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<blockquote data-quote="ThirdWizard" data-source="post: 6612194" data-attributes="member: 12037"><p>The Gatehouse was an imposing structure from the outside, and a maze from the inside, with three wings. With a little help from an overworked clerk who Mozzy easily fast talked, they were on their way to the proper cell block, slowly finding their way through the corridors. Luckily, there weren't many people in the asylum passages, and most were too busy with their own business to even offer the interlopers a second look, if even a first.</p><p></p><p>It was around an hour before they were at their destination, a small, unremarkable cell in an unremarkable hallway. They had no key, but Mozzy had the door unlocked in moments. The four slipped in and softly closed it behind them.</p><p></p><p>In the dark room was a man hunched over in a corner. He ignored them, fidgeting with a small ragdoll. There was a bracelet of beads and bronze hanging loosely about his left wrist, twisted into two rings. An untouched tray of food was sitting to his side, ignored. He appeared a tall, and they would have found him intimidating if he weren't so gaunt and emaciated.</p><p></p><p>“More poison?” he said as they entered. “Get it away!” He threw the tray of food at them, the tin clattering on the ground in front of the door with a splay of mushy everywhere, the brief look of anger quickly falling from his face as quickly as it had emerged. He went back to fiddling with the doll and ignoring them.</p><p></p><p>The group spread out a bit. Jer stayed back to listen at the door while Mozzy and Mehen approached the man cautiously. Aurian stood in the middle of the room, watching both sides and ready for anything.</p><p></p><p>Mehen spoke up first. “We're not your keepers. We're friends. Hey, that’s a nice bracelet you've got.”</p><p></p><p>The man clamped his hand over the bracelet. “Keeps me from killing. Kill kill kill kill kill.”</p><p></p><p>Mehen looked at the others, a bit more concerned now than before.</p><p></p><p>Mozzy spoke up. “You kill people? Sounds like you don't want to.”</p><p></p><p>“Who, what? No no no no no. Flying through the air, cursed. Lost to time.” He shook his head. “No no no no no!”</p><p></p><p>“Dancing Gull.” Mozzy tried to catch his eyes, but they were loose, unfocused balls. The only thing they seemed able to catch sight of was the doll he held. “Hey. We just want to talk.” His eyes started to focus on her for a moment before rolling to the floor. “You just got that bracelet, right?” His eyes snapped back up for a half second, trying to find focus in that moment but failing.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, No! I don’t want them to die! Don’t want anyone to die!” He started rocking back and forth. “They just die. Was in Bytopia. Guide fell down the mountain. Poof, gone. Couldn't find our way after that. Lost. Started starving. Only one left was me. Rescued by gnomish balloon.”</p><p></p><p>“That couldn't be your fault, though,” Mehen said as he started to move closer to the man.</p><p></p><p>“First time. Second time in Ysgard. Goblins from Baator attacked. Made it out with one friend. Then she was killed by wolves.”</p><p></p><p>“Okay, but-”</p><p></p><p>“Portal to Outland shifted. Didn't realize it. Ended up in Plane of Air, scattering everyone. Fell for days, all in different directions. Aimed for land. Made it back a week later.”</p><p></p><p>“Uh…”</p><p></p><p>“Sometimes, I look out into the nothingness outside the city. I want to just jump in, and…” His eyes glazed over and he started toying with the doll again.</p><p></p><p>Mehen was close enough to see… petals? coming off of the doll’s head. “So, Dancing Gull, you went to find Tesa. You went to fix the curse.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes! That exactly! Now no one will die. I won't kill them anymore. I'll be safe. All is well.”</p><p></p><p>“How did you find Tesa?”</p><p></p><p>Mozzy got a bit more specific. “We know about the portal at Thesidass’s shop. How did you get through the portal?”</p><p></p><p>Mehen suddenly took a step back toward the door.</p><p></p><p>“I’m fast. The monster didn't see me coming. Got through.”</p><p></p><p>“But, what was the key? The portal key,” Mozzy continued. She gave Mehen a strange look. What was he worried about now?</p><p></p><p>Dancing Gull smiled. “Little eight legged bug. Squish squash, and I went through.”</p><p></p><p>Aurian raised an eyebrow. “Spider?”</p><p></p><p>“Squish squash.”</p><p></p><p>Mehen went for the door. “Time to go everybody. Lets get out of here.”</p><p></p><p>Aurian held up a hand. “But, we-”</p><p></p><p>“Nope. Time to go.” Mehen shot everyone a hard look.