SHRIEKING SKULLS WILL SHOCK YOUR SOUL AND SEAL YOUR DOOM TONIGHT

[acherontiastyx]

[After 10:00 p.m., the library's... definitely a little different. The tables have lit candles on them, and there are... kind of janky cardboard cutouts set on some of the shelves. An attempt was made, at least, even if there could've been more boxes destroyed in the attempt...

But regardless. There's candles set around a place for some snacks if anyone wants to bring them, and there's also a blanket set on one of the tables. Because clearly, that's where the storyteller's supposed to sit...? Maybe you wanna do it. Maybe you just want to stand or sit or something.

Either way, let's get fucking spooky up in here.]

Comments

[neverheardofhim]

[Well he wasn't going to tell stories, but now there's a game afoot. Maybe he's also a little curious about the effects, too.]

Where I come from, magic is about as common as red hair. You can do a lot of good with it -- heal sickness, keep orphans warm with a fire, keep the ale cold, even close breaches between our world and the world of spirits.

Thing is, mages are also dangerous. With a little bit of blood, from them or a victim, they can do a lot of damage. Worse still? They attract demons, and together they can become abominations -- code for grotesque, shambling monsters.

We tend to keep mages under lock and key, for our protection and theirs. [His face twisted a little at that.] But the north, in a place we call Tevinter, that stuff runs wild.

Long time ago, Tevinter conquered a lot of people. And in their conquering, they built a city named Kirkwall. Sure, it seemed normal on the surface, but the whole place just reeked of bad energy. Worse still, the whole place was designed to be a city wide blood magic ritual, with channels and streets modeled in the shape of important runes.

A lot of slaves went into that city while Tevinter was in control. Very few made it out.

[With that, he'll blow out a candle and go back to being quiet.]

[acherontiastyx]

...wow, that's... yeesh. My world might have some freaky stuff going on, but I don't think anything's that bad.

[neverheardofhim]

This is why you don't invite dwarves to storytelling parties. [A chuckle.] Got lots more where that came from though.

[acherontiastyx]

...do you have any cool, spooky creatures, I guess.

[neverheardofhim]

Demons and spirits, same as anyone else. Dragons, if you're lucky. [He lifted his brows, a smirk spreading across his lips.]

How about the darkspawn, mmm?

[acherontiastyx]

Yeah, I guess you can say we have all of these, I guess. Except darkspawn. What the heck's that? It sounds pretty metal.

[neverheardofhim]

Metal. That's a word for it.

[He shook his head. He doubted anyone had something quite like the darkspawn.]

Undead things that spread a disease that'll make you just like them. Every few centuries, they'll amass an army, dig up a big, undead dragon, and together they try to wipe out the whole blighted world.

[acherontiastyx]

Whoa. That's nuts, yo. Like, do you get a ten year old to take care of things, then?

[neverheardofhim]

Just a soon-to-be king with the brains of a ten year old.

[acherontiastyx]

Ohhh. Ain't that always the problem with royalty.

[neverheardofhim]

He's a decent enough man. Just... desperately in need of decent advisers, it would seem.

I'd take him over anyone else though.

[acherontiastyx]

Well, yeah. Like I said, the problem with royalty. Sure, the person who starts the line off probably knows their stuff... but maybe they suck at parenting. Maybe their kids aren't up to it. Or maybe it's fine for a few generations until you get someone whose brains can't handle the stress of making decisions for themselves.