#psalm (sarita) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

dndfuckhouse · 5 years ago

Text

a warlock and a thief walk into bar

Summary: Psalm and Henrick have a third meeting by chance. And then a fourth. And then a fifth.

Notes: This is canon divergent(?) Yeah but also set after the current events. It's dialogue heavy bc I like dialogue and didnt feel like expanding sorry.EDIT: I’ve apparently grossly mischaracterised Han… Poki only leaves crumbs for me so I did what I could based on my knowledge of her from Psalm’s perspective. Wcyd?

Psalm should know by now that things never tend to go well when he's on a mission with the others. Han and Rokka were too nosy for their own good, something he still hadn't quite adjusted to yet but no longer got mad about. Well, except for right now. Right now is entirely their fault, and once he rids himself of the angry bandits on his tail he's going to make them wish they’d kept their mouths shut. With force if necessary. They just had to go and piss off an entire group of bandits.

The rational part of his mind tells him that there’s literally no way he could take either of the major brawn in their party in a fight one on one, let alone at the same time, but the thought of chewing them out helps to soothe his annoyance at least.

A dagger whizzes past his head.

Stop daydreaming and focus, Ghester’s voice rings in his head, it'd be a waste for you to die here, and at the hands of some low tier goons no less.

“Is this your way of saying you'd miss me?” Psalm responds both in Infernal and his usual monotone. It's hard to sound deadpan in Infernal, which is mostly just a lot of hissing and growling, but he makes the effort. Of course Ghester responds with his usual dry laughter. No surprise there.

Psalm ducks around a random corner, not bothering to check if the bandits are behind him. He supposes part of this is his fault. He usually offered to divert the enemy so that the others could escape, but he bit off more than he could chew this time. He wasn't expecting his charm spell to wear off so quickly.

In a rare moment of good fortune, the alley isn’t a dead end. The goons are still behind him though, so he doesn't slow down.

Eventually he comes across an alley with a small crevice between two houses, and wonders if it's a good idea to duck in there and hope they don’t notice. He hears them gaining though, and in a split second decision shoves himself into the nook and pulls his cape around his face for good measure. Red skin tends to stand out.

The goons run past the nook without even bothering to check, and he hears one of them yell “Where'd he go?” before the rest of them run off. Psalm waits for a couple minutes, and then a couple more just to be safe before he exits. It's a tight fit, especially with horns, but somehow he manages to squeeze himself out.

“Oh, it's you again,” a voice says.

Psalm reacts immediately. Ghester appears as a shortsword in his hand in seconds as Psalm turns and holds the weapon out in front of him.

If he'd been thinking more clearly, he would've realised that the voice was somewhat familiar, but the adrenaline from the earlier chase was still rushing through him. It takes him a while to put it together in his head, not his fault, they’ve only met twice. Psalm blinks once, mostly in surprise and then breaks out into a genuine smile at the man in front of him. He can’t really help it. Not only is it not someone that had been trying to kill him earlier, but someone he's actually quite pleased to see. Henrick, looking just as scruffy and worn out as always, gives Psalm a small, sort of half assed smile.

He eyes the shortsword wearily. “You gonna put that thing away or…?”

“Oh, right. How rude of me,” Psalm says as Ghester disappears from his hand. Being able to summon Ghester at will is not something he reveals to people too often, the less ways to identify him the better, but he figures it doesn't matter right now. The action puts an even wearier look on Henrick's face though, which Psalm finds amusing.

Henrick looks around a bit, for what, Psalm isn't exactly sure.

“Not to be cliché,” Psalm says while Henrick does this, “but we should really stop meeting like this.”

Henrick pauses and gives Psalm a confused look. “Whaddya mean?”

“You're with the group after me right now are you not?”

A look of understanding dawns on Henrick's face.

“You're the one everyone's been chasing after? I couldn't really tell from a distance, but it's not like I can go against the boss's orders y'know so he had me out here searching too.”

Rickert's goons again? What are the odds… Psalm thinks. Shorewater is clearly not as big as he'd once thought.

“You're still working for that tyrant? What was his name again? Ricken… Rackam?” Psalm pretends to think hard about it.

“Rickert. You forget or something?”

“Well Henrick, I must admit I don't make a habit of remembering the names of people I'm not interested in.” An obvious lie, but it serves its purpose when what Psalm has said dawns on Henrick and the man nervously fiddles with the neck of his scarf.

How fun, Psalm thinks.

You really seem to enjoy playing with people, but to what end? Ghester says in his mind. Psalm ignores him of course. He won't very well respond in front of Henrick right now anyways, and Ghester knows that.

“What'd you do this time?” Henrick asks, choosing to ignore Psalm's earlier comment. Psalm begins to answer, but is cut off by the sounds of shouting. The goons are coming back. Psalm curses himself internally for sticking around and making small talk instead of getting the hell out. Before he can look around for a means of escape, Henrick steps into his personal space.

Psalm raises an eyebrow. “What are you doi-”

“Shhh,” Henrick hisses and backs Psalm right back up into the crevice where he'd hid before. Psalm gets the message, and tries to hide as much of himself as possible. He's taller than Henrick, but hopefully that won't matter too much as Henrick stands in front of the crevice and blocks Psalm from view.

Sure enough, the men from earlier return.

“Henrick! What’re you doin’ standin' around like an idiot for? He got away!”

“If he got away there's no point in running around like this then is there?” Henrick sighed.

“He got away cuz you were being a lazy shit I bet.”

“Yeah? Who was the last guy that saw him before he ran off because it sure as hell wasn't me. Should I tell Rickert who lost sight of him?”

Psalm watches as best he can as the two bandits argue back and forth about Rickert. As entertaining as it is, it's definitely too cramped in here and he wishes the goon would hurry up and leave. He considers just firing off an eldritch blast and ending things himself, but attacking Henrick's comrades was probably not in his best interest.

Eventually Henrick chases the guy off, and after a couple more minutes Psalm is free yet again.

“Should be alright now,” Henrick says.

“Thank you,” Psalm says, “I'm afraid I’ve become the reason for your boss poking a fresh set of holes into you though.”

Henrick shrugs. “You get used to it, and it’s not like it'd be the first time anyways. He was pretty mad that one time back in the market.”

“Damn, and here I was thinking we'd been lowkey.”

“Eh, he can sniff out money.”

Psalm ponders that response for a minute but has no answer. Who is he to question one's choice of management?

“I could always have a friend get rid of him for you, if you'd like.”

The statement only serves to make Henrick more fidgety. It seemed that Henrick had at least some reservations about it, but Psalm supposed someone who'd been willing to help the enemy twice now could be expected to be a bit of a softy.

“I dunno…”

“It'd be no trouble. She's been kinda eager to, let’s say “have a chat”, with him again.”

Henrick shudders. “You mean the big one?”

“Mhmm.”

“Yeah, hard pass. Who knows if she'll stop at just Rickert.” Psalm laughs. He knows Han would, but the fact that she's scarred some of Rickert's men is pretty funny. Speaking of, he'd best return to the group soon. His diversion had taken longer than he'd expected. He hopes the others have made it back to Vinny's shop by now.

“I'll give you some time to think about it, but in any case, I'd best be on my way.”

“No gold this time?” Henrick jokes, and then not a moment later looks awash with regret at what he's just said.

“My pockets aren't as deep as you might think,” Psalm says. At that, Henrick, quite unexpectedly, starts to blush.

“That was just a… can you forget I said that?” he says.

“Hmm, maybe not,” Psalm smiles.

“I honestly just, don't remember your name…” Henrick trails off.

“That's disappointing,” Psalm says. He looks around the alley, and for good measure, checks around the corners too. The bandits are gone, thankfully, but maybe it'd be best to avoid using the alleys just incase they were still crawling around.

“You don't sound like you care much.”

Psalm turns back to Henrick after his thorough search of the alley. “I thought that we had something special going on, but clearly I was wrong,” Psalm sighs.

Henrick looks confused. “Huh?”

“But it's fine. I'll reintroduce myself next time.”

“Next time?”

“Well a good deed can't just go unpaid.”

Henrick fidgets with his scarf. “I was kidding ‘bout the gold.”

“Well, I wasn't. But really, let's save it for next time.” Psalm gives Henrick a perfunctory wave, he's not one for excessive good-byes, and heads off down the opposite way of the bandits. He doesn’t look back.

It's all very calculated for you isn't it? Is that how you usually make friends? Ghester pipes up once there's no one around.

“Who said anything about making friends?” Psalm grumbles back in Infernal.

About two weeks later, Psalm finds himself again wandering the alleys of Shorewater. However, this time, it's both he and Plum that have been separated from the others. They'd split into three teams, Han and Keva, Rokka and Cimmorro and he and Plum. It was a simple fetch quest, nothing serious. To put it simply: one of Vinny's cats had gone missing again.

“If this leads us to another thieves’ den I'm going home,” Plum says, obviously irritated at the idea. Psalm is inclined to agree.

“We could get Vinny to pay extra if that happens though,” Psalm points out, “try thinking a little on the bright side of things.”

“Don't wanna hear that from Mr.Broods-a-lot,” Plum mumbles.

“Haha, funny.”

They head to the market square again, the only difference from the first time this had happened being that it's night time now. The market takes on a different feel at night, less lively but still busy enough to feel comfortable. Plum and Psalm go around questioning some of the vendors, one of whom mentions having seen the cat a bit earlier skulking around the fish stalls. Go figure.

“You think Team Rokka/Cimmorro has found it yet?” Plum asks as they make their way over to that section of the market.

“One can only dream.”

Sure enough, when they get there, the cat is nowhere to be seen. One of the fish vendors informs them that the cat had been there though, having made off with one of his fish earlier.

“You gonna pay up?” the vendor asks, as if that were the logical conclusion to the situation.

Plum makes up their face. Psalm steps in before they decide to make things worse.

“I apologise, but it's not our cat. When we find her we can inform our employer and he'll reimburse you. Please wait until then.”

The vendor grumbles but agrees, and Psalm congratulates himself for avoiding that situation. The congratulations last for all of about one second before a man goes barrelling into the cart.

Psalm and Plum jump back immediately. Thankfully, the vendor is unharmed, but his cart has definitely seen better days. Psalm looks up to see Han, because of course this has something to do with her, and a hooded figure in the middle of the square. There are people rushing about, some trying to get out of Han's line of fire, others carrying on like nothing had happened. It's hard to see exactly with all the people rushing about.

Psalm considers ignoring the situation and carrying on with his current mission, but the next thing he knows his feet are carrying him over towards the commotion.

“Han, what are you doing.” It's not really a question.

“Stopping thief,” she says, as if she hadn't just hurled a man halfway across the square. “You expect me to stand by while this man and his friends steal from innocent people?”

Psalm presses his head into his hands.

“Right now I think you're doing more damage than the thief,” Plum says, having followed Psalm over to the middle of the square. They point in the direction of the fish vendor's cart.

Han looks over, confused, and then winces.

“Oops,” she says, and then, “Vinny can pay for it.”

I’m so sorry Vinny, Psalm thinks.

It's then that Psalm notices the hooded figure that Han had been engaged with is trying to make an escape. Unfortunately for them, Han notices too, and before he can get away she reaches down and hoists him into the air by the back of his hood, revealing his face.

Of course it's Henrick.

Psalm quashes down a small wave of panic. Of all the people Han could’ve possibly gotten her hands on. Psalm wishes she had found Rickert instead, because he didn’t care one way or another what happened to him. Before Psalm can say anything to salvage the situation though, Plum reacts faster, surprisingly.

“You're that guy that was with Ricke-!” they start to say, but before they can finish Psalm gives them a swift kick to the leg. Plum turns and glares at him.

“What was that for?”

“What was what for?”

Han narrows her eyes at at the both of them. “You know this thief?”

“I’m not a thief,” Henrick says, “or well, I didn't steal anything just now.”

Han ignores him, eyes trained solely on Plum. Psalm considers that a small blessing for the moment. There’s no way Han isn’t going to recognise Henrick once she actually gets a good luck at his now unhooded face, Plum points at Psalm. “Not me. This guy. They had some kinda shady deal going on. It was kinda gross to witness.”

