Barton's has been operating since the 1980s and has kidnapped children, then sacrificed them to their "God". And you remember seeing the paper with the list of names.
Multiple lists of names.
But there's no way they could've actually gotten all those kids…right? That's what you told yourself…
Howard: 33 = Fail
…because you couldn't fathom the truth of the matter.
But now you can't deny it.
Cause the bodies are right in front of you.
Olly: 41 = Success
Olly immediately grabs your hand and squeezes it tight. Not for herself, though she is clearly shaken by what you're seeing here. No, it's to stop you from backing away from this entirely.
There are …so many cells. You count at least ten before they start trailing into the darkness further down. And in each one at least three skeletons lay lifeless on the ground. You try to convince yourself that there is no way they could be children, but it's a futile effort.
Cause the bones are much too small to be an adult human's.
A hand goes to your mouth involuntarily as you begin to gag once the smell hits your nostrils. No matter how decayed they may be, the smell of death, waste, and worse still clogs the air down here. It's very clear that they didn't leave any possible ways to get ventilation down here judging by how the bones are still…intact. You swallow the bile in your throat and start walking down the sinister hallway.
Olly remains by your side the whole time, leading you along. Her entire body is shaking, and she tries to keep her eyes on the floor tiles. You don't blame her cause you have the urge to do the same. You don't know many Mythics, but judging by the ones you do know, there is very little difference between them and humans when it comes to certain matters. The thought of seeing so many children dead must be getting to her too.
But the thing that stings the most, that drives a stake into your heart and makes you sympathize wholeheartedly with Olly, is the fact that you are both teachers. You are meant to protect students and raise them to be able to live in everyday society. You may be the only one who sees it that way, but that doesn't mean it isn't true! You became a teacher to teach and guide the next generation into a better future.
The thought that so many of them died underneath your own workplace…
You make the mistake of glancing up and seeing two skeletons holding hands over a stuffed teddy bear.
That is what causes you to dash towards a corner and start vomiting. While tossing the contents of your stomach up, you feel completely sick. Not just to your stomach, but in your mind. You can't just ignore this…this…horrible act. You…you…
[] You don't care anymore. These…things will be stopped. They have forfeited their lives, and you won't shed a single tear when they're gone. Neither them, nor their so called "God". (PTSD: Internalized Hatred towards Cultist and Eldritch)
[] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
[] Write in…
Olly lifts you up and pats your back as you finish. Your throat is burning, but you find enough strength to let out a rough, "Thank you," through your coughing fits. You and Olly just stay like that for what feels like a long time, as you try to come to terms with what you just saw.
Unfortunately, the universe decides to be bipolar today.
You and Olly jump at the sound of a struggle behind you. She tenses up, a hissing sound coming from her lips as you both stares back the way you came. Numerous sounds reach your ears that you can only just make out. Grunting, things being smashed, flesh ripping, and…a gunshot?
The tell-tale report of a gun rings out again, followed by a completely inhuman roar that shakes the bones in your skull. Then a grunt, followed by two bodies tumbling down the stone steps. You and Olly prepare yourself for whatever comes near you.
…Well, almost whatever.
Cause, falling down the steps, being trailed by the limp form of one of the Cultist, is a completely unmistakable green shirt.
Your mouth opens in complete awe as your boss tumbles to a stop at your feet with his face against the floor. In his right hand he holds the same shotgun you remember from before. He shakes the mess that is his hair out before starting to pick himself up. To his left, what looks to be the lifeless body of the Cultist Olly seduced lands on the floor.
Mr. Wenton gets to his feet with a fire in his eyes that quickly evaporates at the sight of you. It is replaced by absolute surprise, confusion, then suspicion. When he sees Olly next to you in the same awed state, the frown on his face gets deeper.
He speaks in a curt, no-nonsense voice that cuts straight to the point, "Craft? Rivauld? What are you two doing here?"
You feel the nervousness creep up as he hefts the shotgun in his hands and pumps it. An empty casing falls onto the ground, smoke rising from it. The smell of gunpowder fills the hallway, making you cough even more. You try to get a sentence in but are cut off by the Harrowmonts rushing down the stairs.
Mr. Wenton turns around with practiced, military-like motions as he aims his gun above the advancing werewolves. The family of five make it to the three of you just as two large forms begin to descend the stairs.
It is now, you see exactly what being "Gifted" means.
And it is horrifying.
Their bodies don't even resemble anything approaching human anymore. Instead, they are just a mass of inky black tendrils that pull them along the ground. The tendrils are constantly thrashing around, grasping at any and everything that they can get their hands on. Each one is connected to the main body by the bulbous orbs that serve as "flesh" for the monsters. But that isn't what truly catches your attention; it's the mouths.
Drooling, snapping, teeth ridden mouths that end in bottomless black pits. You see both Olly and Wenton look at the floor after trying to understand what is within that pit. If it weren't for the constant "lock" in the back of your head, you're certain you would be too. None of you can understand what truly lurks deep within those snapping jaws.
You watch as the two blobby forms reach the landing. The leftmost one lets a tendril slither its way into a cell. You watch it grip the spine of a skeleton and yank it towards one of the many gaping mouths within its body. The bones disappear into the maw with a crunching sound that almost makes you puke again.
