[x] The Demon
[x] Your 10th Birthday!
[x] Advance one Attribute Dice by 2.
-[x] Smarts
[x] Advance One Trait by 1.
-[x] Awareness, by 1.5
[x] Your 10th Birthday!
[x] Advance one Attribute Dice by 2.
-[x] Smarts
[x] Advance One Trait by 1.
-[x] Awareness, by 1.5
3.1- Awakening
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
A long time ago, you remember what it sounds like to wake up and hear the birds chirping outside. Of course, after The Enlightenment, there weren't any birds around anymore. When you mentioned this to Uncle one day during your lessons, he made sure to go out and get something for you.
Now, you wake up to the sound of people's dying screams. Uncle's so thoughtful!
Today, it was a young girl's death screech that woke you from your peaceful slumber. As always, Brother was watching over you and making sure the monsters under your bed didn't get you. As you pull the covers off and sit up, you look over Brother with a tut. He was very ashen-faced, and his features were very angular due to his thin, tight skin. Uncle had a loose-fitting grey dress shirt for him, and Madame Red had spare jeans, but he was still very...un-cute.
With that thought, you went rummaging in your closet. At least you figured out where the dresses from earlier came from; Madame Red stocked them in here when she heard you were moving in. Now, where was that thing...
--
"Ariaaaaaa~! It's time to..." Madame Red sings out as she enters your room, before stopping abruptly at the sight she found.
You stand beside Brother giggling, while he growls at Madame Red. With a bright red bow tied in this thin grey hair.
"..."
"..."
"...Adam said that you're not having lessons today." She says, returning to her cheerful manner. You blink, confused.
"But...If Uncle wasn't teaching me, why did he wake us up?" You ask, looking to Brother for some sort of inspiration. Brother twitches at your gaze and shifts his head to stare at you, but you find no answer in his grey scratched-glass seeming eyes.
Madame Red only smiles and shrugs, red and black Gothic dress (Not unlike the one in your own closet...) swaying slightly.
"Byebye, Ari-chan!" She says, waving as she shuts the door.
...Huh, that was weird. You look back at Brother, who continues staring at you vacantly.
I guess you've got the day free?
[x] Sneak out and follow Madame Red. She was acting a little strange...
[x] Search for Uncle, you're curious why he cancelled lessons today.
[x] Search for someone else, you haven't seen Uncle's friends in a while...
-[x] Daniel
-[x] Levi
[x] Practice Necromancy on your own.
-[x] [Attribute] exercises
[x] Write-in
Now, you wake up to the sound of people's dying screams. Uncle's so thoughtful!
Today, it was a young girl's death screech that woke you from your peaceful slumber. As always, Brother was watching over you and making sure the monsters under your bed didn't get you. As you pull the covers off and sit up, you look over Brother with a tut. He was very ashen-faced, and his features were very angular due to his thin, tight skin. Uncle had a loose-fitting grey dress shirt for him, and Madame Red had spare jeans, but he was still very...un-cute.
With that thought, you went rummaging in your closet. At least you figured out where the dresses from earlier came from; Madame Red stocked them in here when she heard you were moving in. Now, where was that thing...
--
"Ariaaaaaa~! It's time to..." Madame Red sings out as she enters your room, before stopping abruptly at the sight she found.
You stand beside Brother giggling, while he growls at Madame Red. With a bright red bow tied in this thin grey hair.
"..."
"..."
"...Adam said that you're not having lessons today." She says, returning to her cheerful manner. You blink, confused.
"But...If Uncle wasn't teaching me, why did he wake us up?" You ask, looking to Brother for some sort of inspiration. Brother twitches at your gaze and shifts his head to stare at you, but you find no answer in his grey scratched-glass seeming eyes.
Madame Red only smiles and shrugs, red and black Gothic dress (Not unlike the one in your own closet...) swaying slightly.
"Byebye, Ari-chan!" She says, waving as she shuts the door.
...Huh, that was weird. You look back at Brother, who continues staring at you vacantly.
I guess you've got the day free?
[x] Sneak out and follow Madame Red. She was acting a little strange...
