Author Topic: Perfect/Butler Quest, Part II: What it Means to Protect  (Read 117291 times)

Amraphenson

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Perfect/Butler Quest, Part II: What it Means to Protect
« on: August 23, 2011, 02:54:50 AM »
This has been something I've been wanting to do for a while. Enjoy guys.

------
"Ass," comes the curse, amply describing the situation. Blood flows out of an open wound in your side, a long gash that stretches from your belly to your back. But the flow has been staunched for now and you're out of danger.

At least from that particular wound.

Something rumbles nearby. You've taken cover behind a tree in a large school campus and stifled your own breathes, but it's only a matter of time before the beast finds you. You have very few options left to you.

The moon shines brightly above, glimmering like a pale silver dollar on a sea of blue velvet. You're thankful for its presence, for the light has let you track the monstrosity with your eyes, but you curse it as well for bringing it to existance in the first place.

There's a bench nearby, along with a trash can you're fairly sure is quite full. The path is cobblestone, well worn from the passage of students over the years. There is another tree to take cover behind, but a stretch nearly 40 feet wide lies between where you are and the other tree; with how exposed and how tired you are, trying to cross that distance would be a death sentence.

On your person, you have 11 throwing knives and one larger utility knife, sharpened to a deadly edge. You can throw maybe three at once with any vague accuracy. Earlier attempts to wound the beast were effective, but it healed too quickly to really whittle it down like you planned. 9 knives remain in its hide.

Currently it lurks around, sniffing around for its prey. It is hunched over like some great gorilla, with wickedly curved talons in place of fingers. You've seen first hand that it can obliterate even the sturdiest of structures with those arms. Your efforts at hamstringing it or weakening it haven't been very succesful, but you're proud of the fact you managed to land a knife in its left eye. Which just so happens to be the side facing you.

What do you do?
« Last Edit: January 15, 2012, 10:09:53 PM by Amra »
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

Dormio Ergo Sum

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2011, 03:01:51 AM »
>Relationships.
>Do we have any experience with beasts like the one attacking us right now?

Conqueror

  • Here I am, dirty and faceless
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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2011, 03:04:55 AM »
>Who am I?


On tue un homme, on est un assassin. On tue des millions d'hommes, on est un conqu?rant. On les tue tous, on est un dieu.
Every saint has a past and every sinner a future.

Amraphenson

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2011, 03:09:48 AM »
>Relationships.
>Do we have any experience with beasts like the one attacking us right now?

>You're a typical high school student...not. Of course. This isn't some stupid high school occult manga. Though you are a high school student. You have several friends and a few close ones, but otherwise no one that can help you in this situation.

>You do, in a vague sense. Beasts like these appear on random phases of the moon every month; depending on how close it is to a full moon or new moon, they are more powerful. But they are mortal, and with tenacity you may very well manage to kill this Full Moon Phantasm, as you've come to call them. The last F.M.P. you've fought was in a construction yard, where a well timed severing of a safety net saved you by crushing the beast under some construction girders. If you can reposition yourself to, say, the chemistry lab or the workshop, you may be able to pull off a similar environmental kill. Otherwise, you really lack the fire power to do anything. Underage gun laws and such.

>Who am I?

>Strange time to be questioning your own existence, but sure. You're Mackenzie Izayoi, descended from a long line of domestic workers and other related jobs who have immigrated to the United States. You are one of the first to go to any sort of higher education. Your family is currently missing somewhere in Europe, though you manage quite well on your own.

You have light brown hair and blue eyes, along with a fairly slim but athletic build. You like cooking and reading. You dislike large noises. Your hobbies are knife collecting and cleaning.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2011, 04:17:01 AM »
>how far is the closest school building not directly in front of us from our position? 

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2011, 04:23:16 AM »
>how far is the closest school building not directly in front of us from our position? 

>The closest school building that the beast doesn't obstruct your path to is some 75 meters away you; you happen to be facing it right now, what with your back to the tree and everything. You suppose you could make your way there if you sprinted. But then that might open your wound, and that would suck a lot.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2011, 07:10:12 AM by Amraphenson »
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2011, 04:34:01 AM »
>Taking advantage of the fact it's not looking our way, we should slowly back off in the direction of the building looking for other temporary hiding spots along the way.  It's sense of smell can't be that good or it would have found us already.  Hopefully it's eyesight is poor as well, at least in the dark.
>Doesn't society have any people whose job is to kill these things by now?

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2011, 06:02:50 AM »
>You brace yourself for a moment and stand. It continues to sniff around and, thankfully, doesn't notice you. You slowly make your way across the stretch of empty space.

