- Pronouns
- They/Them
Fixed, thanks.
And boy isn't that #problematic as tumblr would put it.
Gravedigger Quest
- Thread starter Renu
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- The state of Paranoia
Hmmm. It would be nice if we could ask Lucilia what she's heard about the 'surprise' that's coming up. After all, she's a talky character, whose main strength and role in a party is all about talking to people. This is a school that thinks of throwing children into combat where most of them will die is a great way to weed out the ones they don't want to teach. There's no way Lucilia hasn't been talking to the older students about what to expect and when. She's probably found out strategies for survival that older students used, or which older cloaks pass down from year to so that their cute little Kouhais are more likely to survive. This kind of information is a matter of life and death in this school, especially for someone like her who isn't specialized for combat and thus needs a party who is willing to back her up.
Unfortunately, the current conversation with her doesn't seem very conducive to asking her about the surprise. Maybe at the end if things go well she'll think of it and be like "oh yeah, speaking of dead bodies, Lirra, you should probably be prepared for X in a couple of weeks. We should totally team up so neither of us dies horribly."
Unfortunately, the current conversation with her doesn't seem very conducive to asking her about the surprise. Maybe at the end if things go well she'll think of it and be like "oh yeah, speaking of dead bodies, Lirra, you should probably be prepared for X in a couple of weeks. We should totally team up so neither of us dies horribly."
Uh, this is intended behavior, most people do approval voting ONLY if the GM specifically allow it and they don't need to go back and forth deleting posts and generally making for a hard to track mess.
Is there a way out? The truth comes out!
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] [action] Go to Lucilia
[X] [shopping] 30 Creideats - Buy the bandages (enough for 3 light wounds or 1 severe wound)
[X] [shopping] 30 Creideats - Buy the mithridates (enough for 4 uses)
-----------------------
"No, no, no, no..." Lirra paced on the polished floor of her inn room, panicked. "She knows… she knows and I didn't tell her, she'll… she'll..."
Lirra had idly entertained the thought of maybe telling Lucilia of her nature at some point, but not so soon, or - if she had to be entirely honest - ever, actually. She enjoyed the company of the bard, so full of life and cheer, and was deathly afraid of losing it just like she lost all the people she loved.
"If she hates me… what do I do? Perhaps she didn't actually realize and I'm panicking for nothing? No… no, she knows… what to do..." she cried out as she passed her hands on her face. "I must go see her and explain. That way I'll know, at least, and… and if she still chooses to hate me..."
She put her face in her hands again and let out a long whine. After some time, she raised her head, wiped her eyes and took a determined step in the direction of the door. The following steps faltered as she neared, but still she continued. She pulled her hood up and opened the door, then walked hesitantly to Lucilia's room. She raised her hand to knock and stilled.
"It's been some time… perhaps she's asleep? Maybe I should wait until tomorrow." She was halfway to turning away before she forced herself to stop.
She had to stop making excuses for not doing something that could be painful. Hiding her head in the sand would change nothing, but facing this? This could fix things, or at least make them not as bad as they would be otherwise.
Lirra could still hear the merriment outside, music and laughter filtering through the windows. Just some time ago, she was there, amidst the revelry, and with Lucilia. It all felt so distant now.
She took a breath and, at last, rapped her knuckles against the door.
There was no answer.
As a matter of fact, things seemed even more silent than before.
Lirra still waited for a bit, puffed her cheeks and tried again. She didn't want to do it either, so if she couldn't run away, neither could Lucilia.
It was by the time that she was contemplating simply breaking the door down - which might have happened anyway given her knocking became more and more intense each time - that an answer came.
"Fine, fine, just come in already." It was slurred and muted by the oaken door that just got unlocked, very different from Lucilia's usually elegant tone.
The bard didn't wait for Lirra to come in and just stumbled back to her chair near the window as the Changeling made her way in. A small wooden table stood next to it, and Lirra could see several empty bottles alongside one well on its way, as well as another one waiting for its turn. A few of the finished ones had fallen on the plush carpet and none had contained wine, but something much stronger.
