| Logs |
2003 October 05
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
October 5
Aiden walks into the garden cautiously, but looks around in admiration at the beauty. He can see why the old man likes it so much in here. He makes his way towards the fountain, Seodil presumably still on his arm.
Steven looks around warilly, half expecting the strange man to suddenly appear behind them proclaiming some eternal doom on them. For one mad moment, he wonders if the man thinks of the fountain as his wife, but squelches that thought. Any possible explaination he can come up with would be rendered null and void soon enough, as it is. He follows closely behind Aiden and Seodil, keeping his attention more on behind and around them than directly ahead.
Swaying gently at Aiden's side in passable imitation of a graceful lady's gait, Seodil strolls with a pleasant expression. He bends to murmur to Aiden, smiling.
Lotte walks cautiously into the garden and eyes the red cap, flanked by Ghost and Soleil as wolves. She does not touch it.
Aiden winces, just slightly at Seodil's words.
Steven actualy dares to let out a breath. "Well," he murmurs to the others, "if the lady isn't here, we should just be able to take the cap and return it? Unless I'm mising something...."
Lotte frowns. "It's too easy. Where IS she?"
Aiden looks over at Steven with a slight shrug, "I would think so.. but Lotte's right." He walks closer to the fountain and the cap, pausing just in front of it.
Steven steps closer as well, standing beside Aiden and scanning the, admittedly very beautiful if very creepily-fenced, garden.
Lotte hangs back to let the others get closer, a hand on each wolf. Sol whuffs gently at her and stays by her side with Ghost.
Aiden rolls his eyes slighty after a quick glance at Steven and Lotte. Why am I always the one that ends up touching stuff first? He bends and picks it up.
A girl appears in front of Aiden, pouting as she rises up from the fountain. She manages to look like a Hollywood Aphrodite, even dripping wet. She tilts her head and gives him a charming smile.
Steven blinks, and manages to say the first thing that comes to mind: "Uh...."
Aiden manages, somehow, not to drop the hat, though there is a little effort to that. He startles, badly, when she comes up. "Oh! Hello..."
Still smiling, the girl steps out of the fountain and cozies up to Aiden, running a hand along his side as she drifts by. When she moves away a little, she's holding his swordbelt... complete with sword. She giggles and steps out of reach, in the fountain.
Aiden shakes his head, frowning deeply.. Then he noticed his belt and mutters something under his breath.
Beside Aiden, Seodil stirs and curses softly. "...nymph."
Steven blinks. He hadn't even seen that lift. Damn, she's good! "Hey, uh, now, give that back... please...." ... Smooth, Steven. You're a regular Jame Frickin' Bond.
The nymph slings Aiden's swordbelt over her pretty bare shoulder and saunters up to Steven, moving surprisingly fast for a saunter.
Aiden says, just loud enough for Seodil to hear, "No wonder he said she was unreasonable." He turns and shoots a look at Steven that has a distinctly "help me" overtone to it.
Inspecting Steven's hands with gentle curiousity, the nymph toys with his succubus-hair ring, then slips it off and dances away lightly, slipping it onto her own finger as she skips off out of reach.
Steven blinks, startledly, moving to stop her... then pauses, frowning, as if a bit of a cloud had been lifted off of him. He manages to keep from smiling. I'll find some way to thank you, lady, honest. Just not right now. "H-hey...!" he stammers out, just to keep up appearances.
Giggling like windchimes, the nymph skips off to the other side of the garden.
Steven shuffles his feet a bit, watching the nyph with one part wariness, and one part interest. When she skips off, he shakes his head as if to clear it. "Uh... hey...!"
Lotte blinks silently.
Aiden watches the nymph for a moment, then takes another look around the garden. He's still holding the hat in his hands and looks like he's trying to figure out what to do.
Sol sighs and walks over to lap at the fountain water.. then snorts and reaches her entire wolfy head into it.
Steven says, "Uhm... your sword? Wha-- Sol, what are you doing...?"
