who stole your heart and the key?

[steelmyself]

In the dark, you taste something sweet and tart on your tongue, almost like apple but not quite: pomegranate juice, out of nowhere. A hint of something metallic accompanies it.

You fall down.

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Comments

Re: START

[steelmyself]

I'm pulling out the sword.

Re: START

[swordingitout]

[She looks at the progress there, how's that going for him?]

Re: START

[steelmyself]

[ It's not. The sword is just as stuck as ever. ]

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Why?

Re: START

[steelmyself]

He squints a little. "It's a sword. I've got to wield it, not just leave it in here."

Re: START

[swordingitout]

That's a stupid reason. Just find another sword.

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"No, it's gotta be this sword."

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Is it magic?

Re: START

[steelmyself]

He shrugs a little. "It might be."

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Magic swords are more trouble than they're worth.

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"That's okay. I can handle trouble."

Re: START

[swordingitout]

But you can't even draw the sword.

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"I'll manage it sooner or later."

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Hm.

[Walks over and looks at the sword in the stone.]

Re: START

[steelmyself]

It's a plain steel blade with an undecorated hilt. Despite the obvious symbolism, there's nothing Excalibur-like about it.

Re: START

[swordingitout]

[She wouldn't know Excalibur if it were stuck in a stone in front of her anyway. But she examines it for the best possible point of impact to break it, and then waves at the kid to stand back.]

Let me.

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"Huh?" He's startled enough to let go and step back for just a moment.

A distant rumbling roar of deep, pained distress echoes throughout the land. It seems to come from both above and below at the same time.

Re: START

[swordingitout]

[That seems the opposite of good. She kicks at the sword attempting to break it with correct application of force etc.]

Re: START

[steelmyself]

There's a resounding crack as--not the sword but the stone breaks.

Cracked, it starts to fall to pieces. The young man frowns a little. "Wait a second, that wasn't what I..."

For a moment, it seems like nothing will happen--save for the boy being annoyed with you, of course. And then—

— a swarm of wasps emerges from the broken rock, with a vengeance.

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Hm. [She grabs for the boy and tries to yank him back so they can, you know, run from the wasps.]

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"Hey--!" He squirms, but reluctantly starts running along with her.

Are you running towards or away from the crack leading down?

Re: START

[swordingitout]

[As there seems to be nothing else around but a potential dragon and wasps, heading for the crack.]

[And you know, casual conversation while they run.]

You should go for a different sword.

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"I like this one!"

The crack seems to only be big enough for one person at a time--they'll have to go in one by one. Fortunately, the wasps seem to fall back a little as you approach the crack; there's something about it they don't like.

Re: START

[swordingitout]

Hm.

Stay behind me.

[She grabs his wrist but edges towards the crack all the same.]

Why do you like it?

Re: START

[steelmyself]

"It's the one I need to save people."

This may get circular fast.

The crack, meanwhile, is just barely wide enough for a person to fit through, but it widens up ahead. A dull red glow comes from deep within, as does the scent of brimstone. Right above the crack, a ragged red banner flutters, bearing an indecipherable symbol in gold upon it. That marking is oddly alien in this place.