And Should the Soil Not Take You (A Wight Quest)
- Thread starter DoobleDeeDooble
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
[X] Bring up cooking. From what Bell mentioned, that might grab Sybil's attention. And hopefully the others' too. With more people willing to cook rations with you, you would be able to do more than you can reasonably do on your own. And you want to give the chance for them to pivot away from raw meat as well. Why wait?
Eating something else besides raw meat helps.
Eating something else besides raw meat helps.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Bring up cooking. From what Bell mentioned, that might grab Sybil's attention. And hopefully the others' too. With more people willing to cook rations with you, you would be able to do more than you can reasonably do on your own. And you want to give the chance for them to pivot away from raw meat as well. Why wait?
Yeah, we might as well jump on our specialty. Sybil and Pepin might need some work to go through, but it thinks like we're off to a good start with Bonecrusher. I knew he sounded like good sorts.
Although, if the meal time ends up leading to somewhat of a witght community building around Ythona, I'm... interested to see what Fleshrender will think about that.
Yeah, we might as well jump on our specialty. Sybil and Pepin might need some work to go through, but it thinks like we're off to a good start with Bonecrusher. I knew he sounded like good sorts.
Although, if the meal time ends up leading to somewhat of a witght community building around Ythona, I'm... interested to see what Fleshrender will think about that.
[X] Bring up cooking.
First, I really enjoyed the dream sequence. It was very vivid and the lines "the sun kissed her, but it scours you" and "her grin is rigor mortis" stuck out to me, in a good way!! I will be thinking about these lines for a good long while for sure.
I'm also really happy to have more interactions with the other wights! Hopefully we can get off on the right foot with them and make some new friends. I wonder what kind of food Ythona will make for them... this story is about to turn from socializing simulator to cooking simulator, haha.
I'm also actually excited to learn more about Fleshrender, too! I hope at some point he comes around on us and vice versa. I really don't want to have to fight him, but he said himself that he wants to fight us, so... well, we better stay prepared.
First, I really enjoyed the dream sequence. It was very vivid and the lines "the sun kissed her, but it scours you" and "her grin is rigor mortis" stuck out to me, in a good way!! I will be thinking about these lines for a good long while for sure.
I'm also really happy to have more interactions with the other wights! Hopefully we can get off on the right foot with them and make some new friends. I wonder what kind of food Ythona will make for them... this story is about to turn from socializing simulator to cooking simulator, haha.
I'm also actually excited to learn more about Fleshrender, too! I hope at some point he comes around on us and vice versa. I really don't want to have to fight him, but he said himself that he wants to fight us, so... well, we better stay prepared.
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Bring up cooking.
...hmm. Unclear whether this actually says anything about Ythona's appearance, past or present, thanks to dream logic constantly changing everything repeatedly while also making the whole thing kind of abstract.
Darn it. We were doing so well at Grey Rock-ing him!
See? Denial of what he said was exactly what he wanted!
As amusing as it was to have won one over on him, this small victory is gonna make it even harder than before to imitate a grey rock at him until he gets bored and leaves.
Hmm, wonder what specifically triggered that. Pepin was relatively comfortable with just Sybil and Bonecruncher before we got here; clearly not enough to exactly trust them, he was still lingering near the easiest escape route, but was willing to be in the same room as them for an extended period without being forced. Was it because they were all just sorta doing their own thing and ignoring each other until we got here, and now we and they are acknowledging him? Or something more; something about his expectations of us or wights in general? It was immediately preceded by Bonecruncher saying "But I see no reason not to be friendly and make merry regardless."... fear of what exactly that could entail for wights?
Would waving and casually saying "Bye, Pepin" as he slips out be helpful or mean here. Either it shows him that he's not being subtle, we know he's leaving and are fine with it... or it calls attention to him and comes across as some sort of weird power play. It's gonna be kind of hard not to walk around eggshells around him for a bit.
[] Ask some questions.
We're trying to establish that we can communicate for reasons other than wanting something from them. Picking this would be counterproductive. Asking now would just make us seem manipulative. Whatever questions we have, ask them later.
[] Tell a story.
Ythona seems a bit too socially awkward and devoid of personal experiences that she can fully remember right now for that to go well. Her choices right now would be: story about stuff that all the wights here have experienced (pointless), story about her years alone wandering the bog (has potential, via explaining a bit about why Ythona is here and talking to them, but unless carefully framed and edited into a coherent narrative, I doubt that would come across. would probably just end up being boring, pointless, and confusing to these three), story about our time as a human (we can barely remember any of that, and we're still not sure how much of that we want to keep hidden), or story from the imagination of the same traumatised fractured undead brain that came up with that dream (yikes, yeah I'm sure that would totally make a great icebreaker for friendly conversation).
So of the choices here, that leaves
[X] Bring up cooking.
...good thing that will probably appeal to them anyway?
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Bring up cooking. From what Bell mentioned, that might grab Sybil's attention. And hopefully the others' too. With more people willing to cook rations with you, you would be able to do more than you can reasonably do on your own. And you want to give the chance for them to pivot away from raw meat as well. Why wait?
Eternal_0bserver
(Unverified Bookworm)
- Location
- Earth, Northern Europe
[X] Bring up cooking. From what Bell mentioned, that might grab Sybil's attention. And hopefully the others' too. With more people willing to cook rations with you, you would be able to do more than you can reasonably do on your own. And you want to give the chance for them to pivot away from raw meat as well. Why wait?
I wonder if any of our new acquaintances can sew or create tools. In principle, together with the ability to cook, this should be enough to create an island of comfortable unlife.
I wonder if any of our new acquaintances can sew or create tools. In principle, together with the ability to cook, this should be enough to create an island of comfortable unlife.
