"Eh?" Leif's eye twitches involuntarily.
"You know," he says as much to Lee as to the rude stork, wearing a smile without realizing it. "I don't mind being referred as 'it'. I understand that in some cultures and languages it isn't considered as an insult and I'm willing to assume that's the case here. However this way of treatment feels rather insulting, being treated as a thing. I have this new word of power I haven't tried yet, apocalypse," he rolls the word out of his mouth, pronouncing it carefully, tasting the power in it, "and I'm itching to see how it works. I presume it results fire and brimstone raining from heavens, rivers flooding backwards, death walking amongst men, bunch of gods dying and such. So acknowledge me as a person, will you?"
[It's So Easy When You Know The Rules: 5]
As you provide this ominous monologue, Lee widens her eyes. This is definitely not a thing that needs to or should happen, her look seems to tell you as she starts subtly shaking her head in your direction.
The stork man just keeps looking over at her, then glances at you for a second. What's she shaking her head for, he asks. Lee looks at him. He's a minder, she says. And he seems to have some kind of trick in mind, and is very offended that he is not acknowledged as a person, she explains hurriedly.
Oh, says the stork man, looking in your direction, that's a minder? He thought there was something weird about it, but he couldn't put his finger on it, to be honest. He was wondering if there was some sorcery at work there, because while it does appear to be some form of freestanding luggage in the way it takes up a portion of space, he can't for the life of him make out any details. Which is odd, because all the minders he has seen love to make their presence very much known.
Wait, asks Lee. Did he... hear the luggage speak? Say anything? The stork man raises an eyebrow. Was it speaking? If so, he must apologize, as he didn't hear a thing. And he does seem legitimately apologetic, still giving you a moment's glance every now and then.
In any case, he tells Lee, could he ask the good minder to reveal itself? He's not sure it's terribly conducive to polite contact to have it remain hidden from perception thus.
Thomas looks blank for a moment, a gesture lost in the dark. "Errr... why don't you ask? It's not really my place to ask for pieces of... what? I'm not even sure. Look, you ask. I don't know."
Let the sword ask, but respect the woman's decision.
One is obviously more familiar with negotiations where both parties have a great deal of knowledge about one another, such as between oneself and stout folk. But one supposes it is also fair that one be required to conduct one's own dealings.
[A Convenient Exchange: 2]
A short few moments pass as you continue holding the sword, and the lady of the castle makes several thoughtful noises, and after a period of thought informs you that she doesn't think it entirely reasonable that she part with a chunk of herself. She does rather like having all of her chunks in place. Why, if she were less attached to them, you can be sure she would have tried doing something about her terrible countenance a long time ago. That's why she's here, you know. Perceptual hazard, the minders called it.
Oh! That reminds her. She doesn't suppose she can keep staying here, can she? She somewhat assumes that the castle folk will be leaving soon, and she's unsure if it would be feasible to ask anyone to keep leaving her food in the cell when stout folk could come back rather soon and try some frightening business again, yes?
Shit.
I pretend I died on impact in case that makes me less interesting to these guys.
[Death Becomes Her: 1]
You hold your breath, close your eyes and go terribly still. There is a jangle and a clanging, the sound of a great deal of silver bones hitting upon one another. A few minutes pass as the din of chiming, fluting, cackling and cooing grows increasingly dissatisfied, and you feel a particularly large figure approach on a great deal of legs. You feel a sharp talon approach soundlessly and touch your bare foot coldly. In a swift and effortless motion it carves into the arch of the foot, slicing a little up along the leg, sampling skin, sinew and muscle in equal measure as you feel a sharp pain and the slight rush of air on your bone as a good piece of it is pulled off. You open your eyes reflexively, holding in a scream.
Before you stands a far less humanoid creature, an ancient and snaking figure, all silvery arms and elephantine tusks and yellow glowing lights in mismatched bones forming its serpentine body. It has come into the clearing halfway, and you see it extend all the fifty or so feet back into the woods and, if the way the bones gleam in starlight is any indication, wind far back for much longer yet. You see the chunk of your leg disappear into a mess of pincers and teeth fashioned from the broken-off bones and exoskeletal plates of a dozen different creatures, rendered into blood and paste in a few munches as it grinds it down, a shiver spreading through its whole body. It raises the fore part of its body, rising high and twisting round as it raises its arms and screams out to the other gaunts. Alive!
Alive, echoes a mile or so of forest around you. Alive! Alive! The large creature conducts the chant further, screaming out recognizably once more. Blood and magic! Blood and magic, all repeat three times more.
"I asked it. And I know you haven't dealt with it, but no, no details that could be comprehensible by mortal minds probably. Apparently the substrate which makes up our bodies is completely indestructible but we still get damaged to feign the appearance of being human and stuff? Has a lot to do with how you think, far as I can tell. Expect to get hurt, you'll get hurt.
Before you ask, nothing less vague, getting details out of that thing is like squeezing blood from a stone."