[x] Search for Uncle, you're curious why he cancelled lessons today.
[x] Search for someone else, you haven't seen Uncle's friends in a while...
-[x] Daniel
-[x] Levi
[x] Practice Necromancy on your own.
-[x] [Attribute] exercises
[x] Write-in
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Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
...Well, never let anybody tell you you're not optimistic.
Dark Ness
Rises Where Silence Dies
- Location
- The Primordial Soup
The less person who insulted my optimism, pessimism, or any other -ism, got his throat slit, yay!
Arkatekt
Harbinger of Shitluck
@Spector29 for the Necromancy training, do we choose one of Aria's attributes, or one of Brother's attributes to train?
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
Either.
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
Hello!
Sorry about all of this. I really should be more frequent in my updates, but school made that hard when I had to write increasingly hard papers and try to get to bed before I spent another day at school barely awake.
Of course, as most of you probably already heard, I've graduated high school. Now, I'm starting a new job and getting back into the 'Summer' Routine, so this week might be a touch tumultuous. However, I rededicate myself to quality, and this quest in particular.
So as I draft up the next update, I'd like to hear some feedback. What characters do you like? Do you understand the mechanics?
Most importantly, are you having fun? It's my job as a GM to make sure all the players are having a good experience. If that means I have to improve my character development, or scenery description, or even OOC and clean up messy dice or mechanics, then I'd like to hear it!
Otherwise, I hope the next 77 Hours are pleasant for you all.
Sorry about all of this. I really should be more frequent in my updates, but school made that hard when I had to write increasingly hard papers and try to get to bed before I spent another day at school barely awake.
Of course, as most of you probably already heard, I've graduated high school. Now, I'm starting a new job and getting back into the 'Summer' Routine, so this week might be a touch tumultuous. However, I rededicate myself to quality, and this quest in particular.
So as I draft up the next update, I'd like to hear some feedback. What characters do you like? Do you understand the mechanics?
Most importantly, are you having fun? It's my job as a GM to make sure all the players are having a good experience. If that means I have to improve my character development, or scenery description, or even OOC and clean up messy dice or mechanics, then I'd like to hear it!
Otherwise, I hope the next 77 Hours are pleasant for you all.
Recap
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
Alright. I figure I should be more clear about what has happened anyway, since being young has given you a limited perception on things.
It's the year 20XX, on an Earth-like world whose records are long since lost. After the discovery of the mystical Necronomicon, a family is slaughtered. Only the murderer and his younger brother, both males and heirs to the family's prolific fortune, remained. The younger brother escaped with the evil book, forever scarred by his brother's heinous betrayal.
As the brother grew, he met a woman that made all the pain go away. However, as the pain was washed clean, the hate would leave an indelible mark on his soul. He kept the Necronomicon, and one day, in a fit of cold rage, he opened it. To exact revenge and nothing more, he justified to the love of his life.
She left.
As the younger brother watched his love leave, the pain of the past returned as his mind shattered.
Adam became the first person to successfully raise a zombie, the world's first modern Necromancer. Instead of raising an army to take over the world, he made copies of the Necronomicon and watched as the world tore itself apart in greed and lust for power. All he had to do was sweep in and pick up the pieces. While Adam was biding his time and watching the world collapse, he and a group of devoted individuals set up the infrastructure for what would be the Lord Terror's widespread domination.
That brings us to more recent history.
You are Aria Hastur Crowley. As long as you've known, you've lived in your neighborhood with a healthy respect for the Zombies wandering the world. Your father, Aleister, worked in a shed in the back for hours upon hours, making things that he never let you see, and transported somewhere else late at night. After Uncle, who was always very friendly to your family despite them seeming scared of him, came to visit you one day, Mother stepped in and slapped him after they had a fight about something you don't remember.
That was the last you saw of Mother.
Ever since then, Daddy would invite his friends over. They always talked really quiet in the living room where you couldn't quite hear. After a misunderstanding that made you believe your father was plotting to murder you, you reported your fears to Uncle as he came to visit later in the day. Uncle understood from your description that the plot was actually to murder him, but neglected to mention that to you as he helped you murder your father.
