Class Roll: 94 + 10 = 104 = Artificial Crit
You know those times where you are just so fucking focused on one task that the whole world seems to just fall by the wayside? Well you're having one of those moments right now, in class.
You can't really seem to explain it. Everything just goes perfectly today. The students are (for once in their lives) quiet and obedient. They hang on to your every word, you even see a couple of them taking notes. You haven't seen that happen since the start of the year! Everyone just seems to pay attention to you and only you. Even their phones are silent and out of sight for more than 5 minutes! You're pretty sure that's a world record somewhere in America!
You get through today's lesson plan quick and easy, in fact you even have time to give everyone the introduction for the next lesson plan. Once class is over, you gather up your things and prepare to brave the rain to get home, when the Principal comes into your classroom. Mr. Wenton looked completely counter to what the middle school movies would have you believe Principals should look like. Rather than a serious business suit with a sour expression greeting you every time you saw him, instead it was a more casual green T-shirt with Khaki pants. He would always greet both the students and teachers with a warm smile, and had no problem showering those who did well with praises.
This has caused him to garner the nickname, "Big Green Softy". However, his cheerful demeanor hides a rather wrathful beast. You shiver slightly at the memory of the last teacher who was caught giving failing students passing grades as long as they gave him a cut of their allowance every week. They say that as of right now, the man can't get a job at any school in the country. Even the more seedy schools refused to hire him, leaving him penniless.
Thankfully, it doesn't look like he's in a firing mood right now, as he drapes his arm over your shoulder, "Craft, my friend! That was some rather impressive teaching you did back there! Tell me, have you been practicing your lesson plans?"
You feel a bit nervous, but smile nonetheless, "Well, um, no sir. I was just giving it my all like I always do."
"That's what I thought! And it's why I decided to give you this bonus today!" he claps you on your back, putting an envelope with your pay and what feels like a bit extra in your right hand. "We need more teachers like you here Craft! One's who actually trying instead of reading off of a written script." With that, he let's you go and walks out the door.
You take the envelope in hand and feel around in it. It certainly seems heavier than usual, proving that the man isn't lying. And just when you blew all your cash on groceries too. Guess this means you gonna need to try a bit harder, make sure that you earn this extra cash. (Bonus to Paycheck! +4 Money! Perk Gained: Those who can't, teach better! Gained some rep with your boss!)
[X] Read the Journal
Journal Read = 61 = Success
I was once like you. Ignorant. Blind. Happy.
There was a time when the world wasn't filled with horror and anguish at every corner. When I worked the fields and withdrew from them the fruits of a hard day's labor. When I could walk to and from my forest home to be with my friends and family.
..When I had, friends and family.
Yet, on the day that my charge came to me, all of that changed.
My family and friends, dead.
My crops, burned and salted.
My home, torn down and left to rot.
I could go nowhere, for no matter whence I fled, they would always be watching me.
They wait in the shadows, and observe at first. They are creatures of the dark, and they have lived for far longer than you or I have. They are not human, they feel no fear nor empathy. By now you have probably seen them watching you, as they have since the day your child came to your doorstep.
You must be wary, for they are everywhere. They are in every shadow, every corner, just out of your vision. Even as I write this journal, I feel their contemptuous gaze on my back. They are watching—no, not watching.
Waiting.
But waiting for what?
(Supernatural Creature Revealed: Shadow Creature! Knowledge gained!)
The rain pitter patters on your car, as you drive through the rain. You sigh and look at the journal in your passenger seat.
That last read really put you on edge. Shadow creatures? Watching your every move? Something straight out of an Orwellian horror book. Not only that, but it didn't really tell you anything useful. Like, maybe he could've told you how to hurt them? If they can be hurt? Maybe he could've said something like, "Oh hey, here's this bunker I made filled to the brim with weapons specifically made to kill these things."? Heck, maybe he could've said something about Anastas—
You stare out of your front window, driving your car on auto-pilot. You look back over at the passenger side seat, and feel something click in your head.
You didn't head over to Barton's today.
Because you didn't bring—
Child Care = 6 = High Failure
YOU FUCKING FORGOT TO DROP HER OFF AT THE DAYCARE!!!
WHICH MEANS SHE'S STILL IN THE HOUSE!!!
You literally put the petal to the metal, as you careen down the street towards your home. You hear a lot of angry honks and calls from fellow drivers, but you ignore them. There are few enough cars in your way that you won't hit anyone, and it isn't the end of the month yet, so the cops aren't out in force. You just focus on getting home before anything bad happens to Anastasia.
'Crap. Crap. Crap.' you think to yourself as you pull hard into your driveway, tires screeching. You just about jump out of the car, and rush over to the front door. Rain begins to soak through your suit, but you don't care right now. You just need to make it inside. Briefly, you notice how none of the windows are shattered, or how your front door is still locked as you reach for the doorknob.
Cursing, you fumble with your keys, struggling to pick the right one out of the other ones. After what feels like an eternity, you take out the right keys and unlock the door. Before you even hear the tumblers click together, you burst through the front door, feet slapping against the carpet as you rush towards your bedroom.
You skid into the doorway—
Anastasia Powers Roll = 88 - 15 (Human Form)= 73 = High Success
And the first thing you see is the dark creature from yesterday, holding it's side in as something leaks between its fingers. It seems to have put on some kind of red cloak since last time, the fabric of which bends and writhes in strange patterns. It's blazing red eyes spot you, and it makes a strangled noise that reminds you of a cornered animal. It's body sinks into the floor until nothing is left of it except some tattered red cloth and some small black stain. Smoke rises from it, giving off the smell of sulfur and burning fabric.
Hearing a cry, you rush over to the basket that you've been using as a makeshift crib. Anastasia is there, crying out and thrashing around in her velvet bindings.
Trust Check = 41 = Success
Upon seeing you, she catches your nose and she stops her thrashing. Her eyes open up, and you see her stare at you for a time. Then her other hand comes up and lightly slaps your right cheek. She's still an infant, so it doesn't have very much punch, but still you feel slightly hurt by it.
You grab onto her hand and hold it for a time. Hoping that your company is enough to let her know that you are sorry for leaving her behind. It seems to be, as she calms down after a couple of minutes, and you pick her up to prepare her bottle for her. (Trust Slightly Decreased! Item gained: Red Cloth! Knowledge Gained: The Shadow Creatures bleed!)
The Rain Worsens! (No School! +1 Action Until it lets up)
Actions: Locked as…
Days until Anastasia Matures: 0
Shall continue in next update!
For those wondering what the Trust Roll was for, it was to see how much Trust you lost. A High Success or Crit would've completely negated it.
