The Ebott Incident - From the letters and journal of He Who Waits Behind

[Ol' Tin Knight]

8 rounds remain until Roberts is overrun.
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
'Henry' Chooses PUZZLE > Climb Pile
Frisk Chooses PUZZLE > Hide
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Dig hole
Lee Chooses ITEM > Dufflebag > Withdraw demo-pack
​

HWWB scrambled for a few moments looking for the spot the Doctor had specified, before finally finding it and beginning his ascent.

TEST: Climbing skill... Failure!​

...Or trying to at least, before getting only a short distance up and discovering his 'hands' are unable to find any purchase on the pile, followed immediately by him somewhat comedically falling off and flat on his face. He quickly gets up and dusts himself, more so his trench coat, off. As directed by the plan, nearby, Frisk has found a hiding spot amidst the scrap heaps and is readying the signal they agreed on, while some distance away, Lee and Jones are preparing the backup plan.

7 rounds remain until Roberts is overrun.
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
'Henry' Chooses ACT > Cast Spells > Levitate
Frisk Chooses ACT > Wait(Continue hiding)
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Dig hole
Lee Chooses ITEM > Demo-pack > Prime explosive
​

HWWB glanced around a few times times to see if there was a better way, before suddenly... it hit him. His own palm, that is, as he recalls that there's a very context sensitive spell he knows that is rarely useful but perfect for this situation. Thus, after dramatically t-posing, he intones "Anyone else going up? Cause I am! Ellen's Enchanted Elevator!" He proceeded to do exactly what the spell's more common casual name would lead one to think he would do, and levitates directly up into the air, leaving a trail of magical sparkles behind him. As soon as he reached the top of the scrap heap, he reached out his 'arms' and grabbed the wreck on top of the pile, ended the spell's effect, and pulled himself on top, hammer still firmly in hand. He could vaguely hear "Alright, it's done boss!" followed by a "Keep it down, don't draw the abomination's attention!" in between the continuing bursts of gunfire.

6 rounds remain until Roberts is overrun.
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
'Henry' Chooses PUZZLE > Wait for Signal
Frisk Chooses ACT > Jump out and taunt
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Co-op > Plant and Bury Demo-pack
Lee Chooses ITEM > Demo-pack > Co-op > Plant and bury Demo-pack
​

Rusty old Sledgehammer held in a tight death grip, crouched on top of a pile of old junk cars at least ten or twenty feet in the air, he waited
patiently, if tensely, for the signal to jump down and swing with everything he had. If everything goes to plan, Frisk will lure the creature straight here beneath you, so once you receive the signal, there is almost no way you could possibly miss such a large target. ...Right? Yet, you continue to worry to yourself over insignificant concerns, in a time when what is needed is decisive action. He desperately wanted to argue back, but couldn't think of a good counter-argument to what is simply an uncomfortable, factual statement.

5 Rounds until Roberts is overrun.
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
'Henry' Chooses PUZZLE > Wait for Signal FIGHT
Frisk Chooses PUZZLE > Lure SCP-2086
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Cover up half-buried hole
Lee Chooses ACT > Wait PUZZLE > Hide
​

Thus, it goes on and on, wrestling with his doubts on top of the scrap heap. That is, until he hears it, the signal they had arranged; a certain whistle, as close as the human mouth could get to the sound of Roberts' distinctive truck horn! His 'body' almost moved before he even had time to really process it, hefting the hammer over his head. Then, just a moment later, when his mind actually had caught up, he screamed and leaped off the top of the heap. When he leapt, he did so blind, not really knowing where the target was other then straight down.

•••••|•••••
Hit!​

...Fortunately, that's all he needed to know, as fortune brought the rusty old hammer down onto the metal-shelled form of the adult SCP-2086, producing a sound like metal denting before the hammer deflected uselessly off of it. It almost seemed to flinch in pain for a moment.

I remember the part that came right after the hammer deflected off the bus part of the 'man eating bus' pretty well, mainly because I became acquainted with a downside of my half-human state that I had never actually felt before; unimaginable pain, such that I will probably never forget that moment, unless it happens a lot more in the future.

But almost immediately after it left this 'flinching' state, it let out a piercing screech and retaliated with a set of stabbing motions from one of it's many razor-tipped tendril-like black legs. It all happened so fast, that HWWB didn't even have time to phase-shift to gas, and felt it as the leg penetrated his 'chest'. You are in excruciating pain. Like, really, if you had neurons, every single one of them would be screaming 'ow!' at your brain. That also came dangerously close to where your heart is when you are solid. A little more to the left and- Ok, alright!? I get it!, He mentally interrupted the immensely unhelpful narration, even as he phase-shifted and essentially blew away from the offending limb and towards Frisk. He resolidified a short distance away, promptly gripped his chest where it had previously been hit, developed a horrid hacking cough, and spit up a small amount of a fine reddish liquid into his 'hand'. Shaking and quivering, he spared just a moment to check his hand, only to see the liquid had begun to bubble, pop, and sizzle. Sanguis Magicae!? ...Oh, dear creator, that's bad.

Meanwhile, some time (several updates) in the future at site 17:​

"Well then pay attention to the rat when he's talking, then! Sanguis Magicae is latin, it means a couple different things in English, but the big one is 'blood of magic' or 'magic blood'. There's a related concept in Common, that also basically means 'blood of magic'. Monsters, regardless of type, don't bleed. ...Normal blood, at least. But, if you were to deal them a severe physical injury that doesn't immediately kill them, some types of monster, boss monsters, animagus, and skeletons being the usual three suspects, would or at least could, begin bleeding Sanguis Magicae." "...So how is that different from normal blood?" "Normal blood doesn't boil at room temperature when exposed to open air, does it?" "...No, I don't think it does..." "It doesn't. Monsters who start bleeding this stuff are almost always basically dead, just a hair away from collapsing into a pile of dust on the ground."

Meanwhile, in the present: ​

Frisk is further away from the giant insect when it goes berserk and so gets a little more time to react. A little more time translates into a scraped knee from the roll they perform, and a small slash to the cheek from the near miss. Jones is perfectly oblivious as he quickly finishes setting the trap by covering the only half filled-in hole with whatever he has to hand. Lee however came running when he heard the signal and looks on for just a moment in stupefied awe and terror, before quickly ducking behind some nearby cover.

4 rounds until Roberts is overrun
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
'Henry' Chooses PUZZLE > Hide & Receive Duffelbag
Frisk Chooses PUZZLE > Taunt & Lure SCP-2086 to trap
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Hide
Lee Chooses ITEM > Duffelbag > Give
​

After that, it was all a big blur. I tried to get to cover, only to find the doctor already there. He *shush*ed me and handed me the duffelbag with all the charges in it. He told me to take out the device inside, and detonate the explosive, not right when the creature was on top of them, but just before it stepped over them, so it'd be stunned.

3 rounds until Roberts is overrun
​

So, I just did what he told me to do. It worked perfectly, but I think Frisk got caught a little. Maybe not, considering they were uninjured aside from the injuries the giant bus gave them, but regardless of how it happened, something threw them off of their feet. As Lee ran to the abomination with the crowbar, I ran over to check on them. They, somehow, landed directly on top of the body of a dead African American in scarlet robes which looked like it was fairly new. It had a little red box in one hand. Frisk, curious, opened the box, and discovered a silver necklace with an amulet engraved with '帰る'. For some reason, this struck me as familiar, though I didn't get much time to think on it, as shortly thereafter, fate decided it wanted to have a laugh at our expense, because right as I had taken the necklace from them and was holding it up to what little light there was to inspect it, lightning hit right where we were standing. I think at that exact moment, my hand was on Frisk's shoulder, which maybe explains why they would travel with me. Anyway, I passed out, and when I woke up next, I'd be in South America, though I wouldn't know that immediately.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

I'm here to announce that the beginning of part 3 will be Monday, and I'll be putting up one part every day except Sunday as an apology for the extended delay between part 2 and part 3.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Lee's POV
2 Rounds remain until Roberts is overrun.
•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
Jones Chooses PUZZLE > Hook up Old Trailer
Lee Chooses PUZZLE > Wake & Evacuate 'Passengers'
​

Lee had just pried open the 'door' and jammed it open when, right after a thunder crack that sounded like it was no more then a few feet away, he glanced over and noticed that the Djinn and the kid had disappeared into thin air. Ah hell... don't have time to worry about that! Focus! Shortly after, Jones's yell made Lee aware that he had noticed too; "Hey, Doc? You know the weird little kid and the pink gas cloud? Yeah, I think they're gone!" Before Lee could even respond however, Roberts shouted between bursts, "Don't worry about them right now! I'm running low, here! ...And I don't think there's enough room on this truck for everyone on that" he is suddenly cut off by the loud sound of a burst of heavy machinegun fire. "-THING." Lee thinks to himself as he grabs a random nearby 'passenger', a old man with a cane resting between their legs, and lightly shakes them to wake them up. He's right... what do we do about that...? "Jones! Look for something to carry more people!" "Like what!?" I don't know!? Look for some old trailer or something?" Finally, after a few tense moments, the 'passenger' wakes up, and despite clearly still being groggy, heroically grabs the cane and hops to his feet when Lee tells him to help wake all the others. Just a moment later, they wake another really old man in a white suit, who also joins them. Together, these three, Lee, Deion, and Abner, go around and clear out the 'bus', instructing them to leave and run for the truck. After getting several other people off, Lee finds Riley.

She rubs her forehead as she slowly comes to. "Ohh... did anyone get the number of whatever truck just hit me?" After a brief moment, her eyes go wide as she seems to recognize her rescuer. "Lee!? Oh thank god, Lee! ...I'm sorry..." Lee witnessed her emotions ping pong between confusion, to elation and relief, to regret in an instant. "Don't be, despite everything, you were right to be upset. but we can talk later, for now, lean on me. I'm going to walk you off." He did exactly what he said he would, helping her off of the abomination as fast as they could. Once they were outside, she seemingly became more steady. "You alright from here?" "Yes, I can manage sweetie." The veteran researcher looked over to the truck, where several had already climbed in and a few of the men were helping Jones hook up what looked like an old rusty flatbed trailer with equally rusty mesh siding. He pointed over in the trucks direction. "Good to hear, Honey. Do you think you can make it over there?" She looks over at the general chaos with a clearly dubious look. "...I don't know. I'll try." "...Ok. Be careful." The couple of more then two decades exchanged a short kiss, and then broke away, Riley darting through the chaos to the truck, Lee back inside the beast to get as many people out as possible. The creature had begun to shift, so they didn't have long left. The three men that had been going thus far continuing moving people off of the 'bus' as fast as possible, in some cases abandoning waking them in favor of having others they had awoken carry them away.

1 Round remains until Roberts is overrun.

•FIGHT •PUZZLE •ACT •ITEM •MERCY
Jones Chooses MERCY > Flee
Lee Chooses MERCY > Flee
​

The three evacuate the last 'passenger', a stranger to all three of them, and escape the beast's insides just in time, as right after they step off, the creature releases a mighty screech, announcing it has recovered fully. The trio and the stranger with them take this as their signal to run like their lives depend on it, because they likely do. Lee and Abner begin to pull out ahead and leave the other two trailing behind, with the creature gaining on them rapidly. Miraculously, just as it looks like the ones lagging behind won't make it, Roberts pauses between bursts, grabs a small pineapple-shaped object from a pouch on his waist, and tosses it over a pile of old wrecks towards Abner and Roberts. Abner spots it, reaches up, and perfectly catches it. And despite his age and how long it's been he still remembers his experiences from decades before; he pulls the pin, releases the safety lever, and throws the grenade at Deion. By the time it lands, Deion isn't there anymore, and when it explodes a moment later, the SCP-2086 instance is, resulting in it absorbing all but a few errant fragments, two of which narrowly miss Deion and slash up his suit, the remainder embedding themselves in the surrounding scrap piles. The creature's underside oozes a sickly green ichor in the immediate aftermath and it's left stunned long enough for them to break away. They all promptly pile into the truck, the truckbed, and the flatbed trailer, wherever there's room for them to squeeze in. "Bit cramped, couldn't have done any better, Jones?" Jones, who has returned to his place in the driver seat, yells back "Didn't have much time, not like I could be picky. Be thankful we all somehow fit!" Right after, Roberts squeezes the trigger, ripping off one last burst, only for it to prematurely end with a *click* sound after the last round is fired. "Jones, get us out of here!" "What about th-" "NOW, JONES!" As an injured adult SCP-2086, two more uninjured adult SCP-2086s, and a swarm of juvenile SCP-2086s came barreling down towards them, Jones simply nodded, turned the key in the ignition, and drove like a mad man.

It would be a couple hours later when the entire lot off them, looking much worse for wear, were picked up by a Foundation MTF, and rode their evac helicopter off into the setting sun. Lee knew he would have to face a reckoning for this giant mess, but for now, he was just happy everyone somehow got out unhurt.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

June 19th​, 3:00 A.M. local time (i.e., CDT or UTC/GMT -5), Rural Tennessee, SCP Foundation Site 38

"So, again I must ask, what the fuck were you thinking, Lee!?" The doctor just sighed and rubbed his tired eyes as Site 38's director continued to chew him out in the old dusty 'interview' room, as they had been for the past hour or so. "I was thinking this could kill two birds with one stone, help our ongoing efforts to locate the ritual scrolls and help ensure my family was safe. And I was right to do it, wasn't I? Everyone got out fine but only because I had the help, secrecy isn't really breached any more then it already was, and we got the scroll as planned. Heck, we even found some of the escaped 2086s." "That's not the point and you know it! This entire shit-show could have easily given everything away, you intentionally concealed the recovered Roberts from the rest of the Foundation for still unclear motives, and there are now two anomalies completely unaccounted for thanks to your screw-up!"

