[D5 EA] Heart of Darkness

[Solork Tan]

RUN AWAY-Average Athletics-2 upgrades and 4 setback: 5eA+2eC+4eS 5 failures, 5 advantage


(Wow. Don't know what to do with that. Maybe the end destination is closer? Cliff to climb up?)

[Meiyokashi]

Solork is able to move fast- but the swamp restricts him greatly. Vines feel as if they grasp around his legs and trip him while he runs and attempts to flee. Luckily, managing to hold onto his blade through the process. Pushing up through the muck he continues to move toward the presence that calls to him but a loud crash and spray of swamp water washes over him. Landing before him the wolf remained, blocking his path fully once more and not allowing him to pass. Standing there it lowered itself to get nearer his face and snaps with a vicious growl.

Behind the Guardian there is still the call to come forward, a cold chill at the back of his nape which is intoxicating and present. A peculiar sensation as it felt so inviting before but now as he nears closer he can feel an insidiousness in it. Like a spider weaving its web the presence waits patiently for him to rush toward it.

[Solork Tan]

Sol smiles in spite of everything. "You really are an excellent Guardian. My compliments" the wolf probably doesn't understand, but Sol can't being himself to hate the thing. It's perhaps closer to him than either realizes: guard dogs, defending places as their nature.

"This is probably going to hurt"

Sol braces himself, charging forward, just as the presence wants. He expects a blow to come and just hopes that it is a glancing one and that he can bounce off and run past the wolf

____
OOC
M1: defensive stance
M2: move past the wolf

(If two movements are required, will abandon Defensive Stance)

[Meiyokashi]

[Coordination vs Average, 2eC]

[Solork Tan]

The Gank is prepared, breaking into a gravball slide as the beast lunges

Dodge the wolf , 2C coordination, ,destiny spent: 1eA+1eP+2eC 2 successes, 2 threat

[Meiyokashi]

As the beast dives for him it's massive paw smashes him in the face but doesn't stop his momentum. Turning to chase him again the two run as they had prior until suddenly the beast stopped in its tracks. Watching him from where it was, prowling along what seemed like an invisible barrier.

[Solork Tan]

Sol offers the creature a bow. "I am sorry that we had to face each other like this. You are a rather terrifying opponent. You are an excellent Guardian."

Continuing on he addresses the voice.

"So, what exactly are you, disembodied voice? Who are you?"

[Meiyokashi]

There is no answer, just the ever present guide forward. Solork continues on he comes upon a large pool of thick black liquid that holds so pungent an odor it would turn away the weaker willed by smell alone.

[Solork Tan]

The Gank inhales, nostrils flaring and is relieved that he is wearing a mask.

"So, this is you then?"

[Meiyokashi]

There is no response beyond the feeling at the nape of his neck, as he looks at the pool there is a powerful urge to walk forward into it.

[Solork Tan]

The urge is strong, but the Gank stops.

"No. I had purpose to come here. I was here to face you, to understand you. I'm not going to walk into that without purpose"

He gives the swamp another chance to respond but starts pulling out the crystal.

" But I am a being of my word, am I not? This thing... it's like you, isn't it? The thing is, I ventured in here past your mental shields, through muck and past the nastiest junkyard dog ever. I did it to grow, to change. I honestly have to ask... Can you? Can you be more than what you are, experience something different? "

[Meiyokashi]

You understand so little.. the voice is heavy and dark, it pulses like the cold throbbing at the back of his neck. Suddenly there's a sharp pain as the coldness grow deep and piercing.

[Roll Discipline vs Hard, 2eC + 1eD]

[Solork Tan]

"Oh very true. But I'm aware of it. You, on the other hand..."

Sol envisions pushing that dark sensation, giving it a place to go, to the crystal in his hand.

"I stopped at the museum the first day I was here? Do you even know what that is? You see, settlers got lost, so they.. just moved on. How many grew tired of your twists and turns and just left? How long have you been here, ignoring what has grown around you? Decades? More like centuries, millennia if I were to wager"

"So, how badly do you want what you need me for? How much can you change a tiny part of yourself to be more?"

" I'm offering you a path. Offer... Whatever you were going to give me to this crystal. Help me change it, either to the light or to balance. Or wait another millennia knowing you chose to be lesser"

Face the swamp-Discipline Hard with two upgrades-Destiny spent: 2eP+1eA+2eC+1eD 3 successes, 2 threat

[Meiyokashi]

Solork feels that presence, the sharp pain piercing him and nearly forcing him forward toward the pool without his consent and he fought against it, steeling himself against the mental assault.

Meaningless..

Meaningless words.

Darkness afflicts you.

You are blind to it.

Foolish..

[Solork Tan]

The Gank let's out a crazed laugh. "Blind to it? I never stop hearing about how I'm afflicted by the Darkness. The difference is that I choose to be more. And it seems you can't make that choice"

Sol, grabs a tong from his tool kit and places the crystal in it.

" You want something to take a bath? So be it"

Sol plunges the crystal into the black pool

[Meiyokashi]

As the crystal is dipped into the pool there is no response and the quietness of the swamp feels overbearing. Standing here like this, a feeling washes over him as the anti-climatic moment sets in... and then the pool starts to roil and bubble with the crystal within.

[Solork Tan]

"There." The Gank speaks to...well, nothing in particular but the swamp itself. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of what you give."

He watches the bubbling, ready to snatch the crystal back away the moment the movement pauses outside the crystal.

[Meiyokashi]

As the bubbling stops and Solork pulls the crystal away he removes a crimson that appears so thick it almost feels as if it's swirling constantly with blood. Just looking upon the crystal he can feel the rage within it burning and bubbling. What progress might have been made on the crystal was certainly all but gone but this crystal was certainly.. more than it was.

[Crystal gains +1 Vicious Quality with an additional effect on Crits, further a Force Sensitive in close proximity (possession) of this crystal is slowly affected by the Darkness within it over time, Gaining 1 Conflict per day.]

[Solork Tan]

"This... This is not what I wanted"

Sol hurries to leave

[Meiyokashi]

Sol isn't harried on his way out, but all the way he feels the presence upon him, the coldness. Like eyes upon him all the way through the swamp.