Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

Luc was bleeding out in the snow, his life was moments away from fading. But, fortunately for him, a traveler comes by and helps him. However, it wasn't the same person that saved him before, no. This person was a wanderer, it just so happens that he was passing by and the bolt of lightning caught his attention, causing him to investigate.

The person who Luc found was no other than Marlow Sithaer. It had been over a week since Marlow defeated the bear in Redhold, and now he was in the north seeking to quench his thirst for adventure.

The nearest settlement was Stormgard, a hold occupied by the Empire. But it was a good 4 to 6 days away in this terrain and weather. There was also the threat on an in-coming blizzard. Furthermore, the Delvic army are marching west from Skullenport, and could be hostile. Marlow was left with no other choice, but to help Luc himself. Luckily, Marlow had the right tools in his pack for patching up such injuries.

Sylvan Tower was the nearest location to take shelter in against the coming storm. It was still at least a day away, and the storm was perhaps 18 hours away, meaning Marlow would have to haul ass if he wants to take avoid the storm. If he chooses to take Luc with him, it will slow him down further. His options are to leave Luc in the cold to die, or he can save him and try to reach Sylvan Tower before the storm hits the land.

Since the events of recent, Marlow had begun to feel quite powerful, proud of himself, and frankly, too big for his britches. As a young man full of piss, vinegar, and delayed onset Teenager-itis, it was all to be expected.

Light had attracted his attention, and as he hadn't seen anything interesting for several days, it was worth checking out, since it might be the only entertainment he acquired until the next town. What he found was indeed entertaining. Marlow's first instincts were to pick the man's pockets, but he was laying in such a way that all the goods were inaccessible to him. So instead he begrudgingly patched the man up. The entire process took extra time due to the sheer cold - it's one thing to handle a roll of gauze, and it's another thing to have to stop every few minutes to un-freeze the roll, thaw one's hands so they didn't get frostbite, and fish out the materials from the snow where they'd fallen because everything was difficult, cold, and too damn inhospitable.

His work done, Marlow tries to look through Luc's pockets and take any gil he can find. "Gotta earn a living, man, got like, sixteen kids to feed and my wife keeps having more. We're both alferian but for some reason all the kids got horns. Probably some weird fungus or something.", Marlow blabbed, hoping to distract Luc with lies about an absurd amount of family planning and infidelity ignorance. He also made a show of scratching his crotch.

"Those clouds don't look no good," and he'd mostly decided he'd just take what money he could and skeddadle, leaving the dying man to die. He doubted the man would make it anyways.

"You like my bow?", he decided to show off while he still had an audience. He pulled it out and made unpracticed, cheesy acrobatics involving moving his bow from here to there, puffing his chest in pride all the while to look like a bigger, stronger person. He nearly sprained an ankle doing it. But it all served to help him warm up in the bitter, frigid cold.


TL;DR : Tries to steal Luc's money and then entertains himself foolishly

He who is without...

(is asleep)

The cold didn't bother Luc, not one bit. When he lost large amounts of blood, his body went to survival mode and conserved what was left of his energy to keep him alive. He had lost most of his senses including his ability to feel or hear whatever was going on around him. His heart beat and breathing have both slowed down to critical levels, yet it was enough to keep him alive. Somehow, despite the injuries he had suffered, Luc was still alive.

Luc's body needed to rest. It was apparent that he was still dreaming. His eyes, though closed, are in R.E.M. Luc had been unconscious since the fight ended, and he's been stuck in a dream loop eversince. No matter how hard he tried to wake up, he just can't because his body won't let him.

All that Luc had on him was the Gil he had earned from working in Skullenport, and the equipment he found on the dead Skullenport guards. He is indeed vert lucky, a man came by and bandaged his wounds. This simple act was enough to stop him from bleeding to his death. He didn't care what the man took from him, Luc had little value for material things like money. Growing up, Luc has learned to live with nothing at all, he's also not the type of person to give up whenever life beats the shit out of him.