So the two of them really did just up and disappear... "I have no clue what you are talking about," he said while feigning ignorance as convincingly as possible. The director practically glared lasers through his eye sockets. "Don't play games, Lee! Special-classification Humanoid Frisk and Special-classification Semi-Humanoid 'HWWB'. You took them with you, correct?" "If I denied that, it would be a lie." "Then where are they! Huh!? Where did they go!?" "...I-" Before he could answer, a male figure in a black suit, white dress shirt, and red tie entered the room and flashed his id. Lee missed seeing what it said but the director seemed taken aback by whatever it was. Then the man spoke: "Director, the Adminstrator and 05-5 will be taking over this interview via a remote call. You are no longer needed. You may go about your business." Oh crap. ...What have I done? I'm so dead... The director fumed for a few moments, but quickly departed. Shortly there after, a Site guard helped the man in the suit wheel in a large screen. A tense awkward second passed, dragging on for what felt like an eternity as they set everything up. Then...

Spoiler: He appeared.

"A-Administrator, correct? I've never seen you-" "I do not have... time... for idle chatter." At that moment, the image of the being onscreen in front of him shrunk and shifted to the left, while a second, more familiar feminine face popped in on the right. "05-5?" She curtly nodded. "Dr. Sessions." The suited being on the left rose a hand and... coughed? Perhaps? Before quickly taking control of the conversation, "Doctor Lee Sessions. Bluntly, minus the familial aspect, this is the kind of stunt we would have expected out of Doctor Jack Bright, not you. You have a sterling record with our organization. Few in the Foundation can claim to have served as long and as well as you have, not without any real notable incidents to their name like you, at least. Until today, that is. ...But understand, doctor. This incident, taking two anomalies out of containment without prior approval, then losing those same anomalies... under ordinary circumstances, even something like this, would not necessarily warrant an intervention from this level... from the very top, so to speak..., but these are not ordinary circumstances, as I assume you well know." "...Yes...?" "I assume you are pondering what pronoun to refer to me with? Sir, shall be adequate." "...Understood, sir. And yes, sir. I know."

The... man(?) paused and adjusted his tie, which Julanar took as an opening to address him herself. "Under these circumstances, honestly if you were just some random researcher, we wouldn't even be having this chat. The administrator would handle the paperwork, and I the finances, to... terminate your employment. You understand me?" He gulped loudly as he shook his head, eventually responding back "Yes, ma'am." He got the message the exact word choice was trying to send him loud and clear. "However, given all the Administrator has already spoken about; your long service, your reliability etc., as well as the fact that you did accomplish the goals you set out to accomplish... well, we decided that the two of us are going to ask you some questions. How you answer them, will determine how exactly we move forward. ...And whether you move forward at all. Has everything we've said thus far been made all clear to you, Doctor Sessions?" "Crystal clear."

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

The song used for this part:

Spoiler: Hell's Comin' With Me, by Poor Mans Poison

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oDxynh7rG0
Hell's Comin' With Me

June 19th​, 4:25 A.M. local time (i.e., UTC/GMT -4), 2 Miles from the former site of the 'Peoples Temple Agricultural Project', Guyana

Frisk's POV​

They wake up under an absolutely massive tree that has a rotting tire swing loosely hanging from one of it's branches with a splitting headache and a strange feeling of deja vu, like they had been here before. But that's not possible, I've never been outside of Canada before... all this. ...Maybe it's one of the SOULs? One of the other kids has been here? But, why? And how? ...I remember now... Shaking the confusion and metaphorical cobwebs from their head, they glance around and locate the prone form of 'Henry' nearby, partially concealed by some bush. They then notice the snake crawling on their very much solid body. So they sleep solid, huh? Indeed. In other news, the snake appears to be a member of the Bothrops bilineatus species, which is quite common in the Amazon, which suggests we are in South America. ...Cool I guess. But how do you know this? The natural sciences have always fascinated me... or I suppose that they fascinated me, back when I was alive, is a more accurate thing to say. Don't you have bigger things to worry about? They look around a bit more and find a stick, which they use to very carefully pick the snake off of the sleeping form of 'Henry'. ...They may have woken him with a loud shout when the snake started crawling up the stick towards them.

HWWB's POV​

He wakes up partially buried in a bush, with a splitting headache dulled by the sudden adrenaline spike from being startled awake by the most girly scream he's heard in a while. He just barely has time to process these facts before he feels a stick drop onto his foot, followed by something slimy slithering up his trench coat. ...Oh hell no. He quickly stands, finds the snake in his coat, and instantly de-solidifies, letting his clothes (except his literally, conveniently anomalous pants, which appear to follow comic book logic for all he understands of them) drop to ground, taking the snake with them. Frisk quickly zips forward and flings the snake off of his shirt and coat, allowing him to quickly put them back on. As he puts his upper clothes back on, however, he notices something out of the ordinary. Not the bag filled with explosives and a detonator, his foggy memory told him Lee had handed him that prior to whatever had happened to them, not the medallion with glowing Japanese kanji, he was sure that's what had happened to them, but in the bush he had arrived unconscious in, there just happened to be a strap of fabric, almost looked like a weathered bandanna. It felt extremely... familiar, somehow.

Frisk's POV​

That's when it hit them; he, no, they, had worn a bandanna almost just like this, back in the underground. And the rotting old tire swing, I know where this is. They didn't even realize that their seemingly eternally closed eyes had opened wide in surprise.

HWWB's POV​

'Henry', however, definitely noticed. It's hard not too when their eyes are flickering between their hard to describe normal eye color (perhaps 'rusty'? It's a reddish brown) and orange. ...The ritual! I think we just found another important object to one of the children! But... that one... what family could be out here? ...And why did I not foresee anything about this, specifically!? ...Or most of them, actually!? He quickly shook his head and thrust the bandanna remnant into the kid's hands. "Ok, so I barely believe it myself, but I think we've discovered the circumstances to put another of the lost souls to rest, by complete accident. So, just hold that for me, and I'll go over everything i know about the one I think it is, alright?" They just nod and take the fabric.

I will once again relay everything I told them, though this time, there's not much to tell. This one had always stood out next to the others, for a few reasons. I didn't know it then, but I was about to get my answers as to why. Their name was Hanah O'Hare, and they, like a lot of the fallen children, were born in Canada. He, or rather they, were specifically born biologically male in late 1989. They were actually the last to have fallen, until Frisk, that is. They were born to a loving mother and father, especially the father, who had a love of both professional boxing and wrestling, both of which he would pass on to Hanah. He also chose his name (likely not considering the long term consequences.) and spoiled them rotten at every available opportunity. Unfortunately, things can never be so simple when it comes to the fallen children. From an early age, he was picked on for having a girl's name, and despite being one of the most macho boys in the entire class, concealed insecurities about their gender due to fears that it would become worse if it was revealed. The only person who knew of these concerns, was their councilor, whose records are actually the source of a lot of information on their early life and decision to embrace a new identity, even at such a young age.

Unfortunately, even with that, nothing would really improve at first. Indeed, things would sharply decline, as first their mother, then their father would die. The mother from a condition her family sadly had a history with; breast cancer. The father from health complications due to his work as a chemical engineer. They were placed at just eight years old in the custody of their aunt, some of their last living family. However, while the aunt likely did love them in her own way, She was extremely old fashioned and conservative, uninterested in and uncaring of their identity issues, which she regarded as 'new age propaganda'. Of course, the worst was yet to come, but I myself didn't know that yet, so I couldn't explain it. Instead, I said what I knew: around ten years old, in late 1999, the aunt was apparently repeatedly contacted by unknown but highly suspicious figures, according to an old local police report. Then, suddenly, in early 2000, both they and Hanah just vanished off the face of the earth. No records, no witnesses, no visions or foresight I had or could receive on them, nothing. They were just gone. It was more than a year later in 2001, when, somehow, no one really knows how, Hanah made their way from wherever they had been for the past year or so, to their family's old house, then from there to Mt. Ebott, where they fell into the underground on September 9th​. They died the very next day. They wouldn't talk about why they were there with anyone, other then that they had 'felt called here'. Despite that, I later found out that the date they fell down was a couple of weeks before their birthday, so they were 11 when they fell. They also were easily the most violent and, well, brave of all the children who had fallen thus far, at one point taking on the entire royal guard at the same time bare-handed. They were also one of the few who's name wasn't Frisk to have themselves a kill-count, and a big one at that. By the time the guard subdued them and brought them to Asgore to be more or less executed, they had killed over two dozen monsters, again, bare-handed. Though, these were for sure accidental, as they seemed to usually prefer beating monsters until they could be spared, or to put it another, cruder way, preferred 'merely' beating them into submission.

"Of course, that explanation still leaves lots of questions. Like, why is this happening here, of all places? The kids' SOULs need to be put in touch with meaningful relatives for this to work, but what relatives could there possibly be out here? The only one left I'm aware of is their Aunt but... surely not right? And where did they go, when they dropped off the face of the earth? And why did they leave? All good questions kid... but I can't answer any of them." "...I believe I can though, perhaps with a song? And before you ask, yes. It's me." He had turned away from the kid at some point; he spun around and witnessed their eyes glowing orange. "Now, to begin... why did I leave..." He noticed their eyes drift to the rotting tire swing, and felt that same familiar presence wash over him.


🎼Some time ago, right here at this very place we stand,
there stood a little boy surrounded by a bunch of the devil's own sons,
well you see they struck at him, just watched as he spun and fell,
then they all laughed as he turned around slow.
They said, 'you ain't welcome round here anymore, you just might as well go'.
He wiped the blood from his face as he slowly came to his knees.
He said, 'I'll be back when you least expect it. Hell's coming with me.'
I was that boy, and hell's coming with me.🎼

"...I... I see. That must have been rough. Where were you then?"

🎼There is a ridge hidden in the depths of the jungle,
where all those poor souls where when they died,
and if you listen real close, you can hear 'em like a ghost,
saying 'you're never going to make it out alive'.
North of there you will find a brand new little town,
hidden from prying eyes, built on the wreckage of the old.
They got a secret they keep like a slave,
they got a black magic preacher, you'd do well to let him teach her.🎼

...Her?... Are they referring to Noelle? Interesting... They motion, using Frisk's body like a puppet to do so, in a northwards direction through the forest, even as they wrap the bandanna around Frisk's head. "Well, lead the way then. To great adventure, onwards!"

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Disclaimer: I mean no disrespect to the families of the Jonestown victims, what happened there was a senseless waste of life. This disclaimer itself probably isn't necessary, but when approaching anything within even a thousand yard radius of sensitive topics like this, it's best to be safe.

Spoiler: The Will of One, by The Protomen

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l00yZtFrAM
The Will of One.

Spoiler: Light Up The Night, by The Protomen

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8pywyGywWg
Light Up The Night.

Spoiler: Intruder, by Longestsoloever

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlNCDSz5BeE
Intruder, a Mandela Catalouge song.

Spoiler: Hell's Comin' with Me, by Poor Man's Poison

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g33N8WKTVUI
Hell's Comin' with Me.

Together, HWWB and Hanah possessing Frisk's body slowly picked their way North through the Jungle. Eventually, they came to an old dirt path through the Jungle, which once lead to the site of one of the most infamous mass death events associated with a cult within living memory. Well, this is it, this is the place. HWWB squinted and stared. He even cast true sight with the usual swiping motion under his eyes. But... "I don't see anything. All I see, is a place where something used to be, and the wreckage from that. ...But I'm guessing what little of that I'm seeing is from Jonestown, not whatever place you and your aunt were staying?" They nodded, then glared at him and suddenly spoke phrases with no set up that had little meaning to him, "O magna majestas coccineum, precor, ut quondam fecisitis pro vacuo Romulus, da ocellos, da oculos. Ut nunc videmus, maiestas tua; nobis terra adest!" "Hey, what the heck are you going on about!? Warn me next time so I can cast universal translation and understand what you're trying to say! ...Sounds like latin, am I right about that? Probably a trigger-" He didn't have time to finish that thought before he turned around and came face-to-face with an entire town that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. "...Yeah, definitely a trigger phrase. How long has this place been here?" "You don't think it's an illusion or something?" "Eh, of course not. I've never seen something like this at this scale, sure, but I've seen magics and... other things, that mess with people's perception. Probably that is what's going on here, right?"

"Yes, but no. It affects probability some too." "...Interesting. And you know this... how exactly?" "Father Red wasn't really secretive about how it worked, but no one else really asked because of the towers. I think I amused him with my questions, honestly. ...For awhile, at least. It's still occupied, everyone is still here, look over there." He looked exactly where he was pointed to and saw a figure wearing scarlet robes. In the Amazon rain forest. "Hmm. Ok, I'm going to take a wild shot in the dark and say our luck couldn't get any weirder and your aunt is currently a member of the Children of the Scarlet King?" "Yes, but not by choice. ...Well, not really." His skepticism most of somehow been audible, since they continued, "They manipulated her into joining this... project, I think they called it, using the same tactics as your typical cult. Mom actually taught me all about it; I remember her and dad arguing about it actually. ...But unlike most cults, once we got here, unless for whatever reason you were me, you couldn't leave." "Couldn't?" They point up to a big, notably less rusty looking then everything else around it metal tower, then another identical one on the opposite side of the town. "Those towers... they do something to your brain once you're here. Something more then just cult brainwashing, though they also broadcast that too. I don't know what exactly, Father Red was very open usually but never opened up about that."