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[X] Bring up cooking. From what Bell mentioned, that might grab Sybil's attention. And hopefully the others' too. With more people willing to cook rations with you, you would be able to do more than you can reasonably do on your own. And you want to give the chance for them to pivot away from raw meat as well. Why wait?
Vote 7 Results
DoobleDeeDooble
Please read me again sometime.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
And I'm closing the vote. [X] Bring up cooking. takes it in a big landslide.
Sorry about the delay there, I just felt like I may as well leave the vote open until I had the page ready and then. Had the page ready several days after I was originally intending to. But on the bright side, that happens to be now, so enjoy.
Sorry about the delay there, I just felt like I may as well leave the vote open until I had the page ready and then. Had the page ready several days after I was originally intending to. But on the bright side, that happens to be now, so enjoy.
7. No Love Nor Joy Can Hold Ever Fast
DoobleDeeDooble
Please read me again sometime.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
7. No Love Nor Joy Can Hold Ever Fast
You don't know what to say to get everyone in a good mood and talking with you. You don't know what to say to win their trust, much less get them trusting each other. How could you? But you don't need to. You aren't going to approach this tactically, or with reservations. You are just going to be yourself. You'll be honest and helpful, and earn that trust in time. And even if you never do, you can at least know that you've helped. But you can't get out of talking entirely, because there's only one real way you can help right now.
"There's actually something I wanted to bring up."
You see Pepin shift, and when you look over, he's frowning. "I thought you said you didn't want anything from us?"
"Right. This is something I wanted to offer, actually. But first I should ask, do any of you cook your food?"
Bonecruncher starts laughing. It's loud, and just as bassy as his voice normally is. Nobody is trying to speak over it, but Pepin shakes his head at you. Sybil gives you a look you can't quite read. The laughing goes on longer than you would have expected, and then Bonecruncher abruptly stops. He's looking down at you, grinning like he's ready to start laughing at your great joke again. You can't tell if he actually thought it was a joke, or if he's just laughing at you. Either way...
You try not to let it stymy you. "I take it that's a no, then. Sybil?"
Bonecruncher speaks up again. "What, are you serious?" You nod, and he narrows his pale blue eyes. "What kind of wight would cook flesh? Ythona..." Suddenly, he looks sad. "We are not humans. If you hope to cling to that past, it will only hurt you. Let it go. Enjoy what we have now. Don't focus on what may seem depravity, embrace it. We have our pleasures here. Open up to them." He sighs, and weariness settles in his expression. "I should have said something before, with you quietly sulking for all that time. Of course you would be struggling with this. I hope you don't think it's too late to adjust to being among the dead."
At first, you're at a loss for words. When he had started laughing, you braced for disdain, but pity? His wizened face certainly looks sincere. What he's suggesting is poisonous, but he really wants to help you. You don't want to have this discussion right now. You don't think you want to ever, really, but you'll probably have to. You aren't going to lie and agree with him, but you don't want to have an argument either. This is all beside the point. "That's not it. I know I'm a wight." That seems to reassure Bonecruncher, even though it isn't really agreeing with him. "But I like cooking food. And cooked food tastes better. I could show you all how, or we could even cook food together. And it would allow for making more complicated meals, to have more to work with."
Bonecruncher furrows his brows, and Pepin's brown eyes are open wide, but your attention is drawn over to Sybil. She has you fixed with a gaze that almost feels like it's going through you. You can't read her expression. Something about her bearing makes you uneasy, even though she hardly appears threatening. She looks soft, at least for a wight, and she's shorter than you, but still you want to shy away from her gaze. She looks older than you were, though certainly not as much as Bonecruncher; her hair is still brown, not gone grey like his. When she speaks up, it's disturbingly flat. "Does cooking the meat get you more power out of it?"
The question surprises you for a moment. "I don't know." Sybil's hazel eyes haven't lose any of their intensity. She clearly isn't satisfied with that answer, but you don't have one! You haven't ever thought about it. You don't even know if you believe food gives power at all. Spending power makes you hungry, but that doesn't mean eating is storing power. And it certainly doesn't mean it leads to getting overall stronger over time. But... "I really don't know. But, it might? I've been getting more power from my meals here than over a few years out in the bog, and I couldn't cook much out there. But I'm also eating more at all, now. Or it could have been for another reason."
Pepin breaks the uneasy silence that follows. "I'm not sure eating food really matters. Uh, I mean to strength, obviously it matters. But... I eat the same as everyone else. Usually." He lets the second part of his point go unspoken.
You cant your head. "Usually?"
Pepin looks away, but Bonecruncher answers for him. "Fleshrender takes some of his food. Not always, but often."
"Oh." You're sympathetic, of course. But Pepin looks... ashamed. Maybe you can help with that, slightly. "He's done that to me, as well."
Pepin looks up at you, clearly surprised. "You too? But you're—" He suddenly shuts his mouth, and looks away for a moment. He finishes with a mumbled "Well, not to him." You can't help but wonder what Pepin had been about to say. Was he going to call you frightening? You smile towards him reassuringly—you hope.
"Ah." Sybil finally makes a noise again. "So that's it. You want us to pool all our food together when you cook. And then we share it equally. So when Fleshrender shorts you, we cushion that for you."
You groan. "No, I hadn't even thought of that." You hadn't thought about the need to share food out fairly, actually. Not every meal would make that an issue, but it is a wrinkle with some ideas... You'll figure that out when it comes to it. "I actually think it would be a good idea to share that way, now that you mention it. I would be willing to share some of mine that way, at least. But I wasn't trying to trick anyone into it. I'm not plotting. I just wanted to offer, if anyone wants to cook food with me today, you're welcome to. Or on any other day. I'll tell Bell the same thing, too." You shrug. "I used to cook for a lot of people. It would be nice to do that again. Cooking makes the meat tastier, and lets eating other stuff alongside it for taste seem less... pointless."
