Lev Tahor

[Rickshaw]

*Awakens* Ah yes, I am well rested now and can properly answer any questi-

*Legitimately concerning questions regarding Tainted*

Click to shrink...

Oh, son of a motherless goat. Let me grab my notes.

Okay, while it was nowhere near as obvious as I wanted it to be, the only thing Mary did is put you in the humbler room. Den preemptively offered to open the tavern (i.e. wipe tables in the morning) out of his own concern that he might be kicked out. If I had been more awake, the conversation would have gone something like.

Den: So it turns out I have this Seal thing and I'm supposed to let you know.
Mary: Oh, alright. Well, I'm required to put you in separate housing by law, so you can have one of the side rooms across from mine. As a precaution, you should probably sit away from other customers so they don't notice my bard has a Seal. Actually, it might just be better off if-
Den: No, wait! Please don't kick me out!
Mary: Wha-
Den: I'll do anything! Anything at all! Just don't take away my music!
Mary: I didn't say a-
Den: I'll help you open in the mornings! I'll wipe down all of your tables while I'm here, for free! Just please, don't send me away...!
Mary: ...I was gonna say you should probably not tell anyone you're Tainted, but I'm not turning down free labor.
Mary: Okay kid you got yourself a deal.

But I was dead tired from 8 continuous hours of travel to sell a chair on Craigslist, plus filming for a project, and it was midnight when I began writing. My mind was, shall we say, absent.

Going to your actual questions, Mary would want to keep Den because booking another bard/entertainer in a city where most people musically inclined are indoctrinated into the church is a difficult task. So far in the story, both of the entertainers who have played in the Marching Mare have been foreigners. Might be a trend, might not be, you'd have to wait until the week is over and you're no longer the designated bard. And as a thing which I forgot to put down in the update, you do get tips from playing so you are earning money. There weren't a lot of customers there (Mondays are never very lively) but you got a few coins that made up for at least a day or two of your total rent. You are playing, mostly, to keep a roof over your head and earn a little extra, as your coffers are big enough for you to afford food and lodging for a time but not much more.

Going back to the post you made from a previous update, I am surprised that you connected a tourist trap with high class. It makes sense in hindsight, but I didn't make that connection since in my town, our "tourist trap" hotels are a block away from an adult store, a liquor shop, and a nightclub. Not obvious ones, but if you were to peek into the windows of the commercial center next to them you'd figure it out real fast. Just because something seems fancy and nice doesn't mean it isn't infected to the core with corruption. And hey, that's one of the themes of this story.

Your point about pricing was accurate though. I'd love to give you all exact numbers so that you could see relative values, but as I'm still fixing the kinks and editing coinage values to reflect a mix between "true value" money (the "bronze, silver, gold" trope) and a "representative value" system (using common metals to manufacture coins that symbolize certain monetary values despite not actually being worth that much). Suffice to say that I made edits to the monetary system in response.

If anyone has further story concerns, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be near a computer most of the day and should be able to answer questions that don't require me spoilerizing anything that should be addressed in-story.

 

[Rickshaw]

FADE IN:​

INT. SURVEILLANCE ROOM - NIGHT

Screens. Dozens of them, images floating in empty space. They fill the room, flickering from picture to picture, shifting between a dozen or so faces before stopping on one in particular.

On screen appears DEN, 21, dressed in a green jacket and red scarf. He has an average build, slightly taller than average, and wears a bone-claw NECKLACE. On his back is a worn MANDOLIN, and on his hip is a strange black device with multiple latches. He reads from a heavy TOME in a back corner of a tavern.

J.R. (O.S.)
Sir, we've found one.
​

Sitting on the floor, lit only by the myriad images around him is J.R., 20s, thin and wearing glasses. He twitches his head and the picture of Den expands, all others fading out of existence.

Behind the "hacker" appears FINLEY O.Z., 30, dressed in black military regalia and cloak. He squints.

FINLEY
Must you really keep it so dark in here?
​

He pulls a stone out of his jacket. It's clear crystal with a claw much like Den's inside.

FINLEY
Kindle.
​

The claw catches fire within the stone, casting a flickering glow across the room. It burns but is not consumed. J.R. squints in the increased light.

FINLEY
Alright, what's his story.
​

J.R. twitches again, creating more images with Den in various places such as taverns, libraries, and on the road.

J.R.
Twenty-one years of age, goes by the name of Den.
Little known of his origin, but he claims to come from
Hafenport, out east.

FINLEY
He's from the Fifth Empire?

J.R.
So he claims. No official records or paper trail until a
year ago, when he registered in Zoroaster as a mage.

FINLEY
A fake name, then. Out of curiosity, what School did
he specialize in?

J.R.
(beat)
Harmonic.

FINLEY
(flatly)
So he's a bard.

J.R.
Correct. Does this information bring back any
memories, Mr. Oz?

FINLEY
Correlation does not equal causation, J.R. My
situation was... unique. Give me more to work
with, here.

J.R.
Of course, sir.
​

The images move around, showing a live view of Den as he clasps the TOME to the black device on his hip, which latches to the book and holds it tight. Pictures of Den on the steps to a giant library and amongst ancient ruins are shown.

J.R.
After studying for some time in Zoroaster, where he got
that Tome he carries, Den traveled east to the Nomad
Ruins. This is presumably to look into Demonic Magic,
as he left the place with the Demon's Necklace he
currently wears.

FINLEY
So, he's looking for something. Some kind of magic, but
what for?​

Images of ANNA, 20, an average-height, blue-haired woman dressed in religious attire appear. A few images of Den and her interacting in a clinic of some sort are seen.

J.R.
When he appeared in Zak at the Temple City, he
partook in some sort of ritual which affected him deeply.
Afterward, this woman was seen taking care of him. He
revealed to her that he seeks some kind of magic to
return him to Hafenport.
​

Finley looks momentarily alarmed, before schooling his expression.

FINLEY
Return by magic? You were right to bring this to my
attention. Tell me, what do we know of the girl?

J.R.
She told Den that her name is Anna. Beyond that,
we have no record of her. She is no one of import
and seems to spend all of her time in that Church
of theirs, which we do not monitor regularly.

FINLEY
I've never been there myself, but even when
I lived in Zoroaster I'd heard of the Temple
Synagogue. It would be wise of you to keep an
eye on it. The girl, too. She is connected to him,
somehow. If he truly desires to become a Traveler
and return to the Fifth Empire, we must be ready
for him.

J.R.
Yes, sir.
​

The images collapse, and the room goes dark except for the light from the stone in Finley's hand. For a moment the flame grows brighter, filling the crystal with hellfire that strains against the rocky confines of its prison. It crackles for a moment with black lightning, seeming to siphon the darkness of the room into itself...

FINLEY
Extinguish.
​

The flame abruptly flickers out. There is DARKNESS, the tapping of FOOTSTEPS, and then LIGHT from a doorway as Finley exits the room, leaving J.R. alone.

A single screen appears before him, revealing a feed of Den finishing his breakfast. Besides it, another image appears, this one of scrawling white text against a black background. There are dozens of small pictures aligned along the left side within this greater image, one of a demon trapped in a strange-multisided prism, and another of some sort of carapaced creature.