The two of them both paused and hid behind foliage nearby as a figure in tatty clothing left the town and passed them by. When they met back up, they both, for reasons unknown to either of them, wound up staring at the old sign that once was intended to welcome visitors to Jonestown. It had been vandalized, but not in a good way, as letters written in red, previously concealed, spelt out praise for Jones' vision, condemnation of all who viewed what happened here as a tragedy, and ended on three simple words; "Hope dies alone." Next to all of this, in much smaller black text that looks like it came from a fountain pen; "Here lies Hanah O'Hare. Taken too soon, like so many before him." Before HWWB could even really process everything that had happened and what was before him, the fallen child with him began once more to sing:

🎼I have seen this place a thousand times.
In my dreams at night and from up on high,
I have watched this town burn!
It's a fate that is well deserved for this place, but I can't help
but think what of the people here?🎼

After a moment for his head to catch up with everything that had happened, he answered,

🎵Well, if everything that you've said is true,
then there is no hope that they can escape,
no hope someday they will learn their mistake.🎵

🎼But then what am I supposed to do!?
I had family here, do they linger still?
I must know the truth!🎼

🎵Seems to me you're taking a mighty big risk,
maybe don't play such games with Frisk?🎵

🎼Even here it is not safe,
even this grave has been defaced!
Someone has written, open this cloth, in some angry hand,
Hope
Dies
ALONE!
HOPE DIES ALONE!🎼

I can read, kid. He mentally eye-rolled at this display playing out before him, even though the kid was clearly down in the dumps. ...But, he suddenly felt a mix of that same musical presence, conviction, and some... alien third presence, well up from within:

🎵It only dies alone if it rides alone.
Take it from me kid, [[It's dangerous to go alone!]]!
You wanna ride in there and bust some heads,
well, you got [[guts]] kid, for sure,
that ain't enough though,
but don't worry 'cause right beside you, you got the cure.
Just follow my advice; take this one real slow, and me n you'll get the dough.
Because just between you and me,
I've been itchin' for a chance to really show the meaning of 'old school heroic'.
Between the two of us by the time we're done, this place,
well it'll be buried deeper then the life of the Paleozoic.🎵

He pauses, takes a deep breath, hefts up the dufflebag with the explosive charges in it, glances at Hanah, and asks them, "So. You ready to go bury this place? You ready to go knock down some... probably mind-control towers?" They just look back with a face that reads complete and total joy and excitement, even though they were just moping a moment before. "Never thought you'd ask, old man!" "...Old man?" Not that I'm not old, but that's surprisingly hurtful. "Then, [[Take this.]]!"

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

The plan was simple, we would split up and each go into the town and take down one of the two towers. If one of us encountered this 'Father Red' character or anyone else that tried to get in our way, we would deal with them as we saw fit. To that end, I gave them a set of charges and the little instruction booklet from the duffelbag. I kept the rest and the remote detonator, in case that wound up being important.

HWWB's part of the somewhat hastily improvised plan went off without a hitch. He casually slipped in through the town, sticking to shadows and ducking behind walls to evade being spotted. The entire time, he couldn't shake the feeling that the locals caught him in their peripheral vision and actively ignored him. That and him feeling like he was being watched from almost the moment he entered the town, made him very nervous. But, he ignored it and pushed on, soon reaching the tower, where he planted a charge on the bottom before beginning to ascend the tower's corroded stairs, planting charges as he went. Before long, he was at a large square platform with a control panel at the top of the tower. ...This is too easy, something- No, you idiot, why'd you have to think that!? Immediately after, he heard an ominous *click* sound behind his back, just as he felt someone tap his shoulder. ...That sound? I recognize it, revolver hammer being cocked. They only cocked the thing now, not coming up the stairs? Excellent dramatic timing, but rookie move... good to know what I'm dealing with. He slowly turned around and faced his adversaries with his hands raised over his head.

They were more or less what I expected; a bunch of male goons in scarlet robes and ballistic vests armed with a mix of sawn-off shotguns and AK knock-offs, plus one oddball in the back with a revolver, specifically a Ruger Redhawk (I think it was, at least). There was one stand out though; mixed in among them was a single woman, seemingly in command based on her different (white, not scarlet) attire, and based on the fact she was the one who had just poked me in my shoulder. I was really surprised by what I saw when I cast true sight: all but the woman's SOULs were almost entirely grey, but with darker, black spots, similar but different to what I witnessed when I saw the Yule Man's. The woman though? Her's was a heavily faded and black speckled, but still identifiable, orange. But beyond even that, there was what she wielded as a weapon, and her reaction to my words...

"Well, well. What do we have here?" She motioned towards him with a gnarled staff held in the opposite hand to the one that she had used to tap his shoulder. "What do you think we have here, boys?" "You stole my line, lady. So, instead I'll just ask, [[Damn son, Where'd you find this?!]]." "...What." Something about the sheer flatness of her response and dull look of confusion on her face was just hilarious, but he concentrated on glancing at the staff to confirm his suspicion. After just a few seconds to really study it, he was now sure. This is the real deal, a mage's staff. I haven't actually seen a proper one since... well, the war. "I mean that staff, where'd you get it?" "I crafted it myself, with Father Red's guidance, heathen! You sought to sabotage our holy work here, you must-" "Are you by any chance the aunt of Hanah O'Hare?" "...How do you know that name, you bastard! You dare speak Hanah's name before me! Men-" Oh heck, this won't be good! Got to think fast... "That staff and 'father' Red's teachings mean you're a mage of sorts right? A Druid? Call off your attack dogs, I'm also a mage of some skill, and I challenge you to a Druid's duel!" I hope I got the tradition right, it's a grave insult to get that wrong when declaring a challenge. One of the thugs approaches her and whispers something, only to immediately be slapped. "I will not allow them to make a mockery of my- of the Children! Intruder, I accept your challenge, immediately. The rest of you, go back down, now. I'll resolve this."

The two immediately began tensely circling each other, falling into hybrid casting/combat stances, HWWB's stiff, textbook, academic, and practiced, with his hands held up in a guard to protect his head and to allow quick defensive wards and counter-spells, her's loose and instinctual, enabling quick low sweeps with either her legs or staff and grand sweeping motions for offensive casting. As the tension continued unabated, HWWB silently thought to himself, I sure hope things are going smoother for the kid.

Frisk's Hanah's POV
​

🎶So admit your fears! To the face you've always seen!
Do those fools even know you're here!?
You're caught in between, there's nowhere to hide!🎶

...Things were, in fact, somehow going worse on the way to the other tower, something Frisk, and Hanah controlling their body, don't have time to reflect on as a hooded cultist tries to tackle them and just narrowly wind up sailing over their head instead. Of course it would perhaps be better to understand exactly how they got here, wouldn't it?

Earlier, when they split up
​

Unlike HWWB, Hanah didn't even really spare any effort to remain hidden, knowing that outsiders were ignored unless circumstances dictated otherwise. This was because, so long as the towers remained up, outsiders couldn't see, hear, or smell them, and would never bump into them by chance thanks to the probability manipulation. Combined with a few other effects, and outsiders could be safely ignored. That didn't mean some particularly brave and resistant, or at least curious, ones didn't gawk and stare at Hanah as they passed by.

🎼Oh, lord above! Please do not say 'this is how it has to be'!
For as I walk through these worn down roads,
these frightened people watching me pass,
I can tell there is an evil that holds them here,
yet they won't even try breaking it's grasp.
But I can't just leave them to their doom,
so! Do not say 'this is how it has to be,
this is the way things are'!🎼

As they pass by one of the town buildings, they notice it has a large clear glass window, like a storefront, and sitting inside is a flat-screen TV. Suddenly, the screen flickers on, revealing a black and white image of a certain familiar face. Father Red?

The man on the screen coughs a few times, making a few arcane gestures in the process, then begins to speak: "So, the lost lamb returns! Yes, Hanah, I'm speaking to you. I know you're there. The king has revealed to us your intentions, *sigh*, seems you are still but a child. Return to your aunt, cease this foolishness!" "Never!" It seems like somehow, the man on the screen heard their response as their expression darkens substantially. "Very well then, you fool, you shall meet your fate! Though, you should do well to remember child..."

🎶I-I'm the fear of the unknown, the face in monochrome!
I'm the terror on your screen, the ghost in the machine!🎶

"The Foundation will stop you!", they blurted out, not entirely sure why themselves, given they themselves didn't believe it.

🎶The Foundation? Hah! Don't make me laugh!
Those stooges don't know what you've seen,
and once you've learned the whole truth you'll know they'll never find you!
So I think it's time, to admit your fears, to the man on your TV.
Hahaha... it doesn't matter. Here! Their face isn't quite right,
an intruder in the night, seize him for our scarlet king!🎶

The meaning of the words they spoke didn't fully dawn on them until they glanced over their shoulder and caught sight of a seemingly faceless man in a set of the usual scarlet cult robes creeping towards them, with several others behind that one.

Present, after dodged tackle​

🎶Don't you get it yet!?
You'll join the others, thousands more,
you'll join the chant,
like the others, speak the words on sight!🎶

Then, before their very eyes, the cultists began to chant in time with the man on the screen:
🎶(WE)THEY HAVE CONTROL
(WE)THEY KEEP (YOU)US SAFE
(WE)THEY ARE (YOUR)OUR HOPE🎶

As the group chanted, they carefully started inching away, then around the third or fourth time this chant repeated, they made a break for it, filled with the bravery and courage to challenge whatever lay ahead for them.

{A.N.: I would officially like to apologize to anyone with any kind of colorblindness that effects orange in a big way, I didn't realize until now just how close scarlet and orange apparently are.}

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

HWWB's POV, start of duel​

As the two finished circling each other, ironically returning to their starting points, the druid suddenly halted and performed a vast sweeping left-to-rigtht motion with her arms, throwing out a long string of arcane acidic bolts in the process. He responds by saying the evocation ('Return to sender! Kirkov's Cosmic Karma Cookies!') in his head, then casting the 'Reversal' spell. Several bolts that would have hit him instead bounce off and rebound in her direction. She briefly goes wide-eyed, before ducking the cluster of acid bolts. The rest harmlessly evaporate after missing entirely. Before he can entirely recover, her hand morphs into a strange shape and fires what looks like a vine-covered dart. He simply allows it to rebound off of reversal. Seemingly growing frustrated, she lets out a primal roar, and charges him. Oh, right. Unlike most formal mage duel tradition, the druidic tradition allows for wrestling your opponent. Given just enough time to get his thoughts in order by the space she needs to cross, he isn't taken off guard by her charge and uses his stance to block the green & white-energy suffused first strike aimed at his head, then quickly blocks a lower chop with his elbows, before finally ducking and counter-tossing her when she attempts to grab him.

She lands on her feet, allows the green-white energy to disperse from her hands and feet, then suddenly wheels around and 'spits' a cloud of noxious swamp-gas like poison. He stiffly but efficiently moves his arms in a tight series of arcane gestures, counter-spelling the poison cloud. Once his gestures conclude, the cloud has simply, harmlessly, dissipated into the surrounding air. This time, before she can recover, he sees an opening and takes it, performing a move similar to her earlier acid bolts by firing a quick series of flame waves with grand sweeping hand motions. She is far less evasive or at least less tough than SCP-106 before her, resulting in her getting caught in several waves of white-hot fire, producing a smoking and smouldering from her robes where they were singed from the flames, and winces of pain from the one taking the hits. But from her perspective at least, miraculously enough, she herself is unburnt, even if she feels pain like she is being burned. You of course, know the truth, and know that you need to stop holding yourself back. I'm not going to kill her! With that statement of intent laid out, he dodged to the side as she lobbed an orb of some pitch-black energy at him that his instincts screamed at him to not even dare try and reverse, patiently (and only somewhat judgingly) waited through several more attempts to directly attack him with the same two forms of magic he had already reversed before, and finally seized an opening to rush in and grapple with her, bringing the duel to one of wrestling rather then magic, and therefore one she was more likely to survive.

Frisk's Hanah's POV​

They had a heck of a time. The whole town had been 'awakened', so there were now enemies around every corner, in every building. Still, they pressed on, being careful to avoid detection. At one point, they floor and gag, with the old sock Frisk had been wearing and some convenient duct tape on a workbench nearby, an adult man three times Frisk's size, all done in perfect silence, with no one the wiser. This is crazy... but so cool! I feel like Rambo! If only- ...If only dad- You don't have time to get all emotional. You push through, focusing on what has to be done. ...You're right. I don't get why you do the narrator thing, by the way. I don't think any of us do, and I think Frisk and the others are just too polite to ask- but, you're right. Focus. With reassurance from the first among them, they push through, slipping past the roving patrols of cultists and armed cult thugs alike, until they reach the tower and begin to climb. It's there that they once again feel the presence well back up.

🎼I've got this burning,
like my veins are filled with nothing but gasoline!
And with just one spark, it's gonna be
the biggest fire they've ever seen!🎼

Observers, if they would have had any, would've noticed the orange glow of their eyes die down and flicker occasionally ahead of the next chunk of the song:

🎼Cut us down or let us run, we'll be a
symbol saintly as a nun,
and we return from the urn,
so either way it's all gonna burn...
The only way that they'll ever learn,
we've got to turn it off!
We've got to light up the night!
There is a town this darkness can't hide!
There are embers of a fire that's gone out.
But I can still feel the heat on my skin,
and this mess we're in, well you and I
me and you?
maybe you and I, maybe we can still make it right,
and maybe we can bring back the light!🎼

Just before they reached the top, they heard 'father' Red making an announcement:

This... is OUR town. A little town perhaps, but a town of real hopes and dreams. A town of unparalleled strength, unrivaled primal beauty, unrelenting drive, and unstoppable loyalty. A town washed clean of sin by the blood, sweat, and tears of a people who knew they must repent. And when our lord comes, the only town that shall stand unburnt, because they followed me and my words here. To you who I speak off, my people, I say this; you are already free. Do not listen to those who seek to 'liberate' you. ...That is all.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

HWWB's POV
​

"Thoreau's Telum Tempus Paralysin! Argus's Ardeat Malus!" HWWB had, predictably enough, not been a match for a full fledged human and fanatic cultist in a wrestling match, forcing him to fall back on casting spells and making this a duel of magic rather then brawn. Something he slightly regretted as his opponent dispelled the strange bolt of ghostly white energy with a wide sweep of their staff, only to be left out of position; which forces her to take the following bolt of searing white-hot fire directly to the chest with an unholy roar of pain, before quickly executing a drop and roll to extinguish the flames. Only slightly regretted, since her roll ended directly in front of him and he had to evade the clumsy but magic-trailing haymaker she threw his way the instant she had recovered. She's too close, got to get some distance! Hmm. Not safe to force bolt here, might fling her right of the top of the tower... He had noticed that she seemed to heavily rely on her staff for most of her casting, and left it almost completely exposed to a more arcane counter. Heh... rookie mistake. If I can be sure I can separate the two, so the blast won't hurt her too bad, and get her to open up just a bit more... This will buy me some room, and hopefully open her up too...

