TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Cradle of Gods

Go To

UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#301: Sep 29th 2021 at 7:39:53 AM

Masaru

The explosion that had tossed Masaru into the depths of the ocean rattled his head around, ears ringing as the icy brine washed over him. His vision and consciousness faded between moments, thoughts desperately trying to pull themselves together and assess the situation to no avail. For a few seconds, he floated there alongside Sword, contemplating the end.

No. Something primal and ancient rang through the lethargy.

He could not die. Not again. He didn't need to breathe, but Sword did. Sword was useful, there was no doubt, and while the less competition he had in his pursuit of the Thrones the better, it would be unwise to toss a useful asset aside like that. It would be convenient to simply act as if he had appeared all by his lonesome, with Sword never to be seen again. But she had helped deal with the Ember Knight, and he still held some honour. He opened his eyes, spurring his arms and legs into action as he swam towards the Oni, gripping her around the midsection as he swam for the shore with all the desperation his body could muster. With a few powerful kicks and strokes, he broke the surface, paddling his way to the sand and dropping the Oni onto her back as he started vehemently pushing down on her torso to drive out any water that she may have swallowed. A deep breath of air, pushed into her mouth to sustain her, then repeating. She wasn't dead yet, just unconscious, but it was better to act with swift caution.

"Come Sword, wake up. The danger is passed."

Edited by UndyingPhoenix on Sep 29th 2021 at 4:40:39 PM

Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#302: Sep 29th 2021 at 12:54:37 PM

Sword as always felt anger, betrayal, like she'd been hosed as this turned against them. There was an explosion, and then a cut. She'd lost consciousness the second she hit the rock, and was completely out until she awoke on the rock again, with all else missing. She then immediately spewed water from her mouth and shoved Masaru off herself, groaning inarticulately. Everything fuckin' hurt.

"Awesome!" She tried to yell, but it came out as a croak, which only made her angrier. "We haven't found the Pretender, just some fucking loser with fire powers, and now we're stuck on a shitty rock with nowhere to go and no leads to follow! Was getting *screwed* part of your plan, great general?!" She kept trying to squeak out more ranting, but instead smashed her fist into the rock, sending little pebbles into the air as she roared inarticulately, sitting on her ass and having a small tantrum.

"The Guilds were right, this was a dumb idea."

TheNohen roaming, lurking, arguing from Leipzig, Saxony Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
roaming, lurking, arguing
#303: Sep 30th 2021 at 1:38:10 PM

Lone Wharf

Eerie silence filled the wharf now, after the battle. The ship was a wreck, scorched and burned and severely damaged, while hanging by little more than a few wooden beams and good faith in the construction that held it aloft.

Still, Urzael was gone and both Masaru and Sword had survived. Worse for wear, sure, but very much alive. However, this confrontation had presented a few new questions. Who had imprisoned Urzael in the first place? And where were they now? The wharf itself looked abandoned, although the ship alone seemed to suggest people were occasionally here.

Then there were the empty houses, that they had briefly explored. The fight had broken down on the western side what previously just looked like a cavern-wall, but now revealed behind it a dusty and dark hallway, that led to a heavy wooden gate. Old, empty sconces were embedded in the walls and the gate itself was etched in the same iconography they had spotted at the cave-entrance before. Here, however, it showed tall, lanky humanoids praying before what looked to be some form of bell-shaped cabinet or casket. The gate itself was sealed by a heavy iron chain. Or at least, it used to be, as the chain laid shattered on the floor before the gate.

Of course, there was still the tunnel from which they had come from. Perhaps exploring the other way was now more tempting for Masaru and Sword, after their run-in with the Ember Knight. At the very least, an audible grumble could be heard, emanating from Sword's stomach, as if to remind the oni that it had been quite some time since she had last actually consumed something other than sea-water.

The Dounderlun - Upper Deck

The First Mate sighed with relief, as Revache surrendered. He gestured to the sailors, who made several steps back and put away the nets and ropes. "Well, thank you for seeing reason. This will make things much easier.", he noted and then stared at Poppy. As he did so, the girl could feel the irrestible force vanishing, that had constrained her.

As things relaxed, he barked some orders. The sailors looked almost a bit disappointed, that a fight hadn't broken out. Then Revache posed her question and the Admiral opened his mouth to answer. "The Bride...is my beloved, of course. My lady...my darling...my treasure..." He gave a deep and longing sigh. "Lost so long ago, fallen to the whispers of lies and...deceit. I wasn't there...to keep her...to save her. But now...now things are different. Master Willam...he got me a crew...he got me a ship...and with you...we will get my bride, as had been promised. And all will be whole...all will be good and proper..."

The First Mate looked like he wanted to say something, comment on it. But he held his tongue, although one could spot an ever so slightly shadow of of sneer cross over his face, as the Admiral talked. Almost, as if he had to keep himself from scoffing at the old mans babbling. The Admiral, for his part, did not seem to notice it and instead raised his head and took a deep breath of the fresh, salty air.

"Hm...very nice...good, good...we are there now...", he mumbled and clapped his fat hands. "Lay...anchor."

Several sailors rushed to the side, where what looked to be a large, black crab-carcass the size of a horse had been stowed. A big, corded rope had been tied tight around its shell and now they began shoving the huge thing towards the stern. Grunting and huffing, it required six men to heave the crab over the side and Revache and Poppy could see that it very much was alive, as its eyes popped out the moment it was was lifted up and its legs and pincers began to twitch in anticipation. With a mighty splash it landed in the sea and dragged the long and heavy rope with it.

