Lev Tahor

[Rickshaw]

[X] The Late Afternoon Report with Holy Maiden Anna! A Talk with Father Absalom!

Day 1
Afternoon

The walk to the High Priest's quarters is mostly uneventful. After checking out the window to see that, yes the Temple Guards are noisily marching your way, you make yourself scarce. Their armor, though incredibly shiny, doubles as a little imposing. You strode into and through the main sanctuary, passing a few dozen rows of pews on your way. You carefully move around the lectern and reading dais, which is currently empty, and make your way to the door behind them. There are a few flights of stairs beyond that you ascend with little difficulty.

About a dozen feet from the door to the High Priest's quarters, which is only noticeable by the "High Priest" carved into its front, you stop. Standing across from the door is a statue of a woman in prayer, wings spreading from her back. Her hands cover her eyes, and her mouth is closed in a silent petition. You give it a hard stare, daring it to move. It doesn't. After about a minute of such intense gazing, you turn away and walk towards the door.

Gotcha!

As soon as you touch the handle you twist on your heel, finger already outstretched to catch the figure in the act.

"Ha ha! I see that smirk! You totally moved!"

The statue remains as still as ever, the corner of its mouth curled upwards by the slightest bit.

"Anna, daughter, are you playing with the statue again?" You hear the kind voice of Father come from beyond the frame. "Come in, I'll make you something to drink."

You send a final glare to the statue before opening the unassuming wood door to the High Priest's chambers.

The door closes behind you, blocking you from witnessing the statue blow you a raspberry as its brethren lined throughout the hall shake with laughter.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

The High Priest, for having such an esteemed title, is a fairly plain person. Father Absalom did not like to wear the priestly vestments if he could help it, electing to wear it only for special rituals. Otherwise, he would dress as he did now, a simple linen tunic and pants, a white sash, and sometimes a small turban. He claimed it was because it kept him humble, but you heavily suspected that the full set was just too warm and heavy for the elderly man.

His room was an equally simple place. The walls were lined with bookshelves that held the dozens of manuscripts and codexes a High Priest was expected to know. There was a mannequin with the full ceremonial outfit draped over it in one corner, and a plant from the gardens in another. Besides that, the room was bare save his desk and a few chairs. You do see a door set between two of the shelves, leading to what you presume to be his bedroom.

"Here," he sets a plain mug in front of you, full of a steaming brown liquid. You take a sip, savoring the bitter taste balanced with sweet. You smile. This is exactly the thing you needed right now.

"Mmm, chocolate." You cup the drink, letting the warmth seep into your fingers. "Thank you, Father."

He waves you off, moving to sit across you at his desk. It is a simple one, covered on one side with heavy tomes written in a strange language and another with stacks of paper covered in scrawling diagrams breaking apart the strange language, as well as a few drawings of people with different parts of them highlighted or inked out. In between the two of you is a short stack of blank paper, as well as two inkwells with a pen each. You quickly look back to Father before he catches you peeking through his work.

He draws an empty page off the stack and grabs one of the pens, beginning to write a few things at the top of the page. "So, tell me, how is the boy doing? He recovered, I assume?"

You nod. "He was well enough to speak. He had no trouble breathing, even enough to play music. Did you know he was a bard? He an instrument with eight or so strings, and sang as well, had no trouble with his lungs."

The Father scratched something down, then chewed on the base of the pen. "What do you think that blood was, then?"

You shrug. "Maybe something from the Chamber? You need more than a few hours of sleep to heal from bleeding in your lungs."

He shakes his head as he writes more. "So, the Taint can bring something from there into reality?" He pauses, scratching out a portion before continuing his inscription. "Did his Seal seem abnormal in any way? Any deformities?"

"Not that I saw." You sip a bit more at your chocolate drink. "I'm just glad he survived the whole thing."

He nods. "Yes, that is good. Still, I worry at what this means. No one has ever brought something out from within a Purification Chamber." He glances at the second pen. For a moment you see something like worry cross his face. It vanishes quickly behind a smile. "I'm probably worrying over nothing. Was there something else you came to talk to me about?"

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Sorry that it's shorter tonight. I really can't extend this scene without railroading, so I'll give you an opportunity to get any burning questions you have answered in-character. I've got some vague topics below, but you're free to expand onto specifics as you like. As long as an option gets a few votes behind it you can expect it to be answered.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Any questions you have for the High Priest of Zak's Temple Synagogue? (Vote for as many or as few as you like)

[] Tainted?