It is only now that you notice each one of the Harrowmonts has green ichor dripping from their clawed hands. Even Chester had two chunks of melting black goo held in his palms, his chest heaving with exertion. The monsters move forward, trailing green slime behind them, seemingly uncaring of their injured state.
"Craft! Olly! Mr. Wenton!" Volk addresses all of you, his voice sounding more feral by the second, "We'll handle these rotten bastards! You three go take out the monster below the school!"
The Principal glances back towards the both of you in confusion, while you can see Olly starting to shed her skin. You look behind you and in front of you, trying to figure out the best course of action.
[] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
[] You'll go but the Harrowmonts should come with you. You'll need their strength for the final fight. Sure, those…things will be still be here, but it won't matter if you kill their God.
[] Write in…
Principal Devon Weston AKA The Marine
Military Training: I don't know what I've been told! (+10 to all Combat Rolls)
Timeless Veteran: The wars we've had, I've been in all of em (Has been in WW 1, WW 2, Spanish-American, and Vietnam)
Mythical Annihilator: They fear me, because I can kill them…. (+40 to fighting Mythics)
Survivor: …but they can't kill me. (-35 to Mythics who fight him)
Modern Weaponry: I love me some Dakka (+15 to rolls when using Human weapons)
PTSD: *Nam Intensifies* (-20 to rolls involving one of his triggers. Penalties stack)
Last of his Kind: I'm the only one left… (No other will be like him. No others can be made. -25 to all social rolls)
Don't Make Me Angry: My Rage is Legend (When he is enraged, +50 to all combat rolls and +30 bonus when against Mythics; Should he be killed, roll 1d100. On a 30+, he gets back up and keeps fighting, but with a -25 penalty to all rolls. Penalty stacks)
Bloodshot: I see Red everywhere (When enraged, can't discern between friend and foe. Combat roll results apply to EVERYONE!)
The Cursed Vigil: I got this thing back in the war. Never once lost it… (As long as he has this, he will never fall)
Cultist:
Safety in Numbers: Swarm them! (+9 to rolls per each Cultist still alive)
Fight Together: Die Together (+5 to combat rolls per each Cultist involved)
The "Gifted": He Loves Us… (+45 to combat rolls for every "Gifted" in combat. Bonuses Stack)
Eldritch Bodies: Normal Weapons don't work… (- 20 to all rolls attempting to harm the "Gifted)
Sanity Slippage: Roll for San Loss (Normal Mortals and some Mythics slowly lose their sanity the longer they stay near the tranformed. -2 Satiety as long as they are near them. Beings used to dealing with Eldritch can resist this)
Feeding Frenzy: The Hunger is unending (When the "Gifted" have transformed, they can eat anything their tendrils grab. They must consume anything within their environment, else suffer a -25 penalty that stacks for every round they aren't eating)
To explain the first vote, due to it not being a Crit Fail, I decided to give you all a choice as to what happens to Howard.
Howard might know about Belief, Werewolves, and have seen some pretty bad stuff. But he's still human, and even he breaks at some point. That's basically what the roll going forward was for.
So, you all get to choose exactly how this effects him. It will basically turn into a Perk that can't be gotten rid of through standard means and will have an effect on Howard's personality and reactions to specific things. Specifically, each will require love, care, affection, and therapy.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
If only for a different flavor.
[X] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
The element of surprise is well and truly shot now. So we might as well stack our combat bonuses and work together.
Splitting up here avails us little when we can wipe the cultists and move on to the god.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
And then we were a shounen protagonist... well our daughter isn't going to be happy about this.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
So if we hear a child in danger were gonna rush in to save them?
The biggest weakness of this trait is that were likely easy to fool if they know how we feel towards children in general and our need to protect them.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
I don't want to go full Shirou. People please don't let us go full Shirou.
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
Edit: I can tolerate this as long as we're not trying to save our enemies too.
Impossible, Shirou was a Massive Childhood Trauma involving huge amounts of Survivor's Guilt combined with HERO OF JUSTICE ideals. Nothing like what an full grown adult can match easily.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You already decided this once before. Get to the Abomination, kill it, and get out. Olly and Weston are probably gonna follow you.
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
Plays well with Tranquil Fury.
[X] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
[X] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
[X] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
The Protector Complex is gonna fuck us over at some point in time. Hardened Heart makes the most sense.
Fair point. If she goes in our footsteps, let her be a overprotective primal deity, not a cold one.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] No, you won't leave the Harrowmonts behind. You can fight too! Stand your ground and take these Cultist fuckers down!
Protector Complex Gained, and head straight for the Eldritch God.
Edit: Went ahead and added the Perk to the Character Sheet. It won't count for this encounter.
Adhoc vote count started by LinkOnScepter on Dec 18, 2018 at 7:36 PM, finished with 20 posts and 13 votes.
[X] You can't allow this to happen anymore. No child should ever experience something like this. You'll make sure of it, from now until the end of time. You'll protect them with your life. (PTSD: Protector Complex)
[X] You know it's going to get worse. Like the journal said. You didn't take those words seriously before. Now though, you understand. You'll have to get used to these things. You can't let them bother you so much anymore, not if you want to get the job done. (PTSD: Hardened Heart)
K, so updates are gonna slow a bit. I've got no money, and 6 days until Christmas. I plan to write a short story for each of my family members instead. While I try and do that, there won't really be any updates for things. Just a heads up.
