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1Lamplighter Quest: Thread One
2written by Ouro (94 posts, 35 omitted posts)
3-------- qst2txt --------
4
5-omitted one small post.
6>>535032
7Chapter One: A Town Called Sacrament
8
9The night is silent, interrupted only by the raucous squeaking of the handcart as it rattles slowly down the track. It’s a harsh sound, almost a screech and once upon a time you would have called out for oil to be set out or for new wheels to be set into place. But those were better days and for now, these are all the wheels you have. As for oil? You could have laughed. 
10
11Also conspicuously absent tonight are the people you would have called all this out to in the first place. You are alone, bereft of companionship and most importantly, bereft of someone else to pump this bloody cart for you.
12
13You permit yourself a small wheeze as you work the pump in the centre of the trolley and propel it just a little further along the tracks. Long gone are the brilliant silver rails that you had been travelling on just the day before, these new tracks are a dull gray and barely shine at all when your little circle of lamplight in the dark passes over them. The tracks beneath you are periodically tethered to stony plinths elevated from the barren ground and as a result the entire rail is nearly a foot above the ground. Angular runes of safety, compliance and protection have been stamped into every inch of the metal and your suspicions that this is a Third Age line are confirmed.
14Not that that means much to you. You’re pretty sure nobody makes them anymore.
15
16The moon is cracked tonight and a dull brownish-red. The stars are out but only in the dozens and the constellations here are new and strange to you. The land around the rail is rough and rocky, stony hills rising and falling in all directions and as far as you can tell, barren. Empty of all life save for moss and lichen and queer pale grass that doesn’t need light to live. You know of none of them but their thriving in the dark tells you that these are inimical plants and not worth eating. You will have to subsist on your rations from the last town for a few days more.
17
18Aside from the little circle of illumination that the candle-lantern hooked to the side of the handcart, all is dark. All is dreary. And when the sun rises none of that will change. You are journeying through the twilight of the world. 
19
20It’s enough to make a man morose if he isn’t careful and God knows there’s enough of that already.
21
22It is then however, that the silence, or at least the screeching and rattling that you’d come to accept as silence, is broken. A shrill cry in the distance and...there! Off behind that jagged hill, a spark of light! Not pale light or half-light, honest yellow burning light! But just a spark however and it winks out as quickly as it came. You wait for a moment and hear no more cries.
23
241/2
25
26-------------------------
27
28>>535038
29Surely it is worth investigating. That cry sounded distressed and whoever it was, their light had been woefully brief. Whoever is it out there is no doubt in trouble. But...the spark was far from you, over the hill and most importantly, far from the rail. You’d have to set foot on poisoned earth and invite any number of dangers. And you’ve fallen for these tricks before. Gremlins and imps and other beasts of the dark can mimic human calls. But surely none of them could hold a flame?
30Stuck in an ambush away from the rail it could be far too easy for you to die. You have a duty to uphold and you cannot afford to come to harm before it is finished.
31
32
33>Let the cart stop and wait for another sound or spark. Observe.
34
35>Keep on pumping, it is best for you to simply continue alone.
36
37>Since when are you afraid of the dark? If there’s a person out there, you need to save him.
38
39>Call out and wait. It is better to be wise then dead.
40
41>Other
42
43-omitted one small post.
44
45-------------------------
46
47>Since when are you afraid of the dark? If there’s a person out there, you need to save him.
48
49Enough cowardice! Are you not a Lamplighter? That title may have fallen into ill-repute as of late but you remember what it used to stand for. It was given to you to bring light into darkness and though the light grows dimmer every day you’ll not forsake that promise. You have yet to lose your way.
50
51That said, going into this rashly really will be suicide. You best be properly prepared first. You find your helmet from where it had been rolling around within the trolley and pull it over your head. You’re already wearing the rest of your plate, dimming runes of strength,flexibility and weight making it easy to wear in any situation. 
52
53And you do not lack for weapons, even now. Buried beneath your small pack of rations is your trusty wick, a firebrand attached to a long pole. It is both your badge of office and a capable weapon against beasts of the dark once lit. But you can’t expend it willy-nilly.
54
55Beside it is...well, that’s complicated. A long pole-shape wrapped up tightly in dirty cloth, it is what gives your light and flame strength. You can swing it with a good amount of force too! But that tool is even more precious than your wick and to lose it will be to lose everything.
56
57Fortunately you have other arms available.
58
59
60>A short sword, wrapped in runes of durability and edge. It is flammable and can be set aflame.
61
62>A long wooden stave. It is not runed and will likely never be so but sometimes keeping enemies at arms-length is a magic all on its own. Can also be set aflame in a pinch.
63
64>A large revolver. Stronger than either, a natural weapon of flame and light. But not only is powder scarce, it is getting ever harder to light it...
65
66-------------------------
67
68>>A long wooden stave. It is not runed and will likely never be so but sometimes keeping enemies at arms-length is a magic all on its own. Can also be set aflame in a pinch.
69
70
71You grab your trusty stave from where it had been leaning in the corner of the trolley. It isn't runed but it's still a solid piece of wood with both ends capped in steel. Anything you can't hurt with this is probably immune to blades anyway.
72You had a runesword once but those days are long past and staves, unlike such swords, are easy enough to replace. 
73
74You throw on your coat, hanging it over your armour as you lift yourself out of the handcart and set both feet upon the ground at once. It is firm beneath you, no trembles, no tremors. It is safe. 
75
76You unhook the small lantern from your cart and hang it upon your breastplate to light your way. The flame isn't very strong but it should serve as a wick in a pinch.
77
78Speaking of, perhaps you should bring your wick and other tools with you? If this is an ambush you'd rather not leave them behind to be stolen. And you could use the fire magic.
79
80You hear another scream from behind the hill, this one drawn-out and long. You'll have to worry about the wick later!
81
82You abandon the cart and run up the hillside as best you can, scrabbling through the broken stone as it threatens to give way beneath you. You make a little more noise then you'd like.
83
84You crest the top of the hill and by crimson moonlight, behold a massacre. Down at the foot of the hills in the little valley running between them, an overturned wagon lies broken. 
85A wagon? What a terrible idea!
86
87You'd say that anyone foolish enough to stray off the concrete plains with a wagon deserves everything coming to them but looking down upon the scene, you turn that thought aside.
88Nobody deserves this.
89
90A man and a woman lie scattered down the hillside, taken apart limb from limb. Arms taken from shoulders, fingers separated from hands, bodies expertly chopped and spread apart. 
91
92And down beyond them, a whimpering child crouches behind the wagon, scratching at flint and tinder helplessly as dark figures surround him. You can't make them out quite well enough but they are humanoid and hunched over and their fingers, three times as long as normal, are bony serrated blades.
93
94You've seen that silhouette before and to confirm it, you kneel for a moment and inspect the severed limb by your feet. 
95It's still moving, dragging itself slowly inch by inch. You have no doubt that if you could find the head it would still be capable of speech, the eyes capable of movement. 
96
97Ghouls. And they're on a recruitment drive too.
98
99They haven't seen you or your lantern yet, their eyes fixed upon the boy. You'll not be having that.
100
101
102>Charge down the hillside and shout a warcry to divert their attention from the child.
103
104>Set your stave aflame.
105
106>Call out to get their attention and try to lead them away.
107
108>Throw the lantern at them and ignite it.
109
110>Other
111
112-------------------------
113
114I'll be taking both votes at once.
115
116>Set your stave aflame.
117>Charge down the hillside and shout a warcry to divert their attention from the child.
118
119You’re already moving before you finish thinking, your legs outpacing your mind as you hurl yourself down the rocky slope. Fragile stone breaks and crumbles beneath your feet as a landslide in miniature builds around you. The ghouls look up before you even say anything, their mismatched eyes goggling. Good. If they think this is something special, they’ll really like what’s coming.
120
121“Ghooooooooouls!”, you holler. “Your time has co-oh-ah-woah!”
122One of the stones skids badly beneath your feet and your warcry is ruined. Not that it matters. They should understand this all too well.
123You tear the lantern from where it had been hooked to your chest and draw upon the light and flame and heat within. It’s no proper wick but it’ll do for this.
124
125Wick: ½
126
127Flame dances along your hand up your arm, passing over you with only the faintest touch of heat. It leaps from you to the tip of your staff and dances atop the metal capping it for just a moment. And then it seems to dissipate without effect.
128
129The ghouls shake themselves from their trance and you can hear choked laughter from one of them. They peel away from the boy and skitter towards you, eager to take apart a Lamplighter so hopeless that he couldn’t even grasp a flame properly. 
130
131You swing your stave at the first one that leaps at you and he grabs hold of it with a sound of contempt, attempting to wrest it from your hands and throw it aside. And it is at that moment that the staff bursts into righteous fire. He wails as the flame sears his hands and eats him away, his entire body melting and deforming as if he were but wax.
132You push him off your stave and leave him to melt while you swing the burning staff around in a wide circle, smashing another ghoul in the face and rapping a third on the knuckles. The ghouls fall back, one of them with a still-burning hole going straight through his face and another with nothing but a cindered stump where his hand used to be.
133
134“Learning how to hide or delay a flame is something they used to teach apprentices,” you say, desperate to keep their attention on you. At the same time you lock eyes with the child behind the wagon and bob your head, trying to get him to run. He doesn’t need the invitation. 
135
136The other three ghouls back away a step, each one pacing around you with the ease of a practiced predator. The moment you swing at one the other two will rush in. And what’s worse, your staff is already beginning to burn low. You remember when it would have lasted for hours. 
137
138
139>Stay defensive for now and when you’re sure the kid is free, run back to the rail.
140
141>Stay defensive but don’t run. You’ll be accounting for each and every one of these monsters.
142
143>Stay on the offensive! Charge!
144
145>Explode your lantern.
146
147>Try to scare the ghouls off.
148
149>Other
150
151-omitted one small post.
152
153-omitted one small post.
154
155-------------------------
156
157>Stay defensive for now and when you’re sure the kid is free, run back to the rail.
158
159You take a step backwards and do your best to keep them from surrounding you completely. Yes, you might be armoured but the claws of a ghoul will sink through that with a bit of effort and while light and flame ward them away, both resources are in short supply. For now the circle of flickering light created by your burning stave and the dimming lantern by your chest is keeping them away but all it takes is for one of them to be brave and the others two will pile on too. 
160Maybe if you had just kept on going, rushing forward and keeping them off-balance but... no. The moment for that is passed. 
161
162But as best you try to watch the ghouls, you keep one eye on the child as well. He’s trying to keep quiet as he moves so he still has his head clear and he’s making his way around the wagon and back up the hill from whence you came. Good lad. 
163
164A fat and long tongue oozes from the teeth of one of the ghouls like a bloated slug, the organ not quite small enough for the creature’s mouth. You’ll have to watch for that, their saliva is poison. And now that they are all in the light, so to speak, you can get a much better look at them then you’d really like. 
165
166Their bodies are patch-work, limbs and pieces sewn together in a haphazard fashion. Some of them have even been working beyond that, extra eyes and noses dotting their bodies in unlikely places. A few of them have taken wounds, no doubt from the man and the woman. And as you spy the glinting teeth emerging from the sides of the long cuts and the saliva beginning to weep from them, you’d wish they hadn’t. Every cut made into a ghoul is just another mouth.
167They’ll have to be smashed or burned. 
168
169And then, for but a single moment the ghoul behind you paces just barely out of your sight. You spin, your burning staff ready as he lunges! You catch his claws with the stave, denting and igniting them as you push the monster back and you let yourself keep spinning, the momentum carrying you back around to face the other two ghouls. 
170They’re already mid-leap.
171
172>Roll 1d6. I will be using the combined totals of the first three rolls.
173
174-omitted one small post.
175
176-------------------------
177
178>6, 5, 1
179
180Your staff is already moving with you as you use the force of your spin to carry the stave right into the ghoul's chest. He screams as the flame cuts through him like butter and your stave continues through the now bisected ghoul to strike at the other. 
181This one is a little more canny however. He doesn't land a strike on you but he ducks beneath your swing and before you can pull the staff back in to defend properly he springs up from his crouch to tackle you! 
182
183You barely manage to keep your footing as you hold the stave horizontally to parry both of his claws but even as the flame melts those knife-like appendages the ghoul pushes forward, slamming his body into yours. You let him push you back but not too far. You’re still burning both of his arms to stumps, what the hell does he plan to do with this?
184You find out almost immediately as the monster’s suppurating belly wound opens up to reveal jagged teeth that grind and tear at your armoured side. For now all they can do is scratch it harmlessly. But if there’s teeth…
185
186The ghoul’s belly-tongue wraps around your waist and you suddenly find yourself having a bit of a problem. The tongue is the strongest muscle a ghoul possesses and you can’t rip yourself free! And from behind you can hear the ghoul you deflected earlier stirring from where you had thrown it. This is going to get real ugly real quick. 
187
188
189>Lower your staff to burn through the tongue, even if that means that the ghoul will be able to lash at you with what’s left of his arms.
190
191>Throw yourself down and try to maneuver it so that the lunging ghoul knocks into the ghoul currently latched onto you.
192
193>Stay as you are and hope your armour can bear the brunt of the other ghoul, you need to finish disarming this fellow.
194
195>Explode the lantern.
196
197>Other
198
199-------------------------
200
201>Throw yourself down and try to maneuver it so that the lunging ghoul knocks into the ghoul currently latched onto you.
202
203You only have a moment to think this through and that’s not enough time. So in lieu of thought you let yourself fall, the weight of the ghoul atop you carrying you down as you pivot to face the ghoul behind you. Look at me, you silently beg. I’m a falling, I’m helpless, there’s another ghoul already on me. So just do the same damn thing ghouls always do and leap!