A keyboard appears before J.R. and he types away. When he is done, he hits a button and the keys disappear. Suddenly, the image before him alters, and a new line of text appears at the bottom:

Spoiler

JACOB RICKSHAW
Votes, people.​

 

[Rickshaw]

Three total votes. Majority of 2. Good enough for now.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[x] Investigate the Taint
-[x] Guards

Day 2
Midday

The sun had crested the walls of Temple City some time ago. The blazing flame in the sky coats the streets with a layer of warmth otherwise impossible this far north. You appreciate the small reprieve from the chill as you make your way towards the wall, hopefully where some of Temple City's finest can give you the information you need.

The Taint, as far as you know, is some affliction. People with one can cast Spiritual Magic, but not everyone who can cast Spiritual Magic has one. You assume it's some form of corruption, and the city has a sort of quarantine upon those infected to prevent its spread and manage its severity. Yet, the city has to manage that with being the center of study for Spiritual Magic, which attracts residents and foreigners alike who seek its secrets. Some, like you, might have a Taint, but not all of them. You're not certain how you got one in the first place, but you doubt it was while you were in Zak. Their rules against interacting with Tainted hint that it needs to spread to you first, and you barely interacted with anyone your first night here.
s h e g a v e i t t o y o u
Well, besides the Crown Princess of Zoroaster and her Knight. You doubt they gave it to you, but it's possible. It might be like some diseases you knew, dormant until some stimulus activated them. Some signal that activates that desire to consume.
s h e d i r t i e d y o u
Whatever it was, the City had stringent rules which applied to the Tainted, and it was in your best interest to understand them. It was this logic which had you moving towards the guards stationed at the gate. At your approach, they seem to straighten and their stances shift. All but one moves a hand to rest on a weapon of some sort, not obviously hostile but ready to act in a moment. The one who kept his hands free approaches you, the Synagogue's bright symbol emblazoned on his chest. He wore a metal brimmed hat that doubled as armor and shade.

"Is there something you need, citizen?" His calm expression seems forced.

You nod. "Yeah, I got my Screening done yesterday and, well-"

"A Screening is never wrong," The soldier interrupts you, looking far more serious. "So if you are about to ask me to open the gates for you, you will have to remove your shirt, and if you are found to harbor a Seal then I will have to arrest you for an attempted containment penetration. You will be brought before the Temple Court and they shall judge and punish you."

You blink. "Um, what? People actually tried that?"

He nods. "Yesterday, a Tainted attempted to leave the city, disguised as a foreign merchant. He was unsuccessful."

You swallow. Well, that's not ominous. "I'm just here to ask about the laws regarding Tainted." You motion to yourself. "I came from Zoroaster day before last, looking to study Magic. I have no intention of leaving before I learn all I can."

The guard shakes his head in approval. He turns to the others behind him. "At ease," he calls. They all seem to relax, though you notice none of them take their hands from their weapons. He faces you again. "Tainted only have a few, simple legalities they must adhere to. The first is the most obvious, a Tainted is prohibited from leaving the city under any circumstance. Until the High Priest declares them Clean again, they must remain in Temple City."

"So, a Taint can be removed?" That surprised you more than it should have. If it truly was like a disease, that made sense.

The guard shakes his hand in a so-so gesture. "Hypothetically, yes. Historically, no. Most Tainted have chosen to remain in Temple City for one reason or another and eventually cut off contact with the Synagogue. As such, the High Priest has not declared anyone Cleaned so far in our history. I would highly suggest you remain in touch with the Synagogue if you decide you wish to leave."

Well, that's discouraging.

"The second rule is that Tainted cannot share living quarters with the Clean. This discourages the Taint from spreading. Inn's usually have separate rooms for Tainted because of this. And while it's not a legal mandate, Tainted are advised to distance themselves from Clean citizens in general. If that's not possible, it's suggested that Tainted make their status known, so citizens are aware and approach at their own risk. These aren't laws, but it seems to keep the spread of the Taint in check, and so it's heavily encouraged.

So the segregation is not entirely mandated, just enabled by the system. You have a feeling you've heard of something like this before, but the specific example escapes your memory.

"Finally, the third law is that Tainted must receive special approval for the study and practice of Spiritual Magic, as certain rituals will exacerbate the Taint. Obviously, it's suggested that any practice which affects the Taint be avoided, but most of them are rituals involved in Spiritual Magic and are therefore the Synagogue's prerogative to inform Tainted of." The soldier frowns. "Speaking of, if you were marked as Tainted, why were you not already briefed on this information?"

You chuckle nervously. "The Maiden in charge of letting me know was busy and only gave the basics to me. Speaking of which, she mentioned that Seal renewals were a requirement for Tainted."

The guard shakes his head. "If the Synagogue claims such, they haven't made it into law yet. I expect it wouldn't take long for that to change, especially since it makes sense to keep the Taints in check." He looks to the sky for a moment. You track his gaze to see the sun blazing directly above you. "I believe that's all I can answer on that front. Is there anything else you need?"

-:-:-;-:-:-​

You've still got a few hours left in the block. Anything you want to do in particular?

[] Keep talking to the Guard (Write-in)

[] Explore the City
-[] Choose a direction

[] Investigate the Taint
-[] Synagogue
-[] Locals

[] Other (Write-in)

 

[Rickshaw]

HAHAHA, I LIED. I spent the day preparing for travel instead of writing! MWA HA HA HA HA!
But seriously, I will be away from my workspace until the 28th, so expect infrequent updates through then. Hopefully, it won't be too restrictive on my writing time, but you never know.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[x]Investigate the Taint
-[x]Locals

Day 2
Midday

You wave the guards goodbye and head back to the tavern. It isn't very far, and looking up you see you've barely burned any daylight. You've still got the majority of the day ahead of you. Convenient!

Still, you wonder, is that all there is to being Tainted? While the guard had been helpful with giving you the legalities of your situation, you don't think that was the full picture. There's more than just law if that girl's explanation was anything to go by. There were things the Tainted had to endure beyond mandate. No way a guard would be completely aware of that or have any effect on it if they were. They only had as much control as the law gave them.

Therefore, the best way to learn more about the societal repercussions of your affliction was to ask someone who knew the society here well. And, hopefully, would refrain from teaching you the bigotry first-hand. A local who didn't care for the bias of her home. Sadly, there was really only one person you knew who fit that bill.

You step into the Marching Mare to find her in her usual spot, sitting behind the window reading another book. Before you've even stepped up to the counter, she's already set it down and facing your way.

"Good performance last night," she smiles. "And thank you for cleaning the tables. You've only been here two days and you're already proving to be such good help."

"Yeah, no problem." You rub your head nervously. "Um, can I talk to you about something?"

There's a hint of caution in her voice. "About what?"

"My, um," You glance around, making sure nobody is in earshot. "What would happen if people found out about my you-know-what?"

