Malkavian Madness Network
New World of Darkness => World of Darkness => Ye Olde Fantasia => Topic started by: MrParaduo on June 18, 2021, 06:40:16 PM
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Ever bleak, the sky above Teufelheim. Where light dared tread, gloom clung to it like a mourner's cloak. The sun a pallid white disc behind the clouds.
High atop gothic roofs of structures packed too tightly against each other, Vyke raced with demonic speed in his legs, carrying Asriel on his back. When there was no more roof to run on, the rogue yordle leaped into the air, landing on the next series of rooftops to continue the charge.
"Oi, brighteyes," he said. "We still going the right way?"
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The arctic yordle clutched him tightly, gaze far-off and unfocused. Between the whiff of booze and seasoned cloth, the rogue's own odor crept through, holding his mind prisoner. There was an almost tangible connection between them. Stronger than ever. It was not until Vyke's 'Oi', that Asriel got jolted awake, perceiving the wind lashing against his face again, eyes going wide at the sudden realization of their pace. With eyes ablaze in golden, colden light, he peered from beneath the wide-brimmed hat, scanning the area for any traces that could lead them towards Edel and her kidnapper.
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[Hmm... Roll Wits + Investigation, with a +1 from vantage point, and a +1 from "previous" success.]
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[4,1,10,8,5,1,9,9,4 +4]
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Asriel could follow the pattern of the kidnapper, the way they had spaced out their "bursts" of lightning magic. Even as the buildings grew more dilapidated and obfuscating, there was a method to the magician's movements. Each point was visible to the next, with only a small walking distance between them when going through buildings or to a better vantage point.
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Much less due to his own ability, but the ancient sorcerer lurking within his own skin, his intensified vision held true, piercing the corporeal veil. Most mages were able to sense the residuals of spell-casting, but 'seeing' them was something else entirely.
"We are. I can clearly see where they used lightning magic."
As he spoke, Vyke immediately noticed the change to his voice. It was intense and much colder than normal. Using the connection Asriel had with Veigar might allow him the sorcerer's eyes, though, the connection worked both ways, however stifled by the other demons.
"There also seems to be a pattern. I'll guide us."
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Up, down, left and right. The rogue followed the mage's every word, making way through the district until suddenly - out of nowhere - something caught both yordles' eyes as light danced on something small. Cursing under his breath, Vyke dashed out of the way. No sooner had he than the building he'd pushed off from collapsed in an avalanche of wood, brick and broken glass! The cacophony rang in Asriel's ears, whilst a cloud of dust and debris raced after him and his lover as they landed feet first on the cobblestone street.
"Looks like the Schweineficker's come out to play," sneered Vyke, lowering Asriel off his back. He then began coughing as the tip of the dust cloud reached them. "Bet he set that building up to collapse."
-
Asriel gazed far off into space, a foreign gleam to his wide eyes, quickly raising his hands to completely bury his face in. Yet still, Vyke caught a glimpse of the albino's face as it contorted to a truly manic expression which only the wording utter gratification could remotely express. Within his desperate attempt to compose himself, the dust cloud reached Asriel as well, evoking foreign thoughts, desires and pleasures. At first, the mage shuddered, fingers twitching, before small giggling that quickly burst into unbridled, mad laughter. The albino revealed his manic expression as his right hand reached for Veigar's staff, grip tightening. The golden gem burst into light brighter than ever as the very shadows of Teufelheim shifted, gravitating towards and clinging to the ancient weapon.
"What delightful destruction!"
The mage's voice was completely devoid of any warmth, every and each word seemingly freezing their surrounding. While Asriel's cornea had been black during the chase, it now had no reflection to it anymore. His eyes were two black holes, the albino's originally red pupils reduced to nothing but a fine crimson slit to the very center of each golden blazing pupil. The red hood magically detached from the equally red cape, changing color to a midnight-blue as it formed into a wide-brimmed, pointed wizard hat, the crown adorned with chains. What once looked like Asriel's clothes transformed back into their original appearance, turning into Veigar's robe, completing the attire with gauntlet, armored boots, armor parts and belt. This was probably as close as Asriel could get to being Veigar before the ancient sorcerer would take over.
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[Take a beatz]
Vyke motioned to speak, only for his ear to twitch and draw his attention elsewhere. "Look!" he said, pointing further afield. There, high, high above the streets, standing atop the weathervane of a pointed tower, flickering lights exposed a silhouette.
Barely a moment seen and the engima disappeared in a flash of light. Both yordles than watched as something past them by. Time slowed to a crawl, their fur rising as the air came alive with static charge, Veigar than came face to face with a figure dressed head to toe in purple robes, his eyes staring back at another yordle's. Yet these were a violet-blue, the lightning that surged around the figure reflected in these spheres in a such a way as to appear filled with the fury of twin-raging storms!
*Rollz*
Before either Vyke or Veigar could respond, the newcomer balanced themselves on one foot, pointing the other at the rogue whilst thrusting a hand towards the mage. KRAKOOM! Electricity fired from both outstretched limbs, striking the two square in the chest and sending Vyke flying several yards away! Fortunately for Veigar, the staff was able to pull at the burst of energy, channeling the paralyzing force from his host before it could do more harm. Seeing this, the assailant remained unfazed. Instead, they motioned their whole body into combative stance, eyes narrowing.
[Take 2 Bashing]
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Asriel slammed the metallic gauntlet against his face, trying to pierce his own skin with pointy claws in hopes of distracting himself, yet Veigar's attire refused to injure him. Shaking his head, he screamed, "No no no No no no no!"
A shift, the sudden presence of incredibly potent electricity as the albino looked up from the gauntlet, time seemingly pausing for a moment. In any other situation, Asriel would have immediately recognized the attacking yordle. However, before that could happen, they got blasted with electricity while the albino watched his lover being flung away. Barely registering his own physical pain, the mage's widened eye twitched, his teeth grinding with such force that a crack could be heard. Asriel had snapped, the crimson slit being consumed by the frigid, golden light.
"Prepare to suffer, you worthless piece of shit!"
Veigar had already motioned his half-open right arm into the ninja's direction, slowly closing as if to strangle the assailant from afar.
[Veigar tries to use telekinesis to lift the enemy into the air and slowly crush him, though not to the point of death. He 'really' means the suffering part.
Telekinesis (3) -- Intelligence + Occult + Source
10,8,5,8,4,9,9,6,10,2,9,10,9,3,7,1 -> 9,10,5 -> 9 ]
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Almost as soon as he began casting, the mage found he had no target to crush. Instead, the lightning yordle had flickered, then disappeared from sight, only to reappear directly in front of Veigar. Never once blinking as they stared him down, the ninja began a volley of strikes towards the mage's exposed face. Fist fist, spin-kick, fist, the attacks were as quick as the lightning coursing over the purple masked yordle's body. The possessed Asriel was only saved by the intervention of the staff, and even the very fabric of his robes - though each attack was far too close to succeeding. The simple act of taking in the enemy's movements was hampered by the ever-present after-images the assailant left burning into Asriel's retinas!
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Asriel always hated fighting. And while most of his occupants not only liked it, but also were quite adept at it, the more shocking it was to realize that their enemy seemed far above what any of them could handle. It was overwhelming. Being pummelled at lightning speed, his body is barely given any time to react to the blow as the next was already denting him. Veigar's attire was currently providing him with a comparably strong passive barrier, invisibly cloaking his body, yet the power behind these fists and kicks was enough to pierce, weakly injuring Asriel despite their surreal speed. The golden pupils darted frantically, being totally outclassed. The assailant left no room for him to cast any major spells, using him as a living sandbag. And even if he had the time to cast a spell, it would be impossible to target this speedy fucker. With every hit, the glowing eyes and gem grew brighter, before they started to grow weaker and weaker, signs of pain showing through his hateful expression more frequently. Why did they even get attacked? After haven taken enough hits, the albino spat a bit of blood. He had to endure. There was only one trump he had. The mage took hit after hit, any spell he was attempting fizzling, only weakening his barrier. [Asriel will probably take a good amount damage from all dem hits.] He was pretty helpless. And he was hoping that his enemy saw that as well. He had only one shot.
