manhattan ♔ there is no knot so steadfast | it won't go broke in the middle of monsoons

[silvermaid]

♬ two years before the mast - astronautalis

WHO || Violet Reedhym, Luthir Reedhym, Myrilandel de Tanos, Finnick Odair, Anastacia O'Keefe, Faith O'Keefe, Nicholas Starkweather
WHAT || The Knights attempt to free Vi from the influence of the Nightmare God Malaak'a
WHERE || Manhattan, New York
WHEN || June 7th, 2014
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

Some choices are almost impossible to make. For a year, the Knights have watched Violet fading, the way she always does with the winter thanks to her connection to her mother Persephone. Except in this case, there was no getting better with the arrival of spring. If anything, she's only spiraled further into depression, and it's clear that if this continues, it will spell the end of her sooner than later.

Keijen Blade appeared to several of the Knights in their dreams, to caution them of Vi's impending fate, and to tell them that their plan to save her will end in blood. Of course, he had his own alternative to offer: that she take a deal from Malaak'a that would allow the god to see through her eyes into this world. Realizing that the plan offered by Sehanine to use Faith O'Keefe's dreamwalking ability to sever the connection might simply result in someone giving their life to save hers, Vi agreed to take the offer in one month. However, on the evening of their wedding, Luthir talked her into going through with the goddess' plan, promising not to go into her dream with them.

Their car pulls up in front of Des' horrible rundown apartment building, where they're meant to track down Nicholas Starkweather - a friend of Des', who is apparently also a unicorn. Look, he knows people.

Comments

[silvermaid]

Not like this, no. But the gods have trusted my family with many gifts, and tasked us with many challenges in our time - none of which were beyond us to accomplish. If what Wynn says is true - that the nightmare god has made her a prisoner of her own guilt and regrets, then there is no one more well suited to help her than my daughter.

[ she pauses as she sets down the tray, staring at it ]

Faith can't regret. She's incapable of it. Cursed, I suppose you could say, although it's not as simple as all that.

[witchwoman]

Curses are rarely simple, I've found. But what do you mean? How was she cursed?

[65]

[finnick waits for storytime with a tilted head and raised eyebrow. wut??]

[silvermaid]

[ ♬ world - five for fighting ]

It wasn't exactly a curse. It was a wish. [ she moves to sit down, smoothing out her dress as she casts a worried glance at faith ] This same unicorn once entrusted me with a mission, to help stop a very evil tiefling of a dark god who meant to turn all the humans in New York City into Shadowkind beings.

We stopped him with the help of a genie, and while we were at it, we... got carried away, with our remaining wishes.

[witchwoman]

Oh... [Myri looks at the girl as well.] She really can't feel regret? For anything? I... can't imagine that.

[silvermaid]

Her father and I wished that our children would never say a word that they would have to regret. He and I had both lived with so many of them...

Our first child, Dylan, was born mute. Faith... well, it took us a little longer to understand what was happening with her.

[65]

I guess saying "careful what you wish for" would be too on the nose. ... Your intentions were good, at least.

[witchwoman]

And it doesn't seem that the circumstance has made her any less willing to help people.

[Because no regret is pretty close to no remorse and that's how sociopaths are made.]

[silvermaid]

She's still a descendant of two good goddesses... And more importantly, an O'Keefe. She's just also very unique, and doesn't look at the world the same way you or I do. But she's capable of so much strength of belief.

[witchwoman]

[The corners of Myri's mouth turn up slightly in a smile. She thinks that Faith is lucky to have a mother so kind. Francesca's question at the wedding the night before comes to mind. And Myri imagines that if she ever were to be a mother, she would be lucky to be half as lovely a one as Anastacia.]

[silvermaid]

[ s-so kind, myrichan.

oh but hey what the fuck is going on over there. faith's body suddenly convulses, her head falling back, eyes turning completely black as a string of hideous whispers echoes out from her mouth.

that ain't right. ] What--

[65]

[ WHAT THE FUCK. he manages to stay cool as a cucumber outwardly (will save 22), but there's still a bit of alarm in his eyes as he jumps up and looks over to ana.] What should we do?

