>>3843850
"You shouldn't have done that...!" you gasp, as your hands are cut against the demon's impossibly sharp limbs. Its attack against your prayer is the greatest offense you can conceive of. Blood flows freely from your veins, as you struggle to knit your fingers back together. It's useless- the long digits can barely press against one another. Furious and terrified, your green irises bolt up to the shadow leering above you.

"I like that look." The demon leers. Its wet voice drips over you, and you stagger backwards, your hands useless hanging at your sides. Revulsion stirs in the dangerous miasma of emotion that's pouring into you. "It seems I should have done just that, Father... it would appear I've saved my life."

"Stay back!" You command, trying to project your voice despite the danger. Your words waver. Your vision blurs. Blood is pouring from your hands at an alarming rate. For a moment... you almost think that it's Mercy's doing. Is she trying to save you from this creature? Is this retribution for your outburst? You can't even see Ray- what has he done with your dog?! "What have you done with Ray-?!"

"Nothing, Father. Nothing. I am taking you to a place where your blessings will not be of any use to you."

"What are you talking about?! Where is he-" You struggle to hold your ground, as it feels like the ground is giving out from you. You fall to one knee. Though your vision is blurred, you can quite clearly tell that the blood pouring from your hands is intermingling with the bloody tendrils extending from the greater demon's shroud.

"Stop..." you plead, almost to your own body. A faint, radiant light courses through your veins. You know that the wounds will slowly heal- you asked Mercy for Her protection. ...but this is too little, too late...

Your eyes bolt open even wider, as you realize your sacrilege. It's a good thing you're already on your knees. You curl into yourself, wanting to beg Mercy's forgiveness, but the demon interjects again, laughing.

"What's the matter, Father? It's clear to my eyes how deficient you are- does this really come as a surprise? To be devoid of the blessing you seek? To be on your knees before a greater demon?"

"Stop... stop talking..." You sneer, trying to raise your head. It feels like a tremendous weight is holding you down. You... you realize that there is. A bloodied stalk of viscera feels like its weighing down on you. Every hair on your body stands on end in utter revulsion as you shout, "Get away from me-!"

The demon's hold intensifies. "Only when your eyes have opened."

The shadow around the two of you deepens even further. You... you can't see anything.

"Let me go-!"

"I'll release you in the Catalyst of your own choosing, Father. Tell me. Tell me now..." You feel the blood seeping down your scalp, behind your eyes- you try to bring your hands up to tear them away, but your hands are useless- you can't see Her light-

"Tell me where you wish to go."

(1/2)

>>3843854
Your mind feels like it's breaking. You scramble to not panic, to focus... all you can think of is Mercy. You've questioned Her blessing and now you're going to die. If you could just go back. You want to show Her that you haven't forsaken Her tenets. You need to do something- you need to make things right. You've been a Father of Mercy for years. You've served the church almost your entire life.

You know where you wish to go. You need to go back.

>A) To the people you most protected. To the city of Anson, the day demons broke out in the town square, centered on a city of thousands. To the bloodshed and carnage you halted through Her teachings.

>B) To the worst wounds you've healed. To the battlefield. To the side of your first mentor, Father Edmund, the day he nearly died.

>C) To the time that exercised your greatest restraint. To the broken streets of your childhood home of Pontos. To the mud in your face, to the broken bones in your skin, to the first scars you received.

>D) To the place where you first felt Her. To your isolation, your abstinence, your chastity. To the Church of Mercy.

>E) To something else entirely. (Write-in)

>>3843857
>>C) To the time that exercised your greatest restraint. To the broken streets of your childhood home of Pontos. To the mud in your face, to the broken bones in your skin, to the first scars you received.
Mercy is restraint in the face of the undeserving, after all.

>>3843857
>>D) To the place where you first felt Her. To your isolation, your abstinence, your chastity. To the Church of Mercy.

>>3843857
>E) To the time where you lost control, the rush of righteous indignation and the pleasure of being able to strike out with Vengeance against those who've done harm.

>>3843857
>>C) To the time that exercised your greatest restraint. To the broken streets of your childhood home of Pontos. To the mud in your face, to the broken bones in your skin, to the first scars you received.

>>3843880
>>3843883
>>3843894
Looks like we've got a huge variety here- despite the duplicate vote

>>3843864
>>3843906
C has won out! Locking the vote, writing now.

>>3843928
Noo i deleted my vote, dont look!

>>3843934
It's okay, I'm not incorporating it into the next post. You're good senpai.

>>3843941
Warring with yourself, you struggle to think of just single moment in time. You've dedicated almost your entire life to Mercy's tenets. You've... you've done more than that, too. Your mind slips somewhere darker, back to your first time with Vengeance...

Not now. I need Her.

"Take me back..." You mutter, the pain in your head and hands robbing you of your senses. It's a struggle to speak, with the crushing weight of the greater demon on your skull, but you continue, "...to the face... of the undeserving..."

"What's this...?" The demon leers, tightening its grip around your head even further. You can't help but loose a scream in agony from the pressure. "A childhood memory- enough to trigger a Catalyst? I doubt it, Father. But... let us see."

The pressure mounts even further, reaching a level of pain you did not think possible. Your scream cuts through the darkness, as lights burst before your eyes, obstructing the shadow...

...and parting into a dirt road. The sky overhead is gray and muddied, almost as much as the peasant's mockery of a trade route. Ramshackle houses line either side of the road, petering off into farmland that's struggling to get through the famine. Sprawling weeds and the steady forest beyond your childhood home leer over you with an enormous sense of dread that you can't quite see-

Your face is in the mud. You cough and splutter, barely able to breathe through the continued pain in your head and now the inability to breathe. You're being pushed down into the dirt by a small group of children...

Children?

You try to look up, clear your eyes, wipe your face, but you're pushed back down again.

"Come on, get up Richard!" The boy standing over you teases, the back of his heel pressing down on your back. "What's a matter? Scared that Mercy is going to hurt you if you do?! Ahahahha!"

The voices of the other three children call out, mocking you. "Mercy! Mercy!"

Your thin limbs- you see them for the first time and nearly collapse from shock- are unscarred. Thin and long and lanky, but unmarred from the blessing of the Gods. They're awkward and too long for a boy your age, but there they are- and they're enough to right yourself on the ground. "Leave me alone-" You cough, your voice timid, weak, young as the crops on the horizon. The pain in your head is making you sound even weaker-

The children's taunting redoubles. One of the other boys comes over, kneels down, and asks. "Or what? Are you gonna tell on us? Are you gonna beg for Mercy?"

Another shooting pain courses through your skull. You nearly collapse, your arms barely strong enough to support you. The boy seizes the opportunity to spit in your face.

"Ooooh, is Richie scared?" One of the girls croons, egging on the boy.

"He should be!" The boy in front of you boasts. He turns, as if to leave you in peace, but then turns quickly and kicks you in the face. There's a sickening crack as your nose breaks.

(1/2)

>>3843995
You can't help but let out a sob as blood bursts forward from the break.

That's never going to heal.

The boy takes a step back, then shouts at you, "Serves you right! Ha- didja' see that?!" He calls to the other children. One of the girls balks, but the other boy seems impressed.

You know how this went. You could stop it now- you could stop them. You could keep them at bay, you could quell the boy's hatred- you could even kill him, if you so wished.

Instead, you stay recoiled, trying to protect your face. Your hands are shaking terribly from the pain, barely able to hide the wound. You try to brush some of it aside, but there's so much, it's just smearing...

"Leave me alone." You mutter again, barely audible through the blood.

There's another kick. You double over, trying not to cry.

A voice... there's a voice in the back of your head.

"This isn't enough, Richard. I know you've endured worse."

"Get out of my head..." You mutter.

The children around you all go silent for a blessed moment.

The silence is punctuated by a shout, this one full of fear. "Are They talking to you!?" The boy shrieks, kicking you again, this time in the ribs. There's another disgusting CRACK as you recoil into yourself.

"Stop..." You mutter, unsure if you're talking to the demon or to the boy. "You don't understand..."

"I can, and I will. You're still blind, Father. Blind to what has broken you. Blind to what can make you whole. Let us see where your sight truly lies."

You... you can endure the pain. You have before. You know that your parents show up in a few hours, find you lying in the dirt. Your nose is never the same, sure. ...but the wounds do eventually heal. But... you know you've been through worse.

>A) When you took retribution on this boy beating you down. When you struck him with Vengeance.

>B) When you were kicked down harder. The first time you sneaked away from the Church of Mercy.

>C) When you felt lonelier. When you stayed... when you realized you needed the Church of Mercy, and that they didn't want you.

>D) Write-in

>>3844002
>>C) When you felt lonelier. When you stayed... when you realized you needed the Church of Mercy, and that they didn't want you.

>>3844002
>V

>>3844051
>>3844002

Supposed to be
>B

>>3844002
B

ONE MORE GOD REJECTED

>>3844039
Tempting.
>>3844053
>>3844086
But it looks like the vote won out for B. Locked, writing now.

>>3844089
>>3844089
"I'll leave them alone..." You mutter, in a haze of pain and blood. The children around you look extremely scared- the boy that's been beating you down even pauses for a moment.

"They're not of any concern. The demon agrees, its wet voice sticking to the insides of your temples. You want to rip your skull open, and get him out- but you can barely lift yourself up, struggling as you are with the broken bones.

The boy takes his foot off your back as you continue, despite the excruciating pain you're in. He looks about ready to run when you murmur, "I was tired... of being alone... there was no... Mercy here..."

"Good. Show me."

The pain in your head, impossibly, intensifies. You can feel the cracks in your body, the tears in your bones, as the agony splits you in two.

You find yourself running, running from the pain.

There's trees, trees again. Anson forest. The sky overhead is brewing a storm. Clouds roil, and you think of Storm for a moment, uttering a small prayer for him to leave you alone as well. You were tired, tired of the pain, tired of the Gods. Tired of the backhanded clergy. Tired of Father Edmund asking you what was wrong with you. Tired of the priests who you knew were whispering, muttering, resentful that someone of such low birth was permitted into their ranks. Tired of being watched. Tired of everyone being so afraid. Tired of being forced into service, tired of your tenets, of the abstinence, of the chastity, of everything.

You're running.

You emerge, exhausted, head splitting, out of the woods. You're young- a teenager- dressed in stolen clothes. Disguised, not wanting to be seen as a member of the Church. You hide your symbol of Mercy beneath your shirt. The gold chain may yet give away who you are, but you have not abandoned the Gods. You're just tired.

The wider houses and bustle of the city of Anson was comforting. You didn't know at the time that you'd save the lives of everyone in this city, being heralded as a Father of Mercy. They didn't know your face now. Scarred, yes. Gaunt, yes. But not that recognizable, you'd hope. You'd hope, as you slow down, too tired to run, your feet leaving evidence of your escape as you step into the soft soil leading up to the city.

Father Edmund couldn't have known you ran away, not yet. It's the dead of night, and most of the streets are empty. You did not know the streets of the city then, and it took you a long time to find a bar.

You were tired of abstinence.

(1/3)

>>3844137
Smoke and silence choked your senses as you stumbled, head still reeling, as you discovered a dingy drinking hole near the outskirts of the city. No one but the barkeep paid you any mind as you collapsed into a stool, pushing coin at him and putting back drink after drink. You numbed the pain, numbed the thought of Mercy, of Vengeance. Even the pressure in your head seemed to fade, ever so slightly.

Your eyes and the barkeep's met a few times, weighing one another with equal disrespect. You hoped he'd not remember you, as you silently left, barely able to walk straight. The wine at the church was always too watered down. It would be years before you'd pray to Agriculture and lose the ability to enjoy these simple pleasures.

As you staggered, vision blurrier than ever, you thought you'd taken a wrong step down the dark streets as you brushed against something. Your long fingers brushed against something soft, softer than you'd felt in years. A sinking horror fell into the pit of your stomach as you realized you'd brushed against a woman.

"Get away from me!" The shrill voice shrieked, practically in a scream. You must have startled her-

"Sorry, sorry," You tried to mutter, but your voice coming out too soft, barely audible over her panic- you try to gesture, articulate an apology, and manage to somehow bump into her again-

"GET AWAY! HELP-!"

You stagger backwards, trying to apologize, to explain. "It was just an accident, I'm sorry, I'll leave-"

You take another hesitant step backwards, and catastrophically manage to bump into someone else. You hadn't drank in years- you underestimated your limits horrifically. "Excuse me-" You try, turning to get away from whoever else you've bumped into, but there's a wet popping sound as a fist slams into your face. Your nose is broken again, the cartilage and bone permanently shifting out of place.

You can't keep your footing, and fall to the ground, kneeling as you attempt to immediately get back up. You are completely floored, though, catching your reflection in a puddle.

(2/3)

>>3844138
This is closer to what you're used to. You are a teenager- scrawny, awkward, your clothes ill-fitting and your hair a complete mess. But your skin is paler by any rights than a human's should be... the circles under your eyes seem to soak in the little light around them. The gaunt recesses and myriad scars show far more battle and wear than anyone your age has any right to have. It's no wonder the woman was afraid.

"Get away from her!" The figure above you bellows, as the woman's panic fades. She must have ran.

"I didn't mean to- you don't understand-" You try, the blood coming from your nose completely obstructing your words.

"Shut up." He says, kicking you soundly in the chest. The air rapidly leaves your lungs as you fall on your back, any attempt at staying upright being stolen from you. The man kneels down, and your soul leaves your body as you see him notice the chain around your neck. "What's this-" He asks, snatching at the chain.

You try wheezing. Leave it. I'll kill you. Don't you dare touch Her symbol. But nothing comes out, the wind is completely knocked out of you-

The man grasps the chain, pulling the holy symbol clean off of your neck. He eyes the solid gold greedily, before a look of recognition cross his eyes. He drops the symbol like it's been put to a flame. "You-!" He exclaims, rapidly stepping backwards.

You manage to grasp the symbol out of the dirt, clutching it tightly in your hand as if your life depended on it.

The man is frantically looking around him, obviously to see if you're with anyone. He seems to recognize you as he steps back over you, raising a foot over your face-

"I haven't forgotten what you've done, Richard. Edwin wouldn't have forgotten, either."

The boy you crippled. Your eyes bolt open in recognition. This figure- blurry as it is. You grew up together-

Crunch.

He keeps kicking your face in-

Crunch.

It's getting harder still to breathe-

Snap.

The pain in your head reaches another crescendo-

"Are you still there, Father?"

"Please-" You mutter, barely able to breathe. Your throat is practically crushed. The pain-

"I knew you could endure, Father. You see, though- you see that this isn't enough. The... blessings aren't here, Father, but you still are.

He's right. There were no Gods here. The Church found you that night, after some Merciful peasant dragged you indoors and reported the assault. ...but Mercy did not save you that day. It took you months to heal. Months of constantly being watched. Of waiting. You thought you learned your lesson. But you still abused Them. You still turned from Them.

>A) When you prayed to Agriculture, to save the country from the famine.

>B) When you prayed to Spirit, to know with absolute certainty what the clergy was doing.

>C) When you prayed to Flesh, to try and undo the damage.

>D) When you tried to induce Dream, to escape from the world.

>E) Write-in

>>3844144
>>B) When you prayed to Spirit, to know with absolute certainty what the clergy was doing.
question authority

>E) Write-in
When you prayed to Time, in a fruitless attempt to reverse it.

>>3844144
>B) When you prayed to Spirit, to know with absolute certainty what the clergy was doing.

>>3844144
>>3844151 here, changing to
>B) When you prayed to Spirit, to know with absolute certainty what the clergy was doing
because I suck.

>>3844144
> C

>>3844150
>>3844151
>>3844154
>>3844164
>>3844170
Near-unanimous vote for B, I see! Appreciate the write-ins, but we're going with the popular vote. Locked, writing now.

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>>3844174
Choking, lying on the streets, barely able to breathe, you manage to speak out, even though no one is there. Rain pounds on your face from the storm clouds breaking overhead.

"...take... me... home..."

You close your eyes. When you open them, you let out a sob. Your face is wet, still. You're back in the Church of Mercy.

No light filters through the small window in your room within the Church's old walls. Rain and thunder beats down with reckless abandon on the Storm shutters. You're wearing old robes- older than the ones that you took with you to the ruins. You're younger- a few scars are missing from your hands as you look them over. You catch your reflection in a cracked mirror hanging on the far end of your room. Your hair is mussed, but your eyes stare back at you, green and wet. You're sobbing, completely overwhelmed by something at the back of your thoughts. The pain is still there, punctuating every heave of your chest. A melody echoes down the corridor, as a number of men and women must be singing praises to Mercy. It Mercifully disguises the sound you're making, but it can't stop the cascade of intrusions into your mind. "Stop." You beg, asking the voice directly this time.

The demon's voice echoes, "No."

You can feel Her. Spirit. It feels like a lifetime ago that you were in the ruins, with her alongside you. This... this was different. This time, this place, this memory. You had begged her, pleaded even. You suspected that the clergy resented you- that you were an unwanted intruder. You needed to know. It didn't feel like abuse of Her blessing. This was knowledge that could aid your mission, aid your service of Her. This is what you told yourself, before you prayed to Spirit, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt what the clergy thought of you.

"I don't want to remember-" You sob, clutching at yourself, as the voices come. Her white light is coursing through your veins. Spirit causes the blood to protruding from your skin, as She fills your mind with their words, their thoughts, their secret and most hidden sentiments. Their Spirit.

"He's a blight on our good families. It's unthinkable. He's a scar on the Church.

"Did you hear? What he'd done? I thought we were putting him down, like a dog- not some pet to be paraded around."

"This has to be a mistake. The King wouldn't permit it. I'll take my complaints up to His Mercifulness personally, if I have to.

"If we can't get him to leave willingly, we'll push him until he snaps. The boy already looks like a demon. Better to contend with one more and be done with this nasty business.

"Stop! Stop it-" You clutch at your head, curling up on the bed, trying to hide from the sound. Your body heaves as you continue to cry. The motion seems to only intensify Her blessing.

(1/2)

>>3844261
"Keeping him alone hasn't done a damned thing-"

"Don't want him actually losing it. Give the boy a dog at least, we won't even have to mind him if he goes collapsing on us again-

"A priest!? I'll die before I have to work with that lunatic- scaring the people half to death. I have half a mind to transfer now-"

"Besmirching our good name, getting the people up into a frenzy. Making the rest of us look like charlatans. My sons nearly died in that last sermon! I'd kill him myself..."

"Wouldn't be too convenient to send him on another expedition? I'd rather risk five of our men and see him gone-"

You can't speak. You couldn't hear yourself, even if you did. Your sobs continue to punctuate the choir echoing throughout the halls beyond your small room. It feels like the walls are closing in.

"Ugly son of a bitch."

"No better than a demon."

"They're all right, you know.

Hysterically, you clutch at your head, trying to get the voices to leave you. "Please... please... stop..."

