At first she thought the image was one of her own memory...that robe, that mask, that hunched figure....but on hearing the contents of the words after the greeting, she quickly realised that this was not one of hers, this was current, new and most definately a recent stone in the making given the reference to the competition...
Another thought...perhaps was some foolery of another? But how many were still around who knew of those times past and of him?
And then in the next instant, her fingers still keeping touch to the stone.....was it possible that somehow he still lived? He had been obliterated in the explosion of the Hammer Inn that had left Sondaal and her beloved Kelth severely wounded, the building reduced to a rubble, many dead, her love charged and found guilty of the crime of helping to cause the deaths of some innocents.....
He cannot have returned from that?! Whatever this was...was it best to know more and be able to prepare for danger or just to leave be?
She felt the sensation of the arcane power that coursed through the stone, via her fingers sending shiver through her body, the swirling colours and lights causing her golden hair to rise and her long locks move as if a strong breeze of a storm had entered that lecture room.
She sensed the arcane energy about, the malevolence of the memory of that being that had been and in turn, without moving lips in prayer her instinct was to call upon the divine power of her god Pelor, channelling a return of energy to buffer herself in instinctive protection, encircling her with a shield of her faith.
Yet her finger still did not lift from that sensory stone....
She was sensate after all...she would know the truth of this....as safely as she could.
A Sensate's Competition
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*Mr_Otyugh
- Posts: 2242
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
*... the spell continues with the howling sound approaching the Sensory Stone, right before impact the memory fades into the cloudy breaking image of which it came from. While the Sensory Stone itself had done its task, it didn't however end the entire matter, just as the Sensory Stone ceases, something else happens...
A Contigency stored on the Sensory Stone it self activates and this time, with a bright yellow flash, the Sensory Stone starts to disintegrate into dust and fall to ground in that form, another part of the Contigency was what seemed to be ink injecting to her skin as if a tattoo, which moves wormlike on her skin, attempts to touch it, scratch it or take it away seems to have same effect as trying to take a tattoo away. The small black line continues to crawl up her hand from the finger she touched the Sensory Stone with and towards her lower back where it sticks and stitches itself into a pattern...
... which she would see in a mirror as it seems to have got stuck into her back, right below the wings. Initial other effects do not seem to appear yet. Mundane and common magical attempts to remove the tattoo seems to fail.*
((sending PM for more information about it while keeping others in the dark!))
A Contigency stored on the Sensory Stone it self activates and this time, with a bright yellow flash, the Sensory Stone starts to disintegrate into dust and fall to ground in that form, another part of the Contigency was what seemed to be ink injecting to her skin as if a tattoo, which moves wormlike on her skin, attempts to touch it, scratch it or take it away seems to have same effect as trying to take a tattoo away. The small black line continues to crawl up her hand from the finger she touched the Sensory Stone with and towards her lower back where it sticks and stitches itself into a pattern...
... which she would see in a mirror as it seems to have got stuck into her back, right below the wings. Initial other effects do not seem to appear yet. Mundane and common magical attempts to remove the tattoo seems to fail.*
((sending PM for more information about it while keeping others in the dark!))
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*Spiegel1
- Posts: 153
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Two Hins are in front of Khazeet's bar, wall-leaning as usual, the blonde one, Taris Koth, is holding out a sketchbook to Cassandra. A quick glance is given to the parchment showing the tower with floating rocks at an unusual angle. The ground far below, the highest rock not far from the point of view.
The scene skips to the two Hins infront of the little piece of grass in the Lady's Ward, Taris ambling off into a house, she steps back out in armor later. The scene skips for some reason, the brown haired Hin gone and an Air Elemental in it's place, Taris gets enveloped by the wind, her braids coming loose as the pins and holder fly out. After a moments time she lifts off and onto the ledge, her feet leaving the ground.
The scene skips to infront of the rock tower, Taris looking up at it, the brownhaired Hin and a Yuan-Ti in tow. The brownhaired Hin disappears around a corner and comes back as an Air Elemental, the wind lifts up and around Taris, wrapping her in it's center before lifting off, the roar of wind is heard as they ascend. Her single braid, dangling to her knees, whips around in the wind. Taris looks down, her eyes wide as a laugh echoes out. The ground dwindles as she rises higher, the buildings seeming to grow closer together.