He reared his left hand back, before throwing it forward, pointer finger extended and aimed at his opponent's feet, in a dramatic flourish, before yelling "Alate Ascendare!" He accompanied his evocation with a upwards flicking motion of his finger. The motion and evocation is followed by a sudden gust of silvery wind blasting from his extended fingertip and striking the ground where he had previously pointed, detonating in an understated burst, and flinging her straight up into the air several feet. As he had hoped, she lost her grip on her staff, unable to hold on through the sudden upwards force. Alright, now just act quick! He yelled "Trigger!" in his head as he jabbed the pointer and middle 'fingers' of his left 'hand' forward towards the falling piece of wood. He watched, just as awed as the first time he really saw it, as the green energy of the staff contacted the otherwise invisible blue-and-white energy of the Trigger spell, only for something within them both to... change. Stop staring at it like it's your first time seeing it, you idiot! Get it away before it goes off like dynamite! Shaking his head more in agreement with his own thoughts then anything else, he performs a familiar but no less ridiculous-looking for it flourish, firing a bolt of blue arcane energy out of the open face of the palm of his right 'hand', catching the staff mid-air as it fell and throwing it a significant distance away.

Just in time, as the staff crackles and sparks with unnatural yet somehow simultaneously very natural energy. Then... it goes *BOOM*, releasing a shockwave of arcane power and a shower of woody splinters and shrapnel over a considerable area. That feels good, job done! ...Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?... "AHHH!!!" ...Oh, right. The, well possibly the dead kid's aunt, shaman, that I just flung into the sky. Well, that's an easy fix. "What comes up must come down! ...Except when it doesn't! Evelyn's Evicting Escalator!" He pairs his evocation with a dramatic upwards flourish with both hands, ending in both clapping together and releasing a purplish beam in the direction of the falling shaman. Caught in the beam, she continues both falling and screaming, however, just as she's about to kiss metal, her fall is arrested as her whole body is suspended mid-air via her ankles by seemingly nothing at all. "You can thank me later, after we smash the brainwash machines. I'm sure that's the only reason for your loyalty. For now..." Several repetitive verbal evocations and arcane motions later, she's been shrunk down to XXS-sized, temporarily paralyzed, and unceremoniously stuffed into a trench coat pocket. His plan called for whoever finished first to back the other one up, so he quickly pulled a pair of binoculars out of his bag to determine if the kid was done at his tower or not, or needed help. What he saw... told him everything he needed to know. Now, how to get over to the other tower the quickest?

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Frisk's Hanah's POV (at the end of part 3)
​

They pause a moment on the steps just below the top platform of the tower, gripping the demo charge wrapped in the old cloth from the welcome sign tightly. It's okay, you can do this... Resolve and nerves freshly gathered, they rush up the stairs and point dramatically at the scarlet-robbed priest hunched over a robe-clad cowering figure with a knife in hand. "Stop, villain! Unhand them, and release these innocent people from your control!"

The figure turns with a start, seemingly caught off guard for a moment. But that moment passes quickly, as the figure lowers their hood, revealing the surprised face of 'Father Red', exactly as Hanah remembered it, give or take a wrinkle or two. The surprised look almost instantly melted off his face, replaced with a confident, condescending grin. "Oh, my apologies. I'll of course just let them all go." They were taken aback by that and felt their confidence dip slightly. "...Just, one question first? Which comic book store exactly did you buy that entrance from, Superman? 'Stop villain! Unhand them...' ha ha, need I say more? You don't scare me Hanah, and I know that I scare you. You. Pathetic. Little. WORM. Writhe for me!" They just barely moved in time to avoid a pitch-black orb of malevolent energy.

"Ahahaahaaha, good, Hanah, good... you've gotten faster since we last played 'dodge-ball'. ...Or I suppose acquired a faster form, to be precise. Who's body are you puppeting, worm? Ah, it matters not. That will make this interesting! Now, DIE!" They once again moved just barely quick enough to duck under the wave of concentrated acid bolts the old 'priest' suddenly flung their way. "I've seen all your magic tricks before, you'll have to do better then that, old man!" "Is that so?... I have 'tricks' you haven't seen, you know? Would like to see a few new ones!? Nature answers my command, as the word of our king passes through me. Vines and needles, strangle this incessant pest!" They only had a few seconds to process before vines stretched out from the surrounding wilderness towards the top off the tower, a few aggressively pursuing and indeed trying to strangle them. I hate to do this, but I've got no choice...! They drew HWWB's christmas gift to Frisk, the dagger, out of the concealed sheath they had been keeping it in, and slashed at several vines that got too close for comfort, breaking them. They then returned it to the sheath as quickly as they had drawn it. I've got to close the distance somehow...

The answer to their situation came as in between vines snapping at their neck, the old priest once more swiped his arms left to right, throwing out acid bolts in the arc of the motion. They rolled under the wave, and popped up right in front of the old man. "Alright, if you're so tough, take this! Gut shot!" The old priest was quick on his feet for his age and quickly side stepped the first punch, which notably wasn't aimed for his gut at all but rather a little... lower, but this didn't save the physically out-classed old man from actually getting nailed in the gut by Hanah's followup. As he winced in pain from the punch, it gave them a brief moment, as their hand naturally slid down from where the punch landed into a pocket, to swipe something off of his person unnoticed. Quickly pocketing the square metallic object, they didn't allow the brief bit of quick handedness to distract them from driving home a leaping uppercut and a firm kick to the 'unmentionables' they had originally targeted, just for good measure. "OOMMPPHH!!! ...Curse you, you... worm... aggh... Get back!" I know exactly what he's going to do. Just hope that I swiped what I think I did... "Now you see me..." The old priest took a step back and puffed up his cheeks, like he was a squirrel with a mouthful of nuts stuffed in them, and then suddenly opened his mouth and spit out a cloud of noxious gas.

The kid reacted lightning fast, whipping out the small metal square, opening the top, and flicking their thumb around the inside where the top used to be, all based on feeling alone without sparing a second to even look at it. To their immense satisfaction, when they jabbed it forward towards the oncoming gas cloud, it was exactly what they had thought and hoped: a lighter, with a burning flame atop it. As soon as the gas touched the flame, the entire cloud ignited and vaporized, replaced with a dense bank of white smoke. "...Now you don't!" Taking the precious few moments the smoke bought them, they quickly planted the demo charge on what looked like a control console. However, just as they were getting ready to begin descending the tower... "*Click* Eh eh. You aren't going anywhere, intruder!" Shortly there after, the smoke finally cleared. "...I will admit, that was a clever trick, Hanah. But that was all it was. A trick. And now we've got you cornered, with nowhere to run, and no one's coming to save you. It's all over, little worm."

HWWB's POV
​

Thus, this is what he saw when he looked through the binoculars: Hanah surrounded all sides by vines, a duo of hooded thugs, more thugs coming up the stairs, and what he could only guess was 'Father Red' in front of them. He continued to think of what the quickest way to get over there was, but as he did so, a thought struck. If he knew anything about how cults and bullies, which there's a surprising amount of overlap between, operated, then... He quickly unhooked the mobile communicator from his pant's belt, held down the button, and began to talk... or rather sing, thanks to an ongoing 'issue'.

Frisk's Hanah's POV
​

Everybody was surprised when they heard the sudden burst of static, followed immediately by Hanah facepalming. How could I forget!? They then all listened, stunned as the voice on the other end made it's announcement:

🎵I see your situation, surrounded on all sides, you're running for cover.
Lookin' to bring ruination, featuring ugly scarlet hides, they're here
knocking at your door, and now time is running out.
But listen to me, listen well. Don't worry, don't fear. Just...
Turn on your radio and obey me, 'cause
I promise you, I'm coming to save you!
So, if you do everything exactly as I say,
the kid might just live to see another day!
And if so, you'll get to see these people free!🎵

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

HWWB's POV​

Ok, well, the question now is, how to keep my promise? He casually stuck a finger out into the air to test the direction of the wind, watching wordlessly as the extended finger de-solidified and began being blown out in the direction of the tower the others are on. Hmm, it's blowing that way... if I de-solidify as much as I can, I could drift over on the breeze... that would take too long though... idea. If I detonate the charges, the blast wave...

Decision made, he hopped up on one of the tower railings, quickly shed his clothing (minus his pants, of course) and all of his belongings minus the detonator, balled them all up as best he could, and threw them as hard as he could up into the sky, followed shortly by the now once again familiar blue streak of energy that signaled a force bolt. With no time to watch his belonging sail off into the distance, he leaped into the air and simultaneously triggered the detonator and began de-solidifying his whole body further.

As a catastrophic *BOOM* rang out through the hidden patch of jungle it was soon joined by a short series of clanking and groaning protests coming from the tower. A moment later, a second loud explosion and an ear-piercingly loud grinding sound of buckling metal, the tower and it's strange anomalous technology came crashing back down to earth. And with it, for just a brief moment, so to did the illusion the occupants of the cursed town were trapped in. But unlike the tower, just as soon as the illusion had crumbled, it repaired itself anew.

...For all but one under it's metaphorical spell, at least. But for that one, they came under a different spell, for as a cloud of pink with two green dots within it was blasted through the air by the shock waves, it came close to it's- no, his bag, and he could swear he heard something from within...

🎶At the heart of darkness, the heart of the Jungle!🎶

When he heard it, he was compelled to respond:

🎵At the heart of the Jungle there is a building
which looks down over all there is.🎵

🎶And the man in the tower controls it all!🎶

🎵 And the man in the tower controls it all
without even raising a single fist!🎵

🎶Now I see! Soon the people will all see!
They've gathered up the people,
into the town, and now...🎶

🎵They've gathered up the town, they sold it to the devil, and now...🎵

🎵🎶It's gone to hell and they wonder how!🎶🎵

Frisk's Hanah's POV​

Their collective stunned state shifted to one of shock a moment after the voice on the radio cut off, as it was soon followed by the mighty if somewhat distant sound of a mighty explosion just a couple dozen meters away, which soon sent the air itself whipping past them at extreme speeds. For just a second, Hanah thought, the assorted thugs and goons surrounding them seemed to... be different somehow? But whatever the change was, it passed as soon as it came, and the cloaked form of 'Father' Red soon rose to it's full height and let out an evil sneer. "Well, I must admit, that IS a setback. But our plans will still inevitably succeed, despite of all you and your apparent ally's efforts! Men and vines, seize them!"
The various goons moved to do just that, the nearest even managing to try and club them with the butt of his gun, but before they get a grip on them, something else unexpected happened...

HWWB's POV​

That something else was a pink cloud drifting over the tower and suddenly solidifying into a humanoid shape, fist first as HWWB drove a (somewhat clumsy) haymaker into the goon nearest to Hanah's jaw, sending them comedically skidding back prone across the narrow tower platform. He spent a second to glance at them and make sure they where safe, before gesturing his hand up to his shirt, boots, and trenchcoat fluttering about in the breeze, then muttering (with a tinge of frustration) "Fetch, Lowenhard's Lariat, come on..." under his breath. The assorted thugs once again stood in awe as the objects were pulled towards him by what looked to them like some kind of magic lasso.

'Father' Red was... less impressed. "Well, what are you waiting for? A formal invitation? Get them already!" One of the goons snaps out of his trance and shoulders his gun, taking aim at the creature before him, several others either do likewise or begin to rush them down anew. This time however, their target is ready. Several bullets pass through a giant pocket of gas in the center of his body where there used to be solid matter in just a few short moments, and the first goon to reach them and try and throw a punch is met by HWWB calmly catching and then striking with one of his boots, driving the toe into the top of said unfortunate man's head. In the midst of the chaos he almost casually catches and re dons his shirt and coat. "Hey Hanah, you ready?" They just nod in response.

"What are you...? Why are you fighting me?" "Why am I fighting you? I thought that'd be obvious; such is the duty of any real man, to oppose evil wherever he sees it." "...Real man? You aren't a man! Neither is Hanah, the little worm returned to life!" "It's just something an... old friend told me. Then again..." Even as he began to sing, he continued fighting.

🎵Well, an old friend once told me: Men are like sheep,
they follow the shepherd, failing to see that
it's a wolf in disguise, leadin' them to the slaughter.
He said: they'll follow any man who'll turn the wheels.🎵

🎶Now the wheels are spinning out of control!🎶

🎵Now the wheels are spinning out of control;
what would they do if we held them still!?
Now there's this other friend of mine, they were once an engineer's daughter,
They once asked me:
What do you think you'll get
if we break their machine of lies!?...?
Yes! Exactly! Now, do you see the obvious answer?
If you destroy it, you'll get a broken machine;
A Beacon of light from a burning screen!🎵
🎶A Beacon of light from a burning screen!🎶
🎵And so I think it's high time we light it up,
and light up the night,
and blow this two-bit joint for whatever lies over the hill.🎵

🎶Are you ready!? You had better be ready because here it comes now!🎶

A short moment and a dodged punch later, HWWB flicked his thumb over a few buttons, then hit the big red button on the top of the detonator, before loudly announcing, "You have 2 minutes! I suggest you bail!", grabbing Hanah and the robbed figure 'Father' Red had been threatening earlier, and jumping off the side of the tower. ...But not before someone could interfere...

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Warning: This chapter includes a (overtly cartoonish and unrealistic) hanging. Obviously, this may offend or upset some people.

HWWB's POV​

"What happened? Why aren't we falling!?" He had moved to throw himself and Hanah over the railing and off the top of the tower, but suddenly found himself not moving.

Frisk's Hanah's POV​

"We got a hanger on!" "You two have ruined the work of more then two decades! You aren't going anywhere!" Their right arm was hooked around HWWB's, but a grey human hand was solidly clasped around their left, arresting their fall. Vines began to encroach around them. "Let's see you get out of this one, 'heroes'!" "Let me go you creep!" Vines continue to grow around them, a few snaking through gaps in the railing. "Hmm, no. I don't think I will. In fact, you're coming back up here to receive your judgement!"