The assailant was a yordle. And the assailant knew, that he was also a yordle. And yordle don't have tails. Hidden beneath Veigar's robes, Asriel had made his infernal tail grow longer. Not only was it supernaturally strong, but also a lot faster than anything else he had. Yet, slower than their enemy, so timing would be key. He spat a lot more blood now, feeling how his body starts to grow numb. Vision wouldn't help him. So he used his body. Having endured and felt the ninja's attacks and rhythm, they use that information to estimate the most advantageous moment. Then, the demonic tail suddenly shot our from Veigar's robes in a tight swipe to hopefully tie the ninja to himself.
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[Take a beat, and 4 Bashing. Roll contested Manipulation + Subterfuge, with a +1 from ploy.]
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[2,10,8 -> 8]
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[Excellent! Now add +1 die per success to the following roll: Dexterity + Brawl, with a bonus +1 from proximity]
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[They spend 3 WP for 9 extra dice: 9,6,9,2,8,2,2,10,2,9,4,1,9 -> 9]
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*Rollz*
On and on went the flurry of blows. The warrior-mystic gave no room for the possessed yordle to maneuver - his lightning-strikes numbing to the touch. But the pain was worth it. So focused was the attacker that when the serpent tail lashed out from hiding, he only had a moment to glance its way before venomous fangs bit deep into his forearm! Yet his shock literally became the tail's as a current of electricity shot up the serpent's length and into Asriel's body! It was enough to cause the now ridged and zigzagging snake to let go, and no sooner had it than the poisoned ninja flashed several yards away, grabbing at his wound.
[Take 2 Bashing]
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Asriel was still affected by the force of the ninja's last kick, catching himself on the back foot. Being unprepared, the weakened leg couldn't fully support the albino's meager weight, the mage staggering before almost immediately finding steady footing again, more through determination than his physical condition. No matter how beat up he was, he mustn't show it! Through the combination of an ordinarily deadly amount of adrenaline and the mere will for survival of multiple pneuma and demon entities, time moved incredibly slow. To say that Veigar was an incredibly rapid spell-caster was an understatement. In an instant, the mage's sinister aura intensified, eyes blazing, the channeled magical energy around the metallic gauntlet and demonic tail spiking, being so vast it was visible to the naked eye. The serpent tail, being by far the fastest part of the albino, darted forward with open mouth with great force. Seemingly disregarding their distance, the supernaturally strong appendage struck immediately without even traveling half an inch, fangs piercing like the sharpest of daggers while pushing further to throw the assailant off balance while the mage slashes the perilously sharp claws of his gauntlet across the air.
[Dimensional Cut (3) -- Wits + Occult + Source vs. Target's Defense + Source [Spend 1 WP, target must be in line of sight. You may use melee attacks regardless of distance from target. Veigar may utilize a more deadly version of this, converting all melee damage to Aggravated. Using another WP to boost +3 dice.
2,3,9,9,1,10,7,2,5,6,10,8,5,3,10,2 -> 1,10 -> 4]
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[Alright, take a beat. Describe what happens as you (near?) kill the purple ninja. ;) ]
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Having never seen anything like Veigar's spell, the ninja was unprepared for what was about to happen. Despite the distance, the snake's infernal fangs struck his leg like invisible daggers before supernatural force threw him off-balance. From then on, he was at Veigar's mercy. And there was none. With gritted teeth and unmistakable fury, the usually calm and mad sorcerer finally showed his true face. With both gauntlets radiating dark, glistening mana, he let go off the staff. Immediately followed a slash through the air with his right, the pointed claws of his gauntlets tearing through the ninja's left arm and chest as if there was no distance. The assailant felt them painfully dig in and across his flesh, searing pain spreading rapidly as the poison started to weaken. The first was immediately followed up by the slash of Veigar's left claw, tearing through from the other side in an instant. Pushed nearly to his own death, there was no mad smile to the possessed yordle, only burning fury, as a relentless assault of endless, unavoidable claw strikes hailed down on the ninja, each one more grave than the previous. Breaking through the yordle's impressive endurability with sheer force, Veigar elicited cries filled with agony. Cries, that would immediately pull Asriel from the blur, all of his hair standing on edge.
(S-Stop!) The albino's shout went unheeded in his mind.
Unable to act, Asriel was forced to watch as Veigar was continuing his flurry of slashes.
(STOP IT! YOU ARE KILLING HIM!)
The twitch of an eye was the only sign that the ancient sorcerer was hearing him.
(I'M BEGGING YOU, STOP! STOP IT, PLEASE!)
Veigar gritted his teeth stronger as he put even more into his slashes.
"STOP IT!"
The mage stopped mid-motion, golden eyes flickering. He panted heavily, idly standing there for a few seconds before the golden flame returned to full strength.
"No, Asriel."
They started walking with shaky steps towards the ninja, grabbing the staff with the left while lifting their right gauntlet, whereupon the badly injured yordle floated into the air.
"Did you see any mercy in his eyes as he attacked us?! Do you really think that he would have shown us mercy?! Are you blind or just unfathomably stupid?! If it wasn't for me, you would be all dead!"
Standing right before the ninja now, Veigar took a good look at their greatly wounded enemy, before removing both gauntlets. He put their hands around his neck.
"Let this be a life lesson."
Surprising all of them, the ninja put his hands up against the albino's hands despite his condition. However, he was too weak to prevent anything as Veigar started to squeeze.
(NO! STOP IT! STOP IT! Stop.... please...)
"It's about time you get a feeling for this."
Having fought back control over his body before, even if temporary, it seemed still possible. However, Veigar's presence was growing, already starting to consume him. Fully regaining control over himself from his current position could very well be impossible. But perhaps over part of his body? Asriel then remembered what had happened between him and Mog, putting his entire focus into the demonic appendage. He could feel the evil mage claiming his soul, making him slowly become Veigar. With one last push of will, the serpentine tail lunged out, sinking its infernal teeth into the ninja's dying form. Their burning gaze immediately darted to the snake's head, one hand loosening from the ninja's neck to quickly grab it. Though even before his hand could reach, Asriel got pulled through.
"You litt..-l.."
The burning gaze died down quickly. Veigar felt a quickly increasing, insurmountable distance growing between him and his host, his influence over the albino being entirely cut. He was furious. But he was unable to act without him, ossified for the time being as control over Asriel's body was ceded to Fizz.
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[Regain all WP from acting on your virtue of Humility.]
Asriel's vision blurred for but a moment, only for a different view to come into focus. Like staring at a mirror, he saw his body staring back at him, a twisted reflection made worse by a darkening sky. Pain ached across his newly borrowed form. Wounds burning as the cold air kissed at raw flesh. The mage could barely hear anything over the pulsating of his heart. Agony came with every breath, the stench and taste of iron impossible to ignore.
-
From one form of nearly dying to another. With wide blue eyes, Asriel stared up into his own crimson pupils. He spat blood, moans and cries of unbearable pain revivifying. He desperately wished to fall unconscious. Which didn't happen. He was forced to endure. Though being partially responsible for these injuries, this was only fair. His borrowed form was shaking, every heavy breath filling him with nothing but pain. Despite all this ache, he could still distinctly feel where he had been choked. Though what hit the yordle even harder was the fact that he was the cause for this, which showed in even more tears rolling down beside those of pain.
(I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry...)
The world was a hot blur, his head spinning. Asriel took a moment, just idly laying on the floor and trying to cope with this excruciating pain. This was obviously no solution. He considered immediately returning and trying to patch the injured yordle up. However, this situation was different than with Mog. He did not only try to escape a mere influence. Veigar had grown to a dominant force that almost completely forced its way into his very soul. The mere thought of becoming him caused an icy shudder. Yet, he didn't know, so Asriel decided to give it a cautious try. He closed the ninja's heavy eyes, concentrating on where the serpentine tail bit him. It took a while, but the pain started to fade into the background as he focused himself on this point alone. Suddenly, sinister aura soared, spiked, trying to grab and pull. Asriel immediately fought back, struggling within Veigar's incorporeal grasp before barely managing to escape. The ninja's eyes shot back open, the pain quickly returning. Panic-struck, Asriel tried to painfully distance this hurting, borrowed form from his original body, managing a few inches on the ground, as he mentally pushed far away, frantically even, into the aching comfort of the injured yordle. Given the ninja's condition and Asriel's panic, he pushed far deeper into the assailant's mind than he ever could have in Mog. He couldn't return. He mustn't return. So deep had the yordle pushed, that he began to see flashes of memories that were not his own. Confusion started to grow before a flash that showed the beige yordle.