Leave it to Plum to throw him under the bus in a moment like this honestly. Han already didn't trust him a good percentage of the time, and now this. It’s then that Han finally turns back to Henrick, and of course, recognises him instantly.

“You’re one of Rickert’s men?” she all but yells.

Henrick raises his hands in defense. “Yeah, but not willingly,” he says. While this is happening, Psalm is not quite glaring at Plum, who is making a point of ignoring him.

Psalm, annoyed, turns to Han instead. “Could you put him down? You're causing a scene.” Technically she's already caused one, but Henrick looks like he's about to pass out from fear while Han manhandles him, and Psalm can't really blame him. She did spear one of his friends.

“Like this, I'm stopping him from running away. Why is Plum saying you know this man, Psalm? Are you working for Rickert?”

Psalm tries to think of an answer that isn't suspicious. He’s currently drawing blanks as to ways to avoid making the situation worse. He quickly peers over at Henrick, who, despite being dangled several feet in the air like a doll, looks somewhat pleased.

“I remember,” Psalm hears him say, “it's Psalm.”

Now is really not the time for that Psalm thinks, but he can't help feeling a little endeared anyways.

“We spared his life remember? And he just so happened to be there when we were gathering information underground during that whole fiasco with the ball,” Psalm says, “Did I not tell you? Whoops.”

That was a mistake of course, riling Han up, but his excuse was that he was quickly losing his patience with the situation. That and he was just flat out starting to panic.

Of course, once Han realises what Psalm said she glares even harder. “You're working for Rickert aren't you. You've been fooling us the entire time.”

“I have not, in fact, been working for Rickert. He tried to kill me too remember? Now if you could just put my friend down and maybe not kill him, that'd be great. Wonderful even.”

“I don't kill,” Han says. Out of the corner of his eye, Psalm sees Plum turn and look at the man currently lying unconscious on top of what used to be a fish stall.

“Just put him down and let him explain himself already Han, seriously the guards might come at any time now and I'm sure you don't want to go to jail.”

Han grumbles at that, but eventually let's Henrick down and the group of them exit the square into a small alley a little ways away.

As soon as they get there Han slams Henrick up against the wall of the alley. “You will explain.”

Psalm watches this unfold with a vague sort of empathy. I understand, he thinks, I've been there too.

Henrick looks to Psalm for help. Psalm shrugs. As much as he would like to, things are honestly out of his hands at this point. Still though, he does kind of owe Henrick so he might as well try.

“I think you're scaring him.”

“Good,” Han says. She turns to Psalm as well. “Don't think this means I trust you.”

“Wouldn't dream of it, but I don't think we're getting anywhere like this,” Psalm tries but Han ignores him. Psalm resists the urge to beat his head against the wall. Why is she so stubborn?

Psalm turns to Plum, not that he's expecting them to be of any help. Of course he's right, Plum has already resumed searching for the cat in the alley they're in.

“What did you steal?” Han asks.

“I didn’t,” Henrick says, looking exasperated.

“You're lying.”

“I am not.”

This kind of questioning could go on all night, Psalm realises, so he tries to step in again. He looks Henrick in the eyes.

“Did you steal anything?”

Han looks indignant. “I'm doing the questioning!”

“We’ll be here until dawn if you do the questioning. Just let me do it.”

“But you're working for Rickert,” she shouts at him.

“I am not,” Psalm shouts back, “God, I can even help you find him later if you want to kill him so badly, but can you please just let me do this so we can finish up here?”

He's not sure what about that placates her, possibly the offer to kick Rickert's ass down the line, but eventually Han eases up off the wall and crosses her arms instead.

“Explain everything later or it's not just Rickert I will want to kill so badly.”

“Yes, yes, hurt me all you want later. Now, some silence please.” Han huffs.

Psalm sighs and turns back to Henrick. “Do me a favour and don't resist please.”

Henrick looks confused, and then his eyes glaze over. He looks at Psalm, and a dopey smile forms on his face.

Psalm turns to Han. “I've charmed him, are you happy now?”

Han knows by now what a charmed person looks like, but she still seems a bit suspicious.

“How do I know this isn't a trick?”

“What could I possibly gain from getting in the way of you and Rickert, who I don't give a rat's ass about, at the cost of possibly own life? This man's innocent Han, don't drag him into it.”

Psalm doesn't actually know if he's innocent or not. Everything he's saying right now is a gamble. He hopes Henrick hadn't been lying earlier.

Psalm turns back to Henrick.

“Did you steal anything at the market just now?”

Henrick thinks for a couple seconds, and every single one of those seconds is a year shaved off of his life he thinks.

“Nope,” he decides. Psalm breathes a sigh of relief. Hopefully, Henrick isn't the type to lie too much to his friends though, not that Han needs to know the details of a charm spell right now. Still, just to be on the safe side...

“You're not lying?”

“No point lying to you. You're nice to me. Nicer than Rickert for sure, not that that's hard to do.”

Han raises an eyebrow.

“I paid him ten gold for some information. Don't read into it.”

“Yet I shouldn't be suspicious?” Han says.

“It's more gross than suspicious I think,” Plum pipes up, having given up on the search for the cat at the moment.

“No one asked,” Psalm says.

“Ask him where Rickert is,” Han says. Psalm is not totally opposed to finding out this information if it means getting Han to trust that they're not affiliated. He does feel bad about getting the information out of Henrick this way though. It was yet another way Psalm would've gotten Rickert in trouble.

Something to worry about later though, when he didn’t have his own reputation to clear.

“Henrick you wouldn't happen to know where Rickert is at this very moment would you?”

“Nah, he left the city about a week ago on some mission. Said it was too important to tell the likes of me and the others. Dunno when he'll be back either.”

Han just barely manages to contain her frustration at that answer.

“Are we done here now?” Psalm asks.

“Do you have a base? Somewhere you meet up?” Han pushes.

Henrick regards her curiously. “Not since you guys trashed our first one.”

“I think we're done here now,” Psalm says. He turns to Han. “What now? You want to play detective with me too? I assure you I have nothing to hide.”

Regarding Rickert anyways, he thinks, but of course he leaves that unsaid.

Han looks conflicted. “You never give me good reason to trust you.”

Psalm clutches at his heart in mock hurt, but responds in his usual monotone regardless. “After everything we've been through together?”

Plum interjects again. “Is he just gonna stay like that?” Han and Psalm pause and turn back to Henrick, who is currently staring off into space.

“Regrettably, I don't know how to end the spell. It'll wear off after an hour,” Psalm says.

“I don't want to watch this guy make googly eyes at Psalm for an hour,” Plum says, disgust clear as day on their face.

“Plus we have cat to find,” Han says. Psalm stares at her.

“You sure changed directions quickly.”

Han shrugs. “I'll beat it out of you later.”

“Yes well, if I'm not halfway across the continent by then.”

Now it's his turn to get pinned against the wall by Han. Somehow, he's surprised he didn't see this coming. He has a vague suspicion she just likes to flex on him where possible.

“What was that?” Han says sweetly.

“I said ‘I can't wait’ of course,” Psalm says.

“Good.” She gestures to Plum. “We should go find Keva. And the cat.”

After the two exit the alley Psalm sinks to the floor and stretches his legs out in front of him. Henrick is still standing nearby, zoning out, so Psalm snaps at him to get his attention.

It's only been like what, fifteen minutes? Henricks eyes are still glazed over.

“This back and forth of owing each other is bad for the soul I think,” Psalm says to him. Henrick just stares before joining Psalm on the floor. Psalm just sighs.

I must say that was quite entertaining, Ghester says.

“I’m not in the mood to talk to you.”

That would imply that you are normally would it not?

“Good point.”

Psalm has no idea what to do while waiting for the spell to wear off, but he can't just leave the man charmed in a random alleyway at night either. Then all of his hard work would've been for nothing.

He entertains the idea of getting some information out of Henrick while things are like this, but it feels a bit underhanded, and there isn't really anything in particular he wants to know anyways.

“I'm starting to think this was a mistake.”

You're like a child. Are you really telling me you can't sit still for less than an hour?

“I can't help it if I get bored.”

Childish.

“Whatever, I'd rather chew threw my own tail than listen to you insult me.”

You've no choice in the matter really.

“And I'm the childish one?”

“Who are you talking to?” Henrick asks from beside him.

Psalm nearly jumps out of his skin. Henrick's eyes are back to normal. He'd forgotten that elves were more resistant to charms, especially full blooded ones. It hadn't been a full hour yet. The shock must've registered on his face, because Henrick starts to backtrack immediately.

“Well I don't know if that was talking, actually. Not to be rude. Don't really get to hear Infernal all that often so, uh...nevermind.”

Psalm stares at him in amusement. “I was merely practicing some spells is all,” he lies.

“Oh.”

Then silence. Psalm tries not to find it a bit awkward, which he usually doesn't, but fails. Henrick is apparently thinking the same thing, because he starts speaking again.

“Your friend’s kinda scary.”

Psalm resists the urge to chuckle, because it's the truth when he's on the receiving end.

“I won't deny that.” It's a short reply. From the way Henrick starts to fiddle with the handle of the dagger in his belt, Psalm assumes he'd been expecting him to carry more of the conversation. Unfortunately for him, Psalm is feeling a bit worn out, and maybe just a little bit too amused at watching Henrick squirm a bit. But he isn't a bully. Not really.

“I suppose if we’re going to continue this pattern that it's your turn to save me next,” Psalm says.

Henrick laughs nervously. “I hope you're not asking me to get in the way of you and your friend.”

“Are you saying I'm not worth the trouble?”

Henrick pauses, caught off guard.

“I-.”

“That upsets me to hear,” Psalm says. He rests his head on his knees and looks up at Henrick.

Henrick continues to scramble for an answer. “Ok, but-”

“I mean it's ok if you don't feel that way, as I'm obviously just messing with you. Only a madman would get in Han's way.”

Henrick lets out a frustrated noise, and leans his head back against the wall.

Psalm laughs.

Henrick glares at him, albeit weakly. Psalm assumes that's as intense as someone who looks as worn out as him will get.

“Is it fun for you to do that?” Henrick asks.

Of course, Psalm thinks. “Do what?” he says.

“I dunno, screw with me?”

“Ah, not quite. I believe the word you're looking for is flirting, yes?”

Henrick's eyes widen and he pointedly looks down at the floor. “That's not what I meant.”

Psalm smiles. “But isn't it though?”

“Is that why you kept that note? And the dagger?”

That makes Psalm pause. It's not that weird a question, given that he'd asked about it last time as well, but he'd never thought hard about why.

Henrick notes the lack of response, but doesn't look up. “I'm just curious is all. Don't get any funny ideas.”

“Bit late for that,” Psalm says, and to his endless amusement Henrick rolls his eyes.

“If you want the truth though, I was just clearing the crime scene. And you left the dagger behind. Who am I to turn down a parting gift?”

“That's all?”

Psalm lifts his head and leans in slightly. Even while sitting he's still taller. “You were expecting something else?”

Henrick leans away. “I was just curious,” he repeats.

“I believe you.”

Henrick snorts. “No you don't.”

“I've no reason to lie to you,” Psalm says, and it's sort of the truth. If there's one thing Henrick has more or less proved repeatedly, it's that he poses absolutely no threat whatsoever to Psalm. Weird how not wanting to kill him has endeared this man to him. Psalm wonders where the hell he went wrong in life for a brief moment.

Despite his (mostly) sincere answer, Henrick eyes him cautiously, obviously not believing him. Now Psalm's the one rolling his eyes.

“If I told you I kept your note to prove you'd owe me later would that make more sense to you? Keep in mind I can't see the future, so there's no way I'd actually know whether I could cash in on that or not.”

“It's just weird that you're so nice to me when my boss and I tried to kill you I guess? It's not weird for me to find this weird right?”

“Oh? What's “this”? There's a “this”?” Psalm says. Henrick places his head in his hands and let's out a muffled yell.

“You're really frustrating to talk to! D'yknow that?”

“So I've been told.” He watches Henrick get to his feet, but doesn't bother moving himself.