204
205Your prayers are answered and the attacking ghoul slams into the one grappling you, what’s left of their claws shredding through the other ghouls back and opening a dozen tiny new mouths. The tongue’s grip weakens and you let out a wordless bellow as you bring your boot up and kick both ghouls off of you. You roll before you even see them land, getting to your feet and clutching your stave to you. The lantern by your chest is miraculously unbroken but the stave has been extinguished, only a tiny twist of smoke left to tell you that it had ever been burning at all.
206
207The light is fading and you find yourself at the mercy of the moon and the stars to provide illumination. And you’d really rather not.
208
209The ghouls are still tearing away at one another but you likely only have moments before reason rules over bloodlust once more. You turn your back and run, your legs burning as you scrabble up the steep hill and over the other side. 
210The trolley and the rail are waiting for you and so is the boy, the child lying in the dirt by the side of the elevated rail.
211
212“Come on kid, what are you waiting for?”
213You pick him up and almost toss him into the handcart, climbing in beside him and getting ready to man the pump. Those ghouls have got to be hot on your heels by now.
214
215
216>It’s time to cast off and get away while you still can.
217
218>Don’t move the cart just yet, you should lure the ghouls here and exterminate them both while you still can.
219
220>Other
221
222-------------------------
223
224>It’s time to cast off and get away while you still can.
225
226It's a little tight fitting you both in the small hand-car but you've been in more uncomfortable situations before. You grab hold of the pump and start pushing it down, each motion propelling the little cart further and further down the railway. You don’t let up until nearly ten minutes has passed and only then, with no intervention, ghoul or otherwise, do you relax and begin to slow your pace. 
227
228Oh, what you wouldn’t give for a proper engine! But those have been getting scarce of late and not just because the breaking of the world played foul with the means to make them. All too often you see oil simply fail to ignite, matches that lack spark, gunpowder that remains inert no matter what you do it. It’s not a severe problem for someone with your talents but the implications are chilling.
229
230“Boy. Are you alright?”
231
232He nods, lying straight to your face. He’s without any obvious injury but there’s something afflicting him all the same. His skin is paler than the usual light gray and he grips himself tighter then he should. It’s not that cold.
233
234“Looks like you’ve got a bit of witch-chill, probably from lying about on the ground for so long. Didn’t your parents tell you to stay away from the earth?”
235You stop just a moment too late. Why the fuck did you have to mention his parents?
236
237However if he catches your reference to them he is un-moved. His voice is tiny, small even for a ten-year old boy.
238“A-am I going to die?”
239
240“What? No! Witch-chill isn’t anything to worry about.”
241Not for him anyway. It’s more than enough for you. Witch-chill is, as the name involves, the spoor of a witch who has passed through the area. A clammy affliction that they leave upon the earth with every footstep. It can linger for a long time so if it was this alone you’d be willing to put it to coincidence but those ghouls earlier? Ghouls can’t sew themselves or at least, they’re real bad at it. Something else put those blighters together. 
242There’s a witch afoot.
243
244“Where you from, boy? How did you even get out here?”
245
246“S-sacrament,” he mumbles. “Town over on the plains.”
247
248Well ain’t that a welcome name. You stoke the little lantern back to a proper light and as you do so, you press it against the boy’s chest for just a moment. A basic Benediction of Warmth to keep the cold at bay, not even enough to run down your Wick. It’s all he needs.
249“And how exactly did you get-”
250
251You stop, the boy reaching out to touch the emblem on your cloak. It’s a golden wheel, one with six spokes and each spoke extending just a little bit further than the rim.
252
253“Are you a Lamplighter?”
254
255What was his first clue? But he is small and still feeling the chill so you don’t make fun at his expense.
256“In the flesh. I’m a…”
257
2581/2
259
260-------------------------
261
262>>535829
263>A member of the Knights Sol, an order that specializes on the light-magic that is Benedictions, magic that blesses and heals. You possess basic Flame Rites, advanced Benedictions and a well-rounded training in combat.
264
265>A member of the Order of the Wick, a Lamplighter chapter that specializes in the movement and manipulation of fire. You possess basic Benedictions, advanced Flame Rites and a well-rounded training in combat.
266
267>A member of the Bulwark, an order devoted first and foremost to fighting evil and protecting the people. You possess basic Benedictions, basic Flame Rites and advanced combat training. 
268
269>A Witch-finder, solitary Lamplighters in a tradition founded in the beginning of the Third Age to track and hunt witches specifically. You possess basic Benedictions, basic Flame Rites and a well-rounded training in combat as well as a depth of knowledge (strictly theoretical) about witchcraft.
270
271>A Runecarver, Lamplighters with the knowledge on how to work runes into metal and other substances if needed. You possess basic Benedictions, basic Flame Rites and a well rounded training in combat in addition to knowing five runes. Runecarving takes time and effort however.
272
273>”...just a Lamplighter, nothing special.” You were cast out long ago. You possess basic benedictions, basic Flame Rites, a well-rounded training in combat as well as a terrible secret.
274
275-omitted one small post.
276
277-------------------------
278
279>A Witch-finder, solitary Lamplighters in a tradition founded in the beginning of the Third Age to track and hunt witches specifically. You possess basic Benedictions, basic Flame Rites and a well-rounded training in combat as well as a depth of knowledge (strictly theoretical) about witchcraft.
280
281"I'm a Witch-finder," you finish only to find that the boy has fallen asleep. You guess he wasn’t really hanging onto your every word, huh? It probably doesn’t matter. Knowledge of Lamplighters themselves has grown distorted over time, word of mouth twisting it into a thousand different stories. How could you expect him to truly grasp what being a Witch-finder means?
282You aren’t just learned in their ways, you are steeped in them to a degree that other Lamplighters often would have found unsavory. 
283
284It was once common practice to avert your eyes from a witch’s castings to avoid seeing the names they use or to risk having one burned into your mind. But not you! You know enough about them and their craft that people could have once accused you of being one yourself. But that is nonsense. You loathe witches. You don’t understand what makes them what they are or why they wreak such havoc but you know more than enough to hate every aspect of them. Was it not they who first invited darkness back into the world at the end of the Second Age?
285You don’t know for certain who is behind the world’s current predicament but you wouldn’t be surprised if a witch was involved either. 
286
287A witch is a breed apart from the other creatures of the dark and not merely in terms of power. Gremlins and ghouls, imps and duskwalkers, all the other blighted things that lurk beneath the ground, at least they were born as they were. But every witch was once a human, one of the Sons and Daughters of Light and they had all made the willful choice to turn away from that. To turn their backs to sky and flame and throw themselves in with the dread powers of earth. To become harlot-brides of dead and rotting gods. 
288Yes, you know their symbols and their names but you would never become one of them. 
289
290That is what you say anyway. To tell the truth, your ire springs also from something more personal.
291
292You keep working the pump and hours slowly pass as the trolley makes its way across the rails, a few of the tracks groaning just a little in places where their stone plinths keeping them above the ground had been eroded or destroyed. The landscape slowly begins to level out and flatten, stony hills falling away in favour of a long plain of dead and dying trees. 
293
294This is not safer. The earth is softer, more fertile. More room for things to crawl their way out of, more distance for a witch to sense or control. 
2951/2
296
297-------------------------
298
299>>536046
300Letting the trolley coast for a short while, you bend over the side and drag your finger along the soil. Once having done so, you bring your hand to your nose and sniff it, being absolutely sure not to inhale any of the cursed substance.
301No witch-chill. Either the witch has turned away or you’re outpacing her.
302
303The plains aren’t an entirely unwelcome sight however. Dotted amidst the diseased trees are great jagged spurs of grey rock embedded halfway into the ground. Some are merely just boulders but others are giant shards that tower dozens of feet into the air. But though they may look it, they aren’t rock. They are concrete and they are safe. 
304
305As you keep pumping, you slowly leave the dead forest behind and there, in the distance! You see it! A ridge of gray in the horizon that reveals a vast flat expanse of concrete covering the ground ahead. At last! Something liveable.
306
307As you get closer and closer the night finally breaks, the moon descending below the horizon and the sun slowly climbing out. Once this would have been a cause for celebration. It’s been a long time since then.
308
309The sun that rises is a shattered thing, appearing more like broken glass then any form of light or fire. What light it does have is a dull twilight, barely lightening the world around you from when it had been night. You watch it limp up into the sky and sigh with grief, grief both for the sun and for everything that died with it. 
310
311It is then that the child wakes, gazing upon the broken sun without any sorrow. And why should he? He would have been born into this.
312It has been over twenty years since God was murdered. 
313
314But that is an old story and this lad has plenty of new ones to tell you. Like, most pressingly, what the fuck he and his family were doing out there in a wagon.
315“What’s your name, boy?”
316
317“Marcus. What’s yours?”
318
319
320>Christopher
321
322>Joseph.
323
324>Harold
325
326>Orion
327
328>Augustine
329
330>Peter
331
332>Other (Saint names only for anyone in this culture)
333
334-------------------------
335
336>Orion
337
338“Orion,” you say, the word feeling strange in your mouth. When was the last time you’d had to introduce yourself to another living soul? Well, you should probably get used to it because by the looks of things your long trek across the wasteland is over. You’ve finally reached safe land, the vast expanse of unbroken concrete ahead of you. Those gray plains should not only be home to Sacrament but to countless other towns, villages and homesteads as well. Where the railways are matters of convenience rather than necessity. 
339You’ve come so far. 
340
341“Hey, what’s this thing?”
342Marcus is evidently feeling much better now, his hands going to the wrapped-up pole sitting within the trolley.
343
344“None of your business is what it is,” you say as you gently smack his fingers away with your free hand. “Does a Lamplighter’s seal mean nothing to you?”
345
346He waves his hand but you know he isn’t hurt.
347“We’ve got a lamp back home,” he says, apropos of nothing but the strange workings of a young boy’s head. “It’s all fancy.”
348
349You nod.
350“Does it still work?”
351
352He shakes his head and then stops himself to nod instead.
353“Maybe? It shines like the sun.”
354
355Oh, for the days when that would have been a bloody compliment. 
356“Then it would appear that I am here just in time. Now, what were you and your family doing out in the wasteland?”
357
358“They weren’t my family,” he protests and strongly at that. “They were Adrian and Catherine.”
359He says the names as if they were supposed to mean anything to you and you just stare him down until he keeps talking.
360“Folks from town. They’re like married but not married. They gave me some food and took me out on the wagon.”
361
362You shake your head.
363“For what purpose?”
364
365Marcus shrugs.
366“I don’t know. They were mean.”
367
368“So you’re telling me that you all went onto the earth with just a wagon and...what? Nothing else?”
369
370Marcus shakes his head defiantly.
371“I had this!”
372He holds up the flint and tinder.
373“Fire scares all the bad things away!”
374
375“That they do, boy. But something that small? Out on the bare earth? At night and with witchborn things so close? To be honest, I’m surprised you even managed to draw a single spark from it. I’ve seen men twice your age fail to get a spark from oil in similar conditions.”
376Maybe has a bit of the Flame Rites in him? You’d love to check but it’s not really your expertise. 
377
378“I got it from Ms Beatrice, she has a lot of good burning stuff. And Adrian didn’t even want me to take that, said he had a good deal in place.”
379
380And now it all falls into place. And to think you’d felt bad for the man and the woman you’d found! 
381“Marcus, those two were cultists or heretics. They were assisting the witch.”
382
383“There’s a witch!?”
384He hugs himself in fear and you briefly scold yourself for not bringing the subject up in a lighter manner. 
385
3861/2
387
388-------------------------
389
390>>536172
391“Yes. And those must have had some deal with them. I’d say it was a very good thing that I found you then.”
392Had those two damned souls been expecting a more welcome reception and found a pack of ghouls in its place? Hrmph. Such is the fate of all those who would make deals with darkness. 
393
394But there’s something even worse about all of this, a terrible thought hanging over your head. You had thought that you’d left the witch behind but if she was able to contact people in Sacrament...could her territory expand all the way to the edge of the concrete? Or further? Or might she be in the town itself? It wouldn’t be unheard of.
395You might be in for a little more than just lighting a lamp.
396
397“What’s wrong, Ryan?”
398
399“Orion.”
400
401“What’s wrong?”
402
403
404>”I have reason to think that the witch might not be done with us yet.”
405
406>”The witch might be in Sacrament itself.”
407
408>”Marcus, is there anyone strange in town? Or might have started acting strange recently?”
409
410>”Nothing you need to worry about.” 
411
412>”I’m waiting to see if you turn into a ghoul or not.” Mess with the kid a little.
413
414>Other
415
416-------------------------
417
418>”Marcus, is there anyone strange in town? Or might have started acting strange recently?”
419
420You decide to shy away from directly mentioning your theory to the boy. It’d just make him worry more and if there is really a witch up in the town ahead, the last thing you need is him blabbing about it. Best to keep this knowledge to yourself for now.
421
422“Marcus, is there anyone strange in town? Or maybe someone who started acting strange recently?”
423
424“Adrian and Catherine are pretty strange!”
425
426“Besides them.”
427
428He stops to think for a long while and so you decide to nudge him along a little.
429“Anyone who might have been taking trips to the ground? Or being strange about the farm soil? Do they do anything strange with their hands like this or do they shy away from light and flame?”
430
431“Uh, I don’t know what that hand thing is. How did you make that sign? What-”
432
433“Actually, best if you didn’t pay attention to it. Just anyone strange, Marcus, anyone who isn’t already dead.”
434
435“Beatrice!”
436
437“She of the ‘many burning things’? Doesn’t sound like what I’m looking for.”
