Member
~The Bishop's Memories~
The bishop nodded her head at the request, beginning to drag her staff across the ground, following lines seemingly drawn in chalk that connected the various shelves and instruments in that basement room. The lines began to glow from where the staff had touched them, but it quickly spread even beyond where there was contact, until the full pattern, even right under Totsurugi’s and my feet. Then the screen flashed white, and it all went black for a few moments (while the game loaded the event).
Start
Totsurugi would regain their vision moments later, finding herself in the body of a tall woman with black braided hair, and wearing a long and very thin dress with a grey flower pattern. Her hands were slightly roughed, the kind of hands someone who frequently engages in arduous manual labor has, and they seemed to have spots of an ashen color. As Totsurugi collected herself, the sounds of the world around her would start to come to her attention, and if she turned around she would witness an eldritch sight, the strange yet horrifying of the enormous living toys chasing panicked people around town, and some hidden behind barrels, or just as silheuttes behind windows transforming - all quite ‘hidden’ of course, which is to say censored to avoid any potential issues. She might, if she tried walking towards the scene, notice her body refusing to respond to her commands, Dissonant Steel Online’s version of the infamous “invisible wall” in video games: If you weren’t supposed to go somewhere, the machine would simply not register your intent to move there.
Moments later, instructions popped up on screen, instructing Totsurugi to move her arms, legs, and so around a bit. After she followed the requested movements, she found her body turning on its own towards the entrance to a fair-looking house, of a dark shaded wood with two floors, and one roof taller while the one next to it was wider. The next instructions were to reach into her pocket, and shout out:
“Get away!” The voice that came out of Totsurugi’s mouth when she said those words was unfamiliar, but it was her own, absolutely. She found her arm pulling out a box of needles and throwing it towards the door, where it shattered, and soon after the scattered needles and box pieces vanished, as if they evaporated. She tried it again, reaching into her pocket. “Get away!”
The same thing happened. The next set of words were…
“Stay down!” Now Totsurugi was throwing a punch into the air. She was then instructed to grab something, and repeat the words. As she did, she found herself attacking with the object she grabbed. No more messages followed, at least not immediately, but now she didn’t have a lot of options besides moving towards the house and the door. Even if she checked any other direction, she would find herself unable to move past a certain small threshold. As she attempted to open the door, however, she found it was locked. What’s worse, what perhaps had once been two tables for tea party sets, now twisted into spider-esque abominations bearing the heads of the toys that once sat upon it drinking imaginary tea, entered the area she could move in.
She found her body involuntarily moving and speaking for her.
“Damned door’s locked! Where did I even put the keys… No way I can deal with those things!” She turned around, and the creatures slowly (very slowly) approached. Totsurugi’s body shook, though it wasn’t her doing, but still it was meant to keep things immersive and her heart beating fast. Her head thinking fast. As the creatures approached, they would occasionally stop, shake a bit, and boiling hot tea would spew out of them, hit the walls and seemingly melt holes through the stone. Threads of steam ondulated rising from the craters. Being hit by it would be bad.
Totsurugi finally spotted a clue. Beneath her, the carpet was showing a faint green glow on one side. Taking the chance, she pushed aside the carpet and found a key hidden underneath. She picked it up, inserted it into the key hole, and the tea party creatures behind her screeched in seeming anger or panic, their speed seeming to increase manyfold as Totsurugi slid open the door and pushed her way in. In a desperate last strike, one of the tables thrusted a leg into Totsurugi’s abdomen, dealing a blow that took out something like a whole third of her HP, and right before she managed to close the door too.
New instructions popped up, for the final ability of this NPC whose body she took over.
“I must find him.” There was a green glow around herself, and her HP began recovering quite dramatically. As she waited with a moment to breath after those things nearly finished her off, she began to take in what was in front of her. It was a wooden home of a dark blue shade of coloring. There wasn’t a lot of furniture, though some of the decor was without a doubt fancy if old-looking, and already accumulating dust, cracks and webs. In fact a lot of the house had rather pristine areas, followed by areas where the dust seemed to have piled on, as though someone was cleaning and gave up halfway through. There was also newer-looking but simple furniture, like a short metal bench lying near the edge of a three-way path, and the game didn’t seem to provide a clue as to which to follow.
Moments later, instructions popped up on screen, instructing Totsurugi to move her arms, legs, and so around a bit. After she followed the requested movements, she found her body turning on its own towards the entrance to a fair-looking house, of a dark shaded wood with two floors, and one roof taller while the one next to it was wider. The next instructions were to reach into her pocket, and shout out:
“Get away!” The voice that came out of Totsurugi’s mouth when she said those words was unfamiliar, but it was her own, absolutely. She found her arm pulling out a box of needles and throwing it towards the door, where it shattered, and soon after the scattered needles and box pieces vanished, as if they evaporated. She tried it again, reaching into her pocket. “Get away!”
The same thing happened. The next set of words were…
“Stay down!” Now Totsurugi was throwing a punch into the air. She was then instructed to grab something, and repeat the words. As she did, she found herself attacking with the object she grabbed. No more messages followed, at least not immediately, but now she didn’t have a lot of options besides moving towards the house and the door. Even if she checked any other direction, she would find herself unable to move past a certain small threshold. As she attempted to open the door, however, she found it was locked. What’s worse, what perhaps had once been two tables for tea party sets, now twisted into spider-esque abominations bearing the heads of the toys that once sat upon it drinking imaginary tea, entered the area she could move in.
She found her body involuntarily moving and speaking for her.
“Damned door’s locked! Where did I even put the keys… No way I can deal with those things!” She turned around, and the creatures slowly (very slowly) approached. Totsurugi’s body shook, though it wasn’t her doing, but still it was meant to keep things immersive and her heart beating fast. Her head thinking fast. As the creatures approached, they would occasionally stop, shake a bit, and boiling hot tea would spew out of them, hit the walls and seemingly melt holes through the stone. Threads of steam ondulated rising from the craters. Being hit by it would be bad.
Totsurugi finally spotted a clue. Beneath her, the carpet was showing a faint green glow on one side. Taking the chance, she pushed aside the carpet and found a key hidden underneath. She picked it up, inserted it into the key hole, and the tea party creatures behind her screeched in seeming anger or panic, their speed seeming to increase manyfold as Totsurugi slid open the door and pushed her way in. In a desperate last strike, one of the tables thrusted a leg into Totsurugi’s abdomen, dealing a blow that took out something like a whole third of her HP, and right before she managed to close the door too.
New instructions popped up, for the final ability of this NPC whose body she took over.
