Nightmares Past and Future

L.o.S-Se#0004

Well hello hello hello.

Thank God it's Game Day!

Welcome to another installment of Ink n Bones: Lament of Severance. As always happy to have you here along for the ride in this solo Campaign. If you aren't a member of the Inkyard smash that sub button for your next exceptional yes.

Already a fan and loving what we are doing here please by all means share this with a friend. There won't be any audio until I have revamped my recording setup. Thanks for your patience.

Previously...

Last we left off we met Jilna and got to know a bit about her motives. She led Kal to Rhova a mute Hobgoblin for the induction ceremony. A con she is pulling to change her own fortune. The last question I asked before we ended the session was "Is the induction violent."

I have an idea for this but I am still going to roll an event focus.

d100-> 32 introduce a new NPC.

2d100-> 32,15 delay innocent

2d100 -> 65,90 loudly smooth

This will be a Sruxi. This fits my idea some what. But in order to confirm let's ask some fate questions.

Is this a memory ritual?

No

Well that changes things some what

Is this a mind swap? Yes

Ok so still in the same vein but not exactly to do with memory.

Is it temporary? Yes

Why is it violent?

Curiously strong

Is it a dream? Yes

Alright let's see where this goes. This should be exciting. In thinking we are be pulled into a collective dream to test our party. This will touch on a world event called the Flayings. Which I will preface with this, the next segment of narrative may contain some unsavory topics. The Flayings are modeled after Jack the Ripper murders and audience discretion is advised.

That out of the way let's dive in.

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Fantasy violence, gore, and possibly triggering sexually suggestive content. Audience discretion is advised.

Nightmares Past and Future.

Kal awoke groggy and in pain. His eyes were crusted over and the smell of blood filled his nose. He felt weaker than usual; he tried to move only to feel the bite of rope around his wrist. The shock snapping him to attention. He winced at the throbbing in his head and tried to get his bearings. The room was dim and damp; he couldn't see the far wall either.

"Hello" he said weakly in a voice not his own. He tried clearing his throat only to start hacking in pain. Kal called out again, "h..he.. hello, an...anyo-" he stopped short.

His body knew before his mind could register why he suddenly stopped. Every sore muscle and bone was stock still, his heart felt like a stampede beneath his ribs.

"Hush na' ain't no need to get flustered is it?" A deep husky voice said from behind him. He was so close Kal could feel the spittle on the back of his neck. He tried to twist around to look at whoever it was only to have pain shoot down his spine.

"Wouldn't do that I's you, girl."

A hand was in his hair. Hair not his own. Kal yanked at the restraints again. The reality of his situation dawning on him.

"What did you do to me!"

He struggled in rage and confusion the Orc strength gone from his body.

"Ain't dun nothing yet. But we's gone have us some fun, don't worry." Kal could feel the cold of steel against his flesh. Instinct clamming his mouth shut.

He could feel ever part of him trembling. He wanted to scream to cry but he couldn't. Like a Jack in a Manticore’s jaws all he could do was tremble.

---

Jilna woke with a start. The smell of incense and sweat struck her nose. The sweet sick of the Nag, a scent she knew all too well.

"Rhova!"Jilna called out, "you didn't let me exssplain pitma did you?" She was startled to hear the hiss in her voice. She looked at her hands to see the blue scales. She twisted about her tail slapping against the side wall of her bed. No this was a room she knew. The leathers, the bone trinkets, the feathers and that spear. This was Sruxi's room. Jilna sat in the bed dumbfounded for a second. Damn that Rhova. She didn't see Kal, anywhere in the room. She needed to find him.

"Orc!" She called out as she made her way to the door.

The Nagging Wife was as she remembered. Audacious, proud, and magnificent. Red and purple silks hung from the ceiling. Whisper smoke thick in the air, the hint of Cifi bud lingering on the back of the tongue. It was packed as usual, faces hidden behind mask and veils, a perk of coming to the Nag. Few could nail you down. Jilna scanned the floor for Kal when her eyes fell on the sign.