[] Den's Future?

[] Guards Outside?

[] Other? (Write-In)

 

[Rickshaw]

[X] Tainted? Why am I like this?

Day 1
Afternoon

Resolve Check (d20): Roll = 17 (+1 per Spirit Level). Total = 17 + ???
[SUCCESS]

"I'm sorry," Father says, setting his pen down. "I believe I misheard you."

"What are the Tainted?" You ask, one more time. "Don't say 'people with a Taint,' that's not a real answer. We use these words like 'Taint' and 'corruption' to explain it, and the Heart of the Purification Chamber does something, but I don't understand it. Not really." You tip your mug back, only to find it empty. You set it down with a pout.

Father shakes his head. "Tell me this first, my daughter: what do you think it is? Ah," he holds out a finger when you make to complain. "I want to see how much of it you know for yourself first."

You sigh, but don't push further. You think about your own Taint, how you constantly needed to Purify it. What happened to you if you stopped doing so? Would it go out of control and consume you? Why couldn't you remember how you first got the Taint? How come any clue to it was so frightening that you'd mentally repressed everything about it? Why did the glimpses you get always give you a feeling like you'd lost something important?

"I think," you begin, slowly, "I think Taints aren't something a soul gets, maybe. It doesn't feel like a growth or an extra part. It's more like a... hole. Like something was there and now it's gone. Empty." You look to him. "But I don't know what that means. What is it? Why is it dangerous for me to be around others?"

Father stares at you. No, not at you, past you. He's thinking. You can see the ocean in his eyes roil, thoughts conflicting with one another as he deliberates over something. What, you don't know, but you quietly wait for him to finish thinking.

"Did you know, Spiritual Magic was not always called that." He sets his papers to the side and opens one of the heavy tomes on his desk. The page is written entirely in the same strange language you saw carved into the Heart of the Purification Chamber. "The Old Tongue calls it 'Kishuf Lev Tahor,' Magic for the Pure-Hearted." He leans back, looking thoughtful. "For hundreds of years, it was called Purity Magic, because only those who kept themselves pure were able to use it properly. Those who were just, kind, devout, and above all else, chaste. For a time, that was all it was."

You scrunch your eyebrows, confused. "So, Spiritual Magic is really all about being pure? Is that why we use terms like 'Tainted,' 'Clean,' and 'corrupted?'" He nods. "So how come a Tainted like me can use it?" And how did an isolated Holy Maiden like me become impure?

"It just so happens that chastity was not the only way to access it, though it was the easiest. A pair of newlyweds discovered they could use more powerful variants of the magic, though it only worked when they cast together or while thinking of one another. This knowledge formed the first schools of Purity Magic: The Innocent and the Entwined. The former focused on chastity, and the latter on devotion to a partner. In both cases, the longer one spent seeking those forms of purity, the stronger their magic became."

At this point, he stops, and you can see the pained look cross his face. "Is something wrong?" You ask, worry crawling across your own.

He shakes his head and sighs. "Must I really say it?" He pleads.

Why would he… "Please, Father." Chastity and Devotion were the ideals a Maiden was taught to remain Clean, but where did the Tainted fit into the picture Father was trying to paint? They could cast the same magic, so how were they any different?

Father sighs. "The Tainted were the final group of people who could cast the magic. They are the reason it is no longer called Purity Magic." He spits out the words this time like they taste bitter in his mouth. "They had no chastity, no devotion. No purity at all. They discovered another way to gain the spiritual acuity necessary to cast the spells: not by disciplining their souls through resisting temptation, but caving in at every opportunity. Not by leaning against another to strengthen themselves, but by using and discarding others like tools. They spit in the face of purity for the sake of power. For every person they coerced into a bed with them they grew stronger. That emptiness consumed them until all that was left was a lingering lust, for power and pleasure." He stills, seeming to vibrate with fury. "They and everyone they lay with is cursed with the Taint."

You just sit there, shocked at his emotional outburst. You'd never seen him this incensed about anything before. "The Tainted, they become those... those monsters?"

He nods. "It takes its time, of course, and requires one to willingly give in to their urges, but that is the point of Purification and Sealing, to quiet them." He looks to you, a small smile forming as he relaxes. "You are living proof that they're effective tactics, you've been the model Maiden for the last ten years."