As he led you out of your neighborhood, that would be the last you would ever see of it as well.
As you arrived at Uncle's House, I revealed through Omakes that Uncle was actually Adam, the Lord Terror. There you met Madame Red, otherwise known as Ava Pyrre, a woman with a very...close relationship with your Uncle. You also met Daniel and Levi, the latter of whom was called away on business but seemed like a very intense individual.
You spent a bunch of time getting taught by the more affable Daniel in the ways of being an assassin-type.
Later on, you were tasked with going back to your home with Daniel to discover who was now inhabiting your former neighborhood. Almost immediately after setting out however, you were captured. As you were brought to the ruined gates of your former home, you fell into a rather impressive murder frenzy, finally hitting the Madness Cap. This was desirable (or at least not seemed particularly problematic), and I explained that you now have a secondary Health mechanic called Instability. If a character's Instability rises too high, eventually they will succumb to mindless insanity.
Upon swiftly escaping and returning home, Adam began your lessons in Necromancy.
We will be continuing the story on the day of Aria's 10th birthday.
As the brother grew, he met a woman that made all the pain go away. However, as the pain was washed clean, the hate would leave an indelible mark on his soul. He kept the Necronomicon, and one day, in a fit of cold rage, he opened it. To exact revenge and nothing more, he justified to the love of his life.
She left.
As the younger brother watched his love leave, the pain of the past returned as his mind shattered.
Adam became the first person to successfully raise a zombie, the world's first modern Necromancer. Instead of raising an army to take over the world, he made copies of the Necronomicon and watched as the world tore itself apart in greed and lust for power. All he had to do was sweep in and pick up the pieces. While Adam was biding his time and watching the world collapse, he and a group of devoted individuals set up the infrastructure for what would be the Lord Terror's widespread domination.
That brings us to more recent history.
You are Aria Hastur Crowley. As long as you've known, you've lived in your neighborhood with a healthy respect for the Zombies wandering the world. Your father, Aleister, worked in a shed in the back for hours upon hours, making things that he never let you see, and transported somewhere else late at night. After Uncle, who was always very friendly to your family despite them seeming scared of him, came to visit you one day, Mother stepped in and slapped him after they had a fight about something you don't remember.
That was the last you saw of Mother.
Ever since then, Daddy would invite his friends over. They always talked really quiet in the living room where you couldn't quite hear. After a misunderstanding that made you believe your father was plotting to murder you, you reported your fears to Uncle as he came to visit later in the day. Uncle understood from your description that the plot was actually to murder him, but neglected to mention that to you as he helped you murder your father.
As he led you out of your neighborhood, that would be the last you would ever see of it as well.
As you arrived at Uncle's House, I revealed through Omakes that Uncle was actually Adam, the Lord Terror. There you met Madame Red, otherwise known as Ava Pyrre, a woman with a very...close relationship with your Uncle. You also met Daniel and Levi, the latter of whom was called away on business but seemed like a very intense individual.
You spent a bunch of time getting taught by the more affable Daniel in the ways of being an assassin-type.
Later on, you were tasked with going back to your home with Daniel to discover who was now inhabiting your former neighborhood. Almost immediately after setting out however, you were captured. As you were brought to the ruined gates of your former home, you fell into a rather impressive murder frenzy, finally hitting the Madness Cap. This was desirable (or at least not seemed particularly problematic), and I explained that you now have a secondary Health mechanic called Instability. If a character's Instability rises too high, eventually they will succumb to mindless insanity.
Upon swiftly escaping and returning home, Adam began your lessons in Necromancy.
We will be continuing the story on the day of Aria's 10th birthday.
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Three Tiny Amigos
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
You blink. Huh, that was strange. You spaced out for a bit there, but it felt like you were lost in thought for a long time. That's weird.
...
Speaking of weird, it's kinda strange how Madame Red just kind of left after telling you that Uncle will be busy today. You look over to Brother for some kind of insight, but your first zombie companion only stares blankly at the door, before lolling its head over to you after you continue to stare. Sadly, his scratched-glasslike eyes offer nothing to help you once again.