The Elemental reaches a peak, the highest stone below them, a scream is heard that is abruptly silenced before a shaky laugh follows suit. The view turns down as Taris looks at the ground once more, a dot of red walking along a strip of brown. A few minutes pass, the view moving from stone to tower to ground. the view takes in the buildings before a weakening of pressure is felt and the descent starts. The Hin sets down on the ground, giggling heard as excitement is felt throughout the blonde, windswept Hin.
The scene skips to the two Hins infront of the little piece of grass in the Lady's Ward, Taris ambling off into a house, she steps back out in armor later. The scene skips for some reason, the brown haired Hin gone and an Air Elemental in it's place, Taris gets enveloped by the wind, her braids coming loose as the pins and holder fly out. After a moments time she lifts off and onto the ledge, her feet leaving the ground.
The scene skips to infront of the rock tower, Taris looking up at it, the brownhaired Hin and a Yuan-Ti in tow. The brownhaired Hin disappears around a corner and comes back as an Air Elemental, the wind lifts up and around Taris, wrapping her in it's center before lifting off, the roar of wind is heard as they ascend. Her single braid, dangling to her knees, whips around in the wind. Taris looks down, her eyes wide as a laugh echoes out. The ground dwindles as she rises higher, the buildings seeming to grow closer together.
The Elemental reaches a peak, the highest stone below them, a scream is heard that is abruptly silenced before a shaky laugh follows suit. The view turns down as Taris looks at the ground once more, a dot of red walking along a strip of brown. A few minutes pass, the view moving from stone to tower to ground. the view takes in the buildings before a weakening of pressure is felt and the descent starts. The Hin sets down on the ground, giggling heard as excitement is felt throughout the blonde, windswept Hin.
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*Pashan01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Naya took hold of the sensory stone that the halfling Taris held out to her and smile her thanks for the entry. The halfling told her that her entry was 'drying' and that she would deliver it later for the competition. The sensory stone completed the entry. Naya thought that having an entry of 'the doing' together with the 'end result' was an interesting choice of entry and she pocketed the memory stone carefully, intending to view it later on.Spiegel1,May 24 2010 wrote: Two Hins are in front of Khazeet's bar, wall-leaning as usual, the blonde one, Taris Koth, is holding out a sketchbook to Cassandra. A quick glance is given to the parchment showing the tower with floating rocks at an unusual angle. The ground far below, the highest rock not far from the point of view.
The scene skips to the two Hins infront of the little piece of grass in the Lady's Ward, Taris ambling off into a house, she steps back out in armor later. The scene skips for some reason, the brown haired Hin gone and an Air Elemental in it's place, Taris gets enveloped by the wind, her braids coming loose as the pins and holder fly out. After a moments time she lifts off and onto the ledge, her feet leaving the ground.
The scene skips to infront of the rock tower, Taris looking up at it, the brownhaired Hin and a Yuan-Ti in tow. The brownhaired Hin disappears around a corner and comes back as an Air Elemental, the wind lifts up and around Taris, wrapping her in it's center before lifting off, the roar of wind is heard as they ascend. Her single braid, dangling to her knees, whips around in the wind. Taris looks down, her eyes wide as a laugh echoes out. The ground dwindles as she rises higher, the buildings seeming to grow closer together.
The Elemental reaches a peak, the highest stone below them, a scream is heard that is abruptly silenced before a shaky laugh follows suit. The view turns down as Taris looks at the ground once more, a dot of red walking along a strip of brown. A few minutes pass, the view moving from stone to tower to ground. the view takes in the buildings before a weakening of pressure is felt and the descent starts. The Hin sets down on the ground, giggling heard as excitement is felt throughout the blonde, windswept Hin.
Standing in the bazaar was becoming awkward as something was irritating her, a shifting of wing, a burning itch requiring scratch to her lower back....after discussing with another girl ways and means to make a demonstration, that not all need be written or painted so long as the idea was new, interesting and creative, Naya left the bazaar, thinking to take a bath and groom herself carefully.
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*Maximus Tear
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
*Maximus purchases a sensory stone, and looks it over with wolfish green eyes. His mithril shod hooves scrape at the cobblestone sending up sparks as he ponders, and places it in his pocket. He would give his day.
