SP-F10: 'Hello Darkness my Old Friend'

[Mari 1]

The Bone Dragon finally stopped thrashing about, giving Mari the chance to make her move. She pulled the dagger out with great effort, which caused her to fall forward, but she managed to grip onto one of its many bones, and continued to climb up, Mari reached its neck, and made her way between the numerous horns that protruded from its head. She carefully made her way to the space between its eyes, and again, drove her dagger deep into the bone, sending a crack shooting down the side of its jawline. The Bone Dragon buckled, and collapsed to the floor, its HP now set deep in the red. Mari would kill this creature, and she would do it with plenty of health to spare.

 

Battle Dice: 6+3= Success

Mob Dice: 7-2= Fail

Bone Dragon 21/100 HP

Mari: 45/67  

[Mari 1]

Mari pulled the blade out and quickly drove it in again, causing another split across the Bone Dragon's skull, this time in the opposite direction. Mari noticed the green glow emitting from its eyes begin to falter. She paused, as its eyes met hers, two sets of softly glowing green hues stared silently at one another. The pink haired woman noticed something she wasn't expecting. 

Fear.

The beast almost looked afraid, it even emitted a defeated, pained growl. Mari blinked, confused by this, weren't they just in heated combat moments before? Was this why it had barely attacked her earlier when the hoard of monsters had circled her? Why? Why did it look afraid? Why did the eyes of an NPC show signs of intelligence? 

"STOP THAT!" Mari screeched at it, voice warbled, she was clearly shaken by this new turn of events.

 

Battle Dice: 8+3= Success

Mob Dice: 6-2= Fail

Bone Dragon 9/100 HP

Mari: 45/67  

[Mari 1]

The Bone Dragon simply gave another murmured, low growl in response to her, it had no eyelids, yet the glowing embers of its eyes seemed to blink at her, and as it 'opened' them again it was almost as though it looked at her with pity. Mari was pissed. "Don't!" She cried out. "Don'T DO THAT! Don't LOOK at me with those EYES!" She screamed, slashing her dagger across its head. It was a critical blow, and the final one at that. The lights of its eyes flickered, as though they were flames of a candle that were blown out, the bones beneath her started to crumble and creak, before they shattered from beneath her.

Mari flailed in the air, but managed to right herself second before she hit the ground. There was a small sphere, signalling that there was loot to be collected. Mari reached out, giving it a small tap, and it produced 500 Col and a single Material. She gave a heavy sigh, wiping the sweat from her brow. It was a long battle, and the end of it...unnerved her. The entrance into the prison was now clear, and Mari wasn't sure if she wanted to bother going inside. 

 

Battle Dice: 10+3= Success
Loot Dice: 14

Bone Dragon DEAD

Mari: 46/67  

 

+500 Col
+1 Material
 

[Mari 1]

Mari hugged herself, deciding that she may as well take a quick look inside, chances are - after a battle like that, there would be a chest nearby. Mari stepped past the entrance and into the area now, there were patches of loose dirt kicked up and around the place. Mari expected to find overgrown grass, but that would require some sort of sunlight. Instead, there were small piles of mushrooms. Mari frowned. Mushrooms were one of her favourite foods, but she wasn't a cook. She couldn't pick them even if she tried, there would be no way for her to successfully pick and eat them.

Mari peered into the entrance of the crumbling, decrepit building. It Was an old prison. The sounds of zombies grew louder, and Mari decided to leave the area for now. 

Perma Roller ID: 10116
Loot Dice: 10 FAIL NO CHEST

 

 

 

Mari: 47/67  

[Mari 1]

Mari had decided to backtrack from Tartarus. She may as well slowly make her way toward the tower, she passed the crumbled statue, and had made her way to the fork in the road, Mari paused. Giving a yawn and a stretch. When was the last time she rested? That last battle took a lot out of her; she hoped there wouldn't be another encounter like that, especially since her health hadn't had the chance to fully regenerate yet.

Now that it was silent, the memory of the Bone Dragon's pity filled eyes flashed into Mari's conscious mind, she grit her teeth, giving her head a slap. "F**k." She muttered under her breath. "I'm going f**king insane..." She muttered dryly. She kicked at the ground, watching as a cloud of dirt lifted then, surprisingly was picked up by a small gust of wind and carried straight forward. There was no road leading to that direction, but if there was wind that way...what did that mean?

