>a peephole
Yes, but first, there is an odd glint up in the corner. Is something spying on you?

>A peephole.
Do it. Do it do it do it, just don't get caught! Make doubly sure Kani doesn't notice, she's already mad at you for peeping when you shouldn't! Just think of it as training. For clandestine sneaking and scouting, that's good to have, right? Now you can compare sizes with Gokk for real! Make sure you have yourself to reference. By being naked. It's been on your mind all day! Also yeah check out that maybe suspicious glint.

Must find more gold pieces.

The world will die! Woo, time to guide it towards its eternal slumber! Although carrying a flame to the end is always useful to provide some warmth. Also, you might look at the peephole, but beware! You are playing with fire. Not good fire, mind you. But dangerous evil fire. There is a difference you know? A fire that consumes and destroys all, and a fire that brings you warmth in the middle of the winter. Know the difference, and if you want to peep that badly, let that little wish of yours burn in your heart. Because trust me, fire might not be you solution, but it can be a friend! Fire is always near you.
Fire good.
Fire warm.
Fire burn.

Cute can refer to more than just appearance, you know. She recognizes your youth and probably sees a chance to nurture and guide once more. She almost definitely caught your eyes wandering though: she knows her body, and was your age once.
If you're going to make a hole, make sure there isn't already a hole hidden by a painting, and that you can cover/seal it. Oh, and keep a blade on hand. The bigger problem is, the walls literally have eyes. Orma didn't sense anything wrong, but it's still spooky and worth watching. If you need to stand in the closet, prop the door open with something.
>Painting
Hello there

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:10 No. 1083592 ID: 681cb5
File 170829425986.png - (77.80KB , 700x550 , 39.png )

>Hello there.
General Kenobi…

>Must find more gold pieces.
…this gold coin… it makes you feel safe. You need to find more of them.
>Make sure there isn't already a hole hidden by a painting.
That wall leads to the outside, making it a dumb idea to make a hole there. Still, you do check behind the paintings and find nothing.

>There is an odd glint up in the corner. Is something spying on you?
…there’s nothing there. But you feel watched. Ever since you found this shack you can’t shake the feeling of being observed… is this what people feel when you peep on them?

>Do it. Do it do it do it, just don't get caught!
With skill and experience on your side, you quickly and quietly make a small hole between two of the wooden wall planks in the closet. Just big enough to watch, but small enough to go unnoticed. Even if it is found, it looks more like the ravages of time have created it than your blade. On the other side, you can see both the hare and the crocodile naked. Jackpot.

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:11 No. 1083593 ID: 681cb5
File 170829427283.png - (56.32KB , 700x550 , 40.png )

Kani pulls out her knife and straddle Gokk beneath her…

Gokk: ”Oh?” the large crocodile chuckles, “Want to be on top this time, little bunny?”
Kani: ”I’m always on top.” placing the knife against his chest, the Hare continues, “You know that.”

By the stars, Gokk is huge! Way bigger than yourself!

Gokk: ”That’s not what happened last time.” his smile grows even larger as Kani presses the blade against his muscles, “Remember?”
Kani: ”Stop talking and start fucking!” she starts to slowly pull the blade across his chest, just hard enough to leave a red mark but not to make him bleed, “Or do I need to motivate you some more?”

…your hand starts to slowly move downwards, tugging on your belt to free your-

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:11 No. 1083594 ID: 681cb5
File 170829428178.png - (73.51KB , 700x550 , 41.png )

A noose tightens around Raskrev’s neck, his hand instinctively grabbing his dagger…

COIN FLIP!
LUCKY COIN USED! +1 COIN!

THAUMIKAT CHOSES SUN!

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:11 No. 1083595 ID: 681cb5
File 170829429053.png - (74.21KB , 700x550 , 42.png )

MOON…
SUN…

COIN FLIP SUCCEEDED!

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:11 No. 1083596 ID: 681cb5
File 170829430002.png - (45.20KB , 700x550 , 43.png )

Before you can be dragged up towards the ceiling, you spin around with your dagger and manage to cut the rope in one quick motion. Just a second more and you would have been hanged.

Kaktus 2024/02/18(Sun)14:11 No. 1083597 ID: 681cb5
File 170829431479.png - (80.83KB , 700x550 , 44.png )

Looking up, you spot an abomination slowly lowering itself from the ceiling, its movements more akin to a spider than a person. Ripping out its own innards, the flayed corpse uses one of its many arms to fashion another noose, its unblinking eye never leaving your own. But it doesn’t attack; instead its gaze pierces through you, searing your very soul. It doesn’t make a sound… and a silence engulfs the room.

Yelling for the others, you turn around and bang on the wall, but the stillness can’t be broken. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make a sound. Everything is but the sound of silence, and it keeps staring. You can barely breathe, as the calmness is smothering you, filling your lung with its quite. A panic enters your body…

You scream… but no one is around to hear you…

The Hanged Man descends from the darkness…
A manifestation of guilt and pain.

Your equipment:
Daggers x 5
Dart gun
Darts x 4
Bottle of Wretched Acid
Big bottle of Bleeding venom.
Small bottle of paralyzing venom.
Tiny bottle of… “Last Freedom” (For self-use only)
Some Food
Rope
Chalk
Starlight lantern

Skills: Daggers, venom, stealth and avoiding danger.

Use the acid to melt the ropes.

>>1083597
This isn't real, don't waste any consumables. Throw a dagger into its eye. You can recover that.

Offer the hangman creature some rope with one hand. Then throw all your daggers at the base of its core rope with your other hand.

Is it just me or one of the paintings has some ropes in them? Is that related to this monstruosity? Is this an halucination or real? Maybe that is related to this monster somehow. Anyway, attack the creature, but don't toss all your daggers, keep one in the reserve in case it ends up roping your neck and you cant escape. Whatever you do next, stay afraid of those ropes. And if this monster is related to your guilt, do not let yourself be consumed by it. Do you see her dead green eye pierce you? The pain that you inflicted on others is grasping you soul, trying to choke your life. It claims you fate, it judges your guilt and sentences you to death. But the pain that it rasps upon your being should make you remember something: you have a soul. A soul that suffers. And that soul will be smothered by the pain. But a soul is much more than being soulless. A soul can be redeemed, saved even. The pain that you feel, you should carry it. Do not toss this pain away, but do not let it devour you. Embrace it. For your soul can be much more than simple pain. You are a living thing with a soul, and you cannot let yourself die and rot like the others. Not today, not while Orma, the Order, the world is in your shoulders. You are the master of your own burning soul! So promise to yourself: do not fall to this creature. Choose life over guilt.

