----------------------------------------
You try to understand what she's telling you, you really do. It's just...
[3+5]
[8/10 for Bare Khazalid]
Your throat can't make those noises, They're kind of like stones grinding on one another. How can she sound like rocks, more than you do?! It's so counter-intuitive, and your intellectual greatness is thwarted by this inexplicable phenomenon.
That is to say, you can't immediately replicate them to perfection, so you kind of flop around on the bed feeling useless and stupid for a while. It has come to the point where the red thing has started petting you, still trying to speak things to you.
You... the darkness calls to you. It beckons you, comforts you, as this red and gray thing has never done in the long, long time you've known her. Since that first moment, where your eyes met, in the... underground cave, close to where you came to, up until now, in what you presume to be her bedroom.
You know what is a bedroom, uh? Neat. It makes you feel a little better about yourself. Still, the gloom from whence you came doth sing its alluring song, and you kind of want to sit down and cry in a corner for a while. The outside is full of noisy bearded people, and dying green things that are too ugly to be green.
Everything's confusing. Nothing's like you know it's supposed to be. It just really, really sucks. You kind of whimper a little in the thing's bed, your tears not really wetting its pillow, as you hold the green shiny like a toy. You cradle it in your chest, becoming the big spoon to its fresh, green surface, and it makes you feel much better.
Despite your worries, the comforting petting of the thing also kind of comforts you, despite the fact it... it... used those very hands to k-kill the other green thing.
But that's fine. It's not killing you now, so it's fine. The green thing told you that you were small, so it's fine. Even if it really just only kind of existed, and got k-ended just like that.
And there's more of them looking down at you with their dead, empty green eyes. That's fine. You just don't have to look up. Eventually, the thing helps you stand to a sitting position, your legs fully enclosed in the soft, warm covers. She does try to open her book and show you pictures, but you're too preoccupied with yourself to pay attention.
You can hear it sigh, and move around, but you keep your eyes down. You don't want to provoke it, and for some reason, you feel matching its gaze could get you axed. Instead, you hear someone knocking on the door.
[Hidden Roll: 16]
[Who? 1dX]
[Rolling...]
It moves to open it, and when it does, there are two actual golems there, waiting for it. They are completely covered in metal, and some pieces go even further inwards. Actually, they can't be golems, as beneath you don't feel metal. Um- They're more of the things? The killy things?
Oh, that's bad- Oh, they're looking inside the room, and spy you. Immediately, they ready their shields and unsheath their weapons, an axe and a pickaxe. Oh, oh, this is really bad. You fall over and begin to hyperventilate. This is... really, really bad.
They push past your red thing and shove her to the side. She stands on the ground, in a clear mirror of your own position. They loom above you, as you stay with your back to the bedframe, your legs sprawling up above you, and you look up at them from beneath their beards.
Oh, so this is how you d-die. You should've gone with the green one, instead. Or back to the darkness. maybe jumped into the river. Anything but this, you think, as you become a sad and scared ball around your green shiny.
The red thing's screaming, the two metal-clad things are screaming back at them, and in the chaos, you hear things from outside screaming as well. Oh, this is really bad, you idly think, as you start feeling your stomach get upset once more.
Oh, this is really bad. You're throwing up again. Oh, this is the second worst day of your life. You... you manage to stay conscious, if barely. The two things split up, and one grabs you. It holsters you up, like a sack of gems, and does not remove your comfy restraints.
Oh, this has just gotten even better. There's only one reasonable thing to do, in this situation. You throw up on their helmet, hoping to drown them.
They ignore you completely and begin to sedately stomp away through the door. Behind you, you see the other golem closing the room's door, with the red thing in a position very much like your own. So at least you won't die alone, thankfully.
They huff and puff, stomping their way through a stone corridor you're aware is beautifully carved, and laid with many traps. Oh, if you tried running through here, there's a good chance you'd just... fall into a death pit and crack, or something.
This does not make you feel better.
From the hallway, they march into the busy street, where a not-so-small crowd has gathered. There's a lot of noise, and it bothers you. It really, really does. You gulp down air in half-broken sobs, and start hiccupping. This… everything makes you feel so, so bad. You really miss the darkness.
You feel the thing under you jump through the air, apparently able to lift itself up to a point. It lands on a wooden cart. Like the ones that you saw in the open before. It puts you down not-so-gently and sits by your side.
The second one follows it in, and does the same for the red thing, but also puts her at your side. It sits in front of you three, looking at you judgingly.
You yip in surprise as the red thing places one hand on your shoulder, and gently massages it. The circular motion she makes brings you some kind of tranquility, and for some reason your eyes go wet, and you find your arms clinging to her sides.
This... this is horrible. There's so much going on, there's everything moving, your mind hurts from all the metal things moving around you... It's horrible.
You dive your head into the hard metal of its clothes (you apparently know what clothes are), and just stay there, as you feel things begin to move. You kind of stay like that for a while, slowly trying to calm your breath and gathering your wits. It wouldn't do for one as great as yourself to be shaken by... this everything, really.