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

It was evident that Luc was unresponsive to Marlow's antics, it was because the human was unconscious. All he had was his weapon, which was a heavy blade, an armor with a hole in it, and some coins placed inside a small pouch attached to Luc's pants. Despite it's rather small amount, Marlow was particularly interested in Luc's gil. He could take the man's money easily, but first he had to dig in Luc's pants to get it.

*Roll the Others dice #3 if you land a HIT, then you will successfully steal Luc's gil. Failure will result to lost of interest.*

While Marlow was busy stealing from Luc, he failed to notice that the storm had picked up speed. It will not arrive sooner than previously expected. It will definitely reach Marlow and Luc before they can reach the nearest shelter, which is Sylvan Tower. The only question now is, in what state will they be in once they get there.

DUAL CHALLENGE EVENT!

If Marlow heads out now and leaves Luc behind, he will only need 2 CHECKS out of 5 rolls to reach Sylvan Tower without any consequence.

But if he chooses to take Luc with him, then he will need 4 CHECKS out of 5 rolls. To get to Sylvan's Tower without any consequences, together with Luc.

On another note, Luc also needs to Roll the Challenge Dice. If Marlow leaves him, he will wake up and can still make it to Sylvan's Tower. He will need to roll 3 CHECKS out of 5 rolls in order to make it to the Tower. Failure to do so will result to massive consequences regarding his character.

Marlow was still keenly interested in stealing Luc's gil, but he was dismayed at having to be up close and personal to do it.

When he finished goofing off, he was hoping that he'd have some sort of answer on what he wanted to do to the man besides steal from him, but the man hadn't had any reaction. He felt undecided and it bothered him. While the stranger might be thankful and offer him some sort of reward, there was no guarantee and it could all be for nothing - perhaps the stranger was suicidal and Marlow's efforts were detrimental to his efforts.

After a few extra seconds of pondering, he drew out a gil from his own coin pouch and prepared to toss it. "Heads, I rescue the idiot. Tails, leave him here to die."

The member 'Overly Shedding Chocobo' has done the following action : FFMSL Dice

---

#1 '#3 Other (O)' :

#1 Result :


--------------------------------

#2 '#9 Coin Flip' :

#2 Result :

Marlow just wasn't able to get at any of Luc's gil, so he finally gave up.

He stared at the gil where he'd neglected to catch it in the snow, and a sense of relief washed over him. He quickly put the coin away and now stared at Luc's body for a while, debating how to drag a man. He tried pulling him by his arms, and then by his feet, but it took too much effort - plus, if Luc was frostbitten, Marlow just might end up tearing those limbs off. He managed to find two long, gnarled branches and slide them under Luc's body like a makeshift sled, and dragged the top ends with Luc's body staying on the contraption.

And so he started to drudge through the snow. It would be a story, at least.

The member 'Overly Shedding Chocobo' has done the following action : FFMSL Dice

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'#10 Challenge' :

Result :

OOC:
((Do I still need to roll the dice even though he carried me? I am rolling the dice just in case.))

He who is without...

(is saved)

Luc was still unable to escape his nightmare. He started having a fever, his wounds were had become infected. Which was as to be expected, after all he was bitten by rabid wolves. It's a miracle if doesn't contract rabies afterwards, and even a bigger miracle if he can last the night out in this brutal weather.

How can one man have such a cruel fate, while others are living lavishly inside castles, and surrounded by wealth and other riches? This is the reason why Luc hates destiny so much. He thinks that he's being played with, that his destiny is being controlled by someone or something. Perhaps Luc is wrong, but in the off chance that he is right, then he will surely make the one responsible for his demise, pay.

The member 'Fear' has done the following action : FFMSL Dice

---

'#10 Challenge' :

Result :

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

*Challenge event failed*

500 XP awarded to Marlow and Luc (x2 for Luc=1000XP), consequences are enforced.

Because his body lacks blood, Luc wasn't able to regulate his body's temperature properly. It was his extremities that suffered the most, Luc has lost his fingers and toes to the frost. But he won't know it until he wakes up and takes off his gloves and booths. There is no way of recovering his wounds using normal magic. Because of this, Luc can no longer wield a sword properly.