"Vyke..."
The brown-furred yordle stirred, looking around. Having spotted where the rogue had been flung to, Asriel forced the ninja's body onto his legs, causing even more pain to come through the growing numbness. After taking two, four, eight, twenty-one wobbling steps into his lovers direction, he would finally collapse, falling into deep unconsciousness.
-
Clear, blue, open sky,
Chaos thunders all around,
The lightning long past
Sitting with knees to the floor, the yordle laid down his brush beside the scroll in front of him, breathing deep the incense that burnt nearby. Peace, calm, the stress of mind and body melted away into the back of his mind as he began meditation. Yet though his eyes were closed, his ears twitched, listening to the wind through the trees outside. And the sound of an intruder sneaking up behind him.
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Not knowing where he was or how he got here, the albino looked around, seeing trees and architecture he was not familiar with. And sitting, seemingly within the center, was this yordle, neatly garbed in purple attire. He only dared to approach a few steps as it looked like this other yordle was busy. Of course he had questions. Where was he? How did he get home from here? The albino frowned. Home? There were perhaps more gaps in his mind. But he didn't mean to disturb the other yordle. So the albino sat down, waiting patiently as he listened to the gentle rustling of leaves, trying to remember the blanks in his mind. Something about this entire situation seemed... familiar. Exhaling deeply, the albino laid down onto his back, staring up into the sky. The wind constantly carried a whiff of incense into his direction. He couldn't deny, that something was bothering him, gnawing on the back of his mind. Yet, he hasn't been so relaxed in a long time. Was he here because he wanted something from this yordle perhaps?
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[Hmm... roll Wits + Composure]
[Wait, you're in a dream. Use the highest ratings among your mental and social attributes.]
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[Would be intelligence and composure: 9,7,5,8,4,2,7,6,9 ]
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Without anything to distract or do harm, Asriel began to realize where he was. Not from deep, analytical thinking, but rather, instinct. The images may have been different, but the feeling, the sense of mutability - and the fact he hadn't once blinked since becoming self-aware. This was a dream, and it was not his own.
"Come closer," said the other yordle. "We need to talk."
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After realisation hit him, he began to vaguely remember. The absence of information he was currently experiencing... this in particular was quite familiar. A blur of identity. It occasionally happened in ordinary dreams. Though it appeared to be rather common in 'these' type of dreams. A sign of verdancy. Thinking harder and harder, the albino recalled bits. An oppressive feeling, fear, and one sentence: I mustn't return.
"Come closer, we need to talk."
The albino sat up, looking over to the finely garbed yordle, needing another second to process. Did he know him? He quickly got up from the grass.
"O-oh, certainly!"
With an uneasiness in his stomach, he approached the other yordle. He really had no idea what to expect. Standing in front of the other yordle, the albino made sure to give a polite bow before he sat down, mimicking the way the opposing yordle was sitting. Now that he had a better look at his face, even with the mask, he seemed incredibly familiar. So familiar it actually hurt his head.
"Uhm... Do we know each other..?"
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"That remains to be seen," said the crouching yordle. His voice never rose above a whisper, harsh on the throat but clear, and without hesitation. "Do you know who you are?"
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In a distantly similar manner, also without hesitation, the albino replied. "Kennen Stormheart." He immediately looked off to the side, frowning. He couldn't answer that question before, but now, sitting in front of this other yordle, it seemed like the most obvious answer. And with the spoken name came shreds of memories. A fight against an evil mage. His headache became worse. "Something's off..." The albino looked back at the opposing yordle. He was so absurdly familiar, it was impossible that he didn't know him. "Who are you?"
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"I am Kennen Stormheart," he said. "Or was that a serious question?"
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The yordle got a bit more guarded. He didn't remember much, but after realizing that he was in some kind of dream, there was another memory slowly trickling in. It was still vague, but more than enough. This was the mindscape. And some vulpine entity once tried to take him over from this space using trickery. He had also been stripped of all his memories that time. It wasn't much, but what little he recalled so far was vital. The fact that the other yordle claimed to have the same name as he was very alarming. As was the fact that there was even some other entity with him in this mindscape. What was strange to him... in all these memories he had regained so far, he remembers having brown fur, usually hidden under purple robes. Exactly as the opposing yordle. And he himself was looking differently. White, unpainted... blank. Like his mind at the beginning. It's not hard to change one's appearance in a dream. So, it's not far off to assume one can change the appearance of someone else as well. This might be a thought through ruse. Was he dealing with some demonic entity in disguise? Only waiting to get the jump on him? To steal his body? Demons arereally hard to deal with. Impossible to get a read on. They have a lot of weapons, including words. Formidable liars and orators. Even if he tried to blow his cover there is a good chance he would just talk his way out instead of attacking.
"O-oh..."
The albino sighed, arms hanging low as he looked gloomily.
"Here I was thinking I finally recalled my name... but as it turns out... I can't actually remember anything..."
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"Nobody remembers "nothing"," said the masked yordle. "Even blanked by heavy fog, the land remains. One need only wait for the noonday sun or stiff wind to make clear the path."
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The albino exhaled deeply, relaxing a bit. Might be nothing but paranoia after all. His words were soothing, reassuring. A calm presence. The albino looked back at the ninja.
"This... is obviously not the real world. Do you know where we are..?"
Encouraged, the yordle tried harder to remember, focusing on various aspects of what he could recall so far.
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The masked one leaned forward. "In danger," he said. "And if you don't do something about it, neither of us is going to last much longer."
-
That sounded serious. And yet, he had no real clue on what was really going on. As he was focusing on these few revealed spots within his fogged memories, something peaked his attention. That evil mage 'he' fought... he remembers his white-furred face. The yordle's eyes go wide, hands quickly reaching up to his forehead, feeling for obsidian horns. There were none. He glances back and down, finding a short yordle tail where he expected to find a snake. Disturbingly alike. Apart from these missing features that is. That mage... was that him? In the back of his mind, another name surfaced.
"Veigar..." He whispers to himself. Was that his name? It couldn't be. That malicious expression on the mage's face. Was that really him? With that, the albino had reached the point. The cloud dispersed as rapidly as he began to remember now. He stared with wide eyes and blank expression of into space, information streaming in before he looked back at the ninja and got caught on one specific scene. The vivid memory of burning hate and fury as his aching body, commanded by the evil sorcerer, hit the ninja with clawed slash after slash, wielding magic beyond his comprehension, each following attack growing more severe. An inevitable onslaught, carving deeper and deeper into flesh before he was allowed to fall into a pool of his own blood. Asriel began to shake uncontrollably, his arms and legs feeling weaker than ever before. He looked away, burying his face as he curled up into a ball. Why..? The albino gritted his teeth, unable to fight back tears, warmly streaming down his face.
"I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry..."
He felt terrible. Horrible. He was deeply sorry for what he had done to the ninja. But what was even worse... it had been like ecstasy in that moment. That feeling of dominance, of absolute power. The shaking intensified to a shudder.
"...so sorry..."
[Given where and how deep Asriel is, I kinda picture that Kennen can actually see bits of these memories as Asriel remembers, just like Asriel had remembered bits from Kennen.]
-
The sigh of a cold breeze brought a chill over the mage; carrying with it a number of dead leaves that stretched between the two yordles.
"The time for apologies and grievances must wait," said Kennen. "You do not willingly serve Veigar, do you?"
Asriel could see his own breath now. The greenery of the scene had faded to browns and yellows. In the distance, mountains, too, had arisen, where once there had been none at all.
-
The yordle tried to hold it in, looking back up to the ninja with an expression of sombre disbelief. A lone "What?" was all he managed at first, the mere thought of there being anyone who would willingly serve this maniac confounding him. After a short pause he added, "No, of course not!" He felt offended by Kennen's mere assumption, but eventually realized that it must have certainly looked that way. Asriel's eyes then widened at another realization. That brown-furred ninja-yordle was Kennen Stormheart. One of the few yordles to gain the status of a hero. He had heard a number of stories about his idol, listened to them feverishly. Never had he expected to actually meet him... nor to nearly kill him. Another, stronger and colder shudder seized his body. He rubbed himself for some warmth. So even he could not defeat Veigar in combat.
"I tried to stop him..."