Aiden blinks at Soleil, tensing, ready to move if something threatens her..
Soleil re-emerges from the fountain with jaws slightly parted, and trots over to Aiden to put her wet nose on his hand, poking.
Aiden lets go of Seodil and bends, putting his hand out flat for Soleil. "What is it?"
Waving her amber tail, Sol drops a thumbnail-sized rock into Aiden's palm. It's nearly clear, but full of rainbow fire that flashes brightly enough for everyone else to see it clearly when it catches the light.
Steven blinks, glancing over at the object in Aiden's hand. Now that is really very pretty.... He glances into the fountain, warilly, though; he's still looking for where the nymph went off to.
Aiden frowns, not quite sure why Sol handed this off to him. He cups it in his hands, ruffles the top of Sol's head and stands back up, face straight, even if the rest of him is befuddled.
Seodil inhales softly. "Now. The question is... is that a magical fountain, or it is simply lined with baubles?"
Lotte's eyes get big.
Steven glances to Seodil. "Considering a woman just popped out from it, my money would be on 'magical.' At least a little bit," he adds.
The nymph smiles back at Steven from the other side of the sizeable garden... then is suddenly right next to him, reaching for his shoulder bag.
Aiden says, "I'm no expert.. but look at it. It looks magical."
Smiling seductively, the nymph ruffles Steven's hair in passing as she lifts his shoulder bag from his shoulder onto her own without resistance, then sidles over to Aiden and Seodil, looking speculative.
Steven tries to hold on to his shoulder bag. "Hey, no, wait, I need that...!" but it's already too late by the time he gets his wits together.
Aiden watches the nymph warily, but doesn't stop her when she takes his bow. He's too busy watching her. Again, he shakes his head and comes to his senses once she is gone, then swears under his breath.
Steven says, "... She's going to have the clothes off our backs if this keeps up." Maybe her getting that ring off of me wasn't quite so good, after all...."
Seodil reacts quickly this time, reaching out to snatch at the nymph as she skips away from Aiden.
When the silver elf misses, the nymph lands a neat kick to his groin and vanishes completely... after she connects with a solid thump.
Aiden winces sympathetically and reaches out a hand to steady Seodil by grabbing his elbow, just in case..
Steven winces, and cringes himself as he sees the nymph connect. The sympathetic pain he feels is all too palatable. "Owww," he murmurs.
Seodil's hand grabs Aiden's arm and tightens painfully as the breath huffs out of him.
Aiden doesn't so much as cringe at the painful grip on his arm, reminding himself that Seodil feels much, much worse.
Soleil makes a small sound, but it's not clear what the tenor is.
Steven takes in a deep breath. I will not be taken in by her wiles next time, I will not be taken in by her wiles next time.... "Now we know why only females should have come in here. We should get out before we loose more, regroup and hand over the cap and figure out what to do next."
Aiden looks at Soleil, eyes wide.. He stuggles not to smile, and actually manages. He takes a deep breath before looking back to Seodil in concern..
Seodil hisses, "I say gut her."
Aiden says, "I'm not sure that's wise, Seodil, but I can sympathise."
Seodil snarls softly, then says, "I think she will not be in reach for a time. Shall we inspect her home?"
Steven glances to the fountain,a nd sighs, nodding, walking over to take a look into the fountain. "Maybe she stows the things she grabs in here, and if we're quick...."
Aiden nods, "We may as well, yes.." Aiden moves back towards the fountain, dipping the tips of his fingers into the water.
The water swirls crystal-clear and deliciously cold around Aiden's fingers. No more gems-- or indeed, anything else-- are apparent on the smooth blue bottom.
Hobbling a little, Seodil moves over to lean on the fountain's edge, then scoops up a handful of water to drink.
Blinking, the silver elf pauses to inspect his hand after drinking, and says, "Magical." He holds out another fire opal, showing the group the gem's bright flash.
