ic Shadow Hunter (IC)

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Mid November, 2024

 

Wharton State Forest, Outside of Freedom City

 

A spark of black lightning caused a bit of a stir out in Wharton Forest.

 

It was in the middle of the forest, near an abandoned camp site- one that had been removed from the acceptable camping grounds due to a string of accidents on it-. It wasn't seen by anyone, but it did make a sound.

 

A few more bolts of lightning happened, bouncing between the trees but leaving no scorch marks or burns.

 

This event grew in intensity over a few minutes, more and more crackling bolts of lightning filling up the air around the forest.

 

Finally, with a shuddering gasp, like the gargle of a dying man, Something emerged from nowhere, a great, shuddering egg of spongy flesh, rhythmically pulsing like it was breathing, glowing red and black.

 

Somewhere else

 

Muirne was having a very normal day, absolutely unaware of what was going to come her way soon. For now, to her, it was just a completely normal, not so special day.

 

What did a normal day look like to Muirne? An average weekday with nothing special intended.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne had awoken in the way that she had for most of her life, with the dawn. She had a light breakfast before throwing herself into her training at the Young Guardian's Mansion- Spear drills, running practice, acrobatics, power usage and more. Aoife made running commentary to spot things that could be done better or had worked particularly well.

 

She stopped for lunch, before having a quick shower and departing the Mansion to her job that she'd picked up part time, manning the front desk of a book store. She had a pair of blue jeans on, a white button down shirt and dark red jersey. She didn't really need to work, given she could stay permanently at the Young Guardian's Mansion or in England with the Vanguard, but she liked the owners of the store and figured having some money off her own couldn't hurt.

There were a handful of customers, but none needed her at the moment, so she was reading. At the moment she was working her way through a copy of Beowulf with the Old and Modern English displayed on seperate pages, enjoying the chance to read in her native tongue, even if it was a slightly different dialect.

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

A quiet day. Not too bad. Or at least it was supposed to be. 

 

But before too long, while the sun was up but before it had really reached it's apex, Muirne heard a commotion outside.

 

"What's that thing?"

 

"It's cute."

 

"Is it some viral marketing spot?" And other comments crossed the bookstore. There was a small creature, about knee high stumbling through the crowd making their way around the city of Freedom. It looked a bit like an animal mascot for a cartoon show; large green eyes, covered in fur and with a bushy tail, looking like it could either run on all four limbs or just walk on two. A key made of black onyx was around it's neck, a darkness that floated out of it reminded Muirne too much of the Schattenwelt, and Aoife of home. 

 

"Is it part of an ARG?" someone asked.

 

But to Muirne and Aoife, it was a little clearer. That was a Bwbachod, a welsh Fae spirit, running lose in the city. They weren't known for being dangerous- if anything, they were usually helpful-, but seeing one at all was quite strange. And it was clearly panicked, looking around with it's big green eyes and darting between people, especially as some tried to grab or lift the creature thinking it was all a game.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne's reading was interrupted by the sounds of curious people, something her time in Freedom had taught her was always suspicious. Like when toddlers get quiet, if a Freedom City native goes 'what's that?' there was almost certainly trouble not far behind.

 

She padded over to the window, looking out to see the small fae surrounded by people. In an instant her heart nearly stopped. The key drew focus at first. The Schattenwelt wasn't widely known, but almost always those who dealt with it were villains. The ever infamous Nacht-Krieger being the first imagining of anyone familiar.

 

But then her focus expanded to the Bwbachod, intellectually she knew it was not likely to harm her but memories of fairy tales and of Dougal bubbled to the fore, causing her heart to hammer in her chest. She had to step in, before something upset the small fae enough to actually put someone in harms way.

 

Then why are you just standing here? Do something.

 

I'm trying.

 

If you can't do it, let me. The world doesn't stop because you're scared.

 

Swallowing thickly, Muirne forced her legs to move. She tried to slow her breathing even as her shaking hands grasped the door, pushing it open just enough for the small fae and calling out. "Bwbachod, þú willa beo geborgen heonan¹!"

 

¹Bwbachod, you will be safe here

Edited November 15 by Kaede Kimura
Translation for poor overworked GMs

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

The Bwbachod looked at the woman speaking a language it actually understood and quickly dove out of the way of another pair of hands, scampering on all fours towards Muirne and running into the shop. It's chasers frowned as it ran inside, not wanting to disturb the quiet bookstore with raucous chasing. Muirne could hear a few of their words as they talked and mumbled to themselves.

 

"...Maybe it's not an ARG."

 

"Could it just be advertisement for that store?"

 

"Maybe...we should check it out later."

 

But in the shop, the Bwbachod was looking up at Muirne with great thanks visible in it's big, round eyes. At closer inspection, it could be seen it's fur was a little matted; scratches and tears under it's soft brown fur.

"H...he-llo?" it asked in a broken simulacrum of English, someone who knew the words but not the phonics. "C-an yo-u hel-p? me."

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne hid her apprehension at calling the creature into the store, fear warring with her urge to help. She did cringe slightly as the crowd mistook it for an advertisement for the store however. Seeing the state the Bwbachod was in settled her firmly on the side of lending aid.

 

Her resolve set, she squatted down to be more level with the small fae as he spoke. "I may be able to help. What has happened?"

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

The Bwbachod curled up its ears and held out it's key, then chewed on it, like it was a stress relief. The creature tottered forward and backwards.