He really did. And eventually succeeded, if only barely. Kennen could have been dead by now, as would have been the old Asriel.
"...many times..."
His thoughts wandered to Beldyr and the day it began. Veigar was playing with him, 'fighting', before that purple-black miasma he consisted of seeped into him, trying to take not only his body, but mind and soul. It was supposed to be his rebirth. His reincarnation. And it certainly would had been, if it hadn't been for the serpentine demon to wrestle the dark sorcerer down. From them on, it had been quite a fight to fend off Veigar's influence. The albino's eyes focused on Kennen again, the pictures of the severely injured, beaten yordle coming back with a strong sense of guilt and concern.
"How are you doing? Are... are you alright..?"
-
The ninja gave a sidelong glanced at sheet of hoarfrost growing up his arm.
"...I've been better," he said. "If you weren't here, though, I would be dead. As it is, we're both dying. Sharing my body, I can focus on keeping us alive - but that means I'm going to have to trust you to get us someplace safe."
-
From what Kennen had told him and how things are looking, the ninja had no choice but to trust him. And Asriel did want to help him. He really did. But something made him feel queasy. He had left his body, or rather 'escaped' it, before, taking control over the body of a purplish moogle. During that entire time, there had been not a single memory from Mog that he had recalled. This time, however, he had recalled a fair share of memories that were not his own, 'remembering' Kennen's name, and even thinking that it was his own, before his actual name. And that one sentence, stuck from the moment he woke up here, ever-present, gnawing at the back of his mind: I mustn't go back. He was not quite sure what to make of it right now, but he knew he had messed up real big-time.
By now, Asriel had gotten used to sharing his body. But sharing the body of someone else, especially this way, like a parasite, felt horrible. Wrong. Right now, he was to Kennen, what the demon had been to him at the beginning. To double the irony, the ninja is asking him to get them someplace safe when that is all he had been looking for this entire year of misfortune, and seemingly found it within Kennen's body.
"I promise to do my best. We can get through this together."
Asriel noticed the growing hoarfrost on the ninja, the sense of guilt and concern intensifying.
"I'm sorry... I really am so terribly sorry..."
The albino hesitantly approached Kennen with open arms, offering a warm embrace, though keeping distance to not force it on the ninja if he didn't want to.
-
When Asriel began making his way forward, the cold began sinking into him. His right ankle went numb, then his left arm. The wind was a beast howling in his ears, whose frostbite gnawed and burned cold beneath the albino's fur. With his one good arm, he reached out to Kennen. Both yordles were shrouded in ice, all save for their faces and the sovereign host's outstretched finger tips. Asriel's vision blurred - his breath caught in his throat. Just another inch!
...
A violent gasp filled aching lungs as rain pounded the earth into mud. Mud that caked under fingernails and exposed flesh. Everything hurt, especially near the ribcage. The taste of blood drowned out all else, but gave focus, something to center the mind. With their one good arm, the figure pushed themselves up from the muck, only to look down at the puddle they'd been languishing in. And there, they fell upon the reflection of a masked yordle, bedecked in purple from head to toe.
-
The already dulled rain grew quieter, almost completely vanishing into the far distance, his gaze fixated, captivated, by the bright electric blue eyes that stared back. A sudden flash of white before pictures so vivid. Memories of people and places he had never seen or been to. And yet they were so familiar. So familiar, that the mere thought of not remembering their names or the time spent caused his heart to ache. He screwed up his eyes and shook his aching head before opening them again.
No.
Emerging from recollection, the cold splatter of rain returned to its original intensity. Loud and heavy. As was his unsteady breath. Shakingly, he raised their numbed, left arm to their face, finding the yordle in the puddle to do the same. Yet, this was not his reflection. Nor were these his memories. He knew. But still. It was disconcerting. Blurring his sense of self. For how long would he be able to differentiate? The yordle closed his weary eyes, regulating his breathing and taking in their surroundings with senses other than sight.
...
The land, wounded, more spiritually than physically, seemed to be mourning. Yet it was assuring to have the steady earth beneath them to stand and move forward on. The rain from above, to wash away pain and bring life. The wind around, carrying whispered secrets and leading the way. When the yordle opened his eyes again, his gaze fell upon soaked fabric. He lowered his gaze to meet the vibrant blue eyes of their reflection.
"Let's do this, Kennen;" he whispered with a weak smile before forcing himself onto shaking feet. It seemed difficult at first, but especially after the first few steps, the pain moved from the legs into the background, making it a lot more bearable. With every step getting steadier, they walked towards the familiar fabric. It was Asriel's traveling clothes. Soaked and probably even dirtier than before. They must have lost it in the battle. Since Veigar had basically forced the albino to wear his attire, it hadn't seen much use. The fact that it was such a familiar garb gave it incredible value in their current situation. Something to anchor himself with. Something to remember himself. Asriel looked down to where he had bitten Kennen with the snake tail to escape Veigar's grasp. The fact that he was still in Kennen's body without the demonic tail connected was a terrible omen.
"Please... hang on..."
Despite how hard Asriel had fought for his survival up until now, he never would want to drown out others for his own existence, especially not Kennen. A heroic character like Kennen simply has to prevail. The stories he heard and read, the hero always wins. Rather would he himself cease...
Asriel picked up the soaked clothes and took a thorough look around, hoping for any signs from Vyke or his original body. Not that there was much left to be found with that heavy rain, the yordle eventually made his way, looking for shelter or a place that could possibly hold supplies. Food, bandages, anything. They need safety and time.
(Oi... can you hear me..?)
Used to being able to communicate with the demons he had shared his body with, Asriel tried to reach out to the ninja.
-
[Roll Composure + Empathy, with a +4 from circumstance, but a -2 from injuries.]
-
[10,7,6,1,8,1 -> 10 ->7]
-
Concentration proved difficult in such a weakened state, yet the mage persevered, and reached out to the soul of the ninja he now inhabited. Perhaps it was cruel jest, then, that none save their shared heartbeat answered, strong though it was.
-
The yordle's steps slowed down before coming to a halt. Rain was pouring down the purple, water-repellent attire, or at least where it was still intact, before either falling onto the dark cobblestone streets of Teufelheim or finding its way into already soaked, brown fur. He shuddered, only now really noticing the absence of his arctic fur in form of the damp coldness this place had always been. What little smile he had retained died down. Often had he wished for having a moment to himself ever since the snake joined him. Over time, he had grown so used to the company of the demons and actually quite enjoyed it. The more he was struck by the silence, the sudden loneliness really starting to sink in. Their head dipped down, eyes falling upon the foreign, from the rain strongly wavering, reflection. Asriel pulled the hood deeper and picked up pace. Even if they couldn't communicate like he was used to, he was not alone.
Despite being severely injured, they put back quite some distance, carefully maneuvering through the streets the way Asriel had learned from Vyke. On their way, they picked up the driest wood they could find, wrapping it in a torn tarp from one of the houses. As the rain didn't seem to stop anytime soon, they contented themselves with a nook in one of the many ruin portions of Teufelheim. It was nothing more but a roofed corner that maybe covered 8 feet, but it was what Asriel thought to be safe. Decently hidden and far enough off the better ruins that others probably claimed for themselves. He unloaded the wood to form a small fire place before kindling it with fire magic. Stepping to the edge of where the roof gave cover, the yordle made one swift motion, pulling the great majority of water from their fur before using it and the rain to clean his old traveling clothes. After having cleaned the tarp as well, they stepped back into the corner, undressing themselves to take a closer look at the injuries. There were occasional cuts on the arms and legs. The torso, however, was a mess. Asriel immediately avoided the gaze, not wanting to recall these memories again. But eventually, he had to take a look. These cuts must have been terribly deep. And thinking back to how much blood there had been... how could he still be alive? With utmost care, he moved their fingers across the multiply scarred flesh. Whatever Kennen was doing, it worked. Ordinarily, for such a wound to heal to where it currently was, this would have taken way more than just a few hours. There was even some fur growing back. Asriel used the wet corner of the tarp to clean off dirt and blood before using Kennen's clawed hands to tear the rest of the tarp, using it as a makeshift bandage to wrap around the injuries. After having done that, Asriel pulled his old traveling clothes over them, finding a tent to form in his pants almost immediately. The yordle gave a whispered curse as their head reddened in embarrassment.
"As if I had time or energy for 'that'..."