"I guess it's time to get practice in being sneaky!" You huff to yourself.
Bringing your finger out to hush Brother's grunt of acknowledgement, you open the door and begin skulking out of the hallway, zombie in tow.
Your Father's knife sits on the end table by your bed, unnoticed.
--xx--
(Meanwhile, in Paths Unchosen)
Lord Terror was viewing preparations for the day. It wasn't every day your de-facto child, budding assassin and protege turned ten, after all. Especially when they're all the same person.
The door to his office sounded out, as he beckoned to the man who knocked on it to come in.
Levi Blutgeist entered, black cape billowing after him. He was geared for combat, wearing his padded armor and belt holding nearly everything he'd ever need. A bag was loosely slung over his shoulder.
"I'm going. Your little project called for help after all." He stated. After a moment, he sighed, "Plus, somebody needs to get Connor. It'd be inconvenient if he got captured or something and gave up our location."
Adam Hayes nodded, not looking up from his notes on his lesson plan for tomorrow. "Not going to be staying around for the party?"
"I don't think she's ever made an effort to interact with me. Not that I mind. Kids are...kids." Levi replied, neutrally.
"You could stand to be a little more friendly." The Lord Terror gently admonished. "Do you at least have a gift?"
Levi stood impassive in response.
"...Please?"
Levi sighed, moving to undo one of the silver bracelets around his arm. "Fine. It's not like I really need it anymore, I guess."
Adam thanked his friend as he gave up a useful tool just for his charge.
"How long will you be gone? Eventually you'll need to take her out for practicals, because there's no way in hell I'm trusting her to any of my Cultists considering her background."
Levi huffed in disapproval. "I'm probably going to be gone for a while, depending on how badly they need administrative help."
"Okay, but you're not allowed to impede his...ideals. It would ruin the project, otherwise."
"Even if it runs them into the ground?"
"He's interesting, but not irreplaceable."
"Understood."
--xx--
It took you a while, especially because Uncle's castle is so windy despite having lived here for a while now. Eventually, poking your head around the corner...
...and quickly ducking your head back behind it. Just around the corner is some sort of lounge area. It's kinda small, with only a couch and a chair facing towards the fireplace on the back wall. The whole area seems like somebody just took a chunk out of the hallway.
Madame Red was sitting across the couch, legs haphazardly hanging over the top of the couch as she lies on it, surveying the three boys that look about the same age as you standing with their backs to the fireplace.
Facing you.
While Madame Red hasn't noticed, the boys certainly had. The boy to the left almost flinches when he catches sight of you, but that doesn't seem to alert Madame Red. He's darker skinned, hiding his eyes behind his shaggy dark hair.
The middle boy stands with his back straight, a small smirk appearing on his face as his dark eyes flash to meet yours. He's very confident, and very supremely dressed as well. This was clearly one of the boys that lived in big houses, before The Enlightenment.
The boy on the right...hasn't reacted at all. He's very pale-skinned, and has almost a silvery white hair. He seems very...exotic, very quite unfamiliar clothes and not at all reacting to your presence.
This seems incredibly suspicious to you, and Brother in particular goes taut. Although what sets him on edge, you have no idea.
What do?
[x] Attempt to quietly communicate
-[x] Who?
--[x] (Optional) How?
[x] Announce your presence
[x] Stay quiet, and try to listen to what Madame Red is saying.
[x] Write-in
...
Speaking of weird, it's kinda strange how Madame Red just kind of left after telling you that Uncle will be busy today. You look over to Brother for some kind of insight, but your first zombie companion only stares blankly at the door, before lolling its head over to you after you continue to stare. Sadly, his scratched-glasslike eyes offer nothing to help you once again.
"I guess it's time to get practice in being sneaky!" You huff to yourself.
Bringing your finger out to hush Brother's grunt of acknowledgement, you open the door and begin skulking out of the hallway, zombie in tow.
Your Father's knife sits on the end table by your bed, unnoticed.
--xx--
(Meanwhile, in Paths Unchosen)
Lord Terror was viewing preparations for the day. It wasn't every day your de-facto child, budding assassin and protege turned ten, after all. Especially when they're all the same person.
