[There are far too many of them for just four people. Even as she wants to try and fight, her daemon is insistent, and Alisaie grits her teeth in frustration, swinging her rapier back to its place at her side.]
Fine. But don't even think about making this into a heroic sacrifice, van Zieks! We need you yet.
[That said, she's going to move toward Akira and Rin, glaring and daring them to say something as she holds her hands out toward them.]
Old geezer's like him tend to be sturdy when they put their mind to it. Get behind me. [ That's motivation of a sort, sure. Akira may sound entirely lackadaisical about all of this but his peppered cursing tells another story; there's enough of them that they certainly are making tears in his clothes but at least he's able to return the favor with a satisfying crunch.
He can assess any bites he has later, there's adrenaline coursing in his veins and he can't feel a thing right now. He uses it to concentrate on clearing a path, opting to take lead on their escape and gestures for Rin to follow with Alisaie. ]
Old... [Frowns loudly as he's aged twice in quick succession. Young people have no respect. Anyway he doesn't spend too long trying to bring steely death to these rats with his sword. They aren't easy targets. Once he feels like the other three have gotten a decent head start, he splits his attention between rat murder and following after them. He's got tall boots they can only scratch him up so bad.
Adelheid meanwhile is basically built for this and she does so much rat murder with her eagle talons. Anyway! Time to run at a volcano!]
[Rin doesn't say a thing about Alisaie's request for help. He can't think of any lines about friendship or working together right now anyway. Instead, with his sword out in one hand, he takes Alisaie's hand in his other. He can knock rats away while still dragging Alisaie along to...safety? Maybe? Heading towards the mountains doesn't feel that much safer, but it should be without rats.
[ running at a volcano is certainly a choice, they're not wrong about that feeling. and while the rats follow, nipping at their heels and trying to find purchase somewhere, they're only the harbingers in this particular situation. weeping miserably, screaming, dying in sickening (if satisfying) crunches of boots and talons and swords. but there are so many of them, it's hard to say how many actually fall to them, as it seems like one falls, three more fill the space.
the ruins whip past them as they run. old homes and grand manors, a market, and left behind is the temple with the mural within.
ash is kicked up in roaring dust clouds behind them as they get closer and closer to the base of the mountain, and they break through piles and mounds of the stuff as they go.
but some of it crunches underfoot.
if they look, their feet have carried them through the ash and lava-encased remains of people. laying down, barely held up on all fours, prostrating, praying, begging, holding each other - the ancient remains of those that never had a chance to survive.
now, all they are is ash and dust.
the rats begin to thin as they get to firm stone, though. ascend? or make a stand here? ]
[Alisaie has her free hand stretched out as they run, trying to make sure that she's at least going to have warning if she's going to run into anything. Taf is hunkered down on her shoulders, claws sunken in to keep from falling off--it hurts, but it's a small price to pay for the information he shares with her about their surroundings, the truth of what they're running through. How long ago did this happen? How long ago have these bodies remained, a snapshot frozen in time? How long have the souls of those rats been screaming for salvation?
Questions they can't answer right now, can't answer if they're lost themselves.
With Rin's help she's able to make it through the ruins without falling, though she won't be able to avoid stepping on the bodies in her path and, in one instance, almost tripping before managing a little hop to rebalance herself. As they reach what feels a little bit more like solid ground, she looks from side to side, trying to listen for anything that may give her a clue as to what they should expect next.]
Is here a better position?
[Look she recognizes that she doesn't get to call the shots here; she's leaving that decision to one of them who can actually see.]
Not for long. [ He glances back at the rats and towards the volcano, taking these few seconds to catch a breather. Or as much as he can considering the ash and the shapes frozen in time (he only spares them a glance as they're familiar enough that he doesn't want or need to rehash that memory right now). ]
We should keep going, it's gonna keep pushing us forward no matter what we do.
If we’re going to die frankly I’d rather just get it over with. [Uncle van Zieks is in a terrible mood! He’s catching up with them with the rat flood.]