Since the albino had spend a lot of time around demons, it only made sense. Especially as it touched on a kink he hadn't really explored. Similarly to that one time he dressed up in Vyke's clothes, the idea of Kennen currently wearing his traveling garb was strangely arousing. In denial, Asriel sat through this flustered state as he snuggled into the very corner of his safety nook, pulling the oversized hood of his red cape over their head. Good thing adult yordles had roughly the same size. He gave a sigh before unfolding Kennen's purple garments, scanning it for all the damaged portions. Yordles were innately more magical beings than other races. While his mother never studied the arcane arts, she did use this natural gift to repair clothes. Usually smaller holes. Asriel had watched her do it several times. This, however, was no mere hole. Yet, Asriel wanted to try. Not that there was currently much else to do. After having arranging the shreds of fabric, Asriel used magic to hopefully mend the ninja's outfit. After remaining in silent concentration at first, listening to the wind and rain, the yordle started to quietly talk.
"I come from a small settlement way up a far off mountain. I was never really good with the bow, so I mostly went with the gathering group to pick silverberries from the moondrop brushes that grew all around the place. Everyone took care of each other in this small community. It might have been a bit boring, but it was a good, peaceful life. I was always excited to meet a traveler when someone passed through. I'd ask them a lot of questions. I was eager to learn about the world that layed beyond the Whispering Woods. Some would gift us books for our hospitality, tell us stories or teach us a trick. As we were only yordles up there, some of the travelers told us of a yordle who made himself a name. Someone who defeated terrible beasts, captured evil and helped those in need. Someone worthy of being called a hero. Whenever they had finished a story about this yordle, I would ask for another one... He was a great inspiration for me..."
"When I turned 16, I sometimes began to see things. Shapeless, transparent silhouettes. Others couldn't see... and they would always give me this worried look when I mentioned it. So I kept it to myself. That was also the time my talent for magic suddenly spiked. Thinking back... I am quite sure that my magical talent and this trait are connected. As time passed, these silhouettes took more shape, growing less transparent. Fays, elementals, ghosts,..."
"With 18, I left my home to study magic at Evior. That is when I really encountered the other side of life that I had been sheltered from in my home. Instead of working together, people preferred competition, rather working against each other to gain fame for themselves. I mean... I might not have that much social experience, but talking others down or bullying people to be sitting prettier just doesn't seem right to me. But... I learned that this is simply how some people are. I tried to talk to them about it, and as a result became their main target."
"In fear of getting into the bullies' radius as well, I was avoided by my other peers. In an attempt to be accepted, I sneaked into the forbidden section of the school library for a dare. I got quickly shopped, but I managed to successfully hide and eventually sneak out afterwards. The tome I took with me held the summoning ritual for a demon. Against my better judgement, I summoned the serpent. I was just curious to really meet one myself after having heard how bad they are. The demon listened to me, gave me advice, and even taught me magic. He enjoyed the time in this realm, so I summoned him quite often. He was always displeased to return to 'that hellhole'."
"After he had helped me so much, I wanted to help him as well. The ritual was supposed to bind him to my physical form in a way that he would only be able to see through my eyes and communicate with me. However, the demon ended up with a lot more control than I wanted, my body growing features that indicated the demon's presence. I got expelled and hunted since then. As he briefly explained to me later... I am what is considered a sovereign host. Apparently the ritual was correct... and this trait I have was the one reason the serpent ended up with so much influence. I don't know if he knew about this beforehand... but I was very angry at him. But... as we fleed and hid... traveling from place to place... I learned to understand him a lot better. You know... demons are always looked at as these evil entities. Throughout all history. Thus, only bad, evil people are the ones to summon a demon to this realm. Demons come from another place and lack certain emotions, but that doesn't make them bad ab initio. And yet, they aren't even given the chance. Over the time I travelled with the serpent we've grown close... and he is so much better than he himself thinks. He really is... And if it wasn't for him, I would have been taken over by Veigar already... fuck... where are you? Why would you just leave me there..."
Tears were dwelling up, but he held it in.
"I am not as strong as you are, Kennen. I only barely scrape by with the help of others... And usually, I make the lives of those around me worse along the way, no matter how hard I am trying. Tell me... is it selfish of me? Wanting to keep on living with the body I was born with, despite attracting dangerous entities like Veigar to use it as a vessel? Is it really selfish... wanting to live the life I have been given?"
But only the stormy night answered.
"If it wasn't for Brutella, I'd allow you to just end me and my cursed body right after our current situation has been dealt with..."
The yordle threw a wooden table leg into the fire to maintain it.
"She is evidence for how newly born demons are. And she is a true sweetheart. Way more than these jerks at Evior can ever wish to be. I'd hate for her to meet the same rejection as her kin..."
He shook their head.
"Just why is the world so fucked up?"
The yordle sighed and remained silent, working towards fixing the ninja's clothes as best he could and keeping the fire burning before lying down to sleep, kinda expecting to meet the ninja in the mindscape again.
-
[Take a beat]
At first, all was quiet. Even with the warmth of the humble fire, light braving the ever-darkening shadow of dusk, a chill nipped at the edges of Asriel's shared body. Far more than any demon or ancient ghost, it taunted him, stole from him any sleep deeper than a moment's reverie. And then he began to hear noises. The slow, meandered tapping of stone as the wind grew still as the grave.
-
Despite the campfire's closeness, its comforting warmth didn't seem to reach them. Clutching his traveling clothes, Asriel curled up even more, gently chafing their face into the ninja's outfit that served as their makeshift cushion. With their short yordle snout partially buried within the purple garments, Kennen's rather unobtrusive scent was quite prominent, continuously reminding the mage of his silent, involuntary host - unitedly near, yet absent - soothing and lulling him despite the lack of communication and keeping the growing melancholy at bay. At least at first. As sleep didn't want to come, time starting to stretch indefinitely, leaving the yordle to quietly doubt and worry as countless questions filled his borrowed space within Kennen's very mind.
After putting everything into stopping and defanging Veigar... why did Fizz and Vyke leave him behind? And that in such a horribly injured body? At the very least Brutella, Longtooth and Fizz must have noticed. After all, Veigar was suddenly robbed of the control he had won over his body, putting the amphibious demon in charge. Was it... that they did not care about him? That they only wanted his body for themselves, uncontested by him and the now dormant Veigar? But why did Fizz and Longtooth go to such lengths to save him from Kalus before that? And how could he still be in control over Kennen‘s body without the snake tail connected? If it’s true what the snake told him, a body and its soul are irrevocably linked and cannot be separated. And yet, here he was, far apart from his body, sensing the warmth and comfort of a soul. It had to be Kennen‘s, but it felt like... 'home'. Somewhat distant, but still rather distinct. And that worried him. Worried him that he might currently be to Kennen, what the snake had been to him for almost a year with the difference of some significant progress that the snake never achieved.
Despite the heavy physical and mental exhaustion, Asriel only seemed to occasionally doze off for mere seconds, leaving him to believe that he was not even capable of sleeping as Kennen was doing the resting and healing for them, only giving him more time to be further crushed under the weight of his thoughts. As it seemed, he wasn’t even able to meet and communicate with Kennen within the mindscape, leaving him entirely to his own devices. Yet, despite how occupied Asriel had been with his thoughts, his ears immediately perked up at the noises, noting the sudden stillness of the wind. The yordle opened his eyes before sitting up and looking around for the source of the tapping sound.
-
[Hmm... roll Wits + Investigation with a -2 from difficulty]
[Also, take a beat]
-
[Unless I get to use Kennen‘s Wits, it’s 5 dice: 3,1,6,4,4]
-
Unable to pierce the gloom thanks to the glare of the campfire's light, the possessed shinobi was left with only the tapping of stone, a growing malaise coming over his borrowed mind. Something was out there. Or was it all a figment of his imaginings - a byproduct of exhaustion, blood loss, and a well warranted sense of paranoia?
