1.1 - In Search of Sanity - Prison of the Mind

The mist parts, now mere steps behind. A mask of gray rags emerges, strips of something fleshier than fabric worming and constricting across a body that's almost humanlike - but too lean, and far too flexible. Gauzy gray ribbons reach out like tendrils, each grasping for less doubtful flesh to claim.



The creature takes a measured step forward, out of the mist and points its razor at Razhel, its wicked maw of needle-sharp teeth grinning in lust of the kill.

You all hear a single word - "me" - echo through the mist, echoing upon your eardrums in nightmarish cacophony as the creature rushes forward.

The bandaged creature of terror rushes to attack Razhel, but Grim's quick actions get in the way. The scarred, Varisian-featured man lashes out but the creature knocks his blade aside just as motes of icy meteor plummets atop its head and shoulders, one tearing into its flesh. It howls in annoyance and bares its teeth at Grim before lashing at the man with its serrated razor, twice in quick succession.

The first catches Grim under the armpit, severing nerves allowing the man to hold his blade. The weapon falls to the ground just as the second blade comes around to cut straight across Grim's jugular. Blood sprays across the pavement as the creature grabs Grim, flies upward several feet and rips the man's head from his shoulders. The monster throws the remains to the ground, cackling in delight.

The hole in its flesh where the icy meteor struck earlier stitches itself up, as if the blow never came.

"ME!" the word echoes through the mist again.

The icy meteorites smack into the monstrous body, bouncing off its skin with minimal effect and it lowers itself back to the ground in an approach towards Razhel.

"TAaaaAATaaaTAAAAT!" the sound echoes from the creature's mouth like a terrible laugh just as Razhel closes upon it with her rapier. Her deft movements find purchase as her weapon strikes the monster's stomach. The blade at first seems to resist sinking into its flesh, but then pierces through and sink halfway to its hilt. For the first time the creature seems angry - it's mouth opens impossibly wide and it shrieks into Razhel's face.

Elias's sword hits the creature's skin but is shirked to the side. It reaches out and picks Elias up by the throat, pulling the man close.

"Ah'mglw'nafh!" it screams in a language none of you understand, then laughs and flies upward - the motion pulling its body free of Razhel's rapier. Up and up it flies, into the evil, yellow-tinted sky before running its war razer up between the folds of Elias's armor, reaching within then throwing the body several dozen feet to the side where it spats like an overripe orange across the across a brick wall. The monster still holds a mass of Elias's innards - it inspects them casually before dropping them as well and flying down towards Iosef.

Across the wall, where Elias's body had struck, the bloody print of the words "Save me!" are clearly visible to all.

The audible THWANG!! of the crossbow sounds as the bolt screams through the air, just past the monster as it dives towards Iosef, blood and gore dripping from its clawed hands.

As it closes upon the robed man, Razhel engages the creature from behind. Her rapier nearly strikes it, but it quickly dodges to the side, twisting it's impossibly lithe body around and grabbing Razhel around the waist. It grips Razhel's sword hand and with immense strength, brings her arm up to it's mouth, as if to tear out a chunk of her flesh with its teeth. Her hand twists around and the symbol branded there becomes clearly shown to the monster. It shrieks and pulls back as if in great discomfort.

Axon's chanting, now for the third time, reaches a crescendo as motes of icy clack stones appear again in the air above the monster. It picks Razhel up by her waist and hoists her above its head before throwing her with great force at Axon. Razhel slams into the man, knocking them both prone.

As the icy meteorites coalesce above the monster's head, it throws its hands up, stalling them in mid-air with some sort of invisible, magical force. They begin to circle and spin above its head as the sound of its cackle grows louder and louder. The meteorites slam into one another, combining to form one massive chunk of icy rock two meters across at the center. It hurtles the boulder forward and it slams into both Razhel and Axon, smashing their bodies to lifeless pulps.

Iosef, running from the scene, turns a blind corner and slams directly into a wall. Upon it, a bloody set of words...



...the sound of metal scraping on stone, as if a blade being sharpened, grows louder behind him with every heartbeat.