[F29/PP] Jetpack? Check. [Scouting]

[Oscar 0]

The villagers had seemed nervous at their appearance. But as Oscar beheld the scene that played out in front of him, it hardly seemed scripted. Those strangers had the same strange aura that had inflicted the entire Floor. A certain *wrongness* about them. The light faded, casting Oscar back into the darkness. The sound of the rain once more dominated his senses. It came down in sheets, seeming to grow in intensity as the visions progressed. He looked over to his right, his eyes falling upon the end of a gutter. It was angled downward, water cascading through the half-piping to the ground. But at the end, he could see water dripping slowly. Rhythmically.

Drip.

Drop.

Each droplet was strangely louder than the sheets of rain falling all around him. Almost loud enough to make him flinch as they splashed to the ground. 

Drip.

Drop.

It was in his head now. Loud and unyielding, forcing out all other thought.

Spoiler

ID: 243613 | LD: 17-5, success
I am the night

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Lightning flashed again. He was back on the beach, that same drip drop thundering through his mind. He saw it then. The strange, gelatinous, almost translucent mass that shambled onto the beach from the water. And he saw the torches that appeared in the dark of the night. The dozens of flickering flames that ignited from the border of the town. That encircled the strange creature that had appeared on the beach. That glinted in the steel of those grotesque implements. And he heard the spilling of blood, the tearing of flesh - if he could even call it that.

Drip.

Drop.

The splattering of ichor and the smack of viscera upon the sand. The gleeful shouts of the strangers as they lost themselves in the decadence of their grim work - of their Saturnalia of Slaughter. Oscar heard the screams. He saw a clergyman clutching the bloody stump of what used to be his hand. 

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar saw many things. The strange creature and his black blood soaking into the sand, washing away with the tides. He saw the strangers descend upon one another after their quarry had finished its final death rattles. Ripping and tearing into one another. Crimson blending with black upon the sands like paint upon a palette. Oscar wanted to close his eyes. He had seen horror - real horror - but he had never seen anything like this. The wild eyes beneath those wide-brimmed hats. The same shouts of glee as they tore their comrades apart. As they were torn apart in kind. But something kept his eyes riveted to the scene. As if he needed to bear witness. As if the knowledge wanted to be learned. Because once it had, there could be no going back. It could not been unlearned. It could not be unseen. Insight of the past desired to inflict itself upon the present.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

As the darkness fell upon him, Oscar found that his attention had turned back the way that he had come. Oscar sat, stark still, head swiveled back towards the beach and those deep, dark waters. His eyes were wide and that sound continued to thunder in his ears.

Drip.

Drop.

Drip.

Drop.

Oscar felt a trepidation that was fundamentally unlike him. He thought that he had seen and experienced the worst that this game could possibly throw at him. And he found that he had been so totally wrong. He feared the next flash of lightning, fingernails digging into the stone as if to brace for the next vision. As if he could brace for the next vision. But as much as he feared it, he found himself hungry for it. Salivating for more knowledge, some deep-seated part of him ravenous for the story to continue to unfold before him.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Again, lightning flashed. One sole survivor stood amongst the fallen multitudes in the aftermath of their Festival of Harvest. His white robes and cloak soaked black and red, the brass helmet upon his face slightly crooked. The man of the cloth fell to his hands and knees. Eventually, Oscar thought he might be lamenting what he had just done. As if a sudden bolt of sanity had cleared whatever bloodlust he had found himself gripped by. His shoulders shuddered, a strange sound - guttural and low - resonated from him. Oscar almost sighed in relief when he realized that he was crying. 

No. Not crying.

Oscar's blood ran cold as those sounds grew in volume. Laughter. Manic, desperate. That same glee from before as they ripped into the creature, themselves, intensified to an unfathomable level. The man tore off his mask and turned his head straight towards Oscar. They locked eyes.

Or they would have, were the man's sockets not empty.

Spoiler

 

ID: 243614, LD: 20+15

Running Total: 169/300

 

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

The man ripped his attention away from Oscar, instead turning himself upon the dead arranged before him. Oscar could only watch on in abject horror as he gorged himself upon the fallen. Those sickening sounds as he feasted. The gleeful shrieks as he sank his teeth into flesh. He began with the creature, gnawing on its gelatinous form. Black ichor oozed from the corners of his mouth, dribbling off of his chin.