Steven blinks at Seodil. "... Huh!" He looks again at the fountain, and more out of curiosty than greed he reaches into the water and scoops up a shallow handful of water. He does pause to sniff lightly at it, before carefully sipping. Perhaps it's some lingering effects of the succubus-hair ring but as he's sipping he belatedly wonders why one woudl have to drink from the water to get hold of a fire-opal.
Aiden runs his fingers through the fountain once more, then lifts a handful of water from it.. He watches Steven before he does anything, though.
Lotte hangs back, curious but wary of the magical fountain.
Steven raises his eyebrows a bit after sipping, and makes a quiet sound. "Mm. Refreshing. Tasty, actually. Invigorating."
Aiden shrugs just a little bit and bends to drink the water cupped in his hand.
A stunningly beautiful girl rises up from the fountain in front of Aiden, smiling at him.
Steven blinks, taking a staggered step back. "Oh, no, now there's two of them?!"
Aiden takes a half step back, wincing. "Great. Just great."
Aiden takes a few quick steps back, trying to put some distance between himself and the second nymph. "Don't even think about it..."
Aiden opens his hand, hoping that if she DOES decide to take something, it'll be the gem..
The second nymph pouts as Aiden steps out of reach, eyes steady on the bright gem in his hand.. she steps out of the fountain, edging prettily toward him, attention focused on the rainbow stone.
Steven takes a few steps back himself, just in case the nymph decides to go after him instead.. then he notices that the nymph is fixated on the stone. Shinies...? But, wait, my shoulder bag was about as shiny as a brick....
A gasp echoes softly from a female throat, as the first nymph notices the new arrival.
Aiden has her attention now.. and he's not quite sure what to DO with it exactly. He keeps backing up and hoping something brilliant will come to him..
The new nymph stalks Aiden, cutely.
Aiden looks behind him for the other nymph, hoping to steer this new one off in that direction..
Seodil eyes the new nymph thoughtfully, rising silently from his fountainseat.
Seodil's fist lands solidly on the second nymph's head, knocking her onto the mossy ground. She lies still.
Smiling, the silver elf bows slightly to Aiden. "Nicely done. Now, the other one?"
Steven blinks, giving a start at the suddenness of the hit. "Uh... nice hit." He looks around, wondering if the other nymph is going to take serious exception.
Aiden grins at Seodil. He turns to the other nymph and again opens his hand to let the gem settled in his palm flash at her, hoping this trick will work twice. "Nice hit.."
The first nymph is standing still with her mouth open, then closes it with alarm as her new companion falls to the ground. She blinks out of sight, suddenly not there.
Steven blinks, and looks around quickly. "Guess that kind of startled her...." He feels a bit of a pang of guilt, but at least this second nymph will recover.
Lotte's little grey wolf yips at Aiden.
Steven blinks startledly. "Aiden! She's behind you, move!" He jumps forward waving his arms and shouting to distract the nymph with sound and motion. Well, it works for birds, sometimes. Maybe. Or was that bulls....
Aiden whirls to look at the wolf, then starts looking around himself for the Nymph.. When he hears Steven he turns on his heel..
The nymph makes a silent expression of panic and pops out of sight again, reappearing on the far side of the garden, looking tired.
Steven murmurs, "I think we're wearing her out when she does that..."
Aiden looks at Seodil. "How many more times can she do that before she falls down in exhaustion?"
Seodil says, "Judging by her face, not too many more." He looks thoughtfully at the nymph he hit. "That one might wake up, however." He draws his sword and starts walking toward her.
Aiden says, "Don't kill her.. "
Seodil gives Aiden an irritated look. "Do you have rope?"
Aiden runs for his bow, snatching it up and stringing it quickly, "No." He grabs an arrow and nocks it, drawing the bow and pointing at the first one, ready to release.
Steven is about to say somethign against killing the nymph as well, but is glad when Aiden beats him to it. "We might not need it, if we finish this soon...." He keeps a wary eye on the first nymph.
With a despairing moue, the first nymph teleports again.
Aiden allows himself a slight, gloating smirk and starts looking for her again. Just keep jumping. I don't want to have to fire at you to get you to go..
