[PP-F04] Cause and Effect

[Mari 1]

Floor 10

 

Mari was kneeling over the bioluminescent lake on the 10th floor. Staring into its deathly still surface. It looked so inviting in a way - mystical almost. The shimmers reflecting on the surface reminded her of all manner of fairy tales one was told as a child. But, that was a lie. Most often - the pretty things in the world - were the most dangerous. This was no different. Mari would sit against the wall sometimes, and watch creatures wander in, never to return. She had a feeling she knew what was in it. At least in theory. The water was stagnant. There was no telling what matter of fungi and bacteria were in it - the first thought and the most dangerous that came to Mari’s mind was flesh eating bacteria. Atan was already researching this. But..her curiosity.

Imagine a potent poison made of that
      It's for defence - if anyone came after you - you could throw it in their face…the effects wouldn’t be evident for days. You’d be fine. You’d be free

Mari shook her head. The thoughts were becoming more invasive…more frequent lately.
Not once did she entertain them, nor let them win. They were nothing more than lingering notions, and yet… it felt like the more she ignored them the more persistent they became.

Reaching into her pocket Mari pulled out a large  syringe - the kind that you’d use to feed medicine to a kid. Except in place of plastic was glass - Mari carefully dipped it into the lake and pulled a sample of the water. Just to test. Nothing more. She just wanted to know what was inside it.

Mari stood and turned to leave the small cave. She paused at its entrance, a hand leaning on the side as she coughed violently. SO much so that she had to spit to the side. “Eurgh..” Maybe she had been drinking too much, maybe it was the spores. “One more place.”

She didn’t want to be on this floor, not after Freyd had found her here last time. She could only imagine his reaction if he knew she was back here. But her shop was here. There were so…so so many untold secrets here. The acrid stench of the solution she wore on her dark clothes kept the monsters at bay as she made her way to the large hole - the void. Surrounded by echo flowers. The place her and Beat shared a moment, the place she fell.

This pit..had no bottom, to her knowledge Mari and Beat were the only players to ever fall in. Well jump in - willingly at least. Every so often Mari would still feel the effects of that day. Whispers that weren’t quite there, illusions in the corner of her eye. As Mari neared, she stepped through the decayed corpse of a large snake. Pausing, Mari rested a hand on one of its skeletal bones. She ran a hand up and down it, what did this creature used to be?

Tired…

Mari felt tired. Unbelievably so. She leaned her body against it and allowed her eyes to close as her body slumped to knees. Just…a small rest…
 

—

Mari woke. Her body felt cold and sore. Mari lifted her hands, staring at them. They were shaking, and covered in a black filth. Dirty from the floor. She tried wiping it off on her clothing. Then slowly stood. One foot forward then another, then another till she was at the edge of the pit. Her stomach churned. Dread filled her, but it was normal for this place. Crystalline flowers surrounded the area, swaying gently in an unfelt breeze.

‘Leeeroooy Jeennki-’

Mari’s foot came crushing down on that particular flower. Slowly, Mari began to circle the pit, pausing to listen to the echo flowers, every so often she’d stamp out an obnoxious one. Where is it? Blue eyes, tired, darted from side to side trying to find one unique flower out of a field of many. It was impossible to visually tell the difference but…

Sobbing

Mari stilled. Hearing the familiar sound. It was an echo flower that had caught her crying. A sound Mari didn’t know would be recorded. Disgusting. Mari knelt down beside it. It continued to cry, soft whimpers. Mari allowed it another moment before a gloved hand reached out and crushed it.

That wasn’t enough, her fingers dug their way into the dirt, pulling its roots from the ground, then, holding the mangled plant in her hand Mari held it over the pit. She knew it would regurgitate back up, but she didn’t care. It was symbolic. “You’re not wanted here anymore.” She whispered as he released it - and watched the shimmering light grow smaller and smaller as it fell.

‘You’re not wanted either’

 

Mari was used to the whispers on this floor, but this one felt different. Closer - as though she could almost feel the breath tickling the skin of her ear. A spear materialized in her hand as she turned on her heel expecting to see someone. Something.

…..Nothing…

“I need to get out of here…” Mari groaned as she trudged away from the pit. She didn’t need to accidentally fall in.

—

Fourth Floor

Mari was at the frozen lake her house was nestled by - slowly rounding its edges. Her footsteps leaving heavy imprints in the freshly falling snow. Rest. Gods she needed rest…

Her steps paused - swayed as her vision blurred. Crap…she was so close to home- all she had to do was go forward a few more metres then she could safely pass out on the floor. Just a few more feet just a -

 

The world span and Mari fell into the snow with a heavy thud. A smear of black and gold amongst pure white. Her body remained unmoving, unconscious.

Then - a sudden and sickening jolt as the woman regurgitated more black bile, it trickled from her lips into the snow - melting it. The unconscious woman was completely unaware. Her world covered in darkness.
 

Spoiler

Name: Mari True Tier: 10 Level: 34 Paragon Level: 61 HP: 960/960 EN: 130/130 Stats: Damage: 21 Mitigation: 44 Accuracy: 5 Evasion: 4 Battle Healing: 53 Loot Die: 1 Stealth Rating: 5 AA BLI: 32/-20 ENV-O: 32 PARA-V Equipped Gear: Weapon/Armor/Trinket: - Paralytic Contagion | T4 | Absolute ACC I | Paralytic Venom I | Envenom OFF I | Blight I Armor/Trinket: - Infernal Shadow-Redemption | T4 | EVA III | MIT I Shield/Armor/Trinket: - Glasses | T1 | ACC III Combat Mastery: - Combat Mastery: Damage R3 Combat Shift: - AOE Shift Familiar Skill: - Rending Familiar Custom Skill: - Skills: - Battle Healing R5 - Charge - Cloth Armor R5 - Energist - Polearm R5 Extra Skills: - Survival - Hiding R5 - First Aid R3 Inactive Extra Skills: Addons: - Focus - Nimble - Precision - Resolve - Stamina Mods: - Athletics - Surpise Attack: Trickster - Untraceable - Vanish Inactive Mods: Battle Ready Inventory: Housing Buffs: - Bedroom: -1 energy cost for the first two expenditures of each combat - Living Room: Increases out of combatHP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Guild Hall Buffs: Scents of the Wild Totem: Wedding Ring: Crafting Profession: - Alchemist[exp] R10 Gathering Profession:

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Mari