-
No sooner had he gotten on his feet than the yordle already struggled to keep his balance, falling back down to his knees. With a slower, second attempt, a steadier footing was found. It's not that these weakened legs couldn't handle what Asriel demanded from them - in fact, as is, these were still stronger than those of his original body had ever been - it was more about familiarity. He himself being a very recent addition to this body, the mage had to put more focus on these basic tasks and movements than normally. Cautiously, the former albino walked the perimeter to investigate the immediate area around his conceived safe-spot, peeking around the few broken walls. Yet, nothing suspicious could be found, the source of the ongoing tapping sound remaining a mystery. Kennen's weary eyes were unable to make out much within the dark of night, this body's exhaustion clearly being too much. Still, he couldn't shake off this feeling. Asriel returned to the corner of his little nook and sat down. As it seems, there won't be any sleep for him, as Kennen was doing all the resting and sleeping for them currently. He wanted to avoid straining the ninja's body any further to speed up Kennen's recovery, but there was a good chance this place wasn't as save as he hoped. He would sit and listen if and in what way this tapping sound and where it comes from changes, and be generally on the lookout.
-
[Take a beat]
*Rollz*
No sooner had Asriel turned back towards the light than a sudden snarl rang in his ears - too late, something landed on his back, pushing the possessed yordle to the ground! Whatever it was, it was strong, its finger tips sharp as they pushed against the fabric of Kennen's attire, bruising the furred flesh with ease. The smell far worse, however. It reeked of carrion, the sour odor almost palpable as the creature breathed down on him!
[Take 2 bashing.]
-
There was no resistance, no fightback from its target, the already heavily injured yordle landing flat on the ground unmoving while the attacker's entire weight rested on his back. Within a split second of being attacked, Asriel understood. There was not much he could do. Not with their current condition. He was even too exhausted to really be shocked. Perhaps Kennen could have fought back... hell, he wouldn't even have gotten into this situation. But Asriel vividly recalled the ninja's words from the recent dreamscape meeting: You are not Kennen Stormheart.
Obvious trueness, yet necessary to be brought up within these circumstances. Asriel had to handle this dire situation the only way he was able to.
"Please... I'm begging you... spare my life... I don't really have much... but take what you want... just... please let me live..."
The bandaged yordle was a pathetic sight to behold. Asriel hadn't even noticed the tears that were running down his cheeks. There was a good chance not only Kennen's, but also his own life were about to end. Not that he cared for his own as much as for Kennen's. Laying there on the ground, something about the reeking odor was familiar. At first, the mage thought this might have come from Kennen's memories, but he soon recalled Gift-Morter Lanx, an aliura entomancer he had a run-in a few days ago when he still had been with his own body. Without making any hasty or suspicious movements, Asriel tried to get a glimpse of his attacker.
-
[Take a beat]
*Rollz*
From the corner of his borrowed eye, Asriel saw just enough to realize it wasn't Lanx. No, there wasn't enough fur. Just emaciated, gray flesh in the shape of an aliura's face, with eyes white and cataracted like haunted moons over black and yellowed teeth.
Upon seeing Asriel's masked face, the feline forced the yordle to face him squarely. It raised its cracked and jagged claws as it strangled at his throat with the other. The strike was coming down!
*Snk*
A wet, guttural whine escaped the aliura. It fell forward, its head lulling over Asriel's shoulder. That's when the yordle noticed the tip of a halberd pulling out of the creature's back.
"Are you dead?" asked a man's voice.
-
Do some undead really get to this section of Teufelheim..?!
Forced to stare eye to eye, the yordle gave a feeble shriek, cut short by a strangling hand. The mage immediately fought for air in hopes of unleashing an arcane blast. Flailing about, Asriel desperately tried to free himself. Alas, all his debilitated struggling was in vain, the undead's unnatural strength easily overpowering him. With his strength dwindling further, it seemed like this creature was sapping his very life from him. The yordle's eyes widened at the aliura's raised claws. Even with his fightback intensifying in despair, Kennen's body was simply too spent. Like the reaper's scythe, Asriel watched the jagged claws rushing down at him. Shortly before impact, he shut his eyes before a sudden flash of memories that weren't his own pulled past him, only to be torn out of them as the aliura's stiff hand landed flaccidly and without intent on his chest.
After opening his blue eyes again and realizing that he was not dead, Asriel exhaled deeply and continued to breath again. The possessed ninja looked up to his savior.
"I surely feel like it... but I'm still alive. Thanks to you... I am extremely obliged to you..."
Asriel squinnied as he brought up a hand to hold his terribly aching head, slowly shaking it in hopes of shooing away the echoes of Kennen's memories. To no avail. The yordle turned to look at the unmoving undead that was basically hugging him. Despite the notable difference in height, the aliura's extremely gaunt body wasn't too heavy. A sudden twinge of sorrow. As meaningless as it might seem to others, Asriel hugged the emaciated corpse.
"I hope you finally find peace now..."
The mage put the aliura down and closed their eyelids. After taking another moment, the possessed shinobi turned his attention back to the man who saved him, giving him a more thorough look-over.
-
[Take a beat]
The figure took a step into the light of the campfire. He wore a salvaged bits of armor over brown rags, particularly for the arm that carried his halberd. His face, however, was obstructed by a scarf and a helmet that had seen better days.
"How injured are you?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.
-
With an expression of worry and uncertainty taking hold beneath the mask, Asriel looked off to the side as he pondered the honesty of his answer. Kennen had been very gravely injured. Though with that answer, the stranger might want to take a look and it would be difficult to explain the supernatural healing process these wounds had already gone through. From this near-death encounter, the mage had learned another important fact. Unlike with the demons, Kennen was not able to act at all. As it seemed, he was completely unable to take any form of control over his body. This meant no assistance in crucial moments like he knew from the demons. Not only was the prevalence he held over the hero worrying, but the sudden pressure of solely holding Kennen's faint life in his hands was crushing. Asriel began throwing reproaches at himself for poorly handling the situation and getting them into it in the first place.
"I'm... gravely injured..." The yordle eventually replied truthfully, eyes returning to the man's hidden face. "...it happened before this attack..."
This was not the time for doubt. Especially after he had saved him. And without Vyke or the demons, he could really use an ally. Though being hunted and on the run for over a year now while avoiding the people around him, Asriel was not really sure how to socialize.
-
[Take a beat]
"May I see?" asked the stranger, gesturing with his halberd at the yordle's wound.
-
The yordle hesitated for a moment, seeing as his main worry did come up immediately. Still, he decided to trust this stranger and nodded before getting up, doffing the ninja wrap and the hooded top to reveal the many makeshift bandages that were covering Kennen's torso. As he was unsure what to say, still wordlessly and with hot-throbbing head, Asriel started to peel away layer after layer to show the man what he... what Veigar had done to the shinobi. Despite them having healed quite a bit, he avoided looking at the countless wounds himself, anxiously focusing his vision on the stranger to see and read his reaction.
-
[Take a beat]
The stranger went quiet, standing motionless as a statue while Asriel unbandaged himself. After a long moment in utter silence, the halberdier pulled a flask out, hanging it by its leather strap over the tip of his weapon before extending it over to the yordle.
"Here," he said. "Soak the liquid in some cloth, then dab it across the area where it hurts most. It'll sting for a moment, but should alleviate the pain."
-
Despite how spent he was, Asriel forced a warm smile to Kennen's lips as he waved with his hand, declining the stranger's offer.
"Thank you... really. But the pain isn't the problem."
Coming from his hypersensitive body, while still great, the pain he was feeling through Kennen's body was bearable. Besides, what if the stranger needed it himself in the future?
"I know it's a bit much to ask, especially since I'd be but a hindrance to you, but could I keep you company for a while..? At least until my wounds are mostly healed. The great majority of people here in Teufelheim are more focused on themselves, rather considering exploiting someone instead of reaching out a helping hand. So I am deeply grateful for you being the one to come along. Please, I have to survive... there is someone I need to help..."
The yordle was looking where he suspected the man's eyes to be beneath the helmet, eyes pleading, yet determined.
-
[Take a beat]
"...You're delirious," said the stranger, his deadpan voice almost comical in the face of Asriel's heartwarming speech. "No doubt from blood loss and whatever adrenaline that cannibal spurred now wearing off."
Once more, the figure pulled something from his person, this time from behind his back. A brown candle with a tiny wooden cup to keep it upright.
"This area is compromised," he said, propping the candle on a nearby surface. From out of nowhere, he procured a match and lit the wick, causing the hideaway to smell faintly of incense. Asriel could sense a faintest flicker of magic at work. "Stay here, and you'll likely find thieves or worse waiting for you to come out. I can guide you to safety, but only if you can walk."