The thrill of battle echoes in his ears as his blade rises and falls in the abyss, the teaming steam of the landscape, the heat of the fires soaking his skin. The armor is cool on his strong muscles and the blade which equals more than the height of the average man weighs easily in his palm. The blade sings to him softly sending shivers of delight up his palm, and all seems more than normal, as if pleasure courses through him at every turn. shivers down his spine as he picks up a cambion and tosses it into another enemy threatening to overwhelm an allie. His eyes are alive and vibrant, and his teeth clenched.
Spells weave around him as he refreshes himself between battles, the intricate pattern so natrually at his command, singing through his veins like a succubus caress.
Pain scorches through him as his spells partially absorb a blast of lightning from a horned devil, and a deep lothing rises in his chest. running towards it, the tip of his plade singing sparks into the air as it drags across the stone, then swings up with a heavy lift of his muscular arms and back down once more, the wounded creature split in twain as the blade finds its mark.
Exhultation, victory rushes through his veins as he leans down and grabs the hand of his allie. He stirs deep inside when he looks at her, a deep hunger in his belly, not for food but for pleasure, if one such as him could feel adoration, or love, this would be kin to it in some fashion, a beating heart close to his, causing his own to beat faster as he looks into the eyes of his consort.
His heavy wings spread wide and wrap around her, opposable fingers on the apex of those wings caressing her cheek before his full wingspand spreads.
Flight. the heat of the lake of fire under them, the cool of the air currents over them, he holds her close as he makes his way back to the exit of the abyss, to the portal to go back to sigil. Exhultation and passion courses through him as he lands.
The thrill of battle echoes in his ears as his blade rises and falls in the abyss, the teaming steam of the landscape, the heat of the fires soaking his skin. The armor is cool on his strong muscles and the blade which equals more than the height of the average man weighs easily in his palm. The blade sings to him softly sending shivers of delight up his palm, and all seems more than normal, as if pleasure courses through him at every turn. shivers down his spine as he picks up a cambion and tosses it into another enemy threatening to overwhelm an allie. His eyes are alive and vibrant, and his teeth clenched.
Spells weave around him as he refreshes himself between battles, the intricate pattern so natrually at his command, singing through his veins like a succubus caress.
Pain scorches through him as his spells partially absorb a blast of lightning from a horned devil, and a deep lothing rises in his chest. running towards it, the tip of his plade singing sparks into the air as it drags across the stone, then swings up with a heavy lift of his muscular arms and back down once more, the wounded creature split in twain as the blade finds its mark.
Exhultation, victory rushes through his veins as he leans down and grabs the hand of his allie. He stirs deep inside when he looks at her, a deep hunger in his belly, not for food but for pleasure, if one such as him could feel adoration, or love, this would be kin to it in some fashion, a beating heart close to his, causing his own to beat faster as he looks into the eyes of his consort.
His heavy wings spread wide and wrap around her, opposable fingers on the apex of those wings caressing her cheek before his full wingspand spreads.
Flight. the heat of the lake of fire under them, the cool of the air currents over them, he holds her close as he makes his way back to the exit of the abyss, to the portal to go back to sigil. Exhultation and passion courses through him as he lands.
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*Pashan01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Naya'il drags herself out of her rooms to attach a notice below her original one.
The competition had been extended another week
Naya'il
She appears drained, dark shadows beneath her eyes and agitated, troubled by something, glancing at newcomers and old friends alike with a mixture of suspicion and wariness. Her attempts to hide her agitation are getting more difficult.
The competition had been extended another week
Naya'il
She appears drained, dark shadows beneath her eyes and agitated, troubled by something, glancing at newcomers and old friends alike with a mixture of suspicion and wariness. Her attempts to hide her agitation are getting more difficult.
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*Pashan01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
After placing a number of wards and protections about her, more cautious now given the last one she touched that was not delivered personally, she tapped her finger to stone and immediately her nostrils filled with the not unfamiliar smell of sulphurous fumes of the Abyss, the sounds of fighting, the heavy movement of wing and weight of other being carried, the suggestion of strong emotions with partner in battle.Maximus Tear,Jun 4 2010 wrote: *Maximus purchases a sensory stone, and looks it over with wolfish green eyes. His mithril shod hooves scrape at the cobblestone sending up sparks as he ponders, and places it in his pocket. He would give his day.
The thrill of battle echoes in his ears as his blade rises and falls in the abyss, the teaming steam of the landscape, the heat of the fires soaking his skin. The armor is cool on his strong muscles and the blade which equals more than the height of the average man weighs easily in his palm. The blade sings to him softly sending shivers of delight up his palm, and all seems more than normal, as if pleasure courses through him at every turn. shivers down his spine as he picks up a cambion and tosses it into another enemy threatening to overwhelm an allie. His eyes are alive and vibrant, and his teeth clenched.
