A Deal [Narrative Post]

[Seuss 1056]

Spoiler

 

 

Atop the chiseled out wall of stone sat a dark figure covered in a matte black fur cloak. The dull carmine eyes fixed to the wolf’s head stared out lifelessly as the jaw hung down over the hunter wearing it.

In his hand danced a curved dagger between digits. His posture befitting someone who has waited for quite some time.

 

The grotesque, magnificent scale of the Church scorched black stretched overhead, staring out across the barren, uninhabited landscape of the southern isle. The eerie sense of death lingered about the area, and the closer to the structure one stepped, the stronger the hand of Death gripped upon your shoulder.

 

Down the path, Death itself seemed to tear through the veil, a ripple of miasma broiled through the air and thus came worms to eat away the rest. Through it marched a hollowed-armored figure hauling two women on its shoulders. Labored breaths came as it continued to march up the hillside towards the large gates.

 

Armor began to shed in sections. One by one the pauldrons fell, the gauntlets followed, and the plate trickled off and wilted. Tattered wings burst through and a hollow snout of bone outstretched as the entire form shuddered free of the false carapace. 

 

Blasted peripherals glanced outward towards the awaiting hunter. “State your purpose at the base of my steps, ‘less you be banished to meet the most unholy.”

 

Boots pressed into the stone underneath as he raised to a full stand. “You’ve come home with luggage.” The hunter stared down onto the figure. “Unwillingly, on their part?”

 

“Time in their towers, bloating themselves with tea and gossip have seen the fear and cautiousness of their instincts waned.” Observed the kidnapper as both women were dropped unceremoniously and dragged within the church by their ankles.

 

The large gates were pulled upwards as chain links rattled against themselves. Servants awaited inside as the robe-clad denizen entered. The gates remained open longer for the hunter to follow behind.

 

Past the gateway, entering the cathedral proper, the walls of black stone stretched endlessly above, tapering off at the point of its underground dome. A groaning fleshpit sat just before the pulpit on the tiered dais. As the figurehead of the church deposited the winnings of his recent outing, he motioned up the stairs where he held a greater position.

 

That curved dagger in the hunter’s hand flipped between his fingers as he followed along. He moved with no sound, and kept himself silent even when the kidnapped women were dragged and dropped.

 

“I will be fair.” Observed the hunter while staring at the creature’s back. “I will take one back home.”

 

“This will be your first warning.” Spoke the desolate voice.

 

The voice of women unseen rang out in a choir in the corners of the church. A tear ripped through reality just above the beast-in-robes. A bloodshot eye rolled forth, and as it blinked it wept tears of disease.

 

“There is no fairness here. For you are the bargainer.” A claw splayed out two digits, indicating the well-present eye that watched over.

 

The carmine eyes fixed to the pelt glanced left and right at the brighter pew contrasting against the scorched stone flooring.

 

“Iblees now watches over us. I hath already sated my tongue in the blood of ‘Fenn and ‘Ker. I do not hunger, yet my anger can be churned.”

 

“Then you are full, so the need to eat has passed. Why keep these bloated nobles filled with pastries any longer?”

 

The prisoners in question have begun stirring awake. Fear taking over the pair as one became burdened with fearful curiosity, and the other a knowing pain of familiarity. They were at an impasse; above them a creature of bone and death, and below them a figure draped in the pelt of a wolf and face painted with blood.

 

“Their minds will be made inverse. Their inner flames will be awakened.” Atalon rose before the hunter could reply. “If you provide me something of worth equivalent to their souls. . . you may leave with them both unharmed.”

 

Verdant eyes, just barely reflecting nearby candle-light turned over onto those nobles. They were not supposed to be here, and his plan was ruined the moment they were dragged into it. Numerous shadows became known around him as they encroached upon the altar. Towering beings of disproportionate bodies and animalistic traits.

 

The hunter would not leave alive if he attempted a rescue through force. Two noble women he has never met, and yet he entered the den of evil and spoke of trade for their safety.

 

“Can you take something nonphysical?”

 

A knowing tell became true between them. The sacrifice of the living for the security of the damned. The creature moved forward, slowly declining down the steps until it towered over the hunter directly.

 

It rose a hand as blackened energies began to swell within its digits. The grotesque limb extended outwards.

 

“Shake my hand and we have a deal.”

 

“We will see each other once more.”

 

 

Spoiler

A narrative post regarding an interaction last night at the Black Church. No metaplay unless you were there.

A mix of @PolarLoLsand my own emotes of how our conversation went. 

 

[Ambitious 71]

Spoiler

Good post gang

 

[PolarLoLs 984]

 

A creature wallows in the remains of sport, bones crunched and blood curdled yet its robes always remained as gracious, it spoke unto itself and into that Eye whom had witnessed all

 

✦•━•⊰⊱•━•✦

“The Weak are Meat and the Strong do Eat”

Through parables man have always sung of the one who dwells between day and night, Woe unto those who scrutinize that which keeps them stable, for if no man was willing there would be no light at all.

 

[comatoseprincess 507]

 

These fiery halls know her well. Again and again, the demons drag her into this personal hell, a place where she returns to fear that feels like a familiar wound. She has made solace from it, the rhythm of the pain. Yet, here stood a stranger clad in a wolf’s pelt and dried blood across his face bargaining for their lives like it was his to bargain for. She could not blame him, he did not understand that she had learned to breathe in the smoke. 

 

A hand was held out, a sense of safety being given as they were offered to leave unharmed for the most part. Her agonised screams still echoed within the very walls of this damned place, a sound all within likely had grown to recognise in some sick sense. He tore her from the ritual of agony she had mastered, took her somewhere else, somewhere he deemed safe. And so he sealed her fate, damned her to more pain he unknowingly set upon her. Return willingly, or do not. The latter? The latter is a fate worse than the flames of eternal hell.

 

[ProcaPro 557]

A creature, an interruptor with a claim to one of the women, had entered with their own bargain.

 

The Owl had gotten what they wanted that day, deal or not, uncaring of their sibling or underling's wants, or the wants of man. But the hunter was a strange and cordial being, and so the Owl was lenient, moreso to the woman it briefly took from his grasp.

 

Return willingly, or do not. The choice was presented, now it only had to wait.