End of day 5
Studies, Hears Disembodied Voices, Almost Drowns and Will Go Boom
Studies cackled, grabbing for yet another mana stone to provide for his enchanting craze- Realizing he ran out only as he tried to find it. Saddened by the fact that he can enchant no more, he instead uses permanency to activate levitate- As he opens the next chapter of the book- "Creating a purpose".
"So hence our world was born without purpose. It is hard to say what it was truly like as few records have survived the teeth of time. They say that the world looked, at first glance, ordinary. But in every living being there was a sense of unfulfillment. A realization that their, our world was not whole. There was a brief moment of civilization. Of ignorance really, looking back to the events. People were trying to convince themselves that it was all lies. But these lies came crashing down as the first signs of the end became apparent."
"Red lightning crackling through the skies. Our world had no purpose and was hence doomed to die- Returning to nothing. It would have been like our universe had never even existed. This naturally led to panic. People were afraid, and it looked as if the world was indeed doomed."
"Were it not for one kid- Who did not panic. Or did not run. Instead he rose up- And spoke to the people. He preached for those who would hear it, about the good in every man. About a perhaps unfulfillable dream, but one that humanity should strife for. He said that perhaps it was indeed impossible. But that humanity would just perhaps be capable of it one day. And that if anything, if we were to truly die. We should be remembered for at least trying."
"And by doing so, he created for the world a purpose. The red lightning disappeared as quickly as it came. And the boy, Asatun, was revered a hero. He would grow up to become king ruling the entirity of human civilization- And having great influence over many of the other races. By his side stood his loyal protectors, several high leveled adventurers. This continued up until one day. Where he had to make a drastic decision."
"Hah, I don't think I should explain much more, should I? I mean, you've seen exactly how it happened by now. They stored that memory in the stones just for you. But it makes one wonder does it not?"
"Is it truly that easy to create a purpose? Just some kid shouting to the people a dream he once had? A dream, not to mention, that civilization has been proven unable to achieve?"
"Spoiler: No. No it's not."
"...Wait, there's three puppetmasters? Ugh, it was annoying enough when i thought there was just one. And whatever this plan the main plotter has for us, understand that i don't find your assertions regarding the plan very heartening. You're saying there's nothing we can do about it?"
"No. It is definitely possible. But doing so would make you useless in her eyes. And you would soon feel what would happen if that is to become the case."
"It is best to let it happen. In the meantime, you should train. Prepare. Become stronger. Most importantly, collect the remaining stones. So when the time finally comes, you will be strong. And might be able to turn the tide around."
Boomer had bought a bit of the material before he left- Now looking over the designs of the helmet. He can't really try to fix it while they're still travelling- But examining it should increase his chances for when he sits down and begins actual work on it. That being said, however...
"So what your saying is that we have at least four players? including Jax? Or are we dealing with three players, your a knight and we're pawns in your little chess match?"
"...If anything, I would be a pawn. And you would be a knight. My role is only minor. Minor enough that..." He says, looking away to the side- A raven sitting beside the road. It stares at the party for a bit, before flying away eventually.
"And Jax... I suppose in a certain sense he too is a chessmaster. But far less than any of the other three. And really, it is more of all the guardians as a whole. As Hears would please demonstrate..."
Hears concentrates hard... Feeling a power within. As the voice within him becomes louder and louder until... He swears he hears the voice come from the outside rather than the inside.
"Ooooooooooooooooooh yeah! Hahaha! Look at this! In the flesh! Hah! Hats would be so jealous of this!"
Hears opens his eyes again - Surprised to, at first, feel... Calm. The voices in his head speak clearer, as if that one voice that could just shout louder was gone. That would be because it was indeed- It was standing in front of him.
A goblin- A head taller than any other common goblin, bulking with muscle. Chief markings, and ornate armour- For a goblin at least. You'd almost consider him a hogoblin. He was in sort of a spectral appearance- But very much real.
"Hears! My good friend! How your doing mate!" He says, roughly pulling him from the ground, immediately noogieing him on the head as he turns to Jax.
"Ah! How's the jerkface doing?"
"...He also says hello."
"Regardless. A fourth factor are the guardians and their leader."
"You see, our guardian of war here, just like all other guardians, died. Now, most people, when they die, are not given a choice. They leave this plane for either heaven or hell."
"But, at rare times, he will see potential in a spirit passing away and grant them a choice. They may choose to head to their afterlife, be it heaven or hell. Or their spirit may be preserved- If in return they would accept the burden, and gift, of a very special role."
"Hah, but he wasn't going to get me just for nothing! We struck a deal- I'd agree if my friends could come too!ÔÇØ
ÔÇ£And IÔÇÖm amazed he agreed.ÔÇØ
"Haha! Come on Hears! You and me! Friendly sparring match, what say you?" The spirit says, pulling out a WAY oversized axe.
