Skara Braens

Part 27

Part 26 Vote Tally

Option A: 3
Option B: 0
Option C: 0

Onward!

You pause briefly, looking at Mordina.  Her eyes shine, as if lit suddenly.  By what?  Hope?

"We should convince Siona and Gordon," you say.  "If we're going to do this, we should do it together.  Solidarity and all that."

Mordina smiles.  "And all that," she echoes cheekily.  You smile at her.

"Food," Artair announces, walking in with a steaming cauldron of something that smelled salty.

"That smells good," Mordina says.

"Lobster," Artair answers gruffly.

"Why the treat?" Mordina asks.

Shrugging, Artair says, "Don't know. Maybe Siona is just relieved our friend here didn't die.  Maybe she's being nice because she intends to say no a lot in the future."

Mordina grunts a snuffing laugh.  "Probably the latter," she says.

"That doesn't bode well," you note as you struggle into a sitting position.  You watch Artair as he grabs three platters from the stone bench and with a large fork, fishes out three large lobsters.  He even manages to crack them with a knife before lifting all three platters and bringing them to the bed.  He hands you one, gives Mordina the other and sits on the bed with his own.

For a moment you just stare down at your plate, wondering how you're supposed to eat the lobster without cutlery, until a smacking sound lifts your gaze.  Mordina offers an embarrassed smile.

"Sorry," she says, lifting another sliver of lobster meat to her lips.  "I just really love lobster."

"You were very appropriately named," Artair notes and Mordina laughs softly.

You pick at the lobster, managing to draw a large piece of flesh from the tail.  You put it in your mouth and chew.  It tastes like ocean, but not unpleasantly.

"This needs garlic butter," Artair says wistfully.

"I'll just go out and milk our non-existent cows," Mordina answers.

You smile, even though you have no idea what garlic butter is.  Artair grunts a laugh.

"If you want.  That would be quite a sight to see.  Tough little Mordina, sitting on a stool, a bucket at her feet, squeezing the air in the hopes of getting some cream for butter.  'Poor wee Mordina,' people will say. 'She's lost her mind at long last.'"

"Shut up," Mordina says, throwing an empty lobster claw at Artair.  He dodges it easily, grinning.

You laugh at them and for a moment, everything feels normal and safe.  Then a long droning noise fills the air.

"Shit," Artair says as he and Mordina jump up.

"What?" you demand.

"Stay here," Mordina answers as she sprints for the door, Artair fast on her heels.  You frown and the drone wails on.

Then the gun fire starts.

"Shit!" you say.  You throw your blankets from you, ignoring the sudden chill that results.  Grabbing the clothing nearest to you, you dress and, putting your boots on as you hop to the door, exit your hut.

You are met with a hamlet in turmoil.  A group of children run past you, a youth no older than twelve years old herding them from behind.  You watch as they disappear beneath the ground down a trap door.  The older child climbs in after them and shuts the door.  There is no one around to hid it again, so you run over.

"Stay down, stay quiet," you say, pulling the heavy sod that had covered the wooden entrance back over the door.

"Taing," the twelve-year-old says before you cover the hatch.  You offer a smile at the pair of eyes you can see looking through the wooden slats and drop the sod.

Someone yells something you can't understand and you turn to see the gate.  It is shut and barred, but even still its bowing inward beneath the weight of the pressing bodies beyond it; an enormous army of the undead, groaning and reaching through the wire in the gate, trying to get a hold of the defenders.  You stomach turns as you spot a child, its grey skin pushing through the diamond-shaped holes in the metal gate.

"Searching," a high-pitched thick-sounding voice says in a sing-song voice.  "Always searching.  Master's mad.  Oh yes, Mater is very, very mad."

A chill runs down your spine and sharp memories of almost drowning flood your mind.

"Seo," someone you don't recognise yells at you.  She throws you a spear with a long blade at its end.  "Gabh an cinn."  She draws her thumb across her throat.

"Take their heads," you say to yourself.  You nod at her.  "Got it."

She nods back at you and runs off, her own spear in hand.  You turn and approach the gate.

"Searching, searching," the voice calls again.  It sounds like it's in the hamlet.

"They're breaking through!" you hear Artair bellow.  You turn back to find the gate bent dangerously in, giving the undead a means to scramble into the village.

"Shit!" you say again, sprinting forward with your spear.

"Searching," sings the voice behind you.

It's a full scale fight by the time you arrive at the gate.  Swords and spears are in use as well as guns.

"Take their heads," you whisper to yourself.

"The hell are you doing here?!" Mordina demands as you find yourself beside her, your spear at the ready.

"I heard gunfire," you answer.

"Damn it.  Here."  She hands you a bandanna.

You look across at her as you take it and notice that she has a bandanna covering her mouth and nose.

"If any of their blood gets in you, you're as good as dead," she explains.  "Cover up and try and stay dry."

You nod.

"Master's very mad," the sing-song voice echoes behind you.  "Searching, searching.  Still searching.  Where are you?  Master wants to meet you."

You grit your teeth and try to focus on the undead that have started to clamber into the town.

"Searching, searching," sings the voice.

"Gods they stink," the man beside you mutters.

"Aye," Mordina says.  "Aye they do."

The first of the undead slides off the gate, and is promptly beheaded.  Three more crawl in, and they are dispatched.  Thirteen others enter, and then the numbers are overwhelming.

"Split!" you hear Artair bellow over the crowd. "Get them in small groups!"

"Let's go!" Mordina says, dashing off to the right.

"This way," the man beside you says, running to the left.

What do you do?

a) Go left. You figure Mordina is a seasoned fighter and the others might need more help.
b) Go right. Follow Mordina. She knows what she's doing.
c) Tun and run behind you. That voice is in the town, and you need to find it.

Voting ends 2 February, 2017 at midnight. Good luck, Adventurers!