You owe it to her to accomplish something with your retched life. If you die here then her death will have been for nothing. Steel your will and deny this shadow of guilt.

>>1083608
INFECTED! SCAN THIS HEADVOICE NOW!

A demon of guilt is one that you need to clear your head for. It seems silence is something that will often occur with those that mess with your head in the ROT. It focuses on its ropes and innards, aim for the one keeping it aloft.

Go for the eye, and try to get/keep to the entrance of your room. Cutting it's rope with a thrown dagger may prove difficult, and if it's scrambling around on the ground, it could physically overpower you.

Certainly not the time, but: Orma's got her rack, Gokk's got his natural girth, Kani's got a nice heart butt. You any good at fast talking and tongue twisters?

the Order of Moon and Stars is a religious order if I understand correctly? If so make a quick prayer to your guiding Star. Maybe a prayer for forgiveness could help, or anything that would help you focus and calm down. Keep reciting it if it makes you feel better. Then splash the creature with acid to damage the ropes it uses to fight.

Oh, and your new friend was in the foreground in >>1083075 and there is the eye of another one in a hole in the wall in the background, another one in the top left of >>1083076 ... and just to the left of your elbow in >>1082911.
So it isn't alone, and the other members of your expedition are at risk, starting with Orma who is both alone and convinced there is no wretched around because she can't feel any. Let's hope it's not the woodsmen. You did remember to lock that door on the second floor, right ?

Or, you know, maybe you're going insane, hallucinating and strangling yourself with you own rope, but signs point toward this fight being real.

Guilt tends to compel one to seek punishment, believing that when the suffering of their body matches the suffering of their hearts they will find peace, but this is folly; the only way forward is through atonement, and for that you must live. Accept the pain in your heart but do not allow yourself to believe that you deserve to suffer or die for it. Through you words and actions atone for your past, you can start by defeating this thing and warning your comrades of the threat. If you die here, what will become of them?

Calm your mind, speak a prayer, and overcome this. Keep one dagger at the ready to ward off anymore nooses, and throw a dagger into it's eye.

Kaktus 2024/02/22(Thu)16:18 No. 1084205 ID: 681cb5
File 170864751898.png - (78.75KB , 700x550 , 45.png )

With a prayer on your lips, you ask the stars for aid… but they, as all the gods, are dead and cannot save you. You are alone in this dying world.

Using the very same dagger you cut the rope with, you fling it right towards the Hanged Man large eye. Springily, it doesn’t even try to avoid or catch it, letting it pierce fleshy orb with a wet slorp, and while the force of the throw makes it sway a bit on the rope it’s hanging from, it doesn’t seem to care that it got a large dagger stuck in its head. In fact, it simply grabs the dagger and pulls it out; ripping out its own eye in the process…

…at least it isn’t staring at you anymore.

Kaktus 2024/02/22(Thu)16:18 No. 1084206 ID: 681cb5
File 170864752785.png - (86.74KB , 700x550 , 46.png )

With a crack, a sharp pain splashes across your face, as the abomination whips you with its own intestine. Damn it! It distracted you but pulling out its own eye! Luckily, your instincts and experience of avoiding danger helped you to avoid the worst of it, saving your own eye. Still, it hurts like hell and will definitely leave a scar.

Kaktus 2024/02/22(Thu)16:18 No. 1084207 ID: 681cb5
File 170864753709.png - (102.16KB , 700x550 , 47.png )

Before the creature can retaliate again, you throw the small vial of that acid you collected earlier, hitting the monsters square over the chest with it. The bottle shatters on impact, bathing the Hanged Man in the putrid liquid. While its flayed body doesn’t seem to be affected by the acid, its intestines are another story, as the “rope” it’s hanging from quickly dissolves. Flailing its arms around as if in a panic, the abomination tries to grab a hold of the now snapped innards, but the acid makes it to slippery, ensuring that the creature falls to the ground.

Geez, and Gokk took that to the face without bother? Maybe you should check up on him tomorrow, just in case…

Kaktus 2024/02/22(Thu)16:20 No. 1084209 ID: 681cb5
File 170864760653.png - (87.80KB , 700x550 , 48.png )

You’re about to strike it again, now that it’s vulnerable and on the floor, but it turns it heads to reveal its other eye. Falling to your knees, you scream out in silent agony, as its piercing gaze rips your very mind apart. And the silence. The horrid, horrid silence! WHY CAN’T YOU MAKE A SOUND!?

Suicide is now an option.

Then the silence is broken by the sound of bones cracking, as all eight arms of the beasts flexes their muscles and all its hands clenches into fists, it’s unblinking eye never leaving yours…


Your equipment:
Daggers x 4
Dart gun
Darts x 4
Big bottle of Bleeding venom.
Small bottle of paralyzing venom.
Tiny bottle of… “Last Freedom” (For self-use only)
Some Food
Rope
Chalk
Starlight lantern

Skills: Daggers, venom, stealth, avoiding danger and suicide.

>Can't make a sound
It's only temporary. This is a great opportunity: scream your confessions where no-one can hear you.
Throw another dagger in its other eye; use the paralyzing venom, this is the optimal enemy and positioning to use it on.

And dodge the incoming dagger throw!

