( HUNTERS - WEEK 3 )

[abhoth]

For this week, there will be no sudden loss of control for those who have signed their souls away for the greater good. As long as they're in the Curio Shop by 6:05 PM on Monday, nothing out of the ordinary will happen. All they must do is knock on the shop's door, carefully as if to not draw attention towards themselves, and the door will creak open by itself much like the previous week. As per usual, inside this strange room they'll find Craftly seated at a round table. Shelves of antiques line the walls and the smell of peppermint tea wafts through the air. A thin tendril slips across the table from Craftly's sleeve, hooking around his cup of tea. As smug as ever, he smiles to the group. "Come in, Hunters. It's time for us to begin". Welcome, Hunters! As of this week, you'll get the chance to either investigate one other character or arm them with a randomized weapon. If you have any questions, you can shoot us a quick PP or PM as always! ( quick navigation ) ic rulebook | locations | statuses | room assignments private conversations | ic profiles | graveyard | full navigation hunter's handbook

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CRAFTLY

[abhoth]

[Craftly will be here to answer any questions they may have, but won't actively participate in the discussion unless directly addressed.]

[nowyouseeit]

[okay but he has a very important question here]

Why did you put our teeth in a bowl at the front desk??

[abhoth]

While this may shock you, I did not.

[nowyouseeit]

[well]

[that takes the wind out of his sails, because out of the four of them who know about this little alliance, Craftly is the only one he thought would do such a thing]

-- then who did?

[ninjay]

Hey, Craftly? Is there a reason why there is no room 101 in the motel?

[abhoth]

[emoji shrug]

I suppose something terrible must have happened to it.

[ninjay]

[ that... answer is concerning... ]

Right. Another question... the secret passages in the motel, can only a specific role use them?

[thawedheart]

...Craftly-san, do you have meetings like this with anyone other than us?

[SHE'S PARANOID]

[abhoth]

No, I do not. I would rather not risk my own neck anymore than I am, miss. I am your host and must oblige to the requests of our guests, but never am I forced to meet with them.

[thawedheart]

[Normally that would earn him a smile and a thank-you; this week, it earns him a level look and a small nod.]

...I see. I guess it makes sense that you wouldn't want to put yourself in danger.

CHOICE

[abhoth]

[There is a basin set on top of a table near the center of the room. Three (3) surgical saws have been set out next to the basin, as well as a helpful illustration of a man amputating his index finger and depositing it in the basin. It seems that this is the sacrifice expected of you tonight.

Please use this thread to vote for whoever you want to check or arm. We ask that you write ARM: CHARACTER NAME or CHECK: CHARACTER NAME in the subject header to cast your vote. Votes must be unanimous to receive the desired effect.]

CHECK: SETO KAIBA

[nowyouseeit]

[and he thought the damn incisor was bad]

[at any rate, once they're Lovecraftian prayer circle is finished and their decision is made, Kaito slowly reaches out for the surgical saw. his hand lingers on the wooden handle for much longer than what is necessary, gaze narrowing, mouth curling back into a frustrated sneer. he remembers talking to Jay about this earlier last week. he remembers saying as long as he didn't have to offer a hand or a finger, he'd be okay. hands were, after all, a magician's greatest asset]

[his palm closes over the handle, and he practically slams his other hand down on the table and levels the saw over his index finger. he tilts his chin down, biting into the collar of his shirt so he has something to keep him from crying out in pain. he can already feel beads of nervous sweat forming on his temple, dripping down his skin, but hey. . . didn't he just promise Craftly that he'd face whatever unknown there was to face, head on and eyes forward?]

[he steels himself, a flicker of determination in his eyes, before he bears down on his finger with the saw]





[it's a lot worse than the incisor. a lot worse. and even the collar of his shirt doesn't prevent him from keening in pain several times during the process. but when it's over, there's blood on the table, the side of the basin, the blade of his saw, and all over his hand. his head is bowed, shoulders shaking, and he is trying. not. to move the injured appendage while he deposits his sacrifice into the basin]

[HAVE A GD INDEX FINGER, CRAFTLY]

CHECK - SETO KAIBA

[thawedheart]

[She doesn't want to do this.

Yukina knows they have to, of course. You can't get something for nothing - that's true even of a more peaceful world than Yuggoth. And last time, their teeth grew back.

