Complete Private Eastern Brisshal (Reaping Season I) The Hazards of Howling

Nymoria · Oct 28, 2022

Nymoria gave a nod in response to the single question. She'd started the game with all the assists, all the safeties turned off. She'd told herself it was because she wanted that inclusive, in-depth feeling. The danger of pain, of not reacting properly...and of learning to be skilful. Capable. Not reliant on a computer system.

Yeah...I've got it all disabled. Auto-aim, auto-assist, pain limiters. Everything. I went for that whole experience, the in-depth realistic-ness. You know?

She leaned her head back against the rock behind her, closing her eyes for a brief moment. She wanted nothing more than to simply go to sleep. To let the pain fade away as she drifted off to a land of dreams, and not here.

Can't do that right now though...Still need to make it out of here. She forced her eyes back open, looking around the cave. The girl still sat in the middle, but she seemed to be somewhat conscious and aware, broken away from whatever spell had held her.

Should we go see what's up with her?

She waved a hand in the direction of the girl, not moving as she waited to see what Yua would do. Silently, she hoped that she wouldn't have to get up - she really didn't feel up to it at the moment. Just rest here...for a few moments...

@Yua

Yua · Oct 31, 2022

"I see," you answered, giving a sage nod as she found that she could respect Nymoria's decision and reasonings. Perhaps she had misjudged the beastfolk then. Yes, reckless. But otherwise, an honorable person. There was little to complain about the girl in light of that fact.

Yua eyes were drawn again to Yurei when Nymoria asked her if they should check on her. The girl nodded again, and stood making her way slowly towards the girl, kneeling before her once more. "Are you okay?" Yua asked as she eyed her for any wounds. It had been a hard battle, with a large enemy in a small confined space. It wouldn't have surprised the samurai if the girl had been injured in some way, and mentally, Yua chided herself for not checking on the little girl first. It didn't matter how unsettling her appearance might have been, Yua had a responsibility to the small girl.

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 1, 2022

Yua rose, leaving Nymoria laying against the rocks as she tried to recover. Everything was still burning in a way that bespoke the pain she'd suffered. It had dulled, slightly, just enough that she could think. She still felt the adrenaline coursing through her system, slowly dying out, but there nonetheless.

As Yua knelt down next to the girl, Nymoria felt something change in the air. It was nothing more than a shift in the breeze, but it was enough to catch her senses- why is there a breeze in a cave? What in the hell-

She didn't manage to finish the thought as the girl turned to face Yua, a smile spread across the ghostly appearance. Softly, a bare whisper of a voice that seemed to echo around the cave until it was properly heard, the girl spoke.

Thank you...for ending the torment...it has been so long...so long since I was set free...free to scour the world...free to take revenge...thank you...you shall die last...

Nymoria was climbing to her feet, fighting the pain as she tried to stand, tried to move fast enough. There was a soft whoosh sound, and then a sudden burst of wind that forced her to look down to protect her face. Mere seconds later, it was over, and Nymoria looked back up to find herself alone in the cave with Yua, the girl gone from sight.

What...what the hell? Where'd she go? She was just...just there...

She tried to step forward to search further, groaning as the pain overcame her again, before falling to her knee. Her hand on her side, she fought against the pain - slowly fading, but still there.

@Yua

Yua · Nov 3, 2022

The a gust of wind gently caressed Yua's skin as she spoke to the small child, a strange sensation given how deep in the earth that they'd delved. The ominous sensation simply forebode the coming promise and threat before Yurei disappeared entirely, the as if faded from existence. Yua stared at the empty space where Yurei had been just moments early, until she was interrupted by Nymoria's voice.

"Where'd she go? She was just...just there..."
"I...I don't know," Yua stuttered in response, before turning back to look at the beastfolk. "But...I think we just released something terrible."

What a fool Yua had been to so desperately believe that the little was just a little girl, that there was nothing more to her. Appearances aside, she should have known something was amiss. And now she feared they'd all pay dearly for it.

Yua stood up abruptly before heading back towards the cave entrance. "Come. We must stop her."

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 5, 2022

Nymoria tried to force herself upwards, stumbling against the wall as she swayed ever so slightly. The pain still tore through her body, but as the growl escaped her lips she shook herself and took a step forward. Everything hurt, but as the adrenaline slowly began coursing through her body once more, she realised that it was slowly dulling, letting her move more freely. Recovering.

Let's...let's go after it...we need to stop it...