-
The brown-furred yordle looked down at the ground for a moment before his vision shifted back up to the stranger with a smile.
"Thank you so much!"
With tiny steps, the shinobi stepped closer to the rain, raising his hand as a swirl of arcane energy coiled around it. Gently, he moved his hand down as the falling water followed the silent incantation. Drops of water near his hand stopped falling, gathering in a small bubble that Asriel used to clean the makeshift bandages before he carefully placed them on Kennen's deep wounds again. As he did so, he couldn't help but have his expression shift to one of guilt and concern, which was mostly concealed by Kennen's purple cloth mask that tightly, yet comfortably hugged his headshape from below his eyes. He then slipped into the shinobi's hooded top, equally purple with subtle, lightning-like gold-trim on the sleeves' front and back that traversed all the way to the hood, before following it up with the wrap, which reached down a little bit over his knees and only had a front and back, both adorned with the same gold-trimmed lightning patterning. Its sides were unjoined and open while the padded shoulders came to a slight point. Lastly, he finished it with a purple cloth waistbelt that held the purple wrap in place, subconsciously knotting it like a well-known routine that Asriel found natural, not even considering questioning it. He picked up his backpack, waiting for the stranger to lead the way.
"Oh by the way, my name is..." The ninja hesitated for a moment as he pondered. "...Asriel. How can I call you?"
-
[Take a beat]
"Faryn," said the halberdier, watching the display of magic unfurl. "You're a magician, then?"
-
It was not the entire truth. Kennen was more than just a magician. The yordle briefly glanced at Kennen's small pouch that contained shuriken and kunai, thinking back on the shinobi's lightning fast rush of attacks. They were unrelenting, ranged and close combat, weaving physical weapon attacks with lethal precision and potent magic, rotating and in conjunction. A powerful display of a master who has pushed beyond his limits. And then there was him. Asriel. Who was thrown out of the academy before graduating, barely qualifying as a mage. Anything remotely impressive he had done was due to the demons or Veigar. The ninja's gaze turned to his back where he'd normally expect a serpentine tail before shifting his blue eyes back towards Faryn.
"Yeah, you could say that."
It was a bit of an odd display to see this tiny figure with such refined garment wearing this well-traveled, worn backpack that Asriel first set out with when he was still his albino self.
-
The halberdier nodded, though whether the pause in his stance betrayed hesitation or reflection upon Asriel's words proved impossible to tell. Turning, Faryn gestured the yordle to follow, and the two took their leave of the campsite. True were his words of dangers in the dark, for through Kennen's eyes, Asriel could see the tell-tale signs of creatures stirring. The hollow shells of the damned and diseased shuffling, haunting, hungering behind ruined doorways and barricades. Yet so was the pair's good fortune that these aberrant horrors were few and far between compared to other places Asriel had seen since coming to cursed Teufelheim. No mob of mindless corpse-men, no raging specter nor colossal spiders. Just the shadows of carrion feeders and lurking stalkers, too cowardly to strike unprepared. Or was it something else that held them at bay? Something unseen, heard, or felt by mundane sense. Wherever they went, Faryn and Asriel found candles lit within alcoves or sheltered corners. A strange pattern of actions followed. Faryn would always detour whenever the two came across a white candle atop a mantelpiece. If a candle was blue and inside a room, he would light it to reveal an emblem on a nearby wall. But most of all, he would never venture where a red candle burned atop a broken skull, even if the path beyond was visible and clear of obstacles.
"How are you holding up?" he asked the yordle, the two stopping as they walked along a skybridge between houses.
-
Asriel followed with quickened, yet utterly deafened steps, taking note of the wordless communication through wax and light. His mind clear, senses sharpened. Focused. Not a single thought was wasted on anything else but what was happening right around him. Just like he has been practicing. Every footfall was deliberate, his tiny frame pressing against and behind broken walls and furniture. The mage was unaware of the fact that he was expertly utilizing a skillset he had never been good at. To such extend, that Faryn could not tell if the ninja was actually following him or not if he didn't throw a glance behind every now and then. When they briefly stopped on the skybrdige, the yordle only gave a quick, intentful nod as answer to Faryn's question, the shinobi seeming like a different person compared to before.
-
Faryn nodded, motioning to turn away. The helmed figure would pause, however, as his gaze fell upon the scenery beneath the bridge. Little at all could be seen through the gloom, yet still came the sounds of hurried shuffling, rasping, hissing down below.
"You're far limber than I gave you credit," said Faryn. "How able would you be if I asked you to squeeze through a tight space in the adjoining building?"
-
"Very. What you want me to do on the other side?"
The yordle's ears perk up, moving about while his eyes scanned the surroundings.
-
[Roll Wits + Composure with a -1 from difficulty.]
Raising his halberd, Faryn pointed the blade towards the aforementioned house. "There is a lever inside that opens up a path towards our destination," he said. "While not critical, it would hasten our progress, as the detour would require more time to access safely, given your condition."
-
[Spending one Willpower - 3 Wits, 3 Composure, 3 from Willpower, -1
4, 1, 9, 5, 10, 3, 10, 5 - extra roll 1, 2]
-
With Kennen's keen senses, Asriel could tell that he and Faryn were being followed. It wouldn't have surprised anyone if some of the stalking evils of the night were clinging to the underside of the skybridge, following the sound of the halberdier's footsteps against wooden planks...
-
The shinobi's eyes narrowed, his eye color subtly changing from saphire blue to an electric purple, blue sparks faintly crackling between his clawed fingers.
"Careful, Faryn. They follow your footsteps, clinging to the bridge below, waiting for their moment to strike."
-
The halberdier turned to fully face the possessed yordle. "Impressive," he said. "You've noticed them just as I have." Faryn then gestured towards the door, keeping an eye on the way the two had come as Asriel resumed moving forward. Without looking away, Faryn began following with his back to the yordle. Both of them noticed the glint of glassy-eyes slowly climbing up from beneath the bridge and up the walls on either side of the previous door. The creatures were almost feline in how they clung close to the floor as they motioned onto the skybridge. Still the maintained their distance, only slinking forward an inch at a time, growling alongside their distended stomachs.
-
With vigilant eyes and careful, deliberate steps, Asriel moved further across the skybridge towards their destination. Given the speed of the crawling creatures and the direction they are coming from, there was no further action necessary.
"I will keep an eye forward. If they get to close and you need some magic backup, let me know."
-
[Hmm... roll Initiative with a -2 from injuries]
-
[Rolled a 7+4-2= 9]
-
*Rollz*
[Pfffft! Alright, Asriel goes first. The others whiffed on their rolls with a 2 and a 3. xD]
-
Electricity permeated his body, seemingly emanating from his very soul. Asriel could feel it. Kennen's affinity. Lightning flickered between the claws of each hand, swelling in intensity.
W-what is wrong with my magic? Not what I was going for...
The ninja tried to close his hands, though the forming magic resisted. A sense of uncertainty and light panic beginning to elevate within the vulpine. Though it was in this moment, that he remembered his last dream. With as deeply as the albino had already dug himself into the consciousness of the heroic shinobi, even if there was no direct communication, there was guidance in these still mostly foggy thoughts and memories of his host. And these gave him focus again. Intuition from wisdom he did not know he was accessing. Asriel took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. He was calm. The yordle concentrated on the source of his magic as he suddenly clenched his fists, seemingly quenching the electrical magic. Calmly, Asriel exhaled the deep breath he took, which now heavily crystalized in the air. He opened his eyes again, which had shifted from the electric, sparkling purple to an icy blue, splintered sapphire as the crushed magic swirled out and around his hands, now a light, frosty blue. The shinobi whispered under his exhale.
"Freeze."
The magical energy swelled, expanding, compelling the moisture to gather on the walls these creatures were climbing, and frooze to make them slip and unable to climb.
[Casting Command Ice (2) -- Int + Occult + Source]
-
[Roll it with a +1 from description, and take a beat.]
-
[4, 3, 1, 3, 9, 5, 5, 6, 3, 9, 10, 10, 4, 9, 1, 5, 8 + extra 5, 6]
-
*Rollz*
Like something out of a dark comedy, the ghoulish horrors gripped at the walls and balcony rails of the skybridge, only to find no purchase, no friction, to hold on to. Shrill whines and wails soon followed them as they slipped and fell downwards, the shadow beneath the bridge punctuated by a wet popping and crackling of meat and bone.
