"Eh, fighting's as much a craft as anything else, internal voice of mine. You're just using your own body as the metaphorical canvas on which you paint the forms of combat. A perfectly executed elbow to the sternum is more beautiful than most sculptures. I suppose I could use myself as a master of martial arts, but I'm not quite there yet. Perhaps if I trained with my mind tentacle disciples in my mind temple thing. But I'll save that option for if she refuses to help me."
Hmm. Perhaps she headed into the main castle bit? Maybe the queen or one of the guards would know where she is - go ask the closest guard if they've seen her around.
You go over to the door of the castle and ask the guard if she's seen the lady knight with the shiny armor and the shield and sword. The Worm-knight, she asks? You assume that's the one, or at least something close enough. Yes, the Worm-knight.
SEA
[Curious Whereabouts: 6]
She went in, the guard confirms. She's either in her quarters on the second floor or hiding in the walls again. More likely than not that second bit. She likes to hide in the walls an awful lot.
Excellent, I was looking for a way to test this. I imagine a moat of blazing light between me and the stoats, stopping them from getting any closer. Then I shout "SEA!"
The sea has languished beneath the land of Anglefork for long enough. It's time to put it to some good use.
SEA
[Word: 3]
The earth trembles ever so slightly, a bit of the landscape rising almost imperceptibly as the subterranean sea pushes upward, driven by your directive and a desire all its own.
[Thoughts Upon The Ancient Sea: 5]
The earth is thick, so very thick here on the surface. The sea has not touched the sky for so long. You feel its yearning - it has yearned for longer than you can imagine, but never has it broken the earth. A Word is not enough, you feel. It was barely enough to spring a leak in the tomb, after all. You think this particular apocalyptic attempt requires a bit more juice, or perhaps far more conviction.
[A Storm of Bolts: 3 vs. 2]
This and several other things, few of them fit to be spoken in polite company, occur to you as you catch a bolt right in the stomach from a fortunate volley, nearly falling off the wall as your breath is taken away and you begin to bleed all over your nice new robe.
"Of course. I'll see you as soon as I find out anything."
Head out of the office and go down to the stone circle. Ask my companion about the stable-master on the way.
"Well, that's interesting. You wouldn't happen to know this stable-master, by any chance?"
As you exit the captain's office the captain gives you a subtle nod. You wait until you are outside before you turn to your companion and ask more about the stable master.
[Speaking Ill: 6]
She purses her lips at first. Not much of a stable master, really. You ask why that might be, and she poses a counter-question - have you seen any horses still around? These latter days he was mostly a bone carver. A scrimshander, too. And a master of ceremonies at the stone circle, which you approach slowly. It's peaceful at this time of day, though surrounded by an unnerving sense of stillness, and the servant quiets her voice as she speaks here as if afraid to attract attention.
It's here that the ceremonies happened. Each time a similar thing, a living creature destroyed upon a stone. The stone's not there anymore, though. Where could it have- ah, somebody's rolled it to the blacksmith's door? Odd.
Anyway, the man seemed to do nothing but try and appeal to dark powers as far as she can tell. Maybe one of them took an interest.
This is a bit of problem. Spontaneously learn new ways of swimming in the current. The trick is to not resist but go along with the flow. Or so I did read from those books years ago. Might have been about something else though... I wasn't exactly sober back then either.
If the trick was true, then handle Lee and myself to shore.
Otherwise I suppose it's INEVITABLE to end up on other side of the town. The river does flow part it after all.
A noble plan. It also happens to be exactly what you're doing right now. The flow seems very much willing to keep you in the middle of the river for now. So you move on to Plan B. Also known as Plan
INEVITABLE
[Word: 5]
It's elementary, you decide. You grab Lee's hand and you both submerge.
An indeterminate amount of time later you surface, the town of Anglefork right behind you, a waterfall in the far distance ahead. Lee seems very perplexed by this obvious devilry, though not in a terribly good position to do much about it presently.
That being said, the properties of the river have not changed very noticeably here, the waters still roaring around you as they pull you onward toward what looks like something of a precipice ahead.
"Ah, um, yes, you have business to attend to. One final question, though; how could I help in this siege?"
Ask, then depart after whatever answer is given.
The queen looks your way and considers the options. Have you, er, perhaps tried to engage the stoatmen? From atop the walls, for instance? She understands that you may have talents useful in that regard. Other than that, have you considered asking the guards? They'd no doubt appreciate a little bit of legwork done, she says and looks at the royal guard captain, who offers a thin smile in return.
That being said, you head out. You're not really the man-the-walls type, clearly. But do you have many other options?
Leif Erikson, Miner
- A Word: INEVITABLE
- Wounds: 3
- Moth Dagger
- The Queen's Guard: A Roaring Good Time
- Reappropriated, Clean Skirt
- 1 gp
- Anglefork Castle: A Free Man
- The Box: ?