438
439“Yeah but she’s weird. She’s always got her hat on even when there isn’t light ‘cause she says the light hurts her eyes.”
440
441“What about fire?”
442
443“Oh she’s fine with fire. She has a cool gun.”
444
445“Right.”
446Well, that probably isn’t it.
447“Anyone else?”
448
449“Old Terrence, maybe? He’s always grubbing around in the dirt but I don’t know anything else because he don’t talk to nobody.”
450
451Now that sounds a little more promising.
452“Anyone else?”
453
454Marcus squints at you.
455“What’s all this for? Is something wrong?”
456
457“That’s exactly what I’m hear to judge. Anyone else?”
458
459“No? I don’t think so. I don’t know what people do.”
4601/2
461
462-------------------------
463
464>>536255
465By the time the conversation ends, your cart has drawn up close to the concrete shore. The thick layer of concrete covering the ground is less than a foot thick and so the rails go from being elevated to sitting smoothly atop the gray ground with barely any change.
466Finally, you can relax a little more. Not that you have the time to however because Sacrament is right in front of you.
467
468The small township is sprawled only a mere hundred feet from the edge of the concrete, a small scattering of buildings, roads and farmsteads. Tamed earth is piled high to cushion the hard concrete below and your railway is ready to take you right through the middle of it all.
469“Marcus, isn’t it a bit dangerous to build a town so close to the edge?”
470
471“Dad said it didn’t used to be the edge.”
472
473You think back to the scene you passed in the forest, huge shards of broken concrete adrift as if they been smashed by an unimaginable force.
474“I...understand.”
475Was the survival of the railway just a miracle or did someone rebuild it later? A thought to be pondered later.
476
477It isn’t long before the two of you are seen in the shimmering twilight and a large man bursts down from the main street and charges towards you, well ahead of everyone else. You almost get your stave ready but Marcus calms you with a single word.
478
479“Dad!”
480
481He climbs out of the trolley and runs the rest of the way, his father almost seamlessly dragging him into a hug. There’s tears in the man’s eyes.
482“Mark! Where were you? I didn’t think we’d ever see you again!”
483
484You feel a little awkward off to the side like this. These kind of things? Not really your thing and that’s being gentle about it. 
485
486“I’m okay dad! The Lamplighter came!”
487
488The man looks up, apparently spotting you for the first time as you sit back in the handcart. 
489“Hello.”
490
491“My word,” he breathes. “I didn’t think there were any of you left.”
492
493Now, isn’t that a sore topic?
494“Well, yeah. Here I am.”
495
496“Thank you for saving my boy!”
497
498He reaches out to you but you ward him off with a single hand.
499“Please do not hug me too.”
500
501He laughs, apparently taking that for a joke.
502“Well, well, you’ve certainly come at the right time. My name is Edmund Cester, mayor of Sacrament. You’re stopping here for a while, aren’t you? Please, by all means, what’s ours is yours. If there’s anything you need…”
503
504
505>Take him up on his offer. You haven’t had a good sleep for days.
506
507>Could it really hurt to take part in the town's celebration?
508
509>”Hold up. Let me attend my duty first.” Time to break out the wick.
510
511>Walk about and inspect the town yourself.
512
513>”You’ve got a witch, by the way.”
514
515>”I need to tell you about the circumstances in which I found your son.”
516
517>Inspect him for witchcraft.
518
519>Other
520
521-------------------------
522
523>”Hold up. Let me attend my duty first.” Time to break out the wick.
524
525"Hold up," you interrupt him. Normally this would probably be pretty rude to do to mayor but people expect Lamplighters to be brusque. It's not a profession that lends itself to the chatty. 
526“Let me attend my duty first.”
527
528“Ah, uh, of course,” he stammers as he steps back. “Far be it from me to get between you and your main duty.”
529
530Hrmph. It’s not your main duty anymore but the idea of what being a Lamplighter stands for still holds strong for you. Bring light to darkness. Sometimes that gets a bit metaphorical but it remains true in the literal sense as well. Sacrament and thousands of other little towns like it are ultimately dependent on Lamplighters like you. 
531
532You gather up your belongings, taking up the wrapped-up pole and bearing it across your back. It’s still bloody heavy but you bear the weight with long practice. As you approach the town you can see the people draw back away from you. As they should. You are clad head to toe in dented rune-plate, a dark red cloak and hood drawn over you with the crest of the Wheel God on its back. Your staff in your left hand and your wick in the right. You must look every inch the dedicated Lamplighter, a figure from the story books. 
533Not that you care what they think of you.
534
535As for the people themselves, they look...ordinary. You don’t know what you were expecting. Third Men all, gray-skinned and hardy. Gray men and women for a gray age. Most of them have a lean hard-bitten look to them and you know why. The harvest must have been poor this year but worse still is the knowledge that the harvest is going to be worse the following. And it’s going to keep getting worse unless something is done. 
536
537You find the ornate lamp-post a little bit down the main street, embedded in what must have once been the very center of Sacrament. It stands out from the rest of the town as clear as day, a construction of dark spiked metal embedded through the false soil and into the concrete itself. You brush away the dirt to reveal a thin circle of runes in the concrete around the lamp-post’s base. Good to see those are still holding. 
538Once the runes would have glimmered and shone with light of their own but those days are long past. 
539
540The lamp still burns but not well, the light merely adding further twilight. Half-light. 
541
542“Some room, please.”
543You set tap the bottom of your long-handled wick against the base of the post and you are rewarded with the awed muttering of the townsfolk behind you as the tip of the wick ignites with clean orange flame. True fire, a feat you doubt most Lamplighters would be able to pull off these days. Of course, you’re cheating in that regard.
544The thing on your back glows warm for just a moment.
545
5461/2
547
548-------------------------
549
550>>536335
551You bring the wick back up, gripping it firmly and feeling its power flow through you. Now this is a proper Flame Rite tool, more than that measly lantern! 
552
553Wick: 10/10
554
555You reach up to the ancient lamp-post and turn the secret switch to open it. It takes you a bit of finagling and you let out a slow whistle of appreciation. Is this a genuine Second Age relic? In a place like this? Not bad.
556You reach into the lamp with the lit wick and ignite it with the True Flame. You can feel the lamp react to it and you are quick to modulate it. You wonder if the townsfolk here have ever tried to light the lamp themselves. It wouldn’t have worked. A beast like this, like every central lamp-post all good towns should have, are Lamplighters are made for. 
557
558Wick: 9/10
559
560You retract your wick, the lamp now shining over the entire town with a proper yellow light. And make no mistake, it is over the entire town. Central lamp-posts are built for that purpose, even if the ken for making them has been long since lost. Radiance seeps out across the streets and extends its safety over all of Sacrament. The crops will grow, the men will see and creatures of the dark will shy away. 
561It won’t last forever of course, there will come a time without proper attendance the lamp will gutter and die once more. 
562
563But for as long as it lasts, you have given sunlight back to the people of Sacrament.
564
565The spell of silence is broken and the townsfolk rush forward, burying you under a tide of praise. You don’t even mind the hugs this time. All around you you can see the town come to life as people are roused to see the miracle that the Lamplighter has wrought. 
566And yes, you’ll admit that it’s awful tempting to take them up on their offer and be swept up in their celebration. After so long in the wasteland, the knowledge of a job well down does your heart a world of good. 
567
568But it might not be very responsible of you.
569
570
571>Ah, celebrate for now. The town is protected once again, what harm can come of it?
572
573>You’d love to join them but you’d rather sleep. You’re sure any of the people here would gladly let you rest at their home.
574
575>Now that they’re all out here, announce the matter of the witch to all of them.
576
577>Pull the mayor aside and tell him of what you’ve seen.
578
579>Other
580
581-------------------------
582
583>Pull the mayor aside and tell him of what you’ve seen
584
585You turn away from the lamp and the people ahead of you part before you like the Mud Sea before the First Men. They are eager to let you share in their happiness but for their sake you must remain apart for now. The light may protect against the dark but witches...witches are an uncommon breed of creature and they have trespassed upon light before. 
586You won’t rest until you are sure that you have done everything you can to protect these people. And to be quite perfectly honest, you’ve spent enough time crossing the wasteland that you’ve grown un-accustomed to this entire business. 
587
588Instead you head for the mayor, spotting him sending Marcus inside as people hold their hands to bask in the light’s warmth. 
589“Yes, Orion?”
590Marcus must have told him your name. You’re not sure how you feel about that.
591“Like I said, is there anything you need just ask.”
592
593“What I need right now, Edmund, is vigilance.”
594
595“I beg your pardon?”
596
597You lead him away down the street, lowering your voice as you do so. Edmund is no fool, he can plainly see that this is a serious matter.
598“I have reason to believe that a witch may be present in town.”
599You give him a brief rundown of your meeting with Marcus and everything that transpired since.
600
601The mayor looks like he doesn’t know where to begin.
602“Ghouls? And Marcus-a witch and the Chesters and oh! I can’t believe you saved him from ghouls.”
603
604“No need to panic now. Listen Edmund, the two of us need to keep this a secret for now. Do you really want to ruin this?”
605You wave your hand to encompass the growing celebration.
606
607“Of course not but, Sir Orion, a witch is no laughing matter!”
608
609Understatement of the year, right there.
610“Just Orion is fine, thank you. But as I said before, it is possible that one of the townsfolk themselves may have become a witch not that long ago. And if we handle this matter incorrectly then the town will destroy itself without the witch’s help. So please, keep this between us.”
611
612He nods, a much paler shade than he was a few moments ago.
613“I understand. But are you sure she is within the town?”
614
615“Not necessarily a she. And no, it could be that her territory simply ranges wide. But in my experience as a Witch-finder,” you watch him go even paler as you say that, “it is best to assume the worst and work up from there.”
616
617“R-right. So how can I help you with this?”
618
619“For now? Just by staying quiet. And maybe by telling me about a few of the more eccentric folk in your herd. Starting with a ‘Ms Beatrice’ and an ‘Old Terrance.” 
620
621He purses his lips.
622“You got those names from Mark, didn’t you? He’s the only one who calls Terry old. And to be honest, I don’t have problems with either of those people Sir Orion.”
623
624“Just Orion. Really, it’s fine. Tell me about the two of them.”
625
626“Well, Terry isn’t that old first of. That’s him over there.”
6271/2
628
629-------------------------
630
631>>536425
632Edmund points him out as right in the middle of the throng. Brilliant. Extracting him from there without letting people in on something being wrong is going to be painful. He’s right though, he’s not particularly old. A man with short brown hair and a huge beard that shows just a hint of gray. You’re probably older than he is.
633“Now I know he’s a farmer, that’s always a very risky job. But I’ve known him nearly all my life and he takes confession with me at least once a week. And yes, he does spend a lot of time with the dirt but someone has to!”
634
635“How often do people see him while he’s working?”
636
637“Eh?”
638
639“I mean, if he was eating dirt would anyone notice?”
640
641Edmund looks appalled.
642“He wouldn’t! And besides, all the soil here in Sacrament has been tamed for generation.”
643
644“That doesn’t always stop them,” you mutter, accidentally adding yet more worry to the mayor’s face. “What about the other one? Beatrice?”
645
646Edmund takes on a pleading look.
647“You’d be best served leaving her alone. Yes, she’s a strange one but she’s helped Sacrament more than anyone these past years and just because she’s a little ...off, there’s no reason to take her!”
648
649My, my. Someone is remarkable well-read on witch hunts. It was never particularly uncommon for righteous Lamplighters hunting witches to simply grab the strangest people first. But you’re not just any Lamplighter, you’re a Witch-finder specifically and you take pride in avoiding that sloppy shit.
650“Just tell me about her, Edmund. What does she do?”
651
652“She’s done all kind of odd jobs and work ever since she first came here. She has guns and blackpowder and she’s the best at making them ignite. So yes, she dresses strange and hides her face and she don’t take confession and people have called her a witch before but by God as my witness, S- Orion, we need her.”
653
654“I’ll be the judge of that.”
655Now that’s a strange description. Because every part of that, save the mention of guns and flame, sounds exactly like a witch. 
656“Does she ever stray onto the earth?”
657
658“I don’t know! She keeps to herself!”
659
660“I see.”
661
662“I know it looks bad but-”
663
664“Can you point her out to me?”
665
666Edmund squints towards the crowd and then frowns.
667“Odd. She’s not here. I mean, that’s not unusual for her but you’d think that if anything would drag her out, this would.”
668
669
670>You should start your investigation with Beatrice.
671
672>Pull Terrance out of the crowd.
673
674>Check out the farms first, don’t talk to anybody just yet.
675
676>Inspect the home of the traitorous couple.
677
678>Maybe you should just wait. The witch may reveal themselves yet.
679
680>Other
681
682-------------------------
683
684>>536356
685Don't worry anon, I've got stuff to do as well. So I'm ending the session for now. I'll be back to this thread at the same time tomorrow to help finish this off. This vote will run on for tonight and I'll close it when I get back tomorrow.
686I've just archived the thread and be sure to check my twitter for updates and session times!
687
688Now aside from all that, what do you guys think of the new quest so far? It's been a little more solitary then I first intended but rest assured it's not going to stay that way.
689
690-------------------------
691
692>>536456
693It possible to find one through a very rigorous and uncomfortable inspection if you're a Witch-finder but it's often better to look for context clues. Soil-stained hands, tracking dirt around, uncomfortable with light, doing weird shit with their hands, etc etc.
694Obviously catching them with dirt in their mouth is the smoking gun.
695
696>>536470
697You can commission a great deal of things, depending on the piety of the local townsfolk.
698
699>>536468
700I'll take that into consideration, anon
701
702-omitted one small post.