HWWB finished quietly chanting something, and the vines suddenly lost their 'animated' quality. Most of them also retracted back into the jungle from whence they came, but the ones tangled in the grating and railing of the tower remained unnaturally stretched out, merely dropping down and dangling like hanging ropes. "Judgment, huh? Up yours, old man!" Hanah twisted awkwardly around and viciously kicked him straight in the face. His grip didn't loosen, but immediately after the strength of it apparently lessened, since he went tumbling over the railing, and all three went falling straight to earth.

HWWB's POV​

At some point on the way down, HWWB suddenly felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He didn't have time to worry about it at the time though, given the need to either accept the loss of his passengers and desolidify, or slow down the imminent impact with the cold, unforgiving earth. "Kid, if you're still there, adjust your grip!" After a moment, he then threw his arms out into a t-pose and shouted "Ellen's Enchanted Elevator!" Their descent slows to a crawl, and the trio first fall through a tree, before simply landing on the ground with a soft *thud* as HWWB's boots hit the dirt.

It was shortly followed by the sounds of an explosion as the charge planted at the top of the tower blows, sending a piece of smoldering metal wreckage jettisoning off into the town in the process. He patiently watches the townspeople, now freed from the cult's control, stumble about confusedly, while several thugs climb down the intact stairs of the tower, some dropping their weapons as they go, others keeping a hold of them. A moment later, he hears a scream from above them, and when he looks up, sees through the tree branches the familiar robed figure of the false preacher responsible for this entire mess falling, with what almost looks like tangled vine ending in a scorched bit looped around his neck area. Then...

"Oh dear creator above, Hanah, cover-" A horrible, sickening *snap* sound rings out from the tree above them. "...What the heck was that!?" "-your ears and don't look up." They immediately dart forward away from the tree and look up towards it. "KID! What did I just say!" Their response is shockingly cold and detached, and has an almost sadistic edge: "Well, he got Claytoned. Exactly what he deserved." "...What do you mean Claytoned?" "You ever see Tarzan?" "No, but- Oh, fu- fudge, fudge me." Saved it.

He grabbed the unconscious hooded figure and carried them with him as he walked over to join Hanah were they stood. He... didn't like what he saw. It was his first time seeing 'Father' Red and really taking in his appearance. His skin over his whole body was grey, his hair was grey, his eyes were greyish, his entire being looked like it stepped out of a black-and-white tv. The only color was his scarlet robe... and the green vine wrapped around his snapped neck like a noose, hanging him brutally from the tree branch above. "Ouch." He couldn't help but wince, even as he grabbed Hanah by the shoulder and turned them around, away from the tree. This only resulted in them pointing towards the town and asking if he sees it. He sighs heavily and turns to behold a mass of smoke and fire coming from what was once the town. Several townspeople ran panicking away from the conflagration, but several others approached the strange trio nervously. Several of them mutter amongst themselves, several seem like they almost recognize Frisk, perhaps something about Hanah radiating off of them thanks to their possession. They eventually laugh a terrible, hacking laugh. "Listen here everybody, I have a story to finish."

🎼There was a drifter passing through that little valley,
see he had promised he was coming back to town!🎼

🎶Coming back to town!
(Coming back to town?)🎶

🎼They didn't know them by their face,
or by the knife around their waist,
but they come back to burn that town to the ground!
First there was fire, then there was smoke,🎼


Yeah, that's generally how it works. Despite his sarcasm, he was nervous. 'Henry' recognized the flickering of the orange light in their eyes as a sign that they were just about to move on... but he had a certain feeling about the next words that would come out of their mouth. Suddenly, all of the assembled townspeople specifically around them dropped to their knees for seemingly no reason. This only made him even more worried about what came next.


🎼then that preacher man was hangin' from a tree!
Then they all fell to their knees and begged that drifter begged them please,
as they raised their fist before they spoke:🎼


Are they- are they narrating what's happening and what they're doing as it happens? They rose their hand and balled into a fist. ...Yeah, yeah they are.


🎼I am the righteous hand of heaven,
and I am the devil that you forgot!...
And I told you one day you will see,
that I'll be back I guarantee, and that hell's coming,
hell's coming hell,
hell's coming with me.🎼

'Henry' suddenly felt a surge of energy, and the instant he did, he drew the miniaturized woman out of his pocket and dropped her on the ground. She almost instantly there after grew back to full height, and flexed an arm, testing it. He quickly glanced at the large crowd of surrounding townspeople, then back at Hanah and the woman. "So... do you two want some privacy?" The middle-aged ex-shaman turned to regard him. "Yes, that would be nice." "Understood..." He quickly spun around and corralled the the unfortunate victims of the giant mess playing out in front of him away from two particular victims, so they could have a moment.

He returned to see Hanah sobbing into the embrace of their aunt who was also balling her eyes out. The orange glow in their eyes was almost entirely gone. "*Ahem* I hate to cut in, but I believe it's... about time." "No! Please, I just-" "No, he's right. Don't blame yourself, this was- it wasn't your fault. And 'Henry'? Tell Frisk that we're all rooting for them." A moment passed, then the glow faded from their eyes and Frisk's body dropped where it stood like a sack of potatoes. "...Don't worry, kid. They know. ...Well, that's that. Guess I'll need to wait for them to wake up, plus whoever this mystery figure is..." For the first time, he examines the unconscious hooded figure with true sight. What he sees, surprises him. A monster? In South America? Then you're probably-

I decided in the moment, for whatever reason, that it was best not to sate my curosity, so I simply found a spot to sit and wait for the two of them to recover, one so I could question them, the other so I could discuss our next move. ...That was the original idea at least. That did not pan out.

{A.N.: I wish I wasn't quite so dreadful at writing emotional reunion-type scenes.}

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

An hour later...

Frisk's POV​

You suddenly wake up to the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around and people yelling. Your head is pounding, and you lightly mutter a curse under your breath that you heard your dad screaming once. Frisk isn't particularly bothered by waking up to Chara's 'narration'. It has increasingly become a simple fact of their messed up life. They take a moment to take in their surroundings. They're in a tiny room with a busted window (if it ever even had windows), scrap metal shanty walls, and a frankly disgusting matress, which they currently are laying on. "Hey, don't think I didn't hear that. Don't go saying words like that. Your mother would kill me if she thought I allowed it." The familiar pink monster/gas/human? hybrid that was HWWB, or 'Henry', walked into the room, no longer wearing the somewhat goofy-looking trenchcoat and fedora getup, but a simple pair of (anomalous) dress pants combo'd with a (somewhat tattered) white shirt, denim jacket, straw hat, and leather work gloves.

A short moment later, a female sounding voice calls from outside, "Is Han- err, is Frisk... are they awake?" He partially turns and yells over his shoulder, "They're up, they're fine." He quickly glances back at them. "...Right?" They nod, even as they rub their forehead. "Good to hear, 'cause we need to get moving to El Dorado." You bolt up at the mention of the mythical, emphasis 'mythical', city of gold. You ask him to stop for a moment and explain what's going on, and where you are.

Suddenly, a short figure who just barely properly wears the trenchcoat and fedora that adorns their person, charges into the room. "Eu só queria dizer obrigado novamente! Ah go do it! Eu vou para Atlantis!" You comment out loud that you have no idea what the man just said. HWWB loudly sighs, then mutters a few words under his breath while waving his hands in a bizarre little sequence of nonsensical motions.

"Ok, repeat exactly what you just said, please." The man looks confused at first, but quickly obliges. "I just wanted to say thank you again! Ah go do it! I'm going to Atlantis!" You note that the second statement wasn't translated. 'Henry' sighs again. "First off, Frisk, I know. Something about the second language, something something creole, and English specifically makes translation impossible. Second, Mr. Francisco, it's Atlanta, not Atlantis. Atlanta, Georgia. It's on the ticket I gave you, ok?" He nods, before running off excitedly. He pivots to face them. "So... ok, this is a long story, so get comfortable." You shift around to get as comfortable as you can, whining about how nasty the bed is the whole time. While you were doing that, he left. Before almost anytime at all can pass, he returns with a rusty, but otherwise clean, set of three folding chairs, and an additional guest wearing scarlet robes.

"Just to answer your previous questions: we're in... do you know where Matthew's Ridge is?" You tell him no. "How about Guyana?" You remember that name from geography, and tell him that it's some dirt-poor country in South America, then ask why it matters. "...One, what did they teach you in school? Two, I won't deny that's accurate but maybe try not to offend the locals. Three, that is where we are; Matthew's Ridge, Guyana, about 56 kilometers away from the former site of Jonestown, and apparently, a major, and I mean major, cult base. ...Well, ex-cult base. The village had about 370 residents, now more like somewhere between 400-410, due too some, ah, recent events. We were holding up here for a bit while we planned our next move, after a big assorted batch of armed goons suddenly dogpiled the place everything went down at while you were 'out', so to speak.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

I caught them up on everything that had happened, to the best of my ability. Conveniently, right around as I had just gotten done with the part where I was left waiting for them and the mysterious figure to wake up, Guide entered the room. ...Oh, right, I haven't mentioned her yet, have I? Well, no, I have, but I haven't written her name, or gender until now. Well, I suppose since this was the time Frisk met them, now's as good a chance as any to introduce her to whomever may be reading this, i.e. you.

Frisk's POV​

Just as he finishes explaining the events that happened with Hanah, an ominous brown-robed figure quietly enters the room behind him. You yell for him to watch out! The instant the words left their mouth, he stands up and spins around, raising his fists up defensively. When he sees the person, he exhales sharply and relaxes almost as quickly. "Yikes, please kid, don't do that." The figure merely releases something between a chuckle and a sinister giggle. The figure's chuckle fills you with dread.

They move to CHECK the figure but before they can, they, no, she, lowers her hood to reveal a feline face adorned with a disarming smile. She quickly crosses the tiny room in just a few steps until she's right in front of them. "Olá, é bom conhecê-lo,-" "Reminder, Nimble Guide, neither of us speak the language of the locals. Either go against your taboos, or speak.... how did you phrase it?... Inglês, err, língua do norte, please." She pauses and lets out a noise somewhere between a whine and a sigh, before turning to him. "Fine." She quickly turns back to them.

HWWB's POV​

Ok, going great so far... You haven't utterly confused them yet, just change your statement and all will be- "Hello, it's nice to meet you, katta-kin." The looks of frustration and panic on HWWB's face and of confusion on Frisk's would have been, he was certain, absolutely priceless... under any other circumstances and on any other two faces. "...Huh?" "Guide, that word's meaning doesn't come across super well when you translate it literally! Especially in English!" "No, I'm not related to any... Katta, was it?" "...Oh. I see what you mean. My bad, then." "Can someone just explain?" HWWB made a motion around his, drawing his fingers across as if to zip it shut, then pointed towards her.

"...Why, yes, I can. But first, when and where did you get that?" He pointed to their chest. They look confused at first, before suddenly reaching up to their chest and feeling a foreign cold metal object brush across their fingers. "Huh? ...I didn't..." They look down at their shirt, where the object in question, a brilliant amethyst pin, is resting. "Really? ...Hmm. Actually, even I didn't realize it, when I asked it, but that's a trick question. You didn't get that; Paolo did, then Hanah after her. I just don't know how you suddenly have it now." "Who's Paolo?" "Err... not the time! I'm quite sure I'll explain later; for now, just listen and understand, ok?" "...Alright. I'd like to think I'm good at that."

"So! You know the general gist of ancient monster history, yes?" "..." "Yeah, that question doesn't justify a response. But, it's critical you understand this; back then, there were many types of monster, so many as to require categories to sort them, and there were many distinct cultures, almost as many and almost as diverse as the humans of the era, though I admit we were a good bit more homogeneous. However, none of the cultures of back then were as distinct from the rest as that of... well, the liontaurs, but they're all dead now. Runner up and what I was trying to get to however, were the Katta. A proud people once, now reduced to just a handful of families. ...Except, that's not true. It would be true if the only monsters left were the ones under Mt. Ebott, but..." "...No way! You mean there are other monsters out there?"

"Exactly, but not many. There was the occasional monster who survived for awhile on their own right after the war ended, but aside from one, who isn't even a monster really, they're all dead. But, there still, to my knowledge, exists two pockets that managed to survive, either by remaining secret or by integrating into human society, though I'm only actually sure about one of them." "And they are...?" "First off, another fun fact! Amongst all the human kingdoms, tribes, clans, republics, and even one hilariously early dictatorship, only three refused to declare war on all monsterkind, and only one still stood by it's end. Can you guess which one?" "...Japan?"

"...How the- no, but yes. I lied, actually, so you couldn't have gotten it right, because there were two kingdoms that comprise what is now Japan: Jomon and Nihon. Neither declared war on us at any point. If you examine Japanese mythology, you quickly stumble across the mythical creatures known as the Yokai." "So you're saying the Yokai are monsters!?" "No, actually, with one exception. I'm saying they're likely based on stories and legends of monsters." "...And the exception?" "Despite no official war ever being declared, most of the monsters that took sanctuary or who already lived in Jomon and Nihon slowly died out, except one: that exception. I'll just ask one final question, then say the exception; do you know what the Tengu are?" "...I count myself as a friend of Alphys, and back in school, my best friend was the biggest weaboo I think anyone has ever seen, period." "...So, is that a-" "Yes!" "Ok, so, I not only think, but I know for a fact that at least as recent as 1852 AD, the Tengu were an almost, but not quite, one hundred percent accurate depiction of a group of monsters that had survived and integrated themselves deep into Japanese society." "...1852?" "Yeah, unfortunately, I haven't gotten confirmation since then that they still exist."

"...Huh. That's... insanely neat." "I can already hear the 'but' at the end of that sentence." "...But, what about the other one, the group you're sure about? Also, who is she? She's part of that other group, isn't she?" "Yes, I'm getting there, and I'm getting there."