[witchwoman]

[Myri looks slightly less calm but thankfully didn't fly into a panic (will 18). She jolts to sit straighter, eyes wide before she stands as well. While Finnick consults with Ana, she takes a very cautious step towards Faith to try to catch just what that sound is or make out what is being said maybe?? (listen 31)]

[silvermaid]

[ ♬ falling - woodkid

as myri steps forward, suddenly faith all but vomits something black and shadowy of her mouth, and it coalesces into a form right in front of the knight. the creature forming is something out of a nightmare. it has a vaguely humanoid shape but its a shape without features. from the waist down, it trails away into vaporous nothingness, leaving a faint trail of fog behind. it mutters and whines to itself, suicidal babble and strange bits of madness. the effect is almost hypnotic, and they must make a will save dc 16 or be hypnotized for 3 rounds. ]

[witchwoman]

[Thank goodness for torture helping her develop a stronger sense of will.... I guess... Myri brushes off those effects without blinking an eye (will 29 bitches).]

No. [It's a ghost of a sound as she watches the shadowy creature spill from Faith and form in front of them. She's terrified for what that might mean for the four of them in the dream world. But that fear only makes her more determined to do something this time. Instinct causes her to raise her palm. From the center, a bright light starts to glow and a piercing ray shoots from her hand at the creature (ranged touch 20 total, 39 damage).]

[silvermaid]

[ the spell strikes true and the blast of light scours away at the darkness in the thing's chest. it writhes against the holy energy, but manages to raise an arm, reaching out to grip myri's wrist (atk nat 20). she feels an icy coldness run through her and then a horrible wave through her mind of the madness that composes the thing - the insanity that defines it. she takes 3 points of wisdom drain, and feels the thing growing slightly stronger as it feeds on her sanity (+5 hp for it!)

anastacia cries: ] No! [ as well, and casts undeath to death, a burst of white light expanding rapidly through the apartment. when it strikes the creature, however, it passes right through it harmlessly. ]

[65]

[finnick, on the other hand, only had a will save of 12. so he's fucked. just standing there paralyzed with a vacant expression while a blob of nightmare goop attacks his fiancee, nbd.]

[witchwoman]

[Myri tries to yank her arm back, but not before she can feel herself slipping a little, like that wall she's built up in her mind is not quite as strong. She staggers back towards Finnick where she notices his face and grows immediately concerned.]

Finnick? [She will spend her six seconds this round trying to wake his ass up without giving him shaken fiance syndrome.]

[silvermaid]

[ as she turns towards him the creature brushes against her back as well (atk 23, another 2 wisdom drain), and anastacia takes a moment to cast break enchantment, freeing finnick from the thing's hypnosis ]

[65]

[he snaps out of it, and looks down at myri shaking him with confusion. WHERE DID THE LAST LIKE 18 SECONDS GO???] Myri? What — [and then he realizes the shadow thing is like right behind her/them and yanks her back from it. even though it's too late. HE TRIED IDK WHAT YOU WANT FROM HIM.]

[witchwoman]

[As Finnick pulls her back, Myri gives a shudder from the cold feeling that washes over her from the shadow's touch. She tries to cast searing light again, but the beam of light misses (attack 14).]

Don't let it touch you! [learn from her mistakes plz]

[silvermaid]

[ the shadow sinks into the floor, out of sight entirely and anastacia casts protection from evil, giving a +2 to saves and defense. ]

That thing is called an allip. It's... a shade created from suicides. Myri's right - don't let it touch you.

[65]

How do we fight it?

[silvermaid]

It can be hurt with weapons or healing spells, like any undead, but it's a ghost. Your attacks might pass right through it sometimes.

[65]

[well fuck that shit. finnick pulls a knife off his belt bc he came prepared. he's like a boy scout now.]