No, you're much bigger than this, in all meanings of the word.
You've been kidnapped! What do?!
Focus on the noises they're making
4/8
+pet the green shiny
4/6
Dice: 1d6
6 = 6
Dice: 1d100
10 = 10
[Bare Khazalid Learned!]
[For completing a Research of any kind, you gain the skill: Research I! To develop it further, keep researching things.]
[Progress on Basic Khazalid: 2/50]
You try to focus on what they're saying and remember the things the red one is pointing at in the book. And... you kind of make some progress! You can now kind of make out some of the words these ones are saying! They do kind of hurt your ears, and make your everything stand up straight, as the noise of creaking stone it reminds you of is very much unpleasant.
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Let's see... they're talking about something 'green' a whole lot. Some-one, actually. Maybe it's you? The two gray ones are kind of unhappy about something, and the red one keeps asking questions and talking about oaths. You're not quite sure what that's about.
They do speak with a kinder tone when they're talking about you.
Now that you're calmer, and more used to the many moving metal things, you can kind of make out a second sense. It is still wholly in your mind, but it surges from the things around you. There are three coming from further on the carriage, two giving off the impression of 'hunger' and 'boredom'. The third one is just bored out of their mind, and kind of worried about something.
The red thing gives off the feeling of being 'Angry'. VBery, very angry, in fact, and kind of decided about something. The two gray not-golems sitting by you, instead are almost 'scared', like you are, but mostly worried, and focused on something.
You're not sure what, but emphasizing with these things is the last thing you want. You're already afraid enough for three, no need to feel their fright. Sure, you're big and powerful and good enough to carry it, no questions asked, but it'd be better if you didn't have to.
You kind of whimper a little, and focus on petting the green shiny in your hand. Still, it is very confusing. It is like having two sights and two sets of ears. One, the normal one, functions just fine, even if you crave the silence and tranquility of the Darkness. It calls to you, its siren song begging you to let it embrace you.
The best you can do is close your eyes, try not to cry more, and pet the green shiny.
Meanwhile, the second set of senses won't shut up and let you be. The three things around you keep arguing, growing more and more angry or scared, and metal things keep moving in the background, even if you're slowly growing used to both things clouding your mind.
For a brief second, you wonder if you should try and walk on your hands. You're not sure why, but it makes you laugh a little, just a silly thought coming to the fore for a change. Seeing this, the red thing looks at you, and puts a hand on your head, patting it gently. They feel good doing that, calming down, and the growing tension seems to be defused.
Up until it speaks up. "I swear... Green...!" It chants slowly. This sends both gray things into a frenzy. Well, they're still ramrod straight, and would not be out of place on one of the cravings on the alleyway you saw before, yet their feelings are whipped (you also know what a whip is, apparently), and swiftly turn very sour and surprised.
It's not nice. They feel kind of like music to you. While the Red currently sounds like a drumroll, a constant simmering, ready-for-action, with undertones of happy little trumpets and angry flutes gently blowing on the back of the base, the two gray ones are nothing but flutes screaming their wrath and surprise.
You feel as if there's yet another sense your mind is currently numb to, and know it shall come to you in time, just as these two have. After some time, and a calmer talk between the three you try to understand, but don't get much out of, the thing you're on comes to a halt. Or, well, all the metal things around you slow down, the biggest ones coming to silently stand, and it makes more sense if it's you slowing down, and not the suspiciously gate-shaped thing in front of you that stops moving closer.
Also, you can feel the four wheels laded with metal gently slowing their turning, until they're fully halted, so there's that. Also, what you think are lamp posts by the road's side, and a whole lot of things wearing metal on their bodies. You're getting to the point where you can make out their shape.
[Having Research I, you're now aware of one of your Magics! Ferromancy I, and the progress you're on to making it Ferromancy II!]
When the wheels stop spinning, something from outside shouts a rather burly noise, and all three things stand up. As you have nothing better to do, you also rise to your feet and immediately fall on the gray thing before you. It grabs you, and once more puts you on its shoulder. Meanwhile, the red thing is escorted out by the second golem and only turns to wave you goodbye as it carries off somewhere else.
The one carrying you brings you to the gatehouse nearby and is met by more golems talking to it. You understand they're talking about 'Green', 'Death', and 'Oaths'.
Oh. that's not nice. Not at all. You... want to get out of here. You begin to desperately wriggle, trying to get out of the thing's grip, but it doesn't want to give up. Damn, it is very hard to move even an inch! Then, another one of them grabs your green thing, and you're now stuck in a tug-of-war over it. No! They want to take your shiny! That's horrible!
You try to do whatever you can to stop them but get scared when they start to scream at you. Their spit flies on your face a little, and that is enough for you to let go. They huff in satisfaction, and make you watch as they place your shiny into a box, before closing it.
You will never forget the click the key makes, as it locks it up forever. That's it, you're never going to see your shiny again.