Wow. What a little shit. Yeah, this fucking thing really likes to make you suffer. Fuck this thing. Hey mister Raskrev? Suicide might be a nice option if you are being subjected to a fate worse than death, but not here. Absolutely not here. This silence? Its baby shit. I mean, you can't talk, but there are worse things out there. I mean, you can still hear your thoughts! Thats a good thing! Just focus for a moment. You can absolutely prevail this little piece of eyecrap. So lets think for a moment. Alright, so you might be tormented by your guilt and pain and shame, and I guess a motivational speech telling you how you deserve life isn't enough to break through the . But you know what? FUCK THIS THING. Goddamn thing looks so smug, thinking its hot shit for making you suffer with its gaze. But guess what? So what if you got problems? YOU ARE ANGRY! This little shit just comes out of nowhere, spoils your fun, and chokes and whips you with its shitty ropes. Who does it think it is? Some sort of BDSM shit freak? FUCK THIS THING! Aren't you tired of feeling afraid of the entire world for no goddam reason? Hell, who the fuck is stopping you from stabbing this piece of shit in the eye? Nobody but you. So swallow your fear, and GET ANGRY. There is nothing in your head except your fear and your anger, AND YOU NEED TO LET THE ANGER GO LOOSE. Toss almost every single dagger into it until it drops dead. Keep one if it gets close and avoid the dagger it will probably throw at you. And if you ask why? The reason is simple.
FUCK
THIS
THING!

Why do you quake in fear? This foul creature is nothing more than your prey! You've thwarted it's pathetic ambush, taken from it it's fetid eye, and knocked it from its undeserved throne on high!

Steel yourself, Hunter! Rip from it it's remaining eye, slaughter it like so many rotting cattle, and take your deserved prize! Carve from it it's still beating heart and devour it, as is your right!

You've reduced its ranged capability. Time to exit the room and get help.

So you have a mouth, and you can't scream, man up. You can scream ounce that thing is dead; make sure it's not here so those two don't know you were peeping, you little sinner.
If you want to die, then do it when you're in much more agony; maybe after you're done killing them, find a fanatic or general healer to make sure your eye doesn't have severe damage.

>>1084209
It's real power lies in it's disturbing gaze, get rid of it by throwing another dagger on the remaining eyeball.

Focus solely on your present and future actions and the consciousness meddling it's doing might be less effective

You can get through this, you must live on. Gokk, Kani, and Orma need someone with your skills, so for them and for yourself, do not fall here! Fight! Draw another dagger and throw it into this thing's remaining eye. Be prepared for it to whip you or throw a dagger back at you.

If you fall silent under the weight of its accusatory gaze, simply close your eyes. Send a few more daggers its way, then get out of this closet. Surely the door is right behind you?

It doesn't matter if you can't speak, you don't need to speak at the moment. Focus on killing this thing. You'll encounter far worse, and your allies won't always be around to help you, so if you can't finish this creature you might as well give up now.
There is a bed in the room, throw the bed sheet over the creature to both blind it and stop the glare, then try pinning the sheet to it with thrown daggers.
Don't forget it's got a kneyefe, be prepared in case it tries to throw it. And whatever you do, don't get any closer, you don't want do get into melee with something that got four time as many arms as you.

Kaktus 2024/03/02(Sat)15:41 No. 1085124 ID: 681cb5
File 170942288003.png - (153.59KB , 700x550 , 49.png )

>Time to exit the room and get help.
There aren’t any doors. You’re stuck here. There is no way out…

…you cannot escape your sins.

>Dodge the incoming dagger throw!
You don’t know what it is doing, but whatever it is you rather not be hit with it. Taking a defensive stance, you ready yourself for it to throw the dagger at you, but instead it launches its whole body towards you, four of its arms raised to smash you beneath it. Even with you being ready for it, you barely manage to jump out of the way of The Hanged Man, as it slams into the floor next to you. While you cannot hear it, you can feel the shockwave from the impact wash over you, the floor visibly cracking and splintering under the abomination. That outburst would have broken every bone in your body if it had hit you…

Raskrev narrowly dodged The Hanged Man Coinflip attack.

Yet, you can feel its eye glaring into your mind, ripping it apart!

Raskrev is close to losing his mind!

Kaktus 2024/03/02(Sat)15:41 No. 1085125 ID: 681cb5
File 170942288727.png - (116.52KB , 700x550 , 50.png )

>It's real power lies in its disturbing gaze, get rid of it by throwing another dagger on the remaining eyeball.
Seeing an opportunity, you pull out a dagger and shove it into its remaining eye, the blade sinking deep into its head. Even blind, it seems to know exactly where you are… though not what you’re doing.

The Hanged Man has lost its balance, leaving its head exposed.

Before you can act, the monster rushes you and grabs you with its many arms. You try your best to defend yourself, but one of its hands gets a hold of the side of your head and rams its thumb into your already damaged eye. You can outright feel it get crushed inside your own skull…

Raskrev have lost his right eye.

Kaktus 2024/03/02(Sat)15:41 No. 1085126 ID: 681cb5
File 170942290278.png - (99.10KB , 700x550 , 51.png )

>GET ANGRY
Enough! Punching it hard in the stomach, you seize the opening you’ve created by blinding it to slip around abomination. Grabbing its shoulder and pushing your knee into its back, you force the creature to arc its back towards you, allowing you to ram your dagger into the side of its throat and quickly slash outwards to cut it. You smile as you hear it gurgle as it’s trying to breathe, drowning in its own blood, yet it is still trying to fight you. Pushing your knee even harder into it, you start to saw through its neck and spine, separating its head from its body completely. You’re not sure when it actually dies, but even as its body slumps to the floor without its head, the creature’s arms twitches and squirm.

Then, it goes limp… and you find yourself back in the room with the bed and paintings. Pulling off the cloth mask The Hanged Man has been wearing, you’re eager to see just what you’ve been fighting.

Kaktus 2024/03/02(Sat)15:41 No. 1085127 ID: 681cb5
File 170942291061.png - (60.93KB , 700x550 , 52.png )

What the fuck.

The Hanged Man has been slain, freeing Raskrev of the weight of his guilt.

You’ve gained the head of Raskrev the Knave.

Fuckin' awesome, dude! You should show this to the rot druid and get it preserved. You could wear yourself as a hat!

there's a green thing in it's neck

Give it a lookover, but it does seem the rot is strong here. Stronger then Orma has thought.. Either that or your guilt was this strong Moon worshipper. Either way one would not feel remiss to go back and talk to Orma over this.

Time to get a sweet eye patch.

Drink some of the blood pouring from your new head.

Lament the loss of your eye. Then look for a way to replace it by using this... clone.
Maybe it grew some extra organs. You'll need Orma to check.

