westwhere | he rode in, a king

he rode in, a king

HONEY, WE’VE GOT VISITORS

Sa-Hareth-brand Cassandra tries to flag the future, gets left on read. True story — and then, the dead come. His offer neglected, a desperate Unhalad resorts to sieging the farmhouse in search for the mirror that was previously on the Imperious.

He’s in for disappointment, while the party prepare for... house guests over the early-morning 16 June to 17 June period.

Around 3:30am (16 June) of a storming night, those who are awake or sensitive to the supernatural may hear the winds and fleeing rats whisper that something comes.

At 3:45am, Karsa’s wards around the farmhouse set off, briefly shrieking. Within minutes, Unhalad’s undead infiltrate the farmhouse, with one slight creature first entering down the kitchen chimney.

A small faction of undead remain on the roof, while a swarming majority circle the farmhouse. Throughout the night, they attempt to break in through doors and windows, making slow progress. They are warier of the forest-facing back entrances.

The attackers comprise droves of undead, some clearly only recently converted in haste. They are weaker for it.

Over time, the undead drip into the farmhouse. They lack the coordination for a concerted effort. Attempting to exit within the first three hours of the siege will prove disastrous, as too many undead wait outside.

The undead will seek a mirror, being first and foremost drawn to Winnie, who carries a similar item on her person. Fox and Five will also be of interest. Fox can escape attention by discarding the shards.

Any character that was bound to Anurr’s tree still bears the lingering marks of Anurr’s undeath is especially perceived as an enemy. Regulus enjoys the same treatment, given his extensive recent stay with the free people.

The undead will savagely wreck the house in their hunt, striving to kill those in their path. They can be slain regularly. The older, "properly" summoned undead (identifiable because of their clear state of rotting) should be incinerated or severely amputated to avoid further resurrection.

Because of the overwhelming number of undead, it is best to keep lean, mean and mobile within the house.

Karsa joins the farmhouse around 6am. She’ll teleport in, but the density of undead outside will prevent her from teleporting out safely. Alongside three party volunteers, she reinforces some of the wards, decelerating the advance of the undead. Her group will also throw away any of Unhalad’s markings (salt and ash) out of the house and into the inner garden pond.

Come sunset (16 June) Unhalad himself will ride outside of the farmhouse, holding distant vigil over the hostilities with his retinue. On his arrival, unbound farmhouse animals will flee into the forest.

Unhalad will be recognisable because of the immensity of raw power he emanates — a feeling of great and overwhelming despair and hunger.

Options to evacuate the chaos include sneaking out, fighting the undead, calling on reinforcements from any local allies, or holding position until around 8am of 17 June, when Unhalad’s last-minute forces start to disintegrate because of the haste in which they were summoned.

The minority of Unhalad’s forces that were summoned back alive with the appropriate diligence will not break down and will need to be banished.

The free people will not intervene, unless they are called in.

If you’ve made it this far into Sa-Hareth’s worst hazing ritual, congratulations. A few more days of crud to go.

Over the next few days before the 21-22 June departure, characters will have to make do with their shattered lodgings and dearth of supplies, or can seek sanctuary back in Sa-Hareth. Any money spent on accommodations will have to come out of the travel fund. You're on your own, kids.

The animals can return from the forest, and the free people might spare some food and water, gifted to those who stood out during Anurr’s trials. The Anurr cultists of Sa-Hareth could also part with a few provisions for their good friends, Xie Lian and Xiao Xingchen.

To opt out of the event, have characters out of the house on the night of the siege. It will be difficult to re-enter. The OOC plotting floor is yours!

FARMHOUSE LAYOUT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A: I'm a Damsel, I'm in Distress

[At first she hadn't thought too much about the odd feeling in the air, other than the general oddness that she could actually acknowledge it being there. The attack startles her awake and she dresses quickly, grabbing her parasol and poking her head out in bewilderment.] What in the world is-- Oh!

[The undead don't seem too interested in most of the others, seemingly willing to bypass them to get to her, which would be terrifying if she could feel terror. She yelps and quickly scrambles away down the hall, her eyes wide in fear and panic as she rounds a corner and grabs onto whoever she nearly barrels into when she does.]

I don't mean to alarm you, but those undead may or may not be looking for me, specifically.

B. Or not so Damsel

[Winnie really was content to just sit around and let herself be protected while she observed the goings-on. But sometimes things happened, things went a little wrong. Whoever's guarding her will suddenly find the thin blade of Winnie's hidden sword stabbed through the neck of an undead that managed to sneak up on them, pinning it to the ground]

I'm afraid I'm not sure about this next part, but this was easy! [She beams away as if in giddy delight that she's done this] Goodness, this is exciting though, isn't it?

