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Post by Wayland on May 11, 2021 14:25:41 GMT -8
Archie is gone. It twists Wayland’s gut. She’s responsible for them, for this whole crew. And more than that, Archie is… if not a friend, then someone full of the potential to become one. She’s the Ogre. She’s the Summer courtier. She’s supposed to be the one standing between her comrades and danger, not leaving them behind. But Gavin is right, they have to keep going for the time being. And she can feel the subtle tug of her Motley Oath telling her that she can find him, she’ll be able to find him again. Hopefully Archie can feel the same thing, hopefully he’ll be able to use their Pledge to find his way back to them.
It’s still hard and her morale.
But if there’s one thing Wayland’s familiar with, it’s leaving people and not looking back doing what is hard. Pushing on despite how much it might hurt, how much it might cost. Keeping her eyes on what’s in front of her, her mind on her next steps. She doesn’t let the beauty of the crystal cave distract her. Not even Gavin’s reckless, terrifying display of speed, power, and deadliness. (Another member of the Freehold who is both a better warrior than her and unlikely to need her services.) She simply goes on singing to herself, working as much oxygen into her lungs as she can, until she can approach close enough to hear the notes ringing from the crystals, and begin matching her tone to theirs as she proceeds through the caves.
She tries to keep Riley with her as she goes. Really she does. But the Hedge seems to have other ideas.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 16, 2021 16:44:28 GMT -8
Riley watches as the stone ripples and splits, Gavin and Wayland rapidly outpacing them as reality and time stretched and condensed. They were by themselves. From the flurry of bursting eggs, the gel melds to their glowing skin. The lack of air and whatever the hell just entered their body caused the world to swoon as the Bright One vomited. The dark forms that scurried began re-emerging, attracted to the stumbling prey that hatched them as they hummed the songs collected from previous travelers.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 17, 2021 7:55:30 GMT -8
The acid of their bile burned the inside of their mouth and nostril. Then, in a swift jerk of the arm, Riley whipped their lips and let out a soft cough.
"Wayland? Gavin?!" Riley looked up the path before they heard the scuttling of legs. The darkling shifted slightly, eyes turning to face the eight-legged monstrosity.
"shit" the Moth whispered softly.
The face of the creatured peeled back as its jaw opened, unfolding into a series of mandibles and slimy clicks. Coming forth from its maw was another tone. Soft and building as it moved forward.
The darkling was frozen in spot, for a moment longer than most would advise. A cold sweat had formed on their back, and the hair's on their arms had risen slowly in alarm. The creature before Riley had drawn out a feeling of alien familiarity. As if this nightmare had somehow crawled itself from the Moths' own nightmares. Was it the human face they recognized? Or perhaps it was the spider-like nature of the horror? The mixture of man and insect, an unsettling mockery of the darkling, made their flesh peel back. Sing, sing, sing! Death is coming.
Riley shot back into reality and opened their moth to match the tone, Slowly backing up the crystal cave. Their voice finding its tune, the harmony between the two gave the spider a moment a pause allowing Riley to back their way further up the path. Each time the arachnids song shifted, Riley's moved quickly in turn to match it.
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Post by Krakenbox on May 17, 2021 11:48:40 GMT -8
The tsuchigumo lazily plodded along, humming contentedly with the moth. It scuttled at breakneck speed to close the gap just as Riley thought they were gaining some ground, breaking the illusion that they had a hope in hell of outrunning it. The song started picking up, attracting others of varying sizes as they started marching alongside the Changeling. The cave began to plunge into darkness, the open space tightening into veins and mining trenches that funneled Riley in a purposeful direction. Some of the smaller ones started getting close to their feet, plucking and nipping at their boots to test the leather.
One the size of their hand gets swatted away by the Cerberus, emerging from the dirt as it shook the coating of its travel. It barked at Riley with excitement with the center head; tongue lolling over the small barrel strapped to its throat. It reminded them of one of those Rescue Saint Bernards, sniffing and circling as the other two heads growled at the singing monstrosities.
"Oh, dear, this is quite the predicament!" a soft voice called from above. Yellow eyes flicked in the darkness as a shape walked along the crags above, before the smoke and haze parted to reveal a lithe younger man. He kept his hands in his pockets, stepping along the rocky surface without much thought required. His features shifted whenever he hit a shadow, a fanged, Cheshire grin blooming away from the predatory attention. He reminded Riley a bit of the late Apollo.