Seodil snorts. "Or she might wake, and become a nuisance again." He sheathes his sword, though. "Aiden. I'll put her on your tab."
Steven looks around again quickly, hoping she doesn't try to do something like kick Seodil again, and just winds down and surrenders their things again so they can be off and away and give the man his red hat.
Aiden doesn't look at Seodil. "Yeah. I'm sure it won't make that much difference. It's pretty big already. You're creative, figure something out.."
The panicky nymph stares wide-eyed at Aiden from behind Seodil, and flutters her hands desperately, dodging from side to side.
Aiden lets the bowstring go slightly slack, watching her with a raised eyebrow. "I don't want to make you do it again. Just give us back our things and we'll be on our way."
The nymph waffles, glancing between Seodil and her fountain as the silver elf steps too far away to provide her with cover.
The nymph appears behind Steven, looking nearly exhausted, and stares at him with big, pleading eyes.
Aiden lowers the bow..
Steven gives a start, noticing the nymph behind him. He takes a few steps back away from her, shaking his head, albeit a little sadly. "Please. Just return our things, let us return the cap to the man, and we'll be on our way."
The nymph starts crying.
Aiden blinks, looking at the nymph. "Are you trapped here?"
The nymph nods emphatically at Aiden, nearly jumping up and down.
Steven blinks at the cryig, then frowns worriedly. it's hard not to feel sympathy for her. At Aiden's question he blinks, then looks at the fence. "Of course... the fence of bones.....
Steven grimaces quietly, then looks to the nymph. "You aren't his wife, are you?"
The nymph points at the red cap in Aiden's hands, then gestures for him to put it on.
Looking at Steven, the nymph shakes her head slowly from side to side, face sad and serious.
Aiden narrows his eyes when the nymph confirms his suspicion. "A prisoner." He looks at her again. "Give us back the things you took and we'll do everything we can to get you out of her--" He looks down at the cap in his hand. "What happens if I put this on? Anyone?"
Seodil says, slowly, "It might not be a good idea. A redcap's cap is a powerful artifact... though it must be properly cared for in its turn in order to remain so."
Aiden mutters under his breath, "Putting your cloak on wasn't a good idea, either. Didn't stop me from doing it." He raises his voice, "Will it free her?"
Steven taps his chin, consideringly. So... either the man is lying, or the nymph is. And they've a lousy enough way of telling who is telling the truth. he blinks to Aiden. "Uh... I'm not sure. At first I thought it was just a cap, but now... I'm not at all sure." HE blinks to Sodil, then grimaces quietly. Oh, so of course he knows what it's all about, now. Thanks for volunteering information, Seodil. Ergh, easy on him, Steven. He might have just figured it out. "What's a redcap?" he asks curiously.
Seodil adds, "On the other hand, it is reputed to contain much of his personal power..." He considers Aiden. "I do not know. Perhaps, as you have the ranged weapon, you should keep that and Lotte or Steven should put the cap on. It might very well give you insight into how to release her, if it truly is the key to his power." Looking at Steven, Seodil shrugs. "I had never met one before-- they are highly reclusive. It is a name for a kind of fey who prefers to stay aloof, eating the unwary, and dyeing his cap in their blood."
Aiden once again manages not to drop the cap, but just barely. He nods at Seodil. "Alright. Steven, Lotte? One of you want to do this?"
Lotte gives Aiden a horrified look. "Uh, no."
Steven grimaces at the thought of a cap soaked in blood. Well, an unpleasant reputation -- combined with a fence of bones -- tends to make me more wary of him over her. He swallows. "All right. I will." Why not From succubus hair to blood-soaked cap. What wonderful fashions they have in this world.... He goes over to Aiden, taking the cap and looking careful at the nymph as he starts to put it on, just in case she suddenly decides that's a bad idea.
The nymph nods vigorously at Steven, clapping her pretty hands silently.
Aiden makes a grab for Steven's arms, trying to stop him from putting it on..