“Next time it's your turn to save me, alright?” Psalm says as Henrick turns to leave.

“Yeah, yeah. Ugh, I should just leave you if that happens.” Despite this, Henrick turns and waves before leaving. Psalm waves back, and Henrick retreats out of view.��

Psalm sits for a couple more minutes in silence. He's not really sure what to do now honestly except return back to the inn. As he stands up, he hears a small meow from further down the alley. When he goes to investigate, he discovers Vinny's cat, huddled under a small fort of crates.

Psalm scoops her into his arms.

“Well aren't you cute?” he says to her.

More honest with animals than people are we?

“Are you going to do this every time?”

Yes.

The group are at the tavern in the Swallow’s Perch celebrating a successful escort mission some nights later. Although, to call it a celebration when two thirds of the party hadn't been interested in attending was generous. Of course it had been Rokka and Han's idea. The two had somehow managed to get the other four to participate. Between Rokka's innocent cluelessness and Han's stubbornness, it isn't like they could've said no.

Psalm watches from a safe distance as Keva goes around pickpocketing strangers while Cimmorro distracts them, and wonders what'll happen if Han notices.

He's not really in the mood to drink right now, but he empties a few tankards anyways for lack of anything better to do.

Rokka comes over and sits next to him.

“Why the long face roomie?”

Psalm raises an eyebrow. “This is how it is normally.”

“Oh ok. Plum said you looked like you wanted company, so I thought you were sad or something but if you're not, that's good too!”

Psalm is pretty sure Plum just didn’t want to be on the receiving end of Rokka's attention, but he refrains from saying that. Plum cuts their eyes at him from across the counter, and Psalm wonders what exactly he's done to incur their wrath this time. Probably nothing, if he's honest, Plum is just kind of a nuisance without really meaning to be.

“Well since I'm perfectly fine, how about we both go let Plum know?”

“Good idea,” Rokka says, clearly pleased at the idea.

Plum does not look as pleased when they look up from their drink and realise that not only has Rokka returned, but Psalm is one step behind him.

“Not this,” Plum says, “anything but this.”

Rokka takes the seat next to them. “Not what?”

Psalm takes the seat on the opposite side of Plum.

“Heard you were worried about me. I'm touched.”

“I'm not worried,” Plum says indignantly, “you've just had a dumb mopey look on your face since the other day. Did your boyfriend dump you?”

Psalm frowns at the exact same time Rokka's ears perk up.

“You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend roomie!” he says, at a volume that was much louder than was necessary. Of course, it takes all of no seconds for the rest of the party to look at Psalm. This is what he gets for trying to harass Plum clearly. God has he learned his lesson now.

“I didn't tell you because I don't have one.” Not that he would've gone out of his way to if he did. Not out of any sort of ill intent towards Rokka, it was just that clearly he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

The others are suddenly crowded around him. Since when did they care so much?

“How'd you find someone with the same freaky kinks as you?” Cimmorro asks. Psalm can never tell when he's being serious or not.

“I'm not even going to grace that with a real response,” he says.

“I have to agree,” Keva says, “with Cimmorro that is. Also congrats I guess. There's a heart in there after all. Probably.”

“I'm shocked too,” Han says, “I just assumed one with no emotions like you would have trouble finding a partner.”

“All of you are rude as hell,” Psalm says, suddenly devoid of any desire to clear the misunderstanding. He has a small suspicion it wouldn't be worth the effort.

It's at that moment, that karma delivers the biggest fuck you imaginable. The doors of the tavern swing open, and Henrick walks in followed by two men, one of whom Psalm doesn’t recognise, and one he does because it's Rickert.

A lot of different things happen in quick succession at that point.

Henrick spots Han, because she's hard to miss, and immediately tries to make a U-turn out the door.

It's unsuccessful, as Rickert spots Han as well, pushes Henrick out of the way and is gone faster than should be possible.

Han spots Rickert and leaps over the counter towards him.

Plum yells “There's the boyfriend! Go bother him!” at Rokka, and points at Henrick.

Psalm contemplates jumping off the nearest cliff into the ocean. Or killing Plum. Whichever is easiest.

There's a lot of commotion after that. Ferrie looks slightly exasperated as she tries to calm the other patrons down. Rokka heads out the door as well, Psalm assumes to go back Han up, but not without sparing a glance over at Henrick. Henrick doesn't notice because he's too busy giving, Plum a curious look. It takes no time at all for Psalm to guess why.

Suddenly Psalm feels his sobriety evaporating into thin air as dread? Or maybe anxiety, he can't tell which, takes over. Curse his habit of over drinking.

“I think I'm done for the night,” he says, standing up. Better to avoid disaster completely, than attempt to face it while rapidly getting more intoxicated.

Plum gives him a look of pity and understanding. Keva and Cimmorro have left, possibly also to go help Han. Or maybe it's just the bounty they're interested in. Either way it's just he and Plum left.

“You don't have to go just because you got dumped,” Plum says.

“I am genuinely curious as to how you arrived at the conclusion that I got dumped, because you sound genuine and that scares me.”

“Is this seat taken?” a voice says to his right. Psalm doesn't turn around because he knows who it is.

“Be my guest.” There’s no escape as he hears Henrick pull back the seat beside him and sit down, but he tries anyways.

“I was just leaving anyways.” He doesn’t want to think about Henrick’s reaction to that. Maybe if he gets there in time, he can get in the middle of Rickert and Psalm’s fight and they’ll both kill him. The idea is incredibly enticing.

Before he can even start to move towards the door Plum pulls Psalm in by the front of his shirt and whispers at him.

“You can't leave. Look, he wants to sort things out.”

“There is no way you could be this stu- I mean mis-infomed. Seriously.”

“I don't get what you mean, but if you leave now it'll just be me and him, and I don't want that.”

Ah yes. Typical Plum behaviour.

“I don't care.”

“I'll tell him about your weird kinks.”

“Go ahead.”

Plum shakes him a bit. “Why are you being like this?”

“I’ve had too much to drink.”

“So you’re worried about saying something stupid in front of the guy you like?”

Plum laying it out bare to him like that makes him feel embarrassed.

“I don’t like him. I just think he’s cute.”

Plum gives him a disgusted look.

“Not like that. More of an ‘his reactions are cute so I want to bully him’ kind of way. Which is what I usually do, but now I don’t know if I can stop myself from saying anything stupid. Like I’m doing right now actually.”

“I see now why you want to leave so badly. You should never drink again. Ever. I’m serious.”

“Glad to see we’re finally on the same pa- where are you going?” Plum is in the middle of leaving their seat, but they stop to give Psalm an annoyed look. Not that the annoyed look every really left their face.

“I’m getting kind of tired of whispering, also you’re being dumb so I don’t want to talk to you anymore.” Before Psalm can stop them, they’ve walked off to a different section of the bar, effectively stranding him here with Henrick, who he hasn’t even formally acknowledged yet.

That problem solves itself the moment Plum is out of earshot.

“So... boyfriend huh?” Henrick says.

Psalm doesn’t turn around.

“If I searched hard enough I could find your boss and get him to kill me right? How far do you think he's made it?”

Henrick chuckles. “Dunno. You gonna sit back down or am I going to end up drinking by myself?”

Psalm sighs. There's no getting out of this one. He considers for one, brief, desperate moment, asking Ghester for help, but that has never proved to be useful the entire time he's known him.

“Can't have that can we?” he says instead, and sits down in the seat he'd been previously occupying.

There's a long silence as Henrick sits there and drinks, and with nothing else to do Psalm just watches him.

“Not very talkative tonight I see.”

“I don't really know what to do now that the tables are turned if I’m honest,” Henrick says. He scratches at his face sheepishly.

“You could consider just forgetting me or my idiot friends said anything. We could go back to square one? Hello, my name’s Psalm.”

Henrick smiles. “Are you drunk? It's kind of hard to tell, but it feels like you are.”

“I'm perfectly coherent thanks,” Psalm huffs.He battles the urge to pout for a solid ten seconds before he loses.

“It's kinda nice? Usually you're just like this,” and then Henrick makes a face that Psalm assumes is supposed to be an imitation of him. It just looks like he's constipated.

“A perfect imitation,” Psalm says.

“Oh shut it, you know I'm right. You're more honest too right now, I guess. You should drink more often. ”

“That is quite literally the opposite of what I was told a couple minutes ago. Funny how that works. Life in general is funny. Ha.”

God Psalm, he thinks, just shut it already.

“I think it's kinda cute?” Henrick says, and the takes a sip from his drink.

Psalm stares at him. The inebriated state of his mind isn't really helping to decipher the meaning behind that statement. Maybe there isn't any. He hadn't really thought that far ahead regarding his encounters with Henrick beyond, “elf cute, gotta tease”, so the reciprocation of sentiment on Henrick's part was throwing him off.

“Do you want to take a walk with me?” Psalm asks. He gets up from his seat. “I feel like taking a walk.”

Henrick makes a face like he misheard. “Uh... what? Right now?”

“You'd rather be here when Han comes back?”

Henrick pales. “A walk sounds good.”

It's a cool night, thankfully, because it'd been kind of stuffy inside the bar. There are just enough people outside in the streets for the night to feel lively.

“What are you even doing here? At Swallow's Perch. I’d figured it was too open a space for thieves,” Psalm asks once they're a reasonable distance away.

“Eh, boss was meeting up with a client here. Although I guess the job's shot if your friend kills him huh...damn.”

“You don’t sound all that concerned.”

“Well it's not like I like the guy...he pokes me fulla holes any chance he gets really. Although it would be a pain to have to find new work and- hey, actually can we not talk about Rickert?”

Psalm fiddles with the neck of his shirt. “Sorry I'm all out ideas. I'm afraid you'll have to take over.”

Henrick snorts. “Weird, you usually have something to say.”

“Yes well, right now it's harder for me. My head's a bit of a mess.” As if to prove his point, Psalm just narrowly misses walking into a lamppost. Henrick reaches out and pulls him out of the way.

Just kill me now, Psalm thinks, there's no need for me to suffer first.

“Maybe you should sit down.”

“Great idea.” The two stop at a nearby bench, just a little ways off from the market square. Psalm hopes that Rickert is keeping Han busy, or it's likely she'll pass by them on the way back to the inn.

Psalm sits down, but Henrick remains standing.

“Ok, I think we should probably stop beating around the bush,” he says. Psalm laughs nervously.

“The tables really have turned haven't they? Is that the liquid courage talking or are you being serious?”

“Actually it's both.”

“I see.”

“Ok just listen. I know this is kind of silly, mostly because you and your friends tried to kill me and my friends the first time we met, and it's been like, two other times since then and your goliath friend-”

“Han,” Psalm interjects before he can stop himself. He's definitely swearing off alcohol forever.

“Yeah her, yeah she terrifies me, but, the point is I think you're interested in me in the same way I am in you, and it'd be nice if we could see each other maybe not by chance?”

Psalm runs that last part in his head a couple times. “Are you asking me on a date?”

Henrick's sudden burst of confidence seems to be disappearing, because he suddenly starts fidgeting.

“Uh yeah? More or less. Unless I just completely misunderstood every interaction we've had so far. I did didn't I? Oh god.”

Psalm feels like he's on fire, but he puts that aside for now to stop Henrick from self-destructing.

“No, no you were right. Sorry I'm just- How about tomorrow?”

Henrick frowns at him. “You don't seem very interested.”

“Sorry were you expecting me to be blushing like a teenage girl? It’s not very easy to pull off with red skin, I assure you.” Psalm is actually doing his best not to rocket into space, but Henrick doesn't need to know that.

Henrick sighs and sits down on the bench. “Maybe I have a thing for assholes.”

Psalm raises an eyebrow. “Oh? I can be nice too I if you want.”

Henrick flushes. ��What do you mean?”

“I can show you if you'd like,” he says, meaning in. Before he can make good on his comment though, there's a sudden noise like a stampede off in the distance. Psalm has a feeling he knows what it is, and sure enough as the sound gets closer he recognises Han's silhouette as she barrels towards them.

There's a distinct lack of blood on her, so he figures Rickert escaped safely.

“I think it'd be best if you escaped,” Psalm says.