Mari couldn't see anything ahead of her, just a vast, empty wasteland. She took another look at the tower, before glancing back toward the wasteland before her. The Scout for the boss room could wait... she chose to instead, trek forward, toward the blank expanse. 

 

 

Mari: 48/67  

[Mari 1]

Mari had been walking for a few minutes now, but the path behind her was quickly beginning to disappear beyond the horizon behind her. A few minutes turned into 10, then 20. Mari every so often would glance to her side, ensuring that she was staying aligned to the tower, it would be very, very easy to become lost out here. There was a zombie up ahead, so Mari - again equipped her Spiny Rose dagger, choosing to inflict more damage rather than less. As she slowly made her way toward it. Mari wasn't going to take any risks here, she knew she could quickly and easily become disorientated, and thus lost. She wasn't planning on becoming lost in a dead wasteland.

 

Mari: 49/67  

[Mari 1]

The zombie was in battle range now, and just as she thought -it too only had 10HP. They seemed to be the weakest of the mobs on this floor. Heck, they were about as weak as the mobs on the 5th floor. But again, Mari assumed that was a numbers game, the zombies were meant to attack en masse. Thus making it harder to cope with them. However, in such a desolate field of emptiness, it seemed that even the mobs had little reason to congregate here. The zombie caught sight of Mari, and lunged at her, but she stepped to the side, bringing her dagger down into its skull. Instantly killing it, as it shattered into a myriad of pixels, as it was a critical hit, her Life Steal skill activated, and regenerated a measly 1HP. Mari twirled her dagger absently in her hand. Deciding it'd be best to keep it on hand in case any others showed up.

Battle Dice: 10 SUCCESS
Zombie: 0/10 DEAD
 

 

Mari: 50/67  

[Mari 1]

It wasn't long till Mari noticed an abnormality on her map, she paused. It looked like a big, black scar, directly ahead of her, just over the horizon. "What the....?" Mari assumed it was some sort of graphical error. Perhaps just a chunk of missing data. She shrugged her shoulders and continued forward. As she did, she noticed it appear, it was the oddest thing. Before her - was nothing but darkness. Even with her night vision, she couldn't see past or through it. Mari stopped at the threshold. It was almost like a curtain in front of her, or a crack in reality that opened up into a never ending hall or pit of emptiness.

Mari felt compelled to go in, to see exactly what was inside of it, but she shuddered, something about that area wasn't right. Now she had revealed the area, it was simply labelled 'The Void' Mari wondered, if where were to go in there, would she die? Would she simply cease to exist? Was it some sort of pot luck, you go in, you either win or loose like a twisted game of Russian roulette? Whatever the case...Mari was not going to have any part of it. At least not right now. Mari did a 180 - turning right around, heading back toward the fork in the path.

 

That was two things she could now add to the list of why this floor was batsh*t creepy. NPCs with emotion and voids of darkness.

 

Mari: 51/67  

[Mari 1]

It seemed that the zombie she had fought earlier had re-spawned, and it bought a little zombie friend. As there were two in her way now. Mari rolled her eyes, glad she still had her blade equipped. She felt like she didn't have the time for these guys, so threw out a monster grenade. Was it a waste of a perfect grenade? Probably. Did she care? Not in the slightest.

No one bought them, and she rarely, if ever used them herself. Mari would soon be changing her profession - noticing the announcement that was made earlier that day. Being a performer was non profitable, and tiring. And she simply lost the heart to play the violin. What was the point in making her music? If she couldn't stand to play any more?

[Mari 1]

The Monster grenade burst, and a soft, heartfelt tune began to play - that was Mari playing. Mari had to stop in her tracks. Wasting a battle turn. That was her playing. Mari clasped one hand over her heart. Did she really play that? Mari wasn't sure any more. Such soulful music, such emotion. Mari could feel a wetness fall down her cheeks, and without realizing it, she had begun to cry. Mari blinked, raising a hand to smear a tear across her face. Why? Why was she crying?

She cleared her throat, singing softly to herself, "Lost in Darkness blue, endless labyrinths weaving through...will you stagger on, with no star to light your way?'

The first strike landed, as Mari effortlessly drove the dagger deep into its chest - right where it's heart would have been and drove it up toward its its skull. Effectively destroying the zombie. The second moaned, swaying in time to the music. Mari continued to quietly sing to herself, "Share with me your tears, All your troubles and deepest fears...." She sniffed, her voice cracking as she continued to weep. "I remember when...you chased all my shadows away"

The song was too painful, it reminded her of Alkor - of everything he did for her. Everything his being encompassed. Mari shoved her dagger into the second Zombie, another one hit kill - she didn't shift her strike. She just twisted the dagger deep into its chest. It shattered before her.

