Play of Shadows

4.00: Forget Me Not

The pitter-patter of tiny footsteps followed Ann Sufort down tangled streets, like rain over a glass pane. They paused when she did, never drawing closer but refusing to be left behind no matter how she hastened her gait or what shortcuts she took over rooftops and through narrow back streets.

Ann was not surprised to find herself monitored. The attempt at subterfuge was what caught her attention, poor as it was. The NPC inhabitants of the city watched her openly. Their eyes, vacant save for an eerie shine not unlike that of a camera lens, followed her from every nook and cranny. If Ann looked closely, she would see error code flicker under the NPCs' skin.

Ann didn't look. The festive little town, home to VELES' nightmare bosses, was fast turning into another Dead City. Ann didn't like it at all.

Her little shadow, on the other hand, displayed plenty of temperament. It huffed in disdain whenever Ann took a turn down a particularly unkempt alley and stomped its feet as it followed her up and down the many false bridges and curving staircases that connected a city created with all the enthusiasm and architectural knowledge of a child hyped up on sugar.

Ann had no real destination in mind. She was meant to seek out Kellan and made every effort to appear purposeful as she prowled through the shadows, ostensibly in search of clues as to K's whereabouts. In reality, she was after different prey entirely.

The town had changed since Ann's last visit. It was not all Barton's doing, although Ann perceived the woman's touch everywhere she looked. The ghostly lanterns and merry-making chaos were gone. In their stead spread an orderly display of cheer that would not be out of place on a tourist brochure. Ann paused to watch a stiff-faced NPC with a snake coiled around one arm and a necklace featuring a human skull as the centerpiece hanging at its neck busily mop the steps of what looked like a hole in the wall but was apparently a storefront, judging by the shiny new sign hanging over the entrance. Ann peered inside through the open door and locked gaze with a pair of eyeballs floating in a glass teapot.

The snake raised its diamond-shaped head. "Welcome, valued c u s s s t o m e r. What can we help you find?"

The NPC was still bowed over its work. It plopped the mop into a nearby bucket, turning the water murky red. It plopped the mop over the stone steps again. Ann took a step back, avoiding the resulting splatter.

"Nothing. Just," Ann glanced at the teapot again; one of the eyeballs had rolled upward, facing the ceiling, "Looking."

"There iss more to ssee inssside, valued c u s s s t o m e r," the snake enticed. "Pricelesss treasssures from acrosss the realm for you to dissscover. Won't you try your luck?"

Ann was tempted. The little shop was likely an instance within itself, and not an easy one at that, if the blood on the front steps was any clue. As it existed within the confines of a town populated exclusively by NPCs, the shop likely served as a sandbox meant to test the mettle of any character that fell into its clutches. Ann was curious to see what sort of challenges Kellan had seen fit to entertain the likes of in-game bosses and villains. Unfortunately, she had neither the time nor the mind for such pursuits.

"Firssst curssse free with purchassse," the snake called after her, proving to be quite the dedicated salesman. "Or perhapsss a charmed bow for your doll, to neaten thossse messsy curlsss – ssssss!"

The angry hiss was accompanied by a loud crash. Ann turned in time to see a metal bucket roll down the shop's stone steps, soaking the NPC's trailing robes with dirty water. "That rotten doll!" the snake howled, fangs exposed as it weaved through the air like an angry rattle. "Why didn't you catch her!" it demanded of its owner, then bit the NPC when it failed to respond, hissing all the while.