"Hummmhumm....Basalt Corpars. They get heavier and tamer with age....make for good anchors....or mounts, if you're not...in a hurry...", explained the Admiral, as they watched the crew dump three more of those crabs into the sea. The sails were rolled up and bit by bit the Dounderlun slowed down.

"You, Dragonblood! Over here!", barked the First Mate, gesturing Revache to follow him.

He brought them over to the bow of the ship, where now a large copper-bell was dragged out from underneath the deck by the ships crew. It was massive, easily twice was big as Revache herself and could have even contained the Admiral, with room to spare. A round window of thick glass allowed for some limited vision, though it had several cracks in it.

"We are going to lower you down with this to the sea-floor. Don't bother about the light, its gonna be too dark to see anything anyway. Just stay under the bell and try to conserve your breath.", explained the First Mate. "We are going to keep you under there, until the Bride spots you. If she does...well, just don't move and don't do anything to piss her off. Best case, she accepts the gift and...well, we all get what we want." He threw a look over to the Admiral and mumbled something inaudible under his breath.

"Don't screw up, Dragonblood. Because if you fail, I will send little Poppy after you, I promise you that. No matter what the Admiral says."

Bold words. Why do you suffer this fool? He is in a hell of his design. If you were to push it over the edge, the calamity would swallow him whole... The worming, scuttling bass once again filled Poppy's head, skittering over her mind like a cockroach. It would be so easy, dear. He thinks he is in control, but you could teach him the error of his ways. Make him suffer you, instead of the other way around.

The First Mate stopped, while he explained to Revache the process of using the diving bell. His gaze shifted to Poppy and he opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then stopped, as if he thought better of it and turned back to the Dragonblooded.

"Just remember one thing. You will see a casket down there. Do NOT open it. No matter what happens or what she says. Understood? Under no circumstances leave the bell." He stared at her, as if he dared her to say no. "Any questions?"

Graveyard of the Sea - Topside

The ladder was badly rotten, with entire steps missing here and there. The stench of rotten fish and flesh was everpresent, as they descended down into the darkness. The walls were sticky and covered in moss and algae.

As Valentin finally reached the end, he was surrounded by darkness. It took him a few seconds, before he found what seemed to be an old oil-lantern. His senses, which were used to low-light conditions, allowed him to realize where they were even before Nasira came down and lit the lantern.

They were in what seemed to be a small chamber, not bigger than the shack above them. In one corner was a rotten mountain of slowly decaying fish, while in the other an equally large mountain of human corpses, all of which in a state similar to the bloated sailors they had met, but very much no longer alive.

Between them, pressed against and fused by heat and time to the stonewall behind it, was a kiln. A metaphorical beast, made out of dried and heat-proofed mud, looking almost primal in its design. No decoration or runes on it and even if they were, it would be impossible to see them anyway, as the whole thing was covered in layers upon layers of soot and ash, to the point they made up more of the kiln than the actual building material.

Smoldering within it were faint embers. What they burned wasn't clear, as when peeked into tbe hole at the top, the kiln just opened up into a vast emptiness that seemed to go on and on and on, until ones head was spinning. A darkness filled only with the glow of embers, deep deep down in the belly of this oven.

Below the top was a small opening. Just large enough for a grown man to squeeze through. It probably once had a door on it, as evidenced by the empty, rusty hinges, but that was long gone. The opening itself was plugged by a pair of arms and legs, which had been badly mangled and broken. As if someone had tried to pull the poor bastard those limbs belonged to through, while accidentally getting him stuck and having then tugged and torn, until the corpse had plugged the hole like a cork.

To the right was a door, that was slightly ajar. It led to a tunnel that wound itself deeper into the belly of the island, with the faint noise of waves breaking on the shore audible in the distance.

Edited by TheNohen on Sep 30th 2021 at 10:54:25 AM

JumpingFruit An Ordinary Oddball from R'lyeh Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
An Ordinary Oddball
#304: Sep 30th 2021 at 9:23:23 PM

Poppy Blake

Willam provided the ship and the men!? Poppy's eyes widened in the background as she considered the implications of this. Firstly that the men seemed to be built out of the spare parts of corpses, and secondly that the First Mate seemed to possess powers not unlike that of a fellow Contender. Puppetry. One could argue that raising "flesh puppets" was not to different from puppeting a body, like he had just done to Poppy herself.

Either that, or he was the Pretender of this Shard. But no, that couldn't be right. He was still sane and talking. Willam had given signs of knowing Poppy. What was going on!? The young Scion Sorcerer shook her head, trying to get the voice to back off, though it was tempting to explode into a storm of putrefying magic right then and there. But as she tried to push forward, the dead sailors blocked her way, and she was too weak to force her way past. She could only watch with a stricken expression on her face as Revache was told what to do.

"Who are you?" she whispered to Willam in a voice so faint it might as well have been lost to the sea gales. "Are you another Contender who's gotten trapped here? Is that what this is? And why do you seem to know me?"

Edited by JumpingFruit on Oct 18th 2021 at 2:39:55 AM

I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.
Enirboreh AKA Nixer from the domain of infinite floof. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
AKA Nixer
#305: Oct 6th 2021 at 10:11:28 AM

Captain Holloway

“...Gods...” Caitlin whispered as she came down last, making sure to cover up where they'd come from before carefully making her way down the ladder. “Ugh, that stench...! Which way's the way out...?”