A contemplative silence fills the room. At least, you hope it's contemplative.
Sybil shrugs. "Guess I'll see how it is. Can't hurt much." She smiles slightly. "And I hope you're actually a good cook."
Almost immediately after, Pepin chimes in. "I would also like to! I miss real meals."
Bonecruncher sighs. He scratches at his scalp with one hand, at a spot his hair doesn't reach. "I don't like this. It feels too much like clinging onto the past." He turns his gaze towards Pepin for a moment, who immediately cringes. Then he sighs again. "But I shouldn't pass up on a new experience. I'll try it, too."
You grin. "Great! Thank you all, honestly." A warm feeling starts to well up in your chest. You're going to get to cook for people again. Not just people, but people you're getting to know. You're going to have to think about what to make, now, but you don't have to decide that yet. You have until Fleshrender comes with the meat for everyone, and that can't be so soon. You couldn't have slept in all that long, could you? Especially since you would have slept longer if Fleshrender hadn't barged into your room.
Everyone else is smiling too, in one way or another. Bonecruncher's usual one, Sybil's little smirk, Pepin is almost grinning, too. And then all of them are wiped away at once when Fleshrender's power hits the room like a wave. You almost jump, and then turn to face him, and he's not there.
You blink, and strain your extra sense to peer towards the source, and... He's so far away, even though it feels like he's right here. How? Is he even still in the lair? You had thought he had been flaring his power before, but... This is terrifying. Just that he can do it would be, even if you weren't all but drowning in it. It's almost as bad as when he was in your room, trying to get an excuse to kill you. And the thought of that makes it all the worse.
Bonecruncher starts towards the exit. "He's calling us. This is important." He doesn't offer any more explanation, but you suppose he couldn't have it. Sybil follows him out.
You take a step after them, and then turn back to look at Pepin. He looks even more shaken than you. Frozen with terror. Bonecruncher and Sybil aren't waiting for him, or for you. You aren't sure how Fleshrender flexes his power, but you try to do it. Reaching out with your mind like you might towards ghouls, and then... leaving it. "Here."
Pepin snaps his head up towards you with wide eyes. Then he relaxes just slightly, and hurries over to your side. Maybe he still can't help but think of you as intimidating, or even a monster, but at least you aren't Fleshrender. You're not sure if your power feels like anything, but it's certainly not claws ready to tear him to shreds. Looking down at him, you want to offer him a hand, but he doesn't need it.
The two of you catch up to Bonecruncher and Sybil, and fall in line behind them. Then, all together you head towards where Fleshrender's power is emanating from. He's definitely outside the fortress. It's difficult to make yourself walk towards him, but at least the power doesn't seem to be getting stronger as you do. You're not sure how far you could make yourself go, if it did. You're still reaching out to help Pepin. Not very far, but still, you aren't finding any ghouls. You're glad for that reprieve, but it also has you worried. Where are they? What is happening? You want to ask if the others have any idea, but can't get the words out of your throat.
Finally, you reach the mouth of the cave and stagger out into the searing sunlight. The all-too-familiar heat settles under your skin almost immediately, as if your flesh was kindling about to light. The phantom feeling of the points of claws makes it all the worse, as if they are going to prick you and let the sunlight boil and burst forth. You screw your eyes shut and blindly march forward, trying to focus on your power reaching out to nothing instead. You extend it a little farther, and find a ghoul, and then another, and then more and more and each of them is bright with Fleshrender's power, stars shining in the hungry void. You recoil as if you burned yourself, and take your power back into yourself. But it isn't enough. You can still sense Fleshrender, bright as the sun, malice itself pouring off him like heat from a flame. You can't turn off that sight. You can't.
You just can't. You're about to collapse under the weight of it all. Your legs aren't steady. Your hands are shaking. Your skin is seething. Your chest is in a vice. You're going to break. You can't hold yourself together anymore. You're going to crack open, and the sunlight will pare you out of that husk of flesh and burn you to ash, if that violent power doesn't seize your mind for its own first.
You barely register when someone shouts, hazily putting the meaning of the words together after you heard them. "Stop it already! They're here! We can't take it!"
The power suddenly recedes, and relief floods you. The sunlight still stings, but you can breathe again, and crack your eyes open. You blink out tears, and then see a throng of ghouls ahead of you. They're crowding around Fleshrender. Sybil is right in front of you, panting, one knee in the mud. Bonecruncher is standing a few steps ahead front of her, still. And then there's Bell, snarling, showing her teeth. Fleshrender looks as angry as you've ever seen him, but still, he pulled back his power.
You look behind you, and Pepin has collapsed. You shakily move your legs, and then hurry over to help him up. He seems dazed, but then he recovers. He pulls away from you, and then crosses his arms. For a second you think it's a rebuke, but he's just trying to shade himself as much as he can. You're still reeling from everything, which at least makes the sunlight easier to ignore now, even though you could barely take it only a few seconds ago.
You're sick to your stomach with fear. Fleshrender could do this to you all without lifting a finger? Why was he? And Bell was somehow still in condition to challenge him? Why is she even still here? Is he going to lash out again?
Suddenly all the ghouls turn and start moving towards you, and you flinch. But they're fleeing, scampering past you to shelter from the sunlight. It's still disturbing to watch them rush by, but it doesn't take that long before they're gone.
Sybil gets back on both feet, and walks next to Bonecruncher. You still don't want to get closer to Fleshrender, but you make for a place in line, and Pepin follows. Bell stalks over to all of you, still fuming, and breathing heavily.
Fleshrender jabs one of his claws towards you all. "You. One of you hasn't been doing your job! The one, single job I trust to you worms. Someone stumbled into our territory and none of you caught them." Your heart skips a beat. How does he possibly know about that? No, he can't know. There's no way. That kid must have run away, not waited around to get killed anyways, this is— "Bell couldn't find them either, but she at least figured out there was one. So I have to fix your mess. So we're all going to go out there and search until we find them."
