Estylwen

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

Hehehehe!

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

Bahlok Riil

The Void, Shallows
_{Mentions: @Punished GN Direct Dialogue: None.}

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“What a mess.”

Bahlok stared over the hellhounds brought back to the Void, along with the rest of the pack. The ones previously injured, well, she was just lucky that bear used physical attacks. If the dogs had been hit by magic, they would take years to pull themselves back together, instead of a few days.

She looked over the worst of the bunch, namely the one hobbling around with its neck snapped and bent at an awkward angle. Immediately, black sludge oozed out of the slit in the back of her coat, and her Eldritch Appendange snapped up the hellhound, to which it whimpered. She forced it to lie down.

“Stop moving, idiot.”

She surveyed the pack once more before she glanced to the side, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

She needed to rendezvous with Kipnu. Apparently, he'd gone and done something while she had been busy carrying out his order.

---

Kipnu Riil

Bahlok Riil

Layla's Apartment
_{Mentions: @Punished GN Direct Dialogue: None.}

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Stileto & Silent Child - Super Villain

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Layla sat hunched over on the edge of her bed in her apartment, trembling, her breath coming in weak, hyperventilating gasps. Kipnu sat beside her, staring with an unreadable expression. His face shifted as Bahlok teleported into the room, her smile immediately stiffening before flattening out.

“You did what?”

“I don't want to hear it right now, Bahlok.”

Balok immediately got up in his face, shoving Layla to the side. “You really are an idiot. You adjoined with it? You realize how fragile the Hyacinthus bloodline is? This is the last one! You mess up and hurt it, or worse, kill it, and there's no second chances. The precious ambrosia will be gone.”

Kipnu stared at Bahlok unmoving, not giving any indication of his reaction, before he leaned over and gently lifted the trembling Layla back up to a sitting position on her bed.

Bahlok watched his movements closely, before a wicked laugh escaped her. “Wait, don't tell me-”

“Her mind's been poisoned. I had no other choice.” Kipnu spoke abruptly, staring hard at his sister.

“I miss Void… Take me to where Void is…” Layla's voice was weak, barely a whisper as she stared unseeingly at the floor, the darkest expression on her face.

“She's too poisoned to sleep. I have a plan, but I need you to do something for me.” Kipnu said, not looking up as he spoke to Bahlok.

Baklok gave him a skeptical smile. “You're not gonna ask how your last order went?”

“I was watching the whole time. So was the mafia's puppet. She left shortly after you finished, same with me.”

Bahlok paused. “...Oh.”

“Go out and find us an easy target, easily palatable. I need to get her on my wavelength, weaken the hold of poison over her mind…”

Bahlok tilted her head, then slowly shook it as she turned away. “Whatever.” And she disappeared in smoke.

Kipnu gently pulled Layla to her feet. “I'm gonna make you feel better, dearie. Come with me, hold your breath.”

And they both disappeared from Layla's room, a trail of smoke the only evidence they were ever there.

---

St. Portwell, Dark Alleyway

---

The scrawny man dropped his knife as Bahlok's appendage smothered him against the brick, squeezing the air from his lungs. There was screaming behind her, but she paid no mind to the woman making her escape with her purse in one piece.

“A thug. You'll do fine.” Bahlok said ominously, giving him a tighter squeeze.

Kipnu and Layla teleported in a few moments after, with Layla panting heavily. Smoke's Crossing took some getting used to. Kipnu appraised Layla carefully, before he guided her to the wall to rest.

“Layla, I need you to watch this carefully. Just like before. Can you do that?”

A numb, tear-streaked face stared back, and Layla quietly nodded.

Kipnu nodded, before turning to their prey. In the darkness of the alley, it was near impossible to tell as Kipnu slipped a needle into the thugs arm, making the man go limp. Bahlok released him, and he fell to the ground.

That's when the feasting started. The gut-wrenching sounds of crunching bones, chewing of muscle, and devouring of a body whole as Bahlok and Kipnu made the man disappear, piece by piece.

As Layla watched, her dull, lifeless eyes slowly, slowly widened. Some color returned to her cheeks. Kipnu looked up, and came back to her side.

“Better?”

“I feel… electrified. Like I've tasted a new color. It’s filled me up. I feel like I'm floating…”

“That's a fraction of how I feel everytime I feast. Now that we are connected, you will feel more of it, as this poison loosens its hold on you.”