The kiln was... morbid, to say the least. The door to their right looked only marginally better. On instinct, she drew her sword, if only for a sense of comfort as she used the faint glow from her tattoos as a soft light source.

“I can barely see in this...” she muttered, keeping close to Valentin and Nasira to assure them of her presence. “What do you make of it, you two? Any ideas...?”

I hate to forego my authority, but it's not like I'm sure what to do anyhow.

bork
kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#306: Oct 6th 2021 at 7:08:28 PM

Revache

Revache watched as they brought up the bell, asking herself a half dozen questions even as they refused to answer her own. The Admiral's musings barely told her a thing, certainly not anything that mattered. He didn't tell her who the bride was, what she was doing there, how she was lost. Certainly nothing that would hold up in a tribunal. His answers were non-answers, ramblings that only made sense to him and no one sane. It almost made her want to call the whole thing off on principal.

But the First Mate was insistent on using Poppy as a bargaining chip. With the nets and harpoons put away, perhaps she could escape... but her burning curiosity was getting the better of her. There were so many unanswered questions, so many things she was dying to know. Perhaps literally. So she couldn't bring herself to abandon them now. Or the girl.

"Hundreds. But to start with..." She tapped a long claw against her lips, as if pondering what she'd have for dinner. "...why? Why shouldn't I open the casket? Yes, I know, you've already told me not to. Very firmly, I might add. But if I don't know why I shouldn't open it, then there aren't many reasons for me not to beyond your say so, and that's growing less compelling by the second. If you want me to play along, you had better start giving me some solid answers, or I may not be so inclined to play bridesmaid."

Edited by kkhohoho on Oct 8th 2021 at 8:53:43 AM

LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#307: Oct 8th 2021 at 6:36:01 PM

Val

"...huh," Val said, looking at the limbs in the opening. "Wow, hope they tried to pull that guy in after he died. Yeesh."

At Caitlin's muttering, he looked back. "Oh, yeah, that stench? Probably the corpses over there." He casually pointed to the pile. "Don't worry, these guys are just dead-dead. Not alive-dead like our pirate friends out there."

He took a step forward, pointing out the room's other attractions. "Kiln over there, opening plugged with limbs over there, door over there. Now, I don't know about you, but climbing into a kiln sounds like an idea that'll end with three extra-crispy Contenders, so let's not do it. Going through a door or an opening, though...that, we can do."

Val turned to Cait and Nasira. "We'll have to remove the limbs from the opening, but once that little hurdle's cleared, we can go wherever. What do you say?"

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#308: Oct 13th 2021 at 8:07:03 PM

"Rrrrrrrr!!" Sword had growled and grumbled inarticulately all the way back up to the wharf, cracking the ground as she went. It was a small, simmering, longform version of the tantrum she thought she was done with. She left holes in the faces of the humanoid figures carved into the wall. They creeped her out.

"So what the fuck's this for?" She jabbed a hand at the broken gate. Then back to the tunnel they came from. "Or back? How do—isn't—" she turned over to Masaru, grinding her teeth. "How do you do that Cool General Thing where you keep your shit tamped down and in control and not mad, man?!"

Starbound2 Since: Jan, 2001
#309: Oct 16th 2021 at 1:03:37 PM

Graveyard of the Sea, Down Far Below - Nasira

Ah, so this was the Kiln they mentioned, Nasira thought to herself, doing her best to minimize inhaling the stench of corpses and rotten fish. Probably the reason they wanted me or this "Crow," though as to what purpose... perhaps we should have questioned the sailors more before descending. Well, what's done is done.

Nasira walked over and opened the door leading away from the Kiln and corpses, keeping a finger alight to help her comrades see. "I think it's best that we leave that alone. The sailors don't seem to be the sort who are into pottery or baking, so I can't presently fathom what they might use that structure for. If the corpse is being pulled out... perhaps some sort of "fire of life" magic? ...that's only conjecture though. It seems important, but that's all the more reason to treat it warily."

She glanced up the rotting ladder. "That being said, I don't fully trust that ladder to support us if we were to head back up to question those undead, not unless we were able to reinforce it somehow. Which leaves us only one direction to go, by my reasoning."

Hesitating for a moment, Nasira wondered if she was being too presumptuous in assuming that the others would follow her lead. If she was making a decision solely for herself that was one thing, but she didn't want to trample on Val's suggestion, nor neglect to hear any follow-up thoughts Cait may have had. "...only if you all agree, though."

UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#310: Oct 17th 2021 at 1:51:04 AM

Masaru

"Experience, my dear oni comrade. And an understanding that even the best laid plans have inevitable surprises. But there is no time to dwell on this, we have to push onwards. Or if you prefer, I could knock you out again and leave you on the shore or the sea. You seemed happier then." A wry smile punctuated the general's small jab at his companion.

Masaru followed Sword along the tunnel, frowning in distaste as she wrecked the faces on the wall. How uncouth. Sword's carnage aside, the figures seemed to be worshipping some sort of bell. But for what purpose? That remained to be seen, though Masaru filed a mental note to be intrigued - and cautious - about any bells they came across. As they came up to the old gate, Masaru's eyes fell to the chain, leaning down to pick it up and give it a closer look to determine what could have led to this destruction and if there was any use left in it.

Hmm...did our friend Urzael do this? Or something else?

If Masaru could be more on guard, he would be.