Spells weave around him as he refreshes himself between battles, the intricate pattern so natrually at his command, singing through his veins like a succubus caress.
Pain scorches through him as his spells partially absorb a blast of lightning from a horned devil, and a deep lothing rises in his chest. running towards it, the tip of his plade singing sparks into the air as it drags across the stone, then swings up with a heavy lift of his muscular arms and back down once more, the wounded creature split in twain as the blade finds its mark.
Exhultation, victory rushes through his veins as he leans down and grabs the hand of his allie. He stirs deep inside when he looks at her, a deep hunger in his belly, not for food but for pleasure, if one such as him could feel adoration, or love, this would be kin to it in some fashion, a beating heart close to his, causing his own to beat faster as he looks into the eyes of his consort.
His heavy wings spread wide and wrap around her, opposable fingers on the apex of those wings caressing her cheek before his full wingspand spreads.
Flight. the heat of the lake of fire under them, the cool of the air currents over them, he holds her close as he makes his way back to the exit of the abyss, to the portal to go back to sigil. Exhultation and passion courses through him as he lands.
While none of thoses senses and experiences were new per se, it did make her feel nostalgic and wistful for times past......with a difference.. these images conjured up others that played to her mind of white wings, sharp blade of scythe and claymore, long hair, the sound of bells and strong Rashemi accent swearing in booming voice against the foe slain....enough that she lingered over the stone, playing it again, and again and again.
Mister Tear,
I thank you for your competition entry and deem it to be a valid one. The perspective provided of the Abyssal battle and connection you enjoyed with your ally was familiar and worthy of close viewing. I also thank you for your contribution to the cause of good by ridding those planes of such foe. I will be studying and assessing this experience against the other entries in and expect to make the final judgement at the end of the week.
Naya'il McEwan
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*Spehss Mehreen
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Dear Naya'il
I'm sorry my entry is a bit later than I had intended. I don't have the jink to purchase a sensory stone, and I just returned from an out-of-plane vacation with my love. Nonetheless, as the competition still seems to be taking place, here is my entry put into words, as best as I can. Sorry, it's a bit long, I know.
~Kestal
*Attached is a bit of parchment, filled out with the entry.*
Success! I had broken into the merchant's room, the door open. There were two accomplices with me, both of which were keeping the merchant distracted while I silently slipped in.
This wasn't a robbery, per se. I wasn't looking for gold and silver, or for any valuable trinkets to trade for jink. I was looking for documents, artifacts, whatever I could that could like this merchant to being corrupt. Ironic enough, a harmonium officer had employed me, a former street thief, to do such rather than getting a warrant and barging in himself, as is the typical Harmonium way.
I crept up the stairs and entered the first room. It was rather boring, a table here with a few untelling documents and such, some of them written in a code or language I didn't know, and I know a few languages! I took a couple of the papers. Aside from that, nothing worthwhile was here. Time to move on.
The second room was also boring, a simple bedroom. It had a fireplace and a dresser, and another door leading to the third room. I rummaged through the dresser, but found nothing more than changes of clothes. This woman really had a terrible taste in fashion.
After a moment more of rummaging, I found a small coinpurse. Nothing was inside but a few coppers and silvers. Tempting to take it, but I wasn't here to steal belongings, but evidence. I moved on.
The third room, however...It was very disturbing. A single table was in the middle-left of the room, its head up against the wall. The walls were littered with torture devices, more than I even knew existed! What an awful place...But there was one thing in particular that caught my eye.
A chest was sitting in the corner. In a room such as this, it had to contain something! Excitement washed over me, though it was tainted by nervousness...Nervousness at the surroundings. I took out my lockpick and attempted to pick the lock of the chest open.
A trap! I shouted an expletive as, rather than me springing the lock open, a needle flew into my palm. Why hadn't I seen it? Panic now, panic and fear, and a realization of "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" I tried to crawl away, but my limbs felt as heavy as lead and didn't want to move. I got halfway across the room...Then everything went black.
When I awoke, I was strapped to the torture table, my captor grinning as she stood above me. Fear washed over me, an even deeper realization of the "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" feeling that I had previously stated. I felt like screaming, but I knew it would do no good. Nobody would hear me here.