Steven swallows again, and sighs, startign to set the cap on his head, but pauses, blinking at Aiden. "Mmph? What's up?"
Aiden looks at Seodil. "Can we ransom it back to him in exchange for freeing her, rather than risk Steven putting that thing on?"
Seodil raises an eyebrow at Aiden. "Certainly, if you trust him to keep his word once he is no longer crippled, thanks to us."
Aiden lets out a breath, "Not likely I think." He shoots an apologetic look at Steven.. "Alright. Go for it."
Seodil nods, satisfied. "The same choice I would make."
Steven lets out a breath, and nods, swtting the cap on his head. he wonders if the nymph might not have been better off outside the garden if they bargained with the redcap. Somehow, Seodil... taht doesn't make me feel any better....
As Steven settles the cap on his head and it makes contact, his vision blurs and gains shadows...
The wall of bones becomes overlaid with translucent people, lying stacked like wood. Many of them are nymphs. The wall reeks of fear, the only clear spot in it the open gate... where the old man waits, a short but very dark, dense presence that tastes of age and cruelty.
Steven gives a sharp start, a gurgling, choked yelp catching in his throat. Oh, god... oh, Lord Pelor, how can something like him exist...?! He looks around, not even breathing, not trusting himself to breathe, as if each breath was precious in this garden of death. The roses... are they watered and nurtured with blood? Is that why they're such a riot of unusual colors...? He takes a slow look around, almost scared to look at what his companions might look like with this horriffic view of the world.
Aiden watches Steven worriedly.
Under the cap, Steven's hazed vision gets used to the new overlay and the world begins to seem sharper, the shadows of deeper truth adding depth to the picture rather than obscuring it. His companions, viewed in this way, are no exception...
Lotte shines in her skin, fairly glowing. A spot of darkness at her side pulses red and black, from one pocket, in the shape of a key. Seodil is less bright and a very different taste, difficult to look at long. His hands are red, his sword drawn, and scars or wounds burn redly through his clothes, nearly covering his tall frame. A silver wolf sometimes replaces the elf as Steven looks.
For the first time since donning the cap, a faint smile tugs at his lips as he looks at Lotte, a faint look of relief playing over his face. A moment later his look turns to one of curiosity... and then his gaze falls on Seodil. He doesn't like looking at that on too long -- he knows Seodil's preferred way of dealing with things. Blood on that one's hands is no surprise. But the wounds he carries, too.... No... it will take a long time before I fell sympathy or pity for him. I'm sorry. I can't feel that way for someone who uses their wounds as armor or justification for what they are.... we all make our own choices, he's made his. Maybe someday, maybe someday soon.... He continues to turn, darkly fascinated and wondering what Soleil and Aiden -- and even Ghost -- look like in this nightmarish sort of vision.
Aiden is stubbornly bright, warm golden-tinted, and fades in and out from man to wolf, as does Soleil. Their shadows are holding hands. Soleil's gender changes in addition to his shape, and a silvery darkness lingers around his heart. The circlet that caused his current gender rests on his head, with roots set deep into his skin.
Where the little grey wolf Ghost sits, an elven woman in full plate armor stands, a fiery sword drawn, a tall shield on her arm, and her helm down. She nods once, gravely, to Steven. She has a tail, and her helm is shaped like a wolf's head.
The nymphs, both conscious and unconscious, are in constant motion even in place, looking curiously at everything near and reaching to touch, childlike.
Steven nods to himself, quietly. You and Lua... your'e still connected, in some ways, even if she doesn't want to see it, even if she doesn't feel it. Another smile tugs at his lips as he sees the shadows holding hands. He blinks in surprise to Ghost, and can't help but nod soberly to the woman in return. Someday, lady, may you stand proud again.... The in-motion nymphs also bring a faint, gentle smile to him, and he is glad Seodil did not kill either one. He closes his eyes, then, taking in a deep breath, but pauses before taking the hat off. He forces himself to turn towards the gate, to the pitch darkness, the blot of midnight ink like a malevolent Rorscharsch given unholy life standing outside the gate.