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Frisk's POV

​

"First off, let's have you two start over, what do you say to that? Frisk, I'd like you to meet Nimble Guide, El Dorado's own lead scout, infiltration expert, and human aficionado. At least, according to themselves, though as of now, I have no reason to doubt them. Nimble Guide, meet Frisk. Just Frisk for now. I suppose I could call them the angel of the prophecy or perhaps even the hero of the underground..." You don't know how you feel about the first, but you blush slightly out of embarrassment at the second. You think yourself unworthy of the title. "...But I feel like they wouldn't appreciate either of those, so just their name will do."

The two of them move to shake hands, Guide having to stoop slightly. The fur around her... hands? paws? ...Hands, is very soft. The spotted pattern... Reminds you of a cheetah or a jaguar, more so the second. After a brief awkward moment, Guide speaks, "You know, we Tabaxi do not practice that particular tradition, but we respect those of our katta ancestors, so I knew you'd be heroic, as you apparently are, despite your youth." You tell her you have no clue what she's talking about.

HWWB's POV​

"I'll explain. Part of that very distinct katta culture I mentioned earlier, was a very distinct kind of magic. The katta specialized in subtle enchantments, stuff like oil lamps that never ran out of oil but on the outside appeared completely normal. However, one of the more well-known ones, at least amongst monsters, that served a big role in their culture, is... well, it's the one you're wearing on your chest right now. It always took the form of either a pin, brooch, cufflink, or some other form of mundane jewelry that's outwardly visible and serves to fasten things together. But, there's a neat trick, and one extra rule; the jewelry always has a... well, jewel or gemstone, and that gemstone can be almost any color... except black, that's the one rule, and that's because of the trick. The trick is simple; the piece of jewelry can't be seen, except by katta and those who are 'close', who are considered friends, of the katta."

The kid stuck their hand up. "Yes, Frisk?" "Why did she call me 'katta-kin', then? And why does it have to be black?" "Well, unfortunately, as I somewhat half-explained earlier, the words that would best describe the sort of relationship that is required in Nimble Guide's first language... don't translate into English very well. As for the latter, it was known that if one of these items was worn by somebody with ill intent towards the katta, or who later took actions that directly resulted in their harm, the gem would turn black, and even if the wearer could previously see it, they would no longer be able to. In this way, these little objects served to mark out friends and allies that they could rely on, but also warn them of dangerous people."

"Ok, interesting..., but again, what does any of-" "Of course, of course. I was getting there. So! You know D&D?" "...Yeah? ...Wait... Tabaxi...?" "I believe it is relatively self-evident, that the D&D Tabaxi are inspired and influenced by the culture and art of the Central American native peoples, most notably the Aztec. Their art features several depictions of Jaguar-like humanoids, in additions to those of humans wearing jaguar skin, particularly in association with the Aztec gods Tezcatlipoca and his animal form Tepēyōllōtl. I believe that those depictions, may well have been directly influenced by the real Tabaxi, descendants of a small katta minority in the new world that used the environment to hide themselves away, and even now, continue as the Tabaxi to use the thick jungle of the Amazon and Darien's gap as a shield." "Uhh... huh."

Frisk's POV

​

"Yeah, it's a lot. All of this is just a theory, or was at least. Understand over the immense course of time I was stuck down there, I theorized about many potential groups of survivors... most were foolish hopes that didn't pan out. But it's harder to be skeptical of the Tabaxi existing, when we are both literally looking at one off them." Why did we find her there of all places though? You ask what she was doing there. "Well-" She suddenly spoke up, "I can answer the young one's inquiry, patient one. I was sent from the greatest settlement of the Tabaxi still remaining, our last settlement bigger than the tiniest village, El Dorado, to investigate what was going on at that... horrible place, as my older sister was around 40 years ago now. We are both part of a small family trusted with keeping our people aware of the events happening in outside world, with your people in particular. That role is more important than ever now."

It suddenly dawns on you what they meant by that. With the rainforest gradually shrinking and being explored ever deeper, it's only a matter of time until someone finds them. In other words, they're on a ticking timer... and they seem to be painfully aware of it. "Nimble Guide has offered to speak on our behalf and has reassured me that they'll grant us shelter. So, the plan is we'll leave immediately, first thing tomorrow morning, heading due south for the Guyanese-Brazilian border. She supposedly can ensure we pass over through the Pacaraima Mountains without incident. From there, once we hit the Amazon, she will... well, guide and escort us through it all the way to El Dorado, were I will seek one of their mages or closest equivalents, probably a head priest of some kind of I had to guess, for advice on a vital matter, and you can get some rest before the next leg of our grand little adventure. Sound good?" They just nod. It's a lot to take in.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Meanwhile


June 20th, 1:00 P.M. UTC/GMT -4, SCP Containment Site Seventeen


SCP 166 Noelle's POV

​

While the strange boy that apparently saved her people?(she's still, all this time later, processing that one) and the elder monster-human hybrid that had become the more important of the two teachers trying to guide her through her new life stumbled their way through, from her perspective, an only god knows what series of misfortunes and adventures, she remains behind. She shifts uncomfortably in her chair as the gentle, protective Toriel, with a style to match, and Fenrus, with the apparently more classical 'sink-or-swim' style favored by him, butt heads almost violently. She also is shifting uncomfortably since she's struggling to remember what the lesson is even about...

Why couldn't they have been here? What happened to them, are they ok...? She says something without even really processing what she is saying, but whatever it is she said, Fenrus suddenly snaps her a look that is the closest she's ever come to seeing him angry. "Well then pay attention to the rat when he's talking, then! Sanguis Magicae is latin, it means a couple different things in English, but the big one is 'blood of magic' or 'magic blood'. There's a related concept in Common, that also basically means 'blood of magic'. Monsters, regardless of type, don't bleed. ...Normal blood, at least. But, if you were to deal them a severe physical injury that doesn't immediately kill them, some types of monster, boss monsters, animagus, and skeletons being the usual three suspects, would or at least could, begin bleeding Sanguis Magicae." "...So how is that different from normal blood?" "Normal blood doesn't boil at room temperature when exposed to open air, does it?" "...No, I don't think it does..." "It doesn't. Monsters who start bleeding this stuff are almost always basically dead, just a hair away from collapsing into a pile of dust on the ground."

Animagus...? Like Harry Potter, that book Jamie had back at the abbey? And what are boss monsters? Irrespective of her lack of understanding, Fenrus continued; "It's a powerful reagent in the more... forbidden magical arts as well. ...Or was, I suppose." Toriel, who had thus far kept silent, looked horrified and immediately interjected "Stop! You're clearly overwhelming her, it's too much at once! Besides, she doesn't need to know the... things, that the histories suggest man... used us for. No one does." "Ah huh, nu uh, you're falling into that trap again. You think you'd know from your kid-" "Please do not speak of them... either of them." He let out a tiny sigh before carrying on, "Well what I was getting at, was if anyone here would understand that 'man' isn't some big monolith you can just generalize about, it'd be you!"

That seemed to give her pause. "Well..." A tiny smirk split his rodent face, and soon grew into a giant Cheshire grin. "Of course that doesn't mean you can trust any of them further than you can throw 'em, which ain't far in my case, and probably the same in yours. After all, 'What is a man? A miserable little pile of secrets!' Hahaha!... Eh... this place makes that less funny and a lot more sad and... well, true." ...That was a reference to something, wasn't it? Toriel nods. "The human André Malraux, correct?" "...Well, yeah, but that's not what I was going for. Smart call-out though, I see why he picked you. I might hate your method, but you're well read." Noelle tentatively raised her hand. They both glanced at each other, before Toriel replied, "Yes, child?..." "What was the point of this lesson, again?" Fenrus cups his small face in his equally tiny hands, and sighs. "...Really? Seriously? Did you not pay attention at all? What was the point of this-!? Ah hem. Sorry, nearly lost my cool, but that kind of behavior would have gotten you kicked out (if you were lucky) or turned into a toad, back in the good ol' days."

"...I'm sorry...", she feebly apologizes. "No no, it's alright. Let's take it from the top, I'll just paraphrase his notes this time: so humans are mostly water by mass, specifically somewhere between 52-65% usually, to my understanding, while monsters, which you are one, are mostly magic." "I already-" "But, different types of monsters have a different material which is second most dominant, and different exact percentages for how much of their bodies are made of the boring physical stuff and how much is raw magic! The biggest catch-all category is what you are, animagus, which almost always have some animal characteristics and are the second most physical type. They're made of (in addition to magic) flesh and... well fur, sometimes scales. The neat fun fact is that the most likely reason your so weak physically compared to a human being of your age is because your not actually one of them, and animagus don't really develop muscles and bones the way 'normal' animal and humans do."

"Ok, following so far..." "Good to hear! Closely related is the physically strongest type that isn't totally extinct, boss monsters. Their secondary material, for lack of a better word, is actually straight muscle." "Wait, but that doesn't make any sense! I'm looking at one right now and she has skin and fur and that other stuff..." "True, but underneath all that, they're the most naturally muscled monsters left, and have a distinct advantage over anyone else. But, that advantage actually isn't as huge as you might think; they have the strongest SOULs, but they have to, since other than Djinn, they're actually the most magic by composition, something on the order of 90 percent or something like that? There used to be minotaurs, a specific boss monster variant, which was only something like 50-60 percent magic? They... were terrifying. Supposedly, they violated all the rules, with just one example being that they and they alone could handle a small amount of a certain otherwise human quality without melting into horrid abominations. I only know of one that could in fact do that, that could harness any amount of DETERMINATION, but that singular one was enough to take on a small army by themselves. ...But... they're gone... Just like all the minotaurs are gone. Eh heh hahaha... ha."

That's... not a good laugh. Sounds like he accidentally went into something sensitive..."...Did you know them? What was their name?" "Hm!?" His small head snapped up, beady yet strangely human eyes staring back into hers as his ears swiveled around like satellite dishes trying to make sure he heard her right. "...You don't have to answer-" "Toro. His name was Toro and he was a blockhead with no sense of humor, but if you were one of his, he'd always have your back." "...I'm-" "Don't, it's all just too much of a downer! Let's just finish this lesson so I can go read something to take my mind off everything."

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Report: POI Interdiction #65-102-109​

​

At precisely 10:05 GMT (6:05 A.M. local time) on June 29th​, the slush account Doctor Lee Sessions revealed to the Foundation during interrogation following Incident ATL-6-2020-#3 was accessed and debited for it's entire monetary value. The transaction was later audited using Foundation contacts to determine that it had been used to purchase two airline tickets departing Port Kaituma, Guyana to Atlanta, Georgia, using a connecting flight through Miami. With this information acquired, a several field agents were assembled and given the task of interdicting what was expected to be semi-humanoid entity 'HWWB' and humanoid entity 'Jackson Torres' at Miami International Airport.

The below is a report on the agents' activities:

1. 10:30 GMT Agents Greene and Westmoreland were already in Miami, and upon receiving their orders, begin setting the groundwork for the operation. At the same time. Agent's Wayne, Jeffrey, Miller, and Hayes receive their orders as well.
2. 12:45 GMT Agent Miller arrives in Miami.
3. 13:00 GMT Agent's Wayne and Hayes arrive in Miami.
4. 18:30 GMT Airport surveillance of Port Kaituma airstrip reports that the airliner matching the purchased tickets has departed.
5. 20:00 GMT Agent Jeffrey arrives in Miami. When questioned by Agent Westmoreland as to their late arrival, Agent Jeffrey claims to have been held up on account of 'Cartel Business'
6. 23:15 GMT Plane lands in Miami international, and during observation, a figure wearing clothing matching the provided description exits the plane. They demonstrate behavior the observing agents deem suspicious, most notably actively avoiding answering a simple question asked by a disguised Agent Greene.
7. 23:20 GMT Agents detain the POI and in a private setting remove their gloves. Confusion sets in when ordinary human skin is found underneath rather than a pink gas.
8. 23:25 GMT Agent Westmoreland interrogates the POI, and confirms their identity: one Raul Francisco, a 24 year old Guyana native. They also receive information that tells the Agents where next to investigate.

Following the interrogation, POI was administered class B amnestic and provided a fabricated reason as to how and why they came to Miami, as well as a ticket back to Port Kaituma. Shortly thereafter, Agent Westmoreland submitted this report, and also revealed that the group, unless ordered otherwise, will follow up on the information they have acquired by proceeding to Matthews Ridge in Guyana to further investigate.

{A.N.: Happy Halloween, everyone!}

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

June 23rd​, 2:00 P.M. UTC/GMT -4, deep in the Amazon Jungle.

Frisk's POV
​

"PEH! BLECH! *Cough* *Spit* Frickin' mosquitoes..." You voice your agreement with that sentiment. They swat wildly at the mix of tiny black dots and raptorial, slightly terrifyingly large bloodsuckers swarming over them, before turning to HWWB. "Hey, are we-" "I swear if you ask that question, so help me- Nimble Guide, how much further do we have to go?" "Not much further now- snake, left!" Both of them take a rapid sidestep to left before continuing forward. As they proceed, they hear a low hissing sound to the right. Your legs hurt, and you voice as such. "Yeah, and how do you think I feel. Trust me, you're not alone. It's been three or four days of jungle and misery, but you heard Nimble Guide, we're close, so it's on we go!"

He had just barely finished saying that when the three of them pass through a bush nestled perfectly between two tree trunks, and two of the three of them are suddenly taken aback by what they see. This place... is bizzarre. Directly ahead, a road begins seemingly from nothing that is literally paved with shimmering gold, the buildings to each side look like a bizzarre cross of Incan, Arabian Nights Middle Eastern, and Greek, with a few hints of Japanese, mostly in the bonsai plants. Perhaps even more bizzarely, Frisk doesn't actually see the same thing their 'narrator' describes. While there is a road and it is paved with gold, and there are even a few bonsai plants, the buildings to each side are like simple log cabins in construction.