 

"T-here is a...fa-e, a pr-in-ce, who ha-s bec-ome corrupt-ed by The Darkness. He is...ch-ang-ing, tr-ansf-orming.  Becom-ing diff-erent. His p-alac-e has bec-ome dark. Ev-il. Ch-ang-ed. I s-eal-ed the c-a-stle, but, it is l-eakin-g, now. It w-ill b-urs-t sooon. He w-ill bec-ome a Pr-in-ce of Darkness."

 

He held up the key. "He m-ust be pu-ri-fi-ed.'

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne's face had worn a soothing smile as the Bwbachod chewed on the key, but her limited calm shattered like glass at the mention of a Fae Prince.

 

She fought the instincts that told her to run and find the deepest darkest hole she could find to hide in as the small creature described what was happening. Was it the darkness that she knew? The Schattenwelt?

 

She let out a slow, pained exhale as the fae held out the black key. Purification. Was that something she could do? She didn't know, but she had to try. Her hand trembled as she reached out to take the key. "I will do what I can. I hope it will be enough."

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

"T-hank yo-u." The Bwbachod said, as he handed over the key. "The c-a-stle is l-eakin-g in the fo-re-st. Lik-e a tumo-r. The key...wil-l sh-ow the way."

 

He explained. As the key left his body, as it landed in Muirne's hand, the Bwbachod disappeared, as if sucked into the key. It seemed to be part of the creature's creation, that it could not be seperated from the key, that the key was a part of it, and now it had given the possession of that key, and that progress, to Muirne to use.

 

Into the Wharton State Forest, apparently. With the Key to guide her? But the forest was quite large. 

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne looked down at the key, surprised at the consumption of the Bwbachod. She hoped that he would be okay after the end of all this. But she had a mission now. Quietly she stepped into the back of the store to let the owner know she had to end her shift early, her copy of Beowulf tucked safely in a handbag on her shoulder. Her responsibilities met she stepped outside, slipping the key around her neck as she turned invisible and retrieved her armour, shield and spear from her Dimensional Pocket, while her clothing and other civilian belongings were placed inside. 

 

A few blocks away the heroine Shadowborne appeared, swinging towards the forest. The task at hand terrified Muirne to her bones, but it was one she would complete. 

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

Wharton State Forest didn't originally look strange when Shadowborne got there.

 

The same wintery forest, the trees a little bare, but plenty of evergreens. The same families heading out for a late autumn/early winter hike or day out. But the key vibrated on Shadowborne's person. Slowly, she became aware of the things lurking in shadows.

 

Boils filled with a shiny red liquid growing on the underside of trees. Pustles hidden in rock formations, thick tendrils of inky flesh connecting them deeper into the forest. A tide of growing corruption that was advancing, here was where it was weakest. To follow the tendrils was to move deeper into the corruption, to pass from the fully real to the borderlands of what was Fae and what was Human; where the changeover happened was unclear, but when it did the corruption expanded; the boils were as large as Muirne, the liquid inside them rumbling and writhing. Puddles of black ooze filled with worms around the ground, writhing creatures with all the worst traits of leeches and spiders and maggots. 

 

In the distance, both far distant and coming up fast, was a castle more darkness than Fae; it's fantastical elements slowly being overtaken by rot, thick tendrils squeezing at solidified bricks of color and whimsy, the fae court of the castle were shifted into unreconizable beasts capering across the walls. 

 

Even in the forest, some of them stalked Muirne; misshapen beasts with weapons of their own bones, eyes gone from pools of depth and mischief to dull red and black, watching the intruder.

[Kaede Kimura]

Shadowborne 

 

Muirne was ashen pale as she picked her path through the corrupted woods, the shadows that covered her thrumming in time with her heart. She had to enter the castle and purify the Prince. She looked down at the black key. How could she do this? Was there a source to the corruption that she could destroy?

 

If the darkness is similar to our own, perhaps we can absorb it.

 

It might be dangerous... but it might work.

 

She picked her way past pustules and pools, on occasion phasing through roots and the like to avoid stepping in them. She had to get to the castle.

 

We are being stalked.

 

I see them. Do you think we should sneak by them?

 

We are in their forest. I do not know if we can. 

 

Muirne hummed thoughtfully. She did not want a fight, but Aoife had a point. She could probably give them the slip for some time, but it would slow her down and they would probably catch up. Besides, she needed to get to the castle quickly which she couldn't do while sneaking. 

 

We could transform. The Shadowbeasts are swift.

 

I would prefer that be a last resort.

 

Then I suppose we simply walk.

 

Muirne nodded, continuing her march deeper into the forest. Her corona of shadows from her partial transformation ached as she continued, tracking the twisted Fae around her. 

[Poncho]

(GM Post)

 

The creatures watched in silence. They didn't speak or cackle or laugh. Sometimes they moved, but not in vision; Muirne could tell only bceause she began to recognize specific sections of their strange anatomy; she identified the spiked 'gauntlet' that one wore, made of his own hardened and sharpened bone on his left arm, the twitch of a clubbed tail. 

 

A few followed her throughout, not making aggressive notions, just watching. But as she reached a clearing, the Castle looming quite close now, there was a shrieking call.

 

"Hold! Hold there!" yelled a creature as they leapt down.

 

What had once been an elven like body- delicate and long limbs, a pointed chin, elongated ears- had warped to become much more simian in shape; the long limbs were roped with muscle, the chin jutted wit hsharp teeth, the ears curled more like a bat's then an elf's. Their tail swished back and forth curiously. They seemed to be made out of tar or much, or at least coated in it, a heavy red-black liquid covering her body save her face, which was a ghostly white color paler than the teeth jutting out of her mouth.

 

"What business do you have with our slumbering prince, our great castle, our waking lord?" in her tail was held a glaive that swished back and forth.