She gives you an odd look before glancing towards your chest. You're covered pretty well, but her gaze makes your Seal feel exposed. "Oh. Hold on." She stands and shifts through something on the other side of the wall. She pulls out a small sign that reads "On break, be back soon! <3" and steps out from behind the window. A moment later, she's standing beside you. "Let's go outside."

You follow her behind the tavern. For a building on one of the main avenues towards the Synagogue, it has a pretty sketchy back alley. Though, most back alleys are sketchy. They also make great escape routes, if you know their layout. Sadly, you don't. You should probably fix that at some point.

"Alright," Mary still wears her customer-service smile, even in a sketchy alleyway. "You asked about people figuring out you're Tainted, right?"

You nod. "I asked some guards about it, but they only gave me a few laws I needed to follow. The girl at the Synagogue who informed me of my Taint gave a few more things, and put it in harsher words."

She shrugs at you. "I haven't been to the Synagogue since I was a little girl, so I have no idea what they're saying about Taints anymore. Could you give me a run-down of what you know so far?"

You nod. "Laws are that Tainted can't leave the city, sleep in the same quarters as Clean, or study magic without Synagogue approval. The Maiden also told me that Tainted have to get their Seals renewed and let those around them know they're infected."

"Hm," She adopts a thoughtful look. "Laws are the same as I know, and the Holy Girl you met seems to have a pretty harsh, but not incorrect, view on the Tainted. That's to be expected, though. The holier-than-thou types who join that group tend to look down on anyone they see as less pure than them. The Tainted are either people to be pitied or persecuted to them."

You blink. "But she was Tainted." The innkeep looks at you, incredulous. "I'm serious! She had a Seal and everything."

"That's…" She seems confused but shrugs it off after a moment of thought. "Huh, she must have warned you from experience. She's not wrong to say Tainted are required to make themselves public, but it's not law and it's not walking down the streets shouting 'I've got a Taint, run away!' It's more…"

She bites her lip, thinking. "There's been a lot of prejudice against the Tainted for years. Ten years ago, the whole city was divided and about to come to blows. Taints were more obvious back then, they'd change people into something that looked human, but didn't act like it." She paused, looking into the distance. "The Synagogue would slap a Seal on them and shove them into the slums. Tell them not to mix with anyone else, not to leave because they were doomed to become monsters. They didn't like that very much. Just as the rioting started, a few houses were burnt to a crisp and we all thought that civil war was about to start, a priest came and stopped the whole thing." She shrugs. "No idea how he did it, but they gave him the post of High Priest for it. Since then he's been trying to change things, but he can't change the people." She looks at you.

"People are afraid of the Tainted. It's not that you have to scream out that you're Tainted, or even wear a sign that reveals it to everyone. But if someone gets close to you and they find out what you are? There are generations of people who remember what the Tainted used to become when they were outcasts. People feel betrayed, like they just found out they were friends with a murderer. So the general rule is to be upfront about it." She smiles softly at you. "Though you don't have to worry about me, you let me know almost immediately. And as long as you keep bringing me customers with your guitar, I could care less about what you are!"

You smile back. "It's a mandolin."

"See! I'm already less interested." She looks out towards the street. "Speaking of, I should probably get back to work. The customers you bring are only worth it if I'm there to take their money." She starts to head back.

"Wait!" You catch her just before she leaves. "What about the Seal Renewals?"

She shrugs. "I haven't been to the Synagogue since I was a little girl, remember? You'll have to ask someone there about it." And with that, she was gone.

You stand in the alley behind the Marching Mare, thinking. You still have an hour or so left before the sun reaches its zenith. Should you head to the Synagogue? You might be able to find some more info about the Taint there. Plus, you could get your Seal Renewals scheduled and started. Though, looking around, you could also go exploring through the city. Maybe you'll find something interesting? Or you could just stay here and study some more. You know, like the scholar you claimed you were. Alternatively, you could just take a nap. Decisions, decisions.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

One hour remains in the Midday segment. What shall you do?

[] Investigate the Taint
-[] Synagogue

[] Explore the City
-[] Random Direction
-[] Down the Alleyway

[] Study Like a Nerd (1d4 Research)
-[] Choose Stat to Improve

[] Sleep (Skip to…)
-[] Afternoon
-[] Evening
-[] Tomorrow (Cannot Skip Evening)

 

[Rickshaw]

Well, at least you guys are thorough in your investigations. Which is more than can be said for most fictional detectives. coughcoughDeckardcoughcough

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[x] Investigate the Taint
-[x] Synagogue

Day 2
Afternoon

You underestimated the amount of time it took to get to the Synagogue. The last time you were here, it was the cool of the morning, and it took you at least half an hour. Now, you're stumbling your way across the bridge at High Noon, and all your layers are working against you. That last hundred meters over the water feels like an eternity as you shamble towards the shining Temple before you. You barely even register the odd feeling of rushing water against your Seal when you cross the other side.

When you do finally make it in the foyer, the cool air feels like heaven. The stone, normally icy this far north, is soothing as your face meets the nearest wall and you blissfully slide into a heap against it. You stay there for a moment, simply appreciating the cold.

"Um, excuse me, sir?" A timid voice calls.

You contort to see a woman, dressed very similar to the Maiden who slept on your lap. She wore a black robe with long sleeves that hid her frame, and a black headdress that wasn't very successful at concealing her brown hair and wide hazel eyes. She smiles at- oh wait your head is upside-down, she's actually frowning. She looks very concerned.

"Are you alright, sir? You're sort of causing a scene."

You turn your head to see a few other visitors to the church are looking at you strangely. Oh god this is a public place, isn't it? You feel incredible heat rise to your cheeks as you lift yourself off the ground. "I-I'm fine, th-thank you," you manage to stutter out. "C-could you just point me to where I need to go for a Seal Renewal?"

The Maiden offers a pitying smile. "Of course. This way." She walks through a side door, you trailing a few steps behind.

As soon as you're out of the foyer you breathe a sigh of relief. What was wrong with you? Before you came here you used to be unflappable, and now you can barely handle an odd look in public or having a conversation turned on you. What was happening to you?
y o u b e c a m e w e a k
"So," the Maiden's soft voice shakes you out of your reverie. "How long have you had your Seal?"

"Only since yesterday," you reply easily. "I just got in town and realized I needed a Screening to study magic. Turned out I had a Taint and I was told I needed to come schedule some renewals for the Seal."

You almost run into the girl, whom you realize is barely up to your nose in height. "Oh?" Her voice doesn't sound soft anymore. If anything, you'd almost describe it as predatory. "You got your Seal yesterday, huh? Tell me, did you meet a young Maiden with blue hair while you were here, by chance?"

You blink. "Uh, yeah. She took care of me while I was unconscious after the Screening. Filled me in on the basics." You can see her shoulders shaking. "Is everything alri-"

"OhmygodyouretheboyAnnatalkedaboutareyoureallyfromafarofflandcanyouplaymusicisthatamagicinstrumentwhatdoyouthinkaboutAnnadoyoulikehersheseemstolikeyouMaidenscanthavelovelivesbecausetheyresupposedtobepurebutthatgirlsspecialsinceshesalreadyTaintedsoIhavetolivevicariouslythroughher are you getting any of this?" She's grabbing you by the scarf, yanking her face way too close to yours, a nasty glimmer in her eye and a wild smile on her face. "Details man, give me details!"