Bell snarls again. "I already told you! Whoever it was already left! This is pointless—"
"Your failure isn't going to be mine. And don't think you get to rest just because you ran all the way here. All of you, now."
For a second, nobody moves. Bonecruncher steps forward first, but spreads his arms out. "Fleshrender, I humbly apologize for my failure. I understand this is severe. But we're meant to guard this entrance. Surely we shouldn't all leave."
"Shut up!" He takes a step towards you all. His eyes are fiery and wild. Why does this have him like this? "I'm in charge, you're not. Being the strongest weakling in the lot doesn't make you anything. You listen to me, don't worry about anything else. No more talking, just follow me. We're running to that stupid little town. Next person to say anything or stay frozen or do anything except fall in line I am going to make into a lesson."
He turns and sets off on the way.
You don't have any choice except to follow. None of you do.
You're in a loose line following him. Bonecruncher is marching at the front of all of you, followed by Sybil. Then it's you, followed by Pepin, and Bell is taking up the rear. Except, not that long into it, Pepin sprints past you to switch places. You don't understand why until you notice the feeling of Bell's eyes on your back, prickling faintly with power. Does she want to talk to you? You want to talk to her, but not while you're literally running through the bog. Your heart is pounding, and your breath is heavy, but you aren't running out of stamina. But you can already feel the hunger starting to swell, bit by bit.
Fleshrender finally slows back down when he gets to the town, and so do you. You start to pant as the relief of finally stopping floods through you. But you can't really relax. This isn't just a town, it's your town. And you're entering it among a horde of undead monsters. You shake your head. You're not monsters. It still has your stomach in a knot, all the same. You hope there isn't anyone here for you to find. Even if Fleshrender gets apoplectic because of it... You don't want to think about any of the ways this can end.
Bell is still staring at you. You turn to glance at her, and you can't read her expression. You want to say something, but... You turn back around and Fleshrender is staring at all of you with disdain. He doesn't even look winded. "Okay. Bell, take us to where you found that thing that you swear wasn't there on your last patrol."
She wordlessly plods forward and you all follow her now, thankfully at walking pace. Your stomach starts to sink further. How are you going to explain having missed... whatever this is. You'll take the blame, even without real evidence. And you're going to have to lie about it to even have that chance. You walk down a path, not the same as you took but leading to your old home all the same. Your heart starts to pound. But then you walk past it, without anyone but you noticing that building as special, among all the others. Of course.
Nor does anyone pay any particular attention to the building that interloper had hidden in. You're glad you've been left in the back, so nobody can follow your eyes constantly. Not that it would be understood, but still. Bell leads you just a little further.
Finally Bell takes you to a tall building. You have a faint glimmer of recollection of it, but even if you didn't, you still know a sanctuary when you see one. It's austere and imposing, the only extravagance a spire in the shape of a mock-tower looming over the gathering hall. Its great doors have been caved in. It hadn't proven a physical sanctuary, then. But that's an old building. What Bell points towards is something small put up in the building's shadow.
Rows of little wooden stakes in the ground, anchored by small piles of stones. There are maybe twenty of them. There's something scrawled on each plank, and you can't read it from here, but you know they're graves. Rather, just markers for them. There could not have been anything left to bury. That was what he had come here for?
Fleshrender turns his head from them, towards all of you. "Alright. Any of you see these things on patrol here before?" You shake your head along with all the others. It isn't a lie, you didn't go this far yesterday. You don't know if he had already finished when you saw him or hadn't yet started, or... Wait. Was he taking wood from the houses to make these? Carving them on the spot?
Then Fleshrender growls. "Great. So you weren't full of it, Bell, this is new. There's a rat. If you idiots caught them the first time—" He doesn't finish his thought, just snarling. Then he steps toward the markers, and theatrically pulls his leg back to kick one over.
"Wait!"
Everyone snaps their head to look at you. Your eyes widen. You just blurted that out, aloud. Stupid, but... You can't let him desecrate this. Not here. Not these people, who you might have once known. But you can't just say that. You need an excuse. A reason not to do this, why it would hurt your goal. Something Fleshrender will listen to. And you need it right this instant.
[] What do you say?
You don't know what to say to get everyone in a good mood and talking with you. You don't know what to say to win their trust, much less get them trusting each other. How could you? But you don't need to. You aren't going to approach this tactically, or with reservations. You are just going to be yourself. You'll be honest and helpful, and earn that trust in time. And even if you never do, you can at least know that you've helped. But you can't get out of talking entirely, because there's only one real way you can help right now.
"There's actually something I wanted to bring up."
You see Pepin shift, and when you look over, he's frowning. "I thought you said you didn't want anything from us?"
"Right. This is something I wanted to offer, actually. But first I should ask, do any of you cook your food?"
Bonecruncher starts laughing. It's loud, and just as bassy as his voice normally is. Nobody is trying to speak over it, but Pepin shakes his head at you. Sybil gives you a look you can't quite read. The laughing goes on longer than you would have expected, and then Bonecruncher abruptly stops. He's looking down at you, grinning like he's ready to start laughing at your great joke again. You can't tell if he actually thought it was a joke, or if he's just laughing at you. Either way...
You try not to let it stymy you. "I take it that's a no, then. Sybil?"
Bonecruncher speaks up again. "What, are you serious?" You nod, and he narrows his pale blue eyes. "What kind of wight would cook flesh? Ythona..." Suddenly, he looks sad. "We are not humans. If you hope to cling to that past, it will only hurt you. Let it go. Enjoy what we have now. Don't focus on what may seem depravity, embrace it. We have our pleasures here. Open up to them." He sighs, and weariness settles in his expression. "I should have said something before, with you quietly sulking for all that time. Of course you would be struggling with this. I hope you don't think it's too late to adjust to being among the dead."