You rub the back of your head, laughing nervously. Model is a bit of a stretch. You just spent the whole day slacking off. You appreciate the praise, though, however undeserved it is.

[X] Den's Future?

You shift a little in your seat. Now that you think about it, Den will need to arrange the renewal of his own Seal soon. Should you ask Father about being there for it? Is that a little too forward of you? Can a Maiden even ask that, or is it one of those urges? You've never noticed any before, but you've also never had people you could interact with so candidly. Is Den's Taint bringing out the urges in your own?

Yet you are genuinely intrigued by this stranger from far away who has more in common with you than anyone in Temple Synagogue. You wonder what his life used to be like so far away. You wonder what it's like to travel the world as he does. Did. And you should probably apologize for the way your conversation ended last time. Maybe explain the Taint to him a little more, now that you understand it more clearly? Those are good enough reasons to want to see him again, right?

Resolve Check (d20): Roll = 20 (+1 per Spirit Level)
[CRITICAL SUCCESS]

Hell yeah, they are! You've got a million reasons to worry about him, from it being his time in the city to making sure he knows everything, to now knowing what a Taint really is and making sure he doesn't make it worse. It's your duty as a Maiden and a fellow Tainted to ensure he is well equipped for his new life. What could it hurt just to ask, anyway?

"Can I be there for Den's Seal Renewals?" You ask, suddenly. Father blinks. You blink. You didn't expect for it to just blurt out like that. Is it rude to speak like that to the High Priest? He basically raised you, so you should be fine, right? Wait, weren't you on a completely different subject just before? You probably look insane for such a sudden topic change. That look he's giving you is really starting to worry you.

"Um, who's Den?"

Oh, duh. "The bard who got his Screening today. Can I be there for his Renewals?" You fiddle with your tunic. "Thinking back on it, I don't know if I explained things very well to him. And now that I know more about it, I can teach him properly on Taints and why he needs to take measures to fight it."

To your surprise, Father smiles at you. "Ah, yes. I suppose you would feel that way, wouldn't you?"

You frown. There's something in the way he's looking at you like he knows something you don't. "If you're insinuating something-"

"Oh, nothing of the sort." He assures you, that mischievous glint still in his eye. "I just claimed you were the model Maiden, did I not? I only mean that making sure you do something right is an equally Maiden-like trait, is it not?" Oh, he knows. You can sense sarcasm a mile away, he totally knows you're a slacker and is not afraid to heckle you for it. "Plus, you should probably socialize with more people your age. You don't go out very much."

"Hey! Don't make fun of me for something I can't control!"

He's chuckling hard now. You're fighting just to keep from grinning too wide. "Oh, my girl, it's only too easy." He wipes a tear from his eye. "I'll let you know when the ritual will be, and you'll be welcome to come-"

Yes!

"-if you finish all of Sister Naomi's tasks beforehand."

No! Why, cruel fate, must you play with my emotions like this?

Despite the utter mortification plastered on your face, you manage a simple "thank you," to the Father before you leave his office. Out a nearby window, you see the sun hanging low over the walls of Temple City, the horizon beginning to take on a reddish hue. It must have changed to evening while you were talking. You have a bit more still left to your day, and then it'll be curfew.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Lots of fun info this chapter. I'm interested to see what theories you had that were validated, or refuted, or made significantly more complex by peeling back the first layer of what's going on.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

What will you do with your evening?

[] Eat dinner with the other Maidens

[] Rush to the Library and clean what you can before Sister Naomi catches you slacking

[] Patrol the third floor. Scrutinize furniture for an apparent lack of reason

[] Start your evening prayers. Sister Naomi can't yell at you for being devout. Right?

[X] Interlude
-[] An Empty Escort
-[] A Doomed Dreamer
-[] A Curious Child
-[] The Fickle Father
-[] A Wailing Woman
-[] A Gentle Guard

 

[Rickshaw]

[x] Rush to the Library and clean what you can before Sister Naomi catches you slacking

Day 1
Evening

Surprisingly, the ever-baffling labyrinth carved into the rock under the Synagogue did not make your journey as difficult as it could have been. Perhaps you'd found a shortcut when you accidentally turned left instead of right in the first corridor? Maybe it, too, knew the wrath of Sister Naomi and was helping you out of sympathy? Had it always been this long and your panic was making it seem shorter? Whichever it was, your aching muscles flooded with relief as you slowed to a stop in front of Library Gimel, wheezing. You didn't run very much. You stumbled in, gasping for breath and grasping at the front desk.

