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]

I'm sure! It's meant to be there. You're inside Stefen—you're in his heart, the essence of who he is.

[originsong]

—Like a Cosmosphere?

[abardacttofollow]

I don't know what that is. Perhaps?

[originsong]

Well, it's a manifestation of someone's thoughts and feelings, their past, their worries and problems... or so I'm told. I don't have one. Um— so, how do I help?

[abardacttofollow]

Oh! Yes, it's just like that. 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

[originsong]

Well, I think... of the two of us... your position might be less comfortable.

[abardacttofollow]

I'm... all right. Sometimes things are like this, right? I don't have to understand it.

[originsong]

Still... will getting the keys help you? And how do I do it? —Oh! Also, my name is Shurelia. I didn't introduce myself.

[abardacttofollow]

I don't know, but it'll help get you out of here. My name's Stefen! Which you probably... gathered.

[originsong]

I did. But, it's nice to meet you. I'll help you as best I can.

[abardacttofollow]

Thank you. I don't know what will help and won't, honestly, but I do know you have to find the Truth to get out.

If you need to ask me anything, I'll be here.

[originsong]

I think that makes you a Mind Guardian... ah, where are the keys? Do you know?

[abardacttofollow]

That'd make sense, since I think of myself as the Heart's Guard.

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… at least, I hope not. I think not.

[originsong]

Well, I'm sure I'll be okay either way. All right, I'm going to go get some keys, now.

[ hmm hmm. starts down the Performance path. ]

Performance 1

[abardacttofollow]

You find yourself in a medieval classroom in some sort of large, palace-like environment (something like this), with stained glass in the windows and old desks all lined up, slates on each. All of the desks have a different boy or girl wearing brown sitting in it—mostly boys— except for one desk in the very middle, which is empty. All the boys are whispering to each other, a soft, background susurration. The cord runs through the middle of the room and under the locked door behind the teacher's lectern.

The teacher is a handsome young man in red, who is checking a mark on his candle to confirm the time and is sighing. "Well, it looks like Stefen's got himself tied up—" there are titters from the classroom. "—So let's begin. He won't like what it does to his marks, I promise you that. If his work isn't done…"

He doesn't finish whatever threat or promise he's thinking of, just clears his throat and begins to teach a lesson on compositional theory.

The door behind the lectern is closed and locked, and there is a scale set next to it, clearly attached to the door in some way.

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

[originsong]

[ oh... I feel like I'm intruding... ]

Um, excuse me...

[abardacttofollow]

The teacher says, "Can I help you, Miss?"

[originsong]

I hope so. I'm looking for a set of keys. I was directed over here... but, I can wait until your lesson is over, if I'm getting in the way.

[abardacttofollow]

"We don't mind observers here, but there aren't any keys in this room."

[originsong]

[ looks at the door :|a I bet it's behind there ]

Then, if it's all right, I'll observe for a while.

[abardacttofollow]

"All right."

The class goes on. He's discussing the perfect fourth and its effect on music. Several of the students are whispering to each other during class.

[originsong]

[ I'm gonna evesdrop as much as possible. Information gathering!! ]

[abardacttofollow]

You're catching Stef's name whispered a bit. Some of the students around his desk are theorizing about what he might be off doing. Mostly boys, apparently?

[originsong]

[ or maybe he is CHAINED TO A DOOR :///!!!

can I see the scale from here. If I quietly creep closer to examine it will I be noticed. ]

[abardacttofollow]

You can see it from here! If you move closer, nobody seems to be bothered by you doing so.