"I-" What. "What?"
w h a t ?
"What, did you not hear what I said?" She huffs in annoyance. "Of course, the first guy she shows any interest in, and he can't even keep up with a few simple questions." She lets you go. "This is fine, this is fine, we can work with this."

"Work with wha-"

She claps her hands together, completely interrupting you. "Right! First, we need to get your renewal scheduled, and then gossip." She resumes walking, this time significantly faster.

"Wait, gossip? Who's interested in me?" You struggle to keep up with her without breaking into a jog. "Why do I feel like I'm being hustled?"

She slows down as you come to an intersection in the hallways. "Oh, my apologies. I'm Miriam." The Maiden collects herself and extends a hand. "I'm not normally this excitable but, well, Anna finding someone she can and wants talk to is the biggest piece of drama since Incident Number Two Hundred and Eighty-Seven."

A pause. You hesitantly take her hand. "Den. Wha-"

"I have taken a solemn oath never to speak of the event in detail." Dammit. "Now follow me so we can get your renewal scheduled." She continues her way down the winding corridor, you a few mere steps behind her.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

It is only an hour later that you exit Library Bet with a small note in your hand. A reminder that you have five days until your next renewal. The paperwork was rough, but you managed a weekly schedule with a certain Priest Loammi, who you'd meet when you returned for the ritual.

"About that gossip," Miriam, now much calmer than before, gives you a mischievous look. You gulp. "Anna said you're some kind of wizard with your instrument. Is that true?"

You nod. "I specialize in Harmonic Magic. It's part of the deal." Her eyes widen the slightest bit.

"I've never heard of that kind of Magic. Does that mean you're a mage?" She seems surprised when you nod. "And here I was thinking Anna was just being poetic, but you really did use magic to improve her mood, didn't you?"

You try to remember, "I just played her a song from home. Harmonic Magic amplifies the emotions of the musician onto his audience. Anything she felt was probably the lingering feelings she got from me. How do you know about that, anyway?"

Miriam smirks. "She told me." Really? "Well, I can't keep you here forever to give me gossip material. I have my own duties to get back to." She takes a single step down the hall. "Let me guide you back to the foyer."

"What do you do here in the Synagogue?" You try to spark some conversation after a minute or so of silence. "As a Maiden, that is."

"Me personally? I work in the kitchens and clean, mostly. I'm our top cook!" She smiles proudly. "It's quite fun, making meals and experimenting with all the different…"Damn it…

She continues on about the wonders of the culinary arts, but you're not listening anymore. Your pace slows as well, ignorant as she continues ahead, equally unaware of your lagging stride. What was that? you wonder.
Why did it have to be now, of all times?
Something… you can feel something. Something brushing on the edge of your mind.
It's okay, it'll be fine as long as they keep walking.
No, not your mind. You've felt magic that affected your mind, and this wasn't the same. This didn't brush against your consciousness in the same way. This went beyond that, or maybe around it? It felt like something was touching your core, in a way you could best describe as a push or a pull against your chest.
Move on, will you! Just go away!
The constant burning in your Seal lessens.
Shit, shit, shit, turn around, go away, go away go away go away!
You turn, looking down a side hall you don't remember being there a moment ago. Unlike lamp-lit corridor you stood in, no lights shined a way down this path. It faded into black a few mere steps in. There was something unnatural about that shadow, as though it were watching you intently. And beyond the shade, you knew, was whatever had reached out to you.
Oh, fuck me.
You just barely register the fading footsteps of Miriam, and you notice she's just about to round a corner down the hall. You nearly call out to her-HELP, HELP SOMEBODY HELP ME!

You stumble. You can feel it, the thing beyond the shadows. It's screaming, it's calling, calling for you. You feel something in your Seal like something is trying to break through.
Get off me, bitch!
You can't speak. You can't breathe. You can barely move. Your eyes dilate. Your stomach twists as though being punched.
Oh, God, God please help me! Somebody, anybody, please?
The shadows watch you, judging you. They dare you to choose, to pull back their veil or to walk away. You can feel it, you can feel them studying you, waiting for you to make your move.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

At the highest point of Temple Synagogue stands a solitary man, his arms raised to heaven. Upon his lips were the most ancient prayers of Zak, the supplication of the Old Tongue begging for salvation. The holiest of all words spoken in all of the world.

And even in the midst of this sacred ceremony of the highest import in all the land, High Priest Absalom paused his petition to God. On the wind, he heard the subtlest of changes. A voice, so quiet as to nearly be mistaken for that of a member of the congregation below. If the man had not been listening for it, waiting for the Word of his God, he would have missed it. And yet, what he heard was not his God. It was unfamiliar, foreign. It was the voice of another creature, no less important, and much more frightening.

"Father?" A Priest whispered from his bowed position on the platform below, trying not to disturb the ceremony. "Father, are you alright?"

The ocean behind his eyes tossed and turned, uncertain. Something was happening below, something that had not occurred in all the time he had been High Priest.

"The Labyrinth moves, Loammi." He replies rigidly. "It has revealed itself to someone new."

Loammi flashes through a range of emotions: surprise, fear, anger, rage, and finally a steely calm. "For what purpose?"

Absalom looks out over the city. From his vantage, he could barely see the little dots which meandered across the painted canvas of Temple City's streets. Buildings bled into one another, one color mixing with the next until he could only tell between districts, the beautiful white of the West end, the multi-colored and vibrant Southern district, the dull homes in the East, and the muted tones of the North. He had no idea of the exact number of residents in his City, but he knew they numbered well into the thousands, very likely into the tens of thousands. He knew each and every soul that resided here was filled with history, various scars and blemishes that shaped them into the person they were. Some were spotless besides a single Taint, and some were Clean despite every twisted act which choked them. Thousands of people, whose sins all weighed down upon him at this very moment. He felt the weight of each and every one like a chain around his neck.

If the Labyrinth were making itself known to someone new, they could all be put in jeopardy. The foundations upon which this nation was founded were shaking in ways even Absalom had not predicted. Was this the result of his own actions? Had his desire to change the ancient laws been the source of this sudden development? He looked to Loammi, who eagerly awaited his answer.

"I do not know," said the Wise and Holy High Priest of the Zakran Synagogue, and his response filled both holy men with an unsettling dread.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

The Shadows challenge you with a Choice.