She moved slowly, daggers in hand as she tried to keep up with the other girl, tried to fight against the way her body didn't want to move. It felt like everything was resisting her. As if she wished to do nothing more than lay down and sleep for an entire week.

This...pain limiter system really doesn't fuck around when you turn it off...nine hells, everything hurts...

She coughed, surprised that no blood came up. It felt like her entire chest had caved inwards. Even so, she knew she had to push on, and as they made their way back out of the tunnel, going back the way they had come, she felt the snarl on her face grow. I won't be stopped here...not now...

Did you see where it went? Which direction...we need to go in order to hunt it down? Something tells me the investigation system isn't going to help us here...

@Yua

Yua · Nov 12, 2022

Despite her own aching bones, Yua marched on towards the cave's exit relentlessly, only pausing when she realized that Nymoria had begun to lag behind. The woman paused and turned to look a the beastfolk, a stern look on her face.

"This...pain limiter system really doesn't fuck around when you turn it off...nine hells, everything hurts..."

Yua pulled out another ofuda from the pouch tied the the back of her waist, and tossed the glowing paper towards Nymoria. "Hurry," she said. No time for weakness.

"No, she disappeared from sight entirely. She spoke of vengeance though, the nearest town seems like the most logical place to start." A child, lost in a cave, vengeance, Yua really had no clue how it all tied together, but the only thing that made any sense was the going to the village. If nothing else they could ask around for stories of a little girl lost in a cave, and maybe they'd learn more that way. But even with that small glimmer of hope, Yua doubted they'd learn much. Not that she would let that stop her.

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 13, 2022

The piece of paper flowed onto Nymoria's arm, relieving most of the pain and allowing her to move again. She sighed a breath of relief, wondering if she'd made a mistake with the pain limiter, before shaking her head. Doesn't matter now...have a village to save, apparently.

You really think it'd go for the village? I mean...why? What could possible be there that it wants to hurt?

She doubted it was the smartest of questions. The thing seemed beyond the concept of simple actions, and Nymoria doubted she'd understand the reasons behind its actions even if it cared to explain them. The fucking thing was sitting in a cave with some sort of crystal ice wolf...

What are we going to do once we find it? I assume it's not something that we consider friendly, by any means.

Her left hand swept over the sheathed dagger on thigh, as if trying to motion the action without speaking it aloud. She wasn't entirely behind the idea of cutting down what appeared to be a child, but the thing that had escaped the cave was...well, not entirely human by any means either.

Unless you have some idea on how to tame it...I feel like we're going to have to be ready for the worst. And hope that the worst isn't any more difficult that whatever the hell that wolf thing we faced was...

@Yua

Yua · Nov 14, 2022

"It's the closest settlement. And she said wanted revenge. Maybe she meant on the village," Yua answered, starting to walk again. "If not, maybe we can ask around and see if anyone knows anything." It wasn't as if they had any better leads to go off at the moment anyways.

As for what they were going to do with it, "I don't know. Maybe we can find a priest who can perform a harae. Er, an exorcism." The girl paused for a moment as a thought occurred to her. "That is, if she is a yurei like she said." If not...well, at least that would mean whatever that girl was, she was alive, and they could kill her.

"Unless you have any better ideas?" In truth, Yua had no idea what to do. She was fumbling in the dark, simply charging onwards, and hoping they were right. The blind leading the blind.

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 14, 2022

Nymoria glanced back at the cave, considering everything they'd just gone through. If she was being honest with herself, she wanted to just log out and call it a day. The pain she'd endured from the fight still stung in her memory, and the last thing she wanted to do was to go hunting some vengeance-craving-psycho-girl.

What stopped her, was the knowledge that Yua would likely continue without her, and possibly end up in harm's way. Something that Nymoria wasn't comfortable with, after everything that the other girl had done for her so far. Sighing heavily, she nodded towards the village.

Alright...let's go question the local populace then...although, I think I'll leave the majority of questioning to you. You seem far more knowledgeable in this than I do.

She pulled her kamas' from her belt, lifting the weapons in front of her with a shrug, before continuing her explanation.

I'm more suited to...this. But if we need to put one or two of them down, then maybe I can help out with that?

She fell in beside Yua, determined to stick it out to the end with the girl. Hopefully that won't be our end...I'd prefer not to die on one of my first days here. She doubted that it would be a first time event, but she preferred the idea of lasting a bit longer before her first death. Especially considering...

@Yua

Yua · Nov 15, 2022

Yua didn't reply to Nymoria, her gaze fixed on what was ahead, mind absorbed in the situation that the pair found themselves in. She took the time to process everything, attempt to understand it, as they walked back to the village.