“What makes you say that,” Henrick says as he leaps off the bench. He takes off in the opposite direction, but not before yelling “Remember tomorrow,” as he disappears into the distance.

Han, having lost yet another target, focuses her attention on Psalm, who she picks up by the cape not unlike she would a small child.

“Hello Han, having fun ruining my night?”

“That makes both of us. Why did your friend run off?”

“You spent most of tonight trying to kill his boss.”

Han scoffs as if what Psalm had just said was in any way unreasonable. “I was just going to gently persuade him to tell me location, nothing too intense.” She drops him to his feet (seriously, she must be doing this to flex on him or something) and begins to head back to the inn.

“You coming?”

Psalm falls into step a little behind her, and the two walk in relative silence for a bit before Ghester shows himself.

Quite a night, he says.

“I'm glad it’s over, if that's what you're getting at,” Psalm responds quietly in Infernal.

Oh? Looking forward to tomorrow I see.

“Something like that.” He realises somewhat belatedly that they hadn't really set a time or place. Oh well, they'd figure something out.

“Did you say something?” Han turns back to look at him.

Psalm smiles. “You must've misheard.”

#psalm/henrick #author: sarita #hellooooo #psalm brimdrorvi #henrick #that guy does not have a tag here #OTHER CHARACTERS MAKE APPEARANCES I'M NOT TAGGING HTEM OUT OF LAZINESS #fiction

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dndfuckhouse · 5 years ago

Text

session 22 - under pressure

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> 🎵 Terminus / Distance OST

We pick up again in the heat of battle as the party swiftly engage the cult. It appears Theyord is setting his plan into motion before their very eyes as they dart about in the chamber. Suddenly once again they feel the room around them quake from the ritual he’s conducting, bits of debris falling from the ceiling as the ground below them rumbles

Rokka suddenly feels the stairway he’s standing upon crack and break beneath his feet, snapping between him and the cultist him and Ollie are engaged with. The ground quickly gives way, bringing the half of the stairs they’re standing upon with it.

Finn: CAN HE STOP RUINING THE CEILING THESE THINGS COST MONEY Psalm: not our money tho Finn: TAXES Psalm: finn is rich why does he care about taxes, truly a good soul Finn: finn be like: oh shit the economy Psalm: does shorewater tax the rich more chip depending on your answer i will canonly buy a guillotine Keva: he also doesn't pay dorrinian taxes he is a tourist he just has to pay sales tax Finn: keva is my attorney at law?

Rokka quickly rolls backwards dodging a sharp fall down to the lower floor among the debris, Ollie standing next to him and the cultist across dont appear as lucky however and plummet with the staircase amongst broken stone chunks. He hears them both shout as they go, hitting the ground below. The cultist lays underneath the debris unmoving, Rokka sees blood seeping out from under them, Ollie near them lays on his back prone but seemingly conscious

Chip: its like this now

Cimmorro: THANKS FOR THIS VERY INFORMATIVE GRAPHIC Han: CHIP THAT DIAGRAM IS FUCKING INCOMPREHENSIBLE Psalm: actually wait i got that NO ITS NOT Chip: THANK U SARITA Psalm: GOT UR BACK

Back over where Finn is engaged with Olst, he spots Psalm staring at him from down the darkened hallway confused. He watches Finn fidget nervously for a moment before he stretches out his free arm with a huge grin that flashes his teeth, with a peace sign, a v vor vengaboys, really hoping psalm gets the idea that hes fine. Psalm continues watching attempting to process this.

Finn then quickly looks about the chamber hes in looking for a way to break the dagger he took from Olst. He raises his hand up with the knife and attempts to break it, hitting it on the rocks fallen from the ceiling, however it just tings and glides off of it uselessly...seems the daggers are quite well made. He still holds Olst’s hand in his other uselessly, he raises an eyebrow at his strange actions.

Finn: I SMILE NERVOUSLY 😳 Olst: he does not comment

Quickly attempting to move on from this he quickly asks olst a question about the chamber they're still inside.

Finn: “whats all the tubes for and those documents scattered across the floor?" Olst: he periodically keeps whipping his head between the exits to the room before turning back to you and replying "...our lord's work. the tubes contain a demonic ichor of a sort. He was experimenting with its effects" he turns his head towards you seriously "you'd not want to touch it, its effects can be quite averse, it may mess with the runes as well..." he squints his eyes and looks back around the room Plum: MESS W THE WHAT, BOY IF YOU DONT

Finn: "dont touch it, got it... but messing with the runes? you have any idea how exactly?" Olst: he thinks gravely before continuing "could wash away the work. an undesirable outcome" Han: we rly just need to piss on them huuh Finn: SHUT UP PLEASE

Finn: "theyre just for teleportation, right?" Olst: he gives a weak chuckle "of course not" Finn: he tilts his head. "hm? what else can they do olst?" Olst: "the different runes have their different functions, bravk helped write them not i. all we need to do is make sure the ones connected to your lord are not tampered with, thats all you need to know" with that he turns his head away from you again Cimmorro: no talk me anymore, b-baka Chip: tch finn ur so helpless.... Plum: olst like pwease dont ask me anything else >_<

Soon after within the main chamber, Bravk turns towards Keva while quickly paging through his tome. He raises a finger towards her anxiously attempting to cloud her vision with a blackness but she seems to shake it off. He makes a choking sound in frustration before dashing off across the chamber dejectedly. As he goes Keva fires off another arrow into the increasingly nervous Bravk again before sliding down and low against the column to hide in the shadows.

In the meantime three of the other cultists amnouver around the main chamber, two throwing daggers towards Han and striking her. Vera soon after runs up to a cultist lower below, cleaving into them with her sword, huffing through her nose as she holds her stance.

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> 🎵 Strider Battle / Half-Life: Alyx OST

Emruz then steps across the main chamber, letting off two shots, one towards rokka and another towards psalm, they both manage to hit. She spits on the ground soon after with a grunt as she goes.

Finn: emruz gonna get potg at this rate Han: emruz is actually the bitch in charge Keva: she's not a second for nothing Cimmorro: u look at her eyes n tell me she's not the dom

Cimmorro back near the entrance quickly makes to pick up the dagger he made the cultist in front of him drop before running like a freight train over towards Han’s direction.

Han: HAN AFTER TAKING 4 HITS AND SEEING CIMM RUN OUT TO HER: OH GOD NO

He quickly belts out a scream that sounds like a roar that reverberates around the chamber, attempting to look as menacing as possible. Using his dragon fear in an attempt to deter all the nearby goon cultists from further continuing their barrage on Han.

Keva: cimm runs over to han and latches onto her while screeching at the goonies is the image i have in my head rn Cimmorro: like what he did to vinny Chip: I WONT LET YOU DIE HERE, NOT LIKE THIS Finn: NOT UNTIL YOU PISS ON THEYORDS RUNES Cimmorro: IJGS ODOISFJHOSFH HE CANT DO THAT UNTIL U TELL HIM!!!!!!! U HAVE TO GET UR ASS BACK OUT HERE

Cimmorro: U come out of the room like th epizza on fire gif Finn: yeah like sorry had a shotgun wedding over here

Most of them appear put off by his display and back off slightly, though one of them simply stares confused at him. Nearby Rokka jumps down to the lower floor amongst the staircase debris to engage one of the cultists that ran nearby, slicing through them with his scimitar. His rage causes one of the lupine ghosts circling him to then circle the cultists, forcing them to engage with him directly.

Soon after Plum chucks a vial of acid at the cultist engaged with Vera, it slams right into their head dissolving their hood and parts of their face, afterwards they once again quickly scuttle behind cover.

At the head of the chamber, Theyord continues chanting. The runes around him on the floor continue to flare a bright red as he speaks with his hands still pressed to the ground, moving them slightly throughout. As he continues to speak the group see a bit of blood begin to start dripping out of his mouth. Near him Vinny and Shelly continue to twitch and grunt in pain upon the stone altars, blood also start dripping from their mouths and noses, seems whatever hes doing is working.

As he does Han quickly shoots off an arrow at a nearby cultists, it sparks with a quick purple glow as it zips off, striking the cultist in the shoulder. They appear almost staggered by the shot, allowing the arrow to sink deeper in, she then quickly moves behind the cover of a nearby pillar.

Ollie finally makes to get up soon after, he stands shaking the debris and stone out of his hair and clothes, whipping a bit of blood seeping out a gash on his head with it. Not able to do much else for the moment he turns his attention towards Rokka trying to not look dazed.

Cimmorro:

Chip: GLJKERGHLWEJGKL;WTK;HLTRK;LHKLW;'JR Keva: HFESNFSRJNSHNGENFEKLQEGAJSRJGEASNLENGRLH Han: ;LKAKH;SD;LKHF;WKHL3FD AWFUL

Soon after more of the cultists dash around the chamber, the one Han struck green runs up and throws a dagger towards her, though it misses. Another scuttles around the entrance towards Plum and attempts to strike them but misses as well. The cultists engaged with vera will slice with their dagger and hit however, she feels an effect come over but grits her teeth and shakes it off, unaffected.

Cimmorro:

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> 🎵 Stress / Justice

Psalm seemingly having understood Finn’s ambiguous message moves on while shooting a peace sign back at him. He aims an agonising blast towards Emruz, striking her dead on in the stomach before running up towards the top of the chamber.

Emruz: she looks at you and snarls Psalm: psalm just kinda stares back at her like...😐

Though while psalm stands pondering finn's ability to find love in a hopeless place he does not seem to notice the basement shake and quake above him, vera however does. Looking up she turns towards him and shouts "MOVE YOU DOLT" snapping him out of his reverie, miraculously he manages to dodge the debris with the additional help of Plums sanctuary, soon after Finn turns his attention back to Olst.

Finn: i tell olst "can you close your eyes for a moment" Psalm: GJHGF I NEARLY SPITF Chip: wow third base already

Olst: he does this 🤨 Finn: finn rolls his eyes and puts his free hand on olst's face to drag the lids down Olst: he flinches back but lets you do it Plum: WTF Cimmorro:

Finn: "dont worry about what youre about to hear okay? im just a bit embarrassed when you watch me sharpen the blade." and i hurl a rock at the tubes. Psalm: FINN IS DOING THIS SHIT UNDERCOVERRRRRR Finn: I DONT WANNA HURT HIS FEELINGS

Finn hurls a rock towards the tubes with poor accuracy, though he does actually manage to crack the glass on the large tube, making a sharp ping sound, a bit of black and and red liquid begins to slowly stream out out of it onto the floor and seep onto the runes below it.

As he hears the ping olst quickly turns and whips his head around towards the sound, as the liquid seeps onto them they let off a quick spark of energy, back in the main chamber the rest of group see the circle around theyord quickly pulse for a moment and spark, you see him rove his eyes up for a second before he refocuses on his task.

Finn: "T-THE ROCK WAS REALLY SLIPPERY" Olst: he stares at you considering, glaring Finn: i squeeze his hand and put on the best puppy eyes i have Rokka: wowe Keva: JNEWFNRGBGNMF Psalm: this is making me homophobic

Olst: he continues to glare but lets you keep holding his hand "i think itd be good for you to keep your hands to yourself from now on then" Finn: "r-right! im really sorry!" i stare at the goddamn dagger

Finn then moves towards the lower hallway of the chamber, leading out to the main one, olst gives another look to the leaking tube and goes TCH before stalking off after him, keeping the rapier at the ready, moving to hide on the wall next to him.

Soon after Bravk runs off towards a teleportation circle and blips himself into the same room, quickly whipping out his tome again he raises an arm and slaps a hand to his arm casting false life on himself. As he then quickly looks about the room he sees the tube seeping onto the runes and shouts. behind him finn hears the tiefling make panicked flustered noises of woe

Han: bravk @ finn: you.. .temptress..!!! Chip: EJHKLSEHJSHJLHJLESJLHK

Back in the main chamber, Keva tch’s seeing that Bravk’s gone, and makes a dash towards Shelly as she lies upon one of the altars. As she attempts to grab her the red sparking around her begins to affect her hands painfully. She grunts through the pain and manages to pull her off, her hands now tingling slightly, getting her to he ground she quickly ducks and hides behind the table with her out of sight.