I barely heard the words the merchant spoke. What the fear didn't numb, the lingering effects of the poison needle did. She was taunting me though, insulting me. She knew she had me, and I knew I was at her mercy.
But she was willing to let me go...If! If I agreed to something called a geas. Not really knowing what it was, she explained it to me. I relaxed a little, realizing that there was a way for me to get out of this alive. After a bit of consideration, I told her that even if I said no, she could still put it on me without my consent, and she laughed then proceeded to cast a spell on me.
There were no funny lights, no fancy glows. Only a thousand needles thrusting into my soul, wrenching and pulling...And I knew suddenly that if I didn't follow the exact orders of the geas, I would fall very, very ill...And I would possibly even die. The orders were simple, but three part: I was to forget the encounter entirely, I was to head to the Hive ward as soon as I was free, and I was to write to the merchant every day, telling her everything that the ones who had procured my thiefly services were up to.
She gave me an antidote then, and a potion that supposedly turned me invisible. I stood up and walked to the exit, the weight and fear of what I was feeling in my soul still very much evident. As I opened the door and walked out...Boom! The memories of the encounter simply vanished from my mind. I remembered nothing of the room. Nothing at all. All I knew was that I desperately had to get to the Hive ward, or something very bad would happen.
The needles in my soul were still there, and I attempted my best to sneak away from a crowd gathered outside the room, the people that had got me to go inside. I failed though, and eventually, they caught up with me. I panicked and screamed, "LET ME GO!". I had to get to the Hive ward!
They detained me, questioned me. I couldn't answer, I didn't know what had gone on in the room...The memories were gone! I had to get to the Hive ward, and every second they kept me, the panic and fear just grew! I got away after a while and broke into a run, running out of the Spirit and down the streets. Right before the entrance to the Hive, they caught me! Again!
The harmonium member proceeded to shackle me. By now the panic and fear had completely overwhelmed me...I was so afraid I was going to die that I broke into tears. The one that was not a Harmonium stated that he believed I was under a geas spell. I honestly didn't know, all I knew was that I had to get to the Hive.
They finally escorted me there, and for a little while, I relaxed. The needles were still there, but for now, they had relaxed. I had done my duty for the time being.
The next day, the needles returned. I had to write. I had no clue why, but I had to...And I knew I couldn't escape it. I wrote in the letter everything I knew, and everything that the two had done that night. I delivered it to room nine at the inn, then the needles went away for a little bit.
This happened for weeks...Letter, after letter, after letter sent...All to someone I knew was the enemy of my two friends.
It was unbearable...I was considering, for a while, throwing myself off of the bridge in the Hive, just for a break from the geas. I wasn't free, I was a slave, and I hated it!
But then, suddenly, when I was bathing with a friend...Everything went black for a moment. I passed out for but a minute, but when I awoke, all the memories had returned, and the needles were utterly gone!
Confusion set in, but it was soon overwhelmed by utter joy! I was free, I was rusting free! But it wasn't long before it was replaced by anger. The merchant would die for what she did to me! She would die!
After a while, it returned to happiness! I was just so happy I was free, I was running around with all this freedom! I didn't know what to do, it was overwhelming! I was FREE!
I'm sorry my entry is a bit later than I had intended. I don't have the jink to purchase a sensory stone, and I just returned from an out-of-plane vacation with my love. Nonetheless, as the competition still seems to be taking place, here is my entry put into words, as best as I can. Sorry, it's a bit long, I know.
~Kestal
*Attached is a bit of parchment, filled out with the entry.*
Success! I had broken into the merchant's room, the door open. There were two accomplices with me, both of which were keeping the merchant distracted while I silently slipped in.
This wasn't a robbery, per se. I wasn't looking for gold and silver, or for any valuable trinkets to trade for jink. I was looking for documents, artifacts, whatever I could that could like this merchant to being corrupt. Ironic enough, a harmonium officer had employed me, a former street thief, to do such rather than getting a warrant and barging in himself, as is the typical Harmonium way.
I crept up the stairs and entered the first room. It was rather boring, a table here with a few untelling documents and such, some of them written in a code or language I didn't know, and I know a few languages! I took a couple of the papers. Aside from that, nothing worthwhile was here. Time to move on.