There was still a turn left, and the music still played. Still plagued her, Mari collapsed to her knees, dropping her blade as she attempted to cover her eyes. Trying to block out the music. Even then, she was whispering the lyrics. "Always you will find, Shadows lingering close behind...Lift your spirits now, ..We shall be together soon.."   

 

 

The song finally ended as the grenade disintegrated, but Mari was still whispering to herself, blurry blue eyes downcast, blurred by the sudden outburst of tears. Her chest felt heavy, and she wanted the feeling to go away. She hadn't even realized the third zombie that had approached - drawn in by the grenade. 

 

Battle Dice: 1 +3 =Fail
Battle Dice: 4+ 3= Success

Batle Dice: 7+3=Success

 

Mari: 51/67  

 

[Mari 1]

The Zombie approached from behind, and bit Mari's shoulder. Mari jerked, turning around to drive her dagger into it's eye socket, it gave a loan moan before shattering. A single hit, and it was dead. Mari screamed at it, despite it no longer existing. "Go away!" Her tone was hurt, pained. Her chest ached, as though there was a heavy weight on it. It was difficult for her to breathe - and every time Mari closed her eyes... she saw him.

She saw Alkor.

She saw him smiling, she saw the warmth of his golden eyes, and she saw how lifeless and blank they were in his death. Mari shook her head, again dropping her blade as she pulled on her fringe, lowering herself into a foetal position. "Go away!" She screamed again, "Go away! Go away! GO AWAY!"

 

She screamed out the words, at the top of her lungs, over and over and over again. Till her voice was hoarse, till it was but a feeble plea, a cry for help that no one would ever hear. "Please..come back...I need you..."

 

 

Mob Dice: 8 -2 = Success
Battle Dice: 6+ 3= Success

 

 

Mari: 50/67  

[Mari 1]

Mari had cried herself beyond the point of exhaustion, beyond the point of feelings things, she feebly stood. if she hadn't had night vision activated one would clearly notice just how bloodshot and puffy her eyes were. Mari looked at the map with dead eyes. What was she doing again? Slowly, but surely, she began to put one foot in front of the other, she nearly tripped when she hit the fork in the road. 

With great effort, Mari raised her eyes from the ground, to see the top of the mountain that the starting town surrounded, far, far on the horizon. It appeared as little more than a black smudge against a lighter blackness. "This floor..." Mari muttered, she would go mad if she stayed here, perhaps she already was mad. Had she really seen that void? Did that Bone Dragon really show fear and empathy? Mari shook her head, turning on her heel. Finally heading toward the tower.

A part of Mari wanted to go home, but what was home? What was waiting for her? Why continue? Why fight on?

[Mari 1]

Mari knew there was more to this floor, but right now she didn't exactly have the heart to explore the floor much further. She was nearing the tower now. For some reason, there weren't as many monsters nearby. Perhaps she had just missed both Zelrius and Ryu? At the thought of their names Mari felt her eyebrow twitch. She couldn't exactly blame either of them. She hadn't even seen Ryu at the boss battle, and she knew Zelrius wasn't in the same group as Alkor. So how was he meant to heal him? 

Still...she felt some sort of disdain toward Zelrius, he had swept up, right behind her - taken the kill and the unique item that the Hydra dropped. Mari wouldn't have cared if the Hydra dropped an uncommon item. She wanted it, she wanted something from the Hydra, the beast that took Alkor away from her, the beast that took away the last shred of her sanity. 

 

She could easily blame the members in the first group; Daeron, Tristan, Seldentar....Tristan, why didn't he heal Alkor? Why did he heal her? Why? Mari didn't exactly care for him all too much, not with how he treated Celes. 

"Tch." 

That was another name Mari hadn't seen in a long time, just what had happened to her? She probably died. Mari grimly concluded. The door to the tower was in her sights now, Mari quickened her pace, before opening its doors and entering it.

[Mari 1]

One thing was for sure, Mari - was becoming more and more thankful that she had managed to gain the Night Vision skill. As the doors slammed shut behind her, she realized that if it weren't for her skill, she'd be in perpetual darkness. Mari had to wonder how the hell the others made it this far with no viable light source. Zelrius had his sword, but that could only light the way so much. 