Each step feels like an eternity. Your heart pounds in your ears and drowns out all the other sounds. With each crunch of grass underneath your sneakers, you can't help but think it hears you.

60 meters. 50. 40. 30.

You think you've cleared it for a glorious moment...then your wound throbs, sending a wave of agony through your body. It's like liquid fire running through your veins, burning away each layer of your existence layer by layer. Against your will, you cry out.

Desperate and in pain, you dash towards the building. The beast notices you and roars into the night, giving chase. You slam the door after scrambling inside and run, run like you've never run before. You can hear it tear past the door after five, maybe six poundings, and now it's on your tail, tearing up the school building as it makes chase.

>There would be...if anyone had any clue that these things existed. They appear, abduct humans, and disappear. Only a few people seem to be able to hear them, let alone see them. You only happened upon them by chance one late night, thankfully on a Half Moon, and barely made it out with your life. You've been doing this for the better part of a year now because, hey, who'd believe you? And there's some nagging part of you that just wants to be a hero anyway...
« Last Edit: August 23, 2011, 06:19:18 AM by Amraphenson »
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

Doll.S CUBE

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2011, 07:20:21 AM »
> Keep running while trying to get as much obstacles between you and the beast.

> Think of a place in the local area where we can get an advantage, any advantage.

> How fast is this beast? Can we out run it? Can we dodge it if it get's close to us?

Amraphenson

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2011, 07:24:45 AM »
> Keep running while trying to get as much obstacles between you and the beast.

> Think of a place in the local area where we can get an advantage, any advantage.

> How fast is this beast? Can we out run it? Can we dodge it if it get's close to us?

>You run. You keep running, throwing down lockers and putting as many doors between you and the Beast, all while heading towards the one place you can think of that might be able to save you.

>You already have. It's a crazy thought and the school is probably going to be shut down for maintenance for weeks, but it's winter vacation anyway. If you can get it into the boiler room, then maybe...boiling hot water is bound to hurt anything.

>It's faster than you, certainly, but clumsier and far huger. The close quarters and tight corners of your school are a problem for it. You don't trust your ability to dodge it again up close, especially if with your wound throbbing like it is. But there is one trick you can pull, if it comes down to it.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2011, 10:30:07 PM by Amraphenson »
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

Pesco

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2011, 07:12:06 PM »
> Think of luring it upstairs while we take another way down to ditch it.

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2011, 07:17:05 PM »
>hmm, do we know the layout of this building well?  Also, is the boiler room downstairs?

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2011, 07:35:58 PM »
> Think of luring it upstairs while we take another way down to ditch it.

>You take a sharp turn around a corner and throw the lockers there aside, blockading the path. In a short burst of brilliance, you dive into a shortcut built into the school that cuts through the school buildings; it's a narrow path that can fit maybe 3 people side to side, so the F.M.P probably can't fit. You have some time to think of what you're going to do here.

>Luring it upstairs, or otherwise on the roof (yay America and its large amounts of open space) might be a good idea, now that you think about it. Plenty of electric appliances you could get it stuck in...but on the otherhand the roofs are woefully out in the open, you can't reach them very easily, and the Phantasm could definitely find you up there.

>hmm, do we know the layout of this building well?  Also, is the boiler room downstairs?

>You know the layout of the school quite well, seeing as you go to it. Strange coincidence that the Phantasm would appear here, of all places.

>The boiler room is about a hundred meters away from where you are, in the opposite direction of where you think the F.M.P. is. If you managed to quietly get to the boiler room and call out, you'd have about a minute of time to get ready for a rather...explosive surprise. More than enough.

>You consider your options. The boiler room, woodshop, chemistry lab, and utility shed would all be places you could get some help from. The school also happens to be situated on a hill, with several dumpsters near the edge. If you can push it off the hill...if it boils down to it, you could probably get the drop on it and stab the fuck out of its neck; as strange as it looks, in your experience the Phantasms more or less have normal anatomies. A severed spine should kill anything.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2011, 07:58:54 PM »
Oh, well, I like explosive surprises, how about heading to the boiler room.  Any objections?

Don't lynch me.

Hero999

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2011, 08:19:42 PM »
> Explosions? Surprises? GO FOR IT.

Kasu

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #15 on: August 23, 2011, 09:22:09 PM »
> Explosions? Surprises? GO FOR IT.
> Seconded.

Apparently, Thomas the Tank Engine isn't one to take crap from anyone.