"Why hello, Maiden Anna." You freeze. No. That voice, that sickeningly sweet tone. No, not here, not now! "I was wondering when you would appear. For a moment, I thought you were planning on skipping your duties. Again."

"N-never!" You say, legs shaking from more than exertion. "I was d-doing something for Fa-Father-"

You look up. Less than an inch from your face is another, consumed by a disgustingly saccharine smile, a tiny button nose, and eyes best described as slits. She always wore that unnerving smile, like she was living some sort of dream.

"Don't give me that shit, little bitch." Sister Naomi quietly threatened, still grinning like some sort of psychopath. "I told you, clean the Library by dinner. Now, can you tell me what time it is?"

"E-evening." You're quaking in your tunic. Just your tunic. Oh God, you're in nothing more than your tunic. You aren't wearing your robes, or your headdress, or anything you're supposed to be wearing. I'm going to die, you conclude. Sister Naomi is finally going to lose it and kill me.

She nods, still far too close to your face for comfort. "That's right, it's evening. Dinner-time. And is the Library clean?" You shake your head. You honestly have no idea, considering that the only thing you've seen of the Library so far is Naomi's evil smile, but since you weren't here to clean it you assume it's dirty.

"Correct. Now, to me, that sounds like you're slacking." Her grin widens. "You know what I do to slackers, right?"

You shiver. You knew very well how she treated slackers. You're pretty certain it was borderline sadistic.

"Good." She leans back, moving out of your face. You release a breath you didn't know you were holding. Then you gasp and choke for air, as you still haven't recovered from your mad dash. She completely ignores your desperate attempt to fill your lungs, instead chucking a duster and pan at your head. "Lucky for you, I checked with the kitchen staff before I came over, so I know you haven't had dinner yet. Finish tidying the place up before prayers are over and I'll make sure Miriam saves you something."

You pick up the cleaning equipment, nodding profusely and rubbing the newly-formed sore spot on your temple. You immediately dash towards the closest bookshelf, dusting off the tomes on its shelves. It takes you a few minutes to finish it, but when you do it's spotless. You don't think you've ever dusted anything that quickly before. Looking around, you see the other dozen or so you need to clean and sigh before going back to work.

Partway through, you check to see if the terrifying woman behind the front desk is watching. When you realize she's turned away, you quickly whisper a spell under your breath.

Research Roll (1d4): 2 RP Gained!
Spiritual Lvl ??? - (2/???) RP

You feel a little lighter, less fatigued. You've practiced that spell a hundred times before, you're certain you've mastered it. Even so, the subtle relaxation that flows through your muscles is refreshing. Enough so to fill you with determination. You redouble your cleaning efforts.

Almost an hour later you come away, having cleaned off every book from Aard and You: How to Keep Toxic People Away to Zoroaster's Magical Revolution. Your arms are tired, you back is sore, and you have a stupidly proud grin on your face. Take that, dust! Not even you can withstand the power of Magic!

"Oh, you finished dusting the lit'." Naomi looks up from a table she's scrubbing. "Just make sure the Collection in the back is secure and we can call it a day."

You nod, setting your tools in a bin behind the front desk. You walk back between the rows of neatly organized books, heading towards a wooden door along the far wall. You stop before it, examining the aperture for any flaws. The locks along its edge seem sturdy, and a rap of your knuckles against it prove the metal is still tough. The numerous symbols engraved on its face are smooth and legible, so the Seal is still in effect.

Guess this barrier is still working. You touch a drawing in the center of the door, a beast with four faces on its head, one facing each cardinal direction. Above its head is the same flaming crystal from the wheel-creature, and like before the drawing moves and lightning silently arcs to your skin.

When you pull your hand away from the door, you turn around to see a dozen large display cases. You take your time examining each one.

The Demon Claws are undisturbed, that's good. Most of the restricted tomes are here, but there's a few missing. You see the note left where one is supposed to be. "Borrowed for a few days, will return ASAP. - H.P. Absalom" Okay, guess you didn't need to worry about those. At least he left behind the Deckronomicon. Last time he had that, he forced you to undergo ten rounds of that stupid ritual with him. Seriously, what Demon manifests their power as a children's card game?!