Aiden reaches towards Steven, but pauses just short of touching him. His voice is quiet when he speaks, "Steven..?"
As Steven glances back over the assembled, details change and flicker. Seodil holds a flogger in place of a sword, and wipes blood off of it with a cloth as he glances at Aiden. Aiden's shadow glances back, and does not look away. Lotte briefly gains a crown, and an unpleasant smile as she puts her hand in her pocket... then his gaze continues to the gate.
Steven gives a bit of a start as the images change. What... what is it showing me? Intents, hopes, desires...? I know Seodil wants to hurt Aiden for this and for a lot of things -- fuck you, Seodil! -- GAH! I've... got to get this cap off me, Pelor knows what it's doing to my outlook on this after being worn by that... that.... His gaze is drawn to the gate, where he'd originally sent it....
At the gate, an endless and patient hunger waits. The old man is hard to make out in the inky darkness surrounding him, and is most easily seen as a pair of red eyes in the shifting black. The shades of the bone-wall draw back from him in fear, even as pale silvery bits of them feed into it like loose threads.
In a moment his concerns about the group wither away and he stares, horrified, at the thing. He feeds off of them, some still-calm part of him thinks. He feeds off them even after he's killed them. And that's what he's going to do to this nymph -- to these nymphs, both of them. When he gets his cap back.
I've seen enough. He pulls the cap off none too slowly, and finds that he's letting himself breathe again, panting faintly. His near-empty gaze looks around at the killing garden, then down at the cap again. "How--" It comes out hoarse. he coughs a little, swallowing, then asks, "Seodil. How do we destroy this... and him."
Seodil sighs. "What did you see, Steven? Yours is the greater insight, I suspect. I have never met one of his kind before, as I told you."
The silver elf says, "My stories may.. or may not... hold more than a grain of truth."
Steven swallows. "He's... feeding off of them." He looks up, and around. "I mean... them. The ones he killed to make the bone fence. Nymphs, and others. They're still scared of him, but he's... sucking something from them into himself." He swallows. "And he's killing the nymphs, slowly, I imagine. And he'll add their bones to the fence as well."
Aiden says, "He's drawing power from the ones that are alive.. or the dead ones in the wall?"
Seodil frowns. "I am not sure we can destroy him, Steven."
Aiden's grip on the bow tightens, as does the line of his mouth. "We can't just leave them here to die."
Steven says, "The dead ones. They're... piled, like firewood, all around, can't you -- no, wait, you can't see them. I didn't want to see them. They what he used to make the fence. He's drawing something from them. And when these nymphs are dead he'll add them to the fence, and draw from them as well." His hands clench around the bloodstained cap, sadness welling up in him -- How many of you are in this? How many, besides the ones here? -- sadness and anger. he looks up, narrowing his eyes. "He doesn't have his red cap. I would say that makes hm vulnerable." He looks around. "Or maybe we can tear this down. He's not drawing power from anyone alive here." His hands clench round the hellish red cloth cap. "He's not getting this, though.""
Steven almost impulsively tries to rip the cap apart at the seams -- if it even has seams. It may not be the wisest thing, but he's not going to leave a shred of it remaining for that blight upon the world to use ever again.
The red cap stretches, making a noise, and the old man shouts, "Hoi! Whatcher doin' in there?"
Aiden lifts the bow, free hand going to the string. "Steven. Are you with me on this?"
Seodil stares at them and says, "Are you mad? Assaulting him directly will likely be the death of us all."
Soleil steps forward to stand at Aiden's side.
The nymph dances, bouncing and smiling.
Aiden says, "If you have recommendations, Seodil, I'd make them quickly.."
Lotte says faintly, "We have to help... what can I do?"