There were no monsters around, she was definitely close, they hadn't had a chance to respawn yet. Thankfully. Mari was almost sick of battling. She had fought at least 16 mobs since she had arrived on the floor. No doubt there would be more as she attempted to find the boss room. She had her map up in front of her, taking a deep breath. 

Right, now was crunch time. She started down the corridor, and in minutes - it forked off into three directions. Mari headed to the left route, and came across a door. She opened it to peek inside. There was nothing. Just an empty room. She sighed and headed back. This would be a long, and arduous process. 

 

 

 

Mari: 53/67
ID: 10133
Loot Roll: 13

[Mari 1]

Mari continued back the way she had come, then - chose the middle route. This one was a little more complicated, as it forked a second time. Again, Mari chose to pick the left route. The area was quiet, and she could hear her footsteps echo around her. The silence was deafening. Mari furrowed her brow, and cleared her throat. That echoed too. "Just great..." She mumbled. She came upon another door, and peeked inside. There was a very, very suspicious looking chest in there.

"Nope." Mari said as she turned on her heel, choosing to ignore what she assumed would just be a trap room.

 

 

Mari: 55/67
ID: 10135
Loot Roll: 8

[Mari 1]

Back down the corridor she went, Mari felt like this was a waste of her efforts. It was clear that this area had already been cleared. As such, wouldn't it be obvious that there wasn't any sort of 'boss room' around here? Logically...yes...but the others could have missed something, and Mari wasn't going to take that chance, she couldn't. She was meticulous. She'd rather explore every possible route, even after finding the boss room. Purely because she wanted to complete the map. Heck, that was partially why she had explored the floor before coming here.  Mari headed down the other split - and continued down that corridoor. Which split AGAIN

"UGH!" Mari mumbled. One way veered directly off to the let, the other, lead downstairs. Mari chose to go downstairs, as it was darker down there. She figured that the others may not have bothered to look in that room. Due to the darkness. Luckily, she had night vision. Such a thing would no longer be a issue for her. The room wasn't empty, it contained three armoured skeletons, but Mari was quick enough to shut the door and scoot back up the stairs. Nope. No luck.
 

 

 

Perma Roller ID: 10140
Loot Dice: 13
 

[Mari 1]

Next up was the room directly to the left, Mari turned straight into that room, as it was more or less adjacent to the stairs leading down into the room filled with the skeletons. Is this how the Scouting groups did this? This was so...boring, and the silence. Ugh. Mari supposed that if you were doing it in a group you'd have others to talk to, and generally the scouting group would be the first people in there. Rather than trailing behind a few others who no doubt had already cleared the way. 

"Oh Look...another empty room." Mari muttered, as she turned on her heel. Continuing her search.
 

Mari: 57/67

Perma Roller ID: 10141
Loot Dice: 14
 

[Mari 1]

Mari marked the rooms down on the map she was slowly, and very crudely drawing up. She made her way back down to the original corridor which had forked off into three directions. The left and middle section was a bust. So now, she would go right. Mari assumed that going right would lead into a bunch of other rooms and corridors, she just didn't realize HOW many that would be.

Straight ahead it looked like stairs leading up. Then there was a corridor to her left and right. Mari, decided to keep with her original plan of going left first. It was a very small corridor. that lead to an empty room, no doors no nothing, just an empty space. That was a waste of time.

 

 

 

Mari: 58/67

Perma Roller ID: 10143
Loot ID: 6
 

[Mari 1]

Mari constantly had to keep turning, to ensure that she wouldn't become disorientated. She faced the stairs ahead of her that lead up to the next floor, then turned right. This was the next corridor she would go down. Mari began walking down it, and sighed as she came across yet another fork. "Left, Left..." She muttered, not even hesitating as she walked. If it forked again she'd simply go left again.

 

Thankfully, it was just a single corridor into a single - empty room. In a sense, the woman was glad Zelrius and Ryu had cleaned out the area before her. It would be less work for her, but at the same time. This was somewhat boring.

 

Mari: 59/67

Perma Roller ID: 10144
Loot ID: 13

[Mari 1]

"Ok...so..coming back up here there should be a door to my left, since I am heading the opposite way...but on the map it'd be the room to the right..." Mari muttered to herself, going over her map, as she placed another big red cross on the room she was just in. This was tedious. Mari knew her health hadn't fully regenerated but she wanted to fight something again. Even if it was just another few zombies. Just to pass the time. Mari placed her hand on the next door, and pushed.

Empty.

 

 

 

Mari: 60/67

Perma Roller ID: 10146
Loot ID: 18