It doesn't take you much longer to ensure that, yes, everything was where it was supposed to be, and those that weren't had been taken out by Father and so didn't count. You happily return through the eldritch portal to Library Gimel, which you immediately exit once you see that Naomi has already left.

After a quick dinner and a pit stop by the laundry station to pick up your robe and headpiece, you head back to the main hall you passed through on your way to Father's quarters. Most everyone else is leaving, and you have to push through the crowd to enter. You find an empty pew in one corner and begin your evening prayers.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[x] A Curious Child

The back alleys of Temple City were a network of twists and turns that would easily lose anyone unfamiliar with them deep inside. One could enter a path in the North-East district and exit onto the Southern thoroughfare without ever leaving the convoluted maze of side-streets. In fact, it was that very avenue on which a certain child walked, grinning like a loon. Strapped to the side of his stained overalls was a small bag that clinked every so often with the sound of coin. The boy hummed to himself a tune he couldn't quite remember, sounding to anyone who passed by like a discordant mess. And yet the child was not in any way perturbed by his off-pitch music. No, he was far too excited to be bothered by anything but his destination.

He arrived behind the Horse Bar. It was called that because, he claimed, it was a bar with a horse on its front. None could argue with such sound logic, and when they tried he ignored them. They were fools, he assumed, since they used strange words as they pointed at the fancy stage the horse danced on. They said the stage was made of words, but he was no fool. Words were words, not pictures.

He removed the pouch from his hip, looking through and counting the coins inside: one brown, a yellow, and three gray of varying sizes. He knew the brown ones weren't too special since the Bread Lady wouldn't give him anything for it. The gray ones were different: the bigger they were, the more he could get with them. He'd walked away with a whole loaf when he gave her one as big as his palm. He had no idea what the yellow ones were worth. Maybe, just maybe, what he had would be enough for a night here.

He put the pouch back on his hip and marched inside, smile still on his face. The first thing he felt was the warmth of the room. It was like a blanket was wrapped around him, except better because there were no holes where the cold got in. Then the smell of warm food hit him. Bread, and something else. Something rich and savory he'd never tasted before. His mouth began to water.

The room was almost empty besides a few laborers in one corner, laughing loud enough to fill the whole space. As he crossed the room, he noticed a man sitting on a raised portion of the floor. He held a strange instrument in his hand, like a guitar but with more strings. He sang a strange song the boy had never heard before, only strumming every so often.

And since it fell unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I'll gently rise and softly call:
"Good night and joy be with you all!"

The child strode to the front desk, where a young woman sat reading a book.

"Ma'am?" asked the child.

The woman looked up, and for a moment looked around in confusion. Only when the boy called for her again did she peer down and see him standing there proudly.

"Oh my," she exclaimed, smiling brightly. "And what can I do for a strapping young boy like yourself?"

The boy preened under the praise. "I want a special room." He lifted his pouch towards the counter, straining to reach it. The woman picked it up and looked inside. Her smile seemed to dim somewhat.

"I'm sorry, I don't think this is enough for one of our suites. Maybe I can get you a meal or a normal room?"

The boy shook his head. He knew when he was being gypped. He was smart and had learned beforehand how much this place had cost from a kind old beggar he'd met along the way. This, of course, was just before the man had fallen asleep and the boy, being the intelligent and opportunistic child he was, robbed him blind. "'One yellow piece to the lady at the front, and she'll give you a room and take care of you.' That's what he said."

The young woman smiled at the boy, but he thought it looked odd. "Who told you that?" She asked sweetly.

The boy shrugged. "I don't know. A beggar told me what to do, but a few people in the North talk about how well they sleep with the lady from the Horse Bar." He smiled at her, radiating an odd sort of innocence. "I wanted to sleep well, so I came here. You have a good reputation, miss!"

The woman suddenly wore a very odd face. The boy was not familiar with faces like that, he was much more used to smiles, frowns, and glares. This looked like a smile, but she didn't seem happy. She seemed angry, but he couldn't tell what it was towards. He shrunk a little, just to make sure it wouldn't be him.

The lady at the front finally sighed. "Go out back," she says. "I'll be there in a second."