TheNohen roaming, lurking, arguing from Leipzig, Saxony Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
roaming, lurking, arguing
#311: Oct 18th 2021 at 1:44:16 PM

Orphan's Folly

The kiln laid silent, imposing even on its lonesome. Although inactive, this chamber and its apparent age implied a history that made ones back crawl. Dark magic was at play here, that seemed clear. And although its creator was long gone, all three heroes could tell that the story behind this kiln was likely not a happy one. Someone had etched the words Orphan's Folly on the side of it.

Still, aside from firing it up, the only thing left to do was to follow the hallways beyond the chamber and see where it would lead them. A cursory exploration showed that it eventually led to a crossroads. One path filled with the sound of waves crashing violently against something, while from the other they could faint voices, but too far away to make out who they belonged to.

As Valentin turned about, he caught something in the corner of his vision. For brief moment, he thought to have seen a woman with wet, red hair, dressed in white, standing at the far end of the tunnel. But as he looked a second time, there was nothing there but darkness and the sound of waves breaking.

Then, they heard a loud creaking echoing through the other tunnel, as if a gate was pushed open. And then...

..a scream.

The Dounderlun - Upper Deck

The First Mate groaned, as Revache glared at him. Covering his face in his hands, he slowly looked over his finger and took a deep breath. "Listen, it would really be good for you, if you just do what you're told, Dragonblood and stop making this difficult. This hardly the right time and—"

Then Poppy spoke up, he stopped in his tracks. He didn't look at her, but it was clear that her question had pretty much hit bullseye. His hard eyes traveled over to the little girl and the frown on his face deepened. "You really shouldn't..."

He looked over his shoulder to the Admiral, who was humming happily and staring holes into the air. It was weird, but both girls could see that the First Mate looked...scared. Like a thief about to be caught. Or a swindler, who's web of lies are beginning to strangle him.

A big sigh drifted over Master Willams lips and his shoulders slumped. "Why am I even bothering? This is the last chance, anyway. If they send in the girl, I'm finished...", he mumbled. Turning to Revache, he glared at her with grim resignation. "We are short on time, so listen closely. We need to get this casket up on the ship or we are all going to rot here for the rest of time. It is our only way out of this Shard. I've been stuck here for twenty years and got nothing left to work with. You cannot open the casket, because otherwise—"

"Its ready! We reached the bay!", yelled the lookout at the front of the bow. When they looked up, they could see they were entering a dark bay, flanked by two steep cliffs that crept around like grasping arms. The island itself looking more like a bundle of glass-shards dropped into the ocean, with a ruined settlement visible further ahead, that looked like it had been abandonded centuries ago. And standing before those ruined houses, sitting on an upturned stone, was a familiar old woman, whose face was hidden underneath a shoddy cowl. Her hands resting on a gnarled walking stick.

Master Willam went pale, but before he could continue, the sailors stepped up towards Revache. Without even waiting for his orders, they dragged her towards the bell, their faces lit up in eager anticipation. Without waiting for her protests they threw her into the dark water and send the diving bell after her a second later.

Willam stared at the events, his face slack. "Well...I guess, nothing left to do but pray..."

Penance of the Maid Defiled

Closer inspection showed the the chain had been broken from the inside, hinting at the worrying thought that something had broken out of here. Given that they had found this tunnel after it had been concealed and sealed away and the eldritch symbols everywhere, it seemed like this had been something of a prison.

The heavy gate, as he got closer and bent down to look at chains, began to move. Maybe it was the pull of air from the outside or maybe Masaru had inadvertanly touched it. But whatever the cause, it now slowly drifted ajar. Behind it was a room. No, too small to really be anything but a cell. Not natural light, just a dark, empty room. And the sight of it made a shudder run down Masaru and Swords spine.

The wall was covered from top to bottom in words. Scratched into solid stone, by patient fingers, they wormed around the place repeating a mad mantra over and over and over.

Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out. Take it out.....

The lines wound themselves up towards the ceiling and as they followed them, the two spotted something dangling from a chain. The corpse of a young woman, red hair clinging to her skull and her dress so filthy and old, it was impossible to say what it original colour was. Her belly had burst open, as if something had pushed its way out from the inside, and entrails still hung from her corpse.

As they stared at the horrific sight, the womans eyes opened. And then she screamed. Screamed in agony, twitching and writhing around. No words, just animalistic horror of something that could not die and experienced something beyond description.

The screaming only stopped, when Masaru and Sword broke eye-contact, and the corpse instantly returned to the lifeless state it had before.

Orphan's Bride, Abyssal Pithos

Revache broke through the water, air filling her lungs again. Around her was the inside of the bronze diving bell, with the pocket of air around her. Handles were on the sides for her to hang on to and keep herself aloft, for the weight of the bell was pushing her ever deeper into the cold water.

Outside the small window, there was nothing but darkness. Silence pressed down on her ear louder than any noise, as she was doomed to do nothing but wait. Occasionally, something passed by the window, too fast to get a good lock at, but certainly too big to just be a fish.

Then her feet touched down on sand. She had reached the bottom. Before her a darkness so deep, it seemed almost like the Void. But unlike the literal Force of Oblivion, this void was not empty. Instead, lying on the cold sea-floor, a casket. Made out of solid bronze, greenspan having almost covered it completely, but failed to hide its artistic design.

The casket was shaped in the form of a bell. No, more precisely a woman. A serene face was etched on the front, hands folded over the belly, as if to hold safe what was in there. Its side had heavy nails hammered through, breaking the elegant design in the brutal way they had been forced through the metal. And on its base were chained several heavy stones, that anchored it to the sea-floor.

