Austin hits the mud hard, the demon stone still clenched in his hand. Its dark pulse beats against his skull like a second heart, mean and чуж? no, foreign, wrong.
Austin Ithens
Stop the demon.
The thought answers with pain. The stone thrums back, and Austin’s grip tightens as his vision swims.
Striker
Austin, the stone is tethering it. Hold on.
Striker whips around from the White Devil survivor, her attention snapping from prisoner to threat in an instant. Beyond them, the demon slows, then turns its hungry gaze toward Austin in the grass.
The White Devil Survivor
No, no, give it back!
The survivor scrambles in the mud, half-reaching for the stone, but the demon’s shadow swells larger over the forest floor. If Austin cannot break the anchor, the captive girls’ escape ends here.
✓ Quest Accepted
Break the demon’s tether to the stone
“You bury your face in the mud, your body seizing from the pain as the demons' influence pours into your mind. You feel it, a violent flurry of emotions that don't belong to you. You think to yourself, 'So this is why demon summoning is forbidden. How incredibly taxing on the user's body and willpower. If you are unprepared, the demon not only rejects your orders, but also runs rampant- the worst possible outcome.' You manage to tilt your head to the side, your vision blurry, your hands sweaty, every cell in your body screaming in agony as you try to will the demon back to its plane of existence. Meanwhile, Striker and the slaver are locked in a wrestling match as the rider reaches for you, desperate to get his hands on the stone, as Striker holds him back. "Do it!" She screams, Reject the demons' will. Cast it out!" You pour everything into one scream, your body, your soul, as you command the demon, "Disappear!"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +2)
Austin drives the scream through the stone, and the pulse in his hand buckles. The demon jerks as if the air itself has bitten it.
So this is why demon summoning is forbidden. Unprepared, it tears at the body and the will.
Striker
Do it! Reject its will. Cast it out!
The White Devil survivor lunges again, but Striker hauls him back into the mud before his fingers reach the stone.
Austin forces the last of his strength into the command. The stone’s dim flicker gutters once, then goes dead.
The demon recoils, its shadow tearing loose from the clearing like smoke ripped by wind. It turns away from Austin and lurches into the forest’s dark depths.
Striker holds the survivor down and looks to Austin, breath hard, blades still ready. The clearing goes suddenly quieter, except for the survivor’s choking curses and the leaves settling around them.
Quest Complete
Break the demon’s tether to the stone
“You feel your chest heave with exertion as you try to sit up, "Did-Did it work?" You ask, voice weak. Striker nods, pinning the man even more into the ground. "You did." She replies in a soft tone. "You did great. Marvelous even." She looks down at the man as she presses her knee into his back. "Now the only question is what to do with this." You sit up, a dull pain still throbbing in your head, "There is a ranger outpost not far from here, you could al-" You fall to your side, a fresh wave of pain bursting through you, more intense than before. The salver howls in laughter, "HA! That's what you get, filthy traitor. Your body is reeling from the effects of using the stone, novice." You feel everything start to go dark as even breathing becomes difficult and your hear Strikers voice growing faint with each passing second. "Are you ok? Breath, just breath. I ca... help... do... keep...." Her voice fades out as everything goes dark and you pass out.”
FAILURE (Mediocre Health, rolled -2)
The breath Austin forces in comes ragged and shallow. His chest trembles, the stone useless and cold now, while the clearing tilts and narrows around him.
Striker
Stay with me. Just breathe.
She shifts her weight off the White Devil survivor, keeping him trapped with one knee and one blade while her other hand hovers near Austin, ready but careful.
The White Devil Survivor
Ha. Look at him. The stone bites back, that is all.
His laugh comes thin and strained from the mud, but it carries a bitter edge of satisfaction. The demon’s retreat leaves the trees whispering in the distance, no closer than before.
Austin Ithens
The ground keeps moving under him.
Striker
Can you hear me, Austin? Tell me if the pain is passing, or if it is getting worse.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the blindfolded dark elf.
“You wake up in a cave, lying on a straw mattress. Your entire body throbs in protest as you sit up. Beside your bedside is a dark elf knitting something, one that looks remarkably like Striker. She has shorter hair and a slightly smaller bust, but her face is the same. Moreover, she wears a blindfold, and you can see faint scarring around it. "Good morning," she says with a sweet voice. "You gave my little sister quite a scare. How are you feeling?" You look up at her, a thousand questions in your mind. "Uh... hi there. Pardon me for asking, but where am I?" The elven woman turns her head. "Oh, yes. Excuse me, this all must seem rather frightening, waking up in a strange place. Velyra Vivanti. And may I say, what an honor it is to finally speak to you after the story I heard."”
SUCCESS (Mediocre Health, rolled +2)
Austin drifts up to a low ceiling of stone and thatch, the ache in his body coming in waves. He is no longer in the mud. Straw scratches beneath him, and the room smells of herbs, woodsmoke, and damp earth.
Beside the bed sits a blindfolded dark elf, hands moving steadily over a length of yarn. The likeness to Striker hits him at once, but this woman is softer in the shoulders, scarred around the cloth at her eyes.
Austin Ithens
Uh... hi there. Pardon me for asking, but where am I?
Velyra Vivanti
Oh, yes. Excuse me, this all must seem rather frightening, waking in a strange place. Velyra Vivanti. And may I say, what an honor it is to finally speak to you after the story I heard.
She sets the knitting in her lap and turns her covered face toward him, as if listening with her whole body.
Velyra Vivanti
You are safe for the moment, in a hidden cave home beneath the forest. My sister brought you here before the others could reach you.
Velyra Vivanti
Striker said you helped save the captives. I would hear that tale from you, if you can manage it.
Quest Complete
Identify the blindfolded dark elf.