Meanwhile, Marlow took a gamble by bringing Luc with him. His trip to Sylvan's Tower would have been easier had he not pulled the stranger on his makeshift sled. As a result, Marlow suffers from frostbite as well, but not as bad as Luc. (Marlow's damage will be reduced by 15% for his next story battle. Or until the frostbite has worn off.)

But it's not all bad news for the two. When Luc lost his fingers and toes, he in turn, gained the ability to wield magic. His body evolved in such a way that he's able to conjure a magical blade from his hands and use it as his primary weapon. (This is in response to Luc's respec from STR to MAG) On the other hand, Marlow, who is a loner most of his life, may have finally found a companion.

The two reach the base of Sylvan's tower, but the entrance was covered in a thick wall of ice, and staying out in the open wasn't doing them any good. With Luc still unconscious, it was up to Marlow to find a way into the structure. There are no windows or back doors visible to Marlow, and the storm wasn't helping him visually either. Apparently, the only entrance to the tower is the main door, and it was frozen shut.

There was something glinting in the wall of ice covering the doors, it looked like a rune. Being a Lunarian, Marlow may have heard or read of this type of rune before. It was a blood key rune, only the rightful ones who had the right blood could pass. These type of runes are usually  connected with blood magic.

Through howling wind and snow that flew horizontally instead of dropping, Marlow managed to pull the unconscious man to the tower, but the cold was bitter and disorientating. Marlow pulled Luc as close to the main entrance side of the building as possible to take shelter from the elements. He was able to locate a door, but it wouldn't budge, so Marlow's next idea was to hunt around back for one, but he should leave Luc here with some warmth. Marlow scrambled to create a small fire from whatever wood was buried beneath the snow, even prying a few wooden elements off of the building (like window sills) to create enough tinder for a small fire. He used his metal broach and the stone building side as flint to create a spark, and the fire lit.

Now that the stranger Luc had some protection from the elements and a fire, Marlow circled the building, something that took a lot of time given how hard it was to see through the snow. He wasn't able to locate any entrance here, and found himself back at the front again with Luc, having done a complete lap around the structure. Using his broach as a nail and a rock, Marlow hammered the nail into the ice around the door, hoping he could pry it open. He sat to catch his breath, and looked at the structure as he did so, only now noticing a strange artistic figure. His gaze was attracted to it, but it meant nothing to him until it clicked in his brain what it was. By this time, Marlow had replenished the fire once and even nibbled on a little of the food he'd brought with him. He wondered if the fire had done anything to melt the ice around the door, but having read so many adventure books, instincts told him that something was needed to enter. Having no magical training, education, or much opportunity, he had no idea what it was except that it mattered and probably indicated a password was needed. After all, big white towers in the middle of nowhere needing a secret password to enter seemed perfectly like an adventure book.

He stood up, brushed himself off, and puffed his chest.

"Beezlebub!", he shouted. When nothing happened, he tried again. "Beetle juice!", still nothing. "I'm going to try every word I know as the secret pass code. Apple, banana, bow, boots, cat, cat in boots, alfeirian, qin, marlow, island, wizard, ...", and this went on for quite a while.

"Maybe it needs something different than a pass code.", he thought to himself. He'd pulled out some bread now and was munching on it slowly. He looked at is bread, looked at the rune, looked at the bread, looked at the rune, and then smeared the bread on the rune above the door, standing on his tip-toes to do so. When that didn't work, he tried his cheese, and so on and so forth until the rune had tasted all of his foods. Next, Marlow tried touching it. Then, he tried to pee on it, but physics didn't work like that, so he peed on his hand and touched that to the rune. He continued on using body fluids and substances (he had a surprising amount of earwax), until the idea dawned on him that the only remaining human substances were his teeth, poop, blood, and bodily dismemberment. He didn't like those ideas so much, so he tried the lesser of evils, first slicing his finger and rubbing it on the rune, and then slicing a small cut on Luc's face and using his fingers to rub that blood on the rune, too. So pre-occupied was he with all this that he had begun to mentally prepare himself to use human excrement next. He realized he hadn't actually checked to see if any of the recent things had opened the door, so he tried to door handle again.