A Revache looked at the casket, she could hear a smooth, melodious humming emanate from it. Something, or someone, was singing in it. As she got dragged a feet closer, that humming stopped and silence followed.

Then came a rasping knock. Then another. It sounded almost like knuckles dragging over metal and the image of a hand waving her closer appeared in Revache's mind. Words forming in her head, without anybody saying them, as if her own thoughts translated the eerie noises.

Come closer

LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#312: Oct 18th 2021 at 1:58:05 PM

Val

"'Orphan's Folly', huh?" Val traced his fingertips along the edge of the lettering. "Wow, didn't know I made a kiln!" It was a lie—a tension-breaking lie, sure, but a lie nonetheless. His dad was alive, after all.

As much as he sometimes wished he wasn't.

"Aaaaaalright, you two can go do whatever, I'm gonna head down this hallway and see what I can find." And with that, Val picked up his staff and started heading down the hallway.

What he found was a crossroads. One path probably led back where they started, and the other...Val's eyes widened, and his grip on his staff tightened. "Voices," he hissed back down to Cait and Nasira. "Someone's there."

He turned back—and did a double take. Was that—? A woman. A red-haired woman in white at the far end of the tunnel. She'd disappeared as quickly as she'd shown up, but she'd been there. He'd seen her.

"U-um—"

Down the tunnel, someone screamed.

Val's already wide eyes widened to dinner plate size. "Run!" he yelled, turning to the tunnel the screaming was not coming from and taking off down it.

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."
Enirboreh AKA Nixer from the domain of infinite floof. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
AKA Nixer
#313: Oct 18th 2021 at 2:05:50 PM

Captain Holloway

“Oh for f$&#'s sake—!” Caitlin rolled her eyes, but regardless ran after Valentin, moreso to make sure he wouldn't get killed. Pouring all of her power into catching up, she'd essentially half-tackle him once she got close enough; still keeping pace and not stopping in case they were being chased but essentially hugging him from behind in an effort to make him listen.

“What are you doing you madman? We could be running into a beast's jaws for all we know! Outsmart it, don't run down another dingy tunnel!”

There was something anxious in her voice, however. She was less angry, and more just as unnerved as he was. It was clear she didn't have much else of an idea as to what to do, but she couldn't help but point out the idiocy she seemed to perceive.

At least she cared for him enough to also recklessly run after him, in any case.

Edited by Enirboreh on Oct 18th 2021 at 10:06:43 AM

bork
TheNohen roaming, lurking, arguing from Leipzig, Saxony Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
roaming, lurking, arguing
#314: Oct 18th 2021 at 2:13:52 PM

Cliffs of Broken Dreams

The walls drifted past him. Valentin rushed through the tunnel faster than Cait or Nasira would have expected, to the point where he disappeared into the darkness within a few seconds. Wind whipped past his face and by the time he had slowed down, the young man found himself already at the end of the tunnel.

Before him was a large cavern, with waves breaking on sharp rocks out from the open sea. Standing on one of the nearby rocks was the woman from before, her back turned to Valentin. The wind whipped her wet hair around and now that he was closer, he could see that blood was dripping down her legs. Worryingly large amounts of blood.

Before he could turn around and leave, her head turned. Her eyes were sunken in to the point of just being dark holes. As she looked at him, Valentins leg froze up, refusing to move from the spot. The woman turned around, her white dress clinging to her pregnant form. Her belly twitched and shuddered and one could see someting pressing againinst from the inside. Hands pushing out, stretching skin and making the poor woman shudder in pain.

A ragged breath flowed from her throat. The whipping wins and crashing waves almost drowned out her plea.

"Take it out!"

Then suddenly a large white hand burst out of the water, grabbing the woman and brutally slamming her against the rocks. Then it dragged her lifeless body underneath the waves. Several seconds later, the pale giant from the shore rose out of the water and its long, pallid arms began grasping for Val, ready to pull him into a dark, wet grave.

Then Val blinked, at it was gone. He was alone in the stormwracked cavern. No woman or giant, as far as the eye could see.

Edited by TheNohen on Oct 18th 2021 at 11:16:12 AM

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#315: Oct 18th 2021 at 8:50:53 PM

Revache

"HEY, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE—"

But it was too late for protests. Before she could blink, the crew had seized her, tossing her overboard and into the sea. She managed to flap her wings, frantically fluttering above the ocean, but the bell slammed her towards the drink, bumping her head and forcing her into the deep sea. She wasn't sure how it happened, but it was all she could do not to drown before more air filled her lungs. Had the spirits punished her for overconfidence? She had gotten full of herself back there, especially with a child's life on the line. Perhaps she deserved to be taken down a peg...

...but she'd have to put her inner musings on hold. In the middle of her ponderings, something had passed by the window. Shame she couldn't make it out. She pressed her face to the glass, eager to get a closer look, but it was already gone. Whatever it was, it was big. Big enough and far enough underwater to make her nervous.

But she reached bottom before it could pass again. She tried to pan around, but it was difficult to move in this thing without taking it off, and that wasn't an option. Thankfully, her years spent underground allowed her to see through the darkness, piercing through it with ease. But the only thing she saw apart from the sand was the casket. It was very specifically shaped, but she couldn't fathom why. Perhaps to honor whoever was inside, but who in all the realms would deserve such privelage? Unless...

The bride...?

But then she heard it. The humming. She couldn't have imagined it. A soft, soothing sound,reaching through the water. Through the bell. But that... that wasn't possible. She didn't know who was in that casket, but whoever it was could be little more than a corpse. So how was she hearing it? Had she gone insane? Or could it be something else...?