703
704-------------------------
705
706>Inspect the home of the traitorous couple.
707
708“Are you sure the witch is in Sacrament?,” Edmund asks again, his tone pleading. It’s easy enough to see why he wants to believe otherwise. Aside from everyone here being people he knows and trusts, as the mayor he has the role of not being only the literal leader of his community but the spiritual as well. Back in the old days, before the ending of the world, mayors were appointed to be pious leaders of their herds, to guide their souls to light and to take confession with all those who needed it. Sacrament still keeps with these traditions and so the presence of a newborn witch within the town wasn’t merely an existential threat but a moral one. It would mean that Edmund would have failed in his duties.
709That’s not something you would punish him for but still, that’s the kind of mistake that haunts you for the rest of your life.
710
711You would know.
712
713“Perhaps. But there is no harm in acting as if they are,” you say, your eyes roaming over the celebrating townsfolk as if you could pick apart their witchcraft by sight alone. “As long as word of this doesn’t get out, that is.”
714
715Edmund nods, the poor man sweating.
716“I had been expecting a little more time allotted to us to simply be happy before the dark came knocking but...this is an ill omen to cast upon us today.”
717
718“It is better to know the omens and be wary then it is to be happy but ignorant.”
719Words to live by, especially for a Witch-finder. It is what your order has used to justify their delving into witchcraft for so long. 
720“Can you direct me to the home of the Chesters? That should make a fine start for now.”
721
722“Of course. I still can’t believe those two...I mean, uh. Was it wrong of me not to have chastised them for living in sin for so long? I should have known something was amiss when they didn’t marry.”
723
724“Marriage, while a most holy and beautiful thing, has little to no bearing on witchcraft or the dark in general save in the most abstract ways. This, at least, was not your fault.”
725
726That doesn’t seem to make him feel better.
727“Do you need me to come with you?”
728
729
730>You guess so. You might need the help later.
731
732>”You have your own duties. Leave me to mine.”
733
734>”Guilt is a motivation that leads nowhere.”
735
736>”No but you could fetch Terrance and set him aside for me?”
737
738>”No but you could fetch Beatrice and set her aside for me?”
739
740>Other
741
742-------------------------
743
744>”Guilt is a motivation that leads nowhere.”
745
746“Guilt is a motivation that leads nowhere,” you give as your response, shaking his offer off as you walk past him. He sputters just a little before he runs to catch up with you. He nearly reaches out to grab your shoulder before evidently rethinking and letting his arm hang. 
747
748“What do you mean by that?”
749
750“It is good to feel guilty about your failings. But you can’t let that control you. It won’t be assauged because what you have done will not be undone. Helping me or indeed any other action will not erase what has already come to pass under your watch.”
751You have a little personal experience in the matter.
752
753The mayor is clearly uncertain what to say here. You’ve practically insulted him right to his face and you can see his frustration but what can he do? He settles for grinding his teeth just a little.
754“Then what am I supposed to do?”
755
756“Act in the interests of your town and your herd. Do it because it helps them and because it keeps the light and because it is the right thing to do. Doing it to make yourself feel better is half-hearted and selfish besides.”
757
758He stops, letting you walk on ahead.
759“And why do you light the lamps, Orion?”
760
761“Because it must be done.”
762You have no patience for fence-sitters and dawdlers. God knows you’ve made wrong choices before but the only thing to do is to get back onto your feet and make the right choice next time. 
763Still, you have the feeling that the next time you meet the mayor he might not be quite so cordial.
764
765Leaving Edmund and the celebrating crowd behind you follow his directions down the main street and round a corner, the soft layer of tamed soil and dust queasy beneath your feet. After so long it is a little uncanny to walk the earth in safety. 
766
767The home of the Chesters is small, practically a hovel. The door is either unlocked or possesses no working lock in the first place and you stroll right in and find...nothing. A low-slung and ragged ‘bed’ in the corner, an ill-kept fireplace, a dozen little tools and knick-knacks. This was not as immediately educational as you had first hoped.
768
769
770>Take the time to search the home thoroughly.
771
772>See if you can find a neighbour who isn’t at the celebrations and ask them about the two.
773
774>Look for tracks or signs from passage around the home.
775
776>Leave this hovel behind and inspect something else.
777
778>Other
779
780-------------------------
781
782>Take the time to search the home thoroughly.
783
784No, there has to be something here. What kind of Witch-finder would give up after a mere passing glance? These two were in contact with either a witch within or beyond the village, one who has spent at least some time in the wasteland. There has to be some means to it, some method of communication that they possessed! 
785You crouch in the middle of the hovel and after a moment of deliberation, drag your finger through the thin layer of dust just as you did back in the handcar. It’s best to do such acts out of sight for even though this isn’t [/i]quite[/i] witchcraft, it is a Witch-finder act derived from forbidden knowledge. Other Lamplighters likely wouldn’t approve.
786
787Inspecting the dust tells you nothing however. There is no witch-chill present and if a witch has ever even so much as set foot in here, the entire place has been thoroughly swept and cleansed in the meantime. And considering the state of this place you very much doubt that has occurred anytime recently. 
788
789But there must be something! You know they’ve been in contact somehow. How did they get their orders, their deals? You search the house a second time and turn up nothing. So you search it a third time and then a fourth, your actions growing more and more frantic and frustrated as the answer continues to elude you! Before long the house is in an even greater state of disarray then it was before, the bed overturned, the shelf picked apart, the fireplace scattered. And yet you find nothing?
790
791You pick up the pillow for the third time, a clumpy woven sack and shake it as if it were the Chesters themselves. And as you do so, you notice a small trail of specks leak from a tiny hole in the stitching, shaken loose by your search efforts.
792
793You rip the pillow in half and take a quick step back as you see what spills out. Soil! The pillow is entirely stuffed with black loam soil, thick and pungent. Untamed and unruly earth and a thicker conduit for witchcraft then you have seen for a long time.
794The thought of the two of them sleeping on this makes your skin crawl. Is this how it was done? Those fools! They hadn’t literally buried their heads in it but they’d done the next best thing and given the witch an opening straight into their sleeping dreams. This must be how they received their instructions.
795
796You drag your finger hesitantly through the black loam and sniff, barely able to stomach having it so close to your face. It is saturated in witch-chill. 
797
798
799>Burn it. Burn it all. 
800
801>Call for help.
802
803>Sleep upon the pillow. You may learn much.
804
805>See if you can divine anything within it. Another shady technique.
806
807>Leave it be for now.
808
809>Other
810
811-omitted one small post.
812
813-------------------------
814
815Sorry about the delay on this one. My internet connection got real funky for a moment.
816
817>See if you can divine anything within it. Another shady technique.
818
819The Witch-finders, in their quest to understand the enemy, had many practices that were frowned upon by the rest of the Lamplighters. Or would have been frowned upon if they hadn’t been kept secret. Really it was best that they didn’t know. But you are no mere apostate to be lured from your faith by such petty baubles and the idea that faith was best safeguarded by ignorance is one that you detest.
820
821It is time to attempt a simple divination.
822
823You take up a great handful of the loam and cup it between two hands, clearing your mind of all stray thoughts as you do so. This isn’t witch-craft. You are making no signs, invoking no names. This is safe.
824
825Really, all you are doing here is relying on an age-old principle. Dark attracts dark. Soil so deeply impregnated with witch-chill should yearn for her touch or, you suppose, the touch of any witch. The yearning is weak but when in an environment free of all other darkness, it should out itself. And thus it can be used as a makeshift compass towards witchcraft. 
826A useful tool but not one to be relied on, it would be child’s play to turn it against you. 
827
828You gently blow upon the soil in your hands, letting specks fly off and settle where they will. The pattern appears random but by the same feeling in your fingers that you can use to track witch-chill, you can trace which direction the cursed dirt is inclining towards. 
829Outside.
830
831You step outside, almost in a trance with the effort required to keep your mind centered, calm and empty. You need it be thus so that you can feel the miniscule deviations in the chill. And yes, it would no doubt look quite curious to see you, a Lamplighter, consorting with such means but fortunately the street is still empty. You can hear the celebrations still from deeper within Sacrament. 
832
833Your divination leads you down the street and around several corners and you can’t help but notice that it isn’t leading you towards the wasteland. It’s leading you deeper into town. Then you were right, the witch is here! All you can hope for now is that you find your culprit before the dirt smearing your hands dissipates altogether. 
834
835And just as the last of the soil fades, it does so. You are now standing in the outskirts of Sacrament, the last row of houses before the town gives way to vast concrete plains and the tamed farms. Your target house is a far sight from the hovel you were previously investigating, a modest but well-kept little cottage. There is nothing outwardly concerning about it but you can see the last speck of loam clinging to the doorframe. This is the greatest source of dark within all of Sacrament, there can be no doubt. 
836
837
838>Ready your wick and charge in!
839
840>Go get the mayor. 
841
842>Round up the townsfolk.
843
844>Just knock on the door at first.
845
846>Try to sneak around the back through a window. 
847
848>Other
849
850-------------------------
851
852>Just knock on the door at first.
853
854There’s no need to be hasty just yet, the witch shouldn’t yet be aware of your arrival. What you did to the dirt was a passive act, it would have felt no different from simply spilling it upon the ground. And while another witch would be able to track them with such a divination you doubt they would be expecting a Lamplighter to be capable of it. And while the idea of rounding up a good old-fashioned mob is inviting, it might be best to leave the good people of Sacrament out of it. You wouldn’t want to endanger the townsfolk after all. No, best to leave cauterizing this wound to you. 
855
856But that doesn’t mean you should simply charge in first, staff out and wick ablaze. There is such a thing as subtlety after all, even in this line of work. Who knows, you might be able to worm something out of them before the time for the purge arrives. 
857
858So with that in mind you simply walk up to the front door and knock, your armoured fist rapping against the wood. Silence. Has she already been forewarned to your arrival? Has she fled? Is it even a she?
859
860You knock a second time and this time you are rewarded by the sound of something clanging distantly round the back. Metal on metal by the sounds of it. Curious. 
861“Who is it? I’ll be right there!”
862A feminine voice. 
863
864As the unseen owner of the house approaches only then does it occur to you that showing up on her doorstep as a Lamplighter in full regalia might scare her off. She must have seen the light, she must know you are here. Do you wish to provoke a fight immediately?
865
866
867>Remain as you are. You are not the one in question here.
868
869>See if you can shuck your cloak and armour off. You can do so extremely quickly if the need arises.
870
871>Stand off to the side and hide to see who answers without them seeing you.
872
873>Put your eye straight to the peep-hole in the door to stop her from using it.
874
875>Announce yourself before she even reaches the door.
876
877>Remain as you are and raise your staff to hit her the moment she shows herself.
878
879>Other
880
881-------------------------
882
883>Remain as you are. You are not the one in question here.
884
885What does it matter if she sees you for what you are? You are not here to befriend her or to invite her to some wretched tea party. And if it provokes her to make a fight of it then so what? Sacrament bathes in the light once more. Short of the sun miraculously recovering she will never be weaker and you will never be stronger. In fact, part of you wants for exactly that to happen. There’s nothing that would make you happier right now then burning a witch to death.
886
887So not only do you stay as you are, you keep your grip firm around your wick and your staff, ready to raise them at any time. 
888You hear a small scuffling behind the door before it slowly creaks open, the woman on the other side clearly hesitant.
889
890“Good...morning? Sir?”
891Her voice, now that you hear it closer, is raspy and ill-treated. Has she not been eating the proper dirt lately? You suppose that would make sense.
892
893The woman on the other side looks almost a girl thanks to her short frame but other aspects make it evident she is not. She’s dressed practically, wrapped in a thick overcoat, a pair of men’s trousers and sturdy boots. Maybe too practically. That’s not the kind of outfit you wear to traipse around town. It might be what you wear to travel the wasteland however…
894Most curiously, the top half of her face is covered with a wide-brimmed hat that you would bet anything she had just pulled over the top of her head a moment ago. You can’t see her eyes. 
895
896She clearly knows what you are.
897“Can I help you?”
898
899
900>Push the door open the rest of the way. What’s she hiding?
901
902>”I was just wondering what someone was doing staying at home in a time like this.”
903
904>Invite yourself in.
905
906>Hit her on the head with your staff.
907
908>Grab her hat.
909
910>”Oh, I’m just trying to ask around about the incident last night. Did you happen to know the Chesters?”
911
912>Shine a light in her face.
913
914>Oh, you should probably ask her name.
915
916>”The mayor just wanted me to make sure everyone in town was still safe after what happened last night.”
917
918>”I’m looking for a witch. You’re a witch.”
919
920>Other
921
922-------------------------
923
924Okay, I'm calling it for a combination of: 
925
926>”Oh, I’m just trying to ask around about the incident last night. Did you happen to know the Chesters?”
927>”The mayor just wanted me to make sure everyone in town was still safe after what happened last night.”
928>Ask to come in/Invite yourself in.
929>Oh, you should probably ask her name
930
931-------------------------
932
933>”Oh, I’m just trying to ask around about the incident last night. Did you happen to know the Chesters?”
934>”The mayor just wanted me to make sure everyone in town was still safe after what happened last night.”
935>Ask to come in.
936>Oh, you should probably ask her name
937
938Well, she’s not immediately hostile. Does she think that it might be a mere coincidence that you have come to her doorstep? You suppose she loses nothing by acting as such while attacking you right from the start would just confirm any suspicions you might have had.
939Has the light cowed her? That could very well be it. 
940
941But for now you are willing to play along.
942“The mayor just wanted me to make sure everyone in town was still safe after last night’s ...incident. You’re actually the first person I’ve found thus far to still be in their home. Makes it a lot easier.”
