Candleblight Story
Spark in the Abyss
As the party explores the city streets the festivities of Candleblight shift into full swing with more citizens taking to the streets in costume. The sinister charm is only amplified as the lights within the building windows and street lamps dim, leaving only the flickering candlelight to cast dancing shadows.
However if one were to watch them their motions would gradually appear more unnatural, their sway more erratic and lifelike than the candle's flame, and their shade growing darker. Those staring into the darkness are met with the realization that the darkness, in fact, is staring back with great intensity. From within the shadows projected on the buildings swims something alive, and finally it surfaces. An ear-splitting high pitched screech sounds somehow snuffing out all candles in the area, thrusting everyone into true suffocating darkness. Even the crests of the attending browbirds are dimmed, their light not reaching more than a pencil's length away.
There's a scramble to light up the surroundings again, and with the return of the candlelight there is a brief moment of pause as everyone gathers themself. Cteno holds a candle of their own as they rush to Angea. Even in the dim light Angea is thankfully still able to interpret the kitbull's motions and noises.
[There you are miss! Please try to remain calm, yes!]
"Hey are you alright? What's going on? Why's it so much harder to see than before? Pretty creepy huh! Is this part of the event?”
Cteno uses their candle to light a fresh one and then passes it to Angea for her to use. As the dim light shines on her surroundings the kitbull falls into a stunned silence.
A large, shifting, unstable form towers behind the unsuspecting browbird. With countless tendrils and glossy eyes moving frantically. Noticing the kitbull's gaze fixated beyond her, she tenses up and slowly begins to turn to see what has caught their attention. As more of the light from the candle touches the quivering mass it abruptly pulls away with another horrible screech, it's unstable body nearly toppling over.
Flecks of a dark substance splash across the scenery as the dark beast turns and races off, climbing over buildings and through alleyways with ease. The frantically shrinking form knocking over food stands and causing other minor bouts of destruction in its wake. Parts of its body catch on fences and rooftops, causing it to shed large chunks of itself. The puddles of ink-like goo that sloshed to the ground begin to ripple and come to life on their own, forming eyes, mouths, even wings as small creatures emerge from them and scatter causing another round of chaos to take the event-goers by storm.
Shouts ring out as panic overtakes the crowd as dozens of tiny monsters make off with food, pieces of costumes, and other trinkets before dispersing outwards towards the wilderness beyond. Cteno watches on, stunned in disbelief as their concerns are finally realized. He begins pacing in a small panic of his own as Angea stands there shocked at having such a close dangerous encounter.
The group of explorers begins to congregate back at the area where the creature emerged to discuss a plan to investigate once Angea has settled down. However, just as she addresses the party her attention is drawn downwards as Cteno taps her arm.
[I understand that you likely wish to help us, you are adventurers after all and many were invited here because of that. However, I must insist that you stay here, yes. This unexpected situation is not something we would like outsiders such as yourselves handling for us. Embarrassing... How embarrassing...]
"Look, I get it. I doubt anyone wants to cause more problems for you by running off to fight these monsters. But we can't be expected to sit here while whatever those things are cause trouble. They're probably off causing more damage right now, or maybe even eating people! There has to be some way for us to help you out, c'mon.”
[...It's complicated. Too complicated to explain all at once. But know that these beasts are not entirely what they seem. I can promise that they will not eat you... Probably. Though there are a lot of them, and this isn't the first time we've had this happen though for it to be at this scale and...]
The kitbull seems to be rambling to themself, Angea struggles to keep up with translating as they seem to be chittering too quickly for her to understand so she instead stands there awkwardly as she waits for Cteno to finish their discussion with themself.
[...Alright. I am in no state to debate this and I doubt my words will convince you. Regardless, any way to solve this issue faster would be best for everyone so perhaps there is the possibility you and your friends could aid us. However, I must ask that you listen to my instructions carefully as I would not want anyone being harmed by accident.]
"Uh, sure?”
("They convinced themself...?")
[The most experienced of all of you will be coming with me, we will follow the trail left behind by the creature to discover where it is hiding, yes. The remaining group will follow miss Angea and make their way to the city outskirts to where the other smaller ones escaped to.]
[When in the fields please find a way to capture and contain the small ones. They are mostly harmless and are more mischievous than anything. Jars will likely be the most effective way to contain their liquid-like bodies. Using your hands will be less effective with how slippery they are, this is true regardless of your number of fingers.]
[Prepare quickly, we will be splitting up in a few minutes as this problem cannot wait, no.]
While everyone gets ready to head off, Cteno continues to brief Angea on more details of the situation out of earshot of everyone else.
There are two routes you can explore. Will you follow Angea or Cteno?
Search The Scarlet Fields Investigate the Inkwell
Note: You are able to complete both prompts!