C: The Aftermath

[She rests her hands on her hips, hair and clothing in slight disarray as she wanders about, examining the bodies and the damage done.]

You know, far be it for me to say I told you so, but... I did tell you so.

[neutrality is clearly not the right way!!]

Now what?

D. Wildcard!

[Your wildcard option. For anything else!]

Edited 2021-06-15 19:17 (UTC)

[Moran has a sword and is not afraid to use it. He has used it already, as a matter of fact. But...

This is an interesting statement here, and one that merits a moment of attention.]

And why would that be, Lady Winnie?

Edited 2021-06-17 16:08 (UTC)

[Winnie looks about, brow furrowed a little in concern] Well they seem very adamant in coming in my specific direction, so it's not a terrible stretch to make. They seem ken to ignore most other things if I'm in the near vicinity.

[She can think of a few reasons for that, but she hopes it's the mirror issue and not the lack-of-soul issue.]

I understood that, Lady Winnie. What I mean is, why would they be coming for you specifically? Can you think of something you've done that might have made you a target?

[Because there has to be something, since they don't seem like the type to be attracted to her looks and personality.

He'll defend her no matter what, but a little more information would not come amiss.]

The only thing Unhalad asked is for the shards of mirror. Do you have any on you?

Edited 2021-06-20 10:20 (UTC)

I've never done anything wrong in my life since coming here! [She pouts a little, as if she can't believe he'd ask such a thing] I haven't done anything--I doubt anyone outside our little group even knows I exist!

[It's starting to look like her lack of a soul might've honed them in on her, but--] Oh! Well... I have a mirror! The one we got from the bank heist. I carry it with me all the time.

[It's in a pocket in her skirts as they speak, carefully wrapped tightly in a couple layers of fabric for safe-keeping.]

... Would it, by any chance, be similar to those shards of mirror that were retrieved from the ship? With similar effects?

[And how long have you had this and not told anyone, Winnie?

If that is the case, though, it makes more sense as to why someone would keep it in a vault in a bank. That's clearly more valuable than just a mirror.]

If that is the case, I would say that is why they're targeting you. Unhalad seems quite desperate to get his hands on those mirrors.

[She blinks owlishly, then shakes her head] Oh, no, I don't believe so. It's never done anything strange while I've had it--and I've been using it to do my hair for ages now.

The Merchant did ask that I keep it safe, but nothing's ever happened with it! And considering the mirror and I are all but inseparable now, they might as well be after me.

[She sighs a little] I'm not sure I see what all the fuss is about. it's not as though he has to worry about humidity ruining his hair.

[His raised eyebrow tells her enough what he thinks of the innocent act.]

If it were just a mirror for doing one's hair, my Lady, I do not think the undead lord Unhalad would want it so badly, or that our friend the Merchant would care one lick what you do with it.

Now, we have two choices: Either we hide you, or we use you as bait.

Bait? [She echoes him, eyebrow raised incredulously.]

Well, I'd hate to be hidden, I'd miss out on everything. But 'bait' seems a bit risky, doesn't it? What makes you assume I'm a fast enough runner to keep ahead of them all!

I do not like to assume, or work without any reliable data, so how about we find out?

[You know, do a little trial run of sorts?]

You know the layout of the house, which is an advantage. It would be easy enough for you to lead them to a place where some of us wait in ambush.

[She doesn't look at all offended, just-- amused.] Do you have enough people for an ambush? There might be an awful lot of them.

[But she hums thoughtfully and looks down the corridor, hearing the shuffling in the distance.]

Well, playing bait could be fun too. I suppose I'm glad I pulled on my sensible shoes for this. [She gives a dramatic little sigh.]

If we get them to a place where only one or two can pass at once, we don't need many people.

[He gives a wry smile at the quip about her shoes.]

We shall all be glad for it. And then... maybe you might want to tell us more about this mirror of yours, Lady Winnie.

I'm afraid I have nothing to tell about it. [She gives him a little pout, expression apologetic.] All I know is that the Merchant asked me to keep it safe and that it's a wonderful way to do my hair in the morning. I suppose it's meant to have some sort of effect, but I've never had a problem with it.

[,small>She shrugs, shaking her head] So unless Unhalad is in dire need of a way to do his hair, I fail to see what my little mirror would be able to help him with.