Lucilia reached a lazy hand to the opened bottle, filled a glass and drank it in one go before finally turning to Lirra, face flushed. Her hair was mostly down and falling messily on her face. She didn't look anything like the elegant young woman the Changeling had come to know. The realisation of Lirra's nature apparently had severely impacted her.
"I really hoped you wouldn't come," Lucilia finally said, putting down her glass clumsily. "I just need some time to… you know."
She emptied the first bottle in her glass and made to drink it before Lirra came and put a hand on hers to stop her.
"Lucilia, please, I don't… I'm sorry," she said, the words rushing one over the other.
"There's..." Lucilia tried to pull her glass free in vain before she abandoned and let her hand fall off the side of the table, or it would have if Lirra wasn't holding it. "There's nothing to apologize for."
The bard lifted her other hand to put it on Lirra's cheek, and after a few tries, she managed to do it, lidded eyes looking up from her seated position.
"I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry, oh I'm so sorry," Lucilia started to ramble, her usually fresh breath stinking of alcohol. "Oh, how I love you, my dearest..."
"W-what?!" Lirra felt her cheeks blaze red at that.
"... Aurora..." And with that, Lucilia's head lolled to the side and it seemed she fell asleep on Lirra's flank.
Lirra stood still for a bit, still holding the bard's hand and feeling the weight of her head on her belly.
"Who the hell is Aurora?" she finally wondered aloud, confused. She poked Lucilia's cheek. "Lucilia?"
There was no answer, only a vague repeating of "I'm sorry" as she talked in her sleep, her hand clenching Lirra's tight. This… definitely wasn't what she was expecting coming in. Guilt gnawed at her. She didn't want to see Lucilia like this, and yet this was her fault that she was like that.
"Well, let's get you to the bed first," she finally said, pushing it back to deal with the current situation.
She carefully, pulled her out of her chair, doing her best not to make any bottle fall off then pulled her up. It would have been much simpler if she could free her hand, but Lucilia's grip was tight, and more importantly, the bard's sleep talking grew panicked each time she tried to pull away.
After some effort, Lucilia was in her bed and Lirra readjusted the bard's shirt before pulling her sheets up. Then she waited.
Eventually, the sounds of cheer outside died down as the crowd went back home. Lucilia still didn't stir, although her sleep seemed more calm now, as opposed to her earlier alcohol fueled feverish apologies.
Alone in the gloom, no longer distracted by the songs outside, Lirra could only think. Was this how Lucilia usually was when alone? Or was it her fault? She couldn't tell which option was worse, but she hoped it was the latter. If it was, she just had one more thing to feel guilty about. If it wasn't… this was no way to live for Lucilia. She'd come to apologize and explain her situation to the bard, but in the end she'd been apologized to - or was she? Drunk as she was, did Lucilia even realize who she was speaking to? - and was left with many questions about the other girl.
Among them, the identity of that Aurora. She could gather that she likely was Lucilia's lover, but it was the first time she'd heard of her, and this asked the question of why Lucilia was here. She doubted you'd go to the Academy if you had someone waiting for you, given the risks. If they still lived in the harsher times of the past where fighting monsters was a question of survival, she'd understand wanting to protect her beloved, but nowadays someone as rich as the bard likely was didn't need to go to such lengths to do that.
Eventually, Lirra must have drifted off, because she woke up hearing Lucilia groan. Her hood had been pulled off and there was an arm around her head. Lucilia had moved in her sleep and hugged the half of the Changeling that was on the bed. Everything had been fine until another move had her prick herself on a horn, leading to both of them waking up.
"Urgh… water… need… drink..." Lucilia's voice was hoarse as she stumbled around for something to alleviate her head splitting hangover.