That- that's a trick of the light right? There isn't an eye to your left?

Get the hell out of this room and get one of your companions to confirm that any of this actually happened. And see if they have any hot tips on what to do with your own head.

Kaktus 2024/03/07(Thu)15:40 No. 1085705 ID: 681cb5
File 170985483151.png - (41.91KB , 700x550 , 53.png )

>That- that's a trick of the light right? There isn't an eye to your left?
You look around in a panic, trying to find more eyes staring at you, but there’s nothing but shadows…
>There's a green thing in its neck
…you have no idea what that is, but you’re pretty sure it should be there.

This… what is even happening here!? Is this because of your guilt? Or is the ROT really this powerful here!? Either way, you need to show this to the others, just to make sure you’ve not gone completely insane.

Putting the head back into the cloth sack it was wearing earlier, you can hear Gokk and Kani in the other bedroom. They are not even trying to be quiet. Not wanting an arrow in your other good eye, you opt to go look for Orma instead of disturbing them right now.

…but as you go down the stairs to the first floor, you find her gone… and a secret hatch yawning wide where she once sat.

Kaktus 2024/03/07(Thu)15:40 No. 1085706 ID: 681cb5
File 170985483869.png - (197.20KB , 700x550 , 54.png )

The stairs creak quietly as you climb down, but you’re well experience at keeping silent, even on such old wood. At the bottom, you find some kind of lab… and at one of the desks Orma is writing something down in a book. She hasn’t noticed you yet.

Orma: ”Hmm… why, of course… it’s so simple!” the snake mumbles to herself, “The ritual is easy to prepare… now I just need some test subject for the experiment.”

Orma’s chuckle drips with malice, making you shudder.

"Heads up!"
Toss the bag at her.

>>1085706

Tell her she needs to work on her evil laugh, and she better think twice before using you as a test subject. Then show her your uh, head. If it's still your head, you can point to it and say that's "twice."

>>1085706
Don't jump to conclusions. "malice" can be directed towards the enemy. Also, this isn't her lab, she just found it, so who knows what's in that book?
Sneak up and take a look over her shoulder. Hold her at knifepoint if it's something suspicious, so she can explain herself.

Got a test subject right here. Though this place is certainly quite different from the expected. Its not as worn or decrepit. Could possibly be more psychosis from the ROT or your own mind but its hard to tell at this point.

That green eye on the jar looks a lot like yours... Perhaps you could use it to fill the hole in your skull with some weird magic shit. Also, is it just me or these green eyes have been staring at us for a while? Staring us from dark corners, in hidden nooks and crannies... Are they an omen of danger? Perhaps we still are not safe yet.

>>1085706
She must have found some notes and shes writing them down for later.

Tell her you got attacked by a creature that was lurking in the shadows, so we should be careful about wandering around alone here.

……hey, is that another monster behind the bars in the back of the room?

>>1085710
>if it's something suspicious, so she can explain herself.
This is a secret lab in a cabin in the woods. Everything in here is suspicious! There's no reason to put a knife to one of our teammates.

how does a snake get down a latter?

"Orma I need a new eye"

Well isn't this convenient? A lab stocked with your choice of new eyes.

Ooh, you know what would be a fun prank? Sneak over to Orma, tap her on the shoulder, and hold up the head so when she turns around she gets a little spook! Then tell her you're running low on eyes and need a top up.

Oh, and watch where you're dripping that blood there. Don't want to activate any magic circles by accident, eh?

Be a little wary. Shit is wierd right now, and something might be effecting her. Is there someone in the cell behind you?
Does the symbol in her book (and potentially on the ground) look familiar?

Hey, what's that behind the bars back there?

Be careful. You're carrying your own doppelganger's head, it might not be Orma in front of you. Do not step on the ritual circle, keep your eye on Orma, and do not turn your back on those bars behind you. Do not announce your presence and carefully assess the room.

Even if it really is her you should be wary of her intentions. She was standing on this trapdoor, she must have found it first and decided to keep it a secret from the rest of you. Then she sent you to sleep despite the house being dangerous. She said she didn't sensed any wretched around, but she was obviously wrong. Maybe she was trying to get you out of the way and didn't care what would happen to you. Maybe she was trying to get you killed. Her test subjects are dead bodies after all.
Or maybe she simply overestimated her ability to sense wretched but that's just as bad, just in a different way.

Kaktus 2024/03/12(Tue)17:47 No. 1086260 ID: 681cb5
File 171029087332.png - (64.54KB , 700x550 , 55.png )

>Does the symbol in her book (and potentially on the ground) look familiar?
You can’t say you’ve ever seen it before, no…
>is it just me or these green eyes have been staring at us for a while? Staring us from dark corners, in hidden nooks and crannies...
Green eyes peeking through the walls… now you know how the others feel when you spy on them.

>Sneak up and take a look over her shoulder. Hold her at knifepoint if it's something suspicious, so she can explain herself.
Readying a dagger with your tail, you slowly make your way across the room without a sound. Making sure to not cross the obviously magical circle in the center, you keep to the walls as you approach the snake, who still haven’t notice your presence. Looking over her shoulder, knife at the ready, you try and make sense of what she’s writing down… but the only thing you understand is the drawing of the very same circle that’s on the floor as well as a badly drawn sketch of a… horse with a rider on its butt?