But it seems like we’re intended to go towards the volcano, for better or worse. There’s nothing for us back here, and I don’t think we’re going to accomplish anything trying to take out a nigh uncountable amount of rats.
[Rin looks down exactly once. In that moment, he sees an ash-covered skeleton clutching another, smaller skeleton in its arms, and he decides that he doesn't need to think about just what they're running over. No time for a mental crisis! Survival first!
[ just keep going. don't think about it. don't listen to the rats as they scream and call for help, for mercy, for salvation.
the volcano awaits. some of the rats follow, but the mass of them seems discourage from following. perhaps a bad sign - here there may be monsters greater than these rats, after all.
but if they trek, the climb is eerily silent again as the dreary landscape sits, devoid of life. the ash falling from the sky is light, so the path isn't obscured this go around as you're made to navigate the outcroppings of rocks, and the paths carved out from an eruption long since past. an oppressive air begins to settle over everything, less eerie and more resentful, almost. it doesn't reflect in your own moods, at least, but the pull of the mountain calls to you, louder and louder, almost as if it forms a hand to cradle the backs of your skulls to draw you in.
and it draws you to two choices.
in one direction, there is movement in the distance. in the other, there is nothing.
[They trek. This is a little easier, given the time to look, to navigate. Funnily, the oppressive air barely gives Alisaie pause--this is far from the first time she's ventured a land openly hostile toward her, even if it's the first time doing so blind.
Which...
As they come to the fork in their path, Alisaie stops and rests a hand on her hip, looking around at the other three (or pretending to do so, at any rate).]
Ere we go any further, there is aught I should share. [FROWNS DEEPLY, but this is Not the time for beating around the bush so--] After the reveal of Suigetsu's guilt, I was struck blind by those in power above the Watchers.
While I'm perfectly capable of navigating with Taf's assistance, there will likely be times where swiftness is more important than my desire for independence. Should that happen, I must needs rely on your assistance.
[AND BOOOOOY DOES THAT BURN HER.]
...But if you think to condescend to me, I'll shove you into the volcano myself.
Is that what—now's better than never, I guess. [ He gets it but also that would have been much better to know earlier. Akira won't press the issue because there is some degree of respect there, and there's more pressing things to worry about. ]
We're at a fork. Do you wanna go the direction that's obviously fucked, or the one that's being shy about it? [ Someone please describe this better, thank you. ]
[Van Zieks does not react to Alisaie's news. Rude! Or maybe it's just not news to him.]
It seems the logical thing to do to go towards the movement. At least we know there is something to find there. We should at least try to be cautious. Whatever it is, lets try to see it before it sees us, yes?
the obviously fucked path, it is. because, yeah, that's pretty succinct there, akira. heading in that direction results in... well, they're not rats, so that may be a small mercy? but they aren't people, either. not in the most traditional of sense. some of them are humanoid, some of them less so, and many of them are grotesque. the resentment is roiling off of them, now, almost tangible in the energy there, and perhaps worse in the way that some of them tear each other apart, run each other through, beat one another into nothing but viscera.
others watch, and laugh, and laugh, and laugh and laugh and laugh - until another creature attacks, tearing the throat out with bare hands, so that it's nothing more than a gurgle
they haven't noticed your group yet. ]
You won't make it! The Kiln is so far out of your league, you might as well lay down and die for good! Your ancestors and descendants both would be ashamed to see you here!
Die die die die die die -
O Lord, please, mercy..! Mercy! Forgive me my sins, for falling to temptation, please! Please, save me, please
[Well. The sounds of all this are more than enough to tell her exactly what's going on. She hasn't forgotten the sounds of war, the telltale gurgles of death. In an undertone to the rest of the group:]
[ Akira would make a battle royale quip, except it hasn't been created yet. As it is he scowls, stopping in his tracks, staring at all the viscera and the other bodily fluids that goes with it. Well, it should be fine. ]
Sounds like it. We should either run for it or try the other way, they're gonna see us if we just keep going.