Her hands finally free, Lirra hurried to bring her something to drink. Once she drank, the bard finally looked around, her eyes finally falling on Lirra, or rather her uncovered ashen hair.
"Oh, right… damn it." She passed a hand on her face. "So much for pretending nothing happened or actually forgetting it."
She walked unsteadily to the mound of empty bottles and reached for the lone unopened one.
"Um… Lucilia!" Lirra half shouted, making the bard wince. "You… you shouldn't. Please, let's sit down and just… just talk, all right?"
The bard sighs and lets herself fall on the bed.
"I don't know what there is to talk about, Lirra. You're a Gravedigger and I… guess I could have taken it better."
"No, it's… it's my fault. I should have told you earlier, but I was afraid that… I didn't want to be alone." Again, was left silent.
"No, you shouldn't. I'm… Everyone has an idea of what Gravediggers are like, and without actually knowing you, well… let's just say you're very different from- from what you'd think they are." She cut herself before continuing a bit louder.
There was a moment of silence as they both thought on that.
"So… is there… um..." Lirra nervously played with a strand of hair. "I didn't think it'd go like that. I, I mean, I'm happy you don't… you know, hate me - you don't, right?"
Lucilia, still a bit unsteady, crossed the bed on all fours and pulled her in a hug.
"No, I don't, you idiot." Despite her smell and mannerisms still being a bit off, at least she sounded more like herself now. "I just need a bit of time to adjust. I had..." She stops for a bit, hesitating. "I had a bad experience with one of your kind before," she finally let out, her arms tensing as she said it.
"Oh." That was all that Lirra could think of saying.
"It was… it's still hard for me to talk about it, but I think I should tell you about it, since you… well, now that you don't hide your hair, you remind of of both the Gravedigger and… and her."
"Aurora?" Lirra asks hesitantly.
Given how Lucilia tensed at the name, she guessed right.
"Where did you- Ah. Of course." Lucilia turned to glare at the pile of bottles. "Yes, you remind me of… of her." She very deliberately avoided saying the name, her voice trembling.
[] Just what she feels comfortable telling
[] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
[] She doesn't need to force herself
So the "play as Lucilia" (it'll be for the events in the past, to be sure there's no confusion) vote is an experiment. If it wins and the result is good, I might use it more. I dunno.
Ah, also, since I wanted to do it but it broke the flow:Gravedigger and Changeling
I love ruby tags.
[X] [shopping] 30 Creideats - Buy the bandages (enough for 3 light wounds or 1 severe wound)
[X] [shopping] 30 Creideats - Buy the mithridates (enough for 4 uses)
-----------------------
"No, no, no, no..." Lirra paced on the polished floor of her inn room, panicked. "She knows… she knows and I didn't tell her, she'll… she'll..."
Lirra had idly entertained the thought of maybe telling Lucilia of her nature at some point, but not so soon, or - if she had to be entirely honest - ever, actually. She enjoyed the company of the bard, so full of life and cheer, and was deathly afraid of losing it just like she lost all the people she loved.
"If she hates me… what do I do? Perhaps she didn't actually realize and I'm panicking for nothing? No… no, she knows… what to do..." she cried out as she passed her hands on her face. "I must go see her and explain. That way I'll know, at least, and… and if she still chooses to hate me..."
She put her face in her hands again and let out a long whine. After some time, she raised her head, wiped her eyes and took a determined step in the direction of the door. The following steps faltered as she neared, but still she continued. She pulled her hood up and opened the door, then walked hesitantly to Lucilia's room. She raised her hand to knock and stilled.
"It's been some time… perhaps she's asleep? Maybe I should wait until tomorrow." She was halfway to turning away before she forced herself to stop.
She had to stop making excuses for not doing something that could be painful. Hiding her head in the sand would change nothing, but facing this? This could fix things, or at least make them not as bad as they would be otherwise.
Lirra could still hear the merriment outside, music and laughter filtering through the windows. Just some time ago, she was there, amidst the revelry, and with Lucilia. It all felt so distant now.
