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Even Newer(er) Tavern Thread: The Hanged Man
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JoeNotCharles
First Post
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JoeNotCharles
First Post
As dawn breaks outside, 7 Rabbit enters the tavern, skirts the knot of people standing in the center of the room, and settles his prodigious girth at the bar. His posture is slumped with exhaustion, with dark, weary bags under his eyes, but his smile is bright and his voice cheerful.
"A wee dram to send me to bed," he says to the bartender despite the early hour. "I've been up all night watching the heavens. I've found the perfect place - a hill in the forest, far away from the lights of the city, no trees to get in the way. Oh, the stars are glorious there, and they make such fascinating patterns..." He stifles a yawn which turns into a contented sigh.
"A wee dram to send me to bed," he says to the bartender despite the early hour. "I've been up all night watching the heavens. I've found the perfect place - a hill in the forest, far away from the lights of the city, no trees to get in the way. Oh, the stars are glorious there, and they make such fascinating patterns..." He stifles a yawn which turns into a contented sigh.
FourMonos
First Post
Artemis notices the old dwarf's entrance. He had been wanting to talk to him since he heard Gil and 7 Rabbit talk about the power of the stars.
(...of course, there had been many songs about 'hydrogen' and 'plasma' about the same time....)
Artemis gets up and walks over, "7 Rabbit? I hope I'm not bothering you. Can I bend your ear? I've got a silly little tale that ends kind of darkly. I was hoping maybe you could help me with it?"
(...of course, there had been many songs about 'hydrogen' and 'plasma' about the same time....)
Artemis gets up and walks over, "7 Rabbit? I hope I'm not bothering you. Can I bend your ear? I've got a silly little tale that ends kind of darkly. I was hoping maybe you could help me with it?"
JoeNotCharles
First Post
Rabbit waves to the stool next to him. "Go ahead. I'm always interested in tales and their heroes."
FourMonos
First Post
Artemis takes the proffered stool and leans in, as if at confession, while he speaks.
"Alas, I'm not sure there is a hero for this tale. Imagine, if you would, a young lad. He has reached adulthood through no special circumstance. He doesn't stand out in strength or ability. This lad, he comes from a land under strife. He joins the army to help protect what belongs to his people, but mostly he joins because his brothers did and therefore it is what is expected."
"He serves well enough, but as he isn't as strong or athletic as his fellows. He falls behind in stature and respect. The lad gets the jobs no one else wants," Artemis smiles, "Trust me, latrine duty gets old fast."
"So the lad serves and performs the minor duties. Nothing exciting happens for quite some time... until, one day, the company he is with is assaulted by eldritch and evil forces. The company is caught unawares and panics. Fleeing, the whole company huddles in a cave, facing certain death, when something speaks to the lad. He isn't sure why this thing came to him, but it promises to save him and his fellows. But there will be a price. This thing, the voice or spirit... or demon. It's dark. Dark and dangerous."
A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his face, but Artemis doesn't notice as he continues his tale. "The lad, he has to decide at once, does he pay the price, whatever it is, to save his fellows? Or does he let fate take its course?"
Artemis looks down, rubbing his forehead as he talks, "He panics. He accepts the deal. Looking back, it is likely why the lad was selected in the first place. Because he was weak."
"Immediately he changes. He becomes stronger, bolder, more convincing and charming. He has powers he didn't know existed. The lad leads the charge and the evil forces are destroyed. For a moment, everything seems great."
"But... but, every day since then, he can feel the darkness growing. It feeds off emotions and even more off death. The thing practically roared inside my head when Mikara killed the hobgoblin..."
"I know this was long and you're probably bored, but I'm scared, Rabbit. Scared of what's to come. Going off on this war is probably the last thing I should do."
"Alas, I'm not sure there is a hero for this tale. Imagine, if you would, a young lad. He has reached adulthood through no special circumstance. He doesn't stand out in strength or ability. This lad, he comes from a land under strife. He joins the army to help protect what belongs to his people, but mostly he joins because his brothers did and therefore it is what is expected."
"He serves well enough, but as he isn't as strong or athletic as his fellows. He falls behind in stature and respect. The lad gets the jobs no one else wants," Artemis smiles, "Trust me, latrine duty gets old fast."
"So the lad serves and performs the minor duties. Nothing exciting happens for quite some time... until, one day, the company he is with is assaulted by eldritch and evil forces. The company is caught unawares and panics. Fleeing, the whole company huddles in a cave, facing certain death, when something speaks to the lad. He isn't sure why this thing came to him, but it promises to save him and his fellows. But there will be a price. This thing, the voice or spirit... or demon. It's dark. Dark and dangerous."
A fine sheen of sweat broke out on his face, but Artemis doesn't notice as he continues his tale. "The lad, he has to decide at once, does he pay the price, whatever it is, to save his fellows? Or does he let fate take its course?"
Artemis looks down, rubbing his forehead as he talks, "He panics. He accepts the deal. Looking back, it is likely why the lad was selected in the first place. Because he was weak."
"Immediately he changes. He becomes stronger, bolder, more convincing and charming. He has powers he didn't know existed. The lad leads the charge and the evil forces are destroyed. For a moment, everything seems great."
"But... but, every day since then, he can feel the darkness growing. It feeds off emotions and even more off death. The thing practically roared inside my head when Mikara killed the hobgoblin..."
"I know this was long and you're probably bored, but I'm scared, Rabbit. Scared of what's to come. Going off on this war is probably the last thing I should do."
JoeNotCharles
First Post
"Each of us has a destiny," 7 Rabbit says. "Marked by the stars. If I study hard, I can see them sometimes. I haven't studied yours, but I've done this often enough that I can recognize a few patterns. I don't think it's to die unremembered as a common soldier." He rubs the tufty beard on his chin for a moment. "But I'm not sure if I tried to read your star charts now that I would even find your true, original destiny. You've aligned yourself with a dark power, and that will shadow your fate whether you go off to war or no."
"Was that what you wanted? Guidance from the stars? I'm not sure what else I could do for you..."
"Was that what you wanted? Guidance from the stars? I'm not sure what else I could do for you..."
FourMonos
First Post
Artemis smiles, "I think you can see the paths of men more clearly than you think. What got me thinking was when I heard you explaining to Gil the power of the stars, the beings that observe from a distance. The ones that shape fate and forge destiny."
"Could these powers... these beings... could they help me forge my own destiny? Right now, all I see happening is the stronger I make this darkness by fighting and killing, the worse I make it. Not only for myself, but for whatever it has planned when it is strong enough."
"Where I'm from, dark beings like this destroyed an empire and killed thousands the last time they were released upon the world."
Artemis sits back, collecting his thoughts, summoning his courage.
"Rabbit, I would like to purge the darkness. I want to reject this pact and come clean from the curse. Do you think the beings of the heavens can do that? Can you help me?"
"Could these powers... these beings... could they help me forge my own destiny? Right now, all I see happening is the stronger I make this darkness by fighting and killing, the worse I make it. Not only for myself, but for whatever it has planned when it is strong enough."
"Where I'm from, dark beings like this destroyed an empire and killed thousands the last time they were released upon the world."
Artemis sits back, collecting his thoughts, summoning his courage.
"Rabbit, I would like to purge the darkness. I want to reject this pact and come clean from the curse. Do you think the beings of the heavens can do that? Can you help me?"
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