Side One, Ep.2 "Double Dog Dare"

[Legendary Sidekick]

Addison offers to help Diana. "You took a blow to the head." The Huntress teases her own mass of red curls. "It ain't easy getting the herb through so much hair without help. I can get to the worst o' the wound if you'll let me."

 

[JRFLynn]

Jeisera

"Yep, take as many as you need." I say to Diana, offering her the bag of berries.

I pluck a mint leaf for clumsy Riff, and stick it to her forehead.

Riff

"Jei, I'm not hurt." I think she inhaled too much smoke. That, or she's worrying again.

 

[Ireth]

Diana

I gratefully accept Addison's help, and hold still to let her work, aside from taking a berry from Jeisera. I pop it into my mouth and crush it between my teeth, letting the juice flow over my tongue and down my throat. It tastes much better than its namesake, and I regret being able to say that from experience.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

As time drags, a few ponderings tickle my brain. For one, just what bloody happened back there? Though still fresh, it felt so surreal. Well, I'm sure there's weirder things out there...

"George," I ask, though he seems pretty jittery. "Just who was Barney Needle? How did he become a monster?"

I don't suspect he knows much, being a kindly old foreman. Still, there's got to be some clues.

"I'm awfully sorry, was he a friend of yours? Could you tell us what he was doing out here?"

Jeisera

I perk up at these questions. Yes! We need answers! Cautiously, I look around.

"Yeah, has anything strange been going on in these woods, George?"

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

As Riff and Jei ask questions, I look to George as well. I can certainly pick up more than what the man might be willing to tell, though whether or not that's a good thing remains to be seen.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

George says, "Well… Barney was a man who kept to himself. I never would have guessed he'd do something like this. I mean go and attack as he did. The oddity with the barn…"

He looks at the smoldering wreck. There is an odd shape to the hay on the inside of the barn. It's bundled tightly, connecting where the arms and legs were. At the center is a human skeleton, though it's mostly buried in the twisted hay. The head cannot be seen, though it's unclear whether the head is buried in the hay or the skull was taken by the orcs. There are seven orcs inside, their corpses reduced to skeletons with bits of blackened orc meat.

"Naw, this is weird, even for Barney. How's about we head over to the cathedral on the way back? Father Ben might have answers. I'm afraid I don't. Mr. Needle was a bit of a grump, but mostly lazy. Harmless too. But… lazy did harm to himself, didn't it? He ne'er meant no harm though. S'pose the orcs done him in and he became a vengeful spirit of some kind? Jus' a theory. I'd say Father Ben can tell you more, and from him it'd be more than theory. His cathedral ain't too far off the direct path to the waterfront anywho."

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I sigh, recalling the visions I gleaned from the barn. From George's memories, as sincere as his words, Barney had been a decent fellow, if a bit standoffish. "I'm inclined to think your guess about the orcs is the right one, George. Though heaven knows how he became one with his barn. Maybe Father Ben can tell us more." Then again... do I really want to know? I already know more than I ought to, more than I ever wanted to, since well before this all began. The mentalist's gift and curse, I suppose.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

My brows furrow at Mr. Needle's corpse.

"This whole affair is durned frightening, it is, it is...but I have no qualms about speaking with this Father Ben."

Jeisera

"Nor I...but first, I'm going to try some pork--I mean, orc."

Grand. There still some flames going, so I grab some meat and start cooking. Riff gives me a distasteful look as I take a seat on a charred crate and skewer a few pieces on a twig.

"What? I'm hungry!" A flimsy grin finds my face. "It's not like they wouldn't have done the same..."

Riff shakes her head.

In protest, I gleefully rip into a smoldering haunch. Hm, surprisingly, they do taste like pork.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Very well then…"

George leads our heroes down the beaten path. Eventually, the group comes across some leafless trees, two of which are leaning toward each other forming an arch. When George crosses under the arch, there is swampland on either side. The trees in the swamp are all dead, drowned in the pale green water beneath them.