The second room was also boring, a simple bedroom. It had a fireplace and a dresser, and another door leading to the third room. I rummaged through the dresser, but found nothing more than changes of clothes. This woman really had a terrible taste in fashion.
After a moment more of rummaging, I found a small coinpurse. Nothing was inside but a few coppers and silvers. Tempting to take it, but I wasn't here to steal belongings, but evidence. I moved on.
The third room, however...It was very disturbing. A single table was in the middle-left of the room, its head up against the wall. The walls were littered with torture devices, more than I even knew existed! What an awful place...But there was one thing in particular that caught my eye.
A chest was sitting in the corner. In a room such as this, it had to contain something! Excitement washed over me, though it was tainted by nervousness...Nervousness at the surroundings. I took out my lockpick and attempted to pick the lock of the chest open.
A trap! I shouted an expletive as, rather than me springing the lock open, a needle flew into my palm. Why hadn't I seen it? Panic now, panic and fear, and a realization of "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" I tried to crawl away, but my limbs felt as heavy as lead and didn't want to move. I got halfway across the room...Then everything went black.
When I awoke, I was strapped to the torture table, my captor grinning as she stood above me. Fear washed over me, an even deeper realization of the "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" feeling that I had previously stated. I felt like screaming, but I knew it would do no good. Nobody would hear me here.
I barely heard the words the merchant spoke. What the fear didn't numb, the lingering effects of the poison needle did. She was taunting me though, insulting me. She knew she had me, and I knew I was at her mercy.
But she was willing to let me go...If! If I agreed to something called a geas. Not really knowing what it was, she explained it to me. I relaxed a little, realizing that there was a way for me to get out of this alive. After a bit of consideration, I told her that even if I said no, she could still put it on me without my consent, and she laughed then proceeded to cast a spell on me.
There were no funny lights, no fancy glows. Only a thousand needles thrusting into my soul, wrenching and pulling...And I knew suddenly that if I didn't follow the exact orders of the geas, I would fall very, very ill...And I would possibly even die. The orders were simple, but three part: I was to forget the encounter entirely, I was to head to the Hive ward as soon as I was free, and I was to write to the merchant every day, telling her everything that the ones who had procured my thiefly services were up to.
She gave me an antidote then, and a potion that supposedly turned me invisible. I stood up and walked to the exit, the weight and fear of what I was feeling in my soul still very much evident. As I opened the door and walked out...Boom! The memories of the encounter simply vanished from my mind. I remembered nothing of the room. Nothing at all. All I knew was that I desperately had to get to the Hive ward, or something very bad would happen.
The needles in my soul were still there, and I attempted my best to sneak away from a crowd gathered outside the room, the people that had got me to go inside. I failed though, and eventually, they caught up with me. I panicked and screamed, "LET ME GO!". I had to get to the Hive ward!
They detained me, questioned me. I couldn't answer, I didn't know what had gone on in the room...The memories were gone! I had to get to the Hive ward, and every second they kept me, the panic and fear just grew! I got away after a while and broke into a run, running out of the Spirit and down the streets. Right before the entrance to the Hive, they caught me! Again!
The harmonium member proceeded to shackle me. By now the panic and fear had completely overwhelmed me...I was so afraid I was going to die that I broke into tears. The one that was not a Harmonium stated that he believed I was under a geas spell. I honestly didn't know, all I knew was that I had to get to the Hive.
They finally escorted me there, and for a little while, I relaxed. The needles were still there, but for now, they had relaxed. I had done my duty for the time being.
The next day, the needles returned. I had to write. I had no clue why, but I had to...And I knew I couldn't escape it. I wrote in the letter everything I knew, and everything that the two had done that night. I delivered it to room nine at the inn, then the needles went away for a little bit.
This happened for weeks...Letter, after letter, after letter sent...All to someone I knew was the enemy of my two friends.
It was unbearable...I was considering, for a while, throwing myself off of the bridge in the Hive, just for a break from the geas. I wasn't free, I was a slave, and I hated it!
But then, suddenly, when I was bathing with a friend...Everything went black for a moment. I passed out for but a minute, but when I awoke, all the memories had returned, and the needles were utterly gone!
Confusion set in, but it was soon overwhelmed by utter joy! I was free, I was rusting free! But it wasn't long before it was replaced by anger. The merchant would die for what she did to me! She would die!
After a while, it returned to happiness! I was just so happy I was free, I was running around with all this freedom! I didn't know what to do, it was overwhelming! I was FREE!