She took a breath and, at last, rapped her knuckles against the door.
There was no answer.
As a matter of fact, things seemed even more silent than before.
Lirra still waited for a bit, puffed her cheeks and tried again. She didn't want to do it either, so if she couldn't run away, neither could Lucilia.
It was by the time that she was contemplating simply breaking the door down - which might have happened anyway given her knocking became more and more intense each time - that an answer came.
"Fine, fine, just come in already." It was slurred and muted by the oaken door that just got unlocked, very different from Lucilia's usually elegant tone.
The bard didn't wait for Lirra to come in and just stumbled back to her chair near the window as the Changeling made her way in. A small wooden table stood next to it, and Lirra could see several empty bottles alongside one well on its way, as well as another one waiting for its turn. A few of the finished ones had fallen on the plush carpet and none had contained wine, but something much stronger.
Lucilia reached a lazy hand to the opened bottle, filled a glass and drank it in one go before finally turning to Lirra, face flushed. Her hair was mostly down and falling messily on her face. She didn't look anything like the elegant young woman the Changeling had come to know. The realisation of Lirra's nature apparently had severely impacted her.
"I really hoped you wouldn't come," Lucilia finally said, putting down her glass clumsily. "I just need some time to… you know."
She emptied the first bottle in her glass and made to drink it before Lirra came and put a hand on hers to stop her.
"Lucilia, please, I don't… I'm sorry," she said, the words rushing one over the other.
"There's..." Lucilia tried to pull her glass free in vain before she abandoned and let her hand fall off the side of the table, or it would have if Lirra wasn't holding it. "There's nothing to apologize for."
The bard lifted her other hand to put it on Lirra's cheek, and after a few tries, she managed to do it, lidded eyes looking up from her seated position.
"I'm the one who should apologize. I'm sorry, oh I'm so sorry," Lucilia started to ramble, her usually fresh breath stinking of alcohol. "Oh, how I love you, my dearest..."
"W-what?!" Lirra felt her cheeks blaze red at that.
"... Aurora..." And with that, Lucilia's head lolled to the side and it seemed she fell asleep on Lirra's flank.
Lirra stood still for a bit, still holding the bard's hand and feeling the weight of her head on her belly.
"Who the hell is Aurora?" she finally wondered aloud, confused. She poked Lucilia's cheek. "Lucilia?"
There was no answer, only a vague repeating of "I'm sorry" as she talked in her sleep, her hand clenching Lirra's tight. This… definitely wasn't what she was expecting coming in. Guilt gnawed at her. She didn't want to see Lucilia like this, and yet this was her fault that she was like that.
"Well, let's get you to the bed first," she finally said, pushing it back to deal with the current situation.
She carefully, pulled her out of her chair, doing her best not to make any bottle fall off then pulled her up. It would have been much simpler if she could free her hand, but Lucilia's grip was tight, and more importantly, the bard's sleep talking grew panicked each time she tried to pull away.
After some effort, Lucilia was in her bed and Lirra readjusted the bard's shirt before pulling her sheets up. Then she waited.
Eventually, the sounds of cheer outside died down as the crowd went back home. Lucilia still didn't stir, although her sleep seemed more calm now, as opposed to her earlier alcohol fueled feverish apologies.
Alone in the gloom, no longer distracted by the songs outside, Lirra could only think. Was this how Lucilia usually was when alone? Or was it her fault? She couldn't tell which option was worse, but she hoped it was the latter. If it was, she just had one more thing to feel guilty about. If it wasn't… this was no way to live for Lucilia. She'd come to apologize and explain her situation to the bard, but in the end she'd been apologized to - or was she? Drunk as she was, did Lucilia even realize who she was speaking to? - and was left with many questions about the other girl.