943
944“Staying inside, that’s me.”
945She laughs nervously a little.
946“Anyway I’m fine so thank you for the kindness.”
947She attempts to close your door but you simply place your gauntleted hand in the way, the door bouncing off it harmlessly. 
948
949“Sorry to be so intrusive but I had another reason to come here.”
950
951“You did?”
952You can’t see her eyes but you can feel them, staring holes through you from underneath the brim of her hat. You can see her grow a little tenser.
953
954“Did you happen to know the Chesters?”
955
956She relaxes almost immediately.
957“Sort of. Not very well. I don’t get out much and I wasn’t born her like them.”
958You bet she wasn’t. 
959
960“Well I would be happy to take your testimony regardless. Nobody else has had anything of any use. Could I come in?”
961
962She reluctantly opens the door wider to reveal...a grungy old cottage, a lot messier on the inside then the outside but nothing inherently...witchy. 
963“By all means, Lamplighter. What’s mine is yours.”
964Her voice is a drone, even over the traditional rite of hospitality. She is making it plain that she’d really rather you didn’t stick around. The complete lack of respect involved is refreshing at least.
965
966You step inside and walk to the kitchen table, taking note of the side-rooms. Is that a forge off to the side? How the hell does someone as slight as her hope to use it? It’s only when you see the pair of pistols hanging on the wall over the table does it click.
967“Ms Beatrice, I presume?”
968
969She doesn’t look happy at you naming her. You get the feeling she rarely looks happy at all.
970“Just Beatrice. Only kids call me that. Do you have a name?”
971
972“Orion.”
973
974“Well, mister Orion, I’m afraid I can’t be of much help to you. Those two were always off in their own little world and I didn’t know much of them. That’s all I can say.”
975
976The two of you stand beside the table awkwardly, the witch clearly wanting you gone without doing anything as suspicious as telling you to leave. 
977“Would...would you like some tea?”
978She has to practically force the question out.
979
9801/2
981
982-------------------------
983
984>>538400
985There’s an old teapot on the table beside you, stained and chipped. And beside it, a small bag of...something. It looks black.
986>”I would be happy to.”
987
988>”No thanks.”
989
990>”It is a little odd to have such a well-used teapot these days. May I ask what you were using to heat it up?”
991
992>Leave. You’ve accomplished all you can with talk.
993
994>Hit her with the staff. You’ve accomplished all you can with talk.
995
996>”Tell me what your deal is right now or I’m going to arrest you as a witch.”
997
998>Just tell her about the divination.
999
1000>’Accidentally’ shine a light into her face.
1001
1002>”Do you always wear that hat indoors?”
1003
1004>Make a witch-sign at her and see her reaction.
1005
1006>Ask to see her handle the gun. Gunpowder will not combust in the hands of a witch.
1007
1008>”You look ill.”
1009
1010>Other
1011
1012-------------------------
1013
1014>Just tell her about the divination 
1015
1016There’s a lot here to be suspicious of but frankly, you’re tired of playing coy. What reason do you really have to do so? The entire town may be riding on your decisions here and you’re just playing games! 
1017“I’m sure you’d appreciate it if I just got to the point.”
1018
1019“I doubt it.”
1020She knows. But does she know that you know that she knows? 
1021
1022“When I was investigating the Chester’s home I found a stock of black loam stored within their pillow. Do you know what that means?”
1023
1024She nods grimly but says nothing.
1025
1026“And when I scattered the dirt, I used it as a compass. It led me right to your doorstep. Do you know what that means?”
1027
1028She keeps nodding but only seems to realize the import of what you said just a moment later. 
1029“Wait! No!”
1030
1031Her hands come up to make a sign and you had been waiting for this moment. You bring the staff down just hard enough to separate them and with your other hand you swing the wick until the tip of it is tracing against her throat.
1032“No signs! Now get over here and come with me, you’ve a lot to answer for.”
1033
1034“Wait, wait!,” she shrieks. “You’ve got it wrong!”
1035She reaches up once more and this time your staff is too slow to keep her hands from moving. Shit. Oh well, it would have been nice to interrogate her but she’s left you no other choice. You prepare to ignite the wic-
1036And she rips her coat open, her fingers desperately working at the blouse beneath.
1037
1038Well, that wasn’t quite what you expected but you’re not going to let her do it anyway. You push the handle of the wick against her throat hard enough to pin her up against the wall.
1039“The wiles of a witch mean nothing to me.”
1040
1041“Oh shut it, you big virginal cu-...clod! I know it won’t, you think I haven’t dealt with your kind before?”
1042
1043She unbuttons her blouse but only just enough to display her collar-bone and the little hollow beneath her neck. There’s a mark there, no, a brand. The crude shape of a wheel with six spokes has been burned into her sickly flesh just above her sternum. 
1044
1045You pull the wick back and drop her in disgust. You’ve been wasting your time.
1046
1047You found a witch alright but just a tamed one. It’s been decades since you’ve seen her like.
1048“Mind telling me what you’re doing outside of a prison somewhere?”
1049
1050“Bite me,” she spits, still catching her breath upon the ground. “That was before the world broke open.”
1051
1052Well, that’s a reasonable excuse you suppose. 
1053“I’m surprised there’s any of your kind left.”
1054
1055“I could say the same for you.”
1056
10571/2
1058
1059-------------------------
1060
1061>>538599
1062The witch brand was a strange practice, one that had only been picked up during the latter years of the Third Age and it had been pioneered by your brethren. Learning from witches was hard and the need to slay each and every one of them was not conducive to proper research. Not to mention how to deal with the occasional surrender, witches who had come to regret their blasphemies. So the brand had come about, a mixture of advanced Benediction, Flame Rites and plundered witch-lore. With the mark of the Sun, the Wheel God, upon her flesh, a witch was rendered powerless and her connection to the earth sundered forever. 
1063You’d come here trying to track down the active witch and all you’d found was this...this bitch, sitting around and fouling up your divination! You have to hold yourself from giving her a few good whacks with the staff while she’s down.
1064
1065It’s not like she wouldn’t deserve them either. You have no love for the branded, even for those who willingly renounced their ways. That they regretted their choices did not in any way make up for the fact that they had still made that choice. They had still chosen to throw their lot in with the earth and to forsake their humanity. Even now, branded and stripped of all power, she only looked human. 
1066
1067Beatrice slowly gets to her knees, one hand keeping her hat steady over her face.
1068“If that’s all,” she rasps, “kindly get the fuck out of my house. Don’t you have a real witch to catch?”
1069
1070
1071>No, there’s something here that still doesn’t make sense. What about the fire?
1072
1073>”Do the people know what you are? What kind of danger you’ve been putting them in?”
1074
1075>”How many people died before they dragged you in for branding?”
1076
1077>”...You must be a lot older then you look.”
1078
1079>”I think you mean WE have a real witch to catch.” Drag her out of the house. You can use this.
1080
1081>Hit her a few times with the staff to make sure she’s subdued.
1082
1083>Knock her hat off.
1084
1085>Other
1086
1087-omitted one small post.
1088
1089-------------------------
1090
1091Ugh sorry for taking so long on this one.
1092
1093>”Do the people know what you are? What kind of danger you’ve been putting them in?”
1094>No, there’s something here that still doesn’t make sense. What about the fire?
1095>”I think you mean WE have a real witch to catch.” Drag her out of the house. You can use this.
1096
1097You shake your head as you look down upon her. 
1098“Do the people here even know what you are?”
1099
1100“Of course they don’t. Are you as dumb as you look?”
1101She curls up as she says that, reflexively preparing for a kick that doesn’t come.
1102
1103“A bit selfish of you, isn’t it? To just waltz in, take advantage of the hospitality of these fine folk, these fine human folk without even telling them what you are? Or what you could bring down upon them at any moment?”
1104
1105“Bring down what? I ain’t witching them! Not even if I wanted to!”
1106
1107“And yet the compass still pointed to you! You’re still darker than everything else in this whole damn town, you daft bint! You don’t think anything can sense that?”
1108
1109“That’s...that’s not how it works,” she says, sounding a lot more uncertain now. “But I haven’t been doing anything witchwise, I swear. I haven’t even touched the ground for years! I’ve been helping everyone here out as a-”
1110
1111“As a gunsmith or something, yes. Now isn’t that interesting?”
1112That’s something that’s been weighing on your mind as well, come to think of it.
1113“A branded witch still shouldn’t be particularly apt with the flame. The first one I met, they used to take us to her cell as ‘prentices and shove little candles to her. They still went out the moment she touched them and that was back when the sun was alive and everything. So what does that say about you?”
1114
1115“I think that says a lot more about you than it does about me,” she croaks. “That poor girl.”
1116
1117She tries to get to her feet only to find that your staff leaning against the wall above her. You don’t want to let her move until you’ve come away with some answers.
1118“You can set that staff aflame if you want,” she mutters. “I’ll barely feel it.”
1119
1120“Just spit it out already.”
1121
1122“You know that we were all humans once, right? We aren’t monsters.”
1123
1124“I know a lot more than you think. And trust me, that little detail makes things like you worse than the monsters. At least they didn’t have a choice.”
1125
1126“Whatever. So back before I turned I was a member of the Hearth. The College of the Hearth, you ever hear of it?”
1127
1128Of course you have. It’s a subsidiary organization to the Order of the Wick and while you don’t know a lot about what goes on there, you know that the men and women of the Hearth are supposed to be sacred. Priests and priestesses of the Sun and holders of the Flame Rites without being Lamplighters themselves.
1129You drag the staff lower until she cringes back down.
1130“If that was an attempt to endear yourself to me, it failed.”
11311/3
1132
1133-------------------------
1134
1135>>538864
1136“Just spit it out already.”
1137
1138“You know that we were all humans once, right? We aren’t monsters.”
1139
1140“I know a lot more than you think. And trust me, that little detail makes things like you worse than the monsters. At least they didn’t have a choice.”
1141
1142“Whatever. So back before I turned I was a member of the Hearth. The College of the Hearth, you ever hear of it?”
1143
1144Of course you have. It’s a subsidiary organization to the Order of the Wick and while you don’t know a lot about what goes on there, you know that the men and women of the Hearth are supposed to be sacred. Priests and priestesses of the Sun and holders of the Flame Rites without being Lamplighters themselves.
1145You drag the staff lower until she cringes back down.
1146“If that was an attempt to endear yourself to me, it failed.”
1147Did she really think telling you that she used to be a priestess of the Hearth would help her? That only made her blasphemy a hundred times worse! 
1148
1149“I know, I know. But after I was branded and the sun broke and everything went wrong, I started looking for my old Flame Rites again. Like maybe I could just get them to take me back. It didn’t work.”
1150
1151“Of course not. What you did wasn’t just some mere folly or a mistake to be forgiven, branded or not, you chose to be an enemy to the Flame for the rest of your life.”
1152
1153“Right, right. But then I thought, what if I can’t do it anymore because I’m trying to do it like a human. I had to do it like a witch. Don’t hit me! Look, it’s simple right? We eat dirt. Connects us to the earth and the gods-”
1154
1155“I’ll have no heretical talk here.”
1156
1157“Fine, dead gods,” she groans. “Has anyone told you that you’re a good listener? Because they lied. So I just figured, you know, since I’m so genuinely repentant of my ways and cannot take in the earth ever again, why not go back to old times but in a witchy way? I don’t know if you’ve noticed but to witches, magic comes in visceral. It’s what you eat and touch and feel-”
1158
1159“Get to the point.”
1160
1161“I’ve been eating gunpowder for the last few years,” she blurts out. “And since I don’t have no connection to the earth anymore, it’s been working! The Flame’s really taken me back!”
1162
1163You shake your head.
1164“You’re still a witch. Light and fire, that’s still your opposite. Even if you did belong to the Hearth in your past life, I can’t imagine that you can just take in your opposite like that.”
1165
1166Beatrice takes her hat off and throws it aside to reveal an extremely pale face, almost entirely white with barely a tinge of natural gray. You’ve known branded witches to look sickly from lack of dirt but not...not quite to this extent. 
1167Her skin is white and cracked and her eyes, her eyes are all but lost within two huge dark circles.
11682/3
1169
1170-------------------------
1171
1172>>538869
1173At first you think it merely a disastrous attempt at makeup and then maybe a pair of black eyes but no, the dark rings around her eyes are the sign of constant and continual bruising. Looking closer, you can see tinges of blood rimming her eyelids and swimming within her bloodshot cornea. 
1174“It wasn’t exactly comfortable. Back when I ate earth my body loved it, I didn’t even have to try to look good. But like you said, I’m still a witch. I get all hopped on powder but my body doesn’t like it, not one bit. It feels the fire in my blood and it’s decided that it doesn’t like my blood anymore, keeps trying to force it out.”
1175
1176You back away in disgust, not saying anything. Beatrice just sniffs and reclaims her hat, hiding her face once again.
1177
1178“I can keep most of it on the sly but for some reason I can’t stop the leak behind my eyes. Keeps sloshing around.”
1179She tries for a laugh but it comes out mostly like a sob. 
1180
1181Well, that’s an oddity for sure. And not one particularly to your taste.
1182“I don’t see how can take this as a sign of the fire accepting you back. It is literally killing you. A witch can never turn back.”
1183
1184“I know that. Now don’t you have a proper witch to find? I ain’t doing harm.”
1185
1186You make your decision. Is it not the essence of being a Witch-finder that you use every tool available to you, no matter how unsavory? 
1187“I think you mean that WE have a proper witch to find.”
1188
1189“What? No no no no!”
1190She scrambles away and you grab her by the shoulder, pushing past her attempts to strike you. In the end you almost have to drag her out of her house by her hair, the witch kicking and screaming all the while.