Drip.

Drip.

The sounds of his repast drowned out the air. The crunching of bone and the wet sounds of chewing. Oscar would never be able to unhear it. He would never be able to un-know. He could merely sit there, frozen. Bearing witness and praying for the darkness to take him into its sweet embrace. But it never came. Time stretched unto infinity. He was trapped here. Cursed to see this scene of depravity to its end. 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

The more the man feasted, the less like a human he came to resemble. It was as if he was gaining years worth of weight at once. Flesh writhed, thick layers of fat forming underneath. His sounds were undercut by ragged breaths as his lungs and heart struggled under the weight. His limbs swelled to impossible proportions, his robes split under the strain of his increasingly gargantuan bulk. Oscar witnessed teeth fall from his maw, broken against bone. And yet he still continued to chew. Still continued to indulge himself like a mindless beast. And it wasn't until the last scrap was eaten and the last drop of blood was licked from the sand that the man began to move. He rose to his full height and walked forward. Towards the water. Oscar watched as he shambled forward, the tides licking at his feet. At his ankles. At his knees.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

The man trudged forward, undaunted and unconcerned by the rising tides. Oscar was forced to watch as his head finally disappeared beneath the waves, leaving no evidence that he was ever there. No evidence except for the blood-stained implements scattered across the beach. But the tide was rising. They, too, would be swept off to sea. There would be no one who would know what happened here. No one to spread the story. No one to warn the villagers.

Warn them? 

Why should they be warned. They were about to ascend. To reach a higher state of being and transcend their mortal flesh. They would have knowledge of what was coming. Who was coming. They should be grateful. Thankful for this blessing. Thankful for the eyes with which to behold the coming of the end. Thankful for the bodies that would sustain them as the seas rose and took them all.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Darkness fell, the vision faded. But he still heard it. That manic laughter. The ripping and the tearing. The crunching. And he found himself wishing that he had been there. That he could have partaken of their communion as sacrifice. Would that he could have received such an honor. He heard shambling nearby. Or was it far away. The rhythmic slapping sound, unsteady footsteps approaching. But he didn't care. He had dishonored himself by not partaking. By not participating. Maybe if they had killed that damn bear sooner, he could have ascended too.

He didn't notice the hulking presence approaching him. Or the large flipper that rose, lingering in the air like an executioner's axe. Those ivory tusks that shone in the weak moonlight. But he did feel the slap. And he felt something release from his flesh. All at once, his mind returned to him. Just in time to see that Walrus from earlier looming over him.

Just in time to see that odd creature land between his feet.

Spoiler

 

ID: 243615 | LD: 15+15=30

Running Total: 199/300

 

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar's attention flicked between the walrus and the strange aquatic creature curling in on itself between his feet. It was white, almost translucent. Not unlike the creature from his visions. Oscar picked it up off of the ground, examining it. It had a circular mouth and rows of small teeth. Not unlike a lamprey. He rubbed the top of this head, feeling at the wounds there. When had this thing attached to him? Perhaps it had been clinging to the mast of that ship that had crashed down upon his head, transferring in the collision. Oscar realized that his headache was gone now. So he'd certainly found the source of that. But the bigger issue was the walrus that was still looming over him. And the Mimic that had jumped out of nowhere and tried to chomp down on his face. This one was unlike the last. It was normal. Something that, at this very moment, Oscar was very grateful for.

 

Spoiler

Opening - ID: 243616 | CD: 6, get fucked
Looting - ID: 243617 | LD: 1, I GOT FUCKED ANYWAY

Spoiler

Oscar | HP: 1056/1056 | EN: 128/128 | DMG: 27 | MIT:187 | ACC:5 | AA  | PHASE | EVA:3 | BH:58 | VAMP-O: 174 | REC: 4 | LD:9 | PROSP:3                                                                             

Mimic attack vs Oscar | ID: 243618 | MD: 8-3, Miss

Mimic | HP: 408/408 | DMG: 136

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar drew his weapon and dispatched the Mimic in short order. It was hardly a threat. Pinching the squirming lamprey between his fingers, Oscar rose to his full height. He could feel his mind becoming less clouded. Turning to face the walrus man, Oscar cocked his head to the side. It wasn't attacking. In fact, it had done him a real solid by knocking that creature off of his head.