Among them, the identity of that Aurora. She could gather that she likely was Lucilia's lover, but it was the first time she'd heard of her, and this asked the question of why Lucilia was here. She doubted you'd go to the Academy if you had someone waiting for you, given the risks. If they still lived in the harsher times of the past where fighting monsters was a question of survival, she'd understand wanting to protect her beloved, but nowadays someone as rich as the bard likely was didn't need to go to such lengths to do that.
Eventually, Lirra must have drifted off, because she woke up hearing Lucilia groan. Her hood had been pulled off and there was an arm around her head. Lucilia had moved in her sleep and hugged the half of the Changeling that was on the bed. Everything had been fine until another move had her prick herself on a horn, leading to both of them waking up.
"Urgh… water… need… drink..." Lucilia's voice was hoarse as she stumbled around for something to alleviate her head splitting hangover.
Her hands finally free, Lirra hurried to bring her something to drink. Once she drank, the bard finally looked around, her eyes finally falling on Lirra, or rather her uncovered ashen hair.
"Oh, right… damn it." She passed a hand on her face. "So much for pretending nothing happened or actually forgetting it."
She walked unsteadily to the mound of empty bottles and reached for the lone unopened one.
"Um… Lucilia!" Lirra half shouted, making the bard wince. "You… you shouldn't. Please, let's sit down and just… just talk, all right?"
The bard sighs and lets herself fall on the bed.
"I don't know what there is to talk about, Lirra. You're a Gravedigger and I… guess I could have taken it better."
"No, it's… it's my fault. I should have told you earlier, but I was afraid that… I didn't want to be alone." Again, was left silent.
"No, you shouldn't. I'm… Everyone has an idea of what Gravediggers are like, and without actually knowing you, well… let's just say you're very different from- from what you'd think they are." She cut herself before continuing a bit louder.
There was a moment of silence as they both thought on that.
"So… is there… um..." Lirra nervously played with a strand of hair. "I didn't think it'd go like that. I, I mean, I'm happy you don't… you know, hate me - you don't, right?"
Lucilia, still a bit unsteady, crossed the bed on all fours and pulled her in a hug.
"No, I don't, you idiot." Despite her smell and mannerisms still being a bit off, at least she sounded more like herself now. "I just need a bit of time to adjust. I had..." She stops for a bit, hesitating. "I had a bad experience with one of your kind before," she finally let out, her arms tensing as she said it.
"Oh." That was all that Lirra could think of saying.
"It was… it's still hard for me to talk about it, but I think I should tell you about it, since you… well, now that you don't hide your hair, you remind of of both the Gravedigger and… and her."
"Aurora?" Lirra asks hesitantly.
Given how Lucilia tensed at the name, she guessed right.
"Where did you- Ah. Of course." Lucilia turned to glare at the pile of bottles. "Yes, you remind me of… of her." She very deliberately avoided saying the name, her voice trembling.
[] Just what she feels comfortable telling
[] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
[] She doesn't need to force herself
So the "play as Lucilia" (it'll be for the events in the past, to be sure there's no confusion) vote is an experiment. If it wins and the result is good, I might use it more. I dunno.
Ah, also, since I wanted to do it but it broke the flow:
I love ruby tags.
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- Location
- The state of Paranoia
[X] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
Let's find out how this new mechanic works!
Since I finally got here shortly after an update dropped, I'm just gonna put out an advertisement for what I want our course of action to be after this is over:
M. A. G. I. C.
We saved Chloe in the forest, but we've barely talked with her since then. We have access to magic, but we don't know what kind of magic will be best for us, because we have no idea what each type of magic does! Therefore, I want to kill two birds with one stone. We should talk to Chloe about magic, in order to get a general idea of what each kind of magic does. Even better, this is probably the kind of topic that will bring Chloe out of her shell, since she has a lot of knowledge about it and is likely to be very passionate about it.
Vote Chloe 2019!
Or 2020...
Or really just whenever we get to the vote for tomorrow...