TL;DR: Marlow is not a smart man, but finally tries both his and Luc's blood.

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

The rune didn't react when Marlow placed his blood. But the moment he tried Luc's blood, the rune glowed and the ice wall started vibrating vigorously. The vibrations were becoming more and more intense, until finally, the wall shatters thus freeing the doors. A cranking metal sound came from within the door, followed by the doors slowly sliding open. There was a mechanism installed at the doorway that controlled the doors, somehow Marlow has caused it to open.

The frozen hinges were preventing the door to fully open, but the passage was wide enough for both Marlow and Luc to go through. Perhaps it was just the storm, but as soon as the doors to Sylvan Tower had opened, Marlow heard a voice coming from inside.

Once inside, Marlow and Luc find themselves in a dark and empty hallway, that leads to the main hall. From the looks of things, no one has been inside the tower for hundreds of years. The walls had cobwebs and the floor was covered in dust and there was also this odd vein-like thing growing in the walls, the floor, and the ceiling. It was like being inside a horror film, Marlow could feel a powerful dark entity living inside the tower. Almost every part of Marlow's body was telling him, this was a bad idea. But before he could leave, the doors suddenly slammed shut.

With the sudden shaking and noises of machinery, Marlow drew his bow, drawing quick breaths as he steadied his hand and tried to peer into the darkness. He heard a voice and drew an arrow, steadying it and his hand, anxiously trying to peer into the void of darkness from the tower. He stood like that for several minutes, and when nothing had changed, he slowly put away his weapons, his hands shaking. The doors were open just enough, so Marlow took Luc's makeshift sled and dragged him inside, being careful not to bang the man on the doors.

Once in, Marlow stood with his hands near his weapons again, waiting for his eyes to adjust. It began to dawn on him that the doors had opened just barely enough, the voice, and Luc's blood, not his who'd opened it. He felt as if this man's story had gone all wrong, being left in the cold unconscious, and now being dragged onto the next part of Luc's story. Marlow felt like he shouldn't be here, shouldn't be dealing with whatever it was. But to go back outside in this forsaken blizzard would spell death.

"I'll just wait out the storm, wake this man up, and be on my way...", Marlow whispered aloud to himself. He found a corner big enough for both of their bodies and quietly dragged Luc there.

"Wake up, wake up", Marlow gently slapped the man's face with his hands, whispering close to his ear.

Now that his eyes were fully adjusted, Marlow began to notice things, like the dust, a kind of leaf-less ivy in the wall that looked too like arteries for comfort - maybe they were roots? - and an itch in his soul that felt unpleasant and sticky. A film of frightened alertness settled over Marlow.

He sat beside Luc, shaking him every now and then, and began to work on mending some of his arrows.

He tried to keep quiet, and he was persistent in trying to wake Luc up, always ready to muffle the man with Marlow's hands over Luc's face should he appear to make any noise.

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

Crystals, mounted on the walls, sudden glowed an eerie red glow. They served as light source to illuminate the dark and creepy tower. But not all the light crystals were lit, some of them remained dark. It was noticeable that the lights were leading them somewhere in the upper parts of the tower. But who was behind all this, and what was their agenda? There was also a mystery as to why Luc's blood worked on the seal on the door, but these questions could only be answered by moving forward.

(Luc can now wake up)

The hairs on the back of Marlow's neck were starting to stand up. Something was telling him that this was a bad idea. Was it just his own instincts and his innate fear of the unknown, that was sending him all these negative signals... Or was some unknown force trying to send him a warning, not to proceed.

He who is without...

Is alive...

The heartless subzero temperatures may have taken Luc's fingers and toes, but it has also awoken his hidden magic abilities. He was very much lucky to be alive, thanks to the man who saved him. The first thing he felt was a sharp pain on his hands, torso, and back. Then he felt was a hand on his face. When Luc opened his eyes, he saw Marlow staring down at him. He was still suffering from shock and hypothermia. Luc quickly became frantic, he struggled to get free from Marlow. He grabbed the man and fought hard to push himself free from his hold. That's when he noticed it, he noticed that he couldn't feel the fingers on his hands anymore.