A few minutes later, the boy was sitting on a box behind the Horse Bar. He was beginning to think that he'd been gypped, but he could fix that if he just ran in and started screaming. Everybody on the thoroughfare believed you if you were a kid. The boy was not afraid to use those around him as a weapon.

Just as he thought that the door of an adjacent building swung open. The lady from the front stood there, looking impatient. "Well, come on."

He got up and walked through the door. Inside was a bare room with a lamp, some books, and a bed. The lamp had an ugly red shade over it, the books were dusty, and the bed looked ready to fall apart and smelled too strongly of flowers.

"In here," said the lady, walking through a second door. The boy followed, entering a much more decorated room. A bed, much smaller than the one in the other room, sat along the back wall. Bookshelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed tight with dozens and dozens of different books. On a desk were a collection of pens and piles of paper filled with doodles. Little paper animals and people hung from the ceiling by string, each one in a different pose.

"Wow," says the boy, excitement and wonder filling him.

The lady closes the door, moving to sit on the bed. "I don't let many people in here, but you're a special case." She motions to a table beside her bed. On it is a bowl of soup and a single piece of bread. "It's nothing wild, just what we'd already made in the kitchen, though I expect you'll like it all the same."

She was right. It tasted delicious! The boy shoveled the meal down, alternating between dipping the bread in and using a spoon. It wasn't long before he'd finished the whole thing. "Thank you, miss." He said, burping loudly.

"You're welcome," she said, smiling. "I wish all my customers were as grateful as you." The boy yawned, surprisingly tired after his meal. "And now that I've taken care of you, it's time for you to sleep well."

The boy nodded. His eyelids felt so droopy. His belly was warm and happy. He didn't even complain when the lady picked him up and set him in her bed before leaving. He was amazed, for a moment, that she had a blanket with no holes, and how warm it was. Then he closed his eyes and sleep overtook him.

-:-:-;-:-:-

Day 1 Completed
Day 2 Begins

-:-:-;-:-:-​

Anna: Research the night through or sleep (Current hours awake: 40)

[] Research (4d4 RP)

[] Sleep


Perspective Change and Morning activities for Day 2?

[] Stay as Anna
-[] Morning Prayers
-[] Request Duties from Naomi
-[] Patrol Halls for Deviant Furniture

[] Play as Den
-[] Study Tome
-[] Research Manuscripts (choose Stat to focus on)
-[] Explore the City
-[] Investigate the Taint

P.S. Character Sheets Updated

 

[Rickshaw]

Note to future me, stop writing so late at night. Plot holes appear in interludes and general ideas get funky. Tried to fix some of them (like the money involved), but others couldn't be edited without an in-depth alteration to a potential questline so I'll save those edits for when I'm rested and awake. Until then, I offer more words for your visual consumption.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

[X] Sleep
[X] Play as Den
-[X] Study Tome

Day 2
Morning

For the third time in as many days, you wake up in an unfamiliar room. The first time was, of course, the nice but simple room on the second floor of the Marching Mare. The second was in a strange clinic with a stranger napping on your legs. Now, it was a small side room with nothing more than a bed and dresser inside.

You sigh, stretching your legs over the edge and sit up. The walls have no windows, but you can feel the chill air blowing under the door reminding you that it's still early. A shiver trails your spine, motivating you to put on some clothes. It isn't long before you're ready, and a quick glance at the hand mirror sitting atop the dresser proves that you do, in fact, look ready to face the cool morning air. Your wool jacket somewhat matches the scarf covering the lower half of your head, but function was more important than fashion.

You step out into an alley behind the Marching Mare. Unlike the other rooms in the inn, yours does not directly connect to the main floor. It's beyond the kitchen area, and only accessible from this alleyway. There are a few more doors facing this way besides yours, but they aren't as important to you as getting inside and warm is.

Across the path the innkeep, Mary, if you recall correctly, steps out from her own living arrangements. She has bags under her eyes and, like you, does not seem to appreciate the morning chill. She notices your gaze and gives you a nod. You return it and follow her inside.

The tavern is completely empty. You expected as much, considering the hour, but it's still a bit odd to witness. Even when there had been a poor turnout last night, there had been the usual workers in their own corner, Mary, and the staff she had in the kitchen. Now, only Mary and you were in the tavern, it was too early for the other patrons to appear. You couldn't complain though. Yesterday you did as you were supposed to and revealed your Seal. She'd transferred you to your new room, and you'd offered to help her open if she let you keep playing despite being Tainted. She had eagerly taken the deal.