This time... they should again, right? But what if they don't? What if, when their fingers show up in the lobby, everyone knows?

She grits her teeth, grips the surgical saw in one hand, and sets her hand down so that she can get to work. Pain lances through her as the teeth of the saw bite into her skin, catch against the bone, but... she keeps going, staring right at her hand as she does.

Her eyes are dry when she's finished, though her expression is contorted with pain, and with her lips pressed together into a thin line, she drops her severed finger into the bowl.]

CHECK: SETO KAIBA

[ninjay]

[ he stares at the illustration before doing anything. he doesn't need to, since he already knows how to do this, but it's annoying him. he almost wants to tear it up, but instead he refocuses his attention to what needs to be done.

while he doesn't really work with saws, the blade is still a somewhat familiar weight. if he can pretend that this is a monster, or some other form of enemy, then it'll be simple, right? jay knows that illusion won't last as soon as he starts cutting, but it does help him lower the blade onto his finger and begin.

it's beyond painful, and he wants to stop, but he keeps going, through the skin and then the bone until he's finally staring at his severed finger as he bleeds on the table. the finger then goes into the basin, along with the other two.

honestly? 0/10 would not recommend. ]

RESULTS

[abhoth]

[As with last time, the blood that has been spilled moves on its own. It glows a golden hue as letters take form, slowly but surely spelling out a message. On the edge of the basin, all three of them will see the following message:]

SETO KAIBA
THE PSYCHOLOGIST
- SACRIFICE -

[In a way, it only confirms what they already know.]

DISCUSSION

[ninjay]

[ it takes jay a minute to say anything because he's too busy staring at the illustration. he then looks down at his hands, and then back at the drawing. yup. he finally tears his gaze away from it to address yukina and kaito. ]

... I have a few things I need to share with you. And you two?

[thawedheart]

[a noncommittal hum (because I am still wrapping up some earlier conversations)

we can chalk it up to the paranoia night terror making her more closed-lipped]

...I'm going to be meeting Kaiba-san and Light-san later this evening.

britt beat me to it!!

[nowyouseeit]

[. . . GOD DAMN IT HE FEELS LIKE HE JINXED THIS]

[also staring at his hands, a scowl on his features, before he answers]

I have a few things to share with you guys, too.

I know Dave and Nagasone's roles, and have an educated guess as to Andersen's.

[ninjay]

You've been busy.

[ he sounds impressed. ]

I know Dipper's role, he's the Idealist. Apparently his telescope allows him to see secrets, which was how he found out about the trap door in the dark room.

???

[abhoth]

[Along with the rest of the mote, the Curio Shop will experience a blackout. All three Hunters will be plunged into darkness, and seconds later — they will hear the door click shut. From somewhere in the direction of the round table, Craftly utters a small, almost unsurprised: "Oh, dear."]

[thawedheart]

[well that's... not great.

Yukina keeps her voice very, very soft.]

What's happening...?

[nowyouseeit]

[they're in the middle of something here!1 immediately tenses up, gaze flickering to the darkened lights on instinct. his hand drops to the gun at his waist]

Craftly? What's happening?

CONCLUSION

[abhoth]

[ With the newfound information provided to you by blood, the night is not yet over. It is time to begin strategizing. This information is precious and as Craftly eyes you all carefully, he does not interfere unless spoken to. However... things are different, now.

Between the blood that drips from hacked bone, each of the Hunters will begin to feel something begin to apply pressure at their new half-digit. As they look down, slowly bone begins to push out. It grows — over minutes extending to their normal digit's size. Wraps of veins and flesh of muscle begin to wrap around the bone, regenerating in such a way unseen by them. It's painful. So painful but over the course of the next 20 minutes of their time, their finger will repair itself. Craftly will provide napkins to those during this process.

Even through the candlelight, one thing is up for debate: was this worth it? ]

[ninjay]

[ jay is currently pressing a bunch of napkins to his newly formed stub, trying his best not to get any blood on his clothes. when the finger starts to regrow, he has to do his best not to make any pained sounds because this is the absolute fucking worst. ]

I guess you don't have to worry about Kaiba then, Yukina.

[nowyouseeit]

[also. . . pressing a bunch of napkins to his hand, his forehead resting on the table. he's making sure to keep it covered so he doesn't have to watch it grow back too, THANKS. fuck these sacrifices]

Haa. . . at least n-now we know he was telling the truth. . .