And then came the knock. A loud knock, clanging against bronze and echoing through the deep. She stood still, her curiosity outmatched by looming dread. But all of that paled before the eerie images forming in her head. Images that weren't hers, words that belonged to someone else. Either she was insane or... or...

...a-a spirit? Is that what you are? A spectre from beyond the grave?

It couldn't have been any other sort of spirit. Most spirits were part of the earth, living there since before they came to Tengra. Or so they believed. But this spirit? Foul creatures that had passed on, filled with vengeance and unfinished business? They were rare, certainly. Some weren't sure they even real. But the stories made for thrilling tales around the campfire. She wasn't sure she believed herself, but if there was any truth to them...

...she didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to move closer either, but the crew had demanded the casket. If she wanted to save Poppy or her own skin, then she had to, if only to grasp it. Carefully, she inched towards it, her breath getting heavier with each step. The only thing that could make it worse was if the bell started leaking, but the last thing she wished to do was tempt the fates.

I-I swear, if you dare to c-curse me or anything else, I'll tear open that casket and tear you to pieces! Spirit or no! D-do you hear me?!

Edited by kkhohoho on Oct 19th 2021 at 7:56:41 AM

JumpingFruit An Ordinary Oddball from R'lyeh Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
An Ordinary Oddball
#316: Oct 19th 2021 at 2:35:06 AM

Poppy Blake

Oh, I'll show you rot—

Poppy suddenly cried out and ran to the side railing of the ship as Revache was pushed under the water, straining in vain to see under the blackened waves. Soon, even the sun glinting off of the diving bell couldn't be seen anymore, and she swallowed deeply as she prayed to the dead gods that her new friend would be alright. Poppy glanced at the ruined hamlet on the coast and was shocked to discover the old woman from earlier was standing amidst the rubble.

But there was no more time to worry about that. There was no light down in those depths, and no hope here for these lost sailors. "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here," Poppy recited. "Well, not here. Not today. Let there be light!"

Throwing her hands up as she leaned precariously over the side of the ship, Poppy called to the algae she could feel on the surface of the water, bidding those that could shed light to illuminate, elucidate, give Revache light so she would at least know that she wasn't alone.

The water would light up in swirling patterns of luminescent blue as the foliage on Poppy's face and arm began to yellow and wilt. Giving life was something she did not do often, but everything had a price, and this was what she was willing to pay to dispel the despair that Revache must surely be feeling right now.

Edited by JumpingFruit on Nov 7th 2021 at 6:07:51 AM

I wear the skin of the Elder Things, having come unto my own.
LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#317: Oct 24th 2021 at 6:00:00 PM

Val

"Haa...haa...haa...huh?"

Val's eyes widened. Oops. Bit too far. It appeared he'd reached the end of the tunnel, looking out at a large cavern. In this cavern was...

...a woman. The same woman from before.

"Huh," he said, before his eyes were drawn to the...worrying amount of blood on her legs. "Uh...you need some help? You're losing a lot of blood." She was almost guaranteed to be dead, of course, but in the event that she wasn't...well, he still wouldn't be much help, but he could try.

Then she turned to him, and Val felt his heart flatten against his rib cage.

Her eyes were...holes. Dark, sunken holes. And her stomach—holy crap, it had hands pushing against it. All the color drained from Val's face, and he wanted to run but he couldn't move and—

A hand burst out of the water for him, and Val let out a bloodcurdling scream.

And then it was over.

Val blinked, staring at the now very empty cavern. "Que diable?" he whispered, too stunned to do anything else.

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."
Enirboreh AKA Nixer from the domain of infinite floof. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
AKA Nixer
#318: Oct 24th 2021 at 6:18:47 PM

Captain Holloway

“There you are! For pity's sake...!” Caitlin exclaimed as she caught up to Valentin finally, gripping him by the shoulders and looking him up and down for any injury. Unable to stop herself, she quickly drew him into a tight hug, effectively lifting him up through her strength before realising what she was doing and setting him down again.

“...thank the gods you're alright. We should rejoin with Nasira, assuming she isn't already catching up,” she glanced over her shoulder, before leaning slightly down and offering him a gentle look. “Will you be alright? Valentin...?”

bork
Starbound2 Since: Jan, 2001
#319: Oct 27th 2021 at 5:02:03 PM

Nasira - Cliffs of Broken Dreams

Leaving the furnace of Orphan's Folly behind in its dark lonesomeness, Nasira followed Caitlin and Valentin down the tunnels, doing her best to keep the path lit for her companions up until they reached the intersection. At the sound of a sudden scream Val abruptly took off into the darkness, with Cait trying (but ultimately failing) to get him to stop. There was nothing to be done except to follow after them, so follow after them she did - hastening upon Val's screaming. When she arrived though, there wasn't anything unexpected - just a watery cavern and the sound of waves crashing on the rocks.

"...I'm here," Nasira said, dully.

LilyTheLitten Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️ from The Investigation Institute Since: Apr, 2020 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Inspector Irratino my beloved ❤️
#320: Oct 27th 2021 at 5:20:01 PM

Val

"J-je vais bien, mais la femme—" Val stopped. "Oops. Almost reverted to Rouen for a second there..." He let out a nervous chuckle. "I'm fine, it was just...just a hallucination...I-I think..."

He barely suppressed a shudder. "Sheesh, this place is so much more...scary than the last one. If the Pretender intended that, they must have some serious issues, huh..." Not that Ilna hadn't had issues herself, but this place...holy cow.