As you drop these truth bombs on Mr. Wilde, the blacksmith returns, holding up a far cleaner funnel than you remember in his hand. You wonder if he is proudly displaying it to you or Mr. Wilde. It occurs to him that this is exactly what he is doing, and he's not quite sure why. After looking at it awkwardly, he secrets it away back in his outfit.
"Hmm. That fits, a bit. Did the minders have anything to do with it or are their successors just misinformed?"
They could be, Nately says as he returns to the conversation and tries to dive right in. They are but children, none of them more than mere apprentices. At best they would know HALF of the story, he would expect. He nods at you enthusiastically at having provided this extremely useful information.
As you become aware of Nately's return, you also notice Deirdre standing off by the corner of the chapel, listening in to the conversation as she seems to be trying to read your lips to get a better sense of what you're talking about. Noticing you looking at her, she merely shrugs. Gotta catch up somehow, right?
Leif Erikson, Miner
- A Word: INEVITABLE
- A Word: APOCALYPSE
- Mead of Poetry (6 shining revelations remaining)
- Enders' Friend: The Grave of Red Clouds Parting
- Small brass box
- Body Count: 1
- Reappropriated, Clean Skirt
- Inscribed Wooden Stylus
- Iron spear
- 1.03 gp
- The Box: ?
- Induced Lucidity: the Aftermath, or the New Beginning
- Compatibility: Minding
- Tricks of the Mind: Perception, Memory
- Tricks of the Mind: Engagement, Negation, Abstraction, Prestige
- Tricks of the Mind: the Self, the Other
- Gods of the Underground: Did You Just What
- A Visit From The Stork: Is What You Yes
- The Voracious Dark: Two Deals Made
- The Voracious Dark: The Promised Sixth
- Moth's Flight: Quest for the North
Eileen Minett, Vinyl Collector
- In Living Memory: Yeah She's Probably Dead Isn't She I Think She's Dead Yeah
- In The Dark Of The Night: Blood and Magic
- Wounds: 2
- The Doom Guard: Consorting With The Enemy
- Exotic serrated zweihander
- Reclaimed Hooded Robe (worn, torn)
- Inauspicious Day: Off Into The Horizon
- Giant White Mushroom
- A Word: SEA
- A Word: HUNGER
- A Word: CHAOS
- A Weapon: Explosive Cysts
- The Voracious Dark: Three Connections Given
- Tower of the Mind: There's Something To Remember
- The New Queen: And Something To Forget
- Body Count: 1
- The Impromptu Prophecy: ?
- Sweet Little Children: Fond Farewell
Jack Daniels, Karate Man
- Red and gold vest and breeches combo (worn)
- Wounds: 1
- Leather boots (worn)
- 14033 gp (in sack)
- The Queen's Guard: Unusual Troublemaker
- Powers of the Beyond: Gardener of Thoughts
- 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 Winding Path of Inspiration: A New Direction
- Tower of the Mind: Endless Well of Mystery
- Induced Lucidity: A Garden Well-Tended
- Elongated Affairs: Enemy of the New State
- A Place In History: Vastly Unreliable
- Anglefork Castle: the Great Serpent
- The Obsolete Class: Suggested Victims
- 2 rats, crushed
- 1 rat, strangled
- 1 rat, live
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Sunday ± 2 Days
- The Impromptu Prophecy: There's A Mountain Higher Than We Knew
- Doomstones: So High Up But Such A Bitter View
- The Majordomo: A Great Divide Between Us Now
- The Voracious Dark: Decreasing Demand
- The Voracious Dark: More Specific Requests
- The Good Doctor: A Recommendation
- Body Count: 3
Thomas Minstep, Insurance Agent
- Troubles In Anglefork Town: Bearer of the Sword
- Wounds: 2
- A Word: ABSENCE
- A Weapon: The Sword They Fear
- 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)
- Incredibly Tight Blue Dress (worn, mutilated, mildly provocative)
- Travels In The Fourth Dimension: Sunday, July 25th, 409 S.D.
- The Majordomo: Busy Morning
- The Good Doctor: House Call
- The Queen's Guard: A Reward Well Earned
- Make A Man Out Of You: A Crowning Achievement
- The New Queen: Lasting Gratitude
- Tower of the Mind: Advice Given
- The Obsolete Class: Let Them Be
- The One They Fear: A Satisfactory Contract
- A Place In History: A Worthwhile Associate
- Body Count: 2
Oscar Wilde, Chemistry Teacher
- A Word: REVELATION
- Time-ender's measure (wrapped, processing, 2 turns left)
- 10 m of rope
- Half a candle
- This Is The End: A Grim Prophecy
- 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)
- A Wealth of Burlap Ribbons
- An Obsolete Class: Trustworthy Individual
- The Flip Side: the Denouement
- The Doom Guard: The Inquisition Moves On
- Tower of the Mind: An Interruption
- The Voracious Dark: Backed Away
- The Winding Path of Inspiration: Future Hopes