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*Pashan01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
A fellow sensate had taken the time to deliver the letter to Naya'il as she kept to her rooms. She took the note giving weary thanks and settled herself to the dining chair to read its contents. Her initial thoughts upon reading the opening sentences was that she remembered the girl hesitating over her entry one day as Naya stood to the market, but others had distracted her and Naya hadn't noticed enough to offer the girl sensory stone, the market and bar had been busy with people. Naya sighed, but at least the girl had the wherewithall to make letter, and Naya was grateful for that, particularly as she hardly went out much these days. It was....probably safer that way. Still, she read each paragraph carefully, the letter as read was descriptive, very visual in its recounting of Kestal's experience and had Naya engrossed in the detail straight away.Spehss Mehreen,Jun 7 2010 wrote:Dear Naya'il
I'm sorry my entry is a bit later than I had intended. I don't have the jink to purchase a sensory stone, and I just returned from an out-of-plane vacation with my love. Nonetheless, as the competition still seems to be taking place, here is my entry put into words, as best as I can. Sorry, it's a bit long, I know.
~Kestal
*Attached is a bit of parchment, filled out with the entry.*
Success! I had broken into the merchant's room, the door open. There were two accomplices with me, both of which were keeping the merchant distracted while I silently slipped in.
This wasn't a robbery, per se. I wasn't looking for gold and silver, or for any valuable trinkets to trade for jink. I was looking for documents, artifacts, whatever I could that could like this merchant to being corrupt. Ironic enough, a harmonium officer had employed me, a former street thief, to do such rather than getting a warrant and barging in himself, as is the typical Harmonium way.
I crept up the stairs and entered the first room. It was rather boring, a table here with a few untelling documents and such, some of them written in a code or language I didn't know, and I know a few languages! I took a couple of the papers. Aside from that, nothing worthwhile was here. Time to move on.
The second room was also boring, a simple bedroom. It had a fireplace and a dresser, and another door leading to the third room. I rummaged through the dresser, but found nothing more than changes of clothes. This woman really had a terrible taste in fashion.
After a moment more of rummaging, I found a small coinpurse. Nothing was inside but a few coppers and silvers. Tempting to take it, but I wasn't here to steal belongings, but evidence. I moved on.
The third room, however...It was very disturbing. A single table was in the middle-left of the room, its head up against the wall. The walls were littered with torture devices, more than I even knew existed! What an awful place...But there was one thing in particular that caught my eye.
A chest was sitting in the corner. In a room such as this, it had to contain something! Excitement washed over me, though it was tainted by nervousness...Nervousness at the surroundings. I took out my lockpick and attempted to pick the lock of the chest open.
A trap! I shouted an expletive as, rather than me springing the lock open, a needle flew into my palm. Why hadn't I seen it? Panic now, panic and fear, and a realization of "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" I tried to crawl away, but my limbs felt as heavy as lead and didn't want to move. I got halfway across the room...Then everything went black.
When I awoke, I was strapped to the torture table, my captor grinning as she stood above me. Fear washed over me, an even deeper realization of the "Oh-gods-I'm-going-to-die!" feeling that I had previously stated. I felt like screaming, but I knew it would do no good. Nobody would hear me here.
I barely heard the words the merchant spoke. What the fear didn't numb, the lingering effects of the poison needle did. She was taunting me though, insulting me. She knew she had me, and I knew I was at her mercy.
But she was willing to let me go...If! If I agreed to something called a geas. Not really knowing what it was, she explained it to me. I relaxed a little, realizing that there was a way for me to get out of this alive. After a bit of consideration, I told her that even if I said no, she could still put it on me without my consent, and she laughed then proceeded to cast a spell on me.
There were no funny lights, no fancy glows. Only a thousand needles thrusting into my soul, wrenching and pulling...And I knew suddenly that if I didn't follow the exact orders of the geas, I would fall very, very ill...And I would possibly even die. The orders were simple, but three part: I was to forget the encounter entirely, I was to head to the Hive ward as soon as I was free, and I was to write to the merchant every day, telling her everything that the ones who had procured my thiefly services were up to.
She gave me an antidote then, and a potion that supposedly turned me invisible. I stood up and walked to the exit, the weight and fear of what I was feeling in my soul still very much evident. As I opened the door and walked out...Boom! The memories of the encounter simply vanished from my mind. I remembered nothing of the room. Nothing at all. All I knew was that I desperately had to get to the Hive ward, or something very bad would happen.