Said woman shambles towards the door to the kitchen. She appears in the window a moment later, holding out a towel. "Tables?" She mutters.

"Sure." You take the cloth, which you realize she'd already wet, and start wiping off the nearest set. Mary disappears into the kitchen, and you can hear her preparing the cookware for the day. It takes you a few minutes, during which a few of the cooks arrive, but eventually, every table is clean and you return the towel behind the window. The beleaguered innkeep thanks you for your help and offers you a cup of coffee in return. You happily take it and find yourself a corner to occupy.

Once you're seated, you pull out the Divine Tome you keep strapped to your hip. There are still quite a few tales which you could study, though it's a gamble on how useful any could be. Some might give you an interesting idea on how to use a spell outside of its normal usage, while others could clue you in on a whole new spell. There were times, though, that they taught you just about nothing.

Story Roll (1d10): 3
[ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI MAGIC]

When you opened to the first page of such a random story, you assumed it was the middle one. It was a tale of an adventuring monster-slayer, summoned by a king to save his daughter who had been cursed. The daughter, long thought dead, had become a creature of the night that preyed upon any who entered her domain. The King had heard that she could be cured if someone survived in her hunting grounds from evening until morning, and so asked the monster-slayer to do so. Later that night, the King approached the monster-slayer and told him that, were his life to be in danger, he was permitted to kill the monster that had once been his daughter.

The monster-slayer entered the hunting grounds in the evening, only to be confronted by a traitor in the King's court who wished the monster to be left alone and ruin the people's faith in their King. The monster-slayer tied up the traitor and fed him to the monster. He fought off the beast not by blade, but by having more hate than it. And when he awoke just before dawn broke and found a little girl where the monster had been, she cut out his throat before her sanity returned.

You blink. Then, you blink again. Followed by some more blinking. Well, that was depressing. This is why the Divine Tome is odd. There is always magic, and always something to learn from it, but the stories they are a part of are an incredibly mixed bag. Legends, myths, and histories are all fair game in there.

You take out a small piece of paper and begin to mark down your thoughts. The magic in this story was subtle. If you hadn't been studying it for a year already, you think you'd have probably missed it. Now, though? You can see the hints as what they are and work from there.

Curse alters girl into a monster
Surviving one night can change her back

That was the gist of the magic mentioned. It wasn't terribly specific, which you'd have appreciated more, but you'll take what you can get. The curse was the first part and probably most important part: this magic wasn't something that worked just to turn any monster or demon into a defenseless little girl, it was something created to counteract a malicious curse or hex. While it was hard to tell with some of the stories you read, curses and hexes seemed to fall into the category of Demonic Magic. Knowing that you could probably label the slayer's magic as Divine, if not a more specific type dedicated to breaking or reversing the effects of Demonic Magic. If you had to guess, it was something involving the ritual of survival.

Anti-Demon Magic reverses effect
Works by overcoming curse?

The curse seemed explicitly designed to turn the princess into a murderous beast. Its purpose was probably something meant to threaten or frighten the King. However, the solution to overcoming it was, oddly enough to you, not involving counter-spells. Rather, it was a simple ritual of actively fighting the curse's power. By preventing the curse from achieving its purpose at the height of its power, it was broken. Or, not broken, but lessened over time. You quickly jot down another note.

DO NOT ASSUME ALL GOES WELL
Wait for all criteria to be completely met before examining results

Perhaps the secret to breaking curses was not in more spells, but in defying the very nature of the curse itself? By overcoming the purpose that designed them, could they truly be reversed? It was something you'd have to think about, but sadly something you were unable to test currently. Or rather, something you were unwilling to test.

Your Seal burns against your chest.

A peek outside reveals the sun is rising steadily higher in the sky. You've spent quite some time studying that one story, and now it's nearly midday. There's still plenty of time to do other things, though. You're in no rush.

-:-:-;-:-:-​

What's the plan for Midday?

[] Research Manuscripts (choose a Stat)

[] Explore the City
-[] Choose a direction

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

[] Talk to Mary
-[] About what? (Write-inn)Get it?

 

[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]

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