“I must find him.” There was a green glow around herself, and her HP began recovering quite dramatically. As she waited with a moment to breath after those things nearly finished her off, she began to take in what was in front of her. It was a wooden home of a dark blue shade of coloring. There wasn’t a lot of furniture, though some of the decor was without a doubt fancy if old-looking, and already accumulating dust, cracks and webs. In fact a lot of the house had rather pristine areas, followed by areas where the dust seemed to have piled on, as though someone was cleaning and gave up halfway through. There was also newer-looking but simple furniture, like a short metal bench lying near the edge of a three-way path, and the game didn’t seem to provide a clue as to which to follow.
GO TO (A)
GO TO (P)
A
She headed to the entrance. To Totsurugi’s right, there was a semi-open door leading to a division with tiles of polished stone rather than wood, thin though the layer might be. There was a stove and a counter, and though no sink was visible the pieces of fruit and bread in baskets pretty solidly indicated that place was probably a kitchen. To her left was the living room, which in turn lead to two door. The one closest to the leftmost window had a medallion containing what seemed to be mole-like shape made of copper above, whilst the other one (the one to the right of the first) had a medallion with a rabbit-like shape instead. Between the two doors was a tray with candles and a candle-based lantern.
In the center, and right in front of Totsurugi were the stairs leading up to the second floor of the house.
Totsurugi decided to head…
In the center, and right in front of Totsurugi were the stairs leading up to the second floor of the house.
Totsurugi decided to head…
GO TO (B)
GO TO (C)
GO TO (D)
GO TO (E)
B
The Kitchen was more or less exactly how it appeared from the entrance: A rectangular room, a single counter running from the right wall to the left wall, while the wall on the back contained both doors. Under the counter was a number of closets were most food and utensils were, though some of the food was on the baskets above the counter, basking in what light the curtain allowed to pass.
“It wouldn’t be wise to open the curtains right now. What if we’re spotted by those...things outside?” Totsurugi would find herself saying if she attempted to open the curtains, and her body would stop itself from doing it. She could also attempt to grab some of the stuff from the kitchen, but she would find she had no way to store any of it, so at most she could carry around an utensil to use as a weapon or a piece of food… though the uses for the later were uncertain at best.
Where to go now though?
“It wouldn’t be wise to open the curtains right now. What if we’re spotted by those...things outside?” Totsurugi would find herself saying if she attempted to open the curtains, and her body would stop itself from doing it. She could also attempt to grab some of the stuff from the kitchen, but she would find she had no way to store any of it, so at most she could carry around an utensil to use as a weapon or a piece of food… though the uses for the later were uncertain at best.
Where to go now though?
GO TO (A)
GO TO (C)
C
Totsurugi then headed to what by all appearances was a dining room: There was a long table going from one end of the room to the other. Investigating, she placed herself on the main entrance to the room while looking around for clues on what to do. On the leftmost end, covered in cobwebs and dust, was a large assortment of chairs meant for guests, next to a half-open closet for storing wine. There were sloppy spills on the floor, seemingly leading up to the plate of savagely half-eaten leftovers still left upon the table in front of one of the three chairs still left by it. One of on the leftmost side, one on the rightmost side, and one with a pillow strapped to the seat, with its back to the closed purple curtains.
“It wouldn’t be wise to open the curtains right now. What if we’re spotted by those...things outside?” Totsurugi would find herself saying if she attempted to open the curtains, and her body would stop itself from doing it. She looked upon the right end of the room now, finding there was the door leading to the kitchen.
One way or another, there didn’t seem to be much to be found here.
“It wouldn’t be wise to open the curtains right now. What if we’re spotted by those...things outside?” Totsurugi would find herself saying if she attempted to open the curtains, and her body would stop itself from doing it. She looked upon the right end of the room now, finding there was the door leading to the kitchen.
One way or another, there didn’t seem to be much to be found here.
GO TO (A)
GO TO (B)
D
She walked in front, and turned to the leftmost door as seen in the entrance, the one under the mole. She felt a draft as the air seemed to be pulled from behind her into the opening, as the door revealed to lead to stairs, just going downwards rather than upwards. It also revealed a nasty smell that seemed to sting her nostrils as if burning into them. Rubbing her nose to ease the discomfort, she placed one of the candles inside the lantern, lit it and the game gave her instructions on how to lit it (basically tapping the candle with a stick that was in the same tray as the candles), then began heading down those stone steps into the dark basement.
Totsurugi nearly stumbled as her foot laid on the floor, but her other foot still expected a new step that wasn’t there. Fortunately she regained her composure and the video game lantern wasn’t as fickle as a real life one probably was, so it didn’t go out or accidentally spread any sparks or anything of the sort. No, it limited itself to giving her a faint glimpse of the otherwise lightless room, in which she was surrounded by shelves with toys, reagents and instruments for the experiments performed in that place. Totsurugi looked at the floor, recognizing the engraved symbols of the room in which the spell that took her to this had taken place, which meant the iron door to her left had to be the way to the sewers. Were the monsters she fought on the way here there?
Regardless, this place seemed quite likely to have some kind of clue on what she was supposed to do. The question was, where to look.
Totsurugi nearly stumbled as her foot laid on the floor, but her other foot still expected a new step that wasn’t there. Fortunately she regained her composure and the video game lantern wasn’t as fickle as a real life one probably was, so it didn’t go out or accidentally spread any sparks or anything of the sort. No, it limited itself to giving her a faint glimpse of the otherwise lightless room, in which she was surrounded by shelves with toys, reagents and instruments for the experiments performed in that place. Totsurugi looked at the floor, recognizing the engraved symbols of the room in which the spell that took her to this had taken place, which meant the iron door to her left had to be the way to the sewers. Were the monsters she fought on the way here there?
Regardless, this place seemed quite likely to have some kind of clue on what she was supposed to do. The question was, where to look.
GO TO (A)
GO TO (F)
GO TO (G)
E
The stairs ended in the remains of a short fence, hurriedly removed, though not recently by the looks of how much the damage had been limed and painted over. Totsurugi leaned on it a bit. A little past that fence was a door with a light breeze coming from it. Faint noises could be heard from the second door, further to her left with a sideways entrance, while the door on the rightmost side would, with a little investigation, reveal it lead into a corridor.
GO TO (A)
GO TO (H)
GO TO (I)
GO TO (J)
F
Having decided to investigate the basement’s contents, it didn’t take long to find some things of interest, since they had that faint green glow when she exposed them to the light of the lantern. She found notes on the table and hidden within books of the shelves, texts on some kind of spell involving bones and spirits, and a few plants often only found near some shamanic tribes (according to the lore pop-ups). The notes read about several experiments, failures, and there was a journal about them as well, becoming more and more erratic as according to said journal “he was on the verge of either success or being caught”. One of the notes Totsurugi found explained there was a failsafe of some sort, though it didn’t quite explain exactly how - only that some ingredients that “coincidentally” were on the table next to her could be useful for that. As such, she pocketed some along with the journal and some of the notes.