HWWB's POV
​

What he sees is a row of fine old school Silmarian (and therefore basically classical greek) buildings made of white marble with red tile roofs. "Welcome, friends, to El Dorado. The city of Gold, as your people know it, if I am not mistaken, young one?" "Hmm!? Oh, yeah, that's right..." "Nimble Guide!!! How dare you, what is the meaning of this!?" Another tabaxi stomped over to the gawking group.

I shall be honest, dear reader, that I do not quite recall the exact details of the conversation following that point. I only recall the end result: it being explained to us that thus far El Dorado has been concealed using techniques similar to that used by the CSK (Children of the Scarlet King) to conceal what was happening at the former site of Jonestown, us being granted permission to stay for awhile, and finally...

"Do you happen to have a shaman, druid, sage, fortune teller, far seer, or even head priest, just someone with knowledge in the arcane?" "But of course, Patient one." "I thought as much ...Follow up, may I speak to them, and can you lead us to them?" "Follow." It was an agonizingly long trip along the winding, golden streets of the eerily empty city, before the trio arrived at a grand temple, appearing to HWWB at least to resemble something like a smaller version of the Pantheon, towering over most of the other structures in the city. Nimble Guide led them inside and several more twists and turns later, to a closed door inscribed with arcane symbols. Nimble Guide simply stood there and motioned at the door. He moved to knock, but quickly thought better of it, stepping back and flicking his finger towards the door. No one else but himself heard "Presdon's Prestigous Prestidigitation." As a result, they (except for himself, obviously) were at least slightly surprised when the sound of knuckles knocking on wood rang out from the door.

Frisk's POV

A moment later, a tabaxi more or less like all the rest save for being dressed in brown robes answers, opening the door. You notice that, actually, there are bits of grey fur mixed in amongst the yellows, oranges, and black of their spots. They seems older than the others you've seen so far. The elderly tabaxi's eyes widen for a moment, before narrowing towards their escort. "Nimble Guide, I see. So, these are the outsiders you brought?..." "Yes, Mystic Eyes." "And you thought for some reason-" Suddenly, she stops and takes a long moment to stare at Frisk, then another in turn to stare at HWWB. "...Nevermind. I presume you are here for a reason, yes?" "We-" Suddenly, HWWB makes a throat clearing sound, before speaking; "I certainly do, and the kid may have a reason as well. Nimble Guide simply brought us here, and did a fantastic job of it, if I may say so." You swear you can almost see Nimble Guide blushing a little.

"However, to get down to business immediately, how much of a... I suppose, 'fortuneteller' are you? How skilled and knowledgeable in the lore of the Lantern?" She gives him an odd, almost appraising look, before seeming to turn introspective. "Enough that I knew of your coming well before your arrival... but ultimately, very little, compared to an ancient, multifaceted titan such as yourself." He scoffs in response, though a subtle expression somewhere between a grin and a smirk forces it's way onto his face. "I suspected that whoever was here that I was... 'detecting', would have already known we would be coming ahead of time, and flattery will get you nowhere, I'm nothing compared to the true titans of an age now lost. ...What do you mean by multifaceted?... Hmph, irrelevant, forget I asked. ...Nimble Guide! Take Frisk and show them around town, if you be so kind." "Wait, why?" "How about because I asked really nicely?"

Perhaps slightly begrudgingly, she agrees, and takes them by the hand. "Come along now, child. There is much I am to show you. As she's ushuring you out the door, you hear first frsgments of whatever it is these two are going to talk about: "So, if you can't help me on the 'fortuneteller' front, that means I need to discuss with an old fri- an old acquaintance. To that end, I could still use your assistance if you'd give it, tell me, how familiar are you with... the Fae? Or perhaps the nameless ones would be a more familiar title?"​

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

{A.N.: Fair Warning, this part includes tons of german to english translations (english in parentheses like this), none of which I am particularly sure of. If bad translations upsets you, then you can either skip this part or inform me the correct german for the intended english messages. It also includes slightly more intense languge than usual for this story, probably not enough to warrant a warning, but, well, coverning my bases.}

Ten minutes later...


HWWB's POV​

"Well it's not actually a fox or part of the genus Vulpes, but I suppose since you don't have any of their bones and no access to get any, the bones of Lycalopex gymnocercus could work as a substitute. That just leaves three Corvus feathers-" "Remind me of these human conventions, Corvus is...?" "A genus, a grouping of animals, in this case crow, raven, and rook." "I see..." Suddenly, she went stone still, seemingly freezing up for some reason or another. "Mystic Eyes! What is the matter?" "...You don't feel it? You haven't felt or seen the signs?" "No, signs of-" His reply died in his mouth when he spotted two birds as he spun around; one flew straight into the room's window, and dropped to the gound outside. The other, a crow, landed on a branch and cawed loudly at them, as if screaming. Well, that's two really bad portents within seconds of each other- wait a damn minute... "I didn't think you had American crow down here..." When he finishes wheeling around to look at her, she's shooting him a dead stare. "We don't." "...Frick."

He promptly charged out of the temple, grabbing a little bundle of twigs on his way out the door and began sprinting around the city, looking for the kid and their escort. Unfortunately, it wouldn't take him long to find them, as just a moment after he began to run, he heard a loud scream. He doubled his pace towards the sound. When he got there, the kid was looming over a prone Nimble Guide, dagger in hand, eyes open and glowing a determined red, with the slightest hints of a corrupt crimson on the edges. He had seen this picture before... far too many times, in fact, but that was thankfully a while ago... until now. Oh no no no, not today... quite possibly literally satan! He couldn't seem to sense nor see to target whatever was making Frisk do this, but that just meant he'd have to b a little more direct than he'd like.

He channeled all his frustration from the trip here, all his panic, all his anger and fear... and he bumrushed them.

Frisk Spieler's POV​

You feel something surprisingly heavy slam into your body and pull it down from behind. He, deciding he didn't have time for anything more complex, had tackled them, or at least their body, to the ground, stripping the dagger from their hands in the process. Nimble Guide quickly rose from the ground. "Obrigado-" (Portuguese: Thank you-) "No time, run! I'll handle it from here!" She thought for a moment of protesting, trying to argue back, but quickly decided to do as told and run. He quickly turned to the rising form of the kid behind him. "Well then..."

"Schöpfer von allem, wie du es getan hast Rom die ausdruckslose Spinne; Schenk uns Augen, gib uns Augen! ...Damit wir die Wahrheit erkennen können." (Creator of all, as you did for Rom the Empty Spider; Grant us eyes, grant us eyes! ...So that we may see the truth.) A horrid white glow surrounds him, shortly followed by a literal third eye, a milky white orb, appearing between the other two, each glowing an icy, patient blue, he already had. For just a moment, you could swear he stares though the body you pilot and sees you as you truly are. He lets out a low chuckle, "Und jetzt sehen wir den Feind." (And now we see the enemy) He clears his throat before continuing; "Release them from your control now, demon, or I'll be forced-" "To do what? You are powerless, and your 'creator' will not head your miserable cries. I am the will of hundreds, no, hundreds of thousands of-"

"Nein, du verdammter Schweinehund, (No, you goddamn pigdog,) you fucking peabrained, vile idiot, you're just a demon too pathetic to even possess a host on it's own, so you rely on a bunch of echoes of people who don't even know any better, who don't know what their really doing, for power. But in so doing, you have failed to realize something: your just as much a puppet on string as they are." One of his eyes remains the same cold blue, but the other has burned to new life, blazing a fiery red. He takes a deep breath, seemingly steadying himself. "And, the creator or at least a fragment of them will answer me as I've already shown, so now, I'm going to get the kid back." He stretches a hand out, holding a little wooden symbol made of twigs and resembling a cross, with a metal token bearing a crescent and star on it hanging from the middle of the cross by thin strands of fabric, and begins speaking, chanting almost:

"Kaputte Straßen führen in die Hölle. (Broken Roads lead to hell.) Der Dämon, Spieler, zerbricht die Unschuldigen und bringt den Tod mit sich. (The demon, Player, breaks the innocent and brings death with it.) Jetzt ist es an der Zeit, die kaputten Wege zu reparieren und zuzusehen, wie du im Licht des Herrn brennst, Dämon! (Now it's time to mend the broken ways and watch you burn in the light of the Lord, demon!) Und kehre in die Hölle zurück, in deine Heimat! (And return to hell, to your homeland!) Zurückkehren! (Return!) Verbrennen! (Burn!)" He repeated the last two words twice more each, alternating the same way he began. He then gripped ahold of his simple, improvised cross with his other hand.

"What do you think you are-" Suddenly, Mystic eyes joins him at his side as he continues in a half-chant half-prayer; "Deshalb gebt nicht meiner Macht nach, sondern der Macht dessen, was mich, dieses Gefäß und diese Welt erschaffen hat und das uns auch jetzt noch bewahrt. (Therefore, do not yield to my power, but to the power of that which created me, this vessel, and this world, and which preserves us even now.) Denn es ist die Macht des Einen, des Schöpfers von allem, der dich zwingt! (For it is the power of the One, the Creator of all, who compels you!)

A moment passes, nothing seems to happen, and then... And then a pulse of literal demonic, murderous intent exits the kid's body in one big pulse, and the kid drops to the floor like a puppet with it's strings cut. Mystic Eyes jumps forward and catches them before they hit the ground. "...We will have to delay-" "I know... I know, Mystic Eyes. I just want to know what triggered this." "Perhaps they became vulnerable thanks to exhaustion from all the travel?" "...Maybe. ...I think I'll also grab some quick rest while we wait for them to recover." "Is whatever that was... gone?" "Nein. Temporarily suppressed."

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Three hours and eighty minutes later/6 P.M. (UTC/GMT) -4


Frisk's POV​

Your half-conscious mind feels someone forcefully shaking you. Hr-rm? What...? "...r............o...g......up..." You sleepily shout 'five more minutes, mom!' as you rub the sleep out of your eyes. "...Wake...time..." You finally shake off your grogginess and turn over in bed. The first thing you see when you flip over and open your eyes is a frustrated and tired looking pink gas person standing next to an old cat lady in brown robes with a strained smile on her face. You ask them if they could repeat what they were just saying. HWWB, their slowly waking brain helpfully provides, lets out a sigh before chuckling. "I said, 'Are you ok, get up!?' and then 'Wake up, we don't have time for you to get five more minutes in!' So! You gettin' up or what!?" You somewhat begrudgingly comply.

Opting to ignore the two of them for now, their eyes scan the room for a short bit til they fall on a bucket of water. They promptly walk over and dunk their head into it. The water is really cold, it sends a shock through what feels like your entire half-asleep body. It did the trick; you're wide awake now, but you somewhat regret it. Before they have much of a chance to really regret it, he extends a half-solid, wispy arm, practically blowing away in the light breeze. On it... sits a fine if slightly ugly beige towel. "I thought-" "Do not take credit for Nimble Guide's insight, please, dear guest." He shoots her an indecipherable look, before turning and, after an awkward cough, continues; "Guide thought that you might do something like this, so we figured we'd better bring a towel or something similar. You snatch it and dry off.

They both patiently wait for them to finish, then when it looks like they have, HWWB speaks up, "You good? All done?" They nod. "Excellent. Then follow me." He points to them, then waves outwards towards the door before closing his hand with his other one in an exaggerated 'clapping motion' that, had he been meat and bone, doubtlessly would have made a fair bit of noise. As it was, it merely made a 'whooshing' sound, then a brief popping noise like a bubble bursting once they came together. You ask him to wait and hold up for a moment. "Hmm? Why?" "...I ...have questions?" You answer his question with no confidence at all and in the lamest way possible. Hey! ...Did not... Did too. Did not! It repeated that way a few more times over the span of what felt like ages but was really just a few seconds.

They're startled out of the highly immature cycle going on in their head by HWWB's intrusion, specifically, his follow-up question; "Ok... what questions are those, then?" They suck in a deep breath and go for it: "Why are we here again, why did you say 'we do not have enough time for you to get five more minutes in', and where are we going? ...And how did you- you know-" "I'm going to stop you right there; what I did here today wasn't a permanent thing. And before you ask I don't think you can learn to do it yourself, further more even if you could it's not... self-targeting, if you follow my meaning." You can practically feel the weight being re-added to your slumping shoulders. Suddenly, he approaches and leans down, moving to plant a hand on their shoulder, before thinking better of it and withdrawing. "Hey, listen, just... try not to worry about it. I know you can beat this. You got [[Guts]] kid."

He seems to freeze for a moment. Just the briefest of moments, but they catch it. "...Right. And my other questions?" "Ack! Right, of course! Ok, so right now, we're going back to the temple, where Mystic Eyes has completed all but the last required step of prepwork needed for... well, you could call it a ritual, but it's not actually a magical, nor religious, ritual. As for why I said what I said... I mean, come on, that's obvious. I said that so you'd get up. Well, that and also we need to do this during daylight to have any hope of success and that's fading fast. And I really want to leave here by tomorrow morning for a couple different reasons." They nod, processing everything he has said. He's suddenly scrutinizing you very intensely. "And we're here... because... that's a really long story actually... could fill a book with it honestly..."

You suddenly blurt out 'that's not what I meant! I don't have amnesia!'. He actually looks very relieved and surprised at the same time. "Good to hear... in that case... hmm. Still a long story, shorter, but long... how about this? I'll say we're here to conduct a... procedure that will allow us to enter... how to word this... the place where the defeated's allies now dwell. ...Huh? What? He seems to notice the look of confusion on you face. "I'll explain more when we reach the temple, but for now just understand that the entities that live where we are going, are not to be trusted and are not to be referred to by the same title more than once. And unless you're a very special exception, which you're not, they're not to be referred to by anything resembling a proper name." You are confused, but tell him you understand.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Five Minutes Later


Frisk's POV​

After a short journey, the group arrived back at the temple, more specifically Mystic Eyes' small office. You examine the room. There is wood in the fireplace. The bags in the corner of the room have no discernible purpose, but presumably contain something. There is a bundle of objects (a bowl with some kind of white powder, a few black feathers, some chunks of what looks like copper, and a photograph) sitting on the fireplace mantle. Suddenly, Mystic Eyes turns around and a bright light fills their vision. Once you finish blinking spots out of your vision, you notice that she's holding what looks like an old disposable camera. HWWB quickly confirms their suspicion when he grabs what looks like a photo from a slit on the top, and places it with the other items on the mantle.

