaves us in an awkward position. Unless we want to evict some guests from the building and claim another room for ourselves, then we'll need to agree on sleeping arrangements."
You immediately sense the problem. If you and Embryx take the room with the full bed to yourselves, that would leave Corrinth, Sharyx, and Seith to squabble over a bed only large enough for one person. You look to Embryx in disbelief that she didn't gather this information when she was hexing the innkeeper.
1. Take the Small Bed - "Okay, fine, Embryx and I can share the small bed, and the three of you can have the larger bed. How you figure that out is up to you," you reply with obvious exasperation. "Maybe Corrinth can make herself small again?"
2. Take the Large Bed - "Embryx and I will take the larger bed, Sharyx can take the smaller one, and Seith... He can be a gentleman and take the floor in your room," you say, stifling a laugh. Kulka gestures to Corrinth quizzically, but you shake your head. "Corrinth, you can sleep out here with the dog, for all I care."
3. Use Wildshape - "...Godsdammit," you curse as you realize that there isn't a way to solve this wherein everyone is happy with their sleeping arrangements and without more headaches to deal with in the morning. "Embryx... Maybe we should just wildshape ourselves into a couple of wolves and go sleep in the snow."
4. Evict the Guests - "...Alright, fuck it." you say as you run out of ideas. "Let's turn someone out."
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