You knit your eyes shut, tears overflowing. You can feel it, tearing at you, threatening to consume you. The Catalyst. You clutch yourself tighter, spiraling. Your body feels like its draining- like the millions of little cracks along its surface are leaking every fiber of your being-

"The man's so obsessed with the Gods, can't even see the people around him-

"I'll die before I serve under him.

"Maybe one of these prayers will finally kill him."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

"Richard. Richard, it's okay. I'm going to get help."

Your eyes open at the name, legitimately frightened for your sanity. No one at the Church calls you by your given name. You look around, frantically.

The demon is lying on the floor, still as stone. Ray is unconscious next to the demon, still breathing, but his breath is ragged. He's obviously badly hurt. You immediately start to move towards him, but a hand is on your shoulder. The halfling. The halfling you met- how long ago was it now...? She is leaning over you. There's blood up to her upper arms, matching the color of the demon, as it leaks the poison inside of its body out onto the floor of the ruins.

The greater demon's shadow feels like its still leering over you. You're covered in blood, still sobbing and panicked, fighting against the halfling to get to your dog. The white light of Spirit has left you, but your heart is racing faster than it ever has.

"Hey. Hey. Richard. It's Ofelia. It's okay- it's okay. I'm going to go get help."

>A) Ray comes first. She can go get help, you need to see to your dog. Now.

>B) Ask her to stay and at least keep an eye out while you see to Ray.

>C) Beg her to not leave you alone. Demand an explanation as to how she killed the demon while you take care of Ray.

>D) Write-in

>>3844274
>>A) Ray comes first. She can go get help, you need to see to your dog. Now.
DOG NO

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>>3844278
I see the angst singularity has consumed the rest of the voters. I'll leave this open for another hour before locking. Don't like going forward with just a single vote, but I want to keep the momentum going for a bit longer tonight.

>>3844274
>>A) Ray comes first. She can go get help, you need to see to your dog. Now.
Protec dog, deny thots

>>3844278
>>3844395
Ah we're unanimous anyways. Going to go ahead with the reply. Writing!

>>3844438
Hysterically, hands shaking, you try to move Ofelia aside. Your body is so ragged, it's hard to get your limbs to cooperate. It almost feels like the greater demon's weight is still pressing down on your skull. She sees how hard you're struggling, but keeps putting up a resistance anyways. It's infuriating.

"You're hurt, Richard. That thing was... I don't know what it was doing, but you should stay still."

"Just- let me see Ray-" You keep trying to push past the halfling, and finally she steps aside. You can't properly stand, and stagger, nearly collapsing next to your dog. "Ray-" You sob, kneeling down next to him. He seems to have been wounded while you were under the greater demon's control. There's a deep wound in his side, and the mastiff's breathing is ragged in his sleep. You knit your hands together, wounded as they still are. It takes some nudging with the sides of your chest and arms to get your fingers to sit how you want. Ofelia is staring at you, and she opens her mouth to say something-

"DON'T LOOK AT ME-" You snap, your voice hoarse and torn from crying so hard. You're kneeling over your mastiff's body, face turned from her, but you know that she closes her mouth, and moves to leave.

"I'll be back." Her voice says from a distance. "The demon is paralyzed. I'll be back. I'm getting Celegwen. She should be able to help. I'll be back as fast as I can. Don't get near the demon again. The poison will last. Just keep away from it."

You ignore her words, hunched over Ray. You're exhausted, but you would never forgive yourself if you couldn't heal him. The words of the demon haunt the back of your mind. The words of the clergy intermingle with them in a demonic chorus.

"They're all right, you know.

"Did you hear? What he'd done? I thought we were putting him down, like a dog- not some pet to be paraded around."

"Don't want him actually losing it, give the boy a dog at least, we won't even have to mind him if he goes falling on us again-

You want to keep crying, but you tighten your fingers instead. The pain is intense- you suspect the tendons have been damaged, but you don't care. The Church of Mercy has little respect for animals- they are unfit for the blessings of the Gods. Ray was given to you to protect you, but to use your gifts to save him borders on sacrilege. This wound you're eyeing may not be able to be healed through medicine.. but you...

(Options in next post)

>>3844464
>A) You don't care. You don't care if the elf and her magic might be able to heal Ray. The deep scars in your side are evidence enough of her healing capabilities. He might not have that much time. You know Mercy would want to spare you the loss of your best friend. You'll pray, and to hell with the consequences.

>B) You care enough to try waiting. Keep watch over your boy, and get the elf to heal him the instant she arrives. He's tough- he'll be able to pull through her administrations. You just hope there's enough time.

>C) You'll use your medicine. Your backpack is still right in the room with you, right near the narrow corridor you came out of. Use the most effective tools at your disposal. Your fingers are extremely damaged, but you're an expert healer- you know you can endure the pain to try and heal him.

>D) Write-in.

>>3844467
>>C) You'll use your medicine. Your backpack is still right in the room with you, right near the narrow corridor you came out of. Use the most effective tools at your disposal. Your fingers are extremely damaged, but you're an expert healer- you know you can endure the pain to try and heal him.

>>3844467
>A) You don't care. You don't care if the elf and her magicmightbe able to heal Ray. The deep scars in your side are evidence enough of her healing capabilities. He might not have that much time. You know Mercy would want to spare you the loss of your best friend. You'll pray, and to hell with the consequences
Ray is OUR dog! Our responsibility!

>>3844467
>C) You'll use your medicine. Your backpack is still right in the room with you, right near the narrow corridor you came out of. Use the most effective tools at your disposal. Your fingers are extremely damaged, but you're an expert healer- you know you can endure the pain to try and heal him.

plz no sacrilege

>>3844517
A very noble sentiment!

>>3844478
>>3844588
But it looks like C has won out. Locked, writing now.

>>3844274
Personally, I was a bit more concerned of the poison the halfling was covered in.

>>3844616
"Hold on, boy..." You choke out, forcing yourself to move. Forcing yourself to keep going. The pain in your hands is immense, and it's an ordeal getting them to cooperate as you move to get your equipment. On shaky legs, you stagger over to the backpack, its contents seemingly untouched.

The Gods are Merciful.

You fall to one knee, still too weak to stand for long- you try to pilfer through your things, gently moving aside the contents, but every motion is excruciating. You're getting blood everywhere...

You settle on looping an arm through the bag and dragging it back over to Ray. You collapse next to him again. Your breath is ragged, and you feel your head going lighter and lighter as you suffer through manipulating the cut bone and flesh in your hands to examine his wounds. Almost as much to yourself as to your dog, you choke out, "Hang on- ...Mercy- this won't take long-"

You can't help yourself but let out a sob as you see the extent of the damage.

"No...!"

The wound goes through the other side of his body.

There's remnants of the black poison- the same poison that was on Ofelia's arms, and that's leaking out of the demon's body- clinging to the interior of Ray's wound. It threatens to get in your own wounds as well. This is taking too long. Too long. The amount of care it takes to manipulate your cut hands, while keeping the poison away from your wounds... keeping your blood out of Ray... is taking too much time. You're beside yourself, but still make every attempt to produce the tinctures, bandages, and herbs you need from your bag.

Applying the mixture is exquisitely painful. Your eyes are spilling with tears from the pain, even though you suffocate the sound. ...and Ray's breathing isn't improving. The herbs are slow to act, and the best you have. They should keep a man from the brink of death, and will certainly slow his bleeding, but there is something fouler at work here. Something beyond the measure of mortal healing.

Ofelia and Celegwen still haven't returned. You're still alone. Alone with Ray, alone with the paralyzed demon, alone with its poison spilling onto the floor...

You try to stop and examine your results, hands shaking horrifically. You've slowed Ray's bleeding, but the poison is beyond the care of your hands in their current state. This wound is too severe. Your wounds are too severe. You feel like you're going to pass out, vision swimming, head light. Your headache still hasn't subsided.

You practically collapse next to Ray's body, sobbing hysterically. One of the empty medicine vials shatters next to you as it uselessly falls out of your hands onto the floor.

The creeping black liquid oozing from the greater demon's body threatens to inch ever closer towards you and Ray. You might have bought his wound some time, but there's something worse coming.

(Options in next post)

>>3844669
>A) Move Ray's body, as far away from the poison as you can manage, and wait for Celegwen and Ofelia to return. Let the elf use her magic to try and heal him. Hopefully it will be sufficient, after your administrations. You've at least bought him some time. You might not have the strength in you to do much more.

>B) Pray to Mercy- to heal Ray's wounds of the poison. You're the Father of Mercy- you normally need not fear Her retribution. You know there may be consequences, but you can't bear to risk losing Ray. Not now. Not like this. If nothing else, you know she should protect you. If nothing else, you want to still trust in Her.

>C) Write-in.

>>3844670
>>A) Move Ray's body, as far away from the poison as you can manage, and wait for Celegwen and Ofelia to return. Let the elf use her magic to try and heal him. Hopefully it will be sufficient, after your administrations. You've at least bought him some time. You might not have the strength in you to do much more.

We need Ray, yes, but overuse of the Gods' blessings would be far worse than losing Ray, I think.

>>3844670
>>A)
I'd add killing the demon if you had the means but alas , dog takes precedent

>>3844670
>Pray to Flesh to heal yourself and more carefully move Ray's body.
>If the black stuff we looted would work on the demon, throw them now.

>>3844677
Although this is a damn good write-in

>>3844673
>>3844675
Looks like A has won out. Locked, writing!

>>3844727
Just want to mention, still integrating a lot of these votes that aren't majority. So long as it isn't directly contradicting I like to get as many votes in as possible, time permitting. Writing!

>>3844732
The broken glass is of no concern as you clutch onto the side of Ray's body, racking your brain for an answer to your best friend's situation. Your body is soaked with blood and exhaustion, but you can't rest. You need to get him safe, at least until Ofelia comes back with help. It's out of the question to pray to Mercy for Ray...

But Flesh...?

The weight of Mercy's symbol presses heavily against your chest as you force your hands together again. "Please-" Your breath hitches, your hands burning cold with the intensity of their pain. You can no longer tell if the blood drenching your sleeves is coming from the wounds or not, but you know there can't be much time left for you if you keep pushing yourself. "Flesh of my flesh. Lend me Your strength. I ask not for Your blessing... for myself... but for another."

You sway, dizzy from the blood loss and pain, but continue. Your hands are burning, but with heat- heat and smoke. Your voice, trembling, continues despite the fear of death. Take my weakness. Make my hands whole, that they may lift Your name higher. Fill me with Your blessing, that I may continue to serve you... let my weakness be Your strength."

The tendrils of smoke build. Skin and muscle, bared open and torn seemingly beyond repair, begins to knit back together before your blood-shot eyes. You are luckily already on your knees, as you thank Flesh graciously with the little wind left in you. You don't waste a second of time to take hold of Ray's body. He weighs more than you do, though, and you can barely drag the mastiff's body away from the poison pooling around the prostrate form of the greater demon.

You continue your prayer, staring with violent intent at the demon's form. The women still haven't come back. Ray... Ray is sleeping soundly. You dragged him to the absolute furthest reach of the room you could safely scout. The faint red light of candles in passages beyond illuminate your form. Your shadow leers and sways, your shoulders shaking. You can't stop crying. Is it because watching over Ray is bringing you little comfort? Or because you feel so empty?

The poison must be doing a number on his body. You can't help but note as you kneel over your dog. His breath is ragged, but he's holding on. Flesh was with you for but a moment... enough to get Ray to relative safety. Your hands are covered in raw and angry scars, but the skin seems to have stitched itself back together. You tighten them in fury, still kneeling down next to your boy. You unfasten the side compartment containing the fire of the occult.

One vial should be enough.

(1/3)

>>3844822
You tear off a length of clean bandages to safely handle the glass, thanking Flesh again for granting you steadier hands. Nothing, not even the familiar warmth, greets you in reply. You try not to think too much about the growing emptiness as you bundle the cloth around the liquid, hiding your reflection from sight. You stagger to your feet, still unsteady from the blood loss, and carefully walk over to the demon. Its form is completely inert. You'd have mistaken it for dead if Ofelia hadn't said anything.

You toss the bundle from a safe distance, igniting the greater demon's form. The flames spread instantly over its skin, but stops short at the poison seeping from its body. Its almost as if the flames are being eaten by the toxin. The flame burns a bright blue, licking the stone and illuminating the greater demon's form as it burns away. There's nothing under the shroud. Nothing but blood.

You shudder, and back up, never taking your eyes off of the burning form. You practically collapse next to Ray, holding his body next to yours and watching the flames. You can't stop crying. Why do you feel so empty?

-----

(2/3)

>>3844823
"Richard?!"

Ofelia is shaking you. Her voice is frantic. You practically jump out of your skin, backing up away from her before realizing what's happened.

The halfling's face is beet red- clearly from running- and the elf is with her, looking as distraught as someone of her race can. The flames are low now. Acrid smoke fills the chamber, and floats menacingly at the top of the room. Celegwen is saying, over and over again, "Just grab him, Ofelia, just grab him,"

"RICHARD, WE NEED TO LEAVE-"

"Ray!" You start, frantically looking around. He's right next to you still, his breathing harder than before.

"Just grab him-"

You can't calm yourself. Something is horribly wrong, but you can't tell what it is and you don't care. You are still on your knees- you practically cling onto the bottom of Celegwen's skirt as you plead with her. "You have to help him. Please. Please. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Please help him. I did everything I could. It wasn't enough. I can't- please. You have to understand. Just help him-" You can't keep yourself upright, curling into yourself as you sob.

The elf pauses a long moment. Through your sobs you finally hear her say, in a low voice, "Help me, Ofelia."

There's no hesitation as the halfling runs over, giving the elf a shoulder to lean on. You can't quite make out the incantation that the elf mutters as she kneels down to Ofelia's height, placing the end of her staff near Ray's body. It glows with a familiar darkness, stars materializing into view as a force you're unfamiliar with radiates out and condenses into your dog's body. The elf's form goes slack for a moment, and Ofelia struggles to hold her weight up. You know you couldn't do anything to help in your current state and it's only making you more upset- but the elf's form stirs again. Her hair is on-end, which she quickly smooths out. She stands upright.

"Is... is he..." You ask, afraid of the answer, but unable to stop yourself.

The elf walks over to you and extends a hand to help you up. "He won't be alright if we don't get you both out of here. I need your help. Stand up."

Ofelia makes absolutely no indication of lifting you, or Ray. She barely comes up to your waist, and rolls a shoulder to the side as she drawls, "I can't believe I left you alone for less than an hour-"

"Not now." Celegwen says impatiently. "Come on, Father. Get up. We need to go. This air is foul. There's a safer corridor we've cleared out beyond here. I need you on your feet- I can't carry you and your dog."

>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

>B) Don't take her hand. Check on Ray yourself, and then follow them to their hiding place.

>C) Demand an explanation from Ofelia as to where she went before you do anything. They left you alone next to that demon for who knows how long. Ray could have died. ...you could have died.

>D) Write-in.

>>3844824
>>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

I'd usually say take B but I feel the situation is dire enough, should probably rely on other people once or twice

Going to get some much needed sleep. Thank you so much for reading and voting everyone. I'll be updating daily, usually in the afternoons and evenings EST. I'll be back!

>>3844824
>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

We are pretty much spent

>>3844824
>>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

>>3844824
>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

>>3844824
>>A) Take her hand, and get moving. Follow the women to this safer corridor, and take Celegwen's word that Ray will be okay.

>>3844826
>>3844828
>>3844829
>>3844861
>>3844885
I'm awake and ready to get this show back on the road. Overwhelming vote for A with some interesting observations! Writing now.

>>3845165
You don't hesitate. Normally you'd recoil at the prospect of touching someone else, but you're so spent that you simply can't care. Your bloodied and scarred hand wraps around Celegwen's as she effortlessly pulls your light frame to your feet. A look of alarm passes over her face at how easily she's able to lift you. She doesn't mention it, politely averting her eyes, and looks over to Ofelia instead. "Keep him moving. Don't stop. I'll be right behind you."

The elf drops any and all emotion on her face and begins to utter another incantation.

The halfling nods, briskly walking towards an opening that is flooded with fumes from the burning demon. The blue flames that lick its corpse are practically burnt out by now. Your eyes linger on its form, and you realize Ofelia is talking to you again-

"Come on, Richard! RICHARD-"

"...sorry. Sorry." You repeat, shakily taking a few steps forward. You're so dizzy- you can't remember the last time you lost this much blood. You jerk your eyes away from the demon's bleeding skull, reduced to a pile of ash... its bloodied residue, crisp and burnt into the floor... the scorched reminder of your own failings.

"Richard. Come on." Ofelia impatiently walks back over to you, grabbing you firmly by the hand and tugging you away. "It's dead. Let's go."

Your head turns, looking to Ray again. Celegwen's body is glowing with a faint darkness as she seems to effortlessly lift the dog's form. The mastiff's breathing seems to have Mercifully improved, but now... you can see the extent of her administrations. There's a dark and angry scar in his side where she surely extracted the poison from his body. You want to keep sobbing, but Ofelia won't stop tugging on you-

"-this is useless, RICHARD, you're goin' to be the death of us-"

The halfling properly wraps your arm around her shoulders, too, and with obvious stress practically drags you a few steps forward. You snap back to reality for a moment, and get moving with her. "...I'm sorry." You murmur. Your steps are significantly longer than the halfling's, and you both almost immediately break the hold she took on you. She's staring at you intently as you shakily continue walking alongside her, ultimately keeping her pace.

Celegwen's voice, deep and unearthly, rings out behind you both. "Ofelia."

"Right, right-" The halfling coughs as you all approach an exit to the long corridor. She hands you a damp handkerchief. "Cover yer face," she says, wrapping a cloth around her nose and mouth as well.

You can only hold the small piece of cloth to your face. It's hard to breathe- you're forcibly reminded of having your face kicked in.

(1/2)

>>3845210
Ofelia is tugging on you again. You don't even murmur an apology, shoulders bent, as you keep walking. The smoke is thick in the corridor, and you're worried for Ray. Celegwen seems to be protecting him, though. You continue walking, barely taking note of your surroundings. The faint red light illuminates more stone, more passages. The honeycombed walls of this portion of the ruins make your skin crawl as you recall how many demons are trapped within them.

You all walk for some time. It's hard to say how long it is before the smoke peters out, but the corridors do eventually seem to have clearer air. The elevation increases, and the light even seems brighter- more sorcerery? Ofelia tugs on your bloodied sleeve, urging you to take a sharp turn. You hadn't even noticed the opening in the wall beside you, due to the angle of the rock and stone- or is it a trick of the eye?

"This way. Don't get lost. Come on."

You follow her, easily keeping up with the halfling's small steps. She seems exhausted, but presses on, her silent paces leading you deeper still into the ruins. It feels like another hour must pass by- Celegwen's plodding behind you both is a reassuring reminder that they didn't leave Ray behind. Your head is swimming from the exertion. Mercifully, Ofelia leads you all to a small camp before you feel like collapsing.