The needles in my soul were still there, and I attempted my best to sneak away from a crowd gathered outside the room, the people that had got me to go inside. I failed though, and eventually, they caught up with me. I panicked and screamed, "LET ME GO!". I had to get to the Hive ward!
They detained me, questioned me. I couldn't answer, I didn't know what had gone on in the room...The memories were gone! I had to get to the Hive ward, and every second they kept me, the panic and fear just grew! I got away after a while and broke into a run, running out of the Spirit and down the streets. Right before the entrance to the Hive, they caught me! Again!
The harmonium member proceeded to shackle me. By now the panic and fear had completely overwhelmed me...I was so afraid I was going to die that I broke into tears. The one that was not a Harmonium stated that he believed I was under a geas spell. I honestly didn't know, all I knew was that I had to get to the Hive.
They finally escorted me there, and for a little while, I relaxed. The needles were still there, but for now, they had relaxed. I had done my duty for the time being.
The next day, the needles returned. I had to write. I had no clue why, but I had to...And I knew I couldn't escape it. I wrote in the letter everything I knew, and everything that the two had done that night. I delivered it to room nine at the inn, then the needles went away for a little bit.
This happened for weeks...Letter, after letter, after letter sent...All to someone I knew was the enemy of my two friends.
It was unbearable...I was considering, for a while, throwing myself off of the bridge in the Hive, just for a break from the geas. I wasn't free, I was a slave, and I hated it!
But then, suddenly, when I was bathing with a friend...Everything went black for a moment. I passed out for but a minute, but when I awoke, all the memories had returned, and the needles were utterly gone!
Confusion set in, but it was soon overwhelmed by utter joy! I was free, I was rusting free! But it wasn't long before it was replaced by anger. The merchant would die for what she did to me! She would die!
After a while, it returned to happiness! I was just so happy I was free, I was running around with all this freedom! I didn't know what to do, it was overwhelming! I was FREE!
Indeed, she exclaimed nearly outloud herself at the needles and feelings described surrounding the torture and her heart went out to the girl...yet another she hadn't helped, would likely only have hurt in the process...blood on her hands, scythe cutting through bonds that only ended up piercing, slicing a wrist as she attempt rescue, wounds of both needles and her own cut were now crawling with lavae, bursting out of the flesh.........Naya's eyes widened as wild images of events that had not actually happened came to the fore of her mind as she read the letter.
With a sob, the letter fluttered to the ground, her own mind cleared of the images and with trembling hand she managed to draft a quick note in return..
Dear Kestal
I thank you for your competition entry and deem it to be a valid one. It pains me to hear of the truth of what the letter contains and it is with sorrow I bear that I could not in some way have prevented your dreadful experience. I have placed your letter along with the other entry and will be expect to make the final judgement on this competition at the end of the week.
Naya'il McEwan
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*Pashan01
- Posts: 304
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Naya'il marks the names of the valid entrants so far upon the original notice:
Ceern Rotract
Nenir
Amycus Thorne
Shiv
Taris Koth
Maximus Tear
Kestal
Garzdem Deadsmell - entry will be deemed valid only upon return of sensory stone complete with proposed experience recorded upon the stone
Naya refuses to list the 'unknown entrant' of the cursed sensory stone as a valid one, deeming it invalid upon grounds of....she doesn't even bother to state what grounds...a moral one of sorts, an attack upon her mind....albeit a curse of this nature is a new experience for her, the essence of it, its intention and effect was against the rules and spirit of the competition...Pelor smite her if she allowed a new experience like this to....endanger anyone on account of...an attack of the paranoia....
Ceern Rotract
Nenir
Amycus Thorne
Shiv
Taris Koth
Maximus Tear
Kestal
Garzdem Deadsmell - entry will be deemed valid only upon return of sensory stone complete with proposed experience recorded upon the stone
Naya refuses to list the 'unknown entrant' of the cursed sensory stone as a valid one, deeming it invalid upon grounds of....she doesn't even bother to state what grounds...a moral one of sorts, an attack upon her mind....albeit a curse of this nature is a new experience for her, the essence of it, its intention and effect was against the rules and spirit of the competition...Pelor smite her if she allowed a new experience like this to....endanger anyone on account of...an attack of the paranoia....