[] Enter the Labyrinth (Chase the Source Beyond the Shadows)

[] Leave the Synagogue (Resist the Calling)

 

[Rickshaw]

[x] Enter the Labyrinth

Day ??? ???
???

w Ho aM i?​

Your legs feel heavy. Your lungs can't expand properly. Something weighs against them. Your throat is sore, a feeling like a vice slowly closing around it. Your eyes strain to see into the dark, but they are opaque. Light filters into the hall for a few mere steps before turning into purest black. The shadow looks at you, a gaze you cannot explain but you innately sense. Just as you could tell when someone was looking at you when you were in a crowd, so now could you tell that this shade was observing you, to see what you would do next.

i Wa ss Om E oN e,o nC e​

You shift forward a single step. Deeper into the dark. The vice against your neck tightens, yanking you back slowing you. "Trying to run away, stain?" Shrill laughter sounds from behind you.

mA n, oR Wo m An? i dO N o TR e C Al l​

A woman steps before you, looking not a day over twenty. Her long black hair shines in the torchlight, free of the headdress she should be wearing. Her robe is long gone, leaving her in the tunic underneath. "Rumor is that you were flirting around, with a Taint no less. A total stranger played you a song, and you couldn't help yourself and stripped for him."

sH e L i Es​

You try to reach forwards, held back by another woman touching the empty air in front of you but grasping nothing. The shadow is so close. It beckons to you, like a siren upon the rocks. You listen to her song, that sweet symphony of desperation that cries for you alone. You do not fear the reef, nor the stony shards upon them. Odysseus -prey- you are not. You are a monster, like her. The siren, she calls not for your death. She appeals to you for help.

I aM s uRe o fLi t Tl E​

You reach out again, grasping toward the veil slipping from the grip of the girl's lackeys. Your nails, though nothing special, are long enough to carve a red line across her stupidly pretty face.

i d Ono t Kn oW m ysE l f​

"Agh, bitch!" She screams, grabbing the scratch you cut in her. It wasn't deep, and would probably heal before they'd finished beating the shit out of you, but you were proud of it nonetheless.

aN d y Et​

"Shut it!" You scream, fighting against the hold the other girls had on you. They yank your arms back. It hurts. Your shoulder, your back feels like it's on fire. Somebody, anybody, please help me. Please!

Id O Kn o wT H iS​

The ravenette stands, furious, and swings at your face. Your head snaps to the side a breeze brushes past your fingers, lifted to defend against a strike that wasn't coming. You stand before the inky wall, hunched like a defenseless girl. You straighten yourself up. Your legs are heavy. Your lungs strain for air. Your throat is clamped like a vice. Your arms are straining against some resistance. Who are you, again? You don't recall. But you know this:

iam MAGIC​

You touch the veil. You are here. You are not in the hallway. You are in torchlight, pure blackness. You are standing crawling through the shadows. They whisper to you praise, they whisper to you damnation. They warn you, they console you. A million disparate voices speaking to you as one. They call you child, they call you father. Your mind cannot understand what it is trying to say, and so you do not. You let the Labyrinth speak to you, and you hear it. Its words are unlike anything else, the sound of fire and thunder and a still voice whispering across the lake. The song of a Siren.

AnD You a re mi n e,cH IlD​

The shadows expel you something ahead of you. You look up to see you, a familiar boy across the hall a defenseless girl held down and covered in bruises. It's you. Three girls stand between you and you, the ravenette and her two lackeys, who hold you the defenseless girl down.

"You know, I think I remember a few curses from Naomi's 'therapy' sessions." The black-haired bitch continues, sadistically unaware of your the boy's presence. "They're supposed to discipline the impropriety out of us. I wonder if they'd even work on a Tainted whore like you?" She grins like a demon. You hear it, you and you, the Siren's song. A song of command, of deliverance. To move, to wait. To work separate, together.

A s O n E​

Your voice does not work. One of the lackeys is choking the other you, preventing you from casting any Spiritual Magic. Your blue hair is yanked back, and both of you try to grab at your heads. The free you winces, finding your short brown hair unmolested, the restrained you groans in pain.

"My sister stretched out her hand against her Brothers and Sisters;
she violated her covenant.
Her speech was smooth as butter,
yet impurity was in her heart;
her words were softer than oil,
yet they were a whore's incense."

The woman stretches a hand against you the girl, sick saffron energy spiraling into her palm. She presses the energy against your the girl's forehead. You scream, pain coursing through both your bodies.

"Cast her down
into the pit of destruction;
This woman of promiscuity and treachery
shall not find peace nor rest, only your judgment."

Fire burns its way through your veins, working its way towards your Seal. The pain that had dimmed now shot through your core, burning away at your soul. You've never felt pain like this only once before. In the memories behind the wall. In the flames that constantly burned within your being.

You scream, both of you. The ravenette turns towards you, shocked. All four of your eyes glare at her, ablaze with pain and hate.

She did this to you? Every chance she could. You should fight her. You tried, it didn't work. You are alone, Lo-Ru's posse is always with her. You lose every time. You smirk, both of you. You aren't alone anymore.

Just as the lackeys loosen their grip on you in surprise, the woman moves, ready to cast another spell at you.

You move before she has the chance.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Welcome to combat, kiddos. It's very simple, overall. Each Magic Stat has its own tree of specialties it operates in and casting a spell allows you to attempt any action which fits in the Stat's purview. For instance, Divine Magic (so far) specializes in defense, while Demonic Magic is almost purely offensive. Harmonic is a support skillset that focuses buffs and debuffs but leaves you immobile. It's best when you have a partner to buff. Choose a Magic, and write-in the action you want to attempt. Otherwise, you can fight like a normal person, punching, kicking, swinging a weapon, or dodging. The strategy is up to you, and you, and you.
And congrats. It took 10 updates, but you finally did it. Den became Anna. Was it worth the wait?

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Battle Start!
Initial strategy -


Den:
[] Charge Lo-Ruhamah (the leader)

[] Magic (write-in objective and target)
-[] Divine
-[] Demonic
-[] Harmonic (Bad Idea when solo)

[] Wait


Anna:
[] Attack your captors (write-in how)
-[] Lo-Ruhamah (the leader)
-[] A Lackey

[] Wait

 

[Rickshaw]

Also, are there no lasting debuffs in Harmonic school? With three targets I felt it would be a natural choice for an Area-of-Effect attack.

Click to shrink...

There are, and you most definitely could do that (in fact, that's probably Den's specialty), but you would be immobile while you got out your mandolin to play a Harmonic tune and probably shot in the face with a curse.

I take it that normal and magical actions are mutually exclusive?

Click to shrink...

Exactamundo. You'll attempt to dodge automatically and you can move around while casting, but you can't punch someone and use a spell in the same action.

Is a vote for Den to do one thing and for Anna do another (like the one above?) a valid one? How does any of this work? Are we picking a single action per character? A strategy for the entire combat scene?

Click to shrink...

Den and Anna are both physically(?) present, for whatever physical means after shadow-eldritch-angel-demon physics. And they are sharing some sort of link (no matter the narrative reason, I claim Neuromancer), so yes, you can vote for both of their actions.

A strategy will give you more control, but individual actions (as above) work just as well. If a strategy calls for specific actions and other people vote for the same actions, they all lump together. E.G. if you were to come up with a strategy that involved using Divine Magic to protect Anna while she tackled the leader, your strategy already has three votes no matter what specifics you put down. That could mean a plan to form a shield behind her while she jumps on Lo-Ru's back, or one to give her a general buff to her defense while she suplexes the woman. Both involve the same actions, but the specific strategy dictates how they are implemented.

TL;DR: Strategize or just write actions, doesn't matter to me. The former gives specifics for the latter, but I can work with both and they will broadly do the same thing. Strategizing is really important if you're trying to get specific outcomes, such as no visible damage or attacking a specific part of someone.