At first, you're at a loss for words. When he had started laughing, you braced for disdain, but pity? His wizened face certainly looks sincere. What he's suggesting is poisonous, but he really wants to help you. You don't want to have this discussion right now. You don't think you want to ever, really, but you'll probably have to. You aren't going to lie and agree with him, but you don't want to have an argument either. This is all beside the point. "That's not it. I know I'm a wight." That seems to reassure Bonecruncher, even though it isn't really agreeing with him. "But I like cooking food. And cooked food tastes better. I could show you all how, or we could even cook food together. And it would allow for making more complicated meals, to have more to work with."
Bonecruncher furrows his brows, and Pepin's brown eyes are open wide, but your attention is drawn over to Sybil. She has you fixed with a gaze that almost feels like it's going through you. You can't read her expression. Something about her bearing makes you uneasy, even though she hardly appears threatening. She looks soft, at least for a wight, and she's shorter than you, but still you want to shy away from her gaze. She looks older than you were, though certainly not as much as Bonecruncher; her hair is still brown, not gone grey like his. When she speaks up, it's disturbingly flat. "Does cooking the meat get you more power out of it?"
The question surprises you for a moment. "I don't know." Sybil's hazel eyes haven't lose any of their intensity. She clearly isn't satisfied with that answer, but you don't have one! You haven't ever thought about it. You don't even know if you believe food gives power at all. Spending power makes you hungry, but that doesn't mean eating is storing power. And it certainly doesn't mean it leads to getting overall stronger over time. But... "I really don't know. But, it might? I've been getting more power from my meals here than over a few years out in the bog, and I couldn't cook much out there. But I'm also eating more at all, now. Or it could have been for another reason."
Pepin breaks the uneasy silence that follows. "I'm not sure eating food really matters. Uh, I mean to strength, obviously it matters. But... I eat the same as everyone else. Usually." He lets the second part of his point go unspoken.
You cant your head. "Usually?"
Pepin looks away, but Bonecruncher answers for him. "Fleshrender takes some of his food. Not always, but often."
"Oh." You're sympathetic, of course. But Pepin looks... ashamed. Maybe you can help with that, slightly. "He's done that to me, as well."
Pepin looks up at you, clearly surprised. "You too? But you're—" He suddenly shuts his mouth, and looks away for a moment. He finishes with a mumbled "Well, not to him." You can't help but wonder what Pepin had been about to say. Was he going to call you frightening? You smile towards him reassuringly—you hope.
"Ah." Sybil finally makes a noise again. "So that's it. You want us to pool all our food together when you cook. And then we share it equally. So when Fleshrender shorts you, we cushion that for you."
You groan. "No, I hadn't even thought of that." You hadn't thought about the need to share food out fairly, actually. Not every meal would make that an issue, but it is a wrinkle with some ideas... You'll figure that out when it comes to it. "I actually think it would be a good idea to share that way, now that you mention it. I would be willing to share some of mine that way, at least. But I wasn't trying to trick anyone into it. I'm not plotting. I just wanted to offer, if anyone wants to cook food with me today, you're welcome to. Or on any other day. I'll tell Bell the same thing, too." You shrug. "I used to cook for a lot of people. It would be nice to do that again. Cooking makes the meat tastier, and lets eating other stuff alongside it for taste seem less... pointless."
A contemplative silence fills the room. At least, you hope it's contemplative.
Sybil shrugs. "Guess I'll see how it is. Can't hurt much." She smiles slightly. "And I hope you're actually a good cook."
Almost immediately after, Pepin chimes in. "I would also like to! I miss real meals."
Bonecruncher sighs. He scratches at his scalp with one hand, at a spot his hair doesn't reach. "I don't like this. It feels too much like clinging onto the past." He turns his gaze towards Pepin for a moment, who immediately cringes. Then he sighs again. "But I shouldn't pass up on a new experience. I'll try it, too."
You grin. "Great! Thank you all, honestly." A warm feeling starts to well up in your chest. You're going to get to cook for people again. Not just people, but people you're getting to know. You're going to have to think about what to make, now, but you don't have to decide that yet. You have until Fleshrender comes with the meat for everyone, and that can't be so soon. You couldn't have slept in all that long, could you? Especially since you would have slept longer if Fleshrender hadn't barged into your room.
Everyone else is smiling too, in one way or another. Bonecruncher's usual one, Sybil's little smirk, Pepin is almost grinning, too. And then all of them are wiped away at once when Fleshrender's power hits the room like a wave. You almost jump, and then turn to face him, and he's not there.
You blink, and strain your extra sense to peer towards the source, and... He's so far away, even though it feels like he's right here. How? Is he even still in the lair? You had thought he had been flaring his power before, but... This is terrifying. Just that he can do it would be, even if you weren't all but drowning in it. It's almost as bad as when he was in your room, trying to get an excuse to kill you. And the thought of that makes it all the worse.
Bonecruncher starts towards the exit. "He's calling us. This is important." He doesn't offer any more explanation, but you suppose he couldn't have it. Sybil follows him out.
You take a step after them, and then turn back to look at Pepin. He looks even more shaken than you. Frozen with terror. Bonecruncher and Sybil aren't waiting for him, or for you. You aren't sure how Fleshrender flexes his power, but you try to do it. Reaching out with your mind like you might towards ghouls, and then... leaving it. "Here."
Pepin snaps his head up towards you with wide eyes. Then he relaxes just slightly, and hurries over to your side. Maybe he still can't help but think of you as intimidating, or even a monster, but at least you aren't Fleshrender. You're not sure if your power feels like anything, but it's certainly not claws ready to tear him to shreds. Looking down at him, you want to offer him a hand, but he doesn't need it.