You recognize Ofelia's cookware and other belongings scattered around the remnants of a small fire. It looks like the place was left in a hurry. There's maps, notes, and bits of clothing scattered everywhere. Not like the neatly disguised campsite you saw they had set up before-

"Okay, Richard. You've got some serious explaining to do." The halfling, still red-faced, points to the floor. "Sit. Eat. Talk."

You do none of these things for at least another moment, looking intently behind you to Celegwen's procession. Her plodding meets you both after a moment. She's sweating, brow knitted with strain, as she gently squats down and sets Ray gingerly next to the reduced campfire. She delicately sits down next to the dog. It's extremely jarring to see an elf look so strained.

You walk over next to Ray, and collapse next to him as well. It's everything you can do to not bury your face in his fur and sob hysterically, but instead you take a moment to examine the poor mastiff's wound site. It looks completely dry and intact now. Celegwen seems to have burned out the poison- both sites of the injury show no signs of infection or complication. You look to the elf with tears brimming in your eyes. She's not looking at you, her eyes closed in exhaustion.

"Richard." Ofelia persists, still standing. "What the hell happened back there?"

(Options in next post)

>>3845212
>A) You're in no state to relive everything you just went through. Ask Ofelia why she came looking for you, ask HER what she saw. Thank her at least for saving your life, but you need answers, too. Why was Ray so hurt? Did she find him that way? What took her so long to get back? Why didn't she kill the damned demon when she had the chance?

>B) Try to explain. The halfling saved your life- you were with the Catalyst and had absolutely no control over the situation. It's going to be hard to talk about it, but she deserves to know what's going on.

>C) Pass out, get some rest, and see if you feel any better when you wake up. There's a time and a place for everything, and rehashing that nightmare is simply not on your agenda right now.

>D) Write-in.

>>3845214
>>B) Try to explain. The halfling saved your life- you were with the Catalyst and had absolutely no control over the situation. It's going to be hard to talk about it, but she deserves to know what's going on.

>>3845214
>B) Try to explain. The halfling saved your life- you were with the Catalyst and had absolutely no control over the situation. It's going to be hard to talk about it, but she deserves to know what's going on.

>>3845214
>>B) Try to explain.
>Fought some demons, but then the greater demon took an interest. Too many, one after the other. I hesitated, and that was enough.

>>3845220
>>3845235
>>3845265
Locked! Writing now.

>>3845280
The question hangs in the air for a long minute. Your shoulders are shaking again as you struggle to speak, tears flowing freely. You're embarrassed and try to hide your face, but you can feel Ofelia still staring at you-

"Stop looking at me-" You sob, cringing and wrapping your arms around yourself.

"Okay, okay-" The halfling walks over next to Celegwen, and finally sits down as well, stoking the campfire. "I'm just cookin'. Take your time, Richard, I just want to know what happened. Here-" She's holding out another handkerchief. You make no effort to take it. "You're still covered in blood-"

You shakily take the cloth and rub your face with it, eager to get the demon's blood off of you. The black, acrid substance is still wet enough to come off with ease. You shudder, your robes still soaked in it as well. You curl into yourself, still sobbing.

Many long minutes pass before you finally can say, "I... contended... with a number... of demons..."

Both women remain completely silent. The fire crackles before you all, unjudging. You stare intently at it, the green in your eyes flickering and waving behind tears and flame. It's hard to see, but you're grateful. You don't want to know how these women are reacting to what you want to say.

"...the greater demon took interest..." Your voice cracks. "He... wanted... to see me break. He... made... me remember..."

Ofelia waits awhile before moving to get her cooking tools. "Remember what," she asks quietly, her back turned to you.

You bury your face in your hands. The blood on them is probably smearing on your face again, but you can't care, drawing your knees up to your chest as you weep. You don't want to say anymore, but you can't stop yourself. The words keep coming.

"Pain... and... isolation... how... despised I was... and... am..." Your breath keeps catching in your throat, as you sink deeper into yourself, utterly failing to keep yourself together. The pain in your head is back, and it only makes you cry harder. You're almost compelled to keep talking, the words overflowing along with the tears in your eyes.

"I felt... like I was dying... over and over again... and... something worse..."

Both women, you can tell, are looking at you with alarm. You make no motion to stop talking, even though their stares are cutting you like a knife. They couldn't possibly make you feel worse.

"...the Catalyst. I felt it, I can still feel it- I feel so empty... I can't feel Them. I can't feel the Gods!" Your voice cracks as you cry, burying yourself in the sleeves of your robes, trying to hide your face.

(1/2)

>>3845295
A few more minutes creep by. The heat from the fire is making you feel sick, warm as your body is from weeping for so long. You... you can't stop talking.

"I don't know... what he did... what the demon was capable of... I... felt... so weak... I couldn't... do anything... I deserved this... I wasn't ever fit for Their blessing.... I couldn't even save Ray-"

You finally can't speak anymore, as your voice completely gives way to hysterical sobbing. You don't notice what either woman is doing as your body feels like it's cracking again. Your breath catches in your throat in absolute terror. This is too dangerous. You can't calm yourself down, and you know that the Catalyst can trigger in people who can't wrest control over their emotions. You sob even harder, the pain fracturing through your entire body.

"He was right... they were right... that's what he said... that they were all right..."

>A) Stop talking. Ask Celegwen or Ofelia if they can do anything to help calm you down. You need to get a hold of yourself. Humans aren't meant to exhibit this much emotion- you're going to lose yourself at this rate if you can't do something.

>B) Keep talking. Genuine catharsis is something you've literally never experienced. Getting to speak openly like this- even if it's dangerous- is worth the risk. Pray to Mercy to keep yourself grounded, if you must, but you need to talk.

>C) Write-in.

>>3845298
>>B) Keep talking. Genuine catharsis is something you've literally never experienced. Getting to speak openly like this- even if it's dangerous- is worth the risk. Pray to Mercy to keep yourself grounded, if you must, but you need to talk.

In for a penny, etc etc.

>>3845298
>>B) Keep talking. Genuine catharsis is something you've literally never experienced. Getting to speak openly like this- even if it's dangerous- is worth the risk. Pray to Mercy to keep yourself grounded, if you must, but you need to talk.

open the floodgates

>>3845298
>>B) Keep talking. Genuine catharsis is something you've literally never experienced. Getting to speak openly like this- even if it's dangerous- is worth the risk. Pray to Mercy to keep yourself grounded, if you must, but you need to talk.

Better to talk about it now than lose ourselves to the catalyst later. Even if we turn into a demon now at least we will be handled

>>3845298
>B) Keep talking. Genuine catharsis is something you've literally never experienced. Getting to speak openly like this- even if it's dangerous- is worth the risk. Pray to Mercy to keep yourself grounded, if you must, but you need to talk.
Gush

File: Spoiler Image (98 KB, 500x500)

98 KB PNG

>>3845308
>>3845316
>>3845320
>>3845325
Got ourselves unanimous votes, let's do this. Locked! Writing now.

>>3845340
You bury your face deeper into your sleeve, hiding your face in shame. There's no stopping this. You don't want to- you need to talk. You need this catharsis. You need to feel for once in your life like you can speak without restraint, without repression, without fear. The fear still pulls at the depths of your soul as words pour out of you. Your voice, still cracked with emotion, intensifies in its desperation.

"I am a mark on the Church... I came from nothing... my parents were farmers... everyone.. everyone in the Church is a family. Their position is their life, their home, everything... I've just... come in and ruined everything..." You bury your face deeper still. "...even the other children in Pontos knew that I wasn't right... wasn't... wasn't okay..."

You sniff, raising your head slightly. The pain is intense, as the building pressure mounts in your skull. You clutch at it, as if it will relieve the agony, but it only mounts as you continue, "...I'm always dealing with this, this pain- it's not constant... but it's debilitating, and I don't know why...! We can't heal it... and the Gods won't take it away... Mercy knows I've tried, I've tried, I keep trying..."

Your voice takes on a desperate edge. "Nothing helps... everyone... my entire life... they've resented me. I stopped letting people get closer... I've been so afraid. I don't want people to see who I am!"

You sob, putting your head back down, dropping your hands to wrap them around yourself. The mockery of a hug brings you no comfort, but still, you continue, "The greater demon could see me. He knew... he knew how weak I am... how many times I've prayed, prayed to be stronger, prayed to be wiser. He knew that I'd run away so many times, trying to leave the Church, trying to have a normal life... trying to get away from all the resentment..."

Your breath catches in your throat, and you gasp in agony as the headache spikes. Ofelia starts, moving towards you, but she seems to reconsider as your breath continues to hitch. She doesn't approach any further. Celegwen sounds like she wants to say something, but doesn't speak either.

You can't stop the floodgates. Your voice is hoarse and raw but still, you continue, "I don't understand. The Church is my life- the Gods are even more to me- I dedicate myself to Them, I do everything... everything for Them. I abstain... I am chaste... I show restraint... I am Merciful, but everyone... everyone just... hates me for it... hates my conviction... hates me... they're so scared... they see..." You lift your head up, and in a fit of insanity, bare one of your arms to the women before you. "You see?"

(1/2)

>>3845368
The skin is marked and scarred almost beyond recognition. The scars from the demon's administration are there, yes, but there are so many more scars still. Many are so old that they should have faded from sight, yet they seem to persist in raised and angry ridges. Many more fresh markings lay over them. The pain in your head almost makes it too difficult to keep your arm outstretched, yet you say, "My body is Their vessel. It scares people. I scare them and I can't blame them, but still, still-" You pull the bloodied sleeve back down, drawing back into yourself. "Still I pray. Still, I worship. Still, they call me a Father of Mercy..."

You hang your head, running a bloodied hand through your hair. It's slick with the demon's blood still. You want to vomit. "...the greater demon. He saw how close I've come to activating the Catalyst. It's been so many times now... I... I am pushed to my limit... time after time..."

Another sob escapes your throat. "No one should have to live like this..."

You take your hands out of your hair, putting them over your face. You wish you could stop crying. Your body, beyond all comprehension, seems to have steadied itself a bit. You still feel like you need to say more.

>A) "I want to go home. I need to leave this place. I've seen enough. My mission was to explore, and I've witnessed enough horror." Talk about home. Talk about what you do miss. Talk about what you need to go back to.

>B) "I came down here to find a cure to the Catalyst. I can't imagine getting answers like this. I need more information. I need to go deeper." Talk about the Catalyst. Talk about your obsession- your darkest fixation.

>C) Pray to Mercy for guidance. You are being pulled in every direction. These women have been silent as the grave, and respectful while you spill your soul to them. Take a minute to pray to Her and center yourself.

>D) Write-in.

>>3845372
>>A) "I want to go home. I need to leave this place. I've seen enough. My mission was to explore, and I've witnessed enough horror." Talk about home. Talk about what you do miss. Talk about what you need to go back to.

>>3845372
>>C) Pray to Mercy for guidance. You are being pulled in every direction. These women have been silent as the grave, and respectful while you spill your soul to them. Take a minute to pray to Her and center yourself.

>>3845372
>C) Pray to Mercy for guidance. You are being pulled in every direction. These women have been silent as the grave, and respectful while you spill your soul to them. Take a minute to pray to Her and center yourself.

>>3845372
>>B) "I came down here to find a cure to the Catalyst. I can't imagine getting answers like this. I need more information. I need to go deeper." Talk about the Catalyst. Talk about your obsession- your darkest fixation.

>>3845372
Changing to
>D) Write-in.
Like this… so alone. So empty. Surrounded by contempt. What have I done? Why do I deserve this? What is /wrong/ with me? I only want to help, to cure. Why can’t they see that? I want them to see that. What is there left to do? Would my death appease them, they wouldn’t even rejoice… just… sleep easier. Now that I can’t feel the gods… whose strength is my weakness?

>>3845372
>>3845419
I ditto, changing my vote >>3845392

Okay, I think I got this right:

>>3845422
>>3845419
For the write-in

>>3845385
For C

>>3845377
For A.

Going to try and incorporate all of these together. Writing now!

>>3845511
Got pulled away, sorry about the delay. Back to writing now.

>>3845602
Your shoulders are still trembling, your eyes wet, but your voice steadies enough to keep speaking. "Live like... like this. Empty and alone. Surrounded by contempt. I... I know what I've done, but it's not... I haven't deserved this."

You shake your head, your hair slick with blood clinging to your neck and brow. You try and wipe it aside, smearing more blood everywhere. "What is wrong with me?" You ask, not expecting an answer. "I only want to help. To heal. To cure. Why can’t they see that?"

You don't look at Ofelia or Celegwen, but you can feel the questions brewing between them. You continue. "I want them to see that. They won't, though. They refuse to. They'd rather see me dead, even if it wouldn't appease them. Even if it would only make them sleep easier."

You've been sitting next to Ray all this time, but you shift, nearly collapsing from the effort. Talking so much has taken all of the fight out of you, but you struggle, and force yourself onto your knees. You grasp Mercy's symbol tightly between your hands.

"Now... now that I can't feel the Gods... who's strength... is my weakness..."

You bow your head, and pray. Your voice is still wrought with emotion, but you keep it as steady as you can.

"Mercy. I am the Father of Your children, the guardian of Your people, the keeper of Your blessings. I am the messenger of Your word-" You choke, unable to keep your composure. There's nothing. There's absolutely nothing. Her warmth, Her voice, Her blessings- you feel none of it.

"I... I'm so sorry-"

You curl in on yourself, holding the symbol closely to your chest.

Ofelia finally says something. "It's not your fault, Richard."

Your sobs continue. You don't believe her.

"When I found ya', that demon was doing something... I don't know what. It looked like its blood was behind yer eyes, or something. I was scared what would happen, if I killed it while it had you like that."

You want to retch, vividly recalling the feeling of the greater demon creeping into your skull. You pick up Ofelia's rag from the floor and try again to clean the blood off your face as she speaks.

"I don't know what it did to you but I'm sorry things got so bad. Ye shouldn't have gone off by yerself so deep into the ruins... there's worse things than that down there. Seen a lotta' crazy humans since we've been traveling."

Celegwen perks up. "You're not the worst human we've seen, Richard."

You can't help but choke out a small laugh. The sound is desperate and you hate it, but you can't keep it down. "Not the worst?"

"No. If I understand correctly, most of these demons were far worse than you at some point, too. Even the one you just killed. ...that was very, very reckless of you, though. You and your dog could have suffocated from the fumes. We could have even interrogated it-"

(1/2)

>>3845665
https://youtu.be/eTU-jTmWr-k

"No-" You snap, your body trembling. "No. You both can take what you need, you can explore, but I won't tolerate another demon." You sniff, your voice breaking. "I want to go home. I need to leave this place. I've seen enough. My mission was to explore, and I've witnessed enough horror..."

Ofelia asks softly, "Where's home for you, Richard?"

"The Church of Mercy. It's a week's travel from the surface- across the river Morinburn. ...a few days travel from the capital."

"...what's it like there? Home?" Ofelia asks again, her voice as genuine as you've heard her speak. The sass is gone. She sounds homesick, too.

"You can always hear the river. ...the air is as clean as you can hope for... there's lots of farmland. I never thought I'd miss the smell of barley..." You feel like Ofelia might be offering you a smile, but you keep your eyes down, looking away.

" ...we get a lot of travelers, seeking refuge at the Church. I get to see a lot of people... a lot of people who need help. We're not in a city proper, more on the outskirts. But we watch the borders. Protecting the fields, scouting the forests, repairing our defenses... aiding everyone who loses their homes, their families. ...I do get out a lot, to help with the fight, and to service the surrounding cities and villages... it's... it's not much. But... I... I need to go back..."

You clench onto your robes with your hands, as if the bloodied fabric will get you home faster. The sick, wet sound is so disgusting that you let go of it almost immediately. You feel as disgusting on the outside as you do on the inside right now. The growing emptiness is more disturbing than being soaked in the demon's blood- you compulsively want to keep praying.

Ofelia asks plainly, "Do ya' have any other clothes? Celegwen has a cool trick to clean up blood, but I think she's too worn out-"

You dare to dart your eyes over to the elf. She appears to be in a daze, either sleeping upright, or in deep meditation. Her ears twitch slightly at her name being said. She says, dryly, "Healing and carrying your dog was more than I should have done today- I am afraid you'll have to deal with the mess through mundane means."

(Options in next post)

>>3845667
>A) Ask for some privacy, clean up, and change out of your cassock into your spare trousers and shirt. It won't feel right, but you need to get out of these bloodied clothes eventually. Those stains aren't coming out anytime soon. Get some space while you're at it, and try to sort your head out. You could use some time to yourself.

>B) Endure the women's company while you get the most of the stains out of your cassock, and change out of view. Modesty and chastity are tenets of Mercy, but being seen out of your clerical clothing is hardly sacrilege. These women saved your lives. Maybe you can get some answers from them while you clean up.

>C) Pray. Keep praying to Mercy- you can endure the blood for awhile longer. You have more pressing issues right now than cleanliness. You can't feel Her, and you miss Her already. This isn't right. You surely just need to keep praying.

>D) Write-in

>>3845670
>>B) Endure the women's company while you get the most of the stains out of your cassock, and change out of view. Modesty and chastity are tenets of Mercy, but being seen out of your clerical clothing is hardly sacrilege. These women saved your lives. Maybe you can get some answers from them while you clean up.

>>3845670
>>B) Endure the women's company while you get the most of the stains out of your cassock, and change out of view. Modesty and chastity are tenets of Mercy, but being seen out of your clerical clothing is hardly sacrilege. These women saved your lives. Maybe you can get some answers from them while you clean up.

More talky, make friends

>>3845673
>>3845675
Gonna keep the ball rolling. Writing now!

File: unknown (19).png (46 KB, 600x459)

46 KB PNG

>>3845775
Well. There was a power outage. ...I lost the entire update, didn't autosave. Didn't save normally, either. Going to take a break, and rewrite in a bit. Sorry for the delay. Have some fanart, courtesy of one of our voters.

>>3845812
Embarrassed at your appearance and ashamed for your behavior, you keep your eyes downcast. "...of course. Is there a source of clean water nearby...? I'd... like to clean my cassock."

Ofelia makes a face at the word. You don't have the patience to explain, and simply gesture to your robes in frustration. She says briefly, "Ah," and moves to get the pot off of the flame. "No need. Celegwen made some for us last week. We have plenty to spare-"

The halfling makes a few sounds as she moves the water adjacent to you. "Careful-"

"Thank you."

A very long, awkward moment passes.

"...don't look at me." You finally say, averting your eyes, face flushing.

Both women mock offense. Celegwen turns her back around, resuming her trance. Ofelia makes a bigger show, turning her nose up, moving to the other side of the room. She teases, "Yes, of course, your holiness," from a distance. You dart your eyes up to her for a moment, and she actually seems like she's keeping her gaze off of you.

You stand and slip out of your cassock with difficulty. The slick blood that soaks the fabric intermingles with dried viscera, sticking to barely-healed wounds. You can't help but feel guilty, seeing the scuffs and tears along its length from crawling through the narrow corridor before. You dunk the robes immediately into the hot water at your feet, hoping that it will help loosen the grime.