1191
1192“We can do this the easy way or the hard way!”
1193
1194“I guess you can’t really trust a Lamplighter to know how to handle a woman. Tell me friend, back when they had all you big sweaty men cooped up together in the monasteries did you catch or did you thro-Aiirgh!”
1195You accidently bump her head against the side of the doorway as you pull her out. Well, mostly accidental. 
1196
1197“Fine, fine! I’ll help! Just drop me!”
1198You do so. Beatrice rolls away from your before slowly getting to her feet, a dishevelled look to her.
1199“I don’t know what you plan to use me for, I ain’t touching earth or doing anything witchwise.”
1200
1201“Your knowledge may be enough.”
1202
1203
1204>Take her to see Terrance.
1205
1206>Take her to the Chester home.
1207
1208>Take her to the mayor to tell him what she is. She owes him and all the people of Sacrament that at least.
1209
1210>Take her to the edge of the wasteland.
1211
1212>”Where do you think we should start?”
1213
1214>Other
1215
1216-omitted one small post.
1217
1218-------------------------
1219
1220>”Where do you think we should start?”
1221
1222“You know this town better than I do, where do you think we should start?”
1223
1224She just looks at you for a long moment.
1225“Back at the Chesters I guess? Maybe we can try the divination again.”
1226
1227You start walking back, forcing her to scurry in order to catch up to you. As she does so you shake your head.
1228“Won’t work. You’ll keep fouling up the compass.”
1229
1230“What do you mean?”
1231
1232“Unless you leave town it’ll just keep pointing to you. What do you think it means?”
1233
1234“You know you can just search for the second-biggest emergent pattern don’t you?:
1235
1236“I...did not.”
1237
1238Beatrice laughs at you. You suppose you deserved that.
1239
1240“You see? This is why I brought you. You’re just reaffirming my decision to drag you through all of this.”
1241
1242“Aw nooo,” she moans
1243
1244“Or,” you say, an idea striking you. “You could conduct the divination yourself. It can’t point at yourself.”
1245
1246“Can’t.”
1247She says it flatly, an attempted last word on the matter. 
1248
1249“Why not?”
1250
1251“I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m kind of taking a break from witchcraft right now.”
1252Hrmph. Something to remember. Once she’s sure that you are no longer directly threatening her, Beatrice gets awfully lippy awfully fast.
1253
1254“It’s not witchcraft.”
1255
1256“Does telling yourself that help you sleep at night? And I’m not touching loam if I can’t help it. I’m strictly earth-averse.”
1257
1258You’re still pondering what to say next when you hear the rumble. It starts low, a feeling in the bottom of your feet more than a sound. But it keeps climbing higher and higher, louder and louder as the concrete shakes beneath you. 
1259You barely manage to keep your footing, Beatrice clinging to your arm to steady herself. The moment you notice her doing that you retract the arm and let her fend for herself. 
1260
1261The distant thunder within the earth continues to sing for nearly a minute more before it finally fades.
1262“What was that?”
1263
1264The witch is still busy getting off the ground.
1265“Why would I know?”
1266
1267
1268>Rush to the main street.
1269
1270>Quick! Back to the nearest shelter!
1271
1272>Finish your journey to the Chester’s house.
1273
1274>Rush to the edge of the wasteland.
1275
1276>Other
1277
1278-omitted one small post.
1279
1280-------------------------
1281
1282>Rush to the main street.
1283
1284You don’t need to be told to know that something terrible is afoot. That wasn’t just the earth shaking, it was the very concrete itself. You can’t help but think back to what you saw when you had been taking young Marcus across the wasteland. The huge broken shards of concrete had littered the dying forest. You hadn’t put too much thought into what had happened there at the time. After all, travelling across the wasteland lets you catch sight of old ruins, dying relics and remnants of fading humanity nearly every damn day. But whatever had happened back there, you’d wager that it sounded much like this.
1285
1286So yes, you run. You started running before the witch was even back on her feet, leaving her to chase after you in panic. Your legs begin to burn as you power through the streets, your feet raising clouds of dust from the tamed dirt. 
1287
1288Everyone’s still in the main street but their celebration has understandably stopped. When the townsfolk see you one of them raises a ragged shout.
1289“Lamplighter! You got to fix this!”
1290
1291They part before you and you feel your breath catch as you see the crack. From all the way to the very edge where the concrete plains and the wasteland meet, the concrete has been split, a great jagged crack zigzagging its way down the plains and straight down the middle of Sacrament’s main street. Down the main street and towards the…
1292“The lamp!.” you bellow! “Out of the way, I need to see the lamp!”
1293
1294The lamp-post, god bless it, is safe. It’s still shining as bright as ever and the ancient magic within it is still carrying that light to all over town. But it was a close call. The crack in the concrete stops just inches from the lamp-post. You push away the thin layer of tame soil around it and your suspicions are confirmed.
1295The crack comes to an abrupt halt at the exact position of the tiny ring of thin runes carved into the concrete around the lamp-post’s base.
1296“It’s fine,” you call out to the people. “The runes protected it from the attack.”
1297
1298“It’s fine? It’s fine?”
1299You don’t know the man who steps forward but you have a feeling the two of you aren’t going to be great friends. You have that feeling about most people, funnily enough.
1300“There’s a great big crack right down Sacrament! Look at it! It goes straight to the earth!”
1301
1302You kneel beside it and sure enough, the crack is deep enough to cut straight through the entire concrete layer. There’s dirt beneath. 
1303Oh, this is bad. How the fuck did she do it? The light was strong! It still is strong! How could any magic cut into a town with a lamp-post so bright?
1304
1305“Orion!”
1306And of course, that’s when Beatrice finally catches up. Her chest is heaving and she clutches at the side of the town tavern while she does her best to recover.
1307“What’s going on? I can’t believe you pushed me, you’re such a fucking sod!”
1308
13091/2
1310
1311-------------------------
1312
1313>>538978
1314She then flinches back as she realizes that not only is everyone looking at her, her hat was lost in all the commotion. You can practically see the stares of the townsfolk settling on her and her patchy face.
1315“Uh,” she croaks, holding both hands over her eyes. 
1316
1317You don’t have time to say or do anything about her sudden appearance however. Nobody does. Because from the crack rises a sudden hiss and a torrent of black smoke engulfs you!
1318
1319
1320>Protect the lamp!
1321
1322>Protect the mayor.
1323
1324>Protect Beatrice.
1325
1326>Just throw yourself away from the crack.
1327
1328>Light your wick! Do it now!
1329
1330>Other
1331
1332-------------------------
1333
1334>Light your wick! Do it now!
1335
1336Black smoke swirls out from not just beneath your feet but everywhere all up and down the street. If you could see further you don’t doubt that it clouds of it would be puffing up all along the crack’s entire length. And just that alone proves something rather worrying. This wasn’t just some opportunist attack, this must have been weeks or even months in the making. They’ve been sending in witching not onto the concrete itself but beneath it, a ridiculous amount of power building up in the imprisoned soil until finally…
1337Hrmph. You showing up and relighting the lamp must have forced their hand.
1338
1339That’s good. You’re about to force it a lot more.
1340
1341“Everyone!,” you bellow. “To me!”
1342You slam the butt of the wick down against the concrete with all your might and the burden upon your back screams silently as you draw upon it. The top of the wick bursts into true flame, orange and bright and burning almost as strong as the lamp-post behind you. 
1343
1344Wick: 9/10
1345
1346You sweep the long-handled wick in a wide circle around you and the smoke is banished, every fleck of it that strays within your reach burning to nothing in the blink of an eye. And indeed, even beyond that the smoke retreats and curls up into the air and it is only until the light begins to dim back to that terrible twilight that you realize your mistake.
1347You were never the primary target of this attack. No person here was.
1348
1349The runes around the lamp-post scream and spark but the airborne darkness doesn’t even try to cover them. Instead it simply wraps itself around the runes perimeters and builds up, creating a column of dark that completely shrouds the lamp from view. 
1350
1351Darkness falls. 
1352
1353You start to run to the lamp, careful to jump over the crack beneath you. What is the witch even planning to do with this meaningless gesture? The lamp-post will naturally burn through its dark prison in a matter of minutes and even without that, it will only take you but a swing to free it! 
1354But as the townsfolk panic and scream you hear voices of another kind join their discordant orchestra. Groans and moans and choked up bursts of laughter. 
1355
1356You skid to a halt and watch as a woman seemingly trips up on the crack and falls to the ground screaming, her ankle lacerated by a knife-fingered hand. The soil you can see at the bottom of the crack is churning and boiling as shapes disentangle themselves and impossibly, contort themselves to squeeze right out. 
1357Patchwork limbs and joints that have been replaced with thick cords and thread. Glinting teeth and fat, distented tongues. 
1358
1359Sacrament is swarming with ghouls.
1360
1361
1362>That doesn’t matter! Get to the lamp!
1363
1364>The lamp isn’t in danger. Assist the townsfolk in fighting the monsters back!
1365
1366>Cauterize the crack. (Extremely heavy Wick use)
1367
1368>Call out to somebody (Specify)
1369
1370>Other
1371
1372-------------------------
1373
1374>Free the lamp.
1375>Get Beatrice on the job of helping the citizens.
1376
1377As much as it pains you, your duty is clear. You don’t just light the lamps, you protect the lamps and with them the light and with that humanity itself. That’s all there is to it. First and foremost, before any silly factional quarreling about witches or Flame Rites or any other kind of division. That’s the core of what being a Lamplighter is about. 
1378
1379“Beatrice!”
1380You find her still over by the tavern, the darkness and the smoke making it hard to see. 
1381“A little help here?”
1382
1383The townsfolk themselves barely have any weapons on hand, how could they? Until just moments ago this had all been a celebration, a renewal of faith within the protective light of God. And look at all the good it did them. 
1384The first shot rings out, Beatrice pulling a large revolver from who knows where and firing into the mob of ghouls. The flash of her shots are brighter than they should be and every ghoul she shoots drops, a still-expanding burning hole punched clean through their makeshift bodies. 
1385
1386It’ll have to be enough.
1387
1388You turn your back on the people and run towards the lamp. That’s the key right there. Just a single swipe to clear it and everything will be fine. With the light beating upon their backs the ghouls will lose heart, witch or no witch!
1389You are only mere feet away from the post when a hand grabs hold of your ankle, tripping you up and sending you to the ground!
1390
1391A ghoul? No. You aren’t cut and not even your runeplate would stop a ghoul-claw in darkness. It’s a human hand.
1392
1393>Roll 1d6 each. I will be totalling the first 3.
1394
1395-omitted one small post.
1396
1397-------------------------
1398
1399>2, 2, 2
1400
1401You are unable to catch yourself or break your fall and you slam into the ground with a heavy wheeze. Armour or no armour, a fall hurts just the same. And it only gets worse from here. With the wind knocked from your lungs, you are slow to rouse and not nearly quick enough to avoid the kick to the head. Your skull rattles inside your helmet as the boot crashes into your head once, twice and then a third kick to the shoulder to push you back.
1402Back to what?
1403
1404And then you feel your lower half slide over the edge of the still-widening crack and you understand. Oh no. Anything but this! How long do you have before the ghouls burrowing through the dirt below notice and tear you to pieces? And not just you but your precious cargo as well? There is more than just a single life or a single town upon your shoulders now. 
1405You shudder as something loathsome brushes against your armoured leg but the ghoul has yet to notice you properly. You can still get out of this.
1406
1407You toss your staff to the side and use your now freed hand to start clawing your way out from where you had been wedged into the crack. You just have to free your legs and-
1408
1409Your unseen assailant continues, kicking you in the arm. And at the same time, you feel the ghoul brushing past you slowly come to a stop and the thick pseudo-limb of what can only be a tongue encircle around your leg.
1410
1411
1412>Pretend to surrender.
1413
1414>Distract Beatrice from her current task.
1415
1416>Immolate the ghoul.
1417
1418>Immolate your attacker.
1419
1420>Set yourself on fire.
1421
1422>Other
1423
1424-------------------------
1425
1426>Set yourself on fire.
1427
1428It would be easier to simply immolate one of the two beasts currently waylaying you but that would leave you open to the attacks of the other, whether it be ghoul below or man above. But why even bother with any of that when you can immolate yourself? You’re not relying on just a tiny lantern anymore, you have a full wick to draw upon!
1429
1430You pull your wick back towards yourself, blocking another kick from your human attacker in the process. The handle of the wick shudders beneath the blow and you can feel it bend. Oof. An excellent reminder that this thing isn’t as sturdy as your staff. Mess it up enough and you could risk breaking it.
1431
1432You drag the burning tip of the wick to the gaps in your helmet and, feeling the flame embrace you, you inhale.
1433
1434Wick: 6/10
1435
1436Your armour bursts to life in gross incandescence as you coax a great flame from the wick and let it take itself upon you. The ghoul beneath you screeches and flees as you rise from the chasm, your assailant backing away from you.
1437Flames swirl around you, blocking your vision with an orange haze as you reclaim your staff. You, of course, are unharmed. As long as your Wick has any power left in it at all fire will remain your stalwart ally. But this is a much greater fire then the one you would use to cover your staff and you cannot maintain it for long.
1438You’ll have to finish this quickly.
1439
1440There’s a man still standing before you, large and bulky and very afraid. 
1441“T-this can be explained!,” he squeaks.
1442
1443“WITCH!”
1444You have no desire to entertain further foolishness from Mayor Edmund. You advance, swinging staff and wick as he pulls out a sword. And for a moment, that gives you pause. The blade is long and wide and while it isn’t quite a two-hander you’d put it at a hand and a half easily. And down the blade run sickly looking runes of Durability and of Edge. There’s something else to it as well, some kind of ointment or poison smeared thickly along the edge. 
