QUIET MOUNDS - STEF HEART

[abardacttofollow]

You find yourself in a stone room that looks like some sort of medieval dungeon. There are (thankfully), no torture instruments, but there is a man strung up here. One large manacle is around his neck, chaining him stiffly to the door. His hands are free, but each foot is manacled to the matching bottom corner of the doorframe. There is a visible lock on each of the three manacles.

It's Stefen, and there's a knife in his chest. Despite that, he's alive, apparently alert, and doesn't look to be in pain, perhaps due to the lulling, sense-dulling music that seems to be coming from nowhere at all—in fact, if you were in pain before you entered, it's gone here. His wound is bleeding, but only a little, and he smiles his usual bright smile at you.

Behind him, but in front of the closed door he's bound to, you can see three double sets of strings running vertically. Where they meet the floor, they are fastened, and then each runs across the floor to the three doors on the opposite wall, then under them.

There is nothing else in this room.

((OOC: Here's how this will work! Since we're doing individual runs, rather than me putting up individual top levels for areas, just jump the post itself, and I'll run everything for you within your one thread. If you're wanting to do a run with someone else, just stay in the same thread together.))

Comments

[abardacttofollow]

Vanyel-ashke, don't look so alarmed. It's all going to be all right, I promise.

[twicebonded]

[hurrying over to him, casting his mind about, testing the barriers here]

An illusion—?

[abardacttofollow]

[You feel Stefen's love for you, steady and calm]

Sort of. [he draws a deep breath.] You're inside Stefen—you're in his heart, the essence of who he is. I'm the Heart's Guard, and, as you can see, I've been put here to keep this path blocked off. I'm sorry that you're in this position, as I can't imagine it's a very comfortable one. To get out, you'll have to find your way to the Heart's Truth. That's the door behind me, and it's got a truth about me even I don't know! As you can see, to do that, you're going to need three keys.

[he gives a crooked smile after finishing that speech]

[twicebonded]

. . . if this is some kind of joke, it's not one I find appealing . . .!

[he simultaneously calms down and gets way more anxious at that sensation]

[abardacttofollow]

I know, love. I'm sorry. I can try to explain more?

[twicebonded]

Not unless the answer changes.

[he tries to reach a hand out to touch him]

[abardacttofollow]

No change. Just more detail.

[he catches Vanyel's hands with his own]

[twicebonded]

[clasps it tightly]

What do you need? What should I do?

[abardacttofollow]

I'm all right, love. It doesn't hurt, and everything's fine. But... the keys are at the end of each of those paths: Composition, Performance, and the Gift. None of them are long. They shouldn't be dangerous to you, I hope. I'm not a dangerous person... at least not any more. And I never meant to be, I promise that, so hopefully that's enough.

[looks wistful for a moment, hazel eyes fixed on the far distance, then shakes his head.] You'll know when you get to the end because that's where the strings end. The last area in each path will have one of the keys. I don't know anything else about it, but... if you need me, you can always come back. I'll try to help figure things out with you, if I can.

[twicebonded]

I don't understand . . .

[abardacttofollow]

What don't you understand, ashke?

[twicebonded]

[. . . just shakes his head]

If this is what's in front of me—I'll do my best.

[abardacttofollow]

[touches his cheeks]

I believe in you. I'll get you out of here safely, love.

[twicebonded]

. . . I'm not worried about myself.

[abardacttofollow]

Believe in me too, then? Even if I haven't always earned it.

[twicebonded]

[startled]

I trust you completely. Of course I believe in you, ashke.

[abardacttofollow]

So don't worry too much. Trust your instincts and trust yourself in my heart.

[twicebonded]

. . . it's the most important thing to me.

[abardacttofollow]

I love you too. Always.

[twicebonded]

. . .

[draws in a shaky breath as he steps away]

Where should I start?

[abardacttofollow]

Wherever you like. Composition is the earliest part, but you'll have to go everywhere at some point if you want to get all the keys.

[twicebonded]

. . .

[heading away. starting with . . . the Gift]

[abardacttofollow]

You find yourself in a royal court, one you recognize quite well, with a king on his seat, an older Randi. He looks tired and unwell, but is upright and smiling. The music is loud here, the source of where it's playing throughout the Heart: Stefen, seated on the dias and playing a lute for entertainment. Across the king's lap is a scepter, and a long lush carpet leads up to the throne. On either side of the carpet are people come to get the king's audience, mostly the rich and fancifully dressed. Behind the throne there is a door; the cord runs through the middle of the room, under the throne and the king's feet, and under that locked door. Next to the door is some sort of empty scale, clearly attached in some way.

"Well? Who's next?" Randale asks, in a friendly voice despite his paleness, and the dark circles under his eyes.

A sign on the door reads: "What is the weight of security?"

[twicebonded]

[. . . his breath catches, pained. he seems frozen, staring]

[abardacttofollow]

"Vanyel? Look at you," Randale says.