You barely don't cry, or throw up. Y-you're so much stronger than this. You didn't like it anyway, and you don't need something green and cool and nice to hold onto anyway. Hmph. You're green enough for yourself. As was green the t-thing the red one k-killed…
Oh, you're going to die. Again. That's it, you're dead. Goodbye, oh green and cruel world. You close your eyes, as they gather around you and begin to talk, maybe to you, maybe amongst themselves, you don't care anymore. You just want some peace, and maybe dying isn't that bad.
The empty space of your hand, already used to holding onto your shiny, makes you want to cry. Gruff hands grab you on all sides and push you somewhere. You land face first and are not happy feeling the same hands taking the warm covers that were entrapping your legs off.
By the time you open your eyes, they've already left the room, and you see bars at the door to your room. Oh, so they put you in prison. That's fine. It's better than being killed, even if they're probably just waiting to kill you anyway. That's what you'd do if you had to kill someone. Take their comfy covers, and their green shinies, and lock them up somewhere cold and lonely.
You slump over to the wall and idly note the wooden bucket in a corner and the stone slab that's probably meant to be a bed.
…
At least it's silent here.
You have a lot of free time to k-spend, right now.
Votes
Look more closely at yourself [Gemsmithing]
10/15
Dice: 1d100
17 = 17
/roll 1d100
Dice: 1d6
4 = 4
You lay down on the stone slab, the only thing of note in your stony prison. There is also a little lamp, coming down from the ceiling, but it is quickly melting into nothingness, and soon the only source of light will come from the little window in the door.
You breathe in, and out. Teartracks run down your face, you can feel them. You don't want to be here, and everything you've done past getting your shiny has hurt you one way or another. Everything around you keeps moving, keeps changing, and everywhere you can sense there are the gray things. They sing, they chant, but most importantly, they move and make everything confusing.
You breathe in, and out. Your green eyes slowly creak open, and find only the stone ceiling of your new room. From further into the building, you can sense doors being opened, and you hear chains cluttering, as the gray things move and talk amongst themselves. You still remember the green thing's death, and it is as marked into your eyelids-
You breathe in, and out.
You sit up to a kneel and notice the growing gloom inside of the room. Blackness overcomes everything, as even outside the golems snuff out the few candles that kept this prison lit up. That's... fine, by you. It makes not thinking easier.
Darkness, where you came from. Its gentle embrace is your only balm against the continuous pain and horror this place has been causing you.
As night comes, and the city begins to slow down and sleep, the only metal things you can sense are the guards, standing at their posts. You observe, as slowly, as they go from one turn to the other. You could memorize their patterns, and try to escape. But with what in mind? To run in the things-filled streets? To anger them more? To bring upon you the hanging threat of their axes, and picks?
You breathe in, and out. Everything slows down, as many lay in their beds, falling into a tranquil, tired torpor. That is not to be for you, it would seem. But, this lets your mind rest, the continuous assault of new senses finally subsiding.
That is to say, fewer things move around, so you can think a little more clearly. Everything has been horrible for a while now. You know what is not horrible? Green things, like your humble self.
The clear solution is to ignore all things not good and focus wholly inward. You observe yourself, your very body, for the first time paying it the attention it truly deserves.
[Research I and Natural Gem mind, no instruments, gives 1d6]
[4. Dc: 5. Not Met. No progress made.]
You... you're beautifully, breathtakingly, green. Also, your body is very odd. It reflects the dim light that still fills the gatehouse in unnatural directions, and your own senses tell you the space is half-empty. And if you try hard enough, you can phase parts of your body through things.
Or so it would seem. Given you tried to trip a guard, and they didn't even notice anything (you were small enough to crouch by the door and remain unseen), it would seem something is afoot.
You push your leg through the door, and it disappears from this side as if moving through the obstacle. Yet, the ones outside do not notice anything amiss.
You really wanted to phase through things.
You also can't help but notice the way it makes your leg glow a little, both when you push inwards and when you pull back. Hm. Observing this is... pleasant, somehow. Calming. Possibly because for once something is happening in a way that does not go against your ingrained knowledge.
Well then. You want to try and poke inside of your own mind for a little, and remain alone with your thoughts. You sit down into a comfy pose on the bed and get to it. Hmm. Breathe in, and out. Calmly, let the dark and nothing around you fill you up. Just, simply, be. And try not to get bored.
Breath. In.
Breath. Out.
Breath. In.
…
This is very quickly getting boring. Your mind is surprisingly good at remaining empty. All of a sudden, you hear more clutter. Your eyes gape open and spy the door being opened. Light fills the room, and it meets your eye. You can't help but make a little noise of pain, as the difference hits you.
You hear something snort derisively, and cover your hurt eyes with your arm, scooching back on your bed as to have your back to the wall. Many gray things, most wearing metal coils, fill the room, and some stand guard outside. One in particular limps closer to you. It seems to have a broken leg, as it does not quite match the right's steps with the left's.
You don't know enough about them to understand how grave it is, however. This is all fed directly into your mind by your awareness of metals. yet, even if you can sense it clearly, things keep getting by you. You hadn't noticed this group until they were opening the door! You must start paying more attention to it.
Even if it still makes your head spin a little. You open your eyes and see one very strange-looking gray thing.