The two of you catch up to Bonecruncher and Sybil, and fall in line behind them. Then, all together you head towards where Fleshrender's power is emanating from. He's definitely outside the fortress. It's difficult to make yourself walk towards him, but at least the power doesn't seem to be getting stronger as you do. You're not sure how far you could make yourself go, if it did. You're still reaching out to help Pepin. Not very far, but still, you aren't finding any ghouls. You're glad for that reprieve, but it also has you worried. Where are they? What is happening? You want to ask if the others have any idea, but can't get the words out of your throat.
Finally, you reach the mouth of the cave and stagger out into the searing sunlight. The all-too-familiar heat settles under your skin almost immediately, as if your flesh was kindling about to light. The phantom feeling of the points of claws makes it all the worse, as if they are going to prick you and let the sunlight boil and burst forth. You screw your eyes shut and blindly march forward, trying to focus on your power reaching out to nothing instead. You extend it a little farther, and find a ghoul, and then another, and then more and more and each of them is bright with Fleshrender's power, stars shining in the hungry void. You recoil as if you burned yourself, and take your power back into yourself. But it isn't enough. You can still sense Fleshrender, bright as the sun, malice itself pouring off him like heat from a flame. You can't turn off that sight. You can't.
You just can't. You're about to collapse under the weight of it all. Your legs aren't steady. Your hands are shaking. Your skin is seething. Your chest is in a vice. You're going to break. You can't hold yourself together anymore. You're going to crack open, and the sunlight will pare you out of that husk of flesh and burn you to ash, if that violent power doesn't seize your mind for its own first.
You barely register when someone shouts, hazily putting the meaning of the words together after you heard them. "Stop it already! They're here! We can't take it!"
The power suddenly recedes, and relief floods you. The sunlight still stings, but you can breathe again, and crack your eyes open. You blink out tears, and then see a throng of ghouls ahead of you. They're crowding around Fleshrender. Sybil is right in front of you, panting, one knee in the mud. Bonecruncher is standing a few steps ahead front of her, still. And then there's Bell, snarling, showing her teeth. Fleshrender looks as angry as you've ever seen him, but still, he pulled back his power.
You look behind you, and Pepin has collapsed. You shakily move your legs, and then hurry over to help him up. He seems dazed, but then he recovers. He pulls away from you, and then crosses his arms. For a second you think it's a rebuke, but he's just trying to shade himself as much as he can. You're still reeling from everything, which at least makes the sunlight easier to ignore now, even though you could barely take it only a few seconds ago.
You're sick to your stomach with fear. Fleshrender could do this to you all without lifting a finger? Why was he? And Bell was somehow still in condition to challenge him? Why is she even still here? Is he going to lash out again?
Suddenly all the ghouls turn and start moving towards you, and you flinch. But they're fleeing, scampering past you to shelter from the sunlight. It's still disturbing to watch them rush by, but it doesn't take that long before they're gone.
Sybil gets back on both feet, and walks next to Bonecruncher. You still don't want to get closer to Fleshrender, but you make for a place in line, and Pepin follows. Bell stalks over to all of you, still fuming, and breathing heavily.
Fleshrender jabs one of his claws towards you all. "You. One of you hasn't been doing your job! The one, single job I trust to you worms. Someone stumbled into our territory and none of you caught them." Your heart skips a beat. How does he possibly know about that? No, he can't know. There's no way. That kid must have run away, not waited around to get killed anyways, this is— "Bell couldn't find them either, but she at least figured out there was one. So I have to fix your mess. So we're all going to go out there and search until we find them."
Bell snarls again. "I already told you! Whoever it was already left! This is pointless—"
"Your failure isn't going to be mine. And don't think you get to rest just because you ran all the way here. All of you, now."
For a second, nobody moves. Bonecruncher steps forward first, but spreads his arms out. "Fleshrender, I humbly apologize for my failure. I understand this is severe. But we're meant to guard this entrance. Surely we shouldn't all leave."
"Shut up!" He takes a step towards you all. His eyes are fiery and wild. Why does this have him like this? "I'm in charge, you're not. Being the strongest weakling in the lot doesn't make you anything. You listen to me, don't worry about anything else. No more talking, just follow me. We're running to that stupid little town. Next person to say anything or stay frozen or do anything except fall in line I am going to make into a lesson."
He turns and sets off on the way.
You don't have any choice except to follow. None of you do.
You're in a loose line following him. Bonecruncher is marching at the front of all of you, followed by Sybil. Then it's you, followed by Pepin, and Bell is taking up the rear. Except, not that long into it, Pepin sprints past you to switch places. You don't understand why until you notice the feeling of Bell's eyes on your back, prickling faintly with power. Does she want to talk to you? You want to talk to her, but not while you're literally running through the bog. Your heart is pounding, and your breath is heavy, but you aren't running out of stamina. But you can already feel the hunger starting to swell, bit by bit.
Fleshrender finally slows back down when he gets to the town, and so do you. You start to pant as the relief of finally stopping floods through you. But you can't really relax. This isn't just a town, it's your town. And you're entering it among a horde of undead monsters. You shake your head. You're not monsters. It still has your stomach in a knot, all the same. You hope there isn't anyone here for you to find. Even if Fleshrender gets apoplectic because of it... You don't want to think about any of the ways this can end.
Bell is still staring at you. You turn to glance at her, and you can't read her expression. You want to say something, but... You turn back around and Fleshrender is staring at all of you with disdain. He doesn't even look winded. "Okay. Bell, take us to where you found that thing that you swear wasn't there on your last patrol."
She wordlessly plods forward and you all follow her now, thankfully at walking pace. Your stomach starts to sink further. How are you going to explain having missed... whatever this is. You'll take the blame, even without real evidence. And you're going to have to lie about it to even have that chance. You walk down a path, not the same as you took but leading to your old home all the same. Your heart starts to pound. But then you walk past it, without anyone but you noticing that building as special, among all the others. Of course.