Layla stared for a long moment, before she blinked sleepily, her head nodding. Kipnu sighed, before draping his arms around his ambrosia, and looked up into the night sky.

“Perhaps now you'll finally be able to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, after all.”

And the three disappeared into smoke, ready to put Layla down for some proper rest before the new day began.

"What Did They Do To Us?" - A Mysterious Supernatural Escape RP!!

New post is up! Everyone has officially unlocked their first ability, so feel free to use it either against the shadow Entity, or in general moving forward! Let me know if there are any questions! Everyone also remembers their first unlocked memory too!

"What Did They Do To Us?" - A Mysterious Supernatural Escape RP!!

The Shadow Entity

VV

Archives Room

_{@Qia, @naomimyselfandi, @Silver Carrot}

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Bentez - Therapy

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Whether the group tried A's method of trying to stay out of sight, or Pia and Ada's idea of not making any sudden moves or running at the first sign of trouble, the Entity would simply stare at them.

M noticed the fear in VV's eyes, causing him to stop dead in his tracts. Clearly, something was wrong. His gaze scrolled upwards in the direction she openly stared. A knee jerk reaction escaped his lips, but thankfully was not louder than a whimper, "Shit, that thing's huge!" He couldn't help but softly smile at the dreadful situation he found himself in, "I feel it knows we're here, like it's been waiting for us."

"Indeed I have." The entity's voice was a warped, whispery mess. "This Wild is pleased with your progress, but you are all still so weak. The Master demands a sacrifice. To strengthen you..."

It pointed towards VV with long clawed fingers. "You'll do."

And it raised its hand, about to strike VV down. Before there was a flash of light, and none other than M stood in the way, blood pouring from the open gash cut across his chest.

“M, what are you doing?!” VV gasped.

“No one here deserves to get hurt, not on my watch!” M growled, glaring up at the Entity. “If you want ‘em, you'll have to go through me!”

The entity stared, blood dripping from its claw. Before it chuckled.

”Very well. May you be remembered as the one who saved the fledglings before they had wings yet to fly.”

The bloodied claw wrapped around M's torso as the entity's mouth unhinged, expanding several feet wide. In one fell gulp, M was swallowed whole, devoured entirely by the Entity. VV screamed. The Entity paid no mind. It rumbled in contentment, before staring down at the group once more, a hand pressed to its jagged maw.

“The first trial is complete. The Wilds welcome the lost heroes. As instructed by my Master, let me…”

It's whispery voice became dark and distorted. “...help you.”

Its maw cracked open. A whispery roar was guttural in its chest as shadows leapt off the walls.

All at once, a wave of shadow passed over the Archives Room, penetrating the hearts and minds of Ada, A, Pia, and VV. Their eyesight would grow dark as visions overtook them.

.
.
.

You feel darkness draw you in, settle around you.

Then you begin to see.

.
.
.

---

“You really thought you could try to outrun us?” A tall boy growled.

They had cornered her against the school's outer wall, in a place with no windows and low visibility. The tall boy with his torn bomber jacket grinned wickedly, bringing a hand up and slapping her across the face.

His lackeys hooted and hollered, gripping the girl’s arms. The tallest goon stared down at her again, grabbing her hair and forcing her to look up at him.

“You broke the rules. Now I'll give you a punishment you'll never forget.”

And they twisted her, smashing her into the concrete wall face first, and ran away laughing. The aftermath… pain. And warm, fresh blood dripping from the nose.

_@Qia

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Her hands kept at a steady rhythm. She had taken the courses, she knew what she was doing. It still didn't do much to quell the desperation inside of her when she saw the blood pooling below her fingertips.

Elbows locked. And press. And press. And press.

She moved back to bring her head to their chest level. A fellow student, just like her. They had all been walking together when…

They still weren't breathing.

She desperately continued her CPR.

They were starting to get cold under her.

Panicking, she brought her hands up to her face, seeing the student's blood on them. Her gaze snapped up, and she could see the other students surrounding her, staring at her in shock, accusations on their tongues.

What had she done wrong?

_{@Silver Carrot}

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“I know you're hiding, you little brat!”

Angry footsteps stormed their way up the stairwell. From her hiding place under the bed in her mother and father's bedroom, she had a clear view of the hallway and bedroom door. She shivered where she lay cramped.

