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

[splashofbourbon]

[he nods to the sign]

Need a little help with that.

[abardacttofollow]

"Family and love? I don't have it," Stefen says.

[splashofbourbon]

That mean it'd be weightless to you?

[abardacttofollow]

"Maybe it's something heavy as anything," Stefen says. "I've got her instead of family, and her drinking and drugs instead of love."

[splashofbourbon]

Well, one way to test that.

[crouches over by her, trying to carefully extricate the bottle]

[abardacttofollow]

It slides easily out of her loosened fingers.

[splashofbourbon]

[sets it on the scale]

[abardacttofollow]

Click!

[splashofbourbon]

[nice]

Thanks for that, kiddo. You keep sharp, all right?

[abardacttofollow]

"I'll try."

[splashofbourbon]

Good t'hear it.

[heads through the door]

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?"

[splashofbourbon]

What sorta duty you talking about, miss?

[abardacttofollow]

"I've heard there's a boy around here who sings. He might have the Bardic Gift. If so, he's a duty to the crown."

[splashofbourbon]

Ah yeah, I've seen him. Lemme go get him.

[abardacttofollow]

"If you would!" She offers the key. "Here's some pay for your time."

[splashofbourbon]

Thank you kindly.

[takes the key, heading back into the room]

[abardacttofollow]

Stefen looks up at him.

[splashofbourbon]

Hey kiddo, today's your lucky day. I found you a ticket outta this.

[abardacttofollow]

"What's the catch?"

[splashofbourbon]

They want you t'sing for 'em. Seems like you'll be helping your country.

[abardacttofollow]

"That doesn't sound real," Stefen says. He fidgets. "Really?"

[splashofbourbon]

You got my word. I'll take you t'see the lady who wants to meet you, if you don't like it we'll come right back.

[abardacttofollow]

"...Okay."

[splashofbourbon]

Let's go then.

[he gesture to the door]