Raskrev: ”Orma.” you state with a calm voice, “Care to explain?”
Orma: ”Oh!?” the snake visibly jumps a bit as she finally notice you standing right behind her, “Oh, it’s just you, Raskrev. Don’t scare me like that.” She throws you a glance over her shoulder before returning to her book, “Don’t tell the others about this place. At least, not until I’m done with it.”
Raskrev: ”…why don’t you want the others to know?” you ask while grabbing a bottle of homemade spirits from the nearby shelf, “Or me for that matter?”
Orma: ”Oh please.” with a dismissive wave, she continues, “Gokk would either eat all the samples or drink the alchemical material, while Kani would break all the tools.” She scribbles something in her book, “I’d rather collect all the information I can get before those two wrecks the place.”
Raskrev: You raise an eyebrow, ”And me?”
Orma: ”I didn’t know if I should trust you.” she says in a matter of fact way, “For all I knew, you might have been a fanatic that would put this place to the torch.”
Raskrev: ”I can say the same…” the liquid inside the flask seems in decent shape, at least, “You better not think about using me as a test subject, you hear?”
Orma: ”The ritual needs two who are willing.” Orma states, ”But if you’re volunteering…” before mumbling under her breath, “Maybe I can control a wretched or two? Hmm…”

Raskrev: ”Speaking of wretched, didn’t you say there weren’t any around?” you gesture towards the cage in the back, filled with mutated people, “Then what are those?”
Orma: ”They are Decrepit. Technically a Wretched, but harmless.” you watch as one of them is slowly trying to peel her own face off, while another is crawling on the floor with giant swords for legs. “Instead of either going mad or trying to spread the ROT, they just… stop.” the giant thing in the corner giggles and cry at the same time, it’s dozen months all making different expressions at once, “They generally stand around until they die… and then the ROT just keep them standing around.”
Raskrev: ”Really...” you raise the bottle of alcohol to your snout, sniffing it, “And there aren’t any other dangerous Wretched around?”
Orma: ”I cannot sense any other Wretched, no…” she waves around her pen again, “And I’m certain we would have found out if there was an Abomination hiding in here by now.”

Kaktus 2024/03/12(Tue)17:48 No. 1086261 ID: 681cb5
File 171029088843.png - (97.12KB , 700x550 , 56.png )

Without saying a word, you hold up the head of the Abomination you just beheaded in front of her.

Orma: ”Eh? Where did… you…” Orma tilts her head, “That’s you? Why do… how… what?”
Raskrev: ”That’s the head of an Abomination that just tried to kill me.” you voice is dripping with venom, “In my room. Five minutes ago.”
Orma: ”Interesting…” she leans closer, moving her head around to look at it from every angle possible, "This is new."
Raskrev: ”…you don’t know what this is?” you put the cork of the bottle in your mouth and pull it out with a loud pop, “Aren’t you the damn expert on the ROT!?”
Orma: ”Well, yes…” the snake pokes at it with her feather pen, “So the rumors are true then. This is a manifestation of your sin.” Orma rubs her chin, “I didn’t know it should grow as strong as to actually manifest in reality.”
Raskrev: ”Wait what?” you put down the head in front of her, “You’re telling me this thing was… created by me?”
Orma: ”In a sense…” she turns a few pages in her book and starts writing something down, “It’s your… let say… bad side. And it wants to take your place in the real world. By murdering you.”
Raskrev: ”…eh?” putting the flask to your mouth, you let some of the alcohol wash into your tongue. Ugh, it tastes vile.
Orma: ”The ROT corrupts, turning people into Abominations… though it usually try and do so mentally first.” She gesture towards the head, “But this… is the ROT really so strong here that it can manifest itself like this? Truly interesting. Now, I wonder… if this thing would have killed you… or if you died before killing it… would you… hmm… does it takes your place? Further study is needed…”

Kaktus 2024/03/12(Tue)17:48 No. 1086262 ID: 681cb5
File 171029090579.png - (89.78KB , 700x550 , 57.png )

>Though this place is certainly quite different from the expected. It’s not as worn or decrepit.
Orma: ”Most likely because its former owner put some protective spell over it or some such.” Orma sigh, “The Magician was quite a powerful mage, after all.”
Raskrev: ”The who?” you take several gulps from the bottle in your hand, letting the burning sensation in your throat wash over you.
Orma: ”No one you would know.” she shakes her head, “Just an old scholar, nothing more.”
Raskrev: ”Oh…” you take another swing from the bottle, letting the fire inside it calm your nerves…

Raskrev mind is no longer on the brink of madness.


>"Orma I need a new eye"
Orma: ”Well, too bad.” she chuckles, “I can’t help you with that.”
Raskrev: ”Can’t you just plop a new one in?” you point towards the jar filled with eyes while taking another swing from the bottle, “Surely, one of those will fit.”
Orma: ”You can’t just heal a lost limb or eye like that, fool.” the snake sounds rather annoyed all the sudden, “You’d think I’d let Gokk walk around with one eye and only three fingers on one hand if it was that simple?”
Raskrev: ”Then… what can I do?” the liquor starts to make you a bit dozy…
Orma: ”Nothing.” the druid turns back a few pages in her book, “Unless you want to try this ritual I found here. It might be able to heal limbs.” She then seems to realize something she’s forgotten, and quickly fish up a strange, blue potion from her bag, “Though, it will not give your eye back, you should drink this.”
Raskrev: ”Will it make me feel better?”
Orma: She laugh. A genuine, from the stomach, laugh. ”Oh, by the corpse god, no!” she lifts her mask to wipe away a tear, “It will keep you alive. Now drink up, boy.”

How do you know the abomination didn't win and present my severed head to you just now?

Drink it.

You need two eyes if you wanna continue throwing things accurately. Inquire further about the restorative ritual. Ask about "side effects" in particular.

>>1086262
Hmm, maybe getting attacked by the Abomination got you infected. Take the vial and drink it. If it was a trap she would've said it would make you feel better, or something more alluring.

Ask her what the ritual does, the one she was looking at when you came in. Is that what the Vigilant Woodsmen did to become what they are? Also, ask for more information on the limb-healing ritual. Oh wait, are they the same ritual?

Nah, I already drank. Tell me more about the Magician. He sounds like a swell guy.

Say, you weirdos in the cell, what do you know about the city? What else is in there, 'sides the giant god pushing up sunflowers?

To keep me alive? Yea, you're gonna need to give me more than that.

The woodsman, it had the same number of voices as the family portrait upstairs. It originated here, didn't it? Is this ritual you've found going to fuse people together?

>>1086262
Usually the guy gets the lady a drink, though the stuff you've got wouldn't be to her taste. Gonna need a little more info though. If this blue stuff knocks you out or something, you want to make an informed medical decision, and your desire for company doesn't mean you can't feel a little paranoid after literally killing yourself. Does she KNOW the ritual won't make you like a certain bunch of rabbits? She might wind up in that mess too, and you're a little too unfamiliar for that sort of arrangement.
Unless she says something very off kilter, drink it regardless.

>It will keep you alive. Now drink up, boy
… A little more information is needed I feel before I chug the mystery brew.

