a glorious quest

[dramatispersonae]

Characters: Beauty, Mordred, and the Dog
Location: outside the walls
Time: Day 332, through the morning
Description: ???

[ A dog, a knight, and a lady are picking their way through the dark woods outside of the castle walls. It was probably a familiar sight for better times in this particular realm, but right now none of them look happy about it, for multiple reasons — not least among which may be that the dog will soon be leading them off the trail... ]

Comments

[putitdown]

[ right now though the dog is leading them into the HORRIFYING PIT that lately housed the rat monster. the atmosphere of darkness will be oppressive as soon as you get past the sapling hope tree at its edge, there are still probably bits of decaying flesh in there. ew. predictably, the dog looks very excited by this, because it is a dog. ]

It goes this way...

[sobstory]

A-are you certain? This isn't the way for the path...

[deadlyvirtues]

Paths rarely go anywhere worthwhile. Trust the one with the nose.

[putitdown]

The path they found goes this far. I smell them down in the pit! With the meat!

[ WRIGGLING WITH EXCITEMENT; it's easier to do that here next to the hope tree ]

Can I go? Can I?

[sobstory]

[D:]

What do you smell there...?

[deadlyvirtues]

Do we really want the full catalogue?

[putitdown]

[ looking back over its shoulder at Beauty! with authority ]

The heroes and knights came here and killed the monster! And there's... something else, finally...

[sobstory]

I'm only making certain we're not on a wild goose chase. Very well, let's go and see what it is.

[deadlyvirtues]

As long as we don't start barking up the wrong tree.

[putitdown]

[ starting down the hill, away from the helpful influence of the hope sapling — stops and turns back to look at it? THAT'S THE TREE...? ]

[sobstory]

Ah... it's a turn of--never mind.

[following]

[deadlyvirtues]

[chuckling and following along, glancing around them with understated paranoia]

[putitdown]

[ that probably only gets worse once they get down further into the pit, to be honest. away from the tree the full force of the darkness's oppressive atmosphere crashes back down on them, and the pit's sides are steep, slippery, and still covered with charnel. the Dog skids down towards the center unhesitatingly. ]

[sobstory]

[ccccccarefully stepping down, with her arms held up for balance--and ends up slipping down anyway with a yelp]

[deadlyvirtues]

[watching for a moment with a smile on his face as the two careen down ahead of him... then, finally, sighing, screwing up his face in an expression of distaste, and seating himself at the top of the slope before pushing off to slide down after them]

[putitdown]

[ EWWWWW it's gross down here! except for a clean nice patch where the final boss resulted in some flowers. sniffs there and then further across the slope back up the other side of the pit, raising its head — shivering from the effects of the darkness. ]

I still can't tell... but it might be Master! It seems clearer than I could tell from the big house...

[sobstory]

[regains her footing as best she can, dress a bit dirty now, and finds herself drawn to the flower patch]

Well... we've come this far...

[deadlyvirtues]

[pulling himself back up to his feet and rapidly concealing a look of surprise]

I assure you, this is nothing. Far worse is certain to come, and likely sooner than later.

[putitdown]

[ there aren't any flowers left, but this is where the flowers that went into Apple's statue medicine came from! there are several fallen petals, still bright ]

If something happens, I'll protect you.

[sobstory]

Then, we should make haste.

[pets doggie]

Good girl.

[deadlyvirtues]

A girl's best friend. How lucky for us.

[terse, clipped, certainly bothered by something]

Let's get on with it, then.

[putitdown]

[ ... pricks its ears at the "girl's best friend" line, but doesn't turn back again; just starts climbing the far edge of the pit. ewwwww again. ]

[sobstory]

Does it go on further...?

[deadlyvirtues]

Does what go on further?

[sneering at the carnage of the climb as he wades forward to get to it]

[putitdown]

I still smell something that might be Master. We have to keep following it!

[ NOT SLOWING DOWN. ]