Under no circumstances could she be found.

“You can't hide forever!” Her father growled, his words slurring together. He had been drinking again.

Dirty pants and worn socks appeared in the doorway as her father neared. He paused, feet shifting this way and that, before he stepped into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

“I know you're here, little mousy. Come out, and I promise I won't hurt you… a lot.”

Her heartbeat quickened, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, trying not to breathe.

He took a step closer, and she shrank further back under the bed. Another step forward. Her lungs burned for air.

Then. A knee plopped down, and a shadowed face stared at her from outside her hiding place.

She froze, terrified.

“Gotcha.”

_{@naomimyselfandi}

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“Give me her hand. Her hand!”

She struggled hard against the rough hands holding her down, pressed against the glass of her shop's counter. A slap rang across her cheek, making her whimper and flinch.

“Stop struggling!”

The suited men surrounding her managed to pry out a hand, flattening it against the glass. The leader of the pack, smelling like cigarettes and aftershave, leaned down close to her.

“You continue to refuse us…” He pulled out a switch blade, letting the sharp metal kiss the skin of her cheek before placing the edge against her wrist.

“And you're gonna lose a hand.”

A dark chuckle among the men as the leader continued to speak.

“But it won't be all in one go, no.”

He moved the blade to rest on her pinky.

“You’ll lose your fingers first. Then the thumb. And then-”

“Alright fine! Please, please, I'll do it. Please…” She shivered, staring up at him, tears brimming in her eyes. “I'll… do it.”

_@Estylwen

---

And all at once, the darkness retreated and the group's eyes again saw the Archives Room around them, and the shadow hanging off the wall over them. Each would have seen a different vision, and each would be affected in a different way. But each would feel, would know, deep down, that this vision was a part of their lost memory.

They would also feel a certain power unlock within them, with the knowledge on how to use it, well within their mind. Just like how one knew how to use the muscles of the arm, or how to ride a bike, it was the same.

They were slowly starting their descent into their personal Abysses. For better, or worse.

The Shadow above them began to collect raw shadows, brimming with a black energy before its body tore asunder and split into five smaller shadow beings. Each shadow being came down from the wall and stood, spindly and tall, over each person present. One for A, one for Ada, one for Pia, one for VV, and the last one slipping through the cracks in the elevator, making its descent to the lower levels.

Each stared at their assigned target and coiled in a snake-like stance, preparing to strike.

“The helpless will struggle and weep at my feet. The Wilds will help you. Become the predator, not the helpless prey. Become what you were meant to be!”

And each shadow launched an attack their their respective targets. Ada and A both had similar attacks - slashes aimed for the chest and shoulders. Pia and VV also had similar attacks - dark waves of energy rocketing towards them with enough pressure to knock them off their feet.

The group had the option to pick up one of the rifles scattered around, try to attack, or run from the fight.

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The Shadow Entity

Cryopod Storage Room

_@Wayward

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While there were vibrations causing gentle sounds of foreboding to waft down from the floor above, as the elevator was called the box rested in front of D. However, as the doors slid open, a shocking sight overtook him.

A shadow being, hunched over in the elevator, pinprick red eyes staring angrily at D. It slowly ambled forward, darkness wafting off it.

“A straggler. A lost soul that this Wild accepts. I have a gift for you, as per my Master's orders.”

Its haunting smile followed D as the being leaned in closer. The room dropped a few degrees, causing mist to creep over some of the cryopods. The being raised its spindly black hands, and a dark wave rocketed out, drowning D in blackness.

.
.
.
The darkness overtakes you.

What do you see?

.
.
.

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“You poor thing…”

A mother's tutting as she knelt in front of him, pressing cotton dipped in antiseptic against the open cuts.

“They were bullying you again, weren't they?” She asked carefully, watching her boy closely. There was worry in her eyes.

Another dab across a fresh cut, and he flinched. “I'm almost done, honey.” She said softly.

The boy could feel the worry and comfort of his mother, his own helplessness. And as he sat there, his little hands balled into fists and his jaw set firmly.

Never again.

_@Wayward

---

The Shadow being stared at D for a long moment as he came out of the vision, before it smiled a sharp, unnatural smile at him. It stepped out of the elevator and to the side.