She quickly steals a look towards Shelly, her mouth and nose are stained with blood but she no longer seems to be twitching in pain. Keva moves to wipe the blood off a bit roughly.

Lower in the chamber, two of the cultists dash off towards a chamber to the right, now scared of cimmorro, the one engaged with Rokka now strikes at him, slicing their dagger through. Rokka shrugs off the cloudy sensation that comes over him however, unaffected. Vera on the other side of the chamber continues cutting into the cultist near her, quickly taking them out with her sword, she huffs and shakes the blood off before moving her attention to the another nearby. Emruz moves to strike with her bow soon after.

She fires off two shots towards psalm, one misses but another hits, as he sees it whizz towards him he sees a black magic encircling it, it strikes you in your shoulder but suddenly he feels a great pain in within his head. A blackness starts to try and overtake his vision but he manages to shake it off.

Emruz: as you glances towards her she cackles Ghester: he mumbles a "well that stings" in your head

Plum: psalm act possessed, be like WOW i love theyord Psalm: suddenly the urge to show my bare chest arises Rokka: (Psalm deadpan) theyord I have a crush on u Psalm: ghester playing 4d chess with emruz trying to take over my brain rn Chip: HKLJSELKHSHKLJHJKSEL, ghester voice OCCUPIED

Cimmorro after quickly runs up towards the edge of the broken staircase to get a visual on Ollie and Rokka in addition to Han, casting a prayer of healing on the four jocks. Spurred on by the kind heal Rokka once again slashes at the cultist hes engaged with, though he misses immediately.

At the same time a cultist near Vera attempts to get a stab in on her, slashing her slightly, she once again seems to shrug off the cloudy feeling however, unaffected. Plum quickly waddles up behind her back, casting resistance on her before chugging a potion of healing themselves.

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> 🎵 Power Glove / Motorcycle Cop

At the other end of the chamber, still speaking his incantations Theyord turns his head briefly towards where shelly no longer lies, he shakes it slightly and adjusts himself, sliding his hands across the ground so they now face vinny. As he does the party see the sparks around Vinny begin to intensify, his twitching grows more violent as he begins to cry out louder in pain his eyes clouding over, more blood seeping from his face. It seems the toll on his body has doubled, the chamber continues to shake as the runes around Theyord pulse faster and faster, briefly they see his mouth quirk up in a smile.

Han reacts quickly after, banking on keva being able to skitter over to help him out, she turns her head towards Psalm, seeing him get lambasted.

Han: "GET BEHIND PILLAR U HORN IDIOT" Psalm: psalm's like 🤷‍♂️

She quickly turns her attention to a cultist nearby, nocking that arrow straight and true she lets it fly. It cuts clean into the cultist’s chest, they wobble on their feet before keeling over gone. She sticks close to the pillar, not leaving its cover.

Cimmorro: u hear cimm holler behind u Han: HAN HOLLERS WITH CIMM ;ALKDSFKLDSAF

Lower down Ollie pulls himself out of the debris to help Rokka, striking at the cultist hes fighting, slicing them with his longsword.

Ollie: afterwards hes going to whip his head around to where you are cimm on the stairs and shout "thanks!" Cimmorro: cimm flashes a big grin back at him

Closer to the entrance of the chamber, the cultist near Plum attempts to throw their dagger towards them but it goes wide, clinking on the floor. Close by Psalm moves to run towards Vinny, casting invisibility on himself before he goes, and chugging a potion of healing along the way.

Plum: i forgot you could fucking do that Han: me2 i hate psalm actually

Han: han watches psalm shrug at her and disappear like 😒 Psalm: he just peaces out like in the vines, he has never used a peace sign before seeing finn do it he just takes it to mean yeah i'm gucci rn

Soon after the party feel the basement shake and quake around them once again, suddenly another chasm cracks open in the floor underfoot. Han hops back just in time to avoid the floor opening up, she peers down what looks like a 20 ft drop she just avoided. Back in the other chamber Finn looks between Bravk in the room he just left and the main chamber wondering what to do.

Finn: i tap olst's shoulder. "do you want to go and uh. sort that out?" i point in bravks direction. Olst: he turns his head back in his direction "fixing the runes.... a good idea" he turns back to you "i thought you desired my protection?" Finn: NOOOOO Cimmorro: olst one track mind king

Finn: "... ah, i think the runes are fine i just think your .. friend is looking a bit flushed ^__^" finn thinking hard. "true that i desire your protection. we should go together then and see what's going on." Olst: he whips his head back and forth between the two of you confused "yes...he's no doubt flustered due to the runes being scuffed, the idiot knows not how to keep a level head" he looks back "seems he's been holding his own in the fight however..." he looks at you waiting for you to take the lead walking over Finn: "oh? he's an idiot? then lets go check on him in any case." i drag olst along by the hand as usual but this time i make sure hes right beside me instead of behind me Chip: finn voice i can use this... Han: AKLSDF;SDLKF Cimmorro: UHGUAGHUAGIH

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> 🎵 Zamilska – Duel 35 / Ruiner OST

Finn walks back into the room and approaches Bravk with Olst, trying to appear nonchalont.

Finn: im going to take a little step back so olst is more in front when he does catch up to me. im gonna ask bravk though "how'd you end up here? do the runes still work?" Cimmorro: strike up a casual conversation Chip: hows things bravk, battle going well m8? Finn: ARE YOU WINNING SON?

Olst: he looks at you finn then at bravk "the ichor is leaking out you'll need to patch the tube and redraw the runes bravk. Before the other usurpers catch wind anyhow" he looks about the room carefully "i'll keep watch as you should any appear behind us" as he talks bravks face just keeps whipping between him and finn like ?????

Bravk: he runs to the side nervously shaking his arms wildly in front of him "t-t-there's an usurper..! standing right next to you!!! what are you talking about olst!!!" and he readies his hand to reach into his robe "a-a-are you of sound m-mind right now!? did he break the tubes..!??" Olst: olst glares at him and then looks back to finn and back to bravk like hes trying to think of something to say in response but cant find the words "he's....an usurper yes but he isnt a..." he brings a hand to his head "...it doesnt matter the point is you need to fix this" Bravk: he just stares at him agape, moving his hands furiously through the air like hes attempting to physically grab the words to make sense of the situation Finn: "olst is completely sound of mind i may assure you." i grip his hand strongly. "and he's working with an usurper." Han: SHEJWKKAJSJSKJDMDKGKSKD Keva: OLST WE'RE REALLY IN IT NOW Han: finn ojou sama laughs after that internally

Bravk quickly moves backwards, stepping out of the chamber from where he came nervously eyeing the two as he goes. Back in the main chamber Keva quickly dashes her way across the room, intent on reaching Vinny, dashing under a shrine with candles piled upon it she quickly ducks under it, attempting to hide behind cover as she goes.

Lower down the cultist engaged with Rokka stabs art him again, though it doesnt seem to do much damage, higher up in the main chamber the two cultists Cimmorro scared off appear again, near where Shelly is and where Keva just ran from, scoping the situation out. Back near the entrance Vera continues her assault against a nearby cultist, slashing at them with her sword.

Emruz moves after, aiming her bow towards Rokka letting off two shots, one hits but another misses, it seems to magically veer off however, striking Han instead. She shuffles a few feet back towards Vinny as she considers the state of the room.

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> 🎵 Lazarus / DOOM (2016) OST

As Cimmorro looks about he considers the situation and looks back towards the runes near the front of the room that teleported Finn. Near them there are another two that appear separate however, attached to two shrines instead of linked directly to another rune, he decides to take the gamble and step upon them to see if it’ll bring him closer closer to Vinny.

Cimmorro: while i run for it i just go like "WE NEED TO MAKE HASTE FOR THE CAT MAN" out of panic, OUR NEKO MAID Keva: CAT MAN IS JUST MAKIGN ME THINK OF THAT ORGANGE GUY FROM FAIRLY ODDPARENTS

He rushes towards the runes and as soon as his foot makes contact he feels himelf being teleported to another place, though the feeling is brief he feels confused like the magic cant decide where to place him for a moment, suddenly he pops out right at the top of the chamber, right behind the two cultists that are still afraid of him

Cimmorro: YEAHS VERILY, fuck YES

Rokka: cgfhjikolp;[lkjhgfvhjkl;'lkjhbg Han: han sees cimm disappear like 😬 Keva: https://tenor.com/view/michael-scott-its-britney-bitch-car-shade-the-office-gif-5065363

Cimmorro: btw i go running past those guys and go like "BACK OFF"

He quickly dashes behind a nearby pillar for cover, looking down he sees runes on the floor connected to Theyord and the altars. Thinking on it he attempts to smudge them out with his foot, they dont seem to be affected at all from his attempt though. Down below Rokka continues attacking the cultist with his scimitar, cutting them up, they arent down for the count just yet however. Up above the cultist engaged with Vera attempts another stab at her and misses, as they do Plum chucks a vial of acid overhead at them.

The cultists face goes sizzle and pop, they dont keel over just yet either however, soon after Plum also casts resistance on themselves, still sticking close to Vera.At the other end of the chamber the rumbling and the shaking continues as the walls and ceiling continue to break and crack under the weight of the magic being cast.

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> 🎵 The Only Thing they Fear is You / Doom Eternal OST

Theyord keeps his place continuing to chant with his arms placed on the floor, he eyes vinny as he screams, shooting an occasional glance towards Emruz. On the table the magic seems to surge around Vinny, sparking bright and erratic, he writhes and flinches for a moment longer as cuts begin to appear along his arms, oozing more blood than the type dripping just from his face, before all at once he limbs fall and stop moving. Theyord seems to give a smile at this turn of events, continuing where he sits.

Cimmorro: theyord every turn deadass

Plum: FJFJJFGJFGFG Chip: theyord

Cimmorro: OHKSFDHPKSOPHAKHPAL[HP Han: ;LKHA;KHSD;LKHAWEFD

Han quickly moves to shoot an arrow towards Emruz, before she does she slaps her ass and gives her the finger, despite this the shot does miss however, she choses to stick behind cover for the moment.

Down below Ollie stabs his sword into the cultist him and Rokka are engaged with and all but rends the man into two with one slice with a great frustrated huff, they fall to the floor in a crumpled bloody heap

Cimmorro: ew ollie Psalm: nice Han: hot Plum: ew

Ollie: he groans afterwards at all the blood before giving you a quick nod rokka and moving up the stairs Rokka: rokka gags at this "im gonna---hUURG--im--HURGH--im gonna p---HURGGH"

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> 🎵 Roller Mobster / Carpenter Brut

Close to the entrance a cultist makes another throw with their dagger towards Plum, striking them this time, Plum momentarily struggles to shrug off the effects of the magic.

Han: u have negative wis? Plum: yes sir -2, but thats still not as bad as my -3 charisma wow Psalm: why did you make plum like that just asking Cimmorro: OKGPFDKHGPDHKD Han: LASJFDW;LH3;HES;LKGD Han: sarita:

Plum feels a woozy feeling come over them before they shake it off, seems the dagger has effected them somehow, though they feel fine for the moment. At the same time Psalm runs and beelines towards Vinny at the top end of the main chamber.

Chip: bonus action left Cimmorro: bonus action mercy kill vinny Chip: HKSEHESHGGHJKE Han: AGONZING BLAST AT POINT BLANK Plum: bonus action stroke his face lovingly Rokka: bonus action give true lovers kiss Han: k;;AKHF;LKHAWFESD Chip: bonus action babe its me youve been in a coma for Plum: VINNY WAKE UP YOU FUCKED UP BIG TIME

Psalm: can i bonus action whisper in his ear like vinny u awake dawg? jk jk jk he's obviously not Chip: wow id let you too Psalm: LOL WHY NOT THEN LETS GOOO Chip: ghester watching u do this: Psalm: ghester has eyes? fuck that mf tell him to mind his business this is between me and vinny Rokka: watch vinny wake up later like psalm u were in my dream 😳 Psalm: damn he having a dream or a nightmare rn Plum: ghester watching you lean in trying to kiss vinny while he's asleep Psalm: OFGJGJF

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> 🎵 The Senescence / Darkest Dungeon OST

Soon after the party feel the room shake and quake once more, Cimmorro looks up and hears the ceiling begin to crumble slightly over him. He dodges his head out of the way just in time, mitigating any damage, though the area around him now appears hard to traverse. He watches as the falling debris cracks the floor beneath, those with eyes on the chamber see the right table spark and flash briefly before the light dies down, seems the floor being cracked affected the power of the runes below.

