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]

He shrugs. "I don't like it or anything," he mutters.

[originsong]

If she's your family, she shouldn't be hurting you.

[abardacttofollow]

"She's not actually family. She's just raising me."

[originsong]

Then— when I unlock the door here, do you want to come with me and find a better place to stay? I'm sure there's somewhere...

[abardacttofollow]

"If you find something. I'm not going to run away for nothing," he says.

[originsong]

... Okay. If I find something in the next room, I'll come back and get you.

If she's not family, though... um... what does it mean to you? Family and love?

[abardacttofollow]

"This is all I've got of any of that," he mumbles.

[originsong]

That won't be true forever. You get a very good family member later.

I guess if this person is all you have right now, though... how deeply is she sleeping?

[abardacttofollow]

"Really deeply," he says. "She drank a lot."

[originsong]

[ well, i can always sing her to sleep again if she wakes up.

DRAGS THIS WRETCHED OLD LADY ONTO THE WEIGHTED PLATFORM ]

[abardacttofollow]

I MEAN THAT

that will work? That will work. Not an anticipated solution but it'll work.

Stef stares in mild horror.

[originsong]

... It's okay, she didn't wake up. I'll be back before she does.

[ PROCEEDS ]

Composition 3

[abardacttofollow]

This is another outdoor scene, similar to before, the room an 'alley' running between two buildings, both clearly houses of ill repute; judging from the crudely drawn images on their signs, one caters to men, and the other to women. The lighting is dim, and the ceiling is painted like a clouded-over night's sky. The cord runs through the room and then up, being held by a woman standing there. You can see a key in her other hand; she's spinning it at the end of one finger. She is tall and fierce-looking, stern and alarming, dressed head to toe in scarlet.

As before, there's plenty of garbage scattered around.

"You," the woman calls out. "I don't suppose you know what the weight of duty is?"

[originsong]

Well, that's a question with a lot of answers. But, for right now, I want to ask if you know anywhere that a little boy could live safely. Right now his situation is very bad.

[abardacttofollow]

"Is he a singer?" she asks. "I've been looking for a certain boy around here."

[originsong]

Oh! He is. Right now he doesn't have a lot of confidence, but his voice is lovely. It's full of pure feelings.

[abardacttofollow]

"He's what I need," she says with confidence. "He should be a Bard."

[originsong]

And he has to go away from this place to do that, right? To a place that's better?

[abardacttofollow]

"Yes," she says. "He'll belong to the kingdom."

[originsong]

That does sound much better. Okay, I'll go get him.

[abardacttofollow]

"Thank you," she says seriously. She hands you the key.

[originsong]

[ takes it! and goes back to get baby Stefen ]

Okay, I found a lady who says that she'd like to take you away from here because you can sing. You can learn to be a Bard and not get beaten up or starved.

[abardacttofollow]

"Really?" He seems amazed. "Me? Even though I'm from here?"

[originsong]

Yeah! She came looking for you specifically. See, I told you, your voice would reach further someday.

[abardacttofollow]

He considers it, fidgeting, then nods. "...Okay. Hope it's not a front for something."