There is a narrow road leading to the center of the swamp. It seems too convenient to be natural, though the moss covering the stony ground masks any apparent clue that the road is manmade. The destination is the center of the swamp. There is a large stone cathedral. The door is not in the center, but instead there are two doors. Between them is a statue made of ebony and ivory. The goddess' skin is ivory; her hair and gown are ebony. On her right is an ivory door; ebony on her left.

This is Lady Death, and the doors represent the doors to the spirit realms: one for good and one for evil. George suggests knocking on the ivory door. The ebony door is locked and bound in thick iron chains. It seems likely that the ebony door is purely symbolic, and would lead to a wall if opened.

 

[JRFLynn]

Jeisera

I eye the ebony door. Chains? Looks like a challenge.

Riff

"Jeeeei." I'm tall enough to nudge her playfully, I know that look anywhere. Well, in truth my curiosity is tickled by the black door, but I've been meddlesome enough for the day. A bit scared, I hang behind sis. "Erm, who wants to knock?"

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I look at Reaver. "I think it would be most fitting for a devotee of Lady Death to knock and enter first, don't you?"

As I turn back to the doors, the Sinner's song runs through my head again. I hold back a shiver.

 

[Reaver]

"Very astute, Vincent. I will go inside. It is sacrilege for those who do not worship my goddess to enter her house of worship without her blessing. I will ask the priest to seek The Lady's beneficence. I shall return soon to let you know what she has decided."

I get down on both knees and bow my head humbly, reciting the ancient prayer The lady has taught us. When I finish, I rise slowly and enter the temple.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Father Ben is at the door as Reaver enters. It appears he heard some of the conversation.

"My son, I assure you that it is not Our Lady's blessing we need to enter this door. That was the teaching of Father Harold at the Temple of the Desolate Plains, which was his answer to Father Gerald of the Temple of the Just Plains. Father Gerald only allowed just men to enter his temple, claiming The Father's approval was required. Sadly, there are those shepherds in my profession who put human words in the mouths of deities as a means of molding their flocks.

"My understanding is that Our Lady welcomes all, for one must pass Her on the way to any other deity." He looks at Diana, adding, "Unless, of course, a Valkyrie finds reason to tend to a departed soul."

He looks over the group, taking in the partially healed wounds. "I can see you have come to me in need. Before any of you speak, I would ask you to kneel for a moment. You may sheathe your weapons, or lay them down before you."

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I have no weapons, so I spread my empty hands as I kneel.

"We come with questions, Father. A man named Barney Needle was slain by orcs today, and our company did battle with them and with what we believe to be his vengeful spirit. We slew the orcs and destroyed the barn before they could kill any of us. Have you any knowledge as to how a man may become one with his home in death, to haunt the earth for a time before seeing your Lady?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"That I have," Father Ben replies. "But first, a prayer." He kneels, remaining silent at first. After about a minute, he preacher simply says, "Not today, My Lady. The battle is won."

The wounded (who chose to kneel) feel the healing process speed up considerably. It only takes about a minute for Diana to fully heal. Less so for others.

"Soul transfer," he says to Vincent. "But what demon granted this ability?" He turns to George. "What was Mr. Needle like?"

"Lazy," says the foreman.

Paul adds, "He was sort of an assho--"

"Lazy will do," says the preacher. "It is as I suspected, only... worse. Much worse.

"Barney Needle came to me for answers, too. I may be partially at fault for this. I spoke of prophesies--gods walking the earth among men. He told me he was one of them. I did not say man could become god--I said gods would become men. Men and women among us.

"But his dreams were too consistent for me to dismiss as drunken ramblings of a crazed hermit. The dreams were real, and they were real communications. Of this I am certain. Certain as one can be after tirelessly delving into manuscripts. From my research, only one demon could get through to the likes of Barney Needle. It is Holst, the All-Seeing Eye. Barney described the yellow serpentine eye in his dreams. That is Holst."