It becoming quite late, the party grounds to a standstill regardless- "The forgotten" Seeming
really eager to have a sparring match with him, whilst Drowns does some exercise before trying to rest. Luckily, the grass would be sufficient for it- And Ansem had offered to take up guard duty. Running a bit, Drowns thinks about the focus gems- Shards of a many crystal having a tiny fragment of magic in them. He can freely expend one and use it to boost one of his spells once.
Cut-And-Paste and Born and Raised
"Alright, where is he elf? I know he is somewhere around here. Oh and Born, quick word of advice, don't listen to him. I know what he is and if my suspisions are correct then he is going to try to demotivate you from attacking at all or something similar. The elf said that it is weak so he should be easy to kill. At least easier than the others. That being said, I have no idea how powerful it would be, but I believe that I know his weakness and will use that against him. It would be the second fight I would win this way."
The elf sits aside, raising an eyebrow at your arrival- It appears the other appearances of Cut have learnt to ignore, or perhaps even tolerate him- Being more wary for Born than anything else- Though restrained.
"Your going to try and kill it hmm? Well, that will be... Interesting. I'll sit and watch. Like I always do."
"You can't be serious. You understand what you're talking about, right? You're asking me to help you kill a part of you. I mean, if Ansem, a Guardian, and your immortal mind elf thing all think it could be a good thing, then I guess there must be something to it... but if we go through with this and succeed, you might not be you anymore."
"When I visited Narfe's mind, every facet of his mind was dead. They were just lying there, while his memories played over and over around them. You... saw what happened to him. I don't know what happens when you start killing pieces of your mind - I passed on the opportunity to do it to myself - but I'd imagine the end result is something like Narfe. Driven. Obsessed. Empty."
"...And what on earth do you hope to accomplish by killing a part of who you are, anyway? If you think this is the right thing to do, then I'll help you go through with it, but I really want you to answer this honestly - is it really worth potentially doing that to yourself? We have no idea what we're doing here, and Ansem once told me that a mind that you purposely alter might not heal itself when you're done with it."
I do realize what I am talking about here. It is ....hard to think of but I am pretty sure that after all of these sources saying that it will be helpful and benifitical to me, then it probably needs to be done. From what I have gathered, this part was dying anyways and very weak. It just needs to be finished off so to speak.
The piece of my personality that we are going to kill is holding me back in a way, preventing me from going into my full potential, hampering me constantly even though you guys do not realize it. That part of me is currently trying to prevent me from speaking about this too much further. It is a determent with no positive. It is... Shame."
"We are going to kill it. I will be fine."
"...If you're sure." Born says as the both of them approach the labyrinth. Cut going in front, somehow... Knowing where he needs to go. But that being said, he didn't like it. He did not like at all what he was going to face in there. And Born didn't notice himself- But as they moved further and further, spiraling rapidly to the middle of the labyrinth- The Jabbawack began to light up more and more.
They eventually arrive- A large circular clearing. In the middle- Something small. Both Cut and Born slowly edged closer- Feeling very... Unnerved by the thing, muttering incomprehensibly. It seemed to be a baby at first. But as they came close enough, it revealed the ugly truth.
It's head turned 360 degrees- The body itself not moving a single inch. The tiny little head looked normal, but frozen- What was potentially even more terrifying than that it had been monstrous. What you first thought to be mere cloth wraps were roots, ingrained deeper into Cut's mind, as it began speaking fastly - Only now did Born notice the Jabbawack was shining brightly.
"We are weak. Puny. Useless. Just a stupid goblin. That is why you hide. Seek to become something else. Become pride. But we are not Pride. You are not Pride. You are a coward. That is why you are me. We are shame. You cannot kill me. I am you. If you kill me you will kill you."
"B-Born. Destroy it."
Born moves slowly moves closer. Unsure how to deal with this... Atrocity. The thing pleaded.
"Think what you're doing. You don't know what will happen. You really want to find out what happens when you abuse that weapon?"
"No."
"Stay away."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"No."
"NO."
The beast rises up- The roots spreading further and deeper into the ground as the beast grows to twice the size of either of the goblins- Releasing a horrific animal like scream at them both.
Boss battle: Shame
► Show Spoiler
I hinted at it that the Jabbawack would do something like this. Sadly I cannot link to it anymore.
Anyways, enough creepypasta for today.
And Nerre- You just cast a healing spell on a mana stone, then break the mana stone. You didn't have any before you left the city, but you could still buy some if you wish. It'd be ten gold for one mana stone. As for previous turn, I might post some quick fluff later considering the action you posted.