Nor does anyone pay any particular attention to the building that interloper had hidden in. You're glad you've been left in the back, so nobody can follow your eyes constantly. Not that it would be understood, but still. Bell leads you just a little further.
Finally Bell takes you to a tall building. You have a faint glimmer of recollection of it, but even if you didn't, you still know a sanctuary when you see one. It's austere and imposing, the only extravagance a spire in the shape of a mock-tower looming over the gathering hall. Its great doors have been caved in. It hadn't proven a physical sanctuary, then. But that's an old building. What Bell points towards is something small put up in the building's shadow.
Rows of little wooden stakes in the ground, anchored by small piles of stones. There are maybe twenty of them. There's something scrawled on each plank, and you can't read it from here, but you know they're graves. Rather, just markers for them. There could not have been anything left to bury. That was what he had come here for?
Fleshrender turns his head from them, towards all of you. "Alright. Any of you see these things on patrol here before?" You shake your head along with all the others. It isn't a lie, you didn't go this far yesterday. You don't know if he had already finished when you saw him or hadn't yet started, or... Wait. Was he taking wood from the houses to make these? Carving them on the spot?
Then Fleshrender growls. "Great. So you weren't full of it, Bell, this is new. There's a rat. If you idiots caught them the first time—" He doesn't finish his thought, just snarling. Then he steps toward the markers, and theatrically pulls his leg back to kick one over.
"Wait!"
Everyone snaps their head to look at you. Your eyes widen. You just blurted that out, aloud. Stupid, but... You can't let him desecrate this. Not here. Not these people, who you might have once known. But you can't just say that. You need an excuse. A reason not to do this, why it would hurt your goal. Something Fleshrender will listen to. And you need it right this instant.
[] What do you say?
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- Location
- USA
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hmm, go with something along the lines of how there's something written on them which might tell us about the person doing the writing?
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
Bell said Bonecrusher doesn't do anything without benefit to him, but he didn't need to willingly try to be the fall guy for the rest of us.
Either Bell's paranoid due to her nature as a watcher, or Bonecrusher is very pragmatic and knew Fleshtearer wouldn't actually punish him and is trying to endear himself to everyone else.
I'm more partial to the former interpretation.
Either Bell's paranoid due to her nature as a watcher, or Bonecrusher is very pragmatic and knew Fleshtearer wouldn't actually punish him and is trying to endear himself to everyone else.
I'm more partial to the former interpretation.
- Pronouns
- He
I got nothing.
[x] "People come back to visit grave markers, sooner or later. If we disturb the grave, whoever left it will know it's been found. If we leave it be, maybe we can trap whoever came by when they come back."
Not super happy with this - there's no guarantee anyone will come back. But maybe someone can think of something better.
Not super happy with this - there's no guarantee anyone will come back. But maybe someone can think of something better.
- Location
- Germany
[X] Those are graves and if somebody cares enough to make them, they might also care enough to visit them in the future. Desecrating them now both lowers our chance of capturing them in the future by giving them a warning to run away and tips them off that there's something more in the forrest than just mindless ghouls.
Well, turns out this is more or less the same as what Kreen posted while I was typing all of this up with the little bit extra of potentially compromising the secrecy of the necromancer's army.
The only other idea I have is coming clean about this being Ythona's hometown and claiming she made those graves. There's a very real chance Fleshrender would still desecrate them out of spite, but at least it would take the heat of the other wigths and the gravemaker, so there's at a trade off here to make a choice about.
The problem is that Ythona already denied having seen them before, so I'm not sure if that's still a valid write in? I guess we could further wrinaggle the truth by claiming we kept mum out of fear he'd mess with them to spite us? I'd still like QM confirmation that it'd be a valid vote before I commit to it though.
That aside, I can definetly see what Bell meant that our group could be a proper team if not for the shadow of Fleshrender hanging over all of us. Things are strained for now, but I can see the potential to turn them around.
Well, turns out this is more or less the same as what Kreen posted while I was typing all of this up with the little bit extra of potentially compromising the secrecy of the necromancer's army.
The only other idea I have is coming clean about this being Ythona's hometown and claiming she made those graves. There's a very real chance Fleshrender would still desecrate them out of spite, but at least it would take the heat of the other wigths and the gravemaker, so there's at a trade off here to make a choice about.
The problem is that Ythona already denied having seen them before, so I'm not sure if that's still a valid write in? I guess we could further wrinaggle the truth by claiming we kept mum out of fear he'd mess with them to spite us? I'd still like QM confirmation that it'd be a valid vote before I commit to it though.
That aside, I can definetly see what Bell meant that our group could be a proper team if not for the shadow of Fleshrender hanging over all of us. Things are strained for now, but I can see the potential to turn them around.
DoobleDeeDooble
Please read me again sometime.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It would be a valid vote. It would be an in-character stumble, not a continuity error. And you already have at least one idea for how Ythona (hopefully) could get past that fumble.
Ythona can lie, contradict herself, be too honest, make a bigger problem for herself later, or any number of other things. It would make sense if Ythona doesn't come up with a perfect solution here, in one way or another; she's put herself on the spot. It's up to you all what kind of mistakes she makes or risks she takes, or if she manages to avoid any in a stroke of brilliance.
And beyond just the specific thing she says, it's up to you the overall kind of tact she takes. The wording in the post is leading a bit, but that's just Ythona's mind racing. If someone has an idea for what to say that accomplishes the goal, that's a valid write-in; even if it isn't providing a reason that "hurts your goal". That was probably clear, but I imagine it can't hurt to say, if I'm weighing in anyways.