"Look inside yourself and to the stars; there, you will find your answers."
Enirboreh AKA Nixer from the domain of infinite floof. Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
AKA Nixer
#321: Oct 27th 2021 at 5:59:53 PM

Captain Holloway

“Oui. J'ai remarqué,” Caitlin chuckled at this, letting Valentin free of her grip before stepping back and nodding at Nasira. “I can see that. Little late to the excitement, I'm afraid. Unless our lady-friend is into repeat performances...”

She pursed her lips, looking around for a moment before cocking an eyebrow up at the both of them.

“...So! That way was the wrong way for certain, should we all agree?”

bork
Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#322: Nov 4th 2021 at 8:48:33 AM

Huh. Sword eyed the walls closely, trying to figure out if they had the clean cuts of a tool or a more ragged clawing. She winced when she clocked that as a finger doing it. Solitary confinement then. And then the screaming started. Sword's hands flew to her head and she hit the deck, yelling inarticulately. It only stopped when, presumably, Masaru stopped looking at it too.

"Fuckin—" Sword climbed to her feet, shook, took a knee instead. She was getting an idea. The screaming must've knocked something loose. They still needed to figure out a way to reach their buddies, and smoke signals were out of the question in this weather. Whatever used to be in here, they could handle it later.

"Masaru, how strong's that blade of yours?" Sword frowned and put her hands on her hips, taking care to eye the chain only after taking a circuitous path around the thing it held. "I had this idea. Can you cut that thing down? I was thinking, it'd make a great way to try and reach the others, let'em know where we are. I bet that scream carries like a son of a bitch."

UndyingPhoenix Since: Feb, 2015 Relationship Status: You cannot grasp the true form
#323: Nov 4th 2021 at 11:37:43 AM

Masaru

So, a prison was it? And whatever was within had broken out, that much he could tell. The questions remained of if whatever had broken out had been recontained, if it had only escaped recently, and if it was still around.

The body of the women that screamed like a banshee shook the general for a bit as he winced, turning away as drew his sword defensively, seasoned muscles springing into action without a thought, ready to brace for strife. But none came, and the screaming died down. Sword had dived to the ground. A very poor strategy, though who was he to judge when he had averted his gaze from a potential enemy? The figure before them would have disturbed even the most veteran battle-weary soldiers, and Masaru was no exception. He'd seen mutilation in his time, but one never quite got used to the graphic violence, especially when it was on such a vulgar display at this. Sword suggested using Genkaen to try and cut the chains binding the woman in place, but Masaru knew that beneath the mild flame enchantment, the blade was as ordinary as any other of fine craftsmanship.

"I do not think my sword can cut these chains. It's the weapon of a soldier, not some legendary, mythical blade."

'Mildly ceremonial, really. Sure, the flames give it some added practical use, but it's not one you would count on winning you a fight.

Taco Since: Jan, 2001
#324: Nov 6th 2021 at 9:13:25 AM

"Fine then, I think I've got this." Sword said. She rolled her shoulders, still sort of surprised that she didn't feel the irezumi inlaid into her body. "So, step one of my master plan is I'm gonna cut this chick down."

Sword leapt to the wall of scratches, bounced off it, and tore the chain in half. She landed with the woman in her arms, looking up at the ceiling.

"Next we need something to plug our ears with." She frowned. "Uh, and then, if you wanna help with this part while I figure that out, I want you to find the part of the cave that projects sound out there the best. We're gonna use this thing as a megaphone to call for help."

Sword sighed and tore a sleeve off her coat to make strips of fabric to turn into earplugs. That was her Guilder Jacket, a piece of real merchandise, a sign of office... it was also only like 2 ryo, and the Guild had spares. What a shame that she'd have to go get a new one after all this was over!

TheNohen roaming, lurking, arguing from Leipzig, Saxony Since: Feb, 2016 Relationship Status: Complex: I'm real, they are imaginary
roaming, lurking, arguing
#325: Nov 7th 2021 at 10:33:19 AM

Penance of the Maid Defiled

The chain shattered loudly, before falling down to the ground. The massive impact alone showed how heavy they were and yet Sword found herself able to break them with a bit of muscle-power applied. It certainly was a good reminder how strong physically she had actually become, the fight against Urzael notwithstanding.

The corpse itself didn't move, so long as she and Masaru avoided eye-contact. It wasn't easy, but they quickly realized that as long as they didn't see her burst belly or her face, the dead woman didn't react. It wasn't clear if it was a curse or a spell that animated her, or if some vengeful soul still inhabited the dessicated body.

They then carefully carried the corpse over to the tunnel that had led them to the wharf. The dead woman was quite light, almost fragile in their hands. Like she was about to fall to pieces, if they bumped into something.

When they were in place, Sword and Masaru plugged their ears with cloth and then took a deep breath. Raising up the corpses head, they looked at her face and almost immediately she began to scream. They looked away and she stopped and the brief noise echoed through the cavern and tunnels.

They repeated this process three more times, to make sure somebody heard them, before the jaw of the dead woman fell off and she went mute completely. Even looking at her now did not trigger her reaction anymore. Whatever had animated her was gone and the last spark of life had left her...

Cliffs of Broken Dreams

For a moment, the only thing Nasira, Val and Caitlin could hear was the sound of waves crashing against the broken rocks in the cave. It was an eerie silence, but nothing hinted at any threats.