"Can you understand me?"

Talking to an NPC like it held any sort of will was a first for Oscar. But going on a vision quest that fucked up was also a first. Picking between the two evils, Oscar knew which one was lesser.

The Walrus' dark eyes met Oscar's and he gave him what Oscar could only interpret as a nod. 

"Why did you help me?" Oscar let his words linger before scrunching his face up in frustration. "Stupid question, you can't talk or you would've."

Spoiler

Oscar | HP: 1056/1056 | EN: 105/128 | DMG: 27 | MIT:187 | ACC:5 | AA  | PHASE | EVA:3 | BH:58 | VAMP-O: 174 | REC: 4 | LD:9 | PROSP:3                                                                             

(C)AOE-I vs Mimic | ID: 243619 | BD: 10, Deal 450 DMG

Mimic | HP: 0/408 | DMG: 136

I'm not even gonna loot you bc fuck you

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

A long silence passed between Oscar and the Walrus man. He didn't know where to begin. He knew where he wanted to. But he wasn't fully certain that he wanted the answer. But he needed to know. That same unnatural thirst for knowledge had its grip upon his mind.

"Did that- What this thing showed me. Did that happen?"

The Walrus man shrugged and shook his head. Not exactly helpful information, but certainly a mercy. If it was just something showed to him - if it was just a scene from a shitty gorefest movie - he could let it go. But it had felt so real. And he couldn't trust his own intuition. He felt it in his bones that it had all been real. But there was a glimmer in the back of his mind that told him that it wasn't. Hoped that it wasn't. And even if it had been real, it created more questions than it answered.

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar's temper suddenly flared. He dropped the lamprey that remained trapped between his fingers, the thing that lurched towards him so hungrily. Oscar raised his boot and stamped it beneath his heel. He would get the necessary therapy later. Right now, he had a job to do. And now, more than ever, he knew that they needed to put this entire fucking place firmly within their rear view. So, he plastered a smile on his face and turned his attention back to the walrus man.

"I'm gonna call you Waldo," he said. There was a glint in the creature's eye. A certain familiarity. As if he had been called that before. He merely nodded in acceptance. There was something else. A spark of joy. Oscar brought his hand down, holding his palm up toward Waldo. "Appreciate your help, Waldo. Gimme some fin." Waldo was all too happy to acquiesce, slapping his flipper against Oscar's hand in the best low-five they could muster.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

"I'm gonna reckon that if we take out the Floor Boss, you guys might go back to normal," Oscar said. "Any idea where it is?"

Waldo shook his head, instead pointing down the road. Oscar could only assume that there was another location beyond this town that he hadn't checked.

"So you don't know where the boss is, but there is something going down over there?"

Waldo nodded vigorously, his jowls flopping around in time with his motions. Oscar nodded and quickly patted himself as if to check for any additional hangers-on.

"You're a real one, Waldo. Thanks. We're gonna get you guys some help, so hang on."

It felt weird, being legitimately concerned about an NPCs well-being. But, the thing had done him a solid by knocking that brain sucker off his head. The least he could do was try to set things right. "You just sit tight for me, okay?"

 

Spoiler

ID: 243620 | LD: 19+15 = 34

Running Total: 233/300

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Somehow, Oscar felt that he was in the final stretch. He'd not made much headway so far, but it felt like a turning point. But, really, after what he'd seen anything would feel like a turning point. But he also felt a certain sense of urgency. He needed to circle the wagons before not after he found the door. At the speeds he was sprinting, it was probably ill-advised to be tapping out messages and not watching where he was going.

But there weren't any texting and driving laws in Aincrad.

Quote

To @Lessa

Hey. Shit got weird. Get your shit together. I'm almost at the door and we need to fuckin' leave.