In general, a write-in can walk Ythona into a corner and leave her to get out of it in the post itself. It can also try and anticipate potential issues and suggest responses. It's up to the people doing the writing in how much to specify in the vote itself. I don't imagine anyone is going to go overboard on that, but I suppose the relevant word of caution is that a particularly in-depth plan might not survive much contact with the context.
Ythona can lie, contradict herself, be too honest, make a bigger problem for herself later, or any number of other things. It would make sense if Ythona doesn't come up with a perfect solution here, in one way or another; she's put herself on the spot. It's up to you all what kind of mistakes she makes or risks she takes, or if she manages to avoid any in a stroke of brilliance.
And beyond just the specific thing she says, it's up to you the overall kind of tact she takes. The wording in the post is leading a bit, but that's just Ythona's mind racing. If someone has an idea for what to say that accomplishes the goal, that's a valid write-in; even if it isn't providing a reason that "hurts your goal". That was probably clear, but I imagine it can't hurt to say, if I'm weighing in anyways.
In general, a write-in can walk Ythona into a corner and leave her to get out of it in the post itself. It can also try and anticipate potential issues and suggest responses. It's up to the people doing the writing in how much to specify in the vote itself. I don't imagine anyone is going to go overboard on that, but I suppose the relevant word of caution is that a particularly in-depth plan might not survive much contact with the context.
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
I think it's better to avoid mentioning that these are supposed to be graves, mainly because Fleshrender is a spiteful bully who'll want to ruin the place regardless of practicality just so he can get back at the human by ruining a place of emotional significance.
Instead, let's just say that it reminds Ythona of a landmark humans use for navigation so we're liable to catch someone if we just stake the place out and show no signs of it being disturbed. It'll be technically true too.
Instead, let's just say that it reminds Ythona of a landmark humans use for navigation so we're liable to catch someone if we just stake the place out and show no signs of it being disturbed. It'll be technically true too.
- Location
- Germany
Alright, in that case I think I'm going to go with the idea. It's far from perfect, but so is the one alternative we currently have. If it comes down to it, I'm gonna chose the living (undead included) over the dead.
Although, it might not help with Bonecrusher feeling like we're clinging too much to the past, but it's pretty natural a created wigth would have a different mindset on the matter than one with memories of their old life. Then again, mourning can help with moving on.
[X] Confess that this is your hometown and claim that you made the graves yourself. You just didn't want anybody to know about it so that you can put closure to your old life and move on to your new life.
-[X] If anybody questions how you managed to get the work done, claim you had the ghouls handle some of the work, but don't draw any more attention to the problem than necessary.
It's not even like the argument guarantees that Fleshrender leaves the graves alone. It's entirely possible he kicks them over to make a point anyway and then just tells everybody to be be more on guard to catch them anyway.
Although, it might not help with Bonecrusher feeling like we're clinging too much to the past, but it's pretty natural a created wigth would have a different mindset on the matter than one with memories of their old life. Then again, mourning can help with moving on.
[X] Confess that this is your hometown and claim that you made the graves yourself. You just didn't want anybody to know about it so that you can put closure to your old life and move on to your new life.
-[X] If anybody questions how you managed to get the work done, claim you had the ghouls handle some of the work, but don't draw any more attention to the problem than necessary.
You're right that it's technically true and that's the problem. There's a very real chance that using our advice and making the graves a trap actually works and I don't think anyone of us wants to find ourselves in a situation where the grave visitors being captured is at least partially our fault.
It's not even like the argument guarantees that Fleshrender leaves the graves alone. It's entirely possible he kicks them over to make a point anyway and then just tells everybody to be be more on guard to catch them anyway.
LucidProp
Pocky Eating MafiaDoka
It's better than saying Ythona made the graves and that the village is of great emotional significance to her. Saying that to Fleshrender just means he has even greater incentive to ruin the graves and Ythona's hometown considering he's both angry and has it out for her.
I'd take a chance over a gurantee in this case.
[X] Explain that you recognize them as navigation markers. It's better to leave them untouched while someone watches over it so the humans won't suspect they've been found out. You can ambush them this way.
Chances are, the human won't return anytime soon. This was more a way to mourn and get some closure. I doubt they'll make repeat visits since they already got what they wanted, especially after how close they were to getting eaten the first time.
[X] Explain that you recognize them as navigation markers. It's better to leave them untouched while someone watches over it so the humans won't suspect they've been found out. You can ambush them this way.
[X] "People come back to visit grave markers, sooner or later. If we disturb the grave, whoever left it will know it's been found. If we leave it be, maybe we can trap whoever came by when they come back."
This isn't a great solution I feel, but I can't think of anything better, and I don't believe that we can say they're navigation markers, the chances that literally none of the other wights can recognise a grave marker seems rather low to me, but perhaps I'm wrong.
Edit:
[X] "They're evidence; by investigating these things, maybe we can figure out who made them and why, and if we do that maybe we can track them down."
This option is also one I can see working at least a little.
This isn't a great solution I feel, but I can't think of anything better, and I don't believe that we can say they're navigation markers, the chances that literally none of the other wights can recognise a grave marker seems rather low to me, but perhaps I'm wrong.
Edit:
[X] "They're evidence; by investigating these things, maybe we can figure out who made them and why, and if we do that maybe we can track them down."
This option is also one I can see working at least a little.
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[X] "People come back to visit grave markers, sooner or later. If we disturb the grave, whoever left it will know it's been found. If we leave it be, maybe we can trap whoever came by when they come back."
I can't help but feel all of these are dangerous, but I've nothing better, so it's not as if I have room to criticise.
I can't help but feel all of these are dangerous, but I've nothing better, so it's not as if I have room to criticise.
- Pronouns
- He
[X] Explain that you recognize them as navigation markers. It's better to leave them untouched while someone watches over it so the humans won't suspect they've been found out. You can ambush them this way.