The door to his office sounded out, as he beckoned to the man who knocked on it to come in.
Levi Blutgeist entered, black cape billowing after him. He was geared for combat, wearing his padded armor and belt holding nearly everything he'd ever need. A bag was loosely slung over his shoulder.
"I'm going. Your little project called for help after all." He stated. After a moment, he sighed, "Plus, somebody needs to get Connor. It'd be inconvenient if he got captured or something and gave up our location."
Adam Hayes nodded, not looking up from his notes on his lesson plan for tomorrow. "Not going to be staying around for the party?"
"I don't think she's ever made an effort to interact with me. Not that I mind. Kids are...kids." Levi replied, neutrally.
"You could stand to be a little more friendly." The Lord Terror gently admonished. "Do you at least have a gift?"
Levi stood impassive in response.
"...Please?"
Levi sighed, moving to undo one of the silver bracelets around his arm. "Fine. It's not like I really need it anymore, I guess."
Adam thanked his friend as he gave up a useful tool just for his charge.
"How long will you be gone? Eventually you'll need to take her out for practicals, because there's no way in hell I'm trusting her to any of my Cultists considering her background."
Levi huffed in disapproval. "I'm probably going to be gone for a while, depending on how badly they need administrative help."
"Okay, but you're not allowed to impede his...ideals. It would ruin the project, otherwise."
"Even if it runs them into the ground?"
"He's interesting, but not irreplaceable."
"Understood."
--xx--
It took you a while, especially because Uncle's castle is so windy despite having lived here for a while now. Eventually, poking your head around the corner...
...and quickly ducking your head back behind it. Just around the corner is some sort of lounge area. It's kinda small, with only a couch and a chair facing towards the fireplace on the back wall. The whole area seems like somebody just took a chunk out of the hallway.
|---|
|---|
|--------------x---|
|-----------X------|
|-----------X------|
|---|
|---|
|---|
|--------------x---|
|-----------X------|
|-----------X------|
|---|
|---|
Madame Red was sitting across the couch, legs haphazardly hanging over the top of the couch as she lies on it, surveying the three boys that look about the same age as you standing with their backs to the fireplace.
Facing you.
While Madame Red hasn't noticed, the boys certainly had. The boy to the left almost flinches when he catches sight of you, but that doesn't seem to alert Madame Red. He's darker skinned, hiding his eyes behind his shaggy dark hair.
The middle boy stands with his back straight, a small smirk appearing on his face as his dark eyes flash to meet yours. He's very confident, and very supremely dressed as well. This was clearly one of the boys that lived in big houses, before The Enlightenment.
The boy on the right...hasn't reacted at all. He's very pale-skinned, and has almost a silvery white hair. He seems very...exotic, very quite unfamiliar clothes and not at all reacting to your presence.
This seems incredibly suspicious to you, and Brother in particular goes taut. Although what sets him on edge, you have no idea.
What do?
[x] Attempt to quietly communicate
-[x] Who?
--[x] (Optional) How?
[x] Announce your presence
[x] Stay quiet, and try to listen to what Madame Red is saying.
[x] Write-in
Spector29
It Only Gets Worse From Here
That which is not dead may eternal lie; and with strange aeons even death may die.
Which is a weird quote in the context of Necromancy, but whatever.
I'm resolved to only ever keeping one quest going at a time, even if I have to drop off for a while. So, with that, I'd like to pose a question:
Would people like to play this quest again, or is there nothing or particular interest here? With the helpful recap above new players can actually jump right in, and I'll be happy to answer questions as well. I can also reboot this if people don't like playing insane ten year olds. Otherwise, I'm more than capable of moving on to another Quest.
Which is a weird quote in the context of Necromancy, but whatever.
I'm resolved to only ever keeping one quest going at a time, even if I have to drop off for a while. So, with that, I'd like to pose a question:
Would people like to play this quest again, or is there nothing or particular interest here? With the helpful recap above new players can actually jump right in, and I'll be happy to answer questions as well. I can also reboot this if people don't like playing insane ten year olds. Otherwise, I'm more than capable of moving on to another Quest.