Общий файл / Does Force Bind to Responsibility?: Глава 20

*Talik*

Camrad_RIP 08.06.22 в 17:32

"As you wish," Marius rumbled and pointed a bony finger at Talik. "Flesh from the bone!"

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:02

+The first one to go, Talik noted. Antitank. +25% on the chance of getting crits, +25% damage from incoming crits. How would that work in real life? Stumble and break my legs, get burned by barely warm food? Chance of dying of any kind of accident... Yeah.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:03

Archlich raised his weapon above his head with one hand and murmured a recitative in Latin, preparing the next curse.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:03

+It sounds beautiful. I have no idea whether these verses really mean what I know about them. Language isn't completely dead just because of medicine and biology, which I'm not very good at.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:04

The sky darkened, and a long shadow stretched from Talik's feet toward Marius. Lich drove the blade of his scythe hard into it. The metal entered the stone of the mosaic sidewalk like absorbent cotton. The shadow convulsed and melted away.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:04

Talik's heart ached uncomfortably, and he felt a foreign object inside his chest. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't pleasant. Every sigh was a reminder that life now hung in the balance.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:05

+It feels creepy, even if you don't know what the fuck is going on in terms of the game math right now. It's like someone is holding my heart with his hand. And it's going to hang for four days if I'm scaling the time correctly. Yeah...

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:06

Marius spread his arms wide apart and sang solemnly in the same Latin. The sky darkened even more, and a crimson crack spread across it. A wave of murky-blue haze flew from the Archlich toward Talik. It felt like the fog of the Kaz Plains, only nastier, and not just on the skin, but all over the body.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:07

It was impossible to tell which of these curses was worse than the others. They were all worse. The last one made normal resurrection impossible. He died under its effects, turning into a low-level undead, and staying that way until the curse dissipated over time. It was only by dying again, when the effect wore off, that you could be revived with the same characteristics. Given the loss of experience, of course.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:16

Marius threw his palm forward with curled fingers. For a brief moment, a shimmering scarlet thread connected his hand and Talik. It was as if a long, thin snake had moved beneath Talik's skin. He closed his eyes pushing the obsession away. He knew the effect; the rest he hoped was just self-inflicted.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:17

When he opened his eyes, Marius was right in front of him, at arm's length. Archlich was a third taller, and overwhelming, blocking most of his view.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:32

This was the first time Talik had looked at him so closely. Normally he didn't pay attention to small things but now he could fully appreciate the gatekeeper's appearance.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:32

The robe, lavishly patterned with the finest threads of precious metals, lost its impression of impeccability at close range. There were tiny tears in the worn fabric, the threads of the patterns were loose, and the seams in some places had come undone. The breastplate, visible through the half-opened hem of the garment, was dotted with tiny cracks and holes. The clothes looked hopelessly ruined. And yellow bones with sparse strands of dried flesh peeked through them.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:33

Inwardly, Talik shuddered. He still regarded the appearance of his "servants" more like a stage image of talented actors. Now, looking at Marius' hand reaching out to him, he realized more clearly than ever the fallacy of that impression. Archlich didn't seem, he really was so... unnatural.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:37

Scary.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:37

Marius grabbed Talik hard by the shoulder. His body went numb in that spot, and his arm twitched involuntarily.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:38

The clouds of dust, snow, and crumbs frozen in the air shifted. Slowly at first, barely perceptibly, they quickly accelerated their interrupted stop-and-go motion. From the sky came a deafening, bone-crushing murmur. The crack in it sparkled and melted, and the sky itself quickly brightened, taking on its usual dull gray appearance.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:40

Marius suddenly let go of Talik's shoulder delicately. The blue fire with dots of pupils in the eye sockets almost completely faded.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:41

"So that's how it is..." Archlich whispered barely audible.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:44

Behind him were a crackle and a thunderous crash that tore through the wall at once. Draga burst through the crumbling stone like a black lightning bolt. Her face was no longer beautiful. A spasm of hatred and anger distorted it.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:44

"Bastard!!!"

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:48

Before Talik had a chance to comprehend what was happening, she crashed into Marius, knocking him aside. Archlich slammed into the wall in front of him, a helpless puppet. In a blurred motion, the demon was beside him, swinging her sword over her shoulder.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:49

"Stop!" Talik barely had time to shout. The blade was about to strike the dead man's head. "Get away from him."

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:49

"Do you want to punish him personally? At least let me be there! They betrayed You! They must be punished, all of them!"

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:52

Her eyes were filled with tears, and her voice was hysterical. But she obeyed the command: she stepped aside, though she didn't lower her weapon.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:52

"Where is Wilhelm?" Talik asked, glancing at the sleeping elfess.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:54

He had to carefully control his breathing and speech. The scream with which he stopped Draga caused a cramp in his lungs and spine.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:58

Instead of answering, she scowled, looking toward the passageway to the crypt. Talik caught the quick, uneven footsteps and hurried away, beckoning Draga to him with his hand.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 20:59

Wilhelm appeared on the stairs. The "King" was limping badly on one leg, one arm dangling along his body in a limp whip. Where he had stepped with his wounded leg, red stains spread on the ground. His face, with its once neat beard, was drenched in blood, oozing from a deep scar on his forehead.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:00

Wilhelm got up and, without looking around, immediately rushed to the sleeping Illadria. He knelt heavily, leaned over her, dropped his sword, and with his healthy hand turned the elf's head, peering into her serene face. His palm left a dirty red mark on her cheek. When he was sure she was all right, Wilhelm let out a sob, touched his forehead to hers, and stepped back gently.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:11

"What have I done..." he dropped his face into his palm. "How could this have happened...?"

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:11

Draga pulled herself up, gripping her sword more comfortably. The stone crumbled beneath her feet. Wilhelm relaxed back, not getting up from his knees or even turning toward her.

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:01

"Do what you must, demon. It's all my fault, don't ruin anyone else unless you're told to. And I no longer have the right to be."

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:02

Draga turned to Talik, looking expectant and ready.

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:02

Talik hesitated for a while, choosing his words. After Marius had cursed him he felt as if he had woken up. His indifferent, almost indifferent attitude had disappeared. At the same time, he remembered everything he had said and done and recognized it as right.

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:35

+I'm starting to fear them again, and at the same time, I remember why it's stupid. I wonder if that means I've gone crazy, or something else. Whatever, I guess. It's even better with this kind of schizophrenia. At least I feel more confident.

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:36

The most important thing he felt, and what strengthened his confidence, was the recovery of his mana reserve. Slow, crippled by Marius, but there it was. Like a ray of hope in a dystopia of despair. And it was the most pleasant thing that had happened to him since he had left the City.

Camrad_RIP 19.06.22 в 01:37

+How do you make a man happy? Take everything away from him, and then give a little back, right?

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:06

"We are not going to sort out who is to blame for what now," Talik said at last. "You said you had an army waiting for your orders to move. No one's going anywhere just yet. No one's going anywhere for now. Then we'll all go to... my temple and figure out what's what. Marius" Talik turned to the lich "that concerns you, too."

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:06

He thought a moment and then added, turning to Archlich again:

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:02

"Open the portal to the palace, please."

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:02

+If I'm wrong about them being robots, in this kind of way we can create some kind of panic. No need for that. It's a pity the temple servants don't have their names, we could try to contact them to check the portal... Although, some of the palace guards do.

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:03

* * *
*Lias*

Camrad_RIP 18.06.22 в 21:02