At this time, a new message appeared, instructing her to say:
“Here goes!” And once more her body moved on its own, seeming to mash some of the ingredients together, which created a puff of smoke. A toy train which seemed to have transformed into some kind of huge pseudo-caterpillar (well, huge for one such bug) appeared in that instant, and was caught in the puff of smoke, seeming to completely stop devoid of life - for now.
NOW, DESTROY IT. Was the next message of the system. Totsurugi did as it required, then one more message popped up explaining she had three uses of this left.
At this time, a new message appeared, instructing her to say:
“Here goes!” And once more her body moved on its own, seeming to mash some of the ingredients together, which created a puff of smoke. A toy train which seemed to have transformed into some kind of huge pseudo-caterpillar (well, huge for one such bug) appeared in that instant, and was caught in the puff of smoke, seeming to completely stop devoid of life - for now.
NOW, DESTROY IT. Was the next message of the system. Totsurugi did as it required, then one more message popped up explaining she had three uses of this left.
GO TO (G)
GO TO (A)
G
The door was barred by a pronged wheel like that of a ship or the image of a bank’s vault. She turned it, seeing how it had that green glow of the game telling her to interact with an object, until she heard a cracking noise, then proceeded to push the door open. She picked up the lantern and stepped into the dirty waters, it felt cold and wet, and seemed to almost stick to the skin of her feet. It wasn’t hard to see why slimes would have formed in such a place, and it probably wouldn’t be long until she came across one.
“I should close the door behind me: Don’t want anything nasty coming in.” She wouldn’t be able to move any further, stopped by the game from taking the motions to move past that point until she performed the suggested action, so she did. As soon as she heard that ‘clack’ sound of the door closing, there was a sound similar to someone spitting in their own mouth, as sludge monster approached from behind.
“Get away!” She fought back, throwing that pack of needles. “Get away!”
The monster formed tentacles from beneath the sewer water, and slammed them into “her” body.
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
“Stay down!”
“Stay down!”
With one last punch, the creature was defeated. Somehow, Totsurugi didn’t seem to have let go of the lantern on her hand, nor was the candle disturbed at all despite all those brash movements. With its light, she could see there was more than one passageway, though she couldn’t go through the passage she came from before the memory spell was cast. In other words, she had two choices:
“I should close the door behind me: Don’t want anything nasty coming in.” She wouldn’t be able to move any further, stopped by the game from taking the motions to move past that point until she performed the suggested action, so she did. As soon as she heard that ‘clack’ sound of the door closing, there was a sound similar to someone spitting in their own mouth, as sludge monster approached from behind.
“Get away!” She fought back, throwing that pack of needles. “Get away!”
The monster formed tentacles from beneath the sewer water, and slammed them into “her” body.
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
“Stay down!”
“Stay down!”
With one last punch, the creature was defeated. Somehow, Totsurugi didn’t seem to have let go of the lantern on her hand, nor was the candle disturbed at all despite all those brash movements. With its light, she could see there was more than one passageway, though she couldn’t go through the passage she came from before the memory spell was cast. In other words, she had two choices:
GO TO (K)
GO TO (A)
H
The moment Totsurugi entered the room, the noise stopped, replaced with an almost eerie silence, except for the faintest little traces of background noise of the diluted cacophony outside the house. The room was stuffed with two large beds that fit poorly with the similarly desk, leaving very little room to passage between them. On top of that there was that basket full of folded, scrambled paper which presumably came from drafts like the ones sitting on the desk, of a doll with some kind of makeshift mechanism inside it, of a boat moved with strings, and that sock puppet dog with some sort of balloon inside the mouth (in the schematic there seemed to be a hand holding the balloon, and what appeared to be waves coming from the mouth of the sock puppet). The beds in turn had sheets of linen with elaborate patterns, less visible due to the sawdust, screws, tools and general toy parts spread over them and some even on the ground. A light breeze went through the slight opening of the window, billowing the small curtains and making Totsurugi cough from the inhaled dust.
The other side of the room wasn’t much better. All it was closet built into the wall, and even then the space was so small that the door couldn’t fully open just because of that chest on the ground, containing stuff from before the room was remodelled, like that door plaque labeled “Guest Room” in bright-colored cursive.
The other side of the room wasn’t much better. All it was closet built into the wall, and even then the space was so small that the door couldn’t fully open just because of that chest on the ground, containing stuff from before the room was remodelled, like that door plaque labeled “Guest Room” in bright-colored cursive.
GO TO (E)
GO TO (O)
I
The room was a quaint, spacey place. There was quite a lot of leeway to move around, but that wasn’t to say the room was without quite an amount of furnishing. The floor still had markings of a large twin bed, covering almost the whole distance between the two individual ones, each next to a closet. The one closest to the door was a brand new closet, whereas the one closest to the window looked far older and more dusty, like the dressing drawer to the right, the one with the framed picture with cracked, almost shattered glass. The window on the furthest side of the room, however, that was actually shattered, with a faint red glint in the tips, and the wind blowing silken semi-transparent white drapes towards the door.
It was blindingly obvious Totsurugi was supposed to look into that, so she carefully made her way to the window, eyes glimpsing at the environment around in the meantime. There were marks and cracks on the walls, small sprinkles of blood on the floor, and the cracked picture was that of a typical smiling couple. Assuming the one whose body she was using was one of those two, then the other one…
What she saw looking down the broken window gave her the answer. There was in torn but once fine clothes on the ground, pointlessly trying to thrust his broken limbs while struggling against a small horde of animated toy monstrosities. His glasses lay shattered, the short grey ponytail from the picture was untangled, his limbs twisted, and there was blood everywhere. One normally wouldn’t think he could be saved, but this was a game in the end of the day.
It was blindingly obvious Totsurugi was supposed to look into that, so she carefully made her way to the window, eyes glimpsing at the environment around in the meantime. There were marks and cracks on the walls, small sprinkles of blood on the floor, and the cracked picture was that of a typical smiling couple. Assuming the one whose body she was using was one of those two, then the other one…
What she saw looking down the broken window gave her the answer. There was in torn but once fine clothes on the ground, pointlessly trying to thrust his broken limbs while struggling against a small horde of animated toy monstrosities. His glasses lay shattered, the short grey ponytail from the picture was untangled, his limbs twisted, and there was blood everywhere. One normally wouldn’t think he could be saved, but this was a game in the end of the day.