If you have any further questions, don't be afraid to ask. I am aware my explanations may create more questions than they answer.

 

[Rickshaw]

Sorry that this was so late. Yesterday I was in the mountains with no signal, couldn't access the google doc. Still, got the update done before I drove back home. Tonight may have an update if enough people vote, but otherwise, I'll wait until tomorrow and go back to the normal schedule.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[X] Magic (Anna, Protect)
-[X] Divine
[X] Attack your captors (Tackle, Grab)
-[X] Lo-Ruhamah (the leader)

Day ???
???

Combat: Round 1

You Den lock eyes with you Anna, just beyond the raven-haired witch. It's difficult to describe the phenomena you are experiencing. It's not like anything else you've experienced, where you read the other's body language and gaze to silently communicate. This is beyond that. Your self-image is… merged. You look at you the man and you recognize it as your own body, or if you focus on seeing through his eyes you can see you the woman, and again you feel like you're looking at yourself from the outside. And yet, both bodies feel natural, as though you've had them for all your life.

It is this united consciousness which makes the plan you kick off work as effectively as it does.

You the man dash to one side, making yourself a more difficult target for the curse to hit. You know that Lo-Ruhamah is skilled with her Magic, considering the curse she gave you was custom-tailored to inflict as much pain as possible. There are no spells in all of Spiritual Magic which by nature cause that much pain. The only possibility is that she's mastered her incantations well enough to successfully modify them. Lucky for both of you, the full spell is impractical for combat, so whatever she launches at you will be a quick-and-dirty bastardized version.

You the Maiden rip your arms forwards and out of the lackeys hands as you the Bard begin to summon Divine Protection on you. The consciousness originally belonging to you Anna momentarily marvels at the Magic you feel flowing through both bodies. You feel something like a gate opening within you, foreign Magic rushing out like a tide as you call, desperately call for the Angels to help you. You cry out and plead for protection from those who would seek your harm.

Divine Spell (1d20): 1 (+1 per Level)
[SUMMON CRITICAL FAILURE]

The gate shudders within you. Something is wrong. The tide of Magic twists and decays, dying, changing into something it was not meant to be. Something is wrong. The dead Magic morphs into something else, something ancient and alien and horrifically intelligent. Something is wrong.

O h ? y OU ar EtR ul YU ni QuE, ch IL d.​

The gate groans as the being from beyond attempts to free itself, its very form made from the corrupted essence. It writhes and slithers through the portal, uncomfortable in this reality. The coagulated Magic escapes into your body as the gate collapses, unable to withstand any further strain. You feel it worming its way deeper into you, but you have no time to worry yourself with the creature.

The woman finishes her short incantation, launching an angry bolt of crimson towards you. Even with your constant movement, she's good enough to track and get a bead on you, which you recognize just as the blast flies straight towards your face.

Dodge (1d20): 9 (-1 Summon Failure Effects) = 8
[MARGINAL SUCCESS]

You duck your head just in time, allowing the spell to sail past harmlessly. You attempt to get a read on your own spell's effects just as the other you jumps onto the woman's back, fully escaping the lackey's grip and dragging the ravenette down.

You feel the creature burrowing into your spine. It's not just in one body, as you would expect. Both are feeling the exact same crawling sensation simultaneously. It moves up up your back before pausing, and then continuing towards-

tH iS w iLl n Ot Do​

Your Seals burn, the Magic in them shifting, corrupting, dying, reigniting, becoming something else. It momentarily shakes your concentration, allowing Lo-Ruhamah a chance to throw the you on her back off balance.

Grapple Check (1d20): 8 (-1 Summon Failure) = 7 vs (1d20):1
[TECHNICAL SUCCESS]WOW the dice are not kind today

She tries to swing her arms backwards, which works for a single moment. You keep your legs wrapped around her, and leverage your momentum to put her into an armlock. The result is you the girl forcing her to the floor as you plant a knee in the small of her back, pinning one arm underneath and the other in your grip, extended at an angle behind her. The once helpless you has pinned down your oppressor. Your Seal continues to burn as the thing burrows deeper inside it.

Dodge (1d20): 18 (-1 Summon Failure) = 17
[GREAT SUCCESS]

You shift to one side as a lackey lashes out with her foot, attempting to kick you off her leader. You keep a hold on the ravenette's wrist as you bend out of the way, allowing your earlier assailant a clear path towards your captive's over-extended elbow.

"AAAAGGGHH!" she screams, her arm bent at an odd angle. You stay on her back, keeping her down. The lackey seems reluctant to attack you again, though her partner remains ready. The you who came from the shadows stands to one side, away from the melee but ready to interfere at any moment. You hear pained sobs from the woman on the floor.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Oh, I forgot to mention. You can't technically fail a spell. You'll always summon some sort of being who's willing to lend their power for your cause. Sometimes it misinterprets you, sometimes it's not effective, or sometimes it's a little slow. Sometimes it burrows into your spine and throws off every roll that round. You never know.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Battle Continue!
Plan for your next round of Kombat.


Den, the Man from the Shadows

[] Magic spam with... (Write-in objective and target)
-[] Divine
-[] Demonic
-[] Harmonic

[] Join the melee! (Write-in how and target)

[] Deal with the Creature
-[] Analyze
-[] Remove

[] Wait


Anna, the Girl with the Sacred Tattoo

[] Spirit Magic (Write-in target)
-[] Curse - slow/stun
-[] Cure - basic heal/antitoxin/anticurse. Also dulls emotions
-[] Energize - remove fatigue, increase reflexes
-[] Relax - Calms negative emotions, sometimes adds euphoria

[] Attack your captors (Write-in how and target)

[] Wait

 

[Rickshaw]

Someone remind future me to not read AsukaQuest and rewatch PMMM in the same day. A human mind was not meant to witness such an amalgamation of moe, death, and disfigurement in the same twenty-four-hour span.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[X] Magic spam with... (Lackeys, Disable/Stun)
-[X] Demonic
[X] Attack your captors (Lackeys, knock them down after they are disabled or failing that just punch them)

Day ???
???

Combat: Round 2

"You, b-bitch!" The black-haired witch screams, her voice cracked. Her porcelain skin is broken at the elbow, a crimson fault evidence to her subordinate's careless misstep. "I- I'll- I'll k-kill you." She pathetically squirms under your efficiently-applied weight: a single knee to her spine.

The creature continues to stir in your Seal, and yet it is not painful. Uncomfortable, yes, but the writhing feeling it makes slowly replaces the constant burn chill of the scarlet letter upon your chest. It still distracts you, but it also fills you with a relief you didn't know you'd lacked.

You see, behind you, one of the lackeys shifts. Her short auburn hair bounces and her hand slackens for a second. You think she's giving up about to use a straight lead to the back of your head. There is no time to dodge, at least not fast enough for her to miss. All you can do is attempt a spell to interfere. You grab the Demon's Claw hanging from your neck. You have no idea what kind of Demonic creature it will summon, but you're more worried about avoiding blunt force trauma to your cranium. "Stop!" You shout, from both mouths, as the Demonic energy courses through your body.

