There is a response Roy hears - a telepathic wave of emotions that roils over all of you. You feel someone's malign, oppressive triumph, then a little flicker of hope thrashing inside like a bird in a cage. Furthermore, you somehow understand that these two emotions belong to a single entity, but that almost-snuffed out one rejects the more powerful and majestic. And that little one desperately reaches for something, maybe another part of him that is missing.
And as you realize it, the figure spreads its hands, long sleeves fluttering on the wind - plants around it suddenly sprout barbed roots which come at you, slithering an inch above ground, as the figure watches from afar.
The pendant continues advancing towards the figure, it not noticing the little crystal, but its movement becomes weaker with every moment.
Auron: "Rgh. Small targets. Wonderful."
-Auron raises his sword above his head and begins swinging it in downwards arcs, the tip scraping against the ground, aiming to trim any malicious plants aiming for his ankles, as he continues to make his way towards the yellow crystal.-
-He doesn't quite understand what it is yet, but he knows it has to be important, and, most importantly, this creature seems to want to keep them away from it.-
Be kind.Albert and Auron, your offensive gardening tactics would result in blazing extinction of most of the plant life of the oasis... if not for its endless recovery, courtesy of the Stranger. You manage to hold your ground for some time, Auron almost reaching the pendant and Albert setting most of the vines on fire... and then it stops endlessly sprouting back as Roy manages to break the figure's concentration with his less than subtle threat to its well-being.
Its attention is now completely drawn to Roy as it releases roots from its control and slowly raises open palms in a peace-making gesture. Then it points an index finger up before it, as if asking the gunslinger to wait, then shows its face from under the hood - it's covered by a featureless pallid mask. With another hand it reaches to take it off...
The pendant is now free for you to reach, Auron, it seems. And it sure as hell wants you to help it reach its former body.
edited 2nd Aug '16 11:17:26 PM by TheRiddleOfCards
-Auron wastes no time taking advantage of the opportunity. Somehow sensing the amulet's intentions, he stabs his sword into the ground, kneels down, and swipes the amulet off the ground. He stands (grunting as his back pops), and turns towards the stranger.-
Auron: "You've had your fun. Now it's time to calm down."
-He steps forward and — albeit backwards, since he's most likely behind the Stranger by this point — reaches up to drape the amulet around the Stranger's neck.-
Be kind.As Roy lowers the rifle, the silhouette touches his mask and starts removing it. The cowboy reflexively looks into the gap and instantly regrets it. It's hard to make out what shapes dwell in the blackness that is hidden beneath the pallid mask, but Roy feels his mind willing to let him get free of the ordeal at any cost, even if it means losing consciousness now.
And then Auron puts the amulet on the Stranger, the cord passing straight through the gap that appeared as the mask was removed. The oasis rapidly disintegrates, and the blackness Roy has just witnessed is rapidly sucked into the crystal as a smoke, leaving only robes hanging mid-air... And then they suddenly fall down, covering a diminutive figure standing in place of the creauture you've just vanquished.
Hastur: Um... Thanks, but I think I'm stuck here. Help me get out of these?
As Hastur is freed from the robes, he looks at Auron, then Albert inquisitively... then takes the robes and kicks them into the desert. They glide away slowly like a piece of cloth should, before dissipating into dust on the wind.
Hastur: Thanks. That was a fragment of my psyche that I've willingly cut off. It represented my ambitions as a ruler... And it seems that it has remained here. Well, not anymore. And its powers are mine again.
The amulet flickers with yellow light as he says so. Hastur then smirks and shrugs, then goes towards the shell.
Hastur: We should bring some shards with us. Roy was willing to do... stuff with them. And I might need more pigment if we're to get out of here. Also, um. Could someone carry him the old-fashioned way? I'm kinda reluctant to repeat that Yaoi Guy Restrain technique on him. ~gulps~ .. Thank you very much. ~nods to Albert.~
edited 2nd Aug '16 11:49:09 PM by TheRiddleOfCards
Auron: -shrugs to Albert- "I'll carry him. You gather shards."
-He kneels down and scoops the unconscious cowboy onto his shoulder, then walks over to his sword and plants it back in its sheath.-
-to Hastur- "You're welcome."
-He looks off into the direction the robes disappeared.- "Are there more of those wandering around?"
Be kind.

-Auron steps forward, looking more battle-ready now.-
Auron: "Absorbed him, maybe."
-Out of the corner of his eye, he notices the yellow crystal lying on the ground, and his brow furrows.-
-He takes another couple steps towards the looming figure — and towards the crystal — watching it.-
Be kind.