An ominous message, for sure, but between dodging terrain and shambling horrors, it didn't leave much room for Oscar to mince words. He darted down the road, blazing a breakneck trail into the hitherto untouched wilderness. 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Off in the distance, he could see the faint light of torches piercing the umbra. He'd made it this far solely because he'd had the bright idea to pick up Night Vision. This would have been a non-starter if he hadn't. Oscar poured on more speed. He could almost feel his non-existent heart thundering out of his chest as his boots thundered down upon the road. His swiped open his menu again.

Quote

To @NIGHT

Get the goons together. I don't know that we're gonna have time to have a whole-ass meeting about this boss. I'll send location shortly.

Get in, kill the thing, get out. Maybe he was still rattled by those brain sucker-induced visions. And really, he had no way of even knowing that they were true. But it didn't change the reality that they were on a Floor with no Safe Zones where, at any moment, a leech could attach to your noggin and show you the wildest, most terrible things.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar suddenly skidded to a stop. This whole thing was tiresome as hell. The mental fatigue was the kicker. No small wonder, really. Even Oscar - the very definition of chaos itself - was unable to easily shake what he had seen. But really, who would? Getting a front row seat to some ritualistic cannibal shit was definitely not on the list of things Oscar thought he would have to deal with today. He pinched the bridge of his nose. It was almost funny how the Floor was sticking to the bit. Paint-by-numbers horror. 

"What's next? Some lanky bitch running at me with a chainsaw?"

He heard the engine rev behind him almost immediately. He turned, watching a bug-eyed (literally bug-eyed, bitch had six of em) running at him flailing a chainsaw. Oscar didn't have time for the smoke and took off like a rocket again. It was almost like he'd manifested that shit.

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

As he continued to race down the trail, Oscar's right hand swiped open his menu. He took a moment to consider who, exactly, should be his next contact. It wasn't a long moment. There was one guy who usually took point in situations like these.

Quote

To @Baldur

Tell them boys to get active, man. There's bitches out here with fuckin' chainsaws. We need to make like a tree and get the fuck outta here.

Hitting send, Oscar lamented the fact that it was always something trying to kill him. Whenever he talked shit about what ridiculous mob he would encounter next, they always showed up to try and run the ones with him. He was really good at manifesting threats, but he wished he could manifest some bitches. What did a man need to do to make a blue-haired e-girl with no gag reflex show the fuck up?

Spoiler

ID: 243621 | LD: 13+15 = 28
fuck

Running Total: 261/300

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

Oscar came to a stop again. Off in the middle distance, there was, in fact a blue-haired e-girl. Gag reflex status to be determined. She hummed a tune, arms swaying back and forth slowly. Oscar both liked and disliked how she looked at him. A deep-seated hunger. The faintest wisp of a smile upturned upon her face, green eyes boring holes into him. If Oscar had a picture of an E-girl in his mind's eye, she would be it. It was like she had been taken from the darkest recesses of his mind and given life in front of him.

And it would have been dope. But it wasn't, for two reasons. First of all, Oscar no longer trusted a single fucking thing on this floor. He was waiting for that other boot to drop. For her jaw to unhinge and reveal rows upon rows of teeth or something.

Spoiler

Opening: 243622, CD: 7
Looting: 243623, LD: 4

 

Edited June 1 by Oscar

[Oscar 0]

The second reason was, of course, the giant Angler fish mother fucker lurking in the darkness behind the woman. Guess it thought Oscar wouldn't be able to see it. Or that he'd be so distracted by, quite honestly, the hottest babe he'd seen since that duel with Lessa. But he was horny, not stupid. And he had special eyes.

"That's just not fair," Oscar lamented. "Why you gotta mess with a man's feelings like that?"

Everything seemed to be double edged. You got what you wished for but someone or something made a point to fuck it up in the most poetic of ways. The creature leaped into the air, the woman tugged from the ground by that fleshy tether. And like with the last horror, Oscar didn't have time to catch smoke with some fat fish. So he took off running again. Not out of fear, but this thing most definitely wasn't his time. Plus, it would probably die anyway. 

Edited June 1 by Oscar