Your eyes flit again to Ofelia and Celegwen. The former is staring fixedly at the wall, humming a light melody. The latter is completely unfocused on the room, her eyes glossed over and her body relaxed. You still feel heat come to your face as you rapidly dig through your backpack, fish out a spare change of clothes, and rapidly undress. The tapestry of old battle scars paint a grim picture as they're exposed to the heat and light of the room for a few brief seconds. Your sunken abdomen, your thin arms, your tortured back, chest and legs- they quickly disappear behind clean, dry, black fabric. You only make a sound once you've rolled down your sleeves, and are nearly done refastening your belt. "...alright. You can stop teasing me, Ofelia..."

The halfling looks over her shoulder, and lets out a sarcastic wolf whistle. You want to die. She looks you over, as you slump back next to the pot of water. Your hands are still shaking, as you fish out a precious, slim bar of soap to clean the cassock with. The halfling is making a face that you really, really don't like. Your frown deepens. Your robes normally hide just how skinny you are- but your fitted shirt and trousers betray you. Flesh has wasted away most of your muscle, and Agriculture has made it harder still to eat or drink... you curl into yourself, deeply embarrassed, your face likely a deeper red. "I told you to not look at me," you protest, setting about scrubbing the robes.

(1/2)

>>3845857
"Richard, we've really got to feed you more- DON'T-!" The halfling balks as you put your hands in the scalding water, but you hardly feel the pain. Enormous relief washes over you as the blood starts to part from your hands. You set about scrubbing them thoroughly before even touching the robes.

"...it's okay. It doesn't hurt," you reassure her. She doesn't seem convinced, and rubs her own hands nervously, as if she's experiencing a phantom burn. The halfling slowly gets up and walks back over towards the fire, getting out more cookware.

It's immensely satisfying to clean the holy garment, and the hot water is incredibly soothing. Your breath slows down a bit, and you are bold enough to ask, "you said you met other humans. ...ones worse off than I am... can you tell me about them...?"

Ofelia's face pales a bit at the question, but says evenly, "everyone we've found down here has been completely insane, Richard. I didn't mean to be so forward with ya' when we first met, but we had to be careful. Gotta' look out for ourselves. Especially with the stunts you've pulled-"

Celegwen clears her throat, her voice far off in her trance. It settles back to a more normal, mundane octave after a cough or two. "Ofelia."

"Right, sorry. It's just- you gotta understand, I'm not used to this stuff, Richard."

You keep scrubbing. Your hands are probably going to go raw, but it's extremely cathartic... besides, it's difficult for them to look any worse. You say softly, "I understand."

A few moments pass by between all of you. Ray's snoring in his sleep. It's immensely comforting to hear him.

"Celegwen," you start, unsure if the elf can even hear you.

Her eyes clear, and she responds. "Yes, Father?"

"Your healing... I'm entirely unfamiliar with it. You... you saved Ray when I couldn't..."

"It's a difficult spell." She says plainly. "I'm not at all used to using it- and your dog likely wouldn't have survived if it weren't for your work, too." She offers a small smile. "Give yourself credit where it's due."

You drop your eyes back down to the water, staring intently at the blood. You scrub harder.

>A) She's right. Give yourself a little credit for healing Ray as much as you did. Thank the women for saving both of you- again- but don't be afraid to pat yourself on the back. Maybe you and Celegwen can exchange some information on each other's healing capabilities.

>B) You can't handle the compliment. Thank Celegwen again for healing Ray, and ask her and Ofelia how they contended with the greater demon where you failed. You can't stop ruminating over your failure- you need to know how you could have done things differently.

>C) Deflect completely. You're still in no shape to try and have a conversation, and having these two women be so nice to you is only making you feel guiltier. Ask Celegwen about her Magic, see if you can get the subject off of you. Hell, ask Ophelia about her knowledge regarding poison, too.

>D) Write-in.

>>3845858
>>B) You can't handle the compliment. Thank Celegwen again for healing Ray, and ask her and Ofelia how they contended with the greater demon where you failed. You can't stop ruminating over your failure- you need to know how you could have done things differently.
AAAAAAAAAAAAANGST

>>3845858
>>B) You can't handle the compliment. Thank Celegwen again for healing Ray, and ask her and Ofelia how they contended with the greater demon where you failed. You can't stop ruminating over your failure- you need to know how you could have done things differently.

only mild crawwwling, don't want to become an angst black hole

>>3845858
>B) You can't handle the compliment. Thank Celegwen again for healing Ray, and ask her and Ofelia how they contended with the greater demon where you failed. You can't stop ruminating over your failure- you need to know how you could have done things differently.

I want to do A because acknowledging a compliment is good, but this seems more in-character.

>>3845858
>>B) You can't handle the compliment. Thank Celegwen again for healing Ray, and ask her and Ofelia how they contended with the greater demon where you failed. You can't stop ruminating over your failure- you need to know how you could have done things differently.

>>3845869
>>3845876
>>3845878
>>3845935
A welcome moderation of angst. Duly noting all these comments, and locking the vote. Writing now!

>>3846049
The elf's small smile drops as you pointedly ignore her reassurance. "...thank you, again." You insist, your frown deepening. "I don't understand it- how... how you were able to contend with that demon." Your green eyes, raw from crying so much today, look intently over at Ofelia's form. Her small frame is crouched over the fire, boiling more water. She glances over her shoulder at you. Your eyes meet for a brief second, and you nervously glance back down at the water. It's so murky, you can barely see the robes. You begin to wring them out as she answers.

"I couldn't have done anything if it wasn't so distracted." She begins, her voice taking on a strange tone. It's far more sinister than anything you'd expect from a woman of her race. She catches herself, though, looking at you with genuine concern. "Do ya' really want to hear this, Richard? I mean-"

Your knuckles whiten as you wring out the robes with much more force than necessary. You swallow, hard, trying to get a hold of yourself. Your voice still wavers, as you try to contend with your own demons. "...I need to know. How... how I could have done things differently." How I could have been less of a failure. How I could not be so weak.

Ofelia keeps her eyes fixed on you. You can feel her stare boring into your back, and you want to squirm, to hide. She says in a low tone, "I don't think ya' could have killed it, Richard. When I found you... your dog was already on the ground. It looked like he put up a hard fight-" She glances over at Ray's sleeping form, then back to you. "The room was so cold. It looked like you had been under for awhile. I was scared, Rich. I mean, Richard. It looked like it was inside your head- I thought it might just kill ya' if I did anything."

You stop nervously wringing out the cassock, and set the fabric down on the side of the pot, your hands shaking too hard to be of any use. You keep your head bowed, listening intently to Ofelia speak. She continues, her voice dropping even lower, barely a whisper, "I used my best poison on it. Took it out of another demon down here- one to freeze its blood. It wouldn't have been able to hurt you like that, Richard. I made sure it wasn't going to move again."

All of the flush is gone from your face, as you pale again. "...thank you." You murmur, holding yourself, clutching onto the fitted fabric around you as if it could keep you safer.

"It didn't let you go at first, though. I was scared for you, Richard- but-" the halfling raises her volume, her voice taking on a bewildered tone rather than the more sinister pitch, "you pulled yourself out of there. I must have tried to wake you up for an hour, but you finally came to. Never seen anythin' like it..."

You can't help but look at Ofelia, also bewildered. I was in the Church of Mercy, I was with the Catalyst. I couldn't have done that. "What? I...?"

(1/2)

>>3846191
The halfling shrugs her shoulders. "That's what I saw. I don't know how you humans work, I just made sure that bastard wasn't gonna try any weird shit with you. You were in bad shape, Richard. ...you still look in pretty bad shape, to be honest," she offers with a small laugh, obviously trying hard to not be too offensive.

You avert your eyes again, trying to process all of this.

"I didn't want to leave ya' until I saw you were awake, but I was worried what might happen if that monster- I mean, demon- resisted the poison-"

You pale even further. She wasn't certain it would work? You... you feel like you're going to be sick again.

"Don't give me that face- you know you can't be certain with these things! Besides, who knows what might have happened if I killed it outright? Or if I even could have? You had to burn the damn thing to be sure."

You tighten your arms around yourself. You can practically still see the flame dancing over the greater demon's corpse. "Yes. I did have to burn it."

Celegwen pipes up again. "I still think that was terribly excessive, Father, but..." She trails off, leaving her judgement hanging in the air.

You don't have any regrets. There was no information that demon could have had that would have justified keeping it alive.

Ofelia brings over another pot of water, this one nowhere near as warm. Steam still rises from the surface, but you see the halfling hang back for a moment before setting down the rest of the cleaning supplies. "Okay, Mr. Hotshot. Don't hurt yourself this time."

You begin to protest, but she speaks over you. "I don't care, Gods or blessings or whatever, just get this finished up so I can clean my damned pots. You need some rest."

>A) You can't take one more sleight from these women about the Gods. Lecture Ofelia, and try to explain to her why this means so much to you. You appreciate her hospitality, but she's over the line.

>B) Don't push the issue. Clean up your robes, and get some rest. Between the physical, mental and spiritual trauma you've endured today, you can't deal with anything further. Ask the women if they need help keeping watch, or if this resting spot is as safe as they say.

>C) Don't push the issue, and talk awhile longer. See if you can get anymore information from the women. (Write-in any specifics)

>D) Finish cleaning, and take the time to make an extended prayer to Mercy. The void that's creeping into the deepest roots of your body is becoming impossible to ignore. You don't need to convince these heathens of anything. You need to connect with Them.

>E) Write-in

>>3846196
>>B) Don't push the issue. Clean up your robes, and get some rest. Between the physical, mental and spiritual trauma you've endured today, you can't deal with anything further. Ask the women if they need help keeping watch, or if this resting spot is as safe as they say.

>>3846196
>>D) Finish cleaning, and take the time to make an extended prayer to Mercy. The void that's creeping into the deepest roots of your body is becoming impossible to ignore. You don't need to convince these heathens of anything. You need to connect with Them.

>>3846196
>>D) Finish cleaning, and take the time to make an extended prayer to Mercy. The void that's creeping into the deepest roots of your body is becoming impossible to ignore. You don't need to convince these heathens of anything. You need to connect with Them.

Probably a good time to reconnect...don't want to push it too far

>>3846206
>>3846210
>>3846308
Closing the vote to get one more update out for the night. Going to incorporate all of this, writing now!

>>3846357
"...I won't take much longer." You say, quite obviously still upset. "I'd like to get some rest, but there's... something I have to do first."

Ofelia and Celegwen both look at you curiously.

"I need time to pray." You explain, wanting their eyes off of you. "I can't... I can't take the first watch, but I can take second or third-"

"That isn't necessary, Father." Celegwen interrupts, holding up a blood-streaked hand. "I've been resting while you spoke. I'll be keeping the whole watch."

You shift uncomfortably, unsure if the elf was even listening to you. You spilled your soul, and she was sleeping? She seems to be able to read you like a book, and continues, "I wasn't trying to be rude. I could hear every word. The spells I used to help your dog simply took a lot out of me. I hope you can understand."

You look down at your hands and grimace. They're still streaked with blood. Watered down, but still filthy. You nod your head, and set to rinsing the robes and your hands one more time in the cleaner water. "...I understand." You say, not quite sure how you feel about the elf's behavior.

She doesn't seem very pleased either, and continues, "I'm sorry we didn't find you sooner, Father. ...but I'm glad you're safe. Please get some rest. I'm going to start patrolling- Ofelia, sound the alarm if anything happens. Anything."

Celegwen gets to her feet, her movement much lighter than before. Ofelia and her must be exchanging looks, but you keep your eyes firmly fixed on the soap and water as you feverishly clean the rest of your robes. It's going to be impossible to get the stains out, but you've at least gotten the bulk of the blood and viscera. Ofelia practically jumps at the pots as you wring out the last of the excess water.

"Finally-" She says, whisking away her cookware. "You're more thorough than my mother-"

You wince, shying away from the halfling as you find a rough stone protrusion to hang-dry the cassock on. From the opposite end of the room, the sound of Ofelia scrubbing the pots is the only thing that greets you as you try to find your voice again. "...thank you. You didn't have to-"

"'course I did," She replies immediately, obviously working hard at getting the blood out of the stonework. "People should look out for each other."

An extremely long silence hangs in the air, only punctuated by the sound of her scrubbing. She seems to pick up on your discomfort.

"...maybe you humans don't. You sound like you've been hurt pretty bad, Richard. I think my Pa' wouldn't be happy with me if I made all that any worse."

You stand, still shaking, at the far end of the room. You're keeping your eyes down, but you manage to say, "You haven't."

Ofelia's scrubbing stops abruptly. She stands up, admiring her handiwork. "Good as new!" She declares, looking over her shoulder to beam at you. You recoil from the eye contact, but she keeps smiling.

(1/?)

File: Candle.jpg (2.15 MB, 2848x4288)

2.15 MB JPG

>>3846516
"Some jobs need a little more elbow grease than others. You might need a whole lot, Richard, but I think you'll be okay." She lowers the pot, gathering her cooking implements. "You want the fire going while you pray?"

"...I'll only need it for a moment." You say, and step over to your backpack. From the very bottom of the lowest compartment, you tear into the pocket sewn into the lining. Safe and dry, you find your long candles, and take out a single one. They're Mercifully all unbroken. Your hands are still shaking horribly, but you manage to take out the beeswax, and bring it over to the campfire. Another extreme luxury, thanks to your position in the Church. Ofelia gives you a jealous look, making a low whistle, and waits patiently while you soften the bottom of the wax and light the top of the wick.

"Lucky you. That'll last at least a few hours, huh? Don't stay up for too long." She cautions, finishing cleaning up, and spreading out a bedroll for herself from a hidden cache. "Wouldn't want you passing out again."

You don't respond, carefully taking the candle over to the far end of the room and sticking it firmly on the stone floor. Once you're certain its upright, you murmur, "good night, Ofelia."

"'night, Richard," she replies. The halfling puts out the bulk of the fire, its embers dwindling into ash. Before long, the only light in the room comes from the single candle before you, and the dim redness of the ruins further beyond.

You bow your head in prayer, taking Mercy's holy symbol between your palms. The clawing emptiness that's been growing since the greater demon held you is all-encompassing. Your hands shake, even as they grasp one another in reverence to Her. The gold between your fingers is cold to the touch. You begin silently, but before long you can't help but pray aloud. The clean smell of the burning wick is reassuring as you steadily pray. You need Her to hear.

"...as the Children of Mercy turn to the Father, so too will he turn to Her, the Mother, the Goddess. In the darkness, She brings light. In our pain, She brings solace. In our weakness, She brings strength. We do not presume to hear Her, we do not presume to suffer in silence. Her works are in our comfort, in our healing, in our restraint. Her silence is Merciful."

The flame before you waxes and wanes- you trim the wick only as needed, your prayer becoming more and more feverish as the hours wear on.

"...our adoration and love for you need not be spoken, for She hears, she hears, she hears us speak. She has worked through the Father, She has given her gift freely."

It's getting harder to see. Your throat is hoarse and dry. The flame burns low, yet you still diligently trim the wick, right your shaking hands, clutch onto Her cold symbol.

"I... am so sorry... I'm sorry, Mercy... please..."

(2/3)

>>3846538
The gold hands of Her symbol seem to sit awkwardly in your palms, nowhere near as reassuring as they always have been. Nothing feels right. Desperation claws at your voice.

"Mercy. Please. Am I unfit for Your blessing? Is this body too impure...?!"

You can barely kneel, curling into yourself. You clutch so tightly at the holy symbol in your hands that you're no doubt bruising yourself.

"Have I not given everything for You? I do not ask for your blessing, Mercy, I ask for your voice-" your voice breaks, trying not to sob again- "...for your warmth-" you whisper, voice raw, "I ask for your embrace-"

The candle burns out.

Despite your exhaustion, despite forcing yourself to lay down, you lie awake for hours. It's been difficult to sleep for years, after trying to induce Dream. That isn't why you stay awake, though.

Your holy symbol is warm to the touch.

The clawing emptiness fills your aching limbs, your tormented skull, but... Her symbol. You fall asleep holding it, thinking of Her.

------

She visits you, that night. The Goddess.

Mercy.

>A) She has Her message. She has something terribly, terribly important to tell you.
>B) She has Her mission. She knows of something that must be done. Something that only you can do.
>C) She has Her blessing. Something to give, something to receive, something that She wishes to work through you.
>D) She has Her embrace. She wishes to comfort you. She wishes to reassure you. She cannot see the Father suffer like you've suffered.
>E) Write-in.

>>3846556
>A) She has Her message. She has something terribly, terribly important to tell you.
hmm. To comfort now would be Merciful to Richard, but it seems like our halfling and elf combo are giving him more Mercy than he's ever received in his life. Same with a mission, a purpose that could be used as an excuse to care for nothing else.

But a message is knowledge, and knowledge used eventually leads down to a choice. Something that noone can give Richard besides himself.

>>3846556
>D) She has Her embrace. She wishes to comfort you. She wishes to reassure you. She cannot see the Father suffer like you've suffered.
As much as I'm on board the Angst Train, Dick needs nice things in his life.

>>3846556
>A) She has Her message. She has something terribly, terribly important to tell you.

>>3846556
>>A) She has Her message. She has something terribly, terribly important to tell you.

>>3846556
>>D) She has Her embrace. She wishes to comfort you. She wishes to reassure you. She cannot see the Father suffer like you've suffered.

>>3846556
>>A) She has Her message. She has something terribly, terribly important to tell you.

Back in action.

>>3846569
>>3846650
>>3846740
>>3846976
>>3846571
>>3846792
Vote is locked, writing now!

File: Mercy.png (1.49 MB, 970x915)

1.49 MB PNG

>>3847230
That night, deep in the dark, She visits you.

The warmth in your hands spreads along your body, the heat coursing through every vein, every muscle... and deeper still. You are not in the ruins. You are not in Corcaea. You sink, deep, deep into the embrace of Mercy.

All of the trauma and emotion of the day does not slip from your senses. You feel the cracks running along your body, the deep fissures through which the Gods have blessed you. You do not hide them. You do not need to be ashamed- you do not recoil as Her light greets your eyes. You do not recoil from Her sight- from Her working through you. You are not ashamed.

As you sink, deeper, deeper still, into Her tender welcome, you do not feel the clawing insecurity, the doubt, the fear. Her embrace is working through you, into you- around you. It has been a lifetime... of servitude, of worship, of abject devotion. You see it. You see the light of Mercy.

You do not see a woman. You see a soft, shifting form, of gold and of light. You do not see gold. You see soft edges, Mercifully shaped in Her likeness, giving your mortal self an image of worship. You do not see light. You see the Mother, Mercifully hiding Her eyes that you may not go blind before Her.