[ a sickening crunch, and then a slopping, wet noise follows you as you turn about. it's disgusting. it's awful and cruel. and there's the sounds of such violence beyond this immediate path - it's hard to see, with the various fixtures of the mountain, the bleached white bones of trees (or are they truly bones..?), the jagged teeth of rock, but there's movement further up, too.
clusters of bodies, a stream of ten, fifty, a hundred, two hundred others just like this. the simplest of people covered in blood, hopping undead, screaming monsters with two faces, winged beasts. demons and ghosts and monstrous spirits, ranging in all shapes and sizes.
you retreat. with a roll average of 15, you meet the DC. thank fuck. no one notices you.
well, none of these creatures or people here.
taking the other path is a little more treacherous, but it's a little quieter, too. alisaie especially will want to watch her step, but the gentleman will be able to help her and each other up. if you do decide to work together, it's easier. it takes less time. if you do not work together, it takes longer, and you are more prone to slipping in the silt-like volcanic ash and risking injury. the choice is yours.
but there's the sensation of being watched, and that tender hold at the base of your skulls tightens. each of you hears a murmur of whispers, but it's hard to pinpoint where it's coming from.
[It's a very curious feeling to have utter terror imprinted into your mind without knowing the exact cause of it. But they retreat, and go down the other fork, and we're about to have a bad time because treacherous terrain is really the ultimate obstacle here.]
Gods damn it--
[Yeah, she's slipping for sure, even with help. There's not going to be any way for her to prevent that.]
[ Urgh. Akira knows that feeling and those voices all too well, so much so that he has to keep stopping to check every once and a while to see if laughing mouths have errupted on his skin. It's really not great for climbing so he's gonna lose his footing a few times, though his strength manages to save him before he really eats dirt.
He has some nice scrapes to go along with the rat bites now, but that's fine. ]
[It's fine, uncle van Zieks is here to grab Alisaie so she doesn't completely eat shit.]
The kiln... Is that not what pottery is baked in? [FROWNING LOUDLY... But otherwise just carefully making his way up while keeping an eye on Alisaie and also checking behind them every now and then.]
I get the feeling we're not going to that kinda kiln.
[He'll stay with Alisaie to help her along, but he's getting increasingly nervous about all of this. He glances back a couple times to make sure none of those horrible people followed them, but otherwise it's full speed ahead to whatever non-vore death Snow has for us.]
[ stop the vore is happening offscreen i'm not going to eat you.
the whispers get louder, and louder, but it's hard to make it out - ]
What the hell are you doing here?
[ and then, they muffle again. there's a young man standing in front of the group, dressed in dark clothes, with dark hair, but it's hard to clearly remember his features. you think they are sharp. you think they are intense. but every now and then, his form seems to fall apart in flickers of blue flame, and your mind's eye can't recall it as clearly.
he keeps his voice low, and seems just as surprised to see you as you might be to see him, where he's crouched down among the jagged rocks. there's a squelching noise in the near distance, and you get the impression he's made a face. ]
Nevermind, how the hell did you get here?
[ if you look past him... he's not the only one here. but the others don't lose their shape, and don't seem monstrous. they are just people, travelers that would fit right in back in ahnkeen, huddled together. a few are battered and bruised, bloody, but they're alive. they're terrified, but alive.
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Fine. But don't even think about making this into a heroic sacrifice, van Zieks! We need you yet.
[That said, she's going to move toward Akira and Rin, glaring and daring them to say something as she holds her hands out toward them.]
One of you will have to guide me. Let's go!
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He can assess any bites he has later, there's adrenaline coursing in his veins and he can't feel a thing right now. He uses it to concentrate on clearing a path, opting to take lead on their escape and gestures for Rin to follow with Alisaie. ]
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[Frowns loudly as he's aged twice in quick succession. Young people have no respect. Anyway he doesn't spend too long trying to bring steely death to these rats with his sword. They aren't easy targets. Once he feels like the other three have gotten a decent head start, he splits his attention between rat murder and following after them. He's got tall boots they can only scratch him up so bad.
