[ task ] all these visions of death ( lurks & kith )

[its me debz]

Quote:

DEATH BECOMES YOU


gaia_crown [ LOCATION ]

Aokigahara, Japan

gaia_crown [ SETTING ]

"The forest of Aokigahara is known as a place that draws from both urban legends and lore, as well as modern fact- a place of death and suicide, people go in, intending to end their lives. As a result hunters regularly go in and either pose as civilians and act to curb those who seek death, or they go in and gather remains, returning them to local officials under the guise of a volunteer group. Anything they can do to try and curb the ever growing perpetuation of FEAR the forest generates from it's notoriety. The land is quiet and has few animal inhabitants. Yet the lack of human intrusion in many parts has made it relatively difficult to trek once off of paths- a fact that poses no problem to the veteran horseman. Hunters reside in small units scattered through the forest, using high grade mobile barrier daggers and gear to protect themselves from the occasionally FEAR saturated forest. "

gaia_crown [ MISSION ]

The forest itself is a place that draws in death of humans naturally. The hunters have long fought a losing battle here in attempting to stem the flow of FEAR from these woods yet now is an opportune moment to strike. Humans are awash in hopelessness as their control of their world slips out from under them; the sound of death calls them like a siren's song. The hunters here will come if they see humans on the move, attempting to save them from their own fate. Herd the humans to their demise to draw the hunters from the safety of their hidden little hole of shields, and destroy them.

gaia_crown [ MECHANICS ]

Stage 1: Drawing out the Hunters

Roll 1d20 for encounters - after three humans have been herded to the woods, proceed to Stage 2.

1. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
   
2. Hunter Encounter! The hunter was scouting the woods and has spotted you. Move onto Stage 2 Immediately!
   
3. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
   
4. A gun, empty sits next to single spent bullet. Oddly, there is no body near it.
   
5. The sounds of a group of humans in the distance calling for someone. They are trying to save a lost soul and thus, are not prime targets. Best to keep moving.
   
6. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
   
7. Signs of Life- tags on the trees show humans that have walked these paths before..yet none are here now. Unfortunate.
   
8. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
   
9. Hunter Encounter! The hunter was scouting the woods and has spotted you. Move onto Stage 2 Immediately!
   
10. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
    
11. An abandoned car on the side of a small dirt road- It looks to have been there a while, and an empty infant's car seat sits in the back.
    
12. Hunter Encounter! The hunter was scouting the woods and has spotted you. Move onto Stage 2 Immediately!
    
13. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
    
14. A small bouquet of flowers sits near a oddly shaped stone. There are no words. Only the flowers- white lilies- that perhaps hint to the meaning of this offering.
    
15. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
    
16. A man with a gunshot wound lays on his back, expression shocked. He must be freshly dead, as few flies have found his corpse. No gun is nearby yet the wound is distinct in it's human origins.
    
17. Hunter Encounter! The hunter was scouting the woods and has spotted you. Move onto Stage 2 Immediately!
    
18. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...
    
19. A well decayed corpse clatters as your foot collides with bone. There is nothing left to really hint who this might have been- other than a very broken pair of glasses and a small now damaged journal rendered illegible by weather and rot.
    
20. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...

Stage 2: Killing the Hunters

Hunters come in sets of three. Their combined HP pool is 120, though every 40 damage you deal means 1 hunter has been killed.

Having spotted you the hunters begin their offensive, and do 3 damage for each turn. After you take out one group... dark you return to exploring to draw out more?

If you feel up to the challenge, return to stage 1 and herd more humans. Repeat as many times as you like. This mission is considered complete after you have eliminated 1 hunter group minimum.

gaia_crown [ BONUS MECHANICS ]

All Elder horsemen may skip to stage two if they so wish after 1 human encounter, their skills allowing them to herd more than 1 human at a time.

Please apply these bonuses based on your clan:


• Conquest: So long as all 3 are alive, you do +2 damage to each successful hit.
  
• Famine: Last Man standing- When the Last hunter remains, dish out +1 damage for each successful hit.
  
• War: Fearsome Screech- Letting out a battle cry in the silent forest causes the hunters to be alarmed, stopping them from damaging you every 5 turns.
  