Amraphenson

  • The problem is, you're a friend that likes to talk!
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  • ...well, I am too!
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #16 on: August 23, 2011, 09:33:52 PM »
> Explosions? Surprises? GO FOR IT.

>You nod to yourself and make your way to the boiler room, mentally apologizing to the school maintenance faculty all the while. Off in the distance you can hear the gorilla like monstrosity grunt and pace around, looking for a way to find and get to you.

>It takes a while in your wounded state to get there, but you manage. The boiler room is a large concrete structure that feels warm even as you approach it. The costs to maintain the place must be astronomical...and you wince as you realize you're about to trash it. As you open the door and slide in, you let out a hearty yell to remind the Phantasm where you are.

>You turn any valve you can find. Pressure valves reach dangerously high levels and the high pitched whine of escaping steam fills the room. It was sweltering before, but you're really starting to find the heat unbearable now. Just a few seconds more...

>The sound of a one man stampede reverberates through the ground. It's here. A cacophonous crunch later, and the door might as well be scrap metal. It tears through the opening with a horrid roar and rushes after you. You know first hand that if it hits you, or anything really, you or whatever it hits is stuffed.

>The main boiler is behind you. It rears back for a terrible blow. You're ready.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #17 on: August 23, 2011, 10:34:20 PM »
>MAKE A DODGE ROLL!
>also if we were to stick a knife in the boiler, than pull it out, releasing the pressure while safely ducking out of the way, so the full force of the explosion hits the monster in front of us... That might be good too.

Don't lynch me.

Kasu

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #18 on: August 23, 2011, 10:39:28 PM »
>MAKE A DODGE ROLL!
>also if we were to stick a knife in the boiler, than pull it out, releasing the pressure while safely ducking out of the way, so the full force of the explosion hits the monster in front of us... That might be good too.
That's... going to be extremely painful.

> Is there any way to get out of the explosion's swath of destruction without aggravating our wound too badly?

Apparently, Thomas the Tank Engine isn't one to take crap from anyone.

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #19 on: August 23, 2011, 11:12:32 PM »
>actually mabye we should just dodge and run, and let that beast slice through the boiler for the same effect (HUGH EXPLOSION!)

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

  • The problem is, you're a friend that likes to talk!
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  • ...well, I am too!
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #20 on: August 23, 2011, 11:38:37 PM »
That's... going to be extremely painful.

> Is there any way to get out of the explosion's swath of destruction without aggravating our wound too badly?
>actually mabye we should just dodge and run, and let that beast slice through the boiler for the same effect (HUGH EXPLOSION!)

>In what is probably the ballsiest move you've ever made, you roll forward, between the Beast's legs. You end up on the other side of it while it tears a chunk out of the main boiler.

>Something breaks. All the accumulated pressure from your fiddling explodes forward, showering the Phantasm in boiling hot water and shrapnel. It roars in pain, agonizing pain, piercing the air with a single horrid note. Its bulk protects you from the brunt of the explosion and you watch with fascinated horror as its flesh begins to peel and expand, like a full body scald. Blackish blood pores from the puncture wounds, made by long pieces of steel that were torn from the boiler during the explosion.

>It staggers and whines in pain, then weakly throws an arm around. You barely even have to dodge.

>The Phantasm collapses on the floor and melts away into black sludge, a disgusting mess that slowly begins to disappear. Typical of these things; even after you killed them, no evidence to be left.

>It's a terrible way to die.

>School start the day after tomorrow, it's late at night, and you're tired. Might be a good idea to go home now.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

Kasu

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #21 on: August 23, 2011, 11:48:18 PM »
> Head home and get our wound taken care of.

Apparently, Thomas the Tank Engine isn't one to take crap from anyone.

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #22 on: August 23, 2011, 11:59:07 PM »
>That's one way to boost our self-esteem.
>any first aid kits in the school?
>pick up the nine knives which should be scattered around the floor
>Do we have a friend yet who is friendly enough that we have told him/her about the F.M.P's?  Maybe he/she thinks we are a little crazy but still is our friend anyway? Is it one of our close friends? If so, call him/her and head over to his/her house.

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

  • The problem is, you're a friend that likes to talk!
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  • ...well, I am too!
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #23 on: August 24, 2011, 01:02:10 AM »
> Head home and get our wound taken care of.
>That's one way to boost our self-esteem.
>any first aid kits in the school?
>pick up the nine knives which should be scattered around the floor
>Do we have a friend yet who is friendly enough that we have told him/her about the F.M.P's?  Maybe he/she thinks we are a little crazy but still is our friend anyway? Is it one of our close friends? If so, call him/her and head over to his/her house.