As the party quickly consider their next course of action the room continues to quake and warp around them...

-----

Notes

- ITS 2:30 PM - it is now the 6th round of - 📜🩸 The Reckoning 🩸📜 -

- 🏹Han, 🍺Plum and 🦇Finn felt a woozy feeling come over them when they were stabbed with the daggers....

#recaps #dun dun dugga dun dun dugga dun dun duga dun dun..dun #200517

0 notes

dndfuckhouse · 5 years ago

Text

session 16 - a cultist’s work is never done

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> 🎵 DND Ambience - Evil Temple / Michael Ghelfi

Picking up where they left off the group finish chatting wistfully about their hometowns and the various methods of procreation known to them and look towards the now unlocked metal door at the end of the chamber.

Before the party shuffle through Keva attempts to check it for traps, finding nothing the group push it open and peer down a corridor behind it. Staring down they see a similarly cobbled hallway, though it seems to curve at a point obscuring their vision further, otherwise it looks clear as any they’ve walked so far, bracketed by magic torchlight on its walls.

Han chucks a stone down to check for anything fishy...it seems to roll down the hallway with ease. The group then debate if they should send someone ahead first to stealth and check it out. Finn offers again to float down in his mist form.

Han: should we have one person stealth forward? the rest a couple of feet behind? Finn: if you're that paranoid i can go ahead in my mist form again. Rokka: that sounds like a good plan han! Psalm: that's a good idea finn Finn: 2 good ideas what will the party do

Finn: chip i do my thing Cimmorro: FINN VAPE? Han: finn juul WHERES MY JUUUUUUUUUUUUL Cimmorro: WHATS A JUL? are u flammable, watch as he burns over a torch or something

Psalm: idk that much about vaping Plum: sarita wtf do you go to college

Finn transforms into his mist form and floats down the hallway, it winds and turns giving him the feeling that he’s slowly traversing downward, the corridor seeming to widen in size. After some time he comes across what looks like the opening to another chamber, a set of black metal double doors in front of him. Not spotting anything suspicious on his float down he floats back towards the party.

After about 10 minutes time pass, the group get worried and decide to follow ahead, bumping into the cloud of finn on his float back, he quickly transforms back into his regular form.

Keva: she flinches and makes that paul rudd face when she remembers its finn Psalm: psalm has nothing to say about running into the finn cloud Plum: i wonder if plum isn't tall enough to bump into it Rokka: rokka gasp for air before holding his breath so he doesn't breathe in finn which he fails to

Finn: >finn looks a bit confused as to why theyre all here "needless to say the path is safe but you're all aware of that by now. a bit reckless for being so paranoid if i may say so." Rokka: just worried about you finn Finn: did that much time pass? Rokka: felt like it Psalm: not that we didn't just fight clones of ourselves after being a bit reckless or anything Finn: "i see. in that case i apologise." >contemplative sprite

The party move to inspect the large set of double doors, they seem to have a ornate design to them, looking at them they spy the shape of horns and talons melded across it, the door doesn't appear to be locked either. Eyeballing the design psalm picks up that it definitely appears infernal in nature at the very least, the design could be reminiscent of devils of some sort, though he cant really place anything specific.

Deeming the door un-trapped the group ready themselves as Psalm uses mage hand to open one of the doors. It creaks a little bit but nothing else seems to happen, looking down the party see the corridor continue beyond it, opening into what looks like a very large chamber. Han briefly throws a stone again to test the corridor, no reaction again.

Rokka: "COOL A CHAMBER" rokka waltz in Han: both han and i age 20 years Finn: finn just. constantly calculating whether they're dumb or not Plum: i hope theres no single lich in here looking for a partner

Han: psalm: WOW KINDA DARK IN HERE ! Psalm: no please

Finn: well since han threw the rock and it was fine i wanna walk, wait should we wait for pokemon? Finn: I MEAN. POKI Cimmorro: .

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> 🎵 Maternal Heart / Silent Hill 3 OST.

The party choose to walk through the door, as they walk down the small corridor they spy small ...what look like vents close to the ground. Taking note of them they walk further to the precipice of the corridor where it opens into the larger chamber. As they get closer they see what looks like a large pool in the centre, filled with a red liquid and surrounded by red runes, letters and symbols on the floor.

In front of it stands a staircase that leads up to a higher platform shaped like a circle over the pool, it seems to be bound with a tight thick rope. Staring the group notice that it seems to lead up to the top of a tall black pillar in the centre of the pool, pointed at its tip and faintly stained with red, it's quite the structure.

Looking about the rest of the chamber they see thick black and red ornate curtains adorning the walls and a set of columns in front of the pool. They also see at the end of the room, three short corridors behind the pool with a large black ornate door at the end of each of them, seemingly also connected to the red circles around the pool.

To the left and right look like sets of staircases, both leading upwards somewhere, listening close the party can hear what seems to be some sort of whispers or chanting.

Cimmorro: cimm's just gonna "SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BUSY HERE HUH!" and walk over to try and read shit Psalm: can i try reading too Keva: keva stays at the edge of the room lmao she is Skeeved Plum: so is plum “y’all are just walking in??” Rokka: i also stay back Han: han also stays back with keva, esp after seeing the pool lol Finn: i wanna check if its blood for real

Psalm: maybe we should've collected the blood from the clones, just to see if it's the same substance although i'm not sure how that'd help, i'm honestly just a bit curious Cimmorro: we'll find out if it's from the same pool if something comes out to grab the both of us. would be amusing Rokka: that sounds terrifying Psalm: sounds pretty amusing to me Cimmorro: cimm smiles at psalm "yeah atta boy that's the spirit" Psalm: *grins* Plum: i’d rather not have to deal with another one of you again Psalm: i dont blame you Finn: finn kind of just goes [raised eyebrow] to himself overhearing cimm

Finn: NO JUST A LITTLE LICK. like connor Jez: who Finn: dont worry about it jez Han: dont worry bro its just a nightmare

Plum: finn hasn’t been in a bite one of us or die situation yet where’s the romance anymore get it together guys Guest Appearance By Celebrity Aqua: Cmon finn drink the rancid bog blood

Cimmorro: finn, is your field trip going fun so far mate Finn: if this is your idea of a fun field trip i really don't want to go on one with you 🙄 Cimmorro: there goes my ideas for a first date then Finn: "d-date?" finn tries to brush it off quickly though

The party move to investigate the chamber, slowly the more reluctant ones walk in and peer about as well after watching the others waltz inside.

Psalm and Cimmorro inspect the arcane writing and runes, between the two of them staring at the red on the floor they discern the writing to be magic circles of some sort, enchanted by something in runes they can't quite comprehend, they do recognise bits of infernal throughout however. They also read what they assume to be a name of some sorts, a ‘Mephistopheles’

The lines seem to give some sort of power to the pool and the three doors at the end of the hallway, though they aren't sure what exactly. They get the feeling they’re part of some ritual similar to the last they encountered, involving the shedding of blood on top of the pillar.

Han walks in and cranes her hear to discern where the sound of chanting is coming from. She hears it coming from the left staircase, but it feels like its kind of echoing around the whole chamber anyway. Rokka joins her in using his canine hearing, in combination with the chanting he hears the faint sounds of a conversation also coming from the left. Additionally, behind him back where the party came he also hears the sounds of faint talking coming from one of the vents, the one on the right wall in the corridor

Rokka: rokka's ears perk at hearing sounds of people talking and hurries back to tell the others in a semi-whisper tone "guys! guys! there are people here! in the vents! and right corridorrrrrrr" Psalm: does the chanting sound like anything to you?

Finn and Plum walk in and eyeball the pool together, staring at it the liquid seems viscous enough to be blood. Finn moves to dip his finger and takes a taste, he quickly detects the blood of more than one person, it seems to have been collecting here for a while. In his mind Finn is briefly tempted to taste some more, though he also notes that it tastes a little tingly on his tongue, a bit unusual

Finn: "what i can tell you two is that this is fresh blood. of multiple people." finn seems to be unable to tear his eyes away for a good minute, i choose not to share the unusual taste tidbit. Plum: "easy there soldier" and i hit finn's leg Finn: >finn snaps out of it and looks at plum apologetically

Looking at the pillar the two also notice stains on the sides, seems like the blood drips down from the top into the pool

Keva moves to take a few cautious steps up the staircase on the left side of the chamber, from this angle she can see that it opens up to what looks like another corridor, though cant make out much else.

Han takes the moment to cast detect portal, quickly she gets a ping from each of the three ornate doors, at the same time Psalm casts Comprehend Languages on himself to see if he can more directly read the runes as well as decipher the chanting.

Han: everyone shut up, those doors are portals to somewhere Plum: uhhh.... how do we figure out where they lead Han: “no way other then activating them and walking through” han is uncomfortable here lol

Finn: i watch psalm curiously Psalm: mans is just touching the floor Finn: finn: that man sure is touching the floor. crazy. Psalm: i 'll tell you what they're saying in a second Finn: i nod @ psalm and wait, oh wait i guess he wouldnt know if im nodding so ill just say Okay Psalm: hwuhahwa

Psalm: should draw psalm and finn doing each other's nails since they both definitely wear nail polish

Now able to comprehend the chanting, Psalm notes that it seems to be in some coded language, he makes out certain sentences along the lines of "beloved may our lord be, seeing all within his purview" he’s a bit far from the corridor so its hard to hear specifics. The runes on the ground now that he can read them look like some sort of prayers relating again to mephisto directly, but also mention a benefactor, bringing up in scripture some sort of all-encompassing voice.

Psalm: i think we have an old fashioned blood ritual summoning on our hands

Keva moves to quietly make her way further up the staircase in the meantime, as she does the sound of soft chatter becomes slightly louder combined with the prayer which sounds a bit father away. Slowly she comes out to a cobble corridor, peering to her right she spots a shut wooden door, locked with a silver latch. To her left the corridor goes on, and near the middle of it she sees a group of 3 people, donning red robes and hoods, though two of them seem to be more ornately decorated than the other.

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> 🎵 Null Moon / Silent Hill 2 OST.

As she looks she notices that they appear to be discussing something, she also notices that the corridor seems to be aligned with jail cells perhaps? though its hard to see into them from this angle, making out only dark sack shapes. She cranes he ear to try and listen in on the conversation,

???: you hear the tiefling muttering something to the one not as elaborately dressed as him “...ou need to be more careful with the brood. Emruz was so very upset one of them had escaped, though now our lord says it was all apart of his design. Sometimes I wonder why she stands as second, she never trusts enough in fate. Of course it was all as planned, his grace would never make a mistake ...” he turns his head to the drow standing beside him “oh please Ida you must discipline the acolyte too, i know you dont like to speak but i'm not good at …” he seems to trail off Ida: the drow tilts her head in his direction, her eyes staying shut. ???: “Oh grace, nevermind…” he turns back to the other hooded figure. “For now you’ll stay at your post until Emruz makes a decision...she is leading the prayer right now for our grace, it shall be decided afterwards, understood?” the hooded figure nod, while the tiefling seems to sigh in response “ahh...come Ida i need to check the sigils within the heating dens…” Ida: The drow nods in response

Keva watches two then walk of to the right out of her vision, listening she hears the sound of a door shut and close as the other hooded figure walks to the left, followed by the sound of a chair getting dragged across the ground and a thump. Once again silence returns to the halls, aside from the faint sound of chanting from down the corridor. She quickly slips back down the staircase and informs the group of what she saw.

Psalm: heating dens? what kinda kinky ass cult Plum: onsen

Rokka moves up the right staircase to scout it out as well, similarly to how Keva did towards the left, he clambers up quietly to poke his head around. In the meanwhile the party thinks on how they ought to proceed.