"Herr Hartman extends his regards," he mentioned, now walking backwards as he outpaced Riley, defying the challenges of the landscape. His hands moved to stay behind his back, bowing a bit in a playful manner. "He asked for me to extend you an opportunity to leave before the Singing Caves adds your voice to the chorus."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 18, 2021 7:03:11 GMT -8
The scar-faced Moth eyes danced between the presence of the triple-headed hound and its cat-eyed master. The darkling's heart was racing as they moved along the cave, the song stealers scrabbling around. While it seemed help had arrived, the moth had to focus on the distracting music of the arachnid's voices.
"I am happy to hear he is well. This is no place I want to dwell.
But I fear this service won't be free Nor am I sure of a guarantee.
Tell me, feline stranger The cost to escape this danger. "
Riley glanced between the Hob and the face spiders, moving around the crystal rocks as they tried to keep in tune with the skittering. The Moth voice fluttered, overcoming the sick in their gut. They couldnt help but feel a rising frustration with this hob, who obviously was setting Riley up to be desperate enough to accept anything. What was it he wanted?
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Post by Krakenbox on May 18, 2021 7:43:34 GMT -8
The tsuchigumo take up Riley's rhyming, punctuating each statement with a chorus akin to a sea shanty, legs thundering in a beat with the Changeling's steps.
"The usual offer for safe passage is thirty percent, but given the circumstance and the havoc your motley member has wreaked on my client..." The Broker's attention danced from Riley to the tiny spider that dragged stubbornly from their shoelace—it had the face of a developing fetus. The smile dropped as it straightened, matching the mood of the situation rather than condescend.
"Starting bid is seventy percent."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 18, 2021 9:29:50 GMT -8
Seventy Percent?!
The moth nearly stumbled at the offered bid. Their voice pausing momentarily, causing the spiders around to click and clack as they scooted closer.
What value did Riley have to this hobgoblin? It was a balancing act, 70% was too high for the Moth for something they had no certainty of, but if they pushed too low, the Wisp might not be worth this hob's time.
"Steep price for crimes, not mine! This fine is far too much This cost I most decline. Let's bring it down a touch
I know not your Client Not to be defiant Forty-Five I offer That is no light coffer. "
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Post by Krakenbox on May 18, 2021 9:44:37 GMT -8
"Oh! How rude of me, I am representing the Hedge," the Hobgoblin explained, gesturing vaguely to the macabre surroundings with a bit of a flourish. He somehow managed to vault backwards over the stone as thick as a tree trunk, without so much as a pause for thought. The being flickered to the twisting silhouette of a feline shadow before landing.
"I suppose you have not done anything, it is more the principal of a toll. You must understand, your Freehold has allowed the Trod to fall into disrepair and now wishes to trade with the Market. The Hedge provides the bridge, and asks for payment."
The swarm croons with excitement, punctuating the statement. "For seventy I can get you to the Gate and reunited with your friends without harm to your person, if you want to avoid all the traffic. I can do it for ten percent if you feed them your talent."
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 18, 2021 10:14:39 GMT -8
This damn cat was loving this, wasn't he? The Moth fluttered back from the nibbling mandibles of the cooing swam. Pilot followed by a small jump. Not nearly as graceful as the Feline barter, but the Moth was trying to keep the rhythm in their head. Using the movement to help them stay in tune with the hungry crowd.
"Your client strikes a hard bargain My Talent is not for sale To leave this dangerous garden A toll to find a new Trail
The hedge may hold the edge. Yet I know my own merit, which if dead you don't inherit! Fifty I say, for we do not have all-day."
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Post by Krakenbox on May 18, 2021 10:30:48 GMT -8
"Pleasure doing business," the Hobgoblin declared, extending a shadowy hand as the darkness wreathed around him until only the eyes remained.
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Riley Sorsa
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Presence (3) Captivating | SL(1) Stylish Mantle (2)Spring | Status(1) Entertainment
Posts: 913
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Post by Riley Sorsa on May 18, 2021 10:41:25 GMT -8
Double cross me and I'll skin you cat.
Riley looked down to the offered hand of darkness. Before reaching out and grasping it with a firm shake.
Down the rabbit hole we go.
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