Demonic Spell (1d20): 8 (+1 per Level, -1 the Creature) = 8
[HELL, GOOD ENOUGH]

The shadows behind your two standing enemies blacken. You feel something familiar and altogether foreign in that emptiness, something that sings to you softly against your mind.

Yo u As k mUc H oFm e, cH i lD​

Twin tendrils of shadow snake from the dark, whipping towards the redhead's arms partway through her swing. The sudden resistance surprises her before more of the thin whips lash around her and her partner. Both desperately struggle against the black cords that bind them.

You don't give them a chance to recover. You drop the mangled arm of Lo-Ruhamah, kicking off her back to add momentum to your swing. The useless woman gasps amidst her pitiful tears, obviously pained.

You know she was cruel to you, but did she really-

You're right, pity is too generous. She is weak if she can't take even a fraction of the pain she'd caused you these last ten years. She is revolting.

…

What?

...Are you always this vindictive?

You ignore yourself, focusing instead on the widening eyes of the bitch who tried to choke you into silence. You see yourself in her eyes, blue hair wildly tossed through the air, the braid you keep it in having long since unraveled. Your face is black and blue, and your eyes glow an unnatural gold. Your robe, your precious robe is ripped and torn, and splattered with red. It is not your own. You look terrifying.

You grin.

Strike (1d20): 11 (-1 Creature, +3 Rooted Target) = 13
[FEELING LUCKY, PUNK?]

You feel fucking euphoric as you slam your fingers directly into her esophagus. The woman chokes, stumbling back as she tries to grab her throat. The tendrils pull on her tighter as she retreats, bringing her closer to that alien absence. She gives you a glare. She hates you, she is afraid of you. Good.

You reach towards your own throat sympathe-

Stop that.

You glance towards the other woman. She looks at you, horrified, and the moment you direct your attention to her she frantically struggles against the cords of darkness, managing to break through most of them in less than a second.

Guess they weren't all that strong

D oI cri tI Qu eyo U rSh o rTc O min gS, Tr ave Le R? NO,b Es iL eNT​

She scrambles backward, eyes wide with terror. Her frazzled hair falls in front of her face, but she doesn't care. She shifts herself to stand between you and you, rather than you and the cold, empty shadows. Her eyes dart between it and you the Revenant. The Wraith. The merciless vessel of long-harbored vengeance.

She aims a hand at you, almost crying as she whispers.

"Though I walk through the Valley of Death,
I will fear no evil, for on the edge of your sword
Shall my deliverance come."

Dodge (1d20): 13 (-1 Creature) = 12
[SUCCESS]

You shift to the side, allowing the yellow bolt of Magic to pass unhindered towards the far wall. It crashes against it, leaving an ugly amber spider-web behind. Pieces of the wall crack and fall to the floor, dissolving.

You turn back to the shaking woman. She tried to hit you with that. She tried to kill you. You didn't even know any lethal spells existed in Spiritual Magic until now. Your grin widens.

Until now being the key phrase. You lift your own hand towards her, new knowledge inspiring you to attempt the sa-

Dodge (1d20): 9 (-1 Creature, -2 Off-Guard) = 6
[FAILURE]

It happens too fast for you to react. You take an eye off yourself for a second, look from the blue-haired demon towards the broken ravenette. Your eyes widen, her shattered arm lies on the ground, perfectly aligned with your other self. The disgusting red energy stretches into a thin line, connecting the tips of her fingers with your back. There is a flash, and you feel something in your mind snap.

Oh, fu-

Your recoil from the shock. You suddenly feel... less. Your head, your mind, it's wrong. You look up to see Anna, swaying on her feet in the middle of the trio of enemies. The smile on her face looks hollow, staring emptily towards the woman on the ground before her. She lifts her head towards you, a question forming on her face.

She collapses to her knees, stunned.

Lo-Ruhamah laughs bitterly from the floor. The redhead struggles to recover from the throat-punch earlier. The other one quivers from her position on the floor. All three surround the hapless woman. You stand some yards away, unease worming its way into your gut.

Or maybe that's just the Angelic Shoggoth expanding into your intestines.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Battle Continue
Plan your next action.


Den, the Traveler

[] Magic, Round 3 (Write-in objective and target)
-[] Divine
-[] Demonic
-[] Harmonic

[] Enter Melee (Write-in how and target)

[] Deal with the Creature
-[] Analyze
-[] Remove
[] Berserk
[] Wait


Anna, the Cursed

[x] Wait

 

[Rickshaw]

The other music choice for this update is this Signum Malum. Try reading through with both and see which you like better.

-:-:-;-:-:-
​

[x] Berserk

Day ???
???

Combat: Round 3

A sick giggling echoes through the stone corridor. The shrill sound of euphoria and panic mixing, deranged, along the walls. The crumpled and broken heap that is Lo-Ruhamah begins to shake with laughter as she slowly, ever so slowly, rises from the ground. Like a puppet slowly being lifted to stand, her broken arm hanging loosely from her side. Her eyes are wide as her smile, they hold the cruelest joy within them. An angry red scratch reaches from her ear to her nose, the slightest glimmer of blood leaking out.

"Oh, you little b-bitch." She chuckles, falling forward a step. "You little stain, did you think someone as filthy, as weak as you stood a chance against a true Maiden? You might play at being one of us, but we all know the truth. Naomi, Miriam, even Father, we all know what you really are." She takes another shaky step, jerky and unnatural. "You're a monster in human skin. Just an amalgamation of unrestrained desire and destruction. The moment you feel power, the moment you have a chance to let go, you can't help but be consumed. That's why we have to save you."

Her two lackeys slowly rise, shaken. The one with auburn hair pulls against the tendrils of darkness, snapping them with a sickening squelch. The stubs slither back into the darkness, and the Creature in the void looks on with interest.

"We have to burn the Taint out of you. We have to stop it from getting any worse, from spreading any further than it already has." The ravenette is right behind the comatose Anna. The blue-haired woman's eyes are wide with fear. She can see, she can hear, and she is helpless to do anything. "You may hate us now, you may think me cruel for what I do," she smiles. "In a way I am. I never knew the beauty of pain until you came along. I guess your filthy Taint has affected me in some way. But I'm not hurting you just for pleasure. I want to heal you. If you are to truly be a Maiden, you must be pure. I will burn the Taint out of you if that's what it requires."

Anna looks at you, horrified. She can't be serious. But no, her working hand slowly caresses against Anna's ghostly cheeks. "I hurt you because I care, Anna." She whispers seductively into her ear. "Remember that."

Her hand strokes back towards her sapphire hair, before she yanks it back. The battered and bruised girl has her head ripped backward, and she looks into her captor's eyes. You have no idea what she sees, but her frozen body begins to shake.

You stand there, useless. The voice that once called you to fight and protect is silent. Your heart feels like ice as you watch the girl whose mind you shared be treated like… like… like a toy. Something in you screams to move, to stop this from happening to her. Something chivalrous and heroic and romantic.

What if I just left her here?