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I let out my breath. Of course, it all makes sense now. No doubt a demon of sloth would associate himself with vegetables, things that stay rooted in the earth. Father Ben's words surprise me less than they would have even two days ago. I can't help but predict we will come face to face with more demons on our quest. Holst is one demon, and it seems a lazy one, but others may be stronger. Then again, as this goes on, we will no doubt become stronger too.

"Do you know of any other demons taking such earthly forms?" I think of the reflexions we met aboard the Frog Prince. We may have defeated them all, save Muziko, but no doubt their mistress is alive and well, and angry. Will she come after us in vengeance?

 

[SeverinR]

Shan Mai kneels for healing then goes to pick up his weapons, looking over the orcs and surrounding area for anything that might be useable or profitable.

 

[JRFLynn]

Riff

"A demon?! That's horrid!" I cry, feeling sick. The Gardener and Woodsmen were killed by demons...even though my parents are watching over us, that very fact fills me with dread.

Jeisera

I can see Riff is scared, especially at the mention of this Holst bozo.

"Father Ben," I ask. "What would a demon want with a lazy farmer? Does Lady Death have an idea what his goals might be?"

Eventually, we might cross more of these aberrations, or maybe the demon himself. The more we know about the enemy, the better equipped we'll be.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Shan Mai
Before leaving the battlefield, Shan Mai discovered the orcs had nothing on them other than human skulls worn in a disturbing way. Whatever blade the orcs may have used to skin the human heads was probably lost in the smoldering remains of the barn.


At the Cathedral
"No." Father Ben's eyes meet Muziko's. He looks at the former demoness, then at Mariya. "But I have read about them. I am looking at one right now." He approaches Muziko, though not aggressively. "You have stolen her form, demon, but did not kill her. I've read of your kind. In the manuscripts, it is said that your kind steals the victim's image before killing the victim." He looks at Mariya, adding, "The part about soul-stealing is obviously wrong, though I never suspected a demon could harm an innocent soul.

"Nevertheless, you are a hellspawn and you are with a child of The Voice. Why?"

Muziko stammers. "I--uh...have her mother's blessing. I can... I can prove it!"

"See? I made a bubble."

"Yes. So you did." Father Ben uses his walking stick to pop the bubble. "How swell."

Muziko looks around the group, as if contemplating whose head to climb on top of for safety.



Father Ben ignores Muziko, and replies to Riff and Jei.

He does a double-take at the human-sized fairy, but does not react to her form, as Jeisera is quick to interject. Ben replies to the Huntress, "As I said, there are men of the cloth who put words in the mouths of gods. They do so to sway those who trust in the position of such men as myself. Shepherds, they call us. But most would be insulted to be called sheep.

"Holst values sheep above all else. The lazy are easiest to tempt, for they are too lazy to think. Lazy people are common. One lazy person is hardly a danger."

Paul interrupts. "Forgive me father, but Needle was dangerous enough to take down a shield maiden." He faces Diana before adding, "No offense, ma'am. You took some heavy hits for me. I don't know why, but what I do know is you're about as tough as they come."

"Yes," Ben says. "Barney Needle is the exception. The rule: Holst will take the homeless, the drunks, the petty criminals, the beggars, the slackers... of which there are plenty. They will become killers when commanded to be. What promise is made to them, I cannot know, nor can I speak of the states of their souls. Lady Death will know which door to point them to when they are freed of their bodies.

"Whether you can help a man under Holst's command, I do not know."

 

[Ireth]

Vincent

I beckon to Muziko, then speak to Father Ben. "Barney Needle was dead when Holst took him over. Is that too the exception, or does Holst typically use the living?"

Diana

I smile faintly at Paul's words. A shame I left my satchel back at Lara's shop, or I could write a reply to him. He wonders why I protected him; I would tell him that protection is my duty and my pleasure as a Shieldmaiden. All I ask in return is that others repay me by guarding my back.

Vincent

I relay Diana's message aloud for Paul, then add, "Diana is among the bravest women I have ever known. It isn't for nothing that she is called 'Diana the she-wolf' by many of her peers on Mount Neverest. She will fight to the death to protect those in her pack, family and friends alike."