Cycle 3
With Zeus successfully healed, the adventurers scattered about and each proceeded to do a multitude of tasks; some loaded the supplies and stolen items for the trip back to Vintergard, others took their time exploring what secrets were behind the fortress’ walls. Although preparations were being made, it seemed the blizzard was yet to clear and allow them to return to the player nation. If you had enough guts to wander outside despite the cold, you could see that the afternoon was almost gone as the sky started to darken ever so slowly. In the mead hall, where you first fought the primadox, several pride members fixed up what they could to make a few tables — after all that effort, everyone ought to have some tables available for dinner.
Despite the losses, the band of adventurers slowly caught themselves up, at least for most of the pride members. Whether it was tenacity or just straight out optimism, no bitter challenges seemed to manage to completely break their resolve. The victory was claimed by the pride through their commendable efforts and ability to push forward, but… There was a fatal mistake in their method of victory. After all, as much as everyone needed a bit of rest, not every enemy was slain. For a brief moment the entire fortress shook and rumbles could be heard from deep within. Evening approached and the darkness grew closer, just like how all sources of light suddenly went out.
There were no torches illuminating the castle. No magic could be casted. No light managed to exist. As if time itself froze in fear, no one could move a single finger. The world went black and white, a monochromatic storm of terror of which none could escape. No voices, no light, no movement, yet the minds of the victors were very much conscious.
The warmth that welcomed the large party after their victory was now gone, replaced by an almost primal need to get away from this place. From the walls that sheltered and protected you a black ooze dripped through while a familiar voice resounded throughout the entirety of the castle. If you were unfortunately frozen in a position where your eyes could meet the atrocity that revealed itself, it’s form was nonexistent, yet it inhabited in this plane all the same. An overly simple black mass swirled about, as if crafted by the reckless use of black pencils and paint. In the black mass, several grinning blue mouths chanted the chant that managed to claim so many lives not so long ago.
Everywhere in and outside the castle, the creature loomed about, a black goo dripping from the many mouths within what could only be surmised as its ‘body’. From time to time, the black mass would approach one unlucky adventurer and stare at them, several tongues just as colored hanged out of their mouths in anticipation. In what appeared to be the center of the creature, a larger mouth grinned, at them, while two upside-down ones seemed to act as its ‘eyes’. Every single one of them were just one bite away, immortals, yet so fragile all the same. @Emerath Katou @Endilix Takagi @Vina Skysong @Vivian Cruz @Emil Trevelyan @Kijin Shihaku @Eryl Justice
Yet, the creature suddenly looked up, far away from where any adventurer was. KääKÄkÄkäse, ke, the eternally repeating chorus was broken, as if it tried to communicate with something. It twisted and turned in what appeared to be anger, gazing at every living being inside and outside of the fortress one last time before it laughed at the helplessness before it’s ‘eyes’. Käse finally reached the cheese, yet it could not taste any of it. What a shame.
The black mass lost its shape and turned into its goo form again, slipping away to the main entrance through whence the lions first arrived.
Before @Haru ’s eyes appeared a grandiose and large spirit that had a unique shine to it. It seemed lost, but adamant in leaving this world. Unfortunately, before he could reach out to it, the black mass snatched it away like food before it fled away from the castle, it’s black form vanishing in the upcoming night.
And suddenly, the clock started ticking again and the light and colors of the world around returned to normal. It was gone.
@Emerath Katou wound find the door resisting his attempt to dismantle the lock, but only for a few minutes. The opened door let them into the former Bandit King’s chamber. It was drab and not at all extravagant. From all of the clutter and papers, it would have appeared that Erasmus was a practical and not a gaudy man.
Considering the mountains of papers detailing his plan to take over Astorea and set up some bizarre governmental structure that resembled a republic. If either @Vivian Cruz or Emerath spent some time wading through the papers, a letter would have stuck out to them. If you unfolded the paper and read its content, it would say.
Letter
To E.J.,
I have seen your plead. Normally, the organization would not take a job like that… given your standing and all, but given a particular name in your letter I have decided to personally take your request. However, given that this cannot tie back to the higher birds, I will send a group your way.
In any case, as promised, your price for this job is not gold, but access to the eastern trail. If you perish in battle, well, you can’t say I haven’t tried.
T.
Peculiarly, E.J. was the recipient of the letter, though the only clue to the sender’s identity is a finely inscribed letter T.