There is no need to fall to your knees, to beg, to plead, to offer yourself to Her. You know beyond any doubt that there was no need to ever ask for forgiveness. Every plea that left your lips was already heard. You know that there was no need to question if She left you. She has always been by your side. There was no need to doubt if She heard you. There is no need for words. She is Merciful.

You do not see Her with your own eyes. You cannot.

You do not hear Her with your own ears. No words need leave your lips.

You feel Her. You feel Her with your mortal flesh. You hold Her as tightly as you can, and She embraces you in turn. Waves of relief crash into you, trivializing the might of Storm. Her light caresses you. Mercy keeps you steady, as you feel like you could lose yourself to Her. She does not speak, as no words need to be spoken. Her embrace is everywhere- you are supported, loved and held for the first time. She does hold you. She does need you. She does love you.

-----

(1/2)

>>3847372
Father.

You listen in perfect reverence. Nothing need to be said between you, yet still she gifts you with Her word. The Gods are Merciful.

Our love for you is infinite. It is unbearable, to endure as the Father suffers.

Her embrace tightens around you. You sink deeper into it, never wanting to leave. You do not need to reassure her, yet she still blesses you with Her kindness.

The world is full of cruelty.

She holds you tighter still. She does not need to acknowledge the failings of your race, yet still, she bears witness to it.

You suffer as Our Children suffer. Do not be afraid, Father. You know what must be done.

Thoughts of your mission flit across your mind like a bad dream. The Catalyst. The cure. She isn't speaking of it. The Gods will it. Your voice, warm, tender, holding your lover beside you... you ask the Mother, "What must I do?"

>A) "You must stop your search for the Catalyst. Return to the Church of Mercy. Do not suffer this place any longer. Serve Our will, as you have served Us for these many years, and live your life in peace. There may be pain, there may be suffering. But you, Father, can root out the corruption in Our Church. It is Our Will.

>B) Now begins the War of Extermination. You must assemble your clergy. Assemble the Mothers and Fathers of the Church, and purge the land of any and all who oppose you. Abandon the pretense of curing the Catalyst- the only cure for it can be a swift death.

>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

>D) Write-in.

>>3847376
>C)"Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

>>3847376
>>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

>>3847376
>>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."
>>D) Write-in.

>>3847376
>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

>>3847376
>>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

>>3847376
>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."
>D) "Though the only cure is death, the afflicted themselves need not be abhored. Find one taken by the Catalyst, but still possesses Kindness in their heart. Grant them Our blessing."

>>3847376
>>C) "Seek my Relic, Father. Seek my symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. I entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain and so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."
>>D) Write-in.
Gather your Children and show them the light of Mercy, too long have you suffered alone, you must bring them together and find my Relic, the answer to all the pain. Only you can lead them Father, go with Our blessing.

Finding this relic will lift us in the eyes of the church, why not get some converts on the way too? This way the common people will learn that they shouldn't be afraid of us, and that the scars we bear are so that they do not have to endure the same hardships we have. Also we cant pass up a righteous crusade right? Mercy Vult!

>>3847388
>>3847391
>>3847397
>>3847398
>>3847401
>>3847407
>>3847574
Overwhelming response! I'm going to be integrating all of these somehow after I finish with my homework. Leaving the vote open for a bit longer while I wrap up my studying. Good shit everyone.

>>3847712
Alright, the vote is locked. Writing now.

>>3847831
https://youtu.be/RoW814r407M?t=571

Mercy's warmth fills you, stretching through the reaches of the deepest fibers of your being, resonating through your tortured skull, healing you, making you whole again. You listen to Her, with abject devotion, and She delivers Her message.

"Too long have you suffered."

Her outstretched hands are warm, laying on your chest, reassuring you that you are not ever truly alone.

"Gather Our Children, Father. Though the only cure to The Catalyst is death, the afflicted themselves need not be abhorred. Gather Our Children, and find one that appears taken by their weakness. Find one that still possesses kindness in their heart.

The choir lingers in your memory long after each word been spoken, as She orchestrates Her gift. You are awe-struck by the unparalleled commandment of Mercy. You want to ask how, but you don't dare to speak. She continues.

"Grant them Our blessing. Grant them peace, through Our symbol. You cannot do this alone. You must seek Our Relic, Father. Seek Our symbol. Deep, deeper still within the lands lies an answer to your pain. We entrust you with this mission- this most Holy mission- to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure to your pain. The cure to the pain of so many others. Seek Our Relic. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

You feel Her hands, out-stretched and lying under your own, begin to part. You want to stop Her.

You want to stay like this forever.

You know you can't.

"You are never truly alone, Father."

I don't want to go back. I don't want to leave You.

Her warmth steadily leaves your frame.

Please.

-----

>>3847934
"Please-"

You find your words leaving your lips as you lay on the stone floor of the ruins. The room is cold. Your eyes aren't adjusted to the darkness, and you lay on your back, facing the ceiling, heart racing, as you try and contemplate what you just experienced. The cold. The emptiness on either side of you. You wrap your arms around yourself, desperate for the embrace again. Mercifully, Ofelia is still inert on the other side of the room.

Mercy. You play Mercy's words over and over again in your mind. Mercy's words- Mercy's embrace. You want to go back, you want to be with Her- but you know. You know you have something terribly important to do.

You stagger to your feet, sweat sticking to the back of your shirt, as you dig around for your cassock and a spare change of clothes. You feel drained, like you haven't slept at all, but manage to find your things. Ofelia clears her throat, from the opposite end of the room, and you nearly fall over in surprise.

"Goin' somewhere?" She asks, sounding far too alert for someone that should have been unconscious.

"Y-you were awake-" You stammer, struggling to get dressed as quickly as possible-

"I wasn't goin' to go sleepin' after everythin' you went through. ...yesterday? Hard to tell down here. Celegwen came back awhile ago, cleaned your robes proper- hey. Hey, are you okay?" The halfling asks, sounding legitimately concerned.

You must be visibly shaking, barely able to fasten your belt as you are. You feel like collapsing again.

>A) Tell Ofelia about your vision, and tell her that you have to go once Ray is back on his feet. You have something extremely important that you need to do back home. Thank her for her help, but part ways here. Both of these women ARE thieves- you are deeply indebted to them, but you don't wish to have them join you in your Holy Mission.

>B) Wake up Celegwen, and tell both women about Mercy's message. Ask them if they know what She could have meant by Her Relic. Don't make any promises to travel together further, but after everything they've helped you through, they deserve your honesty.

>C) Wake up Celegwen, and tell them about Mercy's message. All of it. Ask them to join you on your quest. You owe them both your life, and they are both clearly capable fighters. You could use their help, wherever the search may take you.

>D) Write-in.

>>3847934
Realized I linked the wrong part of the playlist, fuck. Not gonna delete the entire thing but meant to put in https://youtu.be/RoW814r407M?t=574 instead. My bad.

>>3847944
>>C) Wake up Celegwen, and tell them about Mercy's message. All of it. Ask them to join you on your quest. You owe them both your life, and they are both clearly capable fighters. You could use their help, wherever the search may take you.

>>3847944
>C) Wake up Celegwen, and tell them about Mercy's message. All of it. Ask them to join you on your quest. You owe them both your life, and they are both clearly capable fighters. You could use their help, wherever the search may take you.

>>3847944
>>C) Wake up Celegwen, and tell them about Mercy's message. All of it. Ask them to join you on your quest. You owe them both your life, and they are both clearly capable fighters. You could use their help, wherever the search may take you.
Offer them whatever loot there is on the way to the relic I guess.

>>3847944
>>C) Wake up Celegwen, and tell them about Mercy's message. All of it. Ask them to join you on your quest. You owe them both your life, and they are both clearly capable fighters. You could use their help, wherever the search may take you.

>>3847950
>>3847955
>>3847962
>>3848019
Finally finished all that homework, can bust out a few more replies tonight. Writing now.

>>3848067
>>3848067
You nod your head, even though it's highly unlikely the halfling can see the gesture in the dark. "Wake up Celegwen. I... I have to tell you both something."

Ofelia seems even more concerned. "...Gwen. Hey, hey, Gwen. Get up. Come on." There's a series of shuffles and scrapes as the halfling tries to jostle her companion awake.

"Hmm...? Ofelia, I don't want to do anymore laundry..."

There's a sound as Celegwen surely shoves the halfling aside in her sleep. You pace nervously, closer to where Ofelia's been keeping the campfire. The cloying emptiness that had pervaded your body before you slept feels like it's Mercifully left you. Your hands are shaking harder than ever, though. You shove them in your pockets to try and calm their nervous digits.

The halfling sounds like she's properly irritated. There's more jostling and arguing. "Get up, goofball. It's Richard, he's up too, come oooon-"

Ray's snoring punctuates their argument. You're enormously relieved to hear him sounding like his usual self again, but you can't relax. You start stoking the fire yourself as Celegwen gets up. Ofelia makes a fuss, shooing you away from the ashes of the old flame. "I'll take care of this- you just sit and talk. What's goin' on?"

The halfling fishes some flint out while Celegwen lightly sits next to her, as if the elf was never tired. "Yes, Father...? I was trying to sleep."

You reluctantly sit down, now nervously wringing your hands. You say as plainly as you can, "The Goddess of my Church visited me last night. Mercy."

"I'm... guessin' that isn't normal." Ofelia offers. She's already started the fire and you can see staring at you intently through the building embers. Celegwen is staring, too. You wrap your arms around yourself, darting your eyes away and struggling to maintain your focus as you continue.

"It's unheard of. ...this isn't the first time I've been visited by the Gods, which is unusual enough. ...but never even like this. Never from Her. Mercy... had a message."

Both women patiently wait in silence for you to continue. The fire crackles, its heat warming your cold frame. The warmth reminds you of Her. You straighten up a bit, your voice losing its timidness as you speak Mercy's word. You paraphrase, embarrassed by the intimacy of Her message, but determined to preserve its integrity.

"Gather Our Children. Find one that appears taken by their weakness. Find one that still possesses kindness in their heart. Grant them Our blessing. Grant them peace, through Our symbol. Seek Our Relic. ...to obtain not the cure to the Catalyst, but the cure... the cure to the pain of so many others. Do this, and go forth with Our blessing."

The fire crackles as both women seem to stare straight through you. You endure their stares, leaving Her message hanging in the air as smoke begins to trail off the fire before you all. Just when you feel like you can't stand them staring at you a moment longer, Ofelia speaks.

(1/3)

>>3848248
"That couldn't have been no dream. You've never talked nearly that confidently before Ric- OW-!"

Celegwen firmly punches Ofelia in her arm, interrupting. "I don't profess any knowledge of your Gods, Father, but this sounds extremely important. ...thank you for sharing this with us."

Both women exchange looks again. They look like they want to say something. You answer, your voice regaining a bit of its normal softness, "This is the most important message I could bear. The direct word of the Gods is my life's work. ...I know you both have already helped me so much, but I wanted you to know. I want you to know... because I need your help."

Ofelia's jaw drops for a moment before she catches herself. "Where is this coming from?! You were quick to leave bef- GWEN WILL YOU STOP HITTING ME-"

The elf stops punching her friend for a moment, giving you a sheepish smile. "This is a lot to ask, Father. I don't know the first thing about your Gods, but it's clear how much this means to you. I... need to deliberate further on this."

Ofelia, looking hurt, speaks up. "You don't speak for both of us, Gwen. ...but I don't think I get what you're asking, Richard."

You glance down at your hands, forcing yourself to stop wringing them. They continue shaking. "I... She... We need your help. This Relic- I can't imagine finding it will be easy. You both spoke before of artifacts within the ruins. Strange, powerful, dangerous..."

Celegwen looks at you with concern. She almost sounds offended. "Those were magical artifacts, Father. Again, I do not know of your worship, but Magic is a different thing entirely."

"I... I see." You reply. You wrap your arms around yourself again, letting the fire continue to warm you. The heat of Mercy's symbol on your chest is reassuring.

Ofelia perks up again, voice full of mischief. "What do you suppose this relic is like, anyways? Sounds... useful."

You glare at the halfling, the light of the fire catching in your eyes and striking her mischief down.

"Okay. Okay. Got it. But what do you suppose it does, really? How do you even think we could find it?"

The threat in your eyes softens immediately. We?

(2/3)

>>3848252
"I hadn't even asked-"

"Ya' sure did. I don't know about knife ears, but it wouldn't sit right with me to see ya' wander off again so soon. I'll at least keep my eyes out for ya' until we're out of these ruins." Ofelia elbows Celegwen a few times, and flashes you a toothy smile. You almost offer her one back. She sobers up a bit. Celegwen is silent as the grave, her hands knitted, obviously thinking intently and oblivious to Ofelia's teasing.

The halfling scoots forward, closer to the fire, warming her hands. It's so cold in the room- outside of the fire- that all of your breath is giving off steam. Ofelia keeps her eyes on you though. Her smile is softer, but she sounds concerned. "Really, Richard, you had more than a brush with death back there. This place... isn't fit for men. ...mankind, I mean." She lowers her voice a bit. "We didn't think you'd pull through, first time we found ya'. Second time I find ya', you're nearly dead too. Maybe a bit worse off than that."

The flames lick and climb, the sticks and tinder crackling without judgment. You keep your eyes downcast.

"Where do you think you're gonna keep looking for this Relic? Weren't you down here looking for the cure to some Catalyst?"

>A) You are stopping your search for the cure to the Catalyst. Mercy instructed you, firmly, that the search was not Her will. You are not one to scorn the word of your Goddess. This Relic has the capacity to heal, and you may find a way to contend with demons through Her that you did not think possible before.

>B) You are not abandoning your search for the cure, you are postponing it. It's unthinkable to ignore Her word, but you know that there may come a time in your future when She sees an end to humanity's suffering. You will pursue the relic now, and the Catalyst will be your priority when the time is right.

>C) You are using the search for the relic to further your search to cure the Catalyst. No doubt, you'll find ample information in your quest that could help with both missions. You don't need to abandon what you know is a greater threat to humanity to further Her will. You may be the Father of Mercy, but you're a human, too, and you cannot stand by while your Children suffer.

>D) Write-in.

>>3848263
>>B) You are not abandoning your search for the cure, you are postponing it. It's unthinkable to ignore Her word, but you know that there may come a time in your future when She sees an end to humanity's suffering. You will pursue the relic now, and the Catalyst will be your priority when the time is right.

>>3848263
>>B) You are not abandoning your search for the cure, you are postponing it. It's unthinkable to ignore Her word, but you know that there may come a time in your future when She sees an end to humanity's suffering. You will pursue the relic now, and the Catalyst will be your priority when the time is right.

>>3848339
>>3848343
Calling the vote here so I can get one more update out tonight. Writing now!

>>3848532
You loosen your arms from your sides, holding your holy symbol to keep your hands steady. Your eyes dart up from the gold to glance up at Ofelia. You notice for the first time that her eyes are blue.

"Richard?" Her voice is surprised. There's a mix of apprehension and possibly fear, but you try to take it as surprise. You can't hold her gaze once she calls attention to it though, and you glance away.

Nervously, you settle on staring at the flame between you all. Your voice comes out steadier than you thought it would, but it shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. This is your passion. "I haven't abandoned the search for the cure. You have to understand... I must respect Mercy's will. This Relic- this quest- this is something I have to do." The stress is creeping into your voice again. You hold onto Her symbol tightly, as if it will keep your voice from shaking, too. "I... I can't forsake humanity, though. I won't forget. I'll resume the search for a cure to the Catalyst when the time is right. When She wills it."

"This doesn't sit right with me, Father." Celegwen finally responds. You lift your head up, and you can't restrain yourself as you snap at her.

"You just said... that you don't know the first thing about the Gods." There's a distinct ugliness in the way that your voice echoes her more delicate sentiment. Your brows furrow, as you're uncertain if you're more upset with her or yourself. How is that any way to respond to a mission from Mercy? To the most divine calling a man could ask for? You want to say all of this, but instead you keep your eyes down, fingers nervously around Her symbol, trying not to lose your patience any further. Show some restraint.

"I don't." Celegwen insists. "But this doesn't sound like it's your choice at all. It's not right."

"You don't understand." You say softly, grasping her symbol even tighter.

There's a soft sound as Ofelia quite obviously now punches the elf. Celegwen makes no noise in response, but her attacker speaks up. "...she has a point though, Richard. You seem... well, eager, to hurt yourself pretty bad to help these Gods of yours. It's been bugging me for awhile, too. Might not have been my business but, yeah. I'm making it my business."

You want to protest, but you know that the scars on your hands and face betray you. Still... you want to explain. "...I want this." You insist, "I don't have to do this because Mercy wills it. I have to do this... because I will it. This is my life. ...my choice."

The flame between you all and Ray's steady snoring punctuate the heavy silence that falls over the room. Your hands ache from holding Mercy's symbol so tightly, but the sensation is comforting. The heat radiating off of the metal is an enormous comfort in the face of such scrutiny.

Celegwen breaks the silence just when it's become unbearable. She clears her throat.

(1/2)

>>3848708
You look up. She's holding something out towards you.

"What is this?" You ask, looking at the object in her hands. It's a small mass of something dark and twinkling. How long has she been holding this out for-

"It's a promise," she replies.

The starlight within the small object coalesces before your vision. The light must be reflecting off of your eyes as they widen. You aren't quite sure what to say. ...or what to even do with this, for that matter. The elf's light and accented voice takes on a sadness you hadn't hear from her previously as she speaks.

"I want to help you, Father. Ofelia has someone to go home to, but I do not. Judging by the way you treat yourself, I suspect you don't, either."

Her words sting, but she's right. "...you understand more than you let on."

"It's alright. Perhaps we could take the time to understand each other better. I'd like to travel with you, if you'd have me. Perhaps we can find this Relic, or even your cure. I'm sure there's much knowledge to be gained from your journey, even if we cannot."

You aren't quite sure what to say. Your eyes remain fixed on the object before you- it's beautiful. The elf's hands are so much steadier than yours... you'd be afraid of anyone else dropping the delicate collection of stars. Its as if there's an entire night's sky suspended in her palms, carefully held in Time. You question again how different Magic and the Gods can be, but Celegwen interrupts your thoughts.

"Hold out your hands."

You hesitate.

"It's not a curse, I promise."

You want to trust her. You slowly release your grip on the holy symbol around your neck. Your hands are stiff and trembling, and you cup them together to try and steady them. Celegwen takes one of your wrists with her free hand and steadies it herself. You tense, your hair standing on end at the touch. You reflexively want to pull away but she murmurs, "It's alright," and gently lays the starlight in the palm of your hand before you can pull away. You force yourself to at least relax enough not to drop it, and watch, amazed, as the light sparks for the briefest of seconds.

The stars fade out, and disappear entirely. It only lasted a moment. It feels like her words are still on your skin. ...you want to rub the palm of your hand on something clean, but resist the urge.

Ofelia lets out a groan. "That was so much cooler than when you promised to help me out, Gwen. What gives?"

"You didn't have a mission from a Goddess, Ofelia."