GO TO (S)
GO TO (R)
GO TO (E)
J
There two places the corridor could lead one to. The first was a door to the left, not far from the very door which led into the corridor itself. In fact it seemed to be sculpted differently from the rest of the doors in the house, of a bright white color and thinner than the rest. Anything in that room would be easy to hear, so much so in fact that if she closed her eyes and focused, she could hear from rustling from within it, from multiple sources at that.
Then there was the door at the end of the corridor, given a light paint job, with far less fanfare than any of the others.
Then there was the door at the end of the corridor, given a light paint job, with far less fanfare than any of the others.
GO TO (M)
GO TO (N)
K
“Get away!”
“Stay down!”
“Get away!”
“Stay down!”
“Stay down!”
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
Totsurugi continued punching and throwing her way through the slime creatures, while navigating the sewers with little more than the light of the lantern. There were a lot of those creatures, but they didn’t seem to change at all as she advanced. Did she miss a passage somewhere? Should she go back and check?
“Stay down!”
“Get away!”
“Stay down!”
“Stay down!”
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
“Get away!”
Totsurugi continued punching and throwing her way through the slime creatures, while navigating the sewers with little more than the light of the lantern. There were a lot of those creatures, but they didn’t seem to change at all as she advanced. Did she miss a passage somewhere? Should she go back and check?
GO TO (K)
GO TO (A)
GO TO (L)
L
She was too invested into pursuing wherever this path may lead to turn back now. Wouldn’t it be a waste if there turned out to be something good - or if she had come here for nothing? A chance of reward for a little more work was a lot better than guaranteed coming back empty-handed.
As she continued to fight more of the creatures, with the occasional animal-shaped slime for a bit of variance, she ended up finding a place with a large, pretty rusted iron arch with slime dripping off the hinges. It was, if nothing else, quite a different place from the ones that were behind though. As she already committed to pushing forward, it was time to find what hid behind those doors…
She heard slam behind her as soon as she wandered into the large dome-like place with manholes laid out in a circle and a much larger one in the middle. Water poured from the large pipelines on the walls into the would-be rivers encircling the platform she walked on. Totsurugi was about to turn around to see why the door closed, when suddenly the circle of manholes was propelled to the ceiling, and from each hole emerged a huge snake-like slime. Their eyes were bumps, and their tongues could almost be described as drool. But nonetheless, they all seemed to slither and wait for Totsurugi’s move.
The girl noticed three of the snakes were closer together than the others, guarding a smaller door on the opposite from which she came. Like the entrance to the sewers it had this coffer-esque wheel, though it also had some chains to the side and a plaque that had long since become too rusty to read. Whether Totsurugi tried to get to the door seeing how the snakes weren’t attacking (thus prompting them to begin) or she began attacking them herself (with the same result) a battle ensued between the two, with each Snake Slime being defeated and retreating inside the hole they emerged from earlier.
The door she came from opened again, and she was free to open the one in front as well. Totsurugi verified what the one in front was first: It had pipes everywhere, but there were also wheels, buttons and levers. It was some sort of machine room. Some of them were glowing green too. A pop-up appeared explaining if she “turned that wheel, pulled that lever and pressed that button, she would flood that chamber”.
Knowing what the guarded door was all about now, she had a choice to make:
As she continued to fight more of the creatures, with the occasional animal-shaped slime for a bit of variance, she ended up finding a place with a large, pretty rusted iron arch with slime dripping off the hinges. It was, if nothing else, quite a different place from the ones that were behind though. As she already committed to pushing forward, it was time to find what hid behind those doors…
She heard slam behind her as soon as she wandered into the large dome-like place with manholes laid out in a circle and a much larger one in the middle. Water poured from the large pipelines on the walls into the would-be rivers encircling the platform she walked on. Totsurugi was about to turn around to see why the door closed, when suddenly the circle of manholes was propelled to the ceiling, and from each hole emerged a huge snake-like slime. Their eyes were bumps, and their tongues could almost be described as drool. But nonetheless, they all seemed to slither and wait for Totsurugi’s move.
The girl noticed three of the snakes were closer together than the others, guarding a smaller door on the opposite from which she came. Like the entrance to the sewers it had this coffer-esque wheel, though it also had some chains to the side and a plaque that had long since become too rusty to read. Whether Totsurugi tried to get to the door seeing how the snakes weren’t attacking (thus prompting them to begin) or she began attacking them herself (with the same result) a battle ensued between the two, with each Snake Slime being defeated and retreating inside the hole they emerged from earlier.
The door she came from opened again, and she was free to open the one in front as well. Totsurugi verified what the one in front was first: It had pipes everywhere, but there were also wheels, buttons and levers. It was some sort of machine room. Some of them were glowing green too. A pop-up appeared explaining if she “turned that wheel, pulled that lever and pressed that button, she would flood that chamber”.
Knowing what the guarded door was all about now, she had a choice to make:
GO TO (Z)
GO TO (X)
GO TO (A)
M
Totsurugi practically slammed the door at the end of the corridor in her attempt to open it swiftly. Unlike every door so far other than the entrance, this one didn’t seem to budge and was noticeably locked.
GO TO (J)
If you have found the key (It was then Totsurugi recalled the key she found in the office earlier. Could it be, no it had to be. Indeed, it had that faint green glow, and the door lock began glowing green as well. She placed the key within it, headed inside.
Not far behind her, however, the living toys that had begun to flood into the house continued their relentless, merciless march. The fastest ones rammed themselves or their limbs onto the crevices of the door to keep it from closing, while those behind crawled on the ceiling, floor and walls, aimed the various makeshift morphed weapons they possessed, and began throwing stuff at Totsurugi, though rarely hitting, plus little damage to her HP when they did. She could try fighting back, but they just kept pouring in, there was no way she was ever going to be able to handle them all on her own.
Not far behind her, however, the living toys that had begun to flood into the house continued their relentless, merciless march. The fastest ones rammed themselves or their limbs onto the crevices of the door to keep it from closing, while those behind crawled on the ceiling, floor and walls, aimed the various makeshift morphed weapons they possessed, and began throwing stuff at Totsurugi, though rarely hitting, plus little damage to her HP when they did. She could try fighting back, but they just kept pouring in, there was no way she was ever going to be able to handle them all on her own.
GO TO (Q)
GO TO (T)
N
Totsurugi turned the knob of the door on the left, and slowly opened it. It creaked like a cemetery gate, too much noise to not alert whatever was inside. If she was feeling particularly observant, Totsurugi might even notice the bits of broken spiderweb on the door that were fluttering as the door moved, as opposed to stretching and snapping- indicating they had been broken prior. Regardless, Totsurugi took a peek through the gradually widening gap of the door, spotting a room with a soft pelt flooring that was beginning to stink, and an crib empty if not for a couple old dusty stuffed animals laying on it.