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beitangmoran - 2021-06-29 17:23 (UTC) - Expand

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beitangmoran - 2021-07-03 09:06 (UTC) - Expand

[ Of course Five would run across her once it's all over. Miserable, covered in who knows what, and still very much in the mood to take it out on someone. It just so happens the first person he runs into is barely phased by the ordeal.

He gives her a dull stare when he hears her question. Don't ask him. ]

So much for calling their bluff.

[ They were warned this was coming if they didn't cooperate. Judging by the sheer amount of bodies surrounding them, he guesses a few of them had decided they were perfectly capable of taking on an entire legion of undead. The same people who struggled over the fate of a couple of miners just weeks ago. ]

Think anyone will notice?

[Winnie turns, looking around as she brushes her skirts of.] Oh, no. I don't think so. Find a big enough rug to sweep it all under, no one will bat an eye.

[She laughs a bit and then looks at him, eyeing him with a furrowed brow, expression concerned]

Are you alright? You look positively dreadful.

[ And Five was counting on her to be the unfeeling one. ]

I think I'm coming down with something. You know how it is, in this weather. [ He folds his arms, finding part of a corpse on the ground to fixate on. It's a while before he says anything. ]

I heard they killed Unhalad.

[ He's not sure what that means yet, but it feels like something he should bring up to her. Looking for confirmation, maybe. Somehow that's the strategy they went with. ]

There does seem to be something going around... [She muses quietly, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

That's new information though and Winnie seems to straighten up a little, her attention focused on him even as she reaches out to him to start brusquely checking him over for any wounds.]

Oh? I suppose we should here celebrations soon, shouldn't we? I imagine they'll all be quite happy to be free of him, assuming there's not someone worse waiting to take his place.

What happened, exactly? Did you see it?

[ Five stiffens as she gets closer, but doesn't move away. Trying to pretend he doesn't notice what she's doing while obviously being bothered. He's filthy, who can tell? ]

No. I don't know. [ He was... sleeping. ] I was told Archeval and Lan Wangji had a hand in it.

[ And he's not asking those two. He turns towards her, curious if she'll give him a real answer if he asks. ]

Where were you?

[She frowns at him] Sleeping? Through all that? [She touches the back of her hand to his forehead. Is he sick?? Binch, what's wrong with you.]

Me? Oh, here and there. I apparently make quite good bait, seeing as these monsters seemed fixated on me in particular. My legs are killing me though. [honestly now that the adrenaline's calmed down, she can really feel the ache in them and she makes a face of discomfort.]

[ 'Magic-induced' sleep. That's what's conveyed in the weary expression he makes after her question. He has no comment, because he doesn't know what's going on with him. It feels a bit like someone is trying to tear him apart from the inside out, but it's something he's getting used to.

If he were thinking more clearly, maybe he would have moved away when she touches his forehead instead of his too-slow reaction to turn his head, but it'll occur to him later. ]

I thought they were leaving you alone. [ That the whole thing where she has no soul and is too much like them. There's obviously more of a story there. He thinks about it for a few more seconds, then lifts an eyebrow when it occurs to him. ] ... Was it-?

They do. [She has no doubt that if she ditched the mirror they would've started ignoring her entirely again.

But then he clues in on what the actual problem is and she nods solemnly as she fusses over his clothes and his hair, rustling through her pockets until she can grab a handkerchief and start cleaning off some of the blood.]

Indeed. In the absence of the mirror he wanted, I suppose he went after this one. [She sighs a little.] You are all quite lucky that I enjoy your company over my own self-preservation, and that my curiosity for this mirror is stronger.

For a given value of enjoy, I suppose. [She smiles, like it's a joke.]

[ Must she? Five tolerates her fussing for a time, if only because he's barely functioning as it is, and what she says next is sufficiently distracting. It's not the first time he's wondered if that mirror had the same connection to the undead.

He finally holds up a hand to signal for her to stop. ]

You still have it?

Of course! [She didn't pat at her pocket where it still laid on her person, not wishing to draw attention to it.]

I'm afraid to say it, but if they'd decided to throw me out or tried to forcefully take it from me, I would've left and sold you all out.

[There's a slight smile as she says it, like she might be joking, but he tilts her head to regard Five curiously.]

Would you have gone with me, if I asked?

[ He doesn't doubt that she would have. Why she would, over a random item he lifted from a vault, now that he doesn't know. Is it something about it that keeps her from letting it go?

It seems like a strange time to ask about his loyalty, but she might have just said that to get a reaction. ]

Assuming we could outrun all the undead chasing us over a haunted mirror?

[She laughs a little and nods]

Yes! Let's say I could get us both away from them. Consequence-free.