What about a ritual? Take a look, if nothing else.. All this is intriguing while under the drink.

Drink the blue. While she's up for studying I doubt she'd want you dead.

>>1086262
Not happening. Demand her to explain more about this substance, there's been enough weird happennings already. You're no stranger to survival at all costs but your blind faith resides in the Moon not in the... blue vial

Damnit. Even if you could transplant an eye from the other you, I had you... stab...
Wait.
Ask Orma if she can manipulate the head to grow an eye. Maybe the overwhelming magic that created it in the first place will make it possible. Then you just pluck the eye out and graft it in.

Alternatively, you could fight another Sin and keep the eyes intact this time.

In all likelihood, the blue liquid is an antidote to whatever you just drank. Homemade spirits you find in the secret ritual cellar probably aren't safe to consume. You should probably do as she says and drink it.

Grokk and Kani would probably love that ritual, maybe less so the result.
Ask Orma if there is a way you could summon (create ?) another bad side abomination and do the ritual with it. That sound like a great idea, especially now that you're a bit drunk.
Speaking of drinking, drink the blue vial. Orma's hiding things from you, but she is still your group's healer, and you would be able to tell if it was poison. It's your area of expertise after all.

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)04:14 No. 1086514 ID: 681cb5
File 171058765790.png - (112.11KB , 700x550 , 58.png )

>How do you know the abomination didn't win and present my severed head to you just now?
Orma: ”Not even you would be that boring, dear.” she chuckles, “Or is your deepest, darkness desire truly to show off to an old lady like myself, hmm?”
>Ask her what the ritual does, the one she was looking at when you came in.
Orma: ”It’s a ritual of binding two individuals together in love.” you feel her eyes on you, as if she’s trying to read you, “Both body, mind and soul.”
Raskrev: ”Is that what the Vigilant Woodsmen did to become what they are?”
Orma: ”Oh?” the snake tilts her head to the side, “Why do you say that?”
Raskrev: ” The woodsman, it had the same number of voices as the family portrait upstairs. It originated here, didn't it?” taking a moment to empty the bottle of alcohol, you continue, “Is this ritual you've found going to fuse people together?”
Orma: ”As I said…” she chuckle, “It will bind you together with someone else in the ultimate expression in love, both body, mind and soul.”
Raskrev: ”…and I’ll get a new eye because I’ve have the other persons eyes as well?”
Orma: ”Possibly.” the druid shrugs, “One, two, three… a dozen eyes… who knows? That’s why I want to observe it being performed, so I can catalog the effects of it.”
Raskrev: ”…I’ll think I’ll pass.” you steady yourself on the shelf next to you, “I think… I rather… not… no.”
Orma: She laugh quietly under her mask, ”I wasn’t expecting you to, dear. No, this is for… ah… more desperate people.”

>A little more information is needed I feel before I chug the mystery brew.
Orma: ”It’s an arcane herbal elixir that increases the biological vivacity of your natural restorative rejuvenation for a short while.” the pride in the snake’s voice cannot be ignored, “Allowing your sinew to mend within minutes instead of months.”
Raskrev: ”…eh?”
Orma: ”…it’s a healing potion.”
Raskrev: ”Oh!” you grab the small light blue vial from her hand, “So it will give me my eye back!?”
Orma: ”No.” she says flatly, “It will ensure you don’t die from internal hemorrhage.”

>Drink it.
After hesitating for a moment, you uncork the small bottle and chug it. Ugh, it’s all bitter tasting…

Orma: ”See, that wasn’t so bad.”

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)04:14 No. 1086515 ID: 681cb5
File 171058767034.png - (108.07KB , 700x550 , 59.png )

>Tell me more about the Magician.
Orma: ”What is there to say?” she shrugs, “They were a powerful magic user before the world ended, and has spent a lot time researching the ROT and the old gods.” While you try your best to keep yourself on your feet, she produces a small book bound in odd looking leather from her robe, “They ventured here a decade ago, to the point of calamity, to research. Since then, only a few of their notes and research journals has made it out. I’m inclined to try and find more of them here.”
Raskrev: ”He sounds swell… hehe… heh… I sshhhould buy him a drink.”
Orma: ”Good luck finding them, dear.”

>Say, you weirdos in the cell, what do you know about the city?
Orma: “They will not answer.” the snake shakes her head, ”What part of ’Standing around doing nothing’ did you not understand?”
Raskrev: ”So they can’t tell me… me about the... um… goings onsss? ‘sides of the giant god pushing up sunflowers?”
Orma: ”No.”

>Ask Orma if she can manipulate the head to grow an eye. Then you just pluck the eye out and graft it in.
Orma: ”Even if we had a perfect eye, we can’t just put it back inside, Raskrev.”
Raskrev: ”So ah… won’t… get my eye back?”
Orma: ”No. No one has that kind of magic.” the snake rubs her chin, “And even if you found such magic, it would definitely have a steep price. A price you wouldn’t want to pay, dear.”

Your feet fail you, forcing you to catch yourself on the ladder as you almost fall over. It’s clear that something is very wrong, as the whole world starts to sway back and forth, making you lose your balance. In fact, you can barely keep your eyes open anymore…

Raskrev: ”You…” you meekly say, “You poisoned me…”
Orma: ”…and why would I do that?” she cross her arms across her chest “If I wanted you dead I wouldn’t waste a perfectly good poison, would I dear?”
Raskrev: ”Then why…” you have to stop yourself from puking, “Do ah… ah…”
Orma: ”Because you just drank a whole bottle of moonshine before mixing it with medicine, you twat.”
Raskrev: ”Oh…” you nod, “That makes… sense…”

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)04:14 No. 1086516 ID: 681cb5
File 171058768197.png - (88.22KB , 700x550 , 60.png )

And then you collapse on the floor, letting sleep wash over you…

Orma: “Fool.” Orma sighs, “But an useful fool…”

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)04:14 No. 1086517 ID: 681cb5
File 171058768833.png - (2.70KB , 700x550 , 61.png )

Your sleep is dark, cold and without dreams….

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)04:26 No. 1086519 ID: 681cb5
File 171058839123.png - (77.13KB , 700x550 , 62.png )

Kani: ”Hey, sleepyheads!” an angry voice jolts you awake, “Get up!”