'Now offering Flayed Cocottes and Lotharios’

Her stomach knotted and her new found tail thumped in recognition. She unconsciously rolled her shoulders as a phantom behind crawled it's way across her shoulder blades. Jil couldn’t take her eyes off the girl standing next to it as eye candy. A lovely tiefling girl silver tipped horns with diamond bands. Bare save for the alabaster Sarang about her waist. She wore bells on her ankles and hips and danced slowly twirling for all to see. The mark of the Flayer, intricate scars across her breast and back. The wounds still somewhat half-healed flowed freely yet she danced on. Haunting, beautiful in a macabre way.

Jil tried to put a name to the face but couldn’t.

"Truly the Flayers luck I have.”

She needed to find that Orc if this induction was like any of the last it wouldn’t be fun. She cursed beneath her breath and bolted for the door.

---

We are going to take a second here and look at this situation and just talk about some mechanical things. Our friend Kal has no idea what is going on or how he got where he is. Jilna is however familiar with this. Some Lore I suppose, this dream is an amalgamation of our inductees worst fears, their mentors secrets, and the malice of said individuals. Kal’s fear is a lack of strength, being helpless, or at the mercy of another. Neither one of them are innately altruistic. This is not a fun place to be.

Jilna is the mentor in this case so let's figure some things out. This is where my idea comes in. The question I am going to ask that is kind of a huge deal, and most likely her secret is…

Was Jilna a victim of the Flayer?

No 😱 random event decrease news. No?!?! Holy hell the dice are mean. But…

This makes me think she wasn't a victim but an accomplice! As such let's see if she knows where they are? That's a yes.

While she knows where they are can she get to them in time? We’ll all a series of questions about shieets here.

Sruxi is a bodyguard type so let's see is her Athletics above a d6? No.

The Flayer historically was never caught so were his skills above a d8? Yes above a d10? Yes!

Oof 😅 didn't expect those rolls at all. Means we are going to need some crazy high rolls in order to get to Kal before the Flayer places his Mark on him.

d6+2(5) v. d12 (12)

that is a failed roll

Kal will be marked by the Flayer.

We asked at the end of the last session if the induction was violent. I think we have found out answer as to why.

But to confirm let's ask the oracle another question does what happen in the dream affect you in the material plane? yes random event failure anger 🤬 🤬

I'm interpreting this as those in the lodge do not take kindly to those who have been marked/injured during induction. It's seen as a weakness. Which is sucky but it's part of how things go 🤷🏾‍♂️. I guess the real question is can We die in our dream? Yes!!🤯

Why did I ask that 😅

---

Kal screamed as another cut was dragged across his breast.

“Na' atta girl. Gone let it out na'.” He pulled Kal's face close to his and flicked his tongue along Kal’s neck.

“Yous been da best lil' bird, girl. Way you sang,” Kal heard him groan as he pressed himself against him. “make me wanna dance. You wanna dance?”

Kal couldn't stop shaking but found good voice.

“Whats that girlie?”

“I'll find you.” He said weakly

“Oh ho, no dance then?”

Kal spit in his face and paid for it with a backhand that left his head feeling like it might fall off at any second. He could hear the clink of metal against the floor almost immediately.

“Na’ look what yous made me do!” The Flayers hand shot up in concern, “can't has are work botched 'fore yer viewing, girlie. Na' hol' still.” he snapped as he yanked Kals head to side once more.

Kel could almost taste the grime on his fingers as he took another blade to his now busted lip. Each,stroke just deep enough to cause bleeding. He couldn't fight back the tears, but this time Kal didn't make a sound.

“No, tweet tweet, no song fer me na' girl?”

Kal sat there defiantly, the sound of blood dripping to the floor the only response. Kal had lost track of time and his strength, but not his rage. His rage was the only thing keeping him conscious.

“Do your worst.”

---

Next week…

We are going to end it here and start next session with Jilna. What's going to happen to Kal! Jilna didn't make it in time, click is ticking! We now know why the induction is so violent. The way things are shaking out we could have a death on our hands. Which could be pretty scary, but won't be the end of the world. We can always kick up a new character to work with.

As always we are so very excited to have you along for this ride. Please don't hesitate to check out the rest of the network below.

P.S.

As an aside you may notice no foot notes this game. This session was much harder to write than expected. Partially due to content and my own struggles writing. If you're highly interested in the rolls themselves they will be posted on the archived version of this document later. Your patience is appreciated! Don't hesitate to drop any commentary you have!