"Well I'll be damned," said Faryn. "It helps to have a Zauberer after all."
-
After the magic was released, the shinobi, while still vigilant and careful, relaxed a little bit, the appearance of multiply cracked, brighter and darker ice to his eyes receding to just his irises, which soon after returned to Kennen's normal, bright blue. Without losing a beat, the yordle continued to cross the bridge. Ordinarily, the disgusting sound of the falling undead would have terrified him, made his skin crawl, but it didn't. Instead, he felt sorrow that only further ignited the flame of determination that burned within the heroic shinobi. He wished for them to be able to rest. To undo the tainted magic that kept these undying bodies animated even after death. And to release the handful of unfortunate soul that did not pass on in time before their lifeless bodies were set into motion again, now held captive in undeath.
Asriel took notice of his words, though did not respond to the halberdier, instead focused on the task at hand. Now that he was not with Veigar anymore, he did not know the word Faryn used, though thanks to Kennen he could at least recognize it as Eisern.
-
With no signs of further trouble, Faryrn put his back against the wall next to the door, testing the handle to see if it was locked. After Asriel was in place, either behind or on the other side of the doorframe, the halberdier pushed the door open from the safety of cover. "We're clear," he said, taking a step inside, the tip of his polearm leading the way. The interior was devoid of light, but for the small lantern Faryn lit, the flame doing little to fend off the shadows. From what Asriel could make out, the room may have once been a garden. Nothing like the one Edel tended--not even close, just a bench with clay pots and ruined sacks of fertilizer. What plants could be seen were all withered and dried up, despite the dampness in the air. A trap door lay in one corner of the room, but was held down by a crate and broken furniture. The other door, by contrast, was devoid of obstruction, but flanked by brown candle stubs.
"Through that door leads to a hallway connecting this part of the house with a ladder system," said Faryn. "From there, you'll be able to reach a secluded section of the district that's relatively safer."
-
Sapphire eyes followed the pointing weapon towards the door.
"From the way you talk... I take that our paths diverge here?"
The yordle turned to face his guide and guadian, looking at where he assumed the halberdier's eyes were.
"I don't have much to give, but my utmost gratitude. I would offer to help you on whatever mission you are, but I'm afraid that even that I cannot offer, given my current state. I hope that our paths cross once more, so I may repay my dept to you, Faryn."
The ninja's harsher, focused expression had softened, a smile hidden beneath the cloth mask that covered his face below his eyes.
-
Before Asriel began to turn away, Faryn raise a hand, saying "You misunderstand. The path I mention is the quickest way towards our destination. I can reach it with ease, but you will have to squeeze through narrow spaces to reach it."
-
"Where are those narrow spaces that you speak of?"
The yordle looked around the space.
-
"Beyond the door. Parts of the hallway have been blocked off to prevent the mindless undead from finding an immediate way forward. Look for a gap in the walls, but be careful, exposed nails are a hazard - we didn't have enough corks to blunt them all."
-
"Thanks for the heads-up."
Asriel moved up towards the door and reached up. After seeing that he is too small to reach, he jumps up towards the door handle, opening the door to reveal the promised hallway behind. The moment a new, unknown space was revealed, the yordle's senses immediately switched back to utmost alert, moving onward as he looked for the aforementioned gap.
-
[Hmm... roll meeeee--Wits + either Investigation or Composure, with a -1 from difficulty.]
-
[4, 7, 8, 1, 4, 9]
-
Once more into the dark he crept, the door behind him whining against its rusted hinges. Asriel soon saw the main impediment to his path: a wall of more broken furniture like he'd seen in the room prior, mashed together with wooden planks, wiring, and pipes. This amalgamation of junk lay crammed within the already narrow hallway, though to the yordle's good fortune, there was a doorway on either side just before it. One looked like it may have once been a half-bath, filled with more random junk and debris. The other? From what he could tell from the doorway, used to be a study, with an empty fireplace and a capsized bookcase...
-
Upon reaching this intersection, Kennen's instincts told him to go towards the bath-like room. Though, since they have shaken off the ghoulish creatures for now, Asriel was drawn towards the study. His conclusion, however, was nonsensical, subconsciously drawn towards a place of information, despite the utmost slim, almost non-existing chance of finding the information he sought. The yordle soundlessly toddled in the direction of the tilted bookcase, scanning the study room. Mainly for the anticipated gap, but also for slivers of helpful information.
-
[Roll either Intelligence or Wits + Investigation, with a -1 penalty but a +1 from previous success]
-
[9, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 3, 2, 4, 1]
-
Searching the room, Asriel stumbled upon old bloodstains on the floor, long since dried up, that arched from the study's lone, barricaded window towards the empty fireplace. Inspecting the chimney revealed an adhoc barricade made from crowbars with a number of dolls the size of the yordle's palm, hanging from lace and hempen string. Likely magical in nature, meant to ward off evil.
Further investigation of the study revealed a draft coming from behind the bookshelf...
-
[I take that the bookshelf is (mostly) empty, as it is tilted over? Can I inspect closer and see if I can find the source of the draft?]
-
[Roll Intelligence or Wits + Investigation again, with a -1 penalty but a +1 from previous success]
-
[5, 4, 9, 2, 4, 2, 5, 2, 10, 2 + extra 4]
-
While hard to see in the dark, Asriel's eyes had acclimated enough to spot the source of cool air now pushing against his borrowed face. A yordle-sized hole in the wall stood obstructed behind the capsized shelf, though he couldn't see what lay beyond.
-
Asriel would make sure that the shelf would not fall over before finding his way behind the shelf, slowly, carefully and ever so silently approaching the gap, his head moving close enough so he could peer inside the darkness of the next room.
-
The yordle winced as he felt the strain of pushing aside the shelf, Kennen's body still sore and weary as it tried to heal without rest. Asriel then found Faryn's promised passageway, though how anyone was able to use it without being the size of a yordle or small child remained suspect. The space between the walls suggested little room to maneuver. Asriel would have to stand up straight and walk side-ways to wherever the exit was.
-
Before getting in, the shinobi checked the walls for dangerous protrusions like nails or sharp edges with his hand and arm before he would align his body with the predefined pose. Confident in the protection Kennen's attire provided, the yordle would exhale all air and preemptively suck in his slim stomach as he moved through to the other room.
-
[Hmm... first roll Wits + Investigation with a -2 penalty, but a +1 from previous success. Then roll Dexterity + Athletics with a +1 per success you made (maximum of +5).]
-
[1, 3, 4, 7, 2, 9
Using Kennen's dex, +1 from previous success, penalty of -1 because Asriel has no points in Athletics: 10, 8, 10, 10, 7 + extra 4, 4, 5]
-
Straining his eyes, Asriel saw the silhouette of the forewarned nails; the protrusions lay exposed as they pointed inward from beams in the walls, or up from the floor. By a miracle of Kennen's honed body, Asriel inched his way along the narrow path, bending where he could to avoid cutting or impaling himself. Though he wore a nanja's mask, his eyes became irritated by the dust, yet still he managed to evade injury. Upon reaching the end of the path, he found another hole like the one he'd entered through. Beyond it was a room featureless but for the molding wallpaper and odd assortment of baubles strewn about. A window allowed what little light there was into the room, while a closed door lay directly across from it.
-
Asriel looked around the room as he dusted himself off while approaching the door. Once close, his steps became slower and lighter again. He put Kennen's keen ear against the door to check for sound from the other side before he'd try to get a peek through the keyhole or the slit between door and floor.
-
[Roll Wits + Composure with a -1 penalty]
-
[5, 7, 5, 6, 5]
-
Peering as he did beneath the door, with vulpinal ears perked and wary of the slightest sound, Asriel could make out nothing beyond the room he resided in.
-
As loudlessly as he could, Asriel opened the door, and only to a slit for one final visual check before he would fully open the door.
-
Beyond the door, Asriel found another makeshift wall of junk blocking one direction of the hallway - likely the same barrier he'd encountered earlier. Yet in the other direction, he found an open room whose ceiling disappeared in the darkness above, so high must have been its ceiling. At the center of the room stood a metal contraption, dented all over save for the lever in front of it. A pair of chains flanked the device, with one wrapping around a feeding mechanism, and the other just touching the floor with something akin to a saddle's foot-strap...