the fellowship of the thing The Fellowship of the Thing - Just the Plot (Retired)

[xinoehp512 he/him]

On 10/31/2020 at 0:56 PM, xinoehp512 said:

Psyder descended the stairway down to the dungeon with a spring in his step. Things were going according to plan. Perfectly. Niesa was already preparing to leave; she'd reach the camp at the perfect time to kidnap the general. He had no doubts she would succeed. Even if she wasn't practically undetectable when she wanted to be, there was a spy in the camp that could bail her out if necessary. Daolan would be in these dungeons before next dawn. And after that... well, people would be people.

As he reached the foot of the stairs, he let daydreams of his plans fade from his head to make way for another plan he had in the works. One involving the group of resistance soldiers currently interred within.

A brief -and somewhat terse - conversation with the warden revealed the cell where the soldiers who had witnessed his feeding earlier were interred. A few more terse words, and he was inside. Most of the soldiers backed away ever so slightly as he entered, their fear evident on their faces. He smiled. Good. 

"I have a proposition," he announced. He paused for a moment. Nobody said a word, so he continued. "The King has authorized me to present you with a unique opportunity. Freedom."

This got a reaction from the soliders, although several seemed skeptical. Understandable, given the situation. "This is not a trap," he assured them. "Comply with us, and all charges against you will be dropped. You will be released from this prison, and- eventually allowed to leave and go wherever you desire."

The soldiers began glancing at each other, confused expressions on their faces. At last, one spoke up. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. "You're just going to... let us go?"

"Ah-ah," said Psyder, "it's not as simple as that, of course. You see, we are currently in desperate need of soldiers with a certain... skillset. Unfortunately, we have as of yet been unable to find suitable volunteers to be trained in these... skills. Wyrn has thus deigned to allow you to repay your debt to the empire through service."

"What do we have to do?" asked the same soldier, still wary. 

"Simple," said Psyder, baring his teeth in a smile and shifting his robe to reveal the symbols tattooed on his abdomen. "Merely accept the mark of the Myrkaal."

The eyes of the soldier hardened.

"Join you?" he spat. "Never."

Psyder raised an eyebrow. With his left hand, he began releasing pulses of dread to wash over the soldiers in the cell.

"Would you rather die?" he asked simply. 

For a moment, the soldier was speechless. Psyder could see the uncertainty exacerbated by his ability warring within him.

"Yes," he said at last, sounding far less confident than he had a moment ago. "Liberty or-"

He never finished his sentence.

The screams lasted even longer this time. Psyder kept up with his pulses of fear as he fed, inundating each of the remaining soldiers with unspeakable dread.  When he finished, letting the withered corpse of the once-brave soldier fall to the ground, he turned to face them.

"Anyone else?" he said, letting his second Voice bleed through.

The soldiers looked at the withered corpse of their squadmate in silence. There was no response. Psyder grinned. Perfect.

"Alright," he said, "one at a time." He pointed at a random soldier. "You, come here."

The soldier looked as if he wanted to argue, but only glanced at the remains of Psyder's meal. He did not resist as Psyder led him out of the cell, up the stairs, and into the initiation room.

[Condensation she/her]

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Yay!!! Very good, I like it. By the end of this, we'll need Fadran's idea to keep up with xino's plots!\

Do we want to continue Daolan's halfway side-story here?

@xinoehp512

Edited November 13, 2020 by Condensation

[xinoehp512 he/him]

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Sure. When the cocoon is released, he's going to be in an isolated cell. (I'm not sure where in the castle that would be, but they would almost certainly have one- for troublesome prisoners and the like).

 

[Condensation she/her]

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Tower cells! That could plausibly be how they know Wyrn has him, the tower cells each have one barred window.

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

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Oh, Wyrn will make sure they know.  There'd be a message on the way, in fact, if it wasn't far too late for me to be doing much of anything.

 

[Condensation she/her]

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Okay. I'd appreciate it if that could arrive fairly soon, I don't know if I'll be able to get on tomorrow. However, it can wait if it needs to.

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

There is a knocking sound at Daolan's doorway.

@Condensation

[Condensation she/her]

2 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

There is a knocking sound at Daolan's doorway.

@Condensation

Daolan looks up from where he is slumped against the wall, desperately trying to think of a way out.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

There is a soft chuckle as the door swings inward, revealing a hunched figure in a tattered black robe.

"Awake now, are we?" he rasped, hobbling into the room and closing the door behind him. His mouth opened wide in a pockmarked smile. "Perfect, perfect..."

[Condensation she/her]

Daolan stands up. "And you are?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The tattered figure tittered slightly. "You can call me... hm... the Doctor, yes. The Doctor." He gave another choking laugh, as though he couldn't help himself.

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, xinoehp512 said:

The tattered figure tittered slightly. "You can call me... hm... the Doctor, yes. The Doctor." He gave another choking laugh, as though he couldn't help himself.

"Okay..." Daolan said uncertainly. "Well, I'm sure it's a pleasure."

[Channelknight Fadran]

3 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

The tattered figure tittered slightly. "You can call me... hm... the Doctor, yes. The Doctor." He gave another choking laugh, as though he couldn't help himself.

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Aaaand sued. BBC, I've got a lawsuit for you!

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Hm," said the Doctor introspectively. "People don't usually think so, I've found. I wonder why?" He restrained another chuckle, barely. "But enough with the pleasantries. There is medicine to be administered."

[Condensation she/her]

5 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Hm," said the Doctor introspectively. "People don't usually think so, I've found. I wonder why?" He restrained another chuckle, barely. "But enough with the pleasantries. There is medicine to be administered."

"Is there a 'pass' option?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The Doctor coughed furiously for a few moments.

"What do you think?" he rasped once he had regained control of his breathing. A smile stretched across his face as a strange dark liquid began to pool in his hand.

[Condensation she/her]

1 minute ago, xinoehp512 said:

The Doctor coughed furiously for a few moments.

"What do you think?" he rasped once he had regained control of his breathing. A smile stretched across his face as a strange dark liquid began to pool in his hand.

"Probably not, but I figured it was worth asking." Daolan stepped back. "That doesn't look good."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"No," agreed the Doctor. "It is more than good. It is glorious."

The liquid began to lift off his hand and form into a sphere spinning in midair.

[Condensation she/her]

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What is this liquid going to do?

Daolan stared warily at the liquid. "Listen, I'd rather not."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Ah, if I could only show you," spoke the Doctor, "Alas, my time with you is short..." 
He sighed heavily, reaching forward with his hand and pushing the sphere towards Daolan's chest.

[Condensation she/her]

1 minute ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Ah, if I could only show you," spoke the Doctor, "Alas, my time with you is short..." 
He sighed heavily, reaching forward with his hand and pushing the sphere towards Daolan's chest.

Daolan moved to the side. "What is it supposed to do?"

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"Brace yourself," said the Doctor. "This will hurt."

With one sharp, final motion he pushed the sphere into Daolan's chest.

Whatever it was, it burned like fire as it moved inwards. Inwards... and towards his heart.

[Condensation she/her]

Daolan gasped, sinking to his knees. His hands moved to his chest, pushing as if to slow the liquid's progress toward his heart.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

19 minutes ago, Condensation said:

Daolan gasped, sinking to his knees. His hands moved to his chest, pushing as if to slow the liquid's progress toward his heart.

His struggles were to no avail. The burning sensation spread into his heart- then, gradually, began to subside.

"Life is such a messy thing, is it not?" rasped the Doctor introspectively. "Ah... if you could only see the release that death brings."

[Condensation she/her]

Daolan caught his breath as his chest began to hurt less. "What... what was that?"