Then the stuffed animal’s eyes shifted to Totsurugi’s direction, and they slowly raised their arms as if pointing right at her. Lullaby from a music box began playing, and if Totsurugi looked up she would spot a spider-esque music box crawling on the ceiling. Then the noise ramped up, as all kinds of living toys seemingly began to swarm the room in mere moments.
Could she even fight them? There were just way too many!
Then the stuffed animal’s eyes shifted to Totsurugi’s direction, and they slowly raised their arms as if pointing right at her. Lullaby from a music box began playing, and if Totsurugi looked up she would spot a spider-esque music box crawling on the ceiling. Then the noise ramped up, as all kinds of living toys seemingly began to swarm the room in mere moments.
Could she even fight them? There were just way too many!
GO TO (T)
GO TO (M)
GO TO (T)
O
She squeezed past the door, scouting the room with her eyes for anything useful. Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be much more than what she caught at first glance. Then, was the noise she heard just the wind? Totsurugi headed to the window to close it to make sure, but then she noticed something odd: The lock of the window was broken.
There was a hissing, grinding or something in-between noise behind her, to which Totsurugi turned barely in time to intercept an attack from a marionnette painted in clown makeup and with a rushed ragged outfit of the same theme. If she already acquired the life-stopping formula at this time, she could use on the marionette. If not, she would simply fought the old-fashioned way, using the abilities of the NPC.
“Stay down! Stay down!” She yelled as she punched the living down, until it was finally smashed into pieces. Even then the thing tried moving, but it didn’t last long. Totsurugi searched for where the toy could’ve come from just in case there were more, and came to spot a particular open drawer stuffed with written notes.
Mixed among the notes were letters, exchanges of romantic correspondence between lovers and some stuff for the family about the guy’s job as a toy designer and inventor after quitting his studies to become a mage. More pressing, however, where the ones promising to “bring her back” and “not let the tragedy win” following by notes about “the right components” and finally apology scribbles about a “failure”, being doomed, “what have I done” and “I cannot bear to live with this sin”. A key fell from the notes and letters, interrupting the reading. It glowed green, so Totsurugi picked it up.
Something felt very, very wrong.
There was a hissing, grinding or something in-between noise behind her, to which Totsurugi turned barely in time to intercept an attack from a marionnette painted in clown makeup and with a rushed ragged outfit of the same theme. If she already acquired the life-stopping formula at this time, she could use on the marionette. If not, she would simply fought the old-fashioned way, using the abilities of the NPC.
“Stay down! Stay down!” She yelled as she punched the living down, until it was finally smashed into pieces. Even then the thing tried moving, but it didn’t last long. Totsurugi searched for where the toy could’ve come from just in case there were more, and came to spot a particular open drawer stuffed with written notes.
Mixed among the notes were letters, exchanges of romantic correspondence between lovers and some stuff for the family about the guy’s job as a toy designer and inventor after quitting his studies to become a mage. More pressing, however, where the ones promising to “bring her back” and “not let the tragedy win” following by notes about “the right components” and finally apology scribbles about a “failure”, being doomed, “what have I done” and “I cannot bear to live with this sin”. A key fell from the notes and letters, interrupting the reading. It glowed green, so Totsurugi picked it up.
Something felt very, very wrong.
GO TO (E)
P
Totsurugi had respawned, and this time, she tried something new. She couldn’t do it before but- YES! It worked! It seems after her attempt, she could not go backwards, but she could go around the house at least. She could go to rescue that woman’s husband.
To her surprise as Totsurugi arrived, the man was yet to be there. However, immediately after she heard the sound of shattering glass above and the screams of a terrified man. She found her body moving almost all by itself, managing to get a hold of the falling man before he could slam into the ground. Of course, in the process her HP took a solid hit and they were both sent rolling through the grass of the garden behind the house, but he was alive and his limbs weren’t shattered, and neither were hers. That was a win, or a silver lining at least!
Then the man got on his knees, and his hands went to the sides of his head, shaking and staring down at the blood-sprinkled grass.
“You...you’re here! Why are you - no, no, no, no what have I done? Even though you warned me! I wouldn’t listen. I kept working on it, I couldn’t bear to let her go. Oh what have I done, what have I done?! The whole town is cursed, all for my mistake! I hoped you at least could’ve escaped, that you could have left me behind… But it’s too late now. We can’t be saved anymore. No one in this town can.”
Totsurugi’s lips moved on their own again:
“You...tried to bring her back. You caused this?”
“Yes… A sin I can never be forgiven for.”
“How dare you say that? If you are responsible for this, then you know why it is happening!”
The man turned his head up in shock.
“Yes, but-”
“Get up, Gaunt Steelman. I won’t let you stay there and moping about while the town we lived in, and town our daughter was laid to rest in is torn apart by those things. You WILL get up NOW and you will help me stop this. Even if you think it’s impossible, you must know how we could-”
“It IS impossible! She’s the source of it all. That body, all the dark magic coming from it, its what is causing all of this. Sure, if she were to abandon that body we could seal it all away, put an end to the madness, but what can we possibly do? What can the powerless, nameless people who couldn’t even help her survive to her first breath possibly do in this situation?”
“Whatever little we can do, we must. If you are her parent, and if you feel at all responsible, you WILL come with me.”
Totsurugi’s hand automatically reached out to the man, who took it, and gradually pulled his shaking legs up. Though both could now only walk with something of a limp, they headed to the entrance of the house to put an end to the madness.
To her surprise as Totsurugi arrived, the man was yet to be there. However, immediately after she heard the sound of shattering glass above and the screams of a terrified man. She found her body moving almost all by itself, managing to get a hold of the falling man before he could slam into the ground. Of course, in the process her HP took a solid hit and they were both sent rolling through the grass of the garden behind the house, but he was alive and his limbs weren’t shattered, and neither were hers. That was a win, or a silver lining at least!
Then the man got on his knees, and his hands went to the sides of his head, shaking and staring down at the blood-sprinkled grass.
“You...you’re here! Why are you - no, no, no, no what have I done? Even though you warned me! I wouldn’t listen. I kept working on it, I couldn’t bear to let her go. Oh what have I done, what have I done?! The whole town is cursed, all for my mistake! I hoped you at least could’ve escaped, that you could have left me behind… But it’s too late now. We can’t be saved anymore. No one in this town can.”
Totsurugi’s lips moved on their own again:
“You...tried to bring her back. You caused this?”
“Yes… A sin I can never be forgiven for.”
“How dare you say that? If you are responsible for this, then you know why it is happening!”
The man turned his head up in shock.