Then several things happened. The first was that Cait could feel her clone, that she had left behind on the surface, suddenly dying in a violent fashion. Then there was a faint crash coming from behind them, likely from the other side of the island and shortly after that a silent pulse that went right through them, like someone had hit a muted bell.

And finally a loud scream echoing through the tunnel behind them, repeated four times in swift succession. It came from the one pathway they hadn't explored and it vanished as quick, as it had come.

Orphan's Bride, Abyssal Pithos

For a few seconds, only silence followed on Revache's thoughts. It seemed almost as if there was nothing here but her and the strange casket. A droning, oppressively "loud" silence creeped into the space left behind by her fear and apprehension and the dark waters outside the bell did not help with that.

Then a small bit of light appeared. It was only a bit, but it alleviated the darkness outside. Like the heavenly ghostlights in Tengra, in the winter months, when the stellar winds formed veils over the night-sky. Small scintillating rays of rainbow-coloured light drifted down to the seafloor, although the source she could not discern.

And they revealed over two dozne pale giants sitting all around her. She had not heard them approach, nor seen them near the window. Now, they stared at her with their pitch-black, uncanny big eyes and bloated, clay-like features. Like oversized dolls, dropped into the ocean. Their arms and legs too long and skinny and feet and hands almost twice as big as their heads. They just looked...wrong, and now they stared all at her, cradling their legs like children, while forming a circle around the bells and the casket within.

And beneath their feet, scattered all over the seafloor, were bones. Picked clean by scavengers, all that remained were humanoid ribs and skulls. Here and there, she could spot golden rings and chains wrapped around them, like an offering, sticking out of the sand that slowly swallowed them. They seemed to be everywhere. An underwater graveyard, stretching on into the darkness. A testament to decades of fruitless sacrifice and "gifts" to the Bride.

Then the rasping knocking returned. And the voice in her head came back, now uncomfortably close. It was impossible to tell, who was speaking, men or woman, for the words were Revaches own thoughts, like she was speaking to herself.

Don't worry. I mean no harm.

Lies! I will kill you, eat you, feast on you!

I'm not dead. My heart beats and beats. Blood pumping through my vein and passion with it.

The pain! I'm drowning, slowly! Am I alive! Kill me! Please, kill me!

I can see your fear. Taste your dread. Do not despair, my dear.

Abandon all hope! Darkness will claim us both. The abyss holds no mercy and neither do we. Mercy...mercy...mercy...

Just open us up. Let us go. I will guide you to the light. I will help you survive.

Drowning...suffocating...my lungs boiling, bleeding. They screamed. They all screamed, when they didn't listen.

So many perished for nothing. They didn't help me. They tried to bring me in chains. Will you be so foolish? Just open the Pithos, Revache.

Destroy us! End us! Make us Orphans again.

Make us Orphans no more.

Again.

No more...

Before its too late...

When had the casket come closer? Revache hadn't seen it move, but now it was right before her feet. The bronze should have been cold to the touch, but it was warm. Sickenly, unnaturally warm. And when she placed a hand on it, she could a heartbeat inside. No, not one....two, beating again and again and again.

The bell shuddered. Revache heard something repeatedly clutter on the upper side of it. A quick glance out of the window showed a dreadful sight. The chain, that had connected her to the Dounderlun...had been dropped into the ocean.

Along with the torn off body of the sailor that had been holding on to it.

The Dounderlun - Upper Deck

Master Willam quickly grabbed Poppy's hands and pulled her away from the railing, as she animated the sea-grass in the water. "Are you out of your mind, girl? Do you want to make her angry!?", he snapped at her, but it was an anger born out of fear.

Then he saw her pale face and the wilted flowers on her arm. Surprisingly, a flash of worry crept over his harsh face. "So it works on lifeforce. By the Gods, girl, you are a fool. Killing yourself over a stranger." His grasp on her arm became more gentle and he stepped back, to allow her to lean on him.

Interesting...he knew about our magic, but not its effects? Listen to it, Poppy, and do not forget it. It seems his grasp on your nature is only superficial. His expertise an illusion, just like his authority.

Before the worming, rotting voice could speak again, the ship began to shake. Something had hit them below deck. "Report!", barked Willam.

"We hit somethin'!"

"No.....", mumbled the Admiral, letting go off the rudder and the slowly walking with heavy steps towards the railing. "Something hit us..."

Then, with a sudden crash, the deck exploded. Dark, slimy tendrils shot out from below deck and crashed through the wood like it was not even there. Where it touched sailors, they screamed in agony and madness and either went down convulsing and spasming or getting crushed by the huge tentacle.

Willam pushed Poppy back, drawing his arming sword and staring at what crawled out from under the Dounderlun in horror. The tendril followed an arm. The arm followed a shoulder and then slowly, rising up from a moaning, screeching blackness came a mass of faces, arms and legs, fused together in an unholy, horrific monstrosity. One could recognize the faces of the crew, that Poppy had given a meal just a short while ago, all melting into each together, moaning and blabbering.

"What...is...that...?", asked the Admiral, heaving a encrusted anchor like a weapon over his shoulder.

Master Willam stared at the darkness oozing out from around the edges of the monster, eating into the space around it like a hundred tiny mouths. His face pale with dread. "Daemon...", he whispered.

Then the ship shuddered again and when Poppy looked down, she could see two pale, white giants rise out of the water and cling to the barnacle-encrusted wood, climbing up towards them. Their eyes black and oozing with the same empty darkness.

Edited by TheNohen on Nov 7th 2021 at 7:41:42 PM


Total posts: 1,051
Top