>You collect your knives from the pool of muck.

>You think there may be first aid kits at school, most likely in the woodshop or nurse's office. You decide to make use of one before you leave.

>You think of anyone who might be able to help you right now and come up with a blank. In terms of schoolmates, no one's really around to...ah. There is one person you can call. He's a doctor and knows something of the situation, though he's probably not awake right now. He is closer to here than your house though, but on the other hand-

>WARNING. WARNING. FULL MOON PHANTASM ENEMY HAS NOT BEEN ELIMINATED.

>...!?! A horrible screeching, like some mechanical alarm, fills your head. Your wound throbs horribly. Something's wrong. A ghastly wail erupts from the boiler room behind you. Dread fills you, fear consumes you. How...? How is it still alive?!

>The beast emerges from the shadowed room, reformed and unhurt. It is as pristine, if such a word could be used, as when you first saw it. Something's wrong. This hasn't happened before! Even if they all seemed strange and otherworldly, they've all stayed dead when you killed them!

>It stalks forward at an almost leisurely pace. You can't move. You can't think. You can't breathe. You can almost feel its breath on your face, the heat of its vulgar form still warm from its boiling death. This is it...how pathetic. After almost a year of being the town's silent defender, you're going to die because you were too scared to move.

>"MOVE YA DUMBASS!"

>A shout from somewhere behind you rips you out of your fear and throws you to the ground; your knees collapse and you ungracefully hit the floor. The whole adrenaline rush and crash hits you at once and you feel yourself blacking out, just as the sight of blonde hair, cold steel, and black blood fill your vision.

>...

>You are in a bed. Some time has passed. The smell of breakfast wafts up into your nose. Your wound is sore, but not unbearable.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #24 on: August 24, 2011, 01:30:33 AM »
Sabre saves the day again!

>Let our nose lead us onwards!

Don't lynch me.

Kasu

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Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #25 on: August 24, 2011, 02:05:10 AM »
> Groan.
> "Well that sucked."

Apparently, Thomas the Tank Engine isn't one to take crap from anyone.

Amraphenson

  • The problem is, you're a friend that likes to talk!
  • *
  • ...well, I am too!
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #26 on: August 24, 2011, 02:10:22 AM »
> Groan.
> "Well that sucked."
Sabre saves the day again!

>Let our nose lead us onwards!

>You groan in pain and exhaustion. It's been a long day and it just keeps getting weirder.

>It did.

>After recollecting your self, you realize that this whole situation seems a lot like some cheesy manga. Or visual novel.

>It smells like bacon and warm pastries. A quick scan of your surroundings reveal a...hotel room? A barest glimpses of sunlight poke through the curtains. Two breakfast sets lie very innocently on a table, along with two cups of either tea or coffee. For some reason your bag of supplies is in the corner of the room.

>You realize someone is in the bathroom using the shower. A very large, sheathed sword is propped up next to the bathroom door.

>You reiterate your earlier thoughts. This is a cheesy manga or visual novel.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #27 on: August 24, 2011, 02:18:23 AM »
>Awesome sauce, time to win over the girl of our dreams. 

Time to wait for reality to kick in.  Anytime now.

Don't lynch me.

Amraphenson

  • The problem is, you're a friend that likes to talk!
  • *
  • ...well, I am too!
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #28 on: August 24, 2011, 02:27:23 AM »
>Awesome sauce, time to win over the girl of our dreams. 

Time to wait for reality to kick in.  Anytime now.

>You allow yourself that thought for a moment, then burst out laughing. It's all too ridiculous! This kind of contrived coincidence...oh god it's just too good.

>A full body wince follows as pain surges through you from your wound. Laughing probably isn't such a good idea.

>The bathroom door opens ever so slightly, revealing a pair of hazel eyes that blink at you once. The door closes and the muffled voice of the girl behind it follows. "Oh, you're awake. I hope that stitch job I did on you was okay, I'm kind of crappy at it. And I used your money for the room. At least I think it's your money...that is your bag right?...anyways gimme a second to change."

>...

>She used your money.
Sugoiiii~
[23:02] <~Iced> You have sown the seeds of your own destruction Amra.
[23:20] <Stuffman> enjoy your personally crafted hell Amra

ActionDan

  • Teaching old dogs new tricks
Re: Perfect Butler Quest
« Reply #29 on: August 24, 2011, 02:31:44 AM »
>gotta pretend like we're doing something productive while she changes.  Stare at her sword!  I'm pretty sure it's something we would want to look at anyway.

Don't lynch me.