“Yes, but-”
“Get up, Gaunt Steelman. I won’t let you stay there and moping about while the town we lived in, and town our daughter was laid to rest in is torn apart by those things. You WILL get up NOW and you will help me stop this. Even if you think it’s impossible, you must know how we could-”
“It IS impossible! She’s the source of it all. That body, all the dark magic coming from it, its what is causing all of this. Sure, if she were to abandon that body we could seal it all away, put an end to the madness, but what can we possibly do? What can the powerless, nameless people who couldn’t even help her survive to her first breath possibly do in this situation?”
“Whatever little we can do, we must. If you are her parent, and if you feel at all responsible, you WILL come with me.”
Totsurugi’s hand automatically reached out to the man, who took it, and gradually pulled his shaking legs up. Though both could now only walk with something of a limp, they headed to the entrance of the house to put an end to the madness.
GO TO (A)
Q
“Gah! Raaah!” Gaunt kicked the toys out of the hinges, and began fending off the advancing horde with the rapier he had hidden near the entrance of the house, and which he had plucked on the way up. “I’ll hold them back! It’s the least I can do. What I have is unforgivable but… you are still her mother. Perhaps, if it’s you, she’ll listen. Now GO!”
With that Gaunt turned back around, shattering a clawed nutcracker that had attempted to leap to his face. Totsurugi in turn had little choice as the game prevented any motion that wasn’t turning and closing the door behind her. It was then she was able to glimpse at this final room… and who or what was in it with her:
Hidden amongst the darkness was a large figure holding “her” knees. They weren’t quite like typical knees, but long slabs of metal ending in wood vaguely shaped like high heels. Only two of eight of these were being hugged by the two arms likewise seemingly just thin slabs, though the hands were warped and each finger was like a long claw with holes too thin to fully contain the screws that went through them. She wore a single dress which while frilly ended in a skirt that didn’t quite get to the knees, said skirt being made of a light pink silk while the rest was more woolen. Sewing needles and loose thread hung from the dress, dangling like earrings as she began to rise and push aside the many boxes of trinkets, stuff that once intended to be decorations, and children’s clothes. Bits of stuffing fell from her torso as she began advancing, tainted by the same black, smoking miasma that poured out of the skirt and was covering the room. Slowly, the vastly oversized head of the doll turned upwards, the braided hair falling partially behind and partially in front of the porcelain face, over the perpetual smile with a large crack on the side of the thin painted lips, into which the oil dripping from one of the glass eyes dripped. The toy crown glued atop its head tilted a little.
“Ma...ma…” It called, claws rising menacingly. Though in truth the room was closer to a pinkish violet color, it seemed as though the shadows twisted it into a blood crimson.
Once again, Totsurugi’s words were taken from her by the game’s programming.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s me.”
“Ma...MA!” The creature clawed in front of it, sending wood flying from the crack its claws left on the ground. If Totsurugi was paying attention, she would notice the thing had begun to float just slightly above the ground.
“Why are you doing this? Are you angry? I’m sorry! I’m sorry we couldn’t be your parents anymore. We tried...everything. Everything we could, everything we could afford. Don’t you see the room around you? The room next door? So many places for you, we bought this house so we could live with you!”
A sound that seemed like a wail came from the doll, and the miasma around it seemed to expand and thicken.
“Please, please stop this! My husband made his mistake. He wanted you back. I should never have turned a blind eye to his research- but the people of this town need not suffer just because we-”
The monstrous doll screeched, purple lightning seeming to spark around its arms for a moment before being shot at the ceiling, blowing it to smithereens. A wind tainted by some dark dust or mist began to howl and circle above the roofless room, and the doll was slowly starting to lift off the ground and getting away.
It was at that moment, that battered and beaten, sweaty and bloody, Gaunt slammed open the door and slammed it behind himself as well.
“I’ve earned us some time I think. It doesn’t seem talking to her worked though. What are we going to do?”
With that Gaunt turned back around, shattering a clawed nutcracker that had attempted to leap to his face. Totsurugi in turn had little choice as the game prevented any motion that wasn’t turning and closing the door behind her. It was then she was able to glimpse at this final room… and who or what was in it with her:
Hidden amongst the darkness was a large figure holding “her” knees. They weren’t quite like typical knees, but long slabs of metal ending in wood vaguely shaped like high heels. Only two of eight of these were being hugged by the two arms likewise seemingly just thin slabs, though the hands were warped and each finger was like a long claw with holes too thin to fully contain the screws that went through them. She wore a single dress which while frilly ended in a skirt that didn’t quite get to the knees, said skirt being made of a light pink silk while the rest was more woolen. Sewing needles and loose thread hung from the dress, dangling like earrings as she began to rise and push aside the many boxes of trinkets, stuff that once intended to be decorations, and children’s clothes. Bits of stuffing fell from her torso as she began advancing, tainted by the same black, smoking miasma that poured out of the skirt and was covering the room. Slowly, the vastly oversized head of the doll turned upwards, the braided hair falling partially behind and partially in front of the porcelain face, over the perpetual smile with a large crack on the side of the thin painted lips, into which the oil dripping from one of the glass eyes dripped. The toy crown glued atop its head tilted a little.
“Ma...ma…” It called, claws rising menacingly. Though in truth the room was closer to a pinkish violet color, it seemed as though the shadows twisted it into a blood crimson.
Once again, Totsurugi’s words were taken from her by the game’s programming.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s me.”
“Ma...MA!” The creature clawed in front of it, sending wood flying from the crack its claws left on the ground. If Totsurugi was paying attention, she would notice the thing had begun to float just slightly above the ground.
“Why are you doing this? Are you angry? I’m sorry! I’m sorry we couldn’t be your parents anymore. We tried...everything. Everything we could, everything we could afford. Don’t you see the room around you? The room next door? So many places for you, we bought this house so we could live with you!”
A sound that seemed like a wail came from the doll, and the miasma around it seemed to expand and thicken.
“Please, please stop this! My husband made his mistake. He wanted you back. I should never have turned a blind eye to his research- but the people of this town need not suffer just because we-”
The monstrous doll screeched, purple lightning seeming to spark around its arms for a moment before being shot at the ceiling, blowing it to smithereens. A wind tainted by some dark dust or mist began to howl and circle above the roofless room, and the doll was slowly starting to lift off the ground and getting away.
It was at that moment, that battered and beaten, sweaty and bloody, Gaunt slammed open the door and slammed it behind himself as well.
“I’ve earned us some time I think. It doesn’t seem talking to her worked though. What are we going to do?”
GO TO (V)
GO TO (U)
R
There was no way she could abandon him, or do something as crazy as JUMPING OUT OF A WINDOW (with the example of what happens to those trying laying right down there). She would have to hope she could make it in time to save him going all the way around. Thus Totsurugi bolted out of the room, nearly tripping as she went down the stairs and made it all the way to the door. She turned the knob and heard giggles on the other side, but by then it was too late.