"I know, but jeeeeez, cool it, won't ya'? Gonna' give the poor guy the wrong idea-"

You discreetly wipe off your hands on the side of your pant legs as the women bicker. A few minutes go by, before Ofelia sees fit to stop bullying the elf. She looks like she's moving to make breakfast, too. "So. Richard. You conveniently ignored my other question. Where on earth do you think we could start searching?"

(Options in next post)

>>3848716
>A) The ruins. Ofelia and Celegwen have found magical artifacts through their expeditions, but that doesn't rule out something holier. You never did make it to that library. You're reluctant- the demon you contended with down here was terrible, and they said that what lies beyond is even worse. ...but perhaps you all will be stronger together.

>B) The Church of Mercy. There are many books back home that you've never been able to read, or even taken the time to. Where better place to begin searching for information on a holy Relic than in Her greatest Church? If the Church of Mercy itself doesn't turn up anything, you have resources. You can call for aid. You want to go home.

>C) Write-in.

File: Party so far.png (828 KB, 2322x1616)

828 KB PNG

Got a test tomorrow, going to be in the later afternoon EST for the next update. Updates will be at least once daily from now on, but we're gonna slow down to a more typical pace. Thanks so much to everyone who's been voting and reading so far. Got a little picture of our party so far for the road. See you all soon!

>>3848717
>>A) The ruins. Ofelia and Celegwen have found magical artifacts through their expeditions, but that doesn't rule out something holier. You never did make it to that library. You're reluctant- the demon you contended with down here was terrible, and they said that what lies beyond is even worse. ...but perhaps you all will be stronger together.
We're already this far.

>>3848717
>>A) The ruins. Ofelia and Celegwen have found magical artifacts through their expeditions, but that doesn't rule out something holier. You never did make it to that library. You're reluctant- the demon you contended with down here was terrible, and they said that what lies beyond is even worse. ...but perhaps you all will be stronger together.

>>3848717
>C) You will follow Ofelia and Celegwen for now. You need rest, and should at least work to repay their charity. Help with the oddjobs, the fighting, and provide what knowledge on demons the church possesses, and in turn learn what they know of artifacts and ruins. Given their lack of familiarity with the gods, one of these artifacts may in fact be a symbol of god.

>>3848717
>>A) The ruins. Ofelia and Celegwen have found magical artifacts through their expeditions, but that doesn't rule out something holier. You never did make it to that library. You're reluctant- the demon you contended with down here was terrible, and they said that what lies beyond is even worse. ...but perhaps you all will be stronger together.

>>3848755
>>3848797
>>3848942
>>3849049
Back from classes, absolutely demolished that test. Should be able to get a few updates in today. Writing now!

>>3849390
You hesitate. You... you want to see the surface again. You miss the Church of Mercy. You miss your home. You've even said as much. ...but you can't give up now. Not when you've already come this far. You knit your hands back around your holy symbol, hands still trembling terribly. Is it how much blood you lost yesterday? Or is it the prospect of facing down a demon greater than the ones you've already lost to? Your voice is barely above a whisper as you respond.

"...here, in the ruins. ...you both have found magical artifacts, but that doesn't rule out the Relic... you both... never did explore that library... did you?"

Celegwen and Ofelia both look remarkably concerned. The halfling continues gathering her cooking supplies as she says, "we didn't want to risk it. There's a lot of crazies down there. ...but I've been looking for something of a cure myself, y'know?"

You don't quite reply, waiting for her to finish. Reluctantly, she admits, "my Pa's been sick for a long time."

Ofelia's small hands deftly make work of getting more water boiling, and effortlessly chops a number of vegetables and roots into the mix. Yet, her voice tilts with emotion. "Can't take any unnecessary risks, right? He wouldn't be happy with me if he even knew I was down here to begin with."

Your desire to heal overwhelms the urge to shy away. "...do you know what he's suffering from?"

The halfling stops her generous application of herbs and spices to look up at you. "Something dark. My Pa isn't on the best terms with some of the family's customers. ...he got his hands a little too dirty, if you take my meaning. Upset the wrong kinds of people. ...he was getting too old for the business."

Ofelia turns her eyes back down to the stew pot, minding her hands and utensils as she gently stirs the mixture. "He's stubborn. Wouldn't let me help him outright. This is the best I can do. Here- taste this-"

You stare awkwardly at the outstretched spoon in front of you, and try to politely refuse. The halfling makes an exaggerated sigh and goes back to cooking. There's a distinct slouch in her shoulders- you want to lift her Spirit. A strange thought occurs to you.

"The cure to the pain of so many others. Do you think that the Relic...?"

Ofelia's eyes widen, looking at you eagerly. "Now there's an idea! Richard- do you think...?"

Celegwen's methodical voice answers Ofelia for you. "We haven't ventured back to the library, or properly inspected any of its contents. It's placement is highly unusual. It would surely be a good place to start looking."

You can almost feel the weight coming off of your shoulders as the two women eagerly rehash the route they last took to the library. The smell of Ofelia's cooking wafts through the cold, and you hear something. Something stirring. Heavy, strong, roused out of a deep slumber...

(1/2)

>>3849527
"Ray?!" You come out of your reverie, and look over to the bundle of fur and muscle that's slowly waking. The mastiff seems dazed, but as soon as your eyes meet, he gets himself up and practically tackles you to the floor. Your dog promptly licks your face as if he hadn't seen you in years.

It's a good thing you're already sitting. You struggle to remain upright, trying to reassure him. The life comes back into your voice for the first time in days. "Ray- Ray it's alright-! Good boy. Who's a good boy? You put up a good fight, didn't you- come here-"

Your long arms wrap around the mastiff, hugging him as he refuses to calm down. You can feel the knotted scars on the sides of his torso, dry and healed. The mastiff is probably going to have some trouble with exerting himself... you give a firm motion with your hands for him to sit, and Ray obliges, wagging his tail furiously. "Good boy. Stay. ...take it easy, Ray."

Ofelia chuckles, interrupting the reunion. "He must have smelled the food, huh? Hey, Gwen. This is probably gonna attract some trouble. You mind doin' the thing?"

Celegwen nods, rising and picking up her staff. She makes an elaborate gesture with her free hand, and the scent of the stew completely evaporates. Ofelia deflates slightly.

"There's no way to do that without ruining the meal, huh?"

"...yes, but it would be a waste. I can only do so much, Ofelia. You know this."

The halfling groans, reluctantly serving the stew. You can't help yourself and hug Ray again, who eagerly licks your face. You can't help but notice that he's still got some blood on him. Your stomach shifts.

"I... I need to clean him up. Can we have some more water, Ofelia?"

The halfling nods, immediately digging for a flask. She shoves some spare rags at you as well.

You make quick work of wiping down the bits of blood and viscera still on Ray, taking extra time to make sure his wound is clean and dry. He nervously whines as Ofelia starts gathering dishes. You can't even think about food, but a piping hot, odorless bowl is practically shoved into your hands the moment you're done attending to your dog.

"We're not going anywhere until you eat, Richard. Don't try and pawn it off on him, either." Ofelia gestures towards Ray, who whines again. "Eagle Eyes is watchin' you," she drawls, making a gesture with her hands to her eyes and back to you a few times. You really don't like the smirk she's giving you.

(Options in next post)

>>3849532
>A) Try to remind Ofelia that it's extremely difficult for you to eat. It's safe to say that these women aren't going to balk at anything else you can tell them. Maybe the story of your prayer to Agriculture will distract her enough to slip the meal to Ray.

>B) Force yourself to eat something, just to appease the halfling, and give the rest to your dog. It's going to hurt, but you do need to eat eventually.

>C) Try your best to do as she says, and suffer through the pain. You probably won't be able to keep the meal down, but better to try taking care of yourself than to starve.

>D) Write-in.

>>3849534
>>A) Try to remind Ofelia that it's extremely difficult for you to eat. It's safe to say that these women aren't going to balk at anything else you can tell them. Maybe the story of your prayer to Agriculture will distract her enough to slip the meal to Ray.

>>3849534
>>D) Write-in.
Eat slowly and with small pieces so the pain is tolerable, apologize if it is taking too long, save a bit for Ray.

>>3849534
>B) Force yourself to eat something, just to appease the halfling, and give the rest to your dog. It's going to hurt, but you do need to eat eventually.

Strike a balance between the two. They've been incredibly kind and helpful to us, after all.

>>3849534
>>B) Force yourself to eat something, just to appease the halfling, and give the rest to your dog. It's going to hurt, but you do need to eat eventually.
We need the nutrition at least.

>>3849534
>>B) Force yourself to eat something, just to appease the halfling, and give the rest to your dog. It's going to hurt, but you do need to eat eventually.

>>3849551
>>3849568
>>3849573
>>3849598
>>3849639
You guys are on a roll today. Gonna work this all together, locking the vote. Writing now.

>>3849652
"...we might be here awhile," you caution Ofelia, nervously looking at the food. She shrugs.

"You think I care? Just eat. You need it."

You wince self-consciously, and try to defend yourself. "I've tried explaining to you before..."

The halfling doesn't pay any mind, serving a dish to Celegwen quickly, and then resuming staring at you intently. You cave under the pressure and try breaking the stew into small pieces, eating as slowly as possible. The pain is immediate and intense- you'd liken it to swallowing glass, or forcing down very small needles.

The halfling seems visibly upset, and shoves a flask of wine at you. You accept it graciously. You can't taste the liquid, but it helps. Vaguely, you try and recall the last time you ate or drank anything at all- it's hard to remember.

"It wasn't always like this," you offer, trying to reassure Ofelia. She's definitely upset. Celegwen seems to be respecting your space, silently eating and averting her gaze. She seems distracted.

"It's bullshit is what it is," Ofelia replies, pouting.

You suffer through another bite, and have to stop. It feels like your throat is closing. You drink again, coughing, and try to choke out a few more words. "It had to be done."

The halfling waits patiently for you to get your composure. You clear your throat again- it's like pins are sticking along the entire length of it. Still, you manage to give yourself a break to speak."There was a famine. ...even as a kid, there was something wrong with the crops. My parents... they suspected the last King was to blame. He was Vengeful. Years of hunger-"

You have to stop, coughing again. Ofelia uncrosses her arms and stops pouting long enough to refill the flask. Her frustration seems to be bordering on anger. "I thought Corcaea was well off- you know, the land. All things considered."

"It is. ...now. I worked with the Mother of Agriculture, for a time... she didn't mind, I knew my way around a farm..." You're really struggling to speak, and slide the bowl away from yourself, unable to look at it. "Ray." You cough out, pointing to the dish. The mastiff eagerly inhales the remainder of the stew- you got through less than half of it. ...better than usual. At least you got some nutrition.

"...Mother Bethaea was... terribly distraught... blamed herself for the famine..."

A few more minutes of coughing. Finally, you say, "...she took her life. ...before I could properly help."

(1/2)

>>3849713
Celegwen and Ofelia both look at you with alarm. To your extreme relief, the halfling doesn't comment on you pawning off the rest of the meal. She even scoops the remainder of the stew into Ray's bowl. You continue, "...I suspected it wouldn't work... asking so much of the Goddess. Agriculture listened, though. ...She blessed the fields, the orchards..." You clear your throat, the pain relaxing a great deal. Just getting the food out of your sight is usually enough.

"...the Gods are Merciful," you murmur, not quite meaning to finish the story, but you don't know what else to say.

Both women are staring at you, bewildered. Ofelia in particular seems to be dealing with too many conflicting emotions to properly articulate any of them. You keep your eyes down, shying away from their stares. Celegwen finally speaks up, but she sounds deeply concerned. You don't hear anything, but she says, "the alarm. Something is coming. Father, get up."

In one swift motion, the halfling covers the food, gets on her feet, and produces a dagger, seemingly from thin air. Her voice drops to a hiss, as she seems to slick the blade with an extremely foul looking substance as she stalks behind the elf. "What is it?"

"Something cold." Celegwen replies, her voice a whisper. She looks sharply at you. "I have a perimeter set, but it was trapped far later than usual. Something's wrong."

Ray whines, dipping low to the ground. He growls, sticking his nose at a passage near the eastern end of the room... leading deeper into the ruins. "Stay down, boy." You command, worried sick about him getting hurt. You're acutely aware of just how cold it is, despite the fire burning. Ofelia hides her dagger, and swiftly throws another log on the fire.

"Stay near the flame." She whispers.

Your backpack, shield and mace are quietly sitting on the opposite end of the room, where your cassock was hanging to dry. ...your holy symbol, still warm to the touch, still sits soundly around your neck. You tense, as it feels like all of the heat is leaving your body.

Celegwen seems relatively unphased, but Ofelia begins to shiver. All of your breath is steaming in the frigid space, as the stone around the edges of the door begin to form crystals of ice.

Something is coming.

>A) Pray to Mercy preemptively to protect you all. Ask for Her warmth. You aren't going to fight in your current state- you'll guide your new allies as best as you're able.

>B) Pray to Spirit to seek out the true form of whatever it is that's approaching. You won't sit idly by after everything you've been through.

>C) Wait, and see what you're contending with before making any moves. Put your back to the flame, following Celegwen's and Ofelia's lead.

>D) Write-in.

>>3849722
>>B) Pray to Spirit to seek out the true form of whatever it is that's approaching. You won't sit idly by after everything you've been through.

>>3849722
>A

Spirit prayers were pretty recent

>>3849722
>>A) Pray to Mercy preemptively to protect you all. Ask for Her warmth. You aren't going to fight in your current state- you'll guide your new allies as best as you're able.

>>3849722
>>A) Pray to Mercy preemptively to protect you all. Ask for Her warmth. You aren't going to fight in your current state- you'll guide your new allies as best as you're able.

She did just bless this journey or whatever so worth a shot

>>3849726
>>3849897
>>3849905
>>3849911
Can't quite pray to both deities at once- majority goes to A. Locking the vote, writing now.

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>>3849946
The ice begins to spread further, rapidly eclipsing the stone doorway. Your body stiffens, the cold piercing your flesh so deeply that you can't feel the flame behind you at all. Plumes of frozen moisture billow into the room, completely obscuring whatever is coming. ...you can't see anything. Not yet. Both women are utterly silent- and Ofelia seems to have slinked into the shadows. Shivering, hands shaking, you clutch onto your holy symbol. You know She's listening. You know you aren't alone. Warmth radiates from the gold around your neck. You bow your head, and say a single word.

"Mercy."

A flash of heat swells from Her symbol and courses through your body. It practically knocks you off your feet. You take a knee, your body reeling from the shock. Crystals of ice continue to form on the walls and floor, spreading rapidly now around the doorway and deeper into the room still, nearing you all. You dare to remove a single hand from Mercy's symbol. Your voice is as warm as your hands. "Thank you."

You place a hand on Ray. The mastiff relaxes- his coat was like ice to your touch, but the heat in your fingertips spreads quickly through his body.

You try to look for Ofelia- you know with how small she is that she'll freeze even faster than your hound. She's nowhere in sight, though. You start to look around more frantically. Celegwen's hair is practically ice, the edges of her hair freezing and standing on end. You see her lips move as she mutters an incantation, but the words are impossible to decipher-

A small collection of stars shapes and forms over a shadow in the farthest corner of the room, away from the cold. Ofelia. You don't dare make a sound as the elf finishes the enchantment on both of them. ...but you have to say something. They're both distracted, and can't possibly notice the shadow creeping along the wall.

There's a face- a man? A painting? It's as if one of the inscriptions from the ruins is forming and dripping along the walls. The ice and flakes of crystallized moisture spark and fall off of the flat form. All the light and heat around it seems to be pulled into it. You say as quietly as you can, "There."

Celegwen's head whips over to the shadow. You can't see where Ofelia's gone, but both women are still silent as death.

"Don't get close." You murmur, taking a step back towards the flame. It goes completely out. The room is drenched in darkness.

A voice creeps along the stone. Each syllable pierces your mind, as you can feel the major demon trying to steal Her warmth from you. "Aaaaah, sssssso, you've found yoursssself falsssse hope. A lie..."

You clutch back onto your holy symbol with both hands, standing on shaky legs. "Stay close-" You command to Celegwen and Ray, praying that Ofelia hasn't gone off too far.

"You've sssssurrounded yourself with heathenssss and thievessss, Fatherrr."

(1/2)

>>3850021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vteCosE9qnM&t=0s
You whip around, trying to determine the source of the sound. Celegwen's voice rings out suddenly, and you see a ball of heat and starlight explode from her direction. The entire room is illuminated for a moment, showing the major demon's form peeling away from the wall and dripping along the floor in the elf's direction. The explosion is absorbed just as quickly as it appeared. The major demon laughs insanely.

"Generousss. Ssstupid. Do you wisssssh to give me more of yoursssself, woman...?"

There's a horrific scream that punctuates the darkness. Your heart leaps to your throat.

>A) This is a major demon- they don't get much stronger than this. Try to use Mercy's blessing to quell the demon's emotions. Bless it with restraint. Bless it with Mercy. You've done it before on hundreds of people at once- you can possibly do it again on a single demon.

>B) Try to talk to the major demon. Force might not be an option here- and lives are on the line. What could this demon want with me? How does he know anything about me? Are these assumptions? Is this a game to him?

>C) Command Ofelia, Ray and Celegwen to attack the demon while you guard all of them. Mercy would not permit you to use Her gift to harm another- but you certainly can use Her gift to protect another.

>D) Shield Celegwen with Mercy's blessing. Pour everything you have into protecting her from this monster. Trust in your companions to fight back while you help who's most in need.

>E) Write-in.

>>3850029
>>A) This is a major demon- they don't get much stronger than this. Try to use Mercy's blessing to quell the demon's emotions. Bless it with restraint. Bless it with Mercy. You've done it before on hundreds of people at once- you can possibly do it again on a single demon.

>>3850029
>>A) This is a major demon- they don't get much stronger than this. Try to use Mercy's blessing to quell the demon's emotions. Bless it with restraint. Bless it with Mercy. You've done it before on hundreds of people at once- you can possibly do it again on a single demon.

>>3850029
>A

Too many major demons in this damn place

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>>3850109
For the record, the hierarchy of demons you all have encountered so far has been:

Major
>(This cold customer)
Greater
>(Malimos ((the spider-like demon)), the shrouded demon, the centaur-like demon)
Lesser
>(Centipede, the two demons with many mouths)
Imps
>(The shrouded demon's servants)

Minor has been mentioned, same with unformed/newborn demons. ...plenty of greater, but this is the first major demon you've seen so far.

Going to leave the vote open for a bit longer, got some chores to do. I'll make at least one more post tonight.

>>3850029
>E) Wait until Ofelia strikes on her own, then pour Mercy's blessing onto her in that instant

>>3850146
Oh fuck it's stronger than mal?