Adelheid meanwhile is basically built for this and she does so much rat murder with her eagle talons. Anyway! Time to run at a volcano!]
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Lead the way, Akira. He's got her.]
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the ruins whip past them as they run. old homes and grand manors, a market, and left behind is the temple with the mural within.
ash is kicked up in roaring dust clouds behind them as they get closer and closer to the base of the mountain, and they break through piles and mounds of the stuff as they go.
but some of it crunches underfoot.
if they look, their feet have carried them through the ash and lava-encased remains of people. laying down, barely held up on all fours, prostrating, praying, begging, holding each other - the ancient remains of those that never had a chance to survive.
now, all they are is ash and dust.
the rats begin to thin as they get to firm stone, though. ascend? or make a stand here? ]
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Questions they can't answer right now, can't answer if they're lost themselves.
With Rin's help she's able to make it through the ruins without falling, though she won't be able to avoid stepping on the bodies in her path and, in one instance, almost tripping before managing a little hop to rebalance herself. As they reach what feels a little bit more like solid ground, she looks from side to side, trying to listen for anything that may give her a clue as to what they should expect next.]
Is here a better position?
[Look she recognizes that she doesn't get to call the shots here; she's leaving that decision to one of them who can actually see.]
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We should keep going, it's gonna keep pushing us forward no matter what we do.
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[Uncle van Zieks is in a terrible mood! He’s catching up with them with the rat flood.]
But it seems like we’re intended to go towards the volcano, for better or worse. There’s nothing for us back here, and I don’t think we’re going to accomplish anything trying to take out a nigh uncountable amount of rats.
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His voice wavers as he speaks though.]
D-don't look down, just keep going.
[It's okay. Just don't think about it.]
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the volcano awaits. some of the rats follow, but the mass of them seems discourage from following. perhaps a bad sign - here there may be monsters greater than these rats, after all.
but if they trek, the climb is eerily silent again as the dreary landscape sits, devoid of life. the ash falling from the sky is light, so the path isn't obscured this go around as you're made to navigate the outcroppings of rocks, and the paths carved out from an eruption long since past. an oppressive air begins to settle over everything, less eerie and more resentful, almost. it doesn't reflect in your own moods, at least, but the pull of the mountain calls to you, louder and louder, almost as if it forms a hand to cradle the backs of your skulls to draw you in.
and it draws you to two choices.
in one direction, there is movement in the distance. in the other, there is nothing.
which path do you take? ]
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Which...
As they come to the fork in their path, Alisaie stops and rests a hand on her hip, looking around at the other three (or pretending to do so, at any rate).]
Ere we go any further, there is aught I should share. [FROWNS DEEPLY, but this is Not the time for beating around the bush so--] After the reveal of Suigetsu's guilt, I was struck blind by those in power above the Watchers.
While I'm perfectly capable of navigating with Taf's assistance, there will likely be times where swiftness is more important than my desire for independence. Should that happen, I must needs rely on your assistance.
[AND BOOOOOY DOES THAT BURN HER.]
...But if you think to condescend to me, I'll shove you into the volcano myself.
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We're at a fork. Do you wanna go the direction that's obviously fucked, or the one that's being shy about it? [ Someone please describe this better, thank you. ]
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It seems the logical thing to do to go towards the movement. At least we know there is something to find there. We should at least try to be cautious. Whatever it is, lets try to see it before it sees us, yes?
[Sheathing his sword for now.]
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[Talking like he could see it, when he couldn't see shit. And after listening to van Zieks' explanation, he nods.]
Obviously fucked path it is, sure. We've all got weapons, we'll be fine.
[He says, not knowing if they will be fine.]