- Tower of the Mind: Convenient Relocation
- Induced Inebriation: Comfortably Drunk
- Induced Lucidity: A Concert For The Gods
- Elongated Affairs: Cheerio!
- Compatibility: Minding
- Tricks of the Mind: Cormick's Condescending Riddle
- Tricks of the Mind: Perceptual Rebuke
- Tricks of the Mind: Erikson's Inexplicable Grapefruit
- Tricks of the Mind: Speak With The Mob
- Party in the Courtyard: Celebration in Earnest
- Never In: Swallowed By The Pit
- Gods of the Underground: Did You Just What
- Labyrinths of Anglefork: Tunnel-Literate
- The Voracious Dark: Two Deals Made
- The Voracious Dark: The Promised Sixth
- Moth's Flight: Force of Devilry
- Army of the New State: 454 Suspicious Stoats
Eileen Minett, Vinyl Collector
- Wounds: 1
- Traces of Mischief: A Bubbling Scar
- Reclaimed Hooded Robe (worn, torn)
- Giant White Mushroom
- A Word: SEA
- A Word: HUNGER
- A Word: CHAOS
- A Weapon: Explosive Cysts
- Rat Pantheon: Disliked
- Origins: Witness to Dissolution
- Tower of the Mind: There's Something To Remember
- The New Queen: And Something To Forget
- The Queen's Guard: Bringer of Doom
- Touch of Flame: the Secrets of Flammability
- The Voracious Dark: Three Connections Given
- The Voracious Dark: A Special Offer, Limited Time Only
- Body Count: 1
- Never In: the Obvious Candidates
- Labyrinths of Anglefork: Tunnel-Literate
- The Impromptu Prophecy: ?
- Sweet Little Children: Fond Farewell
- Army of the New State: 454 Angry Stoatmen
Jack Daniels, Karate Man
- Naked
- Dusty Wooden Speaking-Trumpet
- Crossbow Bolt (in throat)
- A Word: REND
- A Word: SILENCE
- A Weapon: Murder-Thought
- Traces of Mischief: A Bisected Left Kidney
- Traces of Mischief: Ruined Left Hand
- Uncoupled: Strength
- Wooden Door (held)
- The Majordomo: ?
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: the Armor of God
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: A Master of their Craft!
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: A Sliver of Perfection!
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: A Glimpse of the Unknown!
- Tower of the Mind: Endless Well of Mystery
- Induced Lucidity: A Garden Well-Tended
- Elongated Affairs: Enemy of the New State
- Doomstones: ?
- A Place In History: Coming Out Of The Walls
- Anglefork Castle: the Great Serpent
- The Obsolete Class: Suggested Victims
- 2 rats, crushed
- 1 rat, strangled
- 1 rat, live
- Touch of Flame: the Second Degree
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Sunday ± 2 Days
- The Impromptu Prophecy: There's A Mountain Higher Than We Knew
- The Voracious Dark: Three Connections Given
- The Good Doctor: A Recommendation
- Body Count: 2
- Wounds: 2
Thomas Minstep, Insurance Agent
- A Word: ABSENCE
- Traces of Mischief: Nausea's Depths
- A Bowl, Black and Knobby
- Anglefork Castle: From Another Time, Another Land
- Gross Incandescence: Partly Illuminated
- Tight Leather Pants (worn, wet)
- Incredibly Tight Blue Dress (worn, mutilated, mildly provocative)
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Saturday, July 24th, 409 S.D.
- The Majordomo: Busy Morning
- The Good Doctor: House Call
- The Queen's Guard: Okayed by the Queen
- The New Queen: Strategic Meeting
- Tower of the Mind: Advice Given
- The Obsolete Class: Let Them Be
- Cruelty-Free Foods: Treats Survived
- Body Count: 2
- Army of the New State: 454 Stout Strangers
Oscar Wilde, Chemistry Teacher
- Wounds: 1
- 1 rat, skinless and smoked
- 6 gp
- Poor Misshapen Dice
- Lock of Hair (unidentified)
- Iron nail, unused
- An Inauspicious Key
- Burlap Foot Wrappings (worn)
- Burlap Hand Wrappings (worn)
- Moth-Eaten Hat (worn)
- Respectable Brown Skirt (worn)
- Old Brown Waistcoat (worn)
- Bright Yellow Tunic (worn)
- Blue Shards of a Probable Bottle
- Blue Glass Shiv
- A Wealth of Burlap Ribbons
- An Obsolete Class: Trustworthy Individual
- The Flip Side: Tales of the Bizarre
- The Doom Guard: the Inquisition
- Tower of the Mind: An Interruption
- A Frightening Door: An Understanding
- The Voracious Dark: Backed Away