“Your friends above struggle. You'd better go help them before… more… perish.”

"What Did They Do To Us?" - A Mysterious Supernatural Escape RP!!

Thanks for joining us, Lexi. Take it easy!

I will be posting tomorrow!

The Dark Beyond

Yaaay! We're getting into the crunch time now. :>

The Dark Beyond

It's officially Lexi's turn!

The Dark Beyond

The Louvre, Gala, Main Area

@Lexisheeps, @WhiteAngel25, @Days

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Apashe - Good News

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The chandelier swayed and swayed.

Almost in time with the rush of boots enclosing the space.

As Stella's portal closed, and she ran off with the sceptre, the Louvre was flooded with the heavy boots of body armored, masked HiveMind agents, assault rifles raised and pointed at the guests in the crowd.

Tear gas canisters rolled across the ground in droves, spewing forth dangerous white smoke that would cause the eyes and throat to burn, and make every breath like scraping against glass.

"Get on the ground!"

“Everyone on your knees!” Shouted the agents, forcing guests down. Anyone resisting was shot with a taser. Security guards that approached the agents were immediately shot on sight with the rifles.

They weren't messing around today.

Sabrina, Thierry, Cosy, Auri, and Aaron would have little choice but to follow suit with the other guests starting to kneel. Or, they could resist and risk getting tazed.

Theo was given special HiveMind treatment. All aloof and alone on stage, he would only need to look up and see, morphing out of its invisibility camouflage, was none other than The Beast, the medusa-like robot that served directly under Von Galloes. The Beast snaked down from the ceiling, encircling Theo with its body, red eye staring down at the man.

“Theodore Noel de Villiers, you have been summoned by my master. Resist, and you will know true pain.”

The Beast, towering a good four feet over the man, held out a pair of handcuffs from one of its hair-like appendages.

“Put these on, and accept your destiny.”

Nick, meanwhile, received a different gift from HiveMind. All at once, his vision blacked out as the directives in his system started overloading his mind, making him more susceptible to mind control. As his vision returned, Nick would feel a specific flood in his mind, drowning out everything else. A directive. A new command, straight from Von Galloes.

“Put Thierry in an arm lock behind his back with his stomach on the floor.”

Concise and detailed, ensuring Nick couldn't use his creativity to worm his way out of the command.

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

JUSTICE FOR THE NON-DISCORD FOLK!!!!

Recollections: Under The Sycamore Tree Part. 1

Halloween Festival, Outside the Fight
_{Mentions: Aaron Aryin (@NoriWasHere). Direct Dialogue: George & Carol (@Punished GN)}

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She heard a crack.

Yep, she definitely heard a crack.

The ropes lost their life, and Aislin bounced off George, collapsing to the ground as she moaned, clutching her shoulder.

She wouldn't be surprised if she fractured her collar bone.

"... Did somebody try to tackle me? Or was it the wind?”

George

Aislin growled, trying to think past the pain. “Not. Funny.”

The ground shook, and Aislin looked up in time to see Aryin get yeeted into the sky.

“No!”

Aislin cursed a string of curses under her breath, chin perking up as she saw Carol approach. Aislin covered herself with her hands as best as possible, weakly warding off the pummels. The pain in her shoulder area was making it hard to think. Hard to move. The extra punches to her gut weren't helping, and Aislin, out of desperation, turned her attention downward.

The fractured ground became animated, turning quickly into quicksand. Aislin rolled back as the dirt and soil quickly gave way under Carol, sucking her into the earth. Aislin's eyes glanced to the ground under George, and the same thing happened. There was one key difference, though. While Carol's absorption into the ground would stop at her neck, George would continue to fall deeper and deeper into the soil, passed head level, at least six feet deep. Aislin wasn't intentionally trying to choke him out, but she was at a severe disadvantage. If she had to suffocate him unconscious first, so be it.

As the earth continued to pull in its victims, Aislin struggled to her feet, hand clutching her bad arm close to her body. Aryin wasn't here now, there was no reason to continue, except to ensure her own safety.

Aislin pursed her lips, taking a few hesitant steps back. She couldn't very well leave George to die underground either, though.

But she also had to consider their own abstractions. It was dangerous to linger any longer than she already had. She had suffered an injury already. Anymore and...

So she turned, cut off her connection with the earth, and ran through the tents, hopefully to get away.