Re: The Phenomenal Fracas! (GBS2G6): [Round Two: Witch's Haunt]
11-11-2010, 03:10 AM
Originally posted on MSPA by granolaman.
“I heard you accepted his offer.”
“I had to. There was no other option. It was the only way to keep you safe.”
“I worry for you love, how can you be sure this is the right path?”
“Because we are still alive, and we are still together, this is how I know”
“If there is no deterring you then, promise me one thing Tam. Promise you he won’t make you forget about us.”
“I promise Marian.”
Tamerlane awoke with a start.
He sat up from where he’d collapsed and almost immediately got knocked back down from the head rush. The power backlash from the Endorphic Core was enormous, it took him nearly a minute to clear his head enough to even look around. The room he had taken refuge in appeared to be some sort of nursery. Wooden toys sat tidily on shelves around the room but other than that, the place seemed a little barren. Where’s all the furniture? He wondered as he turned towards the door. Oh, right. A large barricade of every heavy object in room had been erected in front of the entrance.
His headache flared up again and sent him back down to the floor clutching his head. He stayed down for a moment until he was sure the worst of it had past. Slowly, he rose to his feet. His legs trembled for a bit but they managed to keep him up. Think, think! What happened? What went wrong? There was the sandstorm, then the pirate showed up, but I subdued him. Then the snake followed him too. The snake! It nearly killed me! Tamerlane stumbled and held his head again. His memories seemed hazy and unclear. The whole room felt hazy, in fact. All of his senses seemed dulled compared to earlier.
All right, what else happened. I didn’t die, I wound up in the foyer of some mansion. He struggled to remember more, but everything after that was a blur. He had walked upstairs and into this room, and blocked the door before collapsing. Frankly he was surprised he’d found enough energy to move all of that furniture in the first place. I secured the room, and then I passed out. And then… His thoughts turned to his dream. Unlike everything else, the image of a raven-haired woman in desert silks remained crystal clear in his mind, clearer than any dream should be. Who was she? Why does it feel like I know her from somewhere? Tamerlane shook his head. This was no time to be dwelling on dreams, there was a battle going on.
Tamerlane knelt down and pulled a handful of sand out of his pocket. The room still seemed fuzzy, but he felt his mind was slowly clearing up. Regardless, he needed to know if he was in any shape to fight. He concentrated on the pile, urging it move. Nothing happened. He tried harder, concentrating on nothing but bending the sand to his will. Slowly, the tiny pile began to twist and twirl on the ground. With a quick smirk, he began adding shape and definition to his swirl, his mind adapting to its former level. Then the sand disappeared.
He sat there for a moment, perplexed. He couldn’t quite grasp what just happened, the sand simply vanished into thin air. Annoyed, he reached back into his pocket to grab more sand before he stopped himself. No, my supply of sand is limited as it is; I can’t waste it all trying to figure out what happened. I have to be careful with my resources from now on. He replaced the sand in his pocket as stood back up. At least I still have my sword. I won’t be completely defenseless here.
His hand brushed against something else in his pocket. Tamerlane paused and pulled out Syvex’s severed hand. The claws had begun to wither and curl into the palm, but the appendage still glowed its dark aura. Serpent, you cost me my victory in the city. He clenched the claw in his fist and dropped it back into his coat, you will suffer for this, I assure you.
Tamerlane decided it was time to leave. He dismantled the barricade without trouble; his strength already well on its way to being restored. With any luck, I should be back to full strength before I run into any of the other contestants. He pulled the final chair away from the door and swung it open. On the other side, Riko and Syvex stood, wearing the same surprised expression that crossed Tamerlane’s face.
“I heard you accepted his offer.”
“I had to. There was no other option. It was the only way to keep you safe.”
“I worry for you love, how can you be sure this is the right path?”
“Because we are still alive, and we are still together, this is how I know”
“If there is no deterring you then, promise me one thing Tam. Promise you he won’t make you forget about us.”
“I promise Marian.”
Tamerlane awoke with a start.
He sat up from where he’d collapsed and almost immediately got knocked back down from the head rush. The power backlash from the Endorphic Core was enormous, it took him nearly a minute to clear his head enough to even look around. The room he had taken refuge in appeared to be some sort of nursery. Wooden toys sat tidily on shelves around the room but other than that, the place seemed a little barren. Where’s all the furniture? He wondered as he turned towards the door. Oh, right. A large barricade of every heavy object in room had been erected in front of the entrance.
His headache flared up again and sent him back down to the floor clutching his head. He stayed down for a moment until he was sure the worst of it had past. Slowly, he rose to his feet. His legs trembled for a bit but they managed to keep him up. Think, think! What happened? What went wrong? There was the sandstorm, then the pirate showed up, but I subdued him. Then the snake followed him too. The snake! It nearly killed me! Tamerlane stumbled and held his head again. His memories seemed hazy and unclear. The whole room felt hazy, in fact. All of his senses seemed dulled compared to earlier.
All right, what else happened. I didn’t die, I wound up in the foyer of some mansion. He struggled to remember more, but everything after that was a blur. He had walked upstairs and into this room, and blocked the door before collapsing. Frankly he was surprised he’d found enough energy to move all of that furniture in the first place. I secured the room, and then I passed out. And then… His thoughts turned to his dream. Unlike everything else, the image of a raven-haired woman in desert silks remained crystal clear in his mind, clearer than any dream should be. Who was she? Why does it feel like I know her from somewhere? Tamerlane shook his head. This was no time to be dwelling on dreams, there was a battle going on.
Tamerlane knelt down and pulled a handful of sand out of his pocket. The room still seemed fuzzy, but he felt his mind was slowly clearing up. Regardless, he needed to know if he was in any shape to fight. He concentrated on the pile, urging it move. Nothing happened. He tried harder, concentrating on nothing but bending the sand to his will. Slowly, the tiny pile began to twist and twirl on the ground. With a quick smirk, he began adding shape and definition to his swirl, his mind adapting to its former level. Then the sand disappeared.
He sat there for a moment, perplexed. He couldn’t quite grasp what just happened, the sand simply vanished into thin air. Annoyed, he reached back into his pocket to grab more sand before he stopped himself. No, my supply of sand is limited as it is; I can’t waste it all trying to figure out what happened. I have to be careful with my resources from now on. He replaced the sand in his pocket as stood back up. At least I still have my sword. I won’t be completely defenseless here.
His hand brushed against something else in his pocket. Tamerlane paused and pulled out Syvex’s severed hand. The claws had begun to wither and curl into the palm, but the appendage still glowed its dark aura. Serpent, you cost me my victory in the city. He clenched the claw in his fist and dropped it back into his coat, you will suffer for this, I assure you.
Tamerlane decided it was time to leave. He dismantled the barricade without trouble; his strength already well on its way to being restored. With any luck, I should be back to full strength before I run into any of the other contestants. He pulled the final chair away from the door and swung it open. On the other side, Riko and Syvex stood, wearing the same surprised expression that crossed Tamerlane’s face.