Your head is pounding… your right eye is burning… and your whole body feels sore and tired…

Kani: ”It’s sunrise! Get up and stop wasting time!” the hare stops for a second and thinks for a bit, “Well, not technically sunrise, as the sun is just a black orb in the sky that doesn’t move anymore, but you get my point.” With a light kick to your side, she continues screaming, “We’re burning daylight either way, you cretins! So get up and get ready already! Gokk is removing the barricade as we speak… though HE SHOULD BE DONE BY NOW!”
Gokk: ”I’m trying! My arm is still sore from yesterday, you little ball of anger! ”
Kani: ”Of course it is…”
Orma: ”Just…” Orma snores loudly, “Five more minutes, child…”

…why are you lying on the old hag?

>>1086515
Ah, mixing medication. Happens to the best of us. Well, I think we've solidly confirmed she's trustworthy. Though, she might still have her own demons to battle.

>>1086519
>why are you lying on the old hag?
Maybe she appreciated your warmth. And be nice, she's a cool old lady.

Up and at em. Go help with the barricade. See if anyone's got an eyepatch. If they ask about your eye, tell them there was an abomination born from your guilt that attacked you, but you killed it. If any of them have anything they feel intensely guilty about then it'll happen to them too.

You passed out under her care, she was obligated to watch over you. As a reptile, she needed bodyheat. As a 'youthful' male, is that really such a terrible position to wake up in? Be nicer to old ladies.
She probably wanted to see if you would use your brain, or trust in her, but she wouldn't give you a potion you didn't need, AND you were drunk. Bet she scared you away from alcoholism.
Get up carefully and help with the barricade, if Orma let's you.

Honestly you seem more comfortable.. I'd say five more minutes but you know that if you lay down for a minute longer the ball of anger is going to stab you in the ass.

Anyways. Get up, do your usual inventory check to make sure everythings alright, see if you still got your own guilt head with you or if anything got added and start preparing to head out. Get those last minute jitters gone.

Well, lucky you, nobody woke you up to stand watch after all. Check that you still have your doppleganger's head, that's a neat trophy and it could help you fake your death one of those days. Then find something to eat while Grokk removes the barricade.

She's a reptile and you're warm. Unlike the floor. That's why.

>why are you lying on the old hag?
Because you're a horny perv who got high off mixed meds? Don't piss her off, she's the only party member that seems to like you at all.

Did you remember to pick up all your knives after the fight?

Kaktus 2024/03/19(Tue)16:30 No. 1086787 ID: 681cb5
File 171089105867.png - (106.45KB , 700x550 , 63.png )

>She's a reptile and you're warm. Unlike the floor. That's why.
That doesn’t explain why you’re the one on top! She’s not even that soft…
>Because you're a horny perv who got high off mixed meds?
…you’re not that kind of perv. You’re the… secretly peeking kind.

>Up and at em. Go help with the barricade.
After quickly escaping the grasp of the old snake, you head for the front door before she can try and grab you again. Gokk is already there; slowly pulling away one of the shelves blocking the door… and to his side, the headless body of the Hanged Man is nailed to the wall with big metal spikes.

Raskrev: ”Err…” you gesture towards the flayed corpse, “So you found them…?”
Gokk: ”Orma told us what happen, Tiny.” the crocodile mumbles, clearly annoyed with your presence, “That you took down that beast after it took your eye.”
Raskrev: ”And you nailed it to the wall?”
Gokk: ”Just in case it tried to get up again. You never know.”
Raskrev: ”Right…”
Gokk: ”Now make yourself useful, small fox,” he snarls, “and grab something from the barricade and move!”
Raskrev: ”On it!” you walk past him, grabbing a large sack of old, petrified potatoes, “Say, you wouldn’t have a spare eye patch, would you?”
Gokk: ”Bah…” he grits his teeth, “I do have a spare you can take.” Before he continues, he gives you a glare that would kill, “But I will take it back when you die, weakling.”
Raskrev: ”Geez, why are so angry today?”
Gokk: ”Because you little man get to fight a glorious battle while I only get a weak wretched to slay!”
Kani: ”Don’t mind him, pipsqueak.” Kani’s head appear around the corner, smiling a wicked smile, “He’s just cranky because he got a booboo on his arm.”
Gokk: ”Go fuck yourself.”
Kani: ”Heh.”

Kaktus 2024/03/19(Tue)16:31 No. 1086788 ID: 681cb5
File 171089107071.png - (201.17KB , 700x700 , 64.png )

Beyond the barricaded door you find a silent forest, thick with mist and an uneasy stillness. It’s too quiet out there… it is making the fur on your neck stand on edge…

Kani: ”We head for the city as fast as we can.” her voice is tense, “We need to reach the wall before the abomination patrolling these woods finds us again.”
Orma: ”If there anything we need to do before leaving, now is the time.”

>Find something to eat.
Orma: ”Breakfast might be prudent. We need all the energy we can get.”
Gokk: ”Ugh, I should eat a horse…” the crocodile rubs his arm, gritting his teeth as he shivers, “And drink a whole brewery.”

>Do your usual inventory check to make sure everything is alright.
Everything seems to be in order…

Your equipment:
Daggers x 4
Dart gun
Darts x 4
Big bottle of Bleeding venom.
Small bottle of paralyzing venom.
Tiny bottle of… “Last Freedom” (For self-use only)
Some Food
Rope
Chalk
Starlight lantern
Your own head

Skills: Daggers, venom, stealth, avoiding danger and suicide.


Kani: ”I know what you did yesterday, pipsqueak.”
Raskrev: ”Huh?” you feel her knife slide up between your legs, ”Err…”
Kani: ”If I find you trying to spy on us again I’ll cut your balls off.”
Raskrev: ”N-noted.”
Kani: ”Next time, just ask if you want to watch.” the hare pulls away her blade and turn around to leave, “Or join for that matter. I’m sure Gokk wouldn’t mind.”
Raskrev: ”Oh… um… r-right…”

>>1086788
Where's the corpse that got rehanged?

Check the kitchen for anything that can be whipped up into a quick breakfast.