>>3850458
Big old disclaimer on the hierarchy: demons show respect to one another based on their position in it. A demon may not necessarily be "stronger" than another to warrant the fear or subservience of another. You all put down the centaur demon pretty readily with Storm's help, yet couldn't take Vengeance against Malimos or do damn near anything to the shrouded demon. It's a loose ranking that Richard's studied, has experience with and can recognize, but it's not a concrete "power" ranking, if that makes sense.

Almost done with this stuff, will still definitely get at least one more update out tonight. Vote is still open.

>>3850036
>>3850059
>>3850109
>>3850210
Alright, finally back, locking the vote! Writing now.

>>3850484
The moment Celegwen's scream leaves her body, you take hold of your holy symbol with both hands. You pour yourself into it, heat radiating through Her hands, through Your hands. Ray whines horribly, backing away from the demon despite your command to stay. You let him back up as you pray, your eyes searing with a golden light. Good. Let him stay safe. You will protect your friends. You will show Mercy. Her will wants to work through you.

Celegwen's screams are unbearable, and you raise your voice, letting yourself be heard over whatever pain the demon is inflicting on your ally. The words that pour fourth from your lips are unintelligible, the speech too divine for mortal comprehension. You walk towards the demon, divine radiance searing into the ice forming along the floor. You keep your eyes peeled for Ofelia, the light of Mercy illuminating your thoughts and granting you sight in this demon's darkness. Her small frame is backed against a far wall, Celegwen's enchantment keeping her warm. She is... hanging back. You press forward. You know why she's afraid.

Celegwen is suspended in a miasma of paint and ice. Her screams rip through the small room you all stand in, as she tries desperately to get a hold of her staff. Her eyes cannot be seen. Her warmth cannot be felt. Her weapon has fallen to the floor, far out of her reach, and the major demon seems to be paying her absolutely no mind despite exerting utter dominance over her form.

It shouldn't matter for long. You continue your prayer, pressing forward fearlessly towards this monster. You take both hands off of your holy symbol, your hands glowing intensely with heat and divinity- you reach them out, willing Her blessing into the demon. Mercy's word intermingles with your own as you speak. Her voice is everywhere. Your voice is everywhere.

"Your cruelty and your malice is a blemish on Her light. She sees your violence. She sees your sin. Her infinite forgiveness sees all this and in ultimate generosity asks not for your death! Her vessel sees you and wills you to stay your hand. You will stand down. You will not strike. You will find Mercy in your heart."

Your hands twist and tense, and you lean forward, closing your eyes, willing everything you have into controlling this creature. You think back to your first sermon, you try and recall that same feeling- the complete devotion and abject worship of Her tenets, the desire to save, to heal, to stop the carnage.

Your eyes open wide, absolutely encompassed in Her light.

(1/2)

>>3850658
https://youtu.be/xggWJLgN-Es

The major demon is reaching back. ...and it's trying to take. Its coldness twists and writhes and seeps deep, deep into your soul, battling with Her warmth, contending with Her blessing. Your voice splits from Mercy's for the briefest of moments, discordant and nightmarish-

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HER-"

"You will find Mercy in your heart.

The major demon laughs again, hideously, crackling and taking in as much light and heat as it can stand. You see Ofelia collapse in the corner of the room as she attempts to stagger forward, in a desperate attempt to strike out, and never makes it within range of the creature. Her dagger remains frozen in mid-air, cracking and breaking under the intense cold. You will Mercy's warmth into Ofelia, into Celegwen, into Ray. They are so cold. Celegwen's screams aren't stopping. The elf is unbelievably resilient, but she can't have much time.

Your eyes spark with divine retribution as you lift them towards the demon, hands absolutely searing with heat as you raise them higher still.

"You will stay your hand."

Laughter punctuates the innermost reaches of your mind, as you feel it pulling and tugging again. It's somehow worse than the last demon you contended with. It's like the major demon is trying to find something... anything... to take from you.

It doesn't want to make you remember. It wants to make you forget.

You feel something small slip away. An old melody. Your favorite bookmark. The right pressure with which to hold your calligraphy pen.

Something more... the taste of your mother's cooking. The smell of barley. The sounds of River Morinburn. One by one the strands of yourself begin to unravel. You scream in absolute agony.

Yet you Mercifully stay standing. Fighting. Willing yourself onto this monster.

You command the demon again, clenching an outstretched hand into a fist. Your voice and Mercy's ebb and flow into one another. Your weakness has made her terribly strong. "You will show restraint. You will show Mercy."

The smallest, most imperceptible crack forms in the cold. You can feel your light pierce it, as it wrestles with the deepest fibers of your soul.

Your command... it gets through. The greater demon does show restraint, as it begins to pluck and pull away at your mind. It has the grace and Mercy to leave something important to you behind.

> (What could be so important to you, that even a major demon would grant you Mercy?)
> (What could you hold so dear?)
> (Write-in what you choose to keep.)

>>3850662
>> (What could you hold so dear?)
A memory of a simple summer day, when no one beat you into the dirt, spoke behind your back, or tried to get you to leave. You just sat beneath an apple tree, and rested.

Richard needs something to remind him as to why he's saving this shitty world beyond "muh Mercy".

>>3850662
>The first person you saved.
>The first person you couldn't.

>>3850685
+1

>>3850662
Mercy... But not Her... No. The mercy you have seen outside the church, a poorly girl breaking the little bread she had with a stray. The lone beam of sunlight on a cold winters day. A mothers love. A strangers kindness. Ofelia. Celegwen. Things that keep the much too familiar pain away. The reason you swore yourself in service to Her.
Or rather what she represents. In the face of adversity, resilience...Mercy.

>>3850685
>>3850755
>>3850929
>>3850961
Absolutely phenomenal stuff guys. Going to incorporate all of these. Vote is locked, writing now!

>>3851373
You feel the major demon wanting to leave something behind that it knows will hurt you. Something terrible, something that has haunted you these many years. Father Edmund. The last Father of Mercy's screams echo through your mind, as the major demon's ice seeps into it, toying with it, creeping and crawling along the surface of the memory. It laughs hideously. Celegwen's screams are growing weaker. You're losing her. The demon's voice is shrill and as cold as its touch, clearly piercing your mind as it speaks.

"Anotherrrrr faillllluurreeee, Fatheerrrrr?"

Your hands contort in strain as you wrestle with the void that is in the heart of this creature. "No," you say firmly, your eyes flaring with divinity. "Father Edmund died... so that others might live. He refused for me to save him that... one... last time."

The field of battle. The last major demon you fought together. He sacrificed himself, but not before ensuring that you were respected. Given his title, beyond all comprehension.

"Foooliissshhhh."

"...wise. ...he saw to it that I would go on to lead the Church of Mercy after his passing. I have mourned the loss of my mentor, but I could never wish to forget him. His death has brought us together, demon. I'll see to it that his wishes are respected. ...I'll make sure that our meeting today is not in vain."

The major demon's ice threatens to creep across your skin, but heat and light is practically radiating off of your body. You feel it dig deeper, deeper still, looking for anything to threaten you with, to twist its knife. You aren't forgetting. You... you had nearly forgotten, of the good in humanity. Not of being pushed into the dirt, or spoke behind your back. Not of people trying to get you to leave. You remember all of the people who wanted you to stay.

The major demon recoils hideously, but you keep its will against your own, dominating it. You show it the poorly little girl that would break what little bread she had to feed the neighborhood strays. The cold Church of Mercy, ice creeping onto the windows in the dead of winter, punctuated by warmth. By old blankets, by the fire, by a single beam of light cutting the blue first thing in the morning. Not the smell of your mother's cooking, but of the love that went into it. Her arms around you, always reassuring, always loving you. The woman who found you in the streets of Anson, who dragged you out of the rain and kept you safe until you could be taken home. The things that have kept the all too familiar pain away. Not just the reasons why you swore yourself to Her, but everything that Mercy represents.

You're smiling slightly. You can't help yourself, as the major demon writhes in agony.

"I'll killl yourrrr frienddssssss, ttaaaaake everythiiiiiing you hooold deaaarrrr..."

(1/2)

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>>3851479
Ofelia. Celegwen. With a single hand, you hold the demon in place, exerting your warmth over it. With the other, you instill more light still into the women. Ofelia's form stirs, as she lays on the floor of the ruins- and Celegwen's screams Mercifully stop.

Your voice is soft and warm, wrapping around and dissolving the major demon's words as you speak. "...I'll never forget their kindness."

The demon properly screams, redoubling its efforts, plunging into your mind, trying to take anything that it can.

You show it a day before you became a priest. Before you knew Her light, when all you had were your unscarred hands and the desire to help. You show the demon the first person you saved- a young boy, trapped and afraid, calling for help where no one was to listen. You saved him, you listened to the runaway's story. You showed him Mercy without every needing to invoke Her name. He worshiped you, not the Goddess. You'd never seen him again, but you know you'll never forget the look on his face, when he saw that you were there to rescue him.

The demon is trying to pull away. Trying to run. Celegwen collapses to the floor, its hold on her melting away, slipping from her grasp. You aren't finished. You pull the demon in close, with one final blessing.

You take the demon to a quiet hill, overlooking River Morinburn. The sound floods back into your senses as the demon completely loses its hold on you, and you keep it there. The smell of barley and apples drifts over the lazy bend in the stream. No one was there with you, save for a few fisherman far down the river, and your neighbors, tending to the orchards further beyond your sight still. You did not need the Gods, you did not need Mercy. You didn't need to remember or forget. You simply rested, quietly enjoying the afternoon under the apple trees.

There's a soft dripping on the borders of your mind. You come back to the present, witnessing the major demon melting into a collection of ice water and paint before you. It does not slink away. You are both locked in a complete stalemate- the demon has shown you Mercy, and you have done the same unto it. Celegwen's screams have stopped, and is no longer in the demon's grasp. It's still alive, and its attention is hellbent on you. Only you.

(Options in next post)

>>3851487
>A) Question the demon while you have its attention. Give Ofelia time to get up and strike it down. Ask it anything you can that will lead you to the Relic, and keep its focus on you.

>B) Question the demon about itself. You've only encountered a major demon once before- and your mission from the Church was to investigate the ruins. See what you can learn about this creature, and buy Ofelia time to kill it while it's entirely distracted.

>C) Keep the demon in your sights, but check on Celegwen. She was under this major demon's control for far longer than you're comfortable with. You'd need more of your focus to heal her, but you at least want to see her condition. If it threatens her again, inflict more memories on it.

>D) Write-in.

>>3851494
>>C) Keep the demon in your sights, but check on Celegwen. She was under this major demon's control for far longer than you're comfortable with. You'd need more of your focus to heal her, but you at least want to see her condition. If it threatens her again, inflict more memories on it.

>>3851494
>>C) Keep the demon in your sights, but check on Celegwen. She was under this major demon's control for far longer than you're comfortable with. You'd need more of your focus to heal her, but you at least want to see her condition. If it threatens her again, inflict more memories on it.

>>3851494
>D) Write-in.
Instruct Ray to keep him down, a dog shouldn't be affected by his mind altering, he would also not pay him any mind to begin with. Gwen is strong so we should focus on keeping him down while the girls get themselves on their feet.

>>3851494
>C

>>3851516
How would Ray even keep it down? It's ice water and paint. Also dogs do have minds. Simpler minds. If anything he'd be easier to affect.

>>3851516
>>3851554
Very astute observations. Going to lean into C due to the overwhelming majority, (and good reasoning)
>>3851497
>>3851501
but I'll incorporate a bit of everything. Locking the vote, writing now!

>>3851618
With the demon's focus so firmly fixed on you, you dare to risk reaching out to your companions. You haven't forgotten about Ray, or Ofelia. ...and you know that their corporal forms will have enormous difficulty affecting such a spectral demon. Its body is almost entirely liquid, dripping in and out of existence, threatening you with its cloying, icy pull. Frost undulates over the floor around it as it continues to try and creep over your warmth, but you hold it at bay. You need to protect them.

The light of Mercy grants you sight in the darkness, Her will blessing your desire to shield them. You reach out, seeking your allies, strained with worry. Ray is in the furthest reaches of the room, backed against one of the many passages leading out of the frozen tomb you stand in. The mastiff seems terribly frightened- no doubt still contending with having been lanced by another demon less than a day ago. He doesn't run, clearly seeing his master protecting him. The light radiating from you practically illuminates the ice gathering around the walls, around your form. You are a beacon. The force of your divinity and the all-consuming darkness of the major demon war against each other, the ice consuming the heat you and Mercy are radiating. You don't want to force your boy to fight something that he cannot hold down. You want to keep your best friend safe. You need to keep everyone safe.

Ofelia's form stalks closer, waiting for an opportune time to strike. You feel how terribly cold she is, and worry more still. Celegwen must be even worse off. Keeping your hands extended, you reach out, further, further still, and take hold of the elf's pain.

Celegwen is alive. She's managed to lay down, placing herself deep in a trance. You're not entirely certain how she's faring. Her mind has wandered, somewhere you cannot reach. Her form- nearly immortal- is something you're entirely unfamiliar with. You are a masterful healer of humans, but you have no experience with elves. Mercy grants you enough warmth to fill her empty form, but it's impossible to gauge the extent of the demon's damage from where you're standing. You stretch out your hands to her, trying to show her Mercy, trying to show her kindness. The same kindness she showed you. The demon tries to clutch onto the soft edges of the light that's emanating from you and is completely unable to grasp you, as you try to aid her. Your eyes continue to flare with holy light, the gold refracting and consuming the verdant green.

You have to take your eyes off of Celegwen, bearing down on the major demon to keep it in place. Your heart torn between the desire to kill this creature where it stands, and to show Mercy. You've lost so much, been hurt so many times... but you won't forget the goodness in the world. You won't lose the things that are so dear to you. You won't forget.

(1/2)

>>3851689
The demon cackles, trying to pull you away from aiding Celegwen further still. Your eyes flare furiously as you tighten your right hand, clutching the demon's spirit in your own. You show it the elf's healing, her sacrifice, her kindness. You both stay locked in each other's vice, warring with each other, perfectly matched in hatred and in love. You keep your eyes open, searching, seeking, focusing your human form on the present, trying to keep yourself grounded for your friends. Mercy is working through you, it feels like she's practically consuming you. The cracks and fractures in your physical form are palpable, light piercing through them, yet you keep yourself together, bound by memory.

A very small form stirs, stalking ever closer. You marvel at how the halfling can recover so quickly. Her body is still cold, terribly cold, despite your aid- yet her small frame is poised, deadly. You sense no fear in her heart. She is utterly devoid of Mercy. Eager and willing to kill something so threatening. Neither of you have to exchange any words- you know she is ready to strike.

>A) Aid her. Keep the major demon distracted while she tries to kill it. She was able to subdue the greater demon that nearly killed you- she certainly has the competence to put this one down, too. Trust in her.

>B) Stop Ofelia from striking. Don't let her risk getting hurt. Imbue her with Mercy. Try again to force the demon to stand down. Mercy's message was to "grant them peace, through Our symbol." Use Her symbol.

>C) Write-in.

>>3851692
>>A) Aid her. Keep the major demon distracted while she tries to kill it. She was able to subdue the greater demon that nearly killed you- she certainly has the competence to put this one down, too. Trust in her.

>>3851692
>>A) Aid her. Keep the major demon distracted while she tries to kill it. She was able to subdue the greater demon that nearly killed you- she certainly has the competence to put this one down, too. Trust in her.

>>3851699
>>3851723
Alright! Locking the vote, writing now.

>>3851827
Your voice echoes in a choir of judgement and Mercy. "We will not forget. Thank you for showing Us what We needed to see."

The demon bends its will, twisting, wrapping, entangling its ice everywhere around your form. Crystals of ice and paint begin to flake and drift through the room in a toxic flurry around you two as you contend with its darkness. Your light radiates outwards, searing forth, melting the blizzard of hatred. Droplets of paint fall from the vortex, soaking the floor beneath you. You stay your hand. You knit them around your holy symbol. You are Merciful.

Ofelia is not.

The halfling in her terrible silence sneaks up behind the demon. She's trembling in the darkness and cold, hidden from your light, clutching something beneath her cloak that is hidden from you still. Realization dawns on you. Terrible realization. The only thing that was in your possession- the only thing you can fathom that She cannot see. Your grip around your holy symbol tighten, as you pray to the Mother, as you pray to the Goddess to protect you.

The halfling tosses her cloak aside, revealing the precious bundle she carries for a split second. The cinders of the occult. The major demon immediately realizes the ploy, hurling spikes of congealed paint and ice at her form, but she's already thrown the bundle. The cloth protects the precious contents for a moment, before colliding with the bulk of the demon. Both vials of the occult shatter immediately on impact with its frozen form. The dark magic wraps deep into the very space that the demon occupies, expanding and shredding into its form with blue flame that rivals its own ice.

A scream, unearthly and nightmarish, drips and sticks to the inside of your mind as the major demon tries one last time to take something from you- something precious, something pure. You remind it of your friends. You stop your prayer, the light around you surging forth as you step closer to the flame. The cold heat emanating from its screaming, writhing mass does not burn you as you reach both hands forth and offer it Mercy.

Mercy. Mercy in death. The only cure.

The demon's screams echo. In its last moments, it freezes the walls, freezes the floor- pulling and draining all the life and light out of the room that it can muster. The flames rise high, higher still, bending and licking and twisting with its convulsing form. Mercy's blessing works through you, protecting you, but fear pierces your heart like a knife as you think of your friends.

(1/2)

>>3851927
"Ray!" You call out, your voice firm and resonant. The mastiff bounds towards your heat instantly, practically slipping across the ice on the stone as he comes to your side. You envelop him in Her blessing, protecting him and backing away from the flame- but there's still your new allies.

Ofelia looks like she's on the brink of collapse, frigid and shaking, eyeing the rising flames intently. Celegwen is completely inert, lying unconscious on the floor. The major demon is still writhing in agony, thrashing against the walls, the floor, the ceiling. His frost and flame is threatening to climb against the entire room. You release your hands from your holy symbol, stretching them out one last time towards the demon, willing it into restraint with every last fiber of your soul.

The halfling manages to scream at you through the building chaos. "Richard!! We have to go! Leave it!"

You won't be able to keep it down for more than a few moments. Smoke is building from its body fast. She's probably right. Mercy is powering your soul, keeping you safe- but your Flesh- your eyes flit from the major demon for the briefest of moments to Celegwen's inert form. You probably can't carry her. You have to make a choice.

>A) Continue your prayer to Mercy. Protect Ray with everything you have, and keep the major demon down as long as you can. See if you can lift Celegwen with your frail form, and tell Ofelia to lead you somewhere safer. You got terribly lost following her here, and you don't want to lead anyone into more danger.

>B) Command Ray to run ahead and find somewhere safe. Pray to Flesh to grant you strength, to take Celegwen and Ofelia out of this place as fast as you're able. Both women are in no condition to run, but they don't need to be. You'll protect them- wherever you go.

>C) Plunge deeper into the ruins, into the poison and the frost. Maintain your prayer to Mercy, and drag Celegwen if you have to away from this place- down the corridor that the demon came through. You have wasted enough time in this place. You have your mission, and you have the Goddess. You are not afraid.