Tens, and soon hundreds of toys began to swarm around her, pouring into the house as if she just broke the side of a bottle and all the contents were spilling out. The horrific things would soon engulf her body, and her vision would turn dark…
Tens, and soon hundreds of toys began to swarm around her, pouring into the house as if she just broke the side of a bottle and all the contents were spilling out. The horrific things would soon engulf her body, and her vision would turn dark…
YOU DIED
GO TO [START]
(P unlocked, you may now choose to go to around the house at the starting choice)
GO TO [START]
(P unlocked, you may now choose to go to around the house at the starting choice)
S
There was no way that man was gonna make till she got to him going down and then all the way around the house: He was already bloodied and surrounded! Not to mention that block on moving past a certain area. This was a gamble… boy this was really a gamble… but she had no choice but to try to go directly to him through the window. Totsurugi took a deep breath… and then the leap.
Her vision went dark for a second, and when things popped back into the view she was on the ground, almost completely immobile. Her eyes moved, though there was a red tint on the corners of her vision, and she could feel the wet, gooeyness of blood on several parts of her body. A couple of her fingers could be relatively lift upwards, but the others would barely budge, and outside of that her body could barely shiver. The man that was there before her had a look of utter shock, accompanied by tears rolling down his face.
“I….how could I let this happen? Did they find you too? Chase you too? No, of course, they chased everyone. You told me not to do it. You told me to stop thinking about it, but I… I just couldn’t. I couldn’t let go. Now look how it’s all turned out. Why did you come after me? Why did this have to… Ah, it’s too late now. We can’t escape anymore. If had known you were coming, if I just had this glimpse of hope before I had resigned to the fate that rightfully fell upon me for my mistake!”
Totsurugi’s vision gradually darkened once more, all the sounds and light growing fainter and fainter until they were gone entirely...
Her vision went dark for a second, and when things popped back into the view she was on the ground, almost completely immobile. Her eyes moved, though there was a red tint on the corners of her vision, and she could feel the wet, gooeyness of blood on several parts of her body. A couple of her fingers could be relatively lift upwards, but the others would barely budge, and outside of that her body could barely shiver. The man that was there before her had a look of utter shock, accompanied by tears rolling down his face.
“I….how could I let this happen? Did they find you too? Chase you too? No, of course, they chased everyone. You told me not to do it. You told me to stop thinking about it, but I… I just couldn’t. I couldn’t let go. Now look how it’s all turned out. Why did you come after me? Why did this have to… Ah, it’s too late now. We can’t escape anymore. If had known you were coming, if I just had this glimpse of hope before I had resigned to the fate that rightfully fell upon me for my mistake!”
Totsurugi’s vision gradually darkened once more, all the sounds and light growing fainter and fainter until they were gone entirely...
YOU DIED
GO TO [START]
(P unlocked, you may now choose to go to around the house at the starting choice)
GO TO [START]
(P unlocked, you may now choose to go to around the house at the starting choice)
T
Unfortunately, it seemed the swarms of monstrous, living toys were simply far too overwhelming for Totsurugi. She was completely surrounded, her HP quickly drained and her vision turned dark.
YOU DIED
GO TO [START]
GO TO [START]
U
She? Fight against that?! Yeah, right. Not a chance. If there was a way out of the situation and ending in some sort of positive note, there had to be a clue somewhere in the room. Totsurugi threw herself into a frantic search through the shelves and the (non-living) toys around the room, and various ritualistic materials.
“I will hold her back while you search, but I don’t think I can do it for long! Hurry!” Shouted the husband, his rapier glowing with infused magic.
The knocked aside candles, shifted through bones, thrusted magical jewels like trash, until her foot knocked on something. Beneath a child-sized couch, near the pain in her foot, she saw a faint green glow accompanied by a slight musical note. The faintest of things, but it made it easy to figure out that under the couch was a xylophone. Totsurugi’s mouth voiced a recollection on its own:
“That is that Xylophone. The one we bought for her, that I played for her while she was in my belly, as I sung…” She knew what to do now. She looked under the couch, picked up the instrument and began playing it. Small markings appeared on it, indicating the order she was supposed to play it in. The monster and the husband both stopped their battle, listening. Totsurugi would, if she looked up, notice the doll’s eyes shifting, black electricity sparking around it as memories were flooding in. It screeched loudly.
“Mama! Mama why?” Oil rained down like tears. “No. I was - I is-"
There was a metallic roar, gastly black hands emerging out of the body and seeming to grasp at the air, before they were seemingly dragged back inside by an invisible force. Then energy bursted from the doll, knocking Totsurugi against the wall and slamming Gaunt onto the floor.
“PAPA’S FAULT! PAPA COME WITH!” It screamed, raising an arm and causing a black wind of miasma to encircle Gaunt, who was seemingly choking as he was lifted up into the air.
“I will hold her back while you search, but I don’t think I can do it for long! Hurry!” Shouted the husband, his rapier glowing with infused magic.
The knocked aside candles, shifted through bones, thrusted magical jewels like trash, until her foot knocked on something. Beneath a child-sized couch, near the pain in her foot, she saw a faint green glow accompanied by a slight musical note. The faintest of things, but it made it easy to figure out that under the couch was a xylophone. Totsurugi’s mouth voiced a recollection on its own:
“That is that Xylophone. The one we bought for her, that I played for her while she was in my belly, as I sung…” She knew what to do now. She looked under the couch, picked up the instrument and began playing it. Small markings appeared on it, indicating the order she was supposed to play it in. The monster and the husband both stopped their battle, listening. Totsurugi would, if she looked up, notice the doll’s eyes shifting, black electricity sparking around it as memories were flooding in. It screeched loudly.
“Mama! Mama why?” Oil rained down like tears. “No. I was - I is-"
There was a metallic roar, gastly black hands emerging out of the body and seeming to grasp at the air, before they were seemingly dragged back inside by an invisible force. Then energy bursted from the doll, knocking Totsurugi against the wall and slamming Gaunt onto the floor.
“PAPA’S FAULT! PAPA COME WITH!” It screamed, raising an arm and causing a black wind of miasma to encircle Gaunt, who was seemingly choking as he was lifted up into the air.
GO TO [END]
V
There was no way to end this whole mess except by defeating that monster Gaunt had created. No choice but to fight.
“Get away!” she threw the box of needles. Purple lightning seemed to spark at that moment and deflect it, leaving the doll abomination unharmed. Circles of lightning began appearing around Totsurugi at random, and if happened to be in one after a few seconds, she would take a shock that would significantly reduce her health. As they didn’t seem to appear near the doll, however, and her ranged attack did nothing, it was time to get up close and personal.