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the obviously fucked path, it is. because, yeah, that's pretty succinct there, akira. heading in that direction results in... well, they're not rats, so that may be a small mercy? but they aren't people, either. not in the most traditional of sense. some of them are humanoid, some of them less so, and many of them are grotesque. the resentment is roiling off of them, now, almost tangible in the energy there, and perhaps worse in the way that some of them tear each other apart, run each other through, beat one another into nothing but viscera.
others watch, and laugh, and laugh, and laugh and laugh and laugh - until another creature attacks, tearing the throat out with bare hands, so that it's nothing more than a gurgle
they haven't noticed your group yet. ]
You won't make it! The Kiln is so far out of your league, you might as well lay down and die for good! Your ancestors and descendants both would be ashamed to see you here!
Die die die die die die -
O Lord, please, mercy..! Mercy! Forgive me my sins, for falling to temptation, please! Please, save me, please
[ everyone is having a great time. ]
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The "Kiln"...? That must be our destination, yes?
Is there any path to avoid them?
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Sounds like it. We should either run for it or try the other way, they're gonna see us if we just keep going.
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... Yes I don't see a path through this way that avoids being seen. The other way may be a dead end but we should.... try to avoid this.
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Nope nope nope nope nope NOPE NOPE NOPE]
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C'mere, you piece of shit!!
[ a sickening crunch, and then a slopping, wet noise follows you as you turn about. it's disgusting. it's awful and cruel. and there's the sounds of such violence beyond this immediate path - it's hard to see, with the various fixtures of the mountain, the bleached white bones of trees (or are they truly bones..?), the jagged teeth of rock, but there's movement further up, too.
clusters of bodies, a stream of ten, fifty, a hundred, two hundred others just like this. the simplest of people covered in blood, hopping undead, screaming monsters with two faces, winged beasts. demons and ghosts and monstrous spirits, ranging in all shapes and sizes.
you retreat. with a roll average of 15, you meet the DC. thank fuck. no one notices you.
well, none of these creatures or people here.
taking the other path is a little more treacherous, but it's a little quieter, too. alisaie especially will want to watch her step, but the gentleman will be able to help her and each other up. if you do decide to work together, it's easier. it takes less time. if you do not work together, it takes longer, and you are more prone to slipping in the silt-like volcanic ash and risking injury. the choice is yours.
but there's the sensation of being watched, and that tender hold at the base of your skulls tightens. each of you hears a murmur of whispers, but it's hard to pinpoint where it's coming from.
the kiln is calling. ]
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Gods damn it--
[Yeah, she's slipping for sure, even with help. There's not going to be any way for her to prevent that.]
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He has some nice scrapes to go along with the rat bites now, but that's fine. ]
...just keep going, we're almost there.
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The kiln... Is that not what pottery is baked in?
[FROWNING LOUDLY... But otherwise just carefully making his way up while keeping an eye on Alisaie and also checking behind them every now and then.]
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[He'll stay with Alisaie to help her along, but he's getting increasingly nervous about all of this. He glances back a couple times to make sure none of those horrible people followed them, but otherwise it's full speed ahead to whatever non-vore death Snow has for us.]
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the whispers get louder, and louder, but it's hard to make it out - ]
What the hell are you doing here?
[ and then, they muffle again. there's a young man standing in front of the group, dressed in dark clothes, with dark hair, but it's hard to clearly remember his features. you think they are sharp. you think they are intense. but every now and then, his form seems to fall apart in flickers of blue flame, and your mind's eye can't recall it as clearly.
he keeps his voice low, and seems just as surprised to see you as you might be to see him, where he's crouched down among the jagged rocks. there's a squelching noise in the near distance, and you get the impression he's made a face. ]
Nevermind, how the hell did you get here?
[ if you look past him... he's not the only one here. but the others don't lose their shape, and don't seem monstrous. they are just people, travelers that would fit right in back in ahnkeen, huddled together. a few are battered and bruised, bloody, but they're alive. they're terrified, but alive.
the kiln is still calling. ]
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cw; mutilation, tentacles
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