>D) Write-in.

>>3851930
>A

Preferably out of these ruins for a bit, we need to recharge.

>>3851930
>>B) Command Ray to run ahead and find somewhere safe. Pray to Flesh to grant you strength, to take Celegwen and Ofelia out of this place as fast as you're able. Both women are in no condition to run, but they don't need to be. You'll protect them- wherever you go.

>>3851930
>>B) Command Ray to run ahead and find somewhere safe. Pray to Flesh to grant you strength, to take Celegwen and Ofelia out of this place as fast as you're able. Both women are in no condition to run, but they don't need to be. You'll protect them- wherever you go.

>>3851939
>>3851941
>>3851949
Locking the vote, writing now!

>>3852088
So formatting only works for the OP ofc, and I'm currently out of the house. Got the update ready but I'm going to head home to post it. Will be back with the update in less than half an hour. Thanks for your patience, everyone!

>>3852227
You wrap your hands around the smoke and flame, pulling it into Her blessing, shielding your friends. The major demon's death throes threaten to consume them as every passing moment makes it harder and harder still to contain the poison. Toxic fumes drift into the flurry of ice and paint, trying even in its last moments to steal from you. Ray whines behind you, clearly trusting his master to protect him from the chaos. You want so badly to comfort him, but you're completely consumed with keeping the force of the major demon at bay. You command him, your voice soft as you speak to your best friend. "Ray. Go. Find safety."

The mastiff barks, hesitating slightly as he edges away from your side. The flurry of paint and cold is terrible. With enormous effort, you bring your arms tightly against your chest, containing it, restraining the nightmare. Your voice, normally so soft with the mastiff, takes on more authority as you bellow to him, "GO!"

Ray bounds out of sight, tearing through the ruins. Ofelia is trying desperately to pull up Celegwen, but she's completely incapable of moving the elf's inert form. You shout again, sweat sticking to the back of your robes, your body pushed to its absolute limit from the strain- "GO."

The halfling looks to you with extreme concern, but she nods her head, and turns to run. She staggers, stiff from the cold, and you can't wait for her to get to safety to release the major demon's last breath. Still- still you hold it, keeping the cold next to you, becoming consumed by the poison. It leeches into your skin, burning your nose, sticking to the back of your mouth as the paint tries to worm its way into your lungs. You don't have time- you slide your hands from around the essence of the demon and back together again. Even though there's no time, still you thank Mercy, tenderly whispering your gratitude as you release her from your form. You need your tortured skin, your poisoned lungs, your thin frame. You need your weakness. You need Flesh. You pray, choking, the flames curling around you as you back away from the demon's burnt corpse and towards Celegwen. Your speech is rapid, terrified, as you know in moments you'll no doubt choke on the smoke and ice-

"Flesh of my flesh, take this poison from my lungs, this cold from my bones, this pain from my body, take my weakness and grant me your strength!

You don't wait, you don't hesitate. The words are still on your lips as you kneel next to Celegwen, draping her unconscious form over your shoulders. You think back to lifting the grate within the ruins of the waterway, lifting with your legs, struggling with her as you get to your feet. You barely rise before you have to take a knee, the weight simply too much for your frame. The smoke curls around both of you, and you cough horribly, struggling, and try to rise again.

(1/3)

>>3852248
The smoke isn't coming from the flames. It's coming from your Flesh. You feel the familiar burning- the desire to work. To push yourself. You take a deep breath, letting the paint and ice sink deep into you, and you get on your feet. The elf's form- her lithe form- it's as light as a feather. You bolt for the passage Ray exited from, even taking a moment to sweep your backpack, shield and mace off of the floor. You effortlessly toss the equipment over your shoulder, and you run.

The peels of flame and smoke practically burst forth from the corridor behind you as you run. Bits of ice and flurry cling to the walls, to your skin, to Celegwen's bare shoulders and hair. The elf is clutching her staff tightly- you thought she was unconscious, but she still seems to be clinging onto the world in some way. Her eyes are glossed over, barely responsive to anything around you.

You don't slow down, the blessing of Flesh making you want to keep pushing yourself harder. The slick stone and ice around you quickly turns red, as candlelight comes back into view. You look around frantically for Ray and Ofelia, listening intently for their footsteps, as the narrow and branching passageways leer before you. The honeycombed walls, practically hollow as they are, offer rare acoustics this deep underground. You can hear the crackling of the cinders behind you, the drip of the demon as its body melts and sinks into oblivion. You hear Celegwen's ragged breathing, and you hear barking.

Barking. "RAY!" You call, unable to stop running on a dime- you slide to a stop, your heels dragging across the stone floor as you try to listen intently. There's another bark. It sounds like trouble.

You peel down one of the myriad branching pathways, its elevation picking up rapidly. Good boy. You marvel at how keen the mastiff's nose is- he picked up fairer air through the labyrinth.

Still, there's... there's something wrong. He's stopped barking. You keep running, clutching Celegwen tighter still around your shoulders, wondering what could have stopped him. You quickly find out- trying to slow down again, seeing your mastiff and the halfling waiting at the top of the incline. "Ray! Ofelia-"

You nearly crash into her. The halfling, shrouded in her cloak, cries out in alarm as you graze past her. She spins around, dagger drawn, eyes wide, breathing hard- but she immediately recognizes you. "Richard!? What the hell- how-"

(2/3)

>>3852253
You don't respond just yet. The incline led to a colossal network of more branching pathways, and they are absolutely covered in spiderwebs. Floor to ceiling, as far down you can see, across the myriad caverns stretching out ahead of you- the entire higher ground of this area is covered. You stop just shy of a web with bloody, red strands that you've only seen once before. The culprits are, no doubt, the creatures crouching before you. Ray is growling at them with reckless abandon, having found his courage again. "Good boy." You whisper, eyeing the demons spread out before you with great hesitation.

There are spiders. Spiders upon spiders- there must be at least 30 of them. They have normal appendages, normal mandibles, but are monstrously over-sized- at least two feet across on the smallest one. Their coloration is all terribly dark, dripping blood... and their bodies are shaped like bells. It seems to be in a grotesque mockery of the Church bells you're so fond of- you recoil at the sight of them and want to grab hold of your holy symbol. If only your hands weren't completely full.

Ofelia whispers to you, out of breath, "Richard, oh, fuck, you got Gwen- good- hey. Hey. They haven't tried attackin' us."

You recall your conversation with Malimos with great reluctance. "He... he kept his word." You say, your voice deep and resonant as Flesh works through you.

The demons aren't showing any signs of antagonizing you. ...they aren't exactly moving either, though. The spiders form a river of viscera before you. ...you know that the corridor behind you is, no doubt, going to be filling with smoke for some time.

"He?"

"Malimos. ...the Master of Webs. He swore he would command his demons to not attack me or Ray. I can't believe it."

You look out the dozens of spiders. The bells around their form twinkle with the slightest movement. He has his own alarm system... you muse, eyeing them with hesitation.

>A) Ask the demons to step aside so you all may exit. You can't tell if they're sane enough to listen to you, let alone if they'll respect a command from you, but it's worth a shot. You'd rather not deal with fighting 30 demons when you've got an unconscious woman on your back.

>B) Try to send one of them- or all of them- as a messenger to Malimos. They might not listen to you, but they'll listen to him. Maybe you can ask the Master of Webs for another favor. ...he did say he'd remember you for the next thousand years.

>C) Threaten the demons to step aside. Use Flesh's blessing to crush them if they resist. You suspect you could kill them all before they could even sound an alarm- compared to the painted demon, these spiders are child's play. What's more, Flesh seems quite pleased to stay with you for the time being. You're itching to use your body.

>D) Write-in.

>>3852256
>>A) Ask the demons to step aside so you all may exit. You can't tell if they're sane enough to listen to you, let alone if they'll respect a command from you, but it's worth a shot. You'd rather not deal with fighting 30 demons when you've got an unconscious woman on your back.

>>3852256
>Begin tending to everyones wounds immediately. Between mercy, flesh, and lack of sleep, you're likely to collapse as soon as you let go of flesh. Explain the situation to Ofelia, and write a damn letter to Malimos if you have to.

>>3852256
>>A) Ask the demons to step aside so you all may exit. You can't tell if they're sane enough to listen to you, let alone if they'll respect a command from you, but it's worth a shot. You'd rather not deal with fighting 30 demons when you've got an unconscious woman on your back.

>>3852600
I'll second this, with the stipulation we probably shouldn't stick around

>>3852614
I mean, the choice is essentially "stick around with spiders staring at you while the smoke hasn't reached the room yet"

>>3852256
>B

>>3852262
>>3852600
>>3852605
>>3852614
>>3852625
>>3853007
Finally home. Going to find a way to work these together. Vote is locked, writing now!

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>>3853652
Celegwen's chest and shoulders heave against you, her ragged breath breaking into a coughing fit. You gently ease her onto the floor. Ofelia doesn't move to help you, but you can tell how concerned she is. Ray continues growling, hair standing on end as he practically begs you to attack.

"Down, boy." Your command catches him off-guard, your voice still resonating thanks to Flesh. Ray manages to still defer to your judgement, despite the unusual pitch and tone.

Ofelia kneels down next to Celegwen, trying to help support the elf as you dig for medicinal supplies. The halfling is still out of breath as she pants, "You took so long to catch up- I didn't think you were goin' to make it out of there. What happened? ...and what's the deal with your voice? I mean, I'm not complainin'... "

You look over your shoulder towards the corridor you ran in from. There's no sign of the smoke yet. You both inhaled a great deal of the paint and ice- and the elf didn't have Flesh's to clear her lungs. You hurry, your strength making quick work of gathering everything you need and sweeping the elf into your arms.

"Those vials you threw, Ofelia- they're still burning. The smoke nearly overtook us. ...I'm sure more is coming. My prayer to the God of Flesh was answered. I was able to carry her- but I don't know how much longer I can stay with Flesh for. I don't feel it now, but..."

She looks extremely worried, eyeing you over. You try not to pay any mind to the look, glad that your body is cooperating for once as you rapidly tear at your herbs and poultices, administering aid as best as you can to the elf. You shout over your shoulder to the spiders, trying to not waste any time. "My name is Father Richard Anscham. I have humored your Master of Webs. Honor him and his word. I ask for safe passage through this place, as he has promised me and my companion."

Ray growls again, pawing at the stone. The spiders do absolutely nothing to cooperate, twinkling and chiming as they slowly sway and leer.

Your hands are steady, your intent hellbent on the elf, raising her head gently so she can drink the tincture you've prepared. Most humans wouldn't be able to stomach the mixture, but you know her constitution is far hardier than most of your kind. Her body responds slightly to your administrations, not choking or losing any of the drink. If you didn't know any better, you'd think she was awake. Her eyes remain open, but glossy, her mind far from you.

"Do you think she's...?" Ofelia asks, fear on her face, her heart clearly still racing.

You shake your head. "We won't lose her." You speak again to the spiders, repressing the urge to swear at the cursed creatures. "Do not trifle with me. I will seek Malimos out if I must. Do you need me to write a- a letter? Do you wish for the Master of Webs to know how his children have misbehaved? Do you really wish to try my patience?

(1/2)

>>3853764
Ofelia seems absolutely floored by the way that you're speaking to the demons and doesn't dare interrupt.

One of the spiders does move, its legs dancing with almost as much dexterity as their master. It practically floats along the myriad webs, blood suspended on each strand as it does nothing to disturb them. Its bell is silent, as it exerts complete control over each minute change in elevation, arriving before you in seconds. You bristle, moving in front of Celegwen and Ofelia. Ray, right at your side, growls and begins barking hysterically- but you reassure him as you always have.

"Ray. Stay down.

The spider spins and twists a series of webs, its legs and body writhing until... it produces the most grotesque parchment you've ever laid your eyes on.

It... it had the audacity to bring you something to write on.

"Is this a joke?" Ofelia asks behind you, too shocked to make a witty remark.

You eye the bloodied parody sideways, and say slowly to the spider, "Will you take this to him?

The spider stares back at you, its many eyes glancing over your form. It bows slightly. You think it's mocking you, but it's impossible to tell. This demon is clearly too young and savage for speech. You can't help but think to yourself that its obedience is... at the very least, impressive. The spider's fangs and grotesquely enlarged mouth drips with blood, obscenely mirroring an animal drooling before a meal it cannot touch.

Malimos clearly knows how to discipline his children.

"Ofelia, take her," you say, gently lowering Celegwen. The tincture will work quickly, and you can monitor her condition while you take care of these creatures. The halfling quickly moves and takes her from your arms, struggling a bit with Celegwen's form but leaving you to tend to the spiders.

You don't shy away from the parchment, examining it intently. The bloodied webs are dense and dripping, morbid and inviting. You don't pick it up. Fishing a writing implement out of your pack, you use the tail end to inscribe a letter to the greater demon. The blood parts, leaving behind silk and a message. Of course, you ask for safe passage- but you can't help but want to say something more. You know the greater demon is terribly patient, but you still hesitate, unsure how much to say.

(Options in next post)

>>3853769
>A) Ask Malimos for any information he has on the Relic. Any direction, any word, any rumor. Anything. Surely, in his many lives, he's seen or heard something. You need information badly, and this is an unprecedented opportunity to ask something of a demon.

>B) Propose that Malimos grant you safe passage to the library, in exchange for bringing no harm to his demons. See if you can push your luck- you know this path must eventually lead down to the lower levels again, and their protection would be enormously helpful while you tend to your allies.

>C) Inform Malimos that you have postponed your search for the Catalyst, and share with him that you've made a few new friends. He was unbelievably taken with your story before. You would rather express your gratitude, give him another story, and be on your way than to ask anything further of him.

>D) Write-in.

>>3853772
>>C) Inform Malimos that you have postponed your search for the Catalyst, and share with him that you've made a few new friends. He was unbelievably taken with your story before. You would rather express your gratitude, give him another story, and be on your way than to ask anything further of him.

>>3853772
>>C) Inform Malimos that you have postponed your search for the Catalyst, and share with him that you've made a few new friends. He was unbelievably taken with your story before. You would rather express your gratitude, give him another story, and be on your way than to ask anything further of him.

>>3853772
>C) Inform Malimos that you have postponed your search for the Catalyst, and share with him that you've made a few new friends. He was unbelievably taken with your story before. You would rather express your gratitude, give him another story, and be on your way than to ask anything further of him.

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>>3853855
>>3854070
>>3854144
Nice, unanimous vote. Writing now.

Got a pretty heavy workload with midterms coming up so updates will be 1-3 a day for the foreseeable future. Really appreciate you guys, I'll keep the ball rolling as best as I can.

goofy fanart courtesy of a based af voter

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>>3854251
You can't quite get the pen pressure right, between the stone floor, the horrific parchment, and Celegwen's constant coughing behind you. Or was it something else? Still, you write out as concisely as you can the rest of the message to the greater demon.

"Hurry." You command the spider before you, sliding the bloodied note towards it with the end of your pen. It snatches the dripping silk out of your grasp, and begins to skitter away.

You call out to it again. "We won't wait. I'll know if you're delayed. I swear to you. ...DON'T toy with me."

The young demon halts its procession through the cavern, and suddenly jerks towards the ceiling. It disappears... straight into a crack in the wall. A shortcut? Or a trick? It's impossible to tell. You would chase it down, but you have more pressing concerns, and your time with Flesh is surely running out. There is no longer smoke wafting off your skin, no longer the intense heat. You can feel the God working through you, removing the poison, keeping you on your feet through the impending exhaustion.

Ray will simply not stop growling at the spiders. You scratch him behind his ears, trying to reassure the protective hound as you kneel back down to Ofelia and Celegwen. "It's okay, boy. It's okay. You did good. Stay."

Now that Mercy's light has faded from your eyes and the dim red candles of the ruins are all that's illuminating your way, it's harder still to see your companions. "...are you alright?" You ask Ofelia, your voice sliding back into its usual timidness.

You feel her eyes wander over you. "I'll be alright. I'm just a little cold- I'm more worried 'bout Gwen and you. That was some stunt you pulled back there. I didn't think I'd see either of you again, if I'm gonna' be honest."

You nervously continue to scratch Ray, holding the mastiff a bit closer. The dog whines, begging you to attack the spiders, but you keep him by your side. You're proud of him for getting you all to higher ground, but this is still a terribly precarious situation. Your joints begin to ache as Flesh drifts further away. Worry creeps back into your voice as you try to reassure Ofelia. "I could never abandon someone in my care."

You slump forward slightly, the weight of Flesh bearing down on you as the God completely leaves you. The exhaustion is intense, and you lean into Ray, letting the mastiff support you as much as he's able. The concern in Ofelia's voice mounts.

(1/2)

>>3854496
"Richard- Richard! I can't look after all of you. Come on, big guy. Stay up. You didn't even answer me properly- like usual."

"I'm... not ready to die." You murmur, struggling to stay upright. "It will... take more than a major demon... to keep me down..."

Your eyes are heavy, your body begging you for rest. The lack of food, water or proper sleep is catching up hard and fast. Flesh left you so quickly. Your unwillingness to use His blessing seems to be coming with a milder price than usual, but a price nonetheless. He wants you to take care of your body... "...now is not the best time..." You murmur, mostly in respect to the God, but also to Ofelia.

>A) Ask Ofelia to employ any measures necessary to help keep you awake. You need to be alert. This is no place to rest. Suffer through the exhaustion awhile longer- at least until you hear back from Malimos.

>B) Let Ray and Ofelia guard you and Celegwen. You're about to pass out. You're not going to be of much use, conscious or not. Ask the halfling to wake you as soon as there's trouble.

>C) Sleep, and ask Ofelia to only wake you if her life is in danger. You did everything you could for Celegwen, and the spiders seem to be holding back. You have to rest eventually. You haven't forgotten about the smoke behind you- but you simply can't push yourself any further.

>D) Pray to Dream to keep you awake. It's risky- there's no telling how long He'll keep you awake for. ...but you're willing to deal with the consequences of the Gods much more so than the consequences of this demon-infested nightmare.

>E) Write-in

>>3854502
>>B) Let Ray and Ofelia guard you and Celegwen. You're about to pass out. You're not going to be of much use, conscious or not. Ask the halfling to wake you as soon as there's trouble.

>>3854502
>A) Ask Ofelia to employ any measures necessary to help keep you awake. You need to be alert. This is no place to rest. Suffer through the exhaustion awhile longer- at least until you hear back from Malimos.

This isn't exactly a good situation to fall asleep in; surely Flesh can understand that.

>>3854502
>>B) Let Ray and Ofelia guard you and Celegwen. You're about to pass out. You're not going to be of much use, conscious or not. Ask the halfling to wake you as soon as there's trouble.

>>3854502
>B
The Gods know best

>>3854502
>E) Write-in
>Pray to Time to hasten the judgement of Malimos and deliver his words before you suffer for Your wishes.

>>3855186
I can back this too