1445
1446Edmund shakes his head.
1447“You couldn’t have just gone on your way, could you? You arrogant, insufferable man. Look at this. This is all your fault!”
1448You take a step closer and he dances back, still keeping between you and lamp.
1449“What, you want to fight? You want to risk it against this beast?”
1450The rune-sword glistens unpleasantly within his hands.
1451
1452
1453>”Beatrice.”
1454
1455>Point your wick at him and burn him to death.
1456
1457>Throw your lantern at him and detonate it.
1458
1459>Just rush him!
1460
1461>Attempt to disarm him.
1462
1463>Take off your burning helmet and just throw it at him.
1464
1465>Other
1466
1467-------------------------
1468
1469>Throw your lantern at him and detonate it.
1470
1471You just stare at him for good few seconds before shaking your head and sighing. You’ll not be getting any closure today. Not with this moron. All of a sudden you feel your righteous anger begin to dim, replaced only by a quiet disgust.
1472“Why didn’t you just use that sword to kill me while I was stuck instead of putting the boot in?”
1473
1474He stops, looking a little nonplussed by your sudden change in attitude.
1475“I-”
1476
1477You unhook the small lantern from your breastplate and as you hold it in a single burning hand, you overload its Wick to the breaking point. Almost a shame. This little contraption served you well in the wasteland. 
1478You toss it at him, a simple underhand throw without much force behind it. He actually manages to knock it aside with his sword but by that point it’s much too late.
1479
1480He wails as the lantern bursts open and spits a column of liquid flame all up and down his body, engulfing him in less than a second. He drops the sword and flees, a walking pillar of fire but he doesn’t get far before he collapses. You don’t even offer him the honor of a second strike as you walk past his burning corpse and stand before the swirling darkness covering the lamp. 
1481
1482Wick: 5/10
1483
1484A single slash of the wick later and the darkness is vanquished, the lamp-post returned to light. You hear the ghouls scream before you even turn around, the beasts either fleeing directly back into the soil or running like mad dogs across the concrete plain towards the wasteland. The townsfolk cheer and weep in equal measure but all you do is stare at the rich black loam that has unearthed itself from the chasm in the concrete.
1485It’s still moving.
1486
1487Beatrice is the first to find you, her eyes wide and wild. 
1488“That wasn’t the witch,” she says, abrupt and to the point.
1489
1490“I know.”
1491
1492The witch does her best to stare you down.
1493“How the fuck do you know?”
1494
1495“Well for starters, he wasn’t all that difficult. And he died like a human. How did you know?”
1496
1497She looks a little uncomfortable.
1498“He had no earth in him. And no, I didn’t sense it. It’s a smell.”
1499
1500You track the crack from where it ends at your feet and where it goes, all the way down the street and the plains and into the wasteland. A wasteland that now looks a good deal darker around the edges than it used to be.
1501
1502Black loam. 
1503
1504“Everybody! People of Sacrament!”
1505You call as loud as you can and the people heed you, gathering around. In the background you think you can hear Marcus sobbing.
1506“This is only just getting started. Prepare for a siege.”
1507
1508-------------------------
1509
1510And that's that for today, I'm afraid! Half of you are already asleep or close to it I reckon and I have stuff to do. We'll finish this thread and the Chapter off tomorrow, same time, same place!
1511Check the twitter, thread's been archived, etc etc.
1512
1513I hope you all had fun!
1514
1515-omitted one small post.
1516
1517-omitted one small post.
1518
1519-------------------------
1520
1521The hole goes deep, darkening dramatically before you see the first splash of water. You simply shake your head and sigh before turning to the man accompanying you.
1522“Do you not have rain catchers?”
1523
1524The man, an Eadbert Bute and honored deputy to the Mayor, now acting Mayor, swallowed nervously. He’s a shorter and older man but still spry.
1525“Of course we do, Sir Orion. B-”
1526
1527“Really, just Orion will do.”
1528
1529“Sorry. But you must understand that rain can be sparse some seasons. During those times we have no choice but to turn to the bore water. It’s always been safe before!”
1530
1531You kneel by the side of the well, your finger tracing the runes of purity and protection from earth. They look unbroken at the very least.
1532“For now there’s no such thing as being too cautious. How’s the rainwater reserve?”
1533
1534Eadbert looks like he already knows where this discussion is going.
1535“Adequate.”
1536
1537“Then we’ll seal the well for now. Help me with the lid.”
1538
1539Together the two of you drag the large metal lid over across the concrete until the well is safely capped. You and the acting Mayor take a step back as a small team of townsfolk shift the lid until the holes drilled through its rim line up the long holes drilled into the concrete around the edge of the well. After that it is merely a matter of pounding in the thick metal spikes. Hopefully between those and the runes the bore will remain secure. Eadbert himself grabs a hammer and gets to work with the rest of him, the back of his left hand still scorched from when you had tested him for witchcraft just a moment before.
1540“Are you going to help?”
1541
1542“No, not here. I need to oversee the rest of the defences.”
1543
1544You trudge back to the main street, your wick trailing in the dust behind you and your package growing ever heavier upon your back. How long has it been since you last slept? It must be days by now! You’d been hoping for some respite in Sacrament but so far...well, the less you say about that the better.
1545
1546The main street is bustling, men and women together working to raise barricades and to seal the chasm. The great crack itself hasn’t gone but it’s been sealed over, planks and wide wooden boards dragged over the top of it and nailed together. Of course there wasn’t enough to cover the entire thing, not even with one of the houses already partially dismantled for materials, but all of the gap to have broken into the town itself has been covered.
1547You doubt that will stop the ghouls but it should at least slow them down.
1548
1549The barricades begin just past where the covered-up chasm ends, a huge pile of furniture, overturned carts and scavenged concrete blocks, all covered in hasty wooden boards and paneling to keep it together.
15501/2
1551
1552-------------------------
1553
1554>>540603
1555The lamp-post is just barely wihin its bounds, almost a piece of foundation for the barricade itself. And even now you can see the people of Sacrament withdrawing behind it with all manner of weaponry at the ready. Guns and rifles, swords and shields, spears and farming tools. 
1556Even further behind it you can see people dragging everything that will even remotely burn out of their houses. There’s even a man prying a barely alive old woman out of her ancient rocking chair, tossing it to the ever-growing firewood pile. 
1557
1558You don’t see Beatrice anywhere.
1559
1560
1561>Help the townsfolk with the barricade.
1562
1563>Inspect the chasm.
1564
1565>Inspect the Mayor’s runesword.
1566
1567>Find Beatrice.
1568
1569>Try to organize everyone together to discuss plans.
1570
1571>Walk out to the wasteland.
1572
1573>Make sure everyone has been mustered up and that there is nobody left in their homes.
1574
1575>Take the time to try and relight your Wick.
1576
1577>Other
1578
1579-------------------------
1580
1581>Inspect the Mayor’s runesword.
1582>Help the townsfolk with the barricade.
1583>Take the time to try and relight your Wick.
1584
1585The barricade is coming along nicely or at least as nice as one can expect with such resources to work with. What the people of Sacrament lack in technical skill or knowledge they have more than made up for with desperation. And so the rickety barricade somehow stands, held up more by the stalwart hearts of those behind it than any particular sturdiness.
1586But still, it should do its job. No normal barricade can be expected to halt a ghoul advance in the first place and while the wood won’t stop them, the line of burning torches embedded in the top of the makeshift wall just might. 
1587
1588Beyond the barricade you can see people fortifying their houses as best they can. Looks like the people here are under no illusion of just how long the wall might hold. 
1589Good. 
1590
1591You stop a man attempting to pile a bedframe atop the teetering barricade by placing your gauntlet upon his shoulder.
1592“Don’t put it there, it’ll topple. Place it down by the edge over there.”
1593
1594You go to move on only to be stopped by a tired-looking woman, three small children clutching to her skirts. She’s dragging an ancient bathtub. 
1595“Where should I put this?”
1596And she isn’t alone. Much too late you realize your mistake as people descend upon you seeking advice. Which part of the wall should be dragged lower? Where should the torches go? Is a matress a proper foundation?
1597Before you know you have been enlisted into setting this barricade right. 
1598
1599It’s almost an hour later before you are able to disentangle yourself but your work was not for naught. The wall looks much sturdier now and built along much sounder principles. Will it make a difference? Probably not but even a few extra seconds could be the gap between life and death for many. 
1600You pull yourself away from them, citing the need for ‘important Lamplighter duties’. A half-truth.
1601
1602You settle down behind the bar within Sacrament’s tavern, a building that has been mercifully emptied thanks to recent events. Waiting for you is the large rune-sword that you liberated from Edmund’s impromptu cremation. Aside from the disgusting concoction smeared upon the blade, almost certainly some kind of foul witch poison, the blade looks sound and righteous. A more traditional Lamplighter might shy away from using something taken from a cultist in such a manner but you are not one to shy away from useful tools. 
1603But you have not settled down here merely to inspect the sword, useful as it may be. You are here to relight your Wick so that you do not have to go into combat with it half-burnt, You sit down, wedging yourself in the small space behind the counter and lay your wick flat across your knees.
1604
1605Wick: 5/10
1606
1607>Roll 1d6. The highest of the first three rolls is the amount of Wick restored. This can only be done once per sleep period.
1608
1609-omitted one small post.
1610
1611-------------------------
1612
1613>6
1614
1615Wick: 10/10
1616
1617You're not so how many minutes have passed by the time you next open your eyes but you can feel the wick in your hands respond to your ministrations, glowing warm and with a faint tendril of smoke wafting up. 
1618You stand slowly, stretching out your legs and making sure everything is appropriately limber. When the witch comes, you will be ready for her.
1619
1620Unfortunately you didn’t specify which witch because Beatrice slamming the door open and intruding upon your combat meditations nearly makes you jump right over the top of the bar.
1621
1622“Woah! What are you doing behind there, getting in a little…”
1623She cocks her head and holds her hand up her mouth, tilting it back and making a distinct sloshing sound.
1624“...before the siege starts? Didn’t think you had it in you.”
1625
1626You don’t bother dignifying that with a direct response at first. Drinking goes against your vows and as a bearer of the brand, she likely knows that. She’s just trying to get under your skin. You can’t help but notice that she’s retrieved her hat from wherever it had fallen.
1627“I was merely preparing my wick and myself for what we will likely face today.”
1628
1629“You lot and your wicks, can’t keep your hands off of t-”
1630You give her a look and even through the helmet she seems to get the message. Perhaps now she understands just how little distance there is between you tolerating her and you giving her the treatment a witch properly deserves.
1631“Nice sword,” she finishes lamely. “You sure you want to use that?”
1632
1633“It isn’t corrupt as the runes upon it still hold strong. I have yet to see a rune betray the light, unlike some.”
1634
1635Beatrice scowls and pulls up a seat at the bar, holding her head in her hands.
1636“You know,” she says with a tone of contemplation. “Runes aren’t really all different from witch-sign in theory.”
1637
1638“Stop that.”
1639
1640“I mean, they’re both just signs that you can’t speak and they both shape a Nam- ow ow ow ow…”
1641You rest your hand atop her head, knocking her hat off and twisting her dirty-blonde hair between your fingers.
1642
1643“We already have plenty of blasphemy without, witch. It would be wise to avoid spreading it within.”
1644You let her go and she immediately slides down to the other end of the counter.
1645
1646“You’re a real stuffy prick, ain’t you? Fine. I didn’t just come here to inquire about your good health, you know.”
1647A little face peeks around the doorway, pale and scared. Marcus. Of course. He had seen everything, hadn’t he?
1648“I’m no good with kids,” Beatrice drawls. “Do you mind explaining to little Mark just why his daddy had to die?”
1649
1650
1651>”I don’t have time for this.”
1652
1653>Pass Marcus back off onto her.
1654
1655>Sit down with the kid for a while.
1656
1657>”Can I do that while I help the townsfolk plan the defences?”
1658
1659>Other
1660
1661-------------------------
1662
1663Bad news folks, I thought I had today free since my usual game-day with friends was called off. Turns out there's been a last minute miracle and it's back on so this session is going to be a lot shorter than normal. The thread will probably run onto tomorrow instead.
1664
1665I'll still update today of course, just for another hour or so.
1666
1667-------------------------
1668
1669>Sit down with the kid for a while
1670
1671It’s not that you don’t feel bad for the kid but this really isn’t your field of expertise. Do you even really have time for this? You have always done your best to live your life in a constructive fashion, no time wasted when it could be spent for the people or for the lamps. But...you look at the boys face and sigh. Light into darkness, you tell yourself.
1672“Give me a moment with him.”
1673
1674You escort Marcus out to a dingy little table, sitting him down and ready to sit down yourself before you spot Beatrice out of the corner of your eye, the witch leaning over the counter and helping herself to the few scattered bottles behind it.
1675“Now is not the time for drink.”
1676
1677“Speak for yourself, choir boy,” Beatrice says, apparently feeling empowered now that she is no longer within arm’s length of you. “This is flammable.”
1678
1679“Now, Marcus, do you understand what happened today?”
1680
1681The boy nods, his lip trembling.
1682“You killed my dad.”
1683
1684“But do you understand why?”
1685
1686“Y-yes?”
1687
1688You had something ready to say but all of a sudden your tongue dries up. Sitting here with the son of a man you killed, telling him of just why it was righteous that you did it...It doesn’t feel comfortable to say the least. What are you supposed to say?
1689
1690
1691>”Your father was a bad man and he deserved it.”