Edit:
For reference, here is the format of the vote that I will be using once we are in a situation where we can vote for it:
[] To try to learn about magic from Chloe
- [] That telepathy spell she used when we first met was really neat. If she would rather use that to talk, you wouldn't mind another demonstration.
-- [] About Elemental magic
-- [] About Illusion magic
-- [] About Alteration magic
-- [] About Mind magic
-- [] About Creation magic
-- [] About Forbidden magic
-- [] Are there any spells that Swords often take to defend themselves better or help their attacks slay enemies more easily?
-- [] Are there any spells that would let us communicate with each other when we aren't near each other?
If anyone has any suggestions for how to improve a Chloe vote, I'd love to hear them!
Let's find out how this new mechanic works!
Since I finally got here shortly after an update dropped, I'm just gonna put out an advertisement for what I want our course of action to be after this is over:
M. A. G. I. C.
We saved Chloe in the forest, but we've barely talked with her since then. We have access to magic, but we don't know what kind of magic will be best for us, because we have no idea what each type of magic does! Therefore, I want to kill two birds with one stone. We should talk to Chloe about magic, in order to get a general idea of what each kind of magic does. Even better, this is probably the kind of topic that will bring Chloe out of her shell, since she has a lot of knowledge about it and is likely to be very passionate about it.
Vote Chloe 2019!
Or 2020...
Or really just whenever we get to the vote for tomorrow...
Edit:
For reference, here is the format of the vote that I will be using once we are in a situation where we can vote for it:
[] To try to learn about magic from Chloe
- [] That telepathy spell she used when we first met was really neat. If she would rather use that to talk, you wouldn't mind another demonstration.
-- [] About Elemental magic
-- [] About Illusion magic
-- [] About Alteration magic
-- [] About Mind magic
-- [] About Creation magic
-- [] About Forbidden magic
-- [] Are there any spells that Swords often take to defend themselves better or help their attacks slay enemies more easily?
-- [] Are there any spells that would let us communicate with each other when we aren't near each other?
If anyone has any suggestions for how to improve a Chloe vote, I'd love to hear them!
Last edited:
- Location
- St. Petersburg
Huh. I didn't think Lucilia would actually take an issue with us being a Gravedigger. A bad experience, eh? Sounds like she lost Aurora... to a plague, perhaps? Why else would it involve a Keeper? Was it a burial turned bad? Did the Gravedigger take her loved one's echo and Lucilla couldn't bear the reminder?
[x] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
I think I am up for a PoV change and a full story.
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globalwarmth
ruining the weather.
- Location
- Polar ice caps
[x] Just what she feels comfortable telling
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Thanks for the typo, as always.
TaliesinSkye
Occasional Editor
- Location
- Northeast Ohio, United States
I loved the chapter! How did you do the Ruby tags?
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[ ruby=cool stuff in several words]WORD[/ ruby] without the spaces
NaanContributor
Provider of delicious flatbread, and nothing else.
- Location
- Hawaii
Another typo:
[x] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
I'm down for this mechanic you want to try out, as long as playing out Lucilia's backstory doesn't take too much time away from the main Quest-line.
[x] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
I'm down for this mechanic you want to try out, as long as playing out Lucilia's backstory doesn't take too much time away from the main Quest-line.
- Location
- Somewhere!
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Ask for the whole story (play as Lucilia)
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
[X] Just what she feels comfortable telling
- Location
- United States of America
[X] Just what she feels comfortable telling
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Huh, I don't actually know what's the correct word there. Revel? Reveling? Happy happy fun fun times?
[X] Just what she feels comfortable telling
I'd like to try out Lucilia-mode, but I don't feel comfortable asking her that.
Revelry, like Naan said.
I'd like to try out Lucilia-mode, but I don't feel comfortable asking her that.
Revelry, like Naan said.
- Location
- The state of Paranoia
Edit:
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Ah, right, I thought it was what I put. Fixed.
- Location
- United States
[X] Just what she feels comfortable telling
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
That's pretty cool