When he finally managed to get a little bit loose from Marlow, he pulled off his gloves and saw what had happened to his fingers. They had turned black and he could no longer feel or move them.  He begins to warm them with his breath, but the results were the same. His fingers were truly lost.  Faced with the fact that he had just lost his fingers, Luc went into a state of disbelief and rage. His emotions unlocked a hidden magical ability locked away in his core. Luc's hands started glowing a blueish glow and his iris started flashing red. But his tantrum didn't last long, like all his other emotions, Luc's rage went away like he had stolen it and kept it in a dark and deep place inside his heart.

Luc tries to stand up, but falls immediately because of the lack of sensation on his feet, particularly his toes. He didn't bother to check his toes for frostbite, the numbness alone was indicative that he had lost more than just the fingers on his hands. Again he tries to stand up, this time he was successful in doing so, but not without leaning on to the wall. After getting up on his feet, Luc turns his attention towards Marlow, the man that saved him. However, Luc doesn't say anything, he ins't the talkative type. He simply stares at the man. But his attention soon diverts surroundings.

This was the first time Luc had entered this place, but somehow he felt like he had been here before.

As Luc struggled, Marlow struggled with him, trying to remain in position to muffle any cries or sounds. It didn't last long and Luc won the upper hand quickly. Marlow managed a stern look and the finger-to-the-tips 'be quiet' gesture without the shushing sound.

As Luc peeled his gloves, Marlow saw the devestation, and the sight turned his stomach. He vomited into his mouth, and then on the floor. Luc's feet were no better, but Marlow's stomach didn't have any more vile to bring up. He wiped his mouth, trying not to look now, but unable to peel his eyes from the train wreck. Luc was surprisingly calm, until he wasn't, and Marlow's hands quickly went towards his weapon, ready to draw and defend himself, but the need never fully came.

Marlow gives a nod to the stranger as he seems to look back at him with a look that might have been gratitude, and huddles to conserve his warmth. This place feels forboding and forbidden, but it's too dangerous to go outside, and it feels too dangerous to wander. In a corner quite near the door, Marlow stays and hides himself, waiting for the blizzard outside to break so he can make a run for the outside.

A thought dawns on him that it was Luc's blood that opened the door, so it is Luc who is meant to be here, not him. Marlow only hopes to himself that the gods won't kill him for not comitting suicide by leaving the structure and freezing in the blizzard. He digs in his pack and produces a pen and book he'd gotten elsewhere, and begins to doodle to keep his mind occupied and try to dull his senses that scream at him that this place is his worst nightmare. Gradually, his mind begins to wander.



(Marlow is going to occupy himself until the storm dies or until Luc comes back, it's a good idea to skip him from here on out)

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
Near Sylvan Tower
"Despair"

At the rate the storm is going, it would last for approximately 36 more hours, however that was the least of Marlow's problems. The tower had gone into full lock down, which means neither of the two can leave until the building allows them to do so. Furthermore, there's something hunting Marlow inside this tower, at least that's what it felt like to him.

A red liquid started oozing out from the ceiling, the walls, and even the floor. It had a metallic smell, and its consistency and texture, is pretty much the same as blood's. In fact, the red substance was indeed blood. The blood started oozing out at a accelerated rate, soon it was up to their knees and still rising.

A large banging came from one of the locked doors at the end of the hallway. The banging continued, until the door finally broke down allowing vast amounts of blood to rush into the hallway. The blood was now up to their navels and it did not look like it was going to stop anytime soon. More locked doors, of blood filled rooms, started bursting open, flooding the area where Luc and Marlow are even further. If they don't go up the tower, they'll drown.

Blood started rushing down the stairs, indicating that the same thing was happening on the upper floors. Time wasn't on their side, and something big was also moving around the pool of blood, circling Luc and Marlow.

Luc and Marlow's' Chapter 5 has ended. We will continue with the story in Chapter 6. 2000 XP awarded and 10 Golden tokens awarded to both players.