Your feet, already shaking with dread, suddenly still. Was that...? Did you think that?

I don't really know her, the thought continues, and all three of them are busy with her. If I left right now, they wouldn't even notice. I could escape. It's not wrong to retreat when I'm going to lose. It's three against one, and I have some eldritch monster in me. There's no chance I'll win.

That isn't true at all. They're unsuspecting, the leader's injured, and the other two are still recovering, if you jumped in now you still have a chance!

A chance for what? The traitorous thought argues. I jump in there, I can maybe take one out before the other two get me with that lethal spell. And I have no idea what Magic they're capable of. I should leave before this gets any worse.

You… no. You can't. You shouldn't. You can't leave her behind, you can't. Not when she needs you. You… you can't.

This isn't about her, is it?

You can't leave her behind. You can't.

She left me behind, right? She doesn't have regrets, her life is fine without me. And I turned out okay, I guess. Anna can take it. She'll be fine. She'll understand, just like I understand her choice.

You can't. You don't. You don't understand. You can't leave her behind. That's why you need to get home. That's why you need to help Anna. You can't leave her behind. You can't.

E V E N I F Y O U D I E ?

You can't. You won't. Even then. You can't let that happen to anyone. You can't leave them behind. Even if it only hurts you. Even if it kills you. You can't.

W H A T A B O U T Y O U R S O U L ?

The darkness shifts. You feel it gaze at you with something… wrong. Something… angry.

H eiS M iNe, T Ain T. Be G O nE.​

W O U L D Y O U C U R S E Y O U R O W N S O U L F O R S U C H P O W E R ?

You can't leave her behind. You can't. You'd give up anything, even your soul. You'd damn yourself to Hell before then.

F oo L! d O nO t-​

T H E N Y O U R D E S I R E S H A L L B E F U L F I L L E D

Your Seal begins to burn. No, it does not burn, it is ablaze. What was once a perpetual brand actively spits flame. Beneath its surface, the Angelic Creature writhes. It does not try to escape the flame but seeks it out. Every point where the fire bursts it seeks, attempting to plug the breach. For a moment, it seems like it might succeed...

Berserk (1d100): 45
[SUCCESS]

And then you break. The Angel screams an otherworldly cry, withdrawing deeper into your body. Your Seal shatters upon your skin, like a thousand blisters breaking apart. From them pours a viscous white liquid, pooling to the floor. As it drains you feel… fuzzy. Your mind dulls as the pain is slowly replaced by a dull roar. Like a lion calling for its mate.

That roar builds. It's irritating. It echoes in your skull and resounds until it hurts. It builds until you can feel the pressure peak, a hammer constantly crashing against the bounds of your mind. Make it stop, make it stop, make it stop!

Your throat aches, you taste blood in your mouth. Are you screaming? You open your eyes. It hurts. The world hurts to look at. It's angry and red and it roars at you. You hate it, hate how it mocks you.

"What the hell is that?" A shrill voice calls from amidst the screams. You look up to see them, three horrific creatures covered in eyes and scales. Every eye sits in a mouth, opening and closing every so often. Sometimes the mouths swallow and the eye disappears, only to reappear after it blinks. They are vaguely human in shape, with two lower and upper appendages, but their sickly torsos stand upon stilts, and a great mass of tentacles sits where the wrist should be. One of them, the tallest, has its tendrils coming from her elbow.

Between the three of them is a little girl with blue hair and a green dress, staring at you with wonder and horror. When you look at her, the screaming dulls. You know she is like you. She is the cure to your hate.

The tallest monster moves to stand between you and her, bringing back that damning roar. "B-begone, Demon!" It shouts from every mouth. "You are not w-welcome in this H-Holy P-Place!"

"Where did that guy go?" Another asks, one with reddish scales. "He was right there!"

"Do you think that thing killed him?" The third asks, afraid.

The first shakes its onyx body. "T-Taints are monsters made from desire. Th-the man was with Anna, remember? It was almost like they were in sync. And when we tried to remove her Taint…"

"You mean he's…!"

You scream. You can't stand all this noise. You have to stop it, you have to end it. The mouths, they're screaming. This is their fault. You have to silence them. You have to destroy them.

"He's agitated!"

"Lo-Ru, I'm scared!"

"It'll be okay, Deb, I won't let some ugly stain lay a finger on-"

You dash towards the one closest to you, the smallest of the three. It screams, every eye-mouth wide with terror. You hate that sound, the grating of iron and carbon. You can't stand it. You just want the world to shut up, just shut up shut up shut up shut up shut the fuck up!

Grab (1d100): 74
[SUCCESS]

You grab the monster by the throat, silencing one of the many voices screaming across its body. It's not enough, it keeps screaming. You can feel it, even if you can't hear the voice with your ears it's still in your head and it burns your skull with a fiery echo. You can't just stop them you have to stop them so you use your other hand to grab the other part of her throat and you pull.

Pull (1d100): 51
[SUCCESS]

There is a sickening squelch as the voices which once screamed constantly were suddenly silenced. Your fingers are wet and sticky when you let go of her neck, the two pieces dropping to the floor like heavy sacks. The oblong head of the monster slowly rolls from its body towards the foot of its ebony sibling. It bends down, slowly, and picks it up with one set of tentacles.

"Deborah?" It asks with an empty voice. It brings its other mass, much wilder, alongside it. "Deb?"

"Oh, god," The crimson monster screeches, bile and pus leaking from its many mouths and eyes. "What the fuck? It just…. Oh, god, Debbie..."

"Pris, tell me I'm dreaming. Tell me this is all just a bad dream, that this is just a nightmare."

"I," It's tentacles writhe as you raise yourself from the monster's corpse. "Fuck, you BASTARD!"

The crimson one dashes towards you, tendrils pointed like a thousand needles at your heart. Its screams are angry, hideous, infuriating. You hate it, you hate it.

Stop Her (1d100): 84
[SUCCESS]

You duck, it missteps. You swing, it's dead. Just like that. You pull your arm out of its chest and it collapses to the floor. Bile pools around the corpse. You feel wet and sticky.

The onyx creature collapses to the floor, like a puppet cut loose from her strings. She limply clutches onto the oblong shape between her arms "Deborah, Deborah, Deborah," she chants as she continues to scream from all her mouths.

Those aren't screams, they're tears.

You step towards her and the screams stop. The world, your head, it goes deathly silent. The silence echoes in your head, hurting just as much as the noise.

"I'm sorry." The monster pleads, speaking only from one mouth. "I swear, I'll change." Her voice cracks. "I-I'll be a good girl. I won't hurt people anymore, I won't call anyone bad names, I'll be nice to Anna, I'll be the perfect Maiden, I'll do anything you want, just…" You can hear, in your head, the sobbing that her mouth holds back. "...just please, stop this." She curls downwards, into herself. "Please, stop."

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Asmodeus, the True Face of the Tainted

[x] Berserk
-[] Feast
-[] Kill

[] Stop Berserking Y O U C A N N O T S T O P D E S I R E


Anna, the Last Hope for the Soul

[] Break down

[] Pray

[] Reason

[] Fight

[] Wait