</p><p></p><p>Once they were out the door, Jer closed it back. “Something creeped you out? He was a little crazy, but he didn't seem dangerous.”</p><p></p><p>“Did you see that doll he had?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah. So?”</p><p></p><p>“It was an idol. It was the Lady of Pain.”</p><p></p><p>Nobody looked back.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ThirdWizard, post: 6612194, member: 12037"] The Gatehouse was an imposing structure from the outside, and a maze from the inside, with three wings. With a little help from an overworked clerk who Mozzy easily fast talked, they were on their way to the proper cell block, slowly finding their way through the corridors. Luckily, there weren't many people in the asylum passages, and most were too busy with their own business to even offer the interlopers a second look, if even a first. It was around an hour before they were at their destination, a small, unremarkable cell in an unremarkable hallway. They had no key, but Mozzy had the door unlocked in moments. The four slipped in and softly closed it behind them. In the dark room was a man hunched over in a corner. He ignored them, fidgeting with a small ragdoll. There was a bracelet of beads and bronze hanging loosely about his left wrist, twisted into two rings. An untouched tray of food was sitting to his side, ignored. He appeared a tall, and they would have found him intimidating if he weren't so gaunt and emaciated. “More poison?” he said as they entered. “Get it away!” He threw the tray of food at them, the tin clattering on the ground in front of the door with a splay of mushy everywhere, the brief look of anger quickly falling from his face as quickly as it had emerged. He went back to fiddling with the doll and ignoring them. The group spread out a bit. Jer stayed back to listen at the door while Mozzy and Mehen approached the man cautiously. Aurian stood in the middle of the room, watching both sides and ready for anything. Mehen spoke up first. “We're not your keepers. We're friends. Hey, that’s a nice bracelet you've got.” The man clamped his hand over the bracelet. “Keeps me from killing. Kill kill kill kill kill.” Mehen looked at the others, a bit more concerned now than before. Mozzy spoke up. “You kill people? Sounds like you don't want to.” “Who, what? No no no no no. Flying through the air, cursed. Lost to time.” He shook his head. “No no no no no!” “Dancing Gull.” Mozzy tried to catch his eyes, but they were loose, unfocused balls. The only thing they seemed able to catch sight of was the doll he held. “Hey. We just want to talk.” His eyes started to focus on her for a moment before rolling to the floor. “You just got that bracelet, right?” His eyes snapped back up for a half second, trying to find focus in that moment but failing. “Yes, No! I don’t want them to die! Don’t want anyone to die!” He started rocking back and forth. “They just die. Was in Bytopia. Guide fell down the mountain. Poof, gone. Couldn't find our way after that. Lost. Started starving. Only one left was me. Rescued by gnomish balloon.” “That couldn't be your fault, though,” Mehen said as he started to move closer to the man. “First time. Second time in Ysgard. Goblins from Baator attacked. Made it out with one friend. Then she was killed by wolves.” “Okay, but-” “Portal to Outland shifted. Didn't realize it. Ended up in Plane of Air, scattering everyone. Fell for days, all in different directions. Aimed for land. Made it back a week later.” “Uh…” “Sometimes, I look out into the nothingness outside the city. I want to just jump in, and…” His eyes glazed over and he started toying with the doll again. Mehen was close enough to see… petals? coming off of the doll’s head. “So, Dancing Gull, you went to find Tesa. You went to fix the curse.” “Yes! That exactly! Now no one will die. I won't kill them anymore. I'll be safe. All is well.” “How did you find Tesa?” Mozzy got a bit more specific. “We know about the portal at Thesidass’s shop. How did you get through the portal?” Mehen suddenly took a step back toward the door. “I’m fast. The monster didn't see me coming. Got through.” “But, what was the key? The portal key,” Mozzy continued. She gave Mehen a strange look. What was he worried about now? Dancing Gull smiled. “Little eight legged bug. Squish squash, and I went through.” Aurian raised an eyebrow. “Spider?” “Squish squash.” Mehen went for the door. “Time to go everybody. Lets get out of here.” Aurian held up a hand. “But, we-” “Nope. Time to go.” Mehen shot everyone a hard look. Once they were out the door, Jer closed it back. “Something creeped you out? He was a little crazy, but he didn't seem dangerous.” “Did you see that doll he had?” “Yeah. So?” “It was an idol. It was the Lady of Pain.” Nobody looked back. [/QUOTE]
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