Rokka: whats the worst that could happen? rokka dies? Finn: HGBDFUNDFOMDFG

Psalm: i'm not sure how to proceed if i'm being honest Plum: neither am i, im wondering what sigils and heating dens are, like if more people are about to die while we're here

Keva: any way to figure out where the portals go? Plum: i dont think so since everything here's in code Han: “..theyre probably how sammy ended up out on the street” hans still staying back and just. her eyes keep coming back to the pool of blood

Psalm takes a moment to think over the name ‘Mephistopheles’ and what he knows about it, he recalls now that its the name of one of the archdevils that presides over the nine hells. He’s a being said to be thoroughly wicked and cunning but all the same unstable, bards singing of his unchecked temper. It unnerves him to see his name invoked in a place like this.

Finn moves to walk up the stairway in the middle of the pool to investigate it further, looking now he can tell the ropes tied around the circular slab form the letterheads symbol. Standing at the top of the stairs he also notes that he is within easy distance of the pillar in the middle, he walks back down after taking his look.

Psalm: oh right i relate that new information about Mephistopheles as well just to set the mood Keva: great

Han follows suit in continuing to poke around, she turns back to the corridor they came from and looking near the ground she eyeballs the holes in the walls, they appear to be small vents of some sort. They look big enough for someone to crawl through but only someone of plum’s stature or smaller, through the right one she hears a very faint conversation ebb out.

Moving to crouch down she tries to stick her ear in and tries to make out the conversation, though all she can hear faintly is the sound of one voice speaking. Briefly she hears"...thus you know just precisely where to strike..." before it becomes mumbles to her ears again.

Rokka reaching the top of the staircase quietly looks about, directly to his left he sees a figure dressed in a red hood and garb, black gloves and shorts underneath. They seem to be standing guard near a wooden door, seemingly unlocked, hands folded behind them. To his right the corridor continues down for a ways before opening out to what looks like a small chamber, halfway down its length he see two more red cloaked figures speaking in whispers, if he squints he can see what look like jail cells lining the corridor, similar to Keva’s corridor, hard to tell from his angle.

Rokka: rokka hurries back to the others and alerts whoever is closest to him about what he saw "guyyyyyyyyssssssssss" Cimmorro: rokka u good Rokka: there are people hereeeeeeeee i saw themmmmmmm Cimmorro: it looks like keva saw some others as well Han: rokka be like 😨

Psalm: i think our best options are to probably not fiddle with the inter-planar doors for now and pick one of the staircases Plum: agreed Psalm: we should also potentially destroy this altar, but maybe on the way out provided things go well

Psalm: @ han "are you coming? we've investigated the entire room, nothing spooky here to get you" Han: hans just like uuuughghh and catches up

Cimmorro: i was gonna say this looked like we're on a road trip and han is taking a group pic for us

Han: ;LKHAS;LKHFASDF shes actually taking a selfie of herself

The group decide to head up the left staircase after discussing the number of guards they saw. They devise a plan to roll some ball bearings to distract the one they assume is still somewhere in left corridor, before quickly taking him out at a range silently.

Cimmorro: you guys want him to come over here? what if something comes out of that pool Finn: cimmorro, what makes you so sure someone will come out of the pool? Cimmorro: it's ridden with magic bro Finn: the blood did have a ... unique taste. it was good, but there was something unusual to it. i'm not sure if you can make anything of that. Cimmorro: HGUHFDBKJVHB cimm just standing there like "you said unusual, that's even more suspect??IF YOU ASK ME??" Psalm: i'm pretty sure if something was supposed to come out of the pool it would've come out by now Rokka: i would like to have nothing come out of there

Cimmorro: lure the guy out and knock him out then? Psalm: just whisper "such a shame Mephistopheles caught ligma" into the vent and bait him out vaporising him instantly Cimmorro: BRO

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> 🎵 A Stray Child / Silent Hill 3 OST.

As the group discuss their plan to take out the guard Finn attempts to think on taste of the blood again. It seems more than likely that the blood is enchanted in some way by the circle around it, though it doesn’t strike him that the purpose of it is for summoning, it would have most likely had a much more rancid taste if connected to something so directly. The pool is more than likely containing the blood of many for a purpose, effecting the recipients in some way, beyond that he isn’t sure what.

Rokka: DAMN AND WE WERE ABOUT TO OFFER PLUM TO SPILL THEIR BLOOD THERE? Finn: maybe i shouldn't drink the magic blood Psalm: just take a sip Cimmorro: finn become rat poison checker

The group move to stealth their way up the left staircase, Psalm, Rokka and Plum find difficulty in keeping quieter than the others however. The others manage to cover for them however.

Finn: CAN WE COVER FOR OUR CLOWNS Psalm: CAUSE TROUBLE BY ACCIDENT GANG Plum: https://youtu.be/duPJqfKiA78

Psalm: HE CAN'T COMMUNICATE IF HES DEAD, what if it's theyord's favourite mook and he just wants to check up on him and then he's just dead, our entire operation is screwed

Keva rolls the ball bearing down the corridor, after a beat the group hear the sound of wood grinding on the floor and a few footsteps as the hooded figure steps out towards the sound, bending over to stare at it on the ground.

Quickly psalm and keva step out of the stairway, flinging a throwing knife and a blast directly at the hooded figure, the knife swiftly lodges itself in his neck and the blast seems to suck the rest of the life out him, taking him out quickly. The group slowly move now to investigate the corridor, Han staying at the top of the stairs to keep an eye on the chamber behind them.

Psalm: han making sure we don't die

Walking down they now see a series of cells lining the walls, piled with large sacks, a few laying empty. Some of the sacks have the faint colour of blood seeped through, giving the group a bad feeling about what could possibly be inside of them, seems most of the cells are locked.

Plum: they mumbles to themselves "give me a fucking break..."

Halfway through the corridor they turn the corner and see what looks to be a guard post near the jail cells, a shabby wooden desk and a series of lock boxes on top of it. Seems to house the keys to the nearby cells, to the right they also notice another branch off, a wooden door at the end. They assume this is where the tiefling and the drow walked off towards earlier.

Keva moves to check out the body of the guard, all she finds on him are a dagger strapped this thigh and a red letterheads token in his pocket, nothing much else, she pockets the token. The group then discuss how to hide the body so its not left on the ground in the open.

Finn: we could put him in one of the bags as to not arouse suspicion but its certainly grotesque. Psalm: thats a pretty good idea, cover our tracks 🤔 Han: that criminal background huh

As they discuss this Finn moves to put his ear towards the locked door at the top of the corridor, pressing his ear close to the door he doesn't hear anything other than silence from inside. In the meantime Plum and Keva nab the keys to the jail cells from the guards desk, moving to unlock the one closest to them, Cimmorro wanders over to assist.

The three work on untying the ropes and opening the bags inside. Cimmorro moves to inspect one of the corpses on how long its been decomposing but is struck by how close the abhorrent smell is, completely distracting him. Finn walks over and its also disgusted, Rokka moves down to keep watch on the door that the drow and tiefling walked through earlier in tandem with Finn.

Looking through the bags Plum attempts to identify the bodies within, their bag specifically appears to house a human male with dark brown hair, keva's bag seems to contain an elven woman, neither of them recognise the victims at all. The three quickly look through the cells for a bag with enough space to shove the guard inside, Plum takes quick notes on the features of the people they find as they go along, soon they find one and are able to successfully shove the guard inside.

As they go about this Psalm continues walking further down the corridor to the end where it opens into another small chamber, it seems filled with storage supplies and large cages, for what purpose hes isn’t sure he’d like to imagine, as he looks about he sees the letterheads symbol scrawled into the wall as well.

At the far end of the chamber is a set of double doors, made of black metal, it seems this is where the chanting is coming from as he hears the sounds of numerous voices speaking together in he assumes are prayers. To the right he also see more stairs leading upwards to what looks to be another corridor, though he cant fully tell from below.

He moves to listen to the voices coming from the double doors hearing similar hymns to what was being chanted earlier, but he also hears another voice higher pitched speaking above them in common, she seems to be preaching something about "a time of revenge blossoming soon, the process shall begin to bear fruit" he moves away and relays his observations to the group back up the corridor

While they wait Finn attempts to see if he can hear anything coming from the door hes watching but can only make out a very muffled muttering of some sort and soft shuffling.

Psalm: finn always on the lookout for hot guys pog Finn: we arent only thirsting for blood in this house Cimmorro: wow finn looking for cult bukkake Han: if they arent above a 6 finn cant hear them Finn: jez im going to

Finn: i let the others know that i heard some muffling and shuffling behind that door. but very faintly. Han: theyre making out in that room Cimmorro: GIJFSIBJSOPFBJOSJW

The group decide to head up the stairs Psalm found and move down to the small chamber at the end of the corridor.

Han: han is following but constantly at the back Keva: han the vigilant Rokka: not all heroes wear capes Finn: OKAY NOW I FEEL BAD ABOUT LEAVING HER ON HER OWN Han:

Keva offers to take point, and stealth's up the stairs, getting a look at the corridor at the top of them. Peeking her head out she sees similarly to the last corridor they walked, another row of of jail cells with what look like more sacks inside. Halfway down she spies what looks to be another guard, his arms crossed periodically looking to the left and right

The group get in position to take him out, Keva and Han both fire off their arrows, psalm backing them up with a blast, the arrows strike the guard in the side before he is knocked down by the blast, quickly taken out. Han and Plum briefly jog back to the guard post from earlier to grab the keys again so they can hide this guard with the bodies as well.

Accomplishing that the group see now that this corridor connects between the left one and the right one from the initial pool room, they decide to use this to take out the guards they saw in the right corridor carefully, party members on either end of it. From this new vantage point Keva sees there are three of them in the right corridor now.

Psalm: 16 to hit, god i dont like this im assuming i haven't missed yet.... when the boss comes i'll miss every shot guaranteed, bruh the boss is going to kill me

Psalm, Finn and Rokka head back the long way and crouch by the stairs near the far end guard while the others stick to the bottom to take out the two halfway through the corridor.

Han and Keva shoot of their arrows and with their combined might manage to instantly bring down one of the guards. Psalm blasts the one near the stairs, surprising him but he seems to be still standing afterwards now alert. before he can do anything however Finn rushes in and skewers him, quickly silencing him

Finn: FINE IF YOU WANT ME TO SO BAD ILL GO STAB THE GUY Cimmorro: jude is going to sex town

Cimmorro uses sacred flame on the other guard standing halfway through the corridor but only manages to lightly singe his hair.

Cimmorro: he just does it to provoke Rokka: ;DLKFJSLDKFJLSKDJ Cimmorro: really the only thing he been reading in those sacred libraries is the urban dictionary

He strikes again this time doing a bit more than singe the guard’s hair, Han and Keva both try and fire a series off a quick shots once again after he does, Han's goes wide however, only kevas striking, still leaving the guard standing. Quickly afterwards Rokka and Psalm run out at the same time, Psalm is able to step out and blast the remaining guard from the opposite end, taking them all out before any could retaliate.

Psalm: ROOMIES Han: oh my god they were roommates... Rokka: I'll move as close as I can and then cheerleader for psalm Psalm: ^_^ greatly appreciated Rokka: Go roomie!!

Han: hey we've been smart and careful about this, we could've been. REAL dumb Finn: honestly we've been really smart, ALMOST LIKE. CAUTION IS A GOOD THING DSHJFBSDUFGSFH

The group about quickly hiding the three bodies among the jail cells again, completing that Keva rummages through the guard desk in this corridor for anything of note. Inside she finds papers detailing some sort of guard training…seems there are at least over 20 acolytes being trained in the ways of assassination around here.

Psalm: oh can i read the papers or did u just tell everyone what they said Han: keva found them and told everything else to read iirc(edited) Keva: i did not say that in the rp but yes let's assume yall saw it bc i can't read i forgot lmoa Han: LKH;LKHSAWEFSD Psalm: WHAT'D YOU EVEN LOOK AT THE PAPERS FOR THEN

As she does Finn goes to listen to the door at the top of this corridor, he hears no sounds coming from the inside, it appears unlocked as well.