• Death: Natural bonus! +1 to damage for each successful hit.

gaia_crown [ REWARDS ]

+1 Additional RP point for completion

 

[its me debz]

He was not alone, this time, at the task's site. It was a forest of death and frayed rope, a quiet place with nothing at all to listen to save for the muffled rustling from deep within the darkened paths, narrow and untrodden. Lurks glanced to look upon her, head tilting too far for a natural angle, orange-glow eyes blinking owlishly.

"Hello," he said, friendly in the overly-eager way that defined him, a startling departure from his appearance: half exposed bone, a singed black cloak fluttering behind him, a mass of shadowy insects dancing around his head. On his exposed shoulder, malice was wrought into the bone, carved out to make the edges and lines of his brand.

Still pleasant, and smiling with plenty of teeth Lurks asked: "Are you going to hunt with me?"

nesshime

 

[nessy]

Kithryn loved this place the moment she set foot in it. Everything about it hearkened to her nature, the nature of her clan, the death she revered so dearly. She could feel the FEAR pressing in around her and, unlike the oppressiveness that humans would have described, it felt like coming home. It put her in a blissful, friendly state of mind as she looked over at the Famine horseman.

She wanted to reach out to pet the crawlies that clambered around him, surprised slightly that one of Famine would be so openly friendly. Often she had considered them loners, roamers, not much in the habit of hunting with others. For a priestess of Death she was dressed quite simply in a deep blue dress that swirled around her ankles, wings folded over her hips so as not to catch on the trees, hair pinned up in intricate braids as always. It was a change from the jeweled, skin-baring beauty that swirled around the Tower.

However this wasn't the Tower. She was on the hunt and it was exciting. "I hope to hunt with you. This will be fun." Her eyes all but glowed with her excitement and desire to do Death's work.

cherno astra

Wanna start rolling? : D

 

[its me debz]

Appearances meant little to Lurks, in himself and in others. He was, after all, often in rags and bandages that kept his rattling bones together. Some Sages prettied nice, like Sal, elegant in their many many many layers of embroidered and dyed clothing.

Even still: he thought the Death lady was pretty-- braids were among his favourite decorations. He reached up to tug on one, roughly but without malice, and nodded eagerly, like a bobble-headed toy a human youngling might play with.

"Fun is my favourite thing," Lurks said, boastful, and skittered off into the forest, light footed, his cloak of insect-shadows following close behind. Unfortunately, that grace failed him when a body was underfoot, sending the scavenger flying through the air, landing with a clatter that could only be bone against bone.

Helpfully, Lurks popped his head out of the foliage, pointing at the body. "I found one," he said, "but it is not alive, and so it is not very good."

Quote:

16. A man with a gunshot wound lays on his back, expression shocked. He must be freshly dead, as few flies have found his corpse. No gun is nearby yet the wound is distinct in it's human origins.

nesshime

0/3 Humans Herded
Famine: Last Man standing- When the Last hunter remains, dish out +1 damage for each successful hit.  

[nessy]

Quote:

8. Human Encounter! Coax them gently into the woods and urge them to do commit their final act...

Kithryn's head jerked in the direction of the pull and, for a moment, she frowned. Of course she had two younger sisters who had, in their time, pulled more than a few of her braids. He seemed very much like a child rather than a fully-matured horseman which had her quite curious. Yet Lurks' sprawling tangle onto the forest ground had her softly laughing as she heard shuffling footsteps behind her.

Turning so that her braids flew out behind her, pale lips curved into a cruel smile. "It seems they will find us. We need hardly try..." Picking her way through the undergrowth she called out in a voice that was like a lullaby. "Come lay down your burdens in the arms of the forest. Slip away into the embrace of Death for he is eager to hold you." She knew that Death, the Ancient, was dead and thus would not be embracing anyone.

Still, she'd been taught her whole life the order of things and if Death himself were dead it did not mean that the echo of his embrace would still not be a comfort. Humans could fade away, could be quietly harvested, and the cycle would continue. That was what mattered, more than anything.

Watching the young woman with her pretty rope made of silk she grew almost girlish with delight. "Oh, heartbreak! Lurks, come see how pretty she's going to make this death." Again her voice floated on the air, urging on the girl, confirming that nothing would feel better than the release of all her burdens. Her life ended looking into Kith's eyes as she smiled, gently, and turned back to her companion. "So beautiful."

cherno astra