"Ok kid, so... this is going to take a little bit to explain. ...So, back during the war, you know the one, it wasn't just monster vs man, it was a bit more... complex than that. Kind of like how some of the monsters that stayed free most likely inspired parts of some of humanity's myths, one particular mythology was heavily influenced by one particular group of monster kind's few allies: the Fae." Fae? Like Tinkerbell? No, think the Irish myths, which are probably what he's hinting at, not the bastardized Disney version. Less Tinkerbell, more horrifying manipulators... sometimes. Seemingly oblivious to the conversation happening in their head, he continued; "Though, now that I think about it, Fae actually fought on both sides of the war. Just more of them on the monster's side than not."

"...What?" "Eh, don't worry about it, the result's ultimately the same. Anyway! The point is that they, the Fae, suffered a fate similar and yet so much worse than our- er, the monsters." His expression is unreadable. There's something... strange about it and him. He shakes his head briefly, then retrains his attention on them. "Their prison isn't a mountain, though. Nothing so ordinary. They exist, were imprisoned, within the forested plane, a sort of... pocket dimension? Only, that isn't really an accurate description of... it." He forcefully exhales, taking a deep, frustrated breath afterwards. "You can't get to this other realm without performing a specific procedure or rite, which w- I, actually did a version of several times during ou- my, own... sentence. Which we will be doing shortly, but first, please remind me, because I think I already know but I want to be sure; what is your situation regarding siblings?"

HWWB's POV​

"...An older sister and a little brother, that's it." Ok, that means they're a middle child. That should mean... "...I see. In that case, you'd be type 2..." "Wait, wait, type 2? What does matter, and what does it mean?" "Patience. I'm getting there." "Preferably sometime this century would be nice." He takes another deep breath in and out before barreling forwards; "So, if your still listening, some ground rules. What we are about to do is incredibly dangerous. For you, anyway. Not so much me. But under no circumstances should you..."

I preceded to explain to them, more or less and in my own words, the Foundation's 4000-SEP (Standard Exploration Protocol) 1-8, the contents of which one should be able to view if they have acquired access to this journal legitimately. I didn't really consciously choose to base my explanation on the SEP, it just so happens that it covers much of what needed to be covered in the moment, so much of it is redundant information, and so shall not be documented here, as it is also contained within the aforementioned Foundation documentation.

"...And last but not least, this isn't a normal, as much as that word can be applied at all, trip into the nameless boughs, so there is one additional rule that trumps all others." "...That being?" "If I tell you to do something, drop everything and do exactly whatever it is I told you to do. Got that?" After a brief moment during which their face showed total confusion, they eventually responded, "...Got it." "I'm serious." "I got it. Mostly. ...I thought I understood that you were saying that we wouldn't go in at the same time, and wouldn't meet up on the other side either." "In that case, yes, you a hundred percent understood what I was saying. However that's for... 'normal' trips. This... isn't that. Ok?" They nod confidently. "Excellent. Mystic Eyes, on me! We begin."

After a short bit of fighting with a metal fire-striker, the fireplace blazed to life, a tiny inferno burning in it's heart. He quietly motioned to Mystic Eyes, who handed him the bowl. He carefully lifted a fistful of mixed and ground up bone, and cast it into the flames. They seemed to grow almost a smidge hotter. Then, he took one of the two photos off of the mantle, and spun around to face Frisk. "Normally, you're supposed to burn an easily burnt possession of yours that has high sentimental value, but in a pinch, a photograph of yourself can also work." He paused for a moment longer. "Remember, if/when you hear a voice, shut up and let me handle it, until it's your turn. When it's your turn, only give the answers Mystic Eyes tells you to give. She's got the answers on a sheet somewhere in this office, just give those answers and you'll be fine." Once they responded with a nod, he quickly turned back and dropped a photo of himself into the fire, watching patiently as it consumed his visage.

Frisk's POV​

He then picked up what looked like a chunk of copper, and shaved a few pieces off. "Copper for ol' Widdershins." He continued doing so until there was barely anything left. He concluded by grabbing three of the black feathers and releasing them over the fire, watching as the smoke carries them up the chimney. An awkward moment passes in silence, then... "What is your name, who are you?" What the heck... The voice is loud, booming, hostile... and it doesn't really come from the fire, it more so comes from everywhere at once. "Your guess is as good as mine." "Are you without a name of your own?" "Not entirely, technically, but I suppose so, yes." "What is your purpose in seeking entrance to this forbidden place? "I seek a victim of war, lost without title amongst trees." The voice seems to almost soften and become friendlier as it asks it's next question; "Where is this victim?" "We shall soon see, won't we?"

Another brief moment passes, before a horrid grinding sound emanates from the fireplace as it seems to grow and stretch out, and a ladder descends from the chimney. HWWB boldly strides through the flames, seemingly unaffected, and grabs the bottom-most rung. Moments later, he has disappeared from view. "Well then little one? What are you waiting for? Strike while the iron is hot!" Mystic Eyes's voice shatters through their reverie, and they're soon repeating all the same steps HWWB has done. Up till the copper, that is. You complain that there aren't any copper chunks left, they were all used up by HWWB. Mystic Eyes quickly hands them a coffee mug and explains what to do next. You shave chunk after chunk of plain grey metal off into the fire, finishing it by saying 'Tin for old Widdershins'. Afterwards, they release the three blacks feathers into the fire's smoke.

A moment later, the voice from before, just as hostile as when it asked the first question, rang out; "Is someone there?" They glanced over at Mystic Eyes, then answered the question using the words on the sheet she was holding up; "There's only me." Shortly after, came the reply; "And who are you?" Again, they read their response off the Tabaxi priest's paper; "I guess you'll see." Once again, a moment passed before the fireplace grew and stretched out, and the same ladder dropped down from the chimney.

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

Frisk's POV​

Wasting no time, they grab onto the ladder, and begin to ascend. Eventually, the brick of the chimney begins giving way to old grey stone, and finally, they see light. A short while later, they reach the top and pull themselves up. They briefly relax, just sitting there, taking in the sunshine and fresh air, something that... they've actually missed a fair bit, lately. Then, feeling renewed, they hop down. You take in your surroundings. You just came out of what looks like an old, weather-beaten stone well. Dead ahead of you is a single rough dirt path. HW- 'The Pink Man' is standing there, seemingly taking up the whole road. ...Hopefully our stay here is short. Off to the sides, there's thick woods as far as the eye can see. They begin to move towards him, but not before turning to take one last look at the well, spotting a golden spark in one of it's several cracks. You can feel how much this well has endured just by looking at it. Just seeing it standing there, despite it all, fills you with DETERMINATION.

He lets out a grunt once they close the distance between them. "Remember, stay by my side, I cannot guarantee your safety otherwise." Thoughts about how you can handle yourself and he doesn't need to worry briefly fill your head. You dismiss them and focus. They then begin walking down the road. And walking. ...And walking. .....And..... How long have we been going? Then, suddenly, he stops and throws an arm out, bringing them to a complete stop. Leaning over, he whispers into their ear; "Listen. Let me handle this, ok? Just... remember the rules." Coughing, he straightens back out, allowing them to see what lies on the dirt road ahead off them. A small person, maybe three feet tall, buzzes through the air on a set of four disgusting mosquito-like wings, two on each side of their body. They wear a brown-green dress, more specifically the color of dead grass, and wear a crown of thorns atop their head. Is this a fair- a fae? Looks pretty Disney to me.

HWWB's POV​

He walks a few steps more before the winged entity turns and spots the two of them. Immediately upon this happening, he halts and drops into a shallow, practiced bow. The entity immediately zips over and looks over the two off them before saying, "Good day, strangers! What brings you here?" He coughs lightly to clear his throat before responding in a cordial but somewhat stiff voice, "Pardon me, but I and my companion could use some directions, if you would be so kind? Please." The one who wears a crown of thorns and a grassy dress lets out a small giggle. "Well, you didn't answer my question, but very well. I can take a hint, please do pardon me for prying. Now, directions... directions where, exactly?"

He finds himself involuntarily tensing up at this question. He quickly bows once more, to accentuate his words; "No, please accept my apologies, I... chose the wrong phrasing. Would you accept a second attempt?" The winged one looks slightly confused and frustrated, going by the look on her face. "...Ok. I accept your apologies. Please do try again. ...And please don't get it wrong this time." He carefully considers how to phrase his query, but decides to simply drop all pretense and skip to indirectly admitting why they're there. "Do you know where we might find... what titles does she go by these days?" That's actually a genuine question, what titles has she gone by in the past, again? 'Our Lady of Mercy'? 'Our Lady of Wires', perhaps? "...You know what, I apologize and beg of you your forgiveness and patience, allow me to start again from the beginning. Do you know where we might find 'She Who Rests atop a Throne of Bones and Cradles a Flaming Child'?

The entity flinches, but quickly recollects herself. "Please understand good sir that I do not intend to offend but... you are either a damn fool or incredibly desperate." He lets out a low, bitter laugh. "Heh... no offense taken. And trust me, it's probably both. Still though. I did ask, and I'd like an answer, please." The entity looks at him for a moment more, then fishes out a piece of old parchment paper. "Here. Directions to where her cottage is today. You may have it." He thinks for a moment, then graciously receives the paper with both hands. "Thank you. Now, if you'd pardon us, I believe we should be on our way." "You're welcome. ...Oh, but, my apologies, one last thing, if you would?" He feels an eyebrow raising and his mouth about to reflexively open to deny her request, but quickly smothers both impulses. Instead, he simply utters a quiet, "Oh?"

She nods and continues, "Since you are going to see... them... already, there is a favor I would ask, if you are receptive, of course. She has a tome of mine. You'll recognize it, it's bound in a solid cover of teal and purple." "Well, I give you my word we'll ask about it, and bring it back if she is willing to simply give it to us. If not, I hope you understand why I can't promise anything else. Is that all?" "I of course understand, that is all, and thank you. Go in peace, desperate strangers."

 

[Ol' Tin Knight]

HWWB's POV​

The pair take a few steps further down the sole dirt path, before pausing so he can read the directions. Thirty paces, yes yes. Then ...Great. Just great... "Well... there's good news and bad news?" They look at him wearing an expression of concern. "So... I think... no... I know we can trust this." Before they could open their mouth to ask, "Don't ask why." They promptly lower the finger they were raising. "That's the good news. The bad news is, we'll have to go... off-road." Their eyes suddenly open in surprise at that. "Didn't you put a lot of emphasis how much of a bad idea that is?" "Well, yes. Unfortunately, now we'll have to do it. Ordinarily, once you leave, you will not be able to find your way back. I have... a method to ensure our return. But for now, let's just continue on until we arrive to where we'll step off the path." After they nod, he folds the parchment up and pockets it.

Frisk's POV​

A bit further up the path, they encounter a 'man' with a scarred head resembling that of an ox, wearing a set of beaten up, seemingly bloody coveralls, crouched down in the middle of the path tending to a patch of green shoots sticking out of the ground just off to the left. He again throws an arm out, and again, they stop before actually making contact with him. He steps forwards and takes yet another shallow bow before speaking, "Pardon us, but it seems you're blocking our path." The bovine entity lets out a low grunt before standing. "It certainly does seem that way, doesn't it? Ah, but where are my manners? Good afternoon, impatient ones." Suddenly it's eyes trace over to them and seem to... change. As it crouches down to be at eye level, it speaks; "Well, hello there. Who are you, cute little one? If you don't mind me asking." You suddenly feel all your hair stand on end. There's something very wrong about what it said. What though? If I may intrude, I believe he said something about 'avoid any natives that seem to regard you with anything resembling affection.'?

Fortunately, the man in question intervenes by loudly clearing his throat and leaning between the two. "Regardless of whether or not they do, I mind. We were talking, remember?" It suddenly emits a spluttering sound and quickly stands back up, only to then bow deeply. "My deepest apologies, I forget myself, good sir." It's eyes seem to harden again. "I cannot move aside yet, however. I was given a task by another, which i need to finish." "And might I ask what that is?" Rather than replying, the ox-like entity crouches back down and grips a cluster of the green shoots. Then, in one fluid pull, tugs them up and out of the ground, revealing long orange tubers beneath the green stalks. Now that it's holding them up, you can tell that those are carrots. "If you're willing to help, it'll speed things up." You look up at him. He seemingly looks the local over with a critical eye for a minute, before shrugging and nodding. "We'll certainly help, after all, isn't that the 'right' thing to do?" It chuckles and shakes it's horned head. "I suppose so."

HWWB's POV​

Following our initial conversation with the one who's clothes are stained with the blood of fruits, we both got to work helping it harvest carrots from this little patch by the road. The realm in and of the boughs being what it is, I swear that patch of dirt and plants grew bigger once we started helping... and it very well might have. It (which, incidentally, is a one hundred percent safe descriptor word when it comes to dealing with the inhabits of it, though my second use of the word here demonstrates it's shortcomings as a catch-all) proved a bit of a nuisance, continually attempting to engage Frisk in conversation of the sort that presents a direct hazard for a human of their 'type' when within the prison of the Fae. I fortunately kept it off of them for the most part, and before any of the three of us knew it, we were done, having filled the old wooden bucket it brought with it.

"I kindly thank you, stranger and adorable one. Here, you may have these few as a token of my gratitude for your aid." It held out a bundle of carrots as it said that. He nods and responds, "You're welcome and thank you." He then extends both hands and receives the bundle. Once he's received them, he carefully stows them in his bag, being careful to not let it touch any of the other supplies he brought with him. It picks up the bucket and looks them over. He again coughs into his hand and steps in between it and them. It narrows its eyes briefly, but nods and walks away. The two of them soon proceed down the now clear path.