The one thing that Yua still didn't understand was why Yurei had been waiting for the wolf they'd fought. What did that beast have to do with anything? Was it her guardian, or was it her sentry, and she it's prisoner. And if that was the case, why had only a couple of low level players been able to defeat. How had Yurei come to be in that cave anyways?

There were too many unanswered questions, and given that their only lead was a hunch at best, doubt began to creep in. Maybe they wouldn't find Yurei in time. Were they even capable of fighting her? What if she can't be killed. What happens then?

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 20, 2022

Nymoria could almost read the doubt on the other's face as they seemed to consider everything, seemingly wondering about...what? Their odds of survival? Their ability to complete the quest? Whether they were up to the task at all or not? Or maybe that's just you worrying about it, and she's already figured out an entire plan of action...The look on the other woman's face, though, made Nymoria reconsider that expectation.

We can do this...we just need to slowly track down what's going on. Which means speaking to some locals, like you said. Someone must have seen something, right? So we just...follow the leads. At the very least, we can see what it's doing, and if its even a threat. And if we think that we can't handle it...we just report it to...well, someone. Right?

She was sure that in her limited time here she'd heard talk of some groups that were designated with handling things like this. Enforcement types, who were made up of either a collection of players, or locals who were trained in defending their homelands.

For now...let's just take this one step at a time. No need to worry about what might or might not happen, or if we're even up to the task. We can always back out if we need to...

@Yua

Yua · Nov 23, 2022

"I just don't understand," Yua said to Nymoria as the walked back through the forest in the general direction that they had come from. It was a wonder that Yua remembered that much, given that there was no mini-map, and all the tree started to blend together. "Who or what is she," the samurai voiced the questions aloud, not once looking back at Nymoria. "And why was she in the cave with that beast?"

The pair stepped through the treeline, arriving back at the cabin with the blanket toys. Yua paused at them, and stared. "These must have been hers. Right?" the girl looked at Nymoria now, for the first time in a while. Her face contorted into an almost grotesque representation of the anger and sadness she could feel mingling in her chest. "What happened to her, a child, that she became that thing?" None of it made sense. None of it.

@Nymoria

Nymoria · Nov 26, 2022

...

Nymoria considered the question in silence for a few steps. She couldn't imagine what could possibly have changed the girl in such a way, aside from some sort of external magical effects - Those were common in games like this...right? - but she couldn't deny that something must have happened. It would only be logical...

Hey...what if nothing did happen? What if she's always been this way? The outward image of a small, innocent little child...but in actually the monster within is what her true nature is? A Jackal and Hyde sort of thing, you know?

Nymoria didn't look at the house, empty and devoid. Almost as chilling as the girl itself had been, in the cave where they had found her. She found herself shivering in response, the tingling sensation down her spine reminding her of the reactions she usually had to horror games. Not something one expected from a fantasy based rpg...

Which means...maybe that wolf thing wasn't attacking her, but us...in order to keep us from releasing her...and we just released whatever the hell she is upon the world. That's...that's a lovely thought..

She sighed heavily at the realisation. The quests in TerraSphere certainly weren't straight forward in any way, leaving a lot of room for errors and misunderstandings...

@Yua

Yua · Nov 28, 2022

Nymoria said nothing for a while, simply staring at the toys and the old tattered blanket, much like Yua, an expression akin to her own written across the beastfolk's face.

"Hey...what if nothing did happen?..." Nymoria asked, "What if she's always been this way?" Yua shook her head in response and gestured to the makeshift 'home'. "Even if she were a monster, she was still a child once. Someone who played, and dreamed of a happy life." The toys were evidence enough for Yua. "She deserved a chance." A chance that Yua hadn't ever had either. Poverty, an alcoholic for a father. She'd been robbed of her chance at a young age too. But K̷͈͙̘̰̞͍̬͌̒͆͛͘͝ǘ̷͙͕͕̮̃̉̔́̀̓s̷̙͎̞͚͖͋̿̍̋͜o̶̱͚̩̝͚̯̊ gave her hope that she might be able to carve out a little sliver of happiness for herself despite it all.

"I think you're right though," the samurai said, looking at Nymoria with a serious look on her face again. "I think that wolf was guarding her. And we defeated it and released her. And that means we're responsible for whatever she does next." Yua turned, and started to walk into the dilapidated cabin, "I won't let her take away other people's chance at happiness."

@Nymoria