Steven bares his teeth a little. "He felt that." For one of the few times in his time here... this is a fight worth fighting. He takes a firmer hold of the edges of the cap, bracing his arms to pull with all his might. "By all that I am, Aiden.. I'm with you. If you have a better idea, Seodil, say now." Because if it's the last thing I do with these arms of sun-baked clay and dust, it will be to rip this red cap apart, and I only hope that I will live long enough after to do much the same to that monster out there. Some part of him wonders if this is an entirely healthy outlook; its certainly not Zen. Sometimes, though, he reasons... letting the World happen is not enough.
Seodil throws up his hands and says, frustrated, "At least take out his resources before you charge in, you.. you needleswords."
Drawing his sword, the silver elf snaps, "If you die nobly and LOSE, what bloody good is it to anyone? If you have a plan, share it."
Aiden nods slightly. "Steven. Destroy that hat. Lotte, Sol. Help me with the walls.." He stalks, purposefully towards the walls. This is such a bad idea. Why do I keep doing this?
Aiden looks at Seodil. "I'm planning to kill him. Are you planning to help?"
Seodil says calmly, "Now that you are not relying upon me to read your minds, I shall take the wall."
Steven smiles tightly. 'Needleswords?' Is that all? You've obviously never been pricked by a thousand needles, Seodil. But I'll forgive you your lack of experience. 'Specially since I never have, either. He takes in a breath, and whispers a prayer: "Lord Pelor, Sun that casts aside the Darkness and rends the veils of shadow, gives these arms Your strength that we might hope to stand against this feeding beast of shadow and burn it to ash!" With the final word bursting from his lungs he throws his arms apart, straining them with all the strength he can to rip the redcap apart, to rend the ill-stained threads apart.
Aiden raises his bow and draws..
The red cap tears asunder with a force that everyone can feel, as the old man's shrieks spiral past fury into incoherence. Seodil whirls to attack the wall of bones with his drawn sword, as Soleil shifts and tears at them with her bare hands in unison with Lotte.
Aiden waits.. his arrow is trained on the redcap, waiting for him to move. Seodil and Soleil seem to be working on the wall, he wants to protect Steven from this thing's fury.
Steven is almost surprised the cap gets ripped as well as it does. he can feel it ripping apart with much less force than he thought. But as he does so there is a sudden flash of brilliant, searing light. He gives a cry, staggering back. Aaaagh! I'm blind! I can't see a blessed thing.. or a damned thing for that matter!
The capless redcap howls at Steven from outside the walls, but does not come in. He crouches in the opening between the ends of the bone-wall, gibbering and reaching out, fingers clawed.
As Seodil, then Sol and Lotte break through sections of the wall, there is something not unlike a sonic boom that threatens to knock the entire group off their feet.
As the wall breaks, the redcap rushes in toward Steven.
Aiden flicks a concerned look over at Soleil, Lotte and Seodil, trying to keep his feet and wincing. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment, then opens them again.. focusing. He releases the bowstring.
Steven flails forward with his arms, trying to get hold of something familiar, like the fountain that was right to the side -- dammit, it's not there now! Okay! Okay, calm, be calm-- The sonic boom-like detonation almost throws him down to his feet. Aaaagh! I hope that's a good sign! Now... okay, be calm, Steven, take deep breaths, do that combat meditation thing.....
Aiden watches his arrow in flight, almost as if it's in slow motion. His aim is true and the arrow strikes the redcap, who promptly explodes.. Aiden's eyes widen and he makes a dive for Steven, still in distress in front of him. He hits Steven and topples them both to the ground, only to be splattered with what is perhaps the most loathesome, disgusting substance that they've yet encountered. Aiden rolls off of Steven and lays on his back on the ground, eyes closed. "Ew.. ew.."
Steven hears the whzzzzzz! of an arrow singing by him. Oh, hells, I'm sorry I'm so close to your line of fire, Aiden-- Then he hears an all-too-close
Aiden deadpans, "Yeah. No problem. You're not going to mind if I just lay here and don't open my eyes until I'm quite sure that I'm not going to throw up as soon as I open them, are you?"
Steven says, "Quite all right. I'm rather glad I can't see anything right now myself, at that.""
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