I would cut open three hanged man's corpse. Disgusting ass it is, I'm sure you'll find something useful within. It used it's own innards quite aptly, afterall.

Give the house one last search. Then go outside and have a disposable undead throw the gold coin in the pit to you.
... Say, what happened to your lucky coin?

Well we can fulfill the brewery at least. There's still about two to three full bottles of white lightning down there.

It's also prudent to make sure to grab some of those supplies from downstairs. I imagine Orma might find it handy to have some fancy materials to keep on hand for her research and abilities.

Kaktus 2024/04/13(Sat)16:07 No. 1088696 ID: 681cb5
File 171304965043.png - (179.10KB , 700x550 , 65.png )

>Say, what happened to your lucky coin?
…huh. You must have dropped it when fighting THE HANGED MAN.
>Where's the corpse that got rehanged?
Did it even get hanged? All you saw was the WOODSMEN snapping its neck with a noose.

>I would cut open three hanged man's corpse. Disgusting ass it is, I'm sure you'll find something useful within. It used its own innards quite aptly, afterall.
Gokk: ”We already tried that, tiny.” the crocodile says as he slaps the crucified corpse, “While its skin is as thick as leather and its guts like rope, there isn’t anything else in there.” He punches the body hard enough to make more of its intestines fall out, “Not even a heart to rip out! BAH!”
>Check the kitchen for anything that can be whipped up into a quick breakfast.
Orma: ”Didn’t we pack rations just so we don’t have to scavenge for food?” she gives you a questioning look, “Besides, anything in here is probably two decades old and carrying who knows what kind of diseases.”
Gokk: ”Guys, look!” Gokk suddenly shouts, showing off a big bag of potatoes, “I found ‘taters! A whole bag of them!”
Orma: ”DON’T YOU DARE EAT THAT, YOU BUFFOON!”
>Well we can fulfill the brewery at least. There's still about two to three full bottles of white lightning down there.
Gokk: ”BOOZE!?”
Orma: ”AND DON’T GET DRUNK!”

>It's also prudent to make sure to grab some of those supplies from downstairs.
Orma: ”I’ve already procured everything I deemed to have worth.” the snake chuckles, “After all, we still haven’t even reached the city, so there is more to find. No need to get our bags full just yet.”
Kani: ”And we need to be light on our feet out there.” the hare suddenly speaks up, “So make sure none of you are carrying anything unnecessary to our survival, get it!?” Before anyone can say anything else, she pulls out her knife and scowls, “Or do I have to start cutting off useless parts from you?”
>Go outside and have a disposable undead throw the gold coin in the pit to you.
Kani: ”A gold coin?” the glare she gives you would kill a lesser man, ”Wasting time is not worth a gold coin!”
Raskrev: ”Come on, it won’t…” you suddenly notice something… the hole the crow fell down into is gone. ”Wait, the trap has been hidden again.” holding up a hand to the others, you continue, ”Be careful, someone has been here and reset all the traps.”
Kani: ”And?” Kani doesn’t even look at you as she leaves, ”It was probably the WOODSMEN. So we better just hurry up and leave right now, before they return.”


Kani: ”That’s it. We have no more time to waste.” the hare snarls, “We’re leaving immediately, and we won’t stop until we reach the city.” she looks over at Gokk,“So stop your whining and get ready to move!”
Gokk: ”I’m not whining!” the crocodile says as he sheepishly rubs his arm, “My arm is just a bit itchy, that’s all…”
Kani: ”And you can itch it later! Let’s go!” she starts moving towards the woods, not even waiting for the rest of you, “If we keep a steady pace, we should reach the walls before midday, as long as there aren’t any surpris-”

Kaktus 2024/04/13(Sat)16:07 No. 1088697 ID: 681cb5
File 171304966044.png - (155.44KB , 700x550 , 66.png )

THE FOOL: ”SURPRISE!”
Kani: ”Wha-”

COIN FLIP!

NALTHAR CHOSES MOON!

Kaktus 2024/04/13(Sat)16:07 No. 1088698 ID: 681cb5
File 171304967271.png - (172.50KB , 700x550 , 67.png )

MOON

COIN FLIP SUCCEEDED!

A wooden monster suddenly burst out from one of the traps, swinging a massive, pulsating arm towards Kani with enough force to break bones. Barely having time to react, the hare throws herself backwards, narrowly dodging to giant fist of the abomination.

THE FOOL: ”CAWAHAHA!” the abomination laugh sound unnatural and fake, echoing through its wooden body, “Let’s have some fun!”

Kaktus 2024/04/13(Sat)16:08 No. 1088699 ID: 681cb5
File 171304968287.png - (202.42KB , 700x550 , 68.png )

With unnatural grace, the creature climbs out of the pit, revealing its full form. A headless scarecrow, whose one arm is a mutated mess of flesh and bone, while the other has a lantern made from a crows head hanging from it. But what disturbs you the most is how it moves. It floats through the air, as if each step it takes with its long legs has been rehearsed for years and now it’s expertly performing an impossible dance, just for you. This elegance is in stark contrast to its disgusting, oscillating arm which it drags behind it without a care…

THE FOOL: “You will die here…” the scarecrow does a pirouette as it walks towards you, seemingly showing off its new body, “Just like all the other gullible fools! CAWAHAHA!”

Gokk grunts behind you as he ready his axe, while Orma starts chanting something under her breath… you try and pull your knife, but find it already in your hand


THE FOOL dances closer, right on the edge of a pit…
A consequence of the reckless and naïve.

Good to know we've found the crow. Whether what was a true form or just her remains after running ahead. Given how the head glows it may be prudent to remove the headed arm for any potential magical danger, but the legs.. It is tempting to cut them to stop the dance.

The lack of anatomy on this thing is bad news for you. The only target for a knife throw is the arm where it's held on by sinews, but that will tack more than one throw.
Unfortunately I'd say you are most useful in this fight as a distraction. Try to set it up so Gokk can chop its legs off.

Be careful. Don't charge in, it's staying near the pits because it wants to knock people into them.

Approach The Fool from the right so it can't get into your blind side. Let Gokk attack first and try to trip the thing if it tries do dodge him. Try not to look the severed head in the eyes, just in case.