“Stay down!” She threw a punch at the doll. However in retaliation the thing swiftly cut Totsurugi with its claws, tearing away almost all of her health and throwing her into the ground with a gashing wound across her belly. Black wind seemed to begin appearing around Totsurugi then, accompanied by occasional shocks of purple lightning, draining her. She was now losing health, FAST. She needed to recover somehow.... “I must find him.”
But the recovery ability was not nearly enough. Her body became immobile as her health became almost zero, and her vision slowly fainted, catching only one last glimpse of the doll escaping into the air and flying towards the east.
“Get away!” she threw the box of needles. Purple lightning seemed to spark at that moment and deflect it, leaving the doll abomination unharmed. Circles of lightning began appearing around Totsurugi at random, and if happened to be in one after a few seconds, she would take a shock that would significantly reduce her health. As they didn’t seem to appear near the doll, however, and her ranged attack did nothing, it was time to get up close and personal.
“Stay down!” She threw a punch at the doll. However in retaliation the thing swiftly cut Totsurugi with its claws, tearing away almost all of her health and throwing her into the ground with a gashing wound across her belly. Black wind seemed to begin appearing around Totsurugi then, accompanied by occasional shocks of purple lightning, draining her. She was now losing health, FAST. She needed to recover somehow.... “I must find him.”
But the recovery ability was not nearly enough. Her body became immobile as her health became almost zero, and her vision slowly fainted, catching only one last glimpse of the doll escaping into the air and flying towards the east.
GO TO [END]
X
Ultimately, perhaps Totsurugi was feeling too curious to ignore it: The snake slimes came from manholes, right? So, why was the middle one just left untouched? It was bigger and right in the middle too…
She knelt down near it, and cautiously began peeling out the manhole. As she did, what appeared to be a huge octopus-like eye surrounded by moss opened, looking straight in her direction. She attempted to react, but the ground shook at the thing’s ...moans? Roar? Whailing? It was a hard sound to describe, but it was without question loud. It was also the last thing Totsurugi heard before getting slammed with that huge tentacle and everything going black…
She knelt down near it, and cautiously began peeling out the manhole. As she did, what appeared to be a huge octopus-like eye surrounded by moss opened, looking straight in her direction. She attempted to react, but the ground shook at the thing’s ...moans? Roar? Whailing? It was a hard sound to describe, but it was without question loud. It was also the last thing Totsurugi heard before getting slammed with that huge tentacle and everything going black…
GO TO [START]
[SECRET MISSION UNLOCKED]
[SECRET MISSION UNLOCKED]
Z
Totsurugi panted a bit, shaking her limbs in an effort to push away the goo/slime that had fallen on her during the battle, for lack of a better means of cleaning a bit before the sprint. She looked behind, so the slight opening of the door behind her, and upon verifying no more enemies were coming (for now), she took off towards the door and pulled the wheel with all her strength. Though slowly and with a lot of effort it slid to the right, eventually making that “clack” noise of the locking mechanism opening, and the door in turn.
The inside of the room was a tangled mess of water pipes, “grown” all over the floor and on the walls like roots of an old tree...or several. Small bits of steam occasionally poured out of one of those smaller, open-ended pipes and green glowing orbs lit the room. At the end of it, opposite to the door there was a wall filled to the brim with levers and switches, looking old and rusty. They were thick and heavy-looking as well.
Totsurugi leaned in closer to inspect it, and noticed a green marking on one of the lever, glowing but distinct from the orb that lit the room. Its light didn’t really reach far out beyond itself, likely indicating it was less for illuminating and more one of those “interact with me” glows, like at the entrance of the house.
She pulled the lever, and immediately the marking switched to a nearby knob. She turned that, and it moved to a pair of levers. Pulling just one wouldn’t work, instead she had to pull both down at once. Lastly, a button had the marking now, one that was harder to push down than it looked, and she had to get one hand over the other and pressure it with both arms and hands to get it to go all the way down. There was a rumbling noise, and something like a sudden waterfall as well. More steam was coming out of every pipe now, and even leaks of water sprayed here and there inside the room. Whatever she had just done caused a lot more internal pressure than she perhaps anticipated.
Totsurugi turned and attempted to bolt out of there, tripping on one of the ground pipes but managing to regain her balance and keep running. The water level was rising rapidly, but for now she was managing to just barely outpace it.
Just a moment past her crossing the central manhole though, there was a louder rumbling, the whole chamber shook, and the walls burst with water on every side, flooding it and sending Totsurugi’s vision into darkness.
The inside of the room was a tangled mess of water pipes, “grown” all over the floor and on the walls like roots of an old tree...or several. Small bits of steam occasionally poured out of one of those smaller, open-ended pipes and green glowing orbs lit the room. At the end of it, opposite to the door there was a wall filled to the brim with levers and switches, looking old and rusty. They were thick and heavy-looking as well.
Totsurugi leaned in closer to inspect it, and noticed a green marking on one of the lever, glowing but distinct from the orb that lit the room. Its light didn’t really reach far out beyond itself, likely indicating it was less for illuminating and more one of those “interact with me” glows, like at the entrance of the house.
She pulled the lever, and immediately the marking switched to a nearby knob. She turned that, and it moved to a pair of levers. Pulling just one wouldn’t work, instead she had to pull both down at once. Lastly, a button had the marking now, one that was harder to push down than it looked, and she had to get one hand over the other and pressure it with both arms and hands to get it to go all the way down. There was a rumbling noise, and something like a sudden waterfall as well. More steam was coming out of every pipe now, and even leaks of water sprayed here and there inside the room. Whatever she had just done caused a lot more internal pressure than she perhaps anticipated.
Totsurugi turned and attempted to bolt out of there, tripping on one of the ground pipes but managing to regain her balance and keep running. The water level was rising rapidly, but for now she was managing to just barely outpace it.
Just a moment past her crossing the central manhole though, there was a louder rumbling, the whole chamber shook, and the walls burst with water on every side, flooding it and sending Totsurugi’s vision into darkness.
YOU DIED
GO TO [START]
GO TO [START]
End
As the spell ended, Totsurugi’s vision came back into focus. The glowing runes stopped, and the bishop raised her staff from the ground.
“It was...blurry to me. But our task here is complete. We should return to the main camp now. On the way, could you tell me about what you’ve learned from the spell?” Requested the bishop. “Any clue on how to stop all of this?”
“It was...blurry to me. But our task here is complete. We should return to the main camp now. On the way, could you tell me about what you’ve learned from the spell?” Requested the bishop. “Any clue on how to stop all of this?”
@blueyellow