Finn: now if it were cin, he'd open that door. Han: . Chip: jude reminding us of our good fortune rn

Han goes to investigate the small chamber at the end of the corridor they just came through, looking about she sees storage crates piled high and bags filled with more bags, looking inside them she rifles through small amounts of rations within. Around are more cages and a large metal screen of sorts, it looks to be disuse however, she wanders back down the corridor.

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> 🎵 Sewer, Echo, Approaching / 2Mello.

As she does Psalm presses his ear to a door that branches off from the middle of the corridor, listening if he can hear anything or any activity beyond it. As he does he hears the sound of a voice coming through, though all you can really tell is that it sounds like someone giving instruction of some sort.

Cimm, Plum and Keva decide to walk back to the blood pool room, Plum wants to try casting identify on the pillar to see if they can garner any further insight on its functions. In the meantime Psalm asks Rokka, Finn and Han if they can make out anything coming from inside the door hes listening in on. The group stretch their ears once more, though Han in particular recognises the cadence of the voice through the door as the one she heard speaking when she was trying to listen through the vents.

Han: while they're all standing ears pressed to the door han hesitantly asks "is blood letting and stuff like... generally associated with. what you said. cults?" even quieter "actually what are cults lets start there" Psalm: you're asking me? Han: all of you, i guess. you all seem to have more different opinions about this than me Psalm: well from what i just know generally, rituals like these are commonly associated with the more er, 'evil' cults let's say, it does tend to get played up in fiction but since we are also 100% standing in a room with a blood pool and runes on the floor praising a demon you could say that it's played up for good reason. Rokka: rokka just tilts his head like ?? Han: han just looks. kinda processing "what do you mean, "played up"?" Psalm: romanticised i suppose Finn: finn just leaning against the cell. listening. Psalm: like how you'd expect things to be more exaggerated so that they're actually entertaining in a book or play, otherwise it wouldn't be interesting.

In the meanwhile the other group make their way into the large chamber, Keva stands at the bottom of the stairs leading out while Cimmorro and Plum make their way up the one over the blood pool. Plum reaching the top, stands near the pillar with their hands, taking the time and casting identify upon it. As they touch it an unwelcome feeling fills their senses, like whispers in their ears.

The pillar is definitely enchanted, it seems the process directly enhances the person who drips their blood upon it. As long as it is collected within the pool below it seems the enchantment keeps its hold indefinitely, combined with the whispers and information they’ve gathered from before, you get the feeling this is used in some way for whoever wrote the runes on the floor to communicate to those that have bled upon it.

Chip: CIMM LIKES TO FEEL TALL Cimmorro: SHUT UPPP ILL KILL YOU

Satisfied the group head back to the corridor with the others, keva noting that it seems the chanting is still ongoing in the background, as they do they walk into the conversation the rest of the group is currently having.

Psalm: That being said though, we are still very much in a situation like out of a novel you could say. And it's not like i have much experience with cults myself...for all i know they're all like this Han: han visibly looks like she regrets asking "like a novel huh" Keva: keva walks in and sees that she has missed smth

Psalm: oh right, a cult is just a group of people that religious practices that aren't commonly accepted, or in most cases, evil. Forgot you asked. Usually they worship a figurehead, potentially a person or otherworldly being, so they're not that far removed from the average religion. Han: han is borderline sweating Keva: wait, we've been chasing after this cult this entire time and you didn't know what a cult was? Han: well. no not really. Finn: finn closes his eyes. I Cannot

Psalm: why the interest though? i suppose it is a bit messed up in here, and if you didn't know before i guess it's pretty shocking, what with all the blood and everything Han: just uh. curious is all. Psalm: i see. well if you have anymore questions. Cimmorro: [raised brow]

Half the group subtly eyeball Han to see if she’s lying about her questions coming from a place of mere curiosity.

Han: me just throwing these breadcrumbs Psalm: can't just not eat them off the flor Plum: someone eat them!! Cimmorro: gang beats up han with insight Han: everyone at han rn [raised brow] Cimmorro:

Finn: han: asks a simple question, the party: lets get her boys Rokka: rokka just rly wanna know if he gotta comfort u or naw

- finn watching from where you are leaned against a cell you easily see through her lie, you get the feeling the question is related to a past experience of hers perhaps, you understand the feeling of wanting clarification well - psalm and keva it seems clear that shes lying and that she has a deeper reason for asking about this, though you dont really know why - rokka han seems upset by all these damn cults, u understand this place sucks

Cimmorro: prolonged strained silence

The group dont inquire any further into her odd reactions at the moment, Finn moves the conversation along, asking if any of the party would like to help him check out the room at the top of the corridor or if they’d like to check out the door they were just listening in on.

Han: "ye shall we storm these dudes" (points to door) Keva: you were all cautious before and now you wanna just barge in? Han: whispers to keva "i was half joking" Keva: you're hilarious. Han: thank you ^_^

The group decide to go along with Finn’s suggestion, preferring to run into as few people possible for the moment and shuffle down the corridor, the group all stand behind psalm as he creaks the door open with mage hand. Peering inside they all see a small room with no one around inside, piled high are a bunch of beds, seems this looks like where the acolytes sleep.

Han: everyone takes a long rest Finn: HBZUFGMIOGF;HFHGJHOW MANY BEDS ARE THERE THIS TIME Han: finn rn like: . Finn: finn: i do not see it. i do not perceive it.

Rokka: rokka barges in and dives into a bed like "ahhhhhh yes" Han: goes back to look out position Psalm: rokka you really want to be rolling around in the beds of people that drain the blood out of innocents for rituals? Rokka: a bed is a bed Finn: A MAN OF SOLID CONVICTIONS Cimmorro: we're in some hazbin hotel kinda shit and u just gonna sleep here Psalm: that's terrifying resilience. i'm impressed, if not a bit scared

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> 🎵 Highway, Fog, Visitation / 2Mello.

As the group look about the room watching rokka walk in, Han notices behind them all down the corridor, the sound of a door creaking open. Quickly she moves to push everyone inside the room as quick and quietly as she can, though she’s sure they were heard.

Cimmorro: this cult guy barrelling down the corridor upon hearing han

Han: HAN LEVELS UP FROM STRESS AND FAZES OUT OF EXISTENCE

Closing the door behind them inside the room they look about flustered. They all take a beat to listen and hear the sound of footsteps coming closer down the corridor. they decide to dive under the beds and hide, though there isnt enough for all of them.

Psalm casts Invisibility on Han while the rest of them pile under, she quickly moves and sticks herself as close to the wall as possible. Finn in particular also quickly shifts into a bat and hangs himself from a corner of the ceiling

Rokka: rokka rolls off the bed with an OOF then rolls under the bed he was on Cimmorro: plum who is the smallest has the hardest time shuffling under the bed and stubs their toe Rokka: stubs toe and screams FUCK, it echoes down the hall

After a beat they all listen as the footsteps near closer and closer to the door, they hear a shuffling before it is opened up by a hooded figure, human, though his cloak looks more ornately decorated that the guards from before.

Han: whats boytoy doing Jez: whipping his dick out, he came here to jack off bro we all gotta watch him Han: SOME ME TIME Plum: YOU CALLED EM BOYTOYBHHJ Rokka: HSUT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPSHUT UPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP Psalm: HE CAMEM HERE TO JACK OFGF i'm unsubscribing from pornhub right now Plum: jez, jez, what haunts you Cimmorro: LKVGDASJKLGJDSJBSJFNB Rokka: this is like a bad wattpad fic Cimmorro: yall wanted to share beds we're getting a different kind of sharing today Finn: . Han: save a citizen share a cultist Finn: WHAT IS HE GONNA DO WATCH OUR BEDS ALL DAY Cimmorro: HES GONNA WANK IT BRO Rokka: SHUT HT EHLEL UP

He walks inside and peers about the room, eyeing the floors and the walls stepping around and staring carefully. It almost seems as if he makes eye contact at one point with Han but he continues moving his gaze past her.

Olst: “Where on earth have those louts gotten too” he clicks his tongue and turns to walk out of the room “Discipline is in order, hopefully our grace feels the need to be more quick with his hand…” his mumbling putters off as he shuts the door behind him

Plum: THEYREEE DEAD Psalm: OH MY GOD I JUST REALISED WHO HE MEANT OH MY GOD WE KILLED HIS FAVOURITE MOOKS Han: THE GUYS WE KILLED ;KASDFKH;LKHWKH3EF Rokka: im laughing MY FUCKING ASS OFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

The group one by one slowly emerge from under the beds, Han takes a moment before peering out the door, seeing the man walk down the stairs towards the blood pool room. She whispers out “coasts clear” before walking out the room still invisible to follow him, Finn in bat form follows after her to also trail him.

Psalm: psalm to himself like... god maybe i should've explained how invis works first Han: han said coast clear and fucked off Finn: i wish i could've asked psalm for an explanation on invisible i have no idea when this runs out

The group meanwhile decide to check out the room the man came from in the meantime since he just left it, walking back to the middle of the corridor, sneaking past. Keva stops briefly at the top of the stairs to listen in on any conversation from the blood pool room

As she does Han and Finn follow the hooded man, she slowly scuttles down the staircase standing quietly at the bottom and hanging out of sight with Finn. There she sees 3 other figures, each wearing ornate looking cloaks, one they’ve not seen before. As the human approaches the others he speaks

Olst: “the acolytes are becoming lax in their duties, this is because you aren’t strict enough with them” he stares directly as the tiefling as he says that, to which he babbles back ???: you know th-that is not my responsibility Olst..” the human tuts and clicks his tongue. Emruz: The woman on the far end pipes up “quit your gripping your voice is as annoying as venom, you can discuss the trivialities later our grace has requested all of to assemble now and I’ll have quiet as we do” the two glare at each other for a moment Olst: he relents, responding with an “..of course” The four of them gather near the front of the of the pool and stand at attention.

Han watches them close their eyes, as if waiting for something for a few beats. Keva moves on to where the rest of the group are stationed in front of the door down the corridor.

Rokka: yo is theyorde going to rise from blood pool Psalm: GOD CAN YOU IMAGINE WE WERE FUCKING AROUND IN THERE Finn: finn and han listening to this shit: Psalm: YEAH CAN YOU IMAGINE THE TWO THAT HATE THIS SHIT THE MOST ARE THE ONES WATCHING THE BLOOD POOL MEETING Han: MOST FUCKING BAGGAGE Finn: FINALLY WE HAVE A COMMON ENEMY FOR SOCIAL LINK RANK 1

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> 🎵 The Final Combat / Darkest Dungeon OST.

Han continues watching before suddenly she sees all of their eyes snap open, they all tilt their heads up before clasping their hands together out of some sort of reverence. The longer she watches the more it looks like they’re listening to something. Slowly her and Finn see smiles begin to form on their faces, albeit who’s mouths they can actually see. After a moment they bow their heads again, before unclasping their hands.

They see the woman on the far left immediately cackle and gesticulate with her hands with joy

Emruz: “I KNEW IT I KNEW IT, ony two more days’ time, our grace is amazing indeed finally we will bring down those who stand upon their ivory towers, bring them crashing down to a place wherein we might exact our revenge and force their penance.” Ida: Next to her the drow contemplatively nod in agreement while ???: The tiefling keeps his hands clasped together in reverence muttering “ohh it is true it is true, finally we are ready to enact his great design, the results of our tireless devotion…” Olst: the human next to him chuckles as well “the streets above shall run red as they so deserve, the brood will overtake them at every turn, their defences shall be their very ruin”

The four walk up to the blood pool and touch its outer rim bringing one other hand up to their lips, they speak a coded hymn out loud, as they do they their hands glow a faint red before they are surrounded by a flash. Once complete they step away again, the elf woman speaks up once more

Emruz: “may their soak in their own fluids” before she cackles wildly again.

---

Notes:

🗡 Keva pocketed another「 Red Letterhead Token ✨ 」 🍺 Plum holds the「 Jailer’s Keys ✨ 」 💀5 guards seem to be lax in their duties....

- 48 Hours until 📜🩸 The Reckoning 🩸📜 -

#recaps #200126 #:3c

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