[F28-EV] Everyone Hail to the Pumpkin King

[Jomei 0]

//October 31st \ Floor 28: The Fire Forest

Bonfires burning bright. Pumpkin faces in the night. I remember Halloween
Brown leafed vertigo. Where skeletal life is known. I remember Halloween

***

Leaves as red as flame crunch beneath boots as wanderers follow the scattered trail of illuminated faces. Pumpkins carved with frightening expressions watch from the trees above, sitting along branches and providing some of the only light to guide aspiring trick-or-treaters through the dark forest. The bones of skeletons that hung down from those same tree limbs rattled as the chilling, autumn breeze passed through their ribcages. Staring at the gaping, toothy jaw of those skulls.. one could swear they hear the echoes of their final screams.. but maybe its just the wind. 

Maybe..

Lurking within the light of the moon that permeates the floors of castle Aincrad, a large dwelling awaits any who dare approach. The house appears in shambles, overgrown grass surrounding the foundation, dried vines climbing the wooden paneling and creating a web like pattern over windows. The entire place seems abandoned, and the lack of any signage or bowls of candy may turn away anyone hoping to retrieve a sweet treat from the owner.

But the open doorway, its hinges creaking as the gentle breeze pushes it open more and more is quite inviting - especially for any thrill seekers. 

Will you enter?

Spoiler

The living space you first enter into seems that it has not been lived in for ages. White sheets - more gray as dust collected on them - covered most of the furniture: couches, chairs, coffee tables. Some pictures on the wall remain, artistic interpretations of a family living on their homestead.. though something seems eerily off with each picture; a toddler on a rocking horse with their face blurred out, a young couple standing in the front door to their house, a tall shadow figure lurking in the window, and similar images. Every other door on the first floor is closed, locked. You could swear if you put your ear to the door, you could hear whispering.. and the occasional banshee screech that makes your hair stand on end. 

With only one path to follow, you take the winding stairs up into the tower. 

From the base of the staircase, you can hear the soft, haunting sound of a bow across the strings of a slightly out of tune violin - both beautiful and haunting. Each step creaks beneath your weight as you ascend the tower, the music becoming louder, and faster, the higher you climb.

Finally, you emerge into a dark study. Books tightly and haphazardly tucked into shelves that line the entire wall all the way up to the ceiling past a 'second floor' balcony. The curtains of a large window are opened slightly, just enough to allow a sliver of the moons light to enter and reveal a writing desk on the opposite side of the room.. an overturned chair before it. The occasional drip of something liquid coming from the desk, an overturned inkwell who's contents were spilling onto the floor. 

And where the ink puddled, what appears to be a body laying limp and lifeless.

SCREEECH

From the balcony above stands a figure, playing a sickening note on their violin. Dropping the instrument to their side, they would place two clawed hands on the banister, looking down at any and all who entered. Wearing darkened amor, a long cape, and a pumpkin with flaming eyes, the figure would draw a long blade from their hip. Pointing it upwards towards a dark orb that hung suspended in the center of the ceiling, the room would flash with a burst of light, causing any to look in its direction to shield themselves or avert their eyes. 

Slowly, the pumpkin-headed figure would lower their sword to point at the players - no, at something behind them: The writing desk, more specifically, the note left behind. 

Trick or Treat 
Happy Halloween

Now that the room was illuminated with a warm light, it was obvious that the body at their feet was none other than pillows shoved into familiar green garb. After laughing within his large, pumpkin guise for a moment, the figure removed their helmet to reveal a head of messy ginger hair and a beaming grin.

  

Jomei the emerald duelist

Spoiler notes Level: 35 | Paragon: 93 | Tier: 4(13)  Jomei | HP: 1060/1060 | EN: 144/144 | DMG: 21 | MIT:44 | ACC:4 | AA  | F-SPIRIT | EVA:3 | BH:58 | HB: 23 | FLN: 16 | HLY: 8 | LD:5 Equipment: Vicious Mockery : ACC II | Taunt | Blight  Fencer's Regalia - Trepidation: Vamp D II | HB | MIT  Token of Serenity: HB| EVA III   equipped Vicious Mockery Fencer's Regalia - Trepidation Token of Serenity battle-ready inventory Listed Below skills Spoiler Skills Rapier R5 | TECH Spec. Combat Mastery DMG R3 Cloth Armor R5 Charge B Healing R5 Energis Howl Fighting Spirit Quick Change Extended Weight Limit Searching R4 Extra: Concentration Survival   Parry Forgotten King's Authority Assault Mode  Lady Luck Meditation Mods Athletics Emergency Recovery Vengeful Riposte Justified Riposte Night Vision Addons Stamina  Focus Precision Nimble Focused Howl buffs Spoiler Buffs Dimensional Backpack +1 BRI slot Well Rested: -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat     Squeaky Clean: The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down)     Tasty: Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. Relaxed: Increases out of combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Filling: Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps.  Multipurpose: Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll Item Stash: +1 BRI slot Advanced Training: +10% EXP to a thread. Limit one use per month. Must be used on a player's first post in a thread. Cooldown begins counting down when used in a post.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Jomei