1692
1693>”Your father didn’t just betray his duties, he betrayed you and this entire town.”
1694
1695>”It wasn’t his fault. The witch had assumed control over him. I sent him to the light.”
1696
1697>”If this is the worst thing you ever see you should consider yourself grateful.”
1698
1699>”For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
1700
1701>”It was my fault, I should have closed the matter before it became like this.”
1702
1703>”Your father sinned.”
1704
1705>”There can be no hesitation or stepping back when you fight with witches. The moment you quail, the moment you question what has to be done, all could be lost.”
1706
1707>Recruit Beatrice to help break it to him.
1708
1709>Other
1710
1711-omitted one small post.
1712
1713-omitted one small post.
1714
1715-omitted one small post.
1716
1717-omitted one small post.
1718
1719-------------------------
1720
1721>Give the boy the talk.
1722
1723There’s no point in mincing words or trying to dance around the subject. Life certainly doesn’t abstain from such when the time comes and the sooner Marcus learns this the better. You certainly could have benefited from the lesson when you were his age. You drag your hood back and take off your helmet so that you can stare him in the eye.
1724“What do you know about witches?”
1725
1726The boy is too cowed to speak at first but you don’t give him the luxury of continuing to speak. No, you just stay quiet and let the silence drag on until he finally opens his mouth.
1727“They’re real bad.”
1728
1729Not quite the answer you were hoping for but one you can work with nonetheless.
1730“Listen. When you battle with witches there can be no hesitation, there can be no stepping back. The moment you quail before the face of the abyss or you question what must be done is the moment that all could be lost. You must take the righteous act and you must never let your certainty in it fail.”
1731
1732“Did...did my dad quail? To let the witch get into him like that?”
1733
1734You wish you had a more comforting truth to give him.
1735“Witchcraft cannot sway the hearts of men, Marcus. You must let them in. Your father was led astray but not as a sheep blindly following the shepherd’s crook. He chose his path.”
1736
1737“He wouldn’t do that! He’s my dad! He’s the Mayor!”
1738
1739“Yes and he failed in his duties as both. As mayor, he was meant to protect both the bodies and souls of Sacrament but instead he chose to betray it. As your father, he was meant to protect you. And perhaps by sending you away he thought he was doing that. But even then all he was doing was giving you freely to the witch.”
1740
1741Marcus is quiet for a very long time but when he next looks up, he finally meets your gaze.
1742“And you killed him.”
1743
1744“He was already dead. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”
1745
1746The boy slides out of his chair and slowly walks out of the tavern without another word. Should you follow him? No. Let him do what he must do. So instead you simply sit there for a few more long seconds until your peace is intruded upon once again by Beatrice, the witch walking over from where she had been busying herself at the bar.
1747You can’t help but notice she doesn’t stray too close this time and keeps the table between you at all times.
1748“Bit rough on him, don’t you think?”
1749
1750“It was the truth. What would you tell him? Instruct him on how to follow in his father’s footsteps?”
1751
1752She flinches back a little but doesn’t object to your accusation.
1753“This was supposed to be the age of peace. Kids like him shouldn’t have to live through this.”
1754
1755“We have your kind to thank for that.”
17561/2
1757
1758-------------------------
1759
1760>>542985
1761She lifts her hat and stares you in the eye for as long as you can stomach.
1762“You’re a real stuffy prick, you know that right? I refuse to be held personally accountable for the actions of all witches everywhere. I repented! I’ve come back to the light.”
1763
1764You ignore her lies.
1765“What do you want from me?”
1766
1767“An apology for what you just did a minute ago would be nice.”
1768
1769
1770>”Be happy that I don’t do it again.”
1771
1772>Do it again.
1773
1774>”That’s all blasphemy deserves.”
1775
1776>Apologise. It was, perhaps, a little hasty of you.
1777
1778>”I don’t have many kind words left and for those I do have, I save them for humans.”
1779
1780>”Why do you do this to yourself?”
1781
1782>"Then prove it." Trial by fire.
1783
1784>Other
1785
1786-------------------------
1787
1788>”I don’t have many kind words left and for those I do have, I save them for humans.”
1789
1790You spread your arms wide as you rise to your feet.
1791“Tell me witch, do you see here a man with many kind words left to give?”
1792
1793“No b-”
1794
1795“And those that I have left, I save for humans.”
1796With those words intended to settle the matter for good, you walk around the table and towards the doorway, expecting Beatrice to shrink away before you and to stay out of your reach. 
1797
1798But she doesn’t. Instead she moves to block you, standing in front of you as if her frail body could possibly stop you from moving where you please.
1799“No, Orion. Not this time. Do your worst to me if you will, you certainly wouldn’t be the first of your blasted order to do so but I am not moving. Are you not a Witch-finder?”
1800
1801How does she know that? It must have been the divination. You’ve let too much slip.
1802“Again, I fail to see how this could possibly earn you leniency.”
1803
1804“I know what you Witch-finders are,” she says, staring up at you with bloody eyes. “I know what you do. Use whatever tools you can, no matter how unsavory? And yet when I offer help about runes you-”
1805
1806“Every Witch-finder also knows that there is a limit between a tool and a hindrance. Runes are sacred words of the Wheel God and to let you crowd my mind with doubt upon the matter is of no use to me at all.”
1807Especially not now.
1808
1809“Are you really so weak that my words could sway you? Look, I’m not trying to be your friend, god knows you’re the stiffest asshole I’ve ever fucking met. But I’m trying to help and while I’m helping all I want in return is a little human decency!”
1810
1811“Human dece-”
1812
1813“Oh fuck off and eat rocks,” she snaps. “I’m as human as you. Now I’m not going to move so you can either just kill me or lock me up in the stocks or...maybe! Maybe you can stop grabbing me when I’m just trying to help!”
1814Her voice grows more and more ragged as she continues, practically ending in a shriek with her final words.
1815
1816
1817>Push her out of the way. “You are wasting my time.”
1818
1819>”You want to help? Then help me.”
1820
1821>”I will tolerate you but don’t insist that you are human in my presence.”
1822
1823>There are stocks in Sacrament? Excellent. Put them to use.
1824
1825>”Is this really the time to throw a tantrum?”
1826
1827>Hit her.
1828
1829>Offer her the ignited end of your wick. “Show me.”
1830
1831>Just pick her up and keep walking. No need to hurt her but you have other things to attend to.
1832
1833>”Maybe next time you should look in a mirror before making such outlandish claims.”
1834
1835>Other
1836
1837-------------------------
1838
1839>Just pick her up and keep walking. No need to hurt her but you have other things to attend to.
1840>”You want to help? Then help me.”
1841
1842You think for a moment and then decide that you don’t have time for a witch trying to make drama about something that is inherently their own fault. You have a job to do.
1843“You want to help? Then help. Let you be judged by your deeds.”
1844
1845“Except for how no matter what I do, you’re just going to judge me for what I am anyway.”
1846
1847“What you are is one of your deeds. Probably the most important choice you ever made in your life and you choose wrong.”
1848
1849“I renounced it! I know you only have my word b-hey wait wait, get your hands off of me!”
1850
1851Growing tired of her protestations you simply pick her up and throw her over your shoulder, letting her bang up against the wrapped-up pole still across your back. And then with that done, you carry on walking as if nothing had ever happened.
1852She lies limply over your shoulder and down your back for a moment as if she can’t believe it. And then when she starts to struggle, it is but a mere distraction easily ignored. Her physicality is nothing compared to yours and she refrains from magic, no doubt knowing how pointless it is to set you alight. 
1853
1854“Let me down!”
1855
1856“You said you wanted to help, didn’t you? Tell me what you know.”
1857
1858She sighs and goes limp once more, having apparently resigned herself to her fate.
1859“Fine. You’ve seen the black loam out there in the wasteland, haven’t you? I went all the way out to the edge to inspect it.”
1860
1861“Feeling homesick?”
1862
1863“Go eat a dick. Wait, don’t drop me! I’d bet it’s the same dirt you found with the Chesters, right?”
1864
1865“It would appear so.”
1866
1867“And it was the same dirt that was being sprayed up to create that smoke in the attack, right?”
1868
1869You stop for a moment. You hadn’t actually known that. But is it worth letting Beatrice know the exact limits of your knowledge? She could use that against you.
1870“You tell me, I didn’t notice.”
1871In the end you decide that it likely cannot hurt to admit such failings to her.
1872
1873“Well it was. And I don’t know how much you know about soil but this stuff is powerful. Potent. Pussiant. This is deep soil is what I’m getting at here. The connection must be strong.”
1874
1875“Yes, I had surmised as much. And?”
1876
1877“Well I can’t help but notice that whoever this bitch is she has a lot of it!”
1878
1879“And?”
1880
1881“Well...look, I love this town. Do you believe me when I say that?”
1882
1883“No.”
1884
1885“Well I do, I like the people here and for the last few years it’s been home. So you should know that what I’m about to say, I’m not saying lightly.”
1886
1887“You’re saying I should run? That we cannot win?”
1888
1889“No! Of course we should stay and fight. But...maybe we should have a plan for if we lose.”
18901/2
1891
1892-------------------------
1893
1894>>543124
1895You kick the door to the tavern open as you speak, walking into the light with Beatrice still your reluctant prisoner. The main street is packed with villagers and they turn to face you as one, many of them no doubt questioning Beatrice’s position trapped over your shoulder. You don’t let it bother you.
1896For her part, Beatrice simply grabs her hat and jams it over her head while groaning softly.
1897
1898Did they hear her last words? They certainly don’t look all that confident. 
1899
1900
1901>”We aren’t going to lose. I promise you that when tomorrow comes, Sacrament will still be standing and what’s more, will be the safer the day I leave then the day I found it.”
1902
1903>”Ignore her words. We need to plan our defences.”
1904
1905>”And what would you have us do?”
1906
1907>”Look to the lamp. Light still burns and while it does, we can overcome any adversity.”
1908
1909>”Worry not about dirt. It is to be trod upon.”
1910
1911>"And I thought you had faith."
1912
1913>Other
1914
1915-omitted one small post.
1916
1917-------------------------
1918
1919>”We aren’t going to lose. I promise you that when tomorrow comes, Sacrament will still be standing and what’s more, will be the safer the day I leave then the day I found it.”
1920
1921“We’re not going to lose,” you say loud enough for all to hear. “Is there not still light? I promise you that when tomorrow comes, Sacrament will still be standing and what’s more, will be safer the day I leave then the day I found it!”
1922
1923“But what are we going to do when the witch comes?”
1924The voice is from the crowd but you cannot see who called out. It sounded suspiciously like Marcus.
1925
1926“We are going to throw her back! We are going to find her and make her face the light! Listen up! Witchcraft cannot find purchase upon the hearts of men unless you let them! And if Sacrament falls tonight, it will only be because there were those who could have protected it but didn’t! As long as you all make the right choice to stand by me, by your friends and family and neighbours, no amount of witches will carry the day! So all I can ask of you is to not be cowed. To stay strong. Do that and victory is ours.”
1927You slam the butt of your wick against the ground and it bursts into flame and just like that, the air of despair is broken. How can people possibly falter when a living avatar of the fire walks by their side? At first they clap and then they cheer and you walk down from the tavern steps and walk among them, bolstering their hearts as best you can.
1928
1929“Great,” Beatrice’s muffled voice emanates from somewhere around your back. “But we might need a plan more concrete then that.”
1930
1931“And we do!”
1932Your voice is loud and in an instant you have everyone’s attention once more.
1933
1934
1935>”The barricade will hold strong for a time and as long as it is built around the lamp-post the centre will never fall. We will outlast the tide until it passes.
1936
1937>”All I can ask of you is to defend your wall and homes as best you can and in any means you see fit. I will not be there to help you, I will be out hunting the witch myself.
1938
1939>”The barricades will not hold but hopefully they will slow them down. Enough for us to slay them but we must be prepared to fall back to the houses.”
1940
1941>”We will fight in steps. First the barricade, then the houses and then the farms. If those fall there will be nothing to do but run.”
1942
1943>”Our first and foremost priority will be trying to draw the witch to us. Nothing else is as important.”
1944
1945>”The barricade won’t last but that is fine. We can set a trap for them just beyond it. Get everything that will burn.”
1946
1947>Other
1948
1949-omitted one small post.
1950
1951-------------------------
1952
1953Calling for a mixture of:
1954
1955>”We will fight in steps. First the barricade, then the houses and then the farms. If those fall there will be nothing to do but run.”
1956>”The barricade won’t last but that is fine. We can set a trap for them just beyond it. Get everything that will burn.”
1957>”All I can ask of you is to defend your wall and homes as best you can and in any means you see fit. I will not be there to help you, I will be out hunting the witch myself.
1958
1959-------------------------
1960
1961>”We will fight in steps. First the barricade, then the houses and then the farms. If those fall there will be nothing to do but run.”
1962>”The barricade won’t last but that is fine. We can set a trap for them just beyond it. Get everything that will burn.”
1963>”All I can ask of you is to defend your wall and homes as best you can and in any means you see fit. I will not be there to help you, I will be out hunting the witch myself.
1964
1965You aren’t a fool. Despite what you just said to everyone, you know that sometimes faith and light alone cannot hold against the rising tide. Sometimes the creatures of the dark just win and there’s nothing that can be done about it. Especially now, in this broken world that is increasingly becoming their world with each and every passing day. So yes, you have a plan on what to do today should the strength of men fail. 
1966“The first step is the barricade. It won’t last.”
1967
1968Silence falls over the crowd as they take in what you just said.
1969“Then what did we build it for?”
1970
1971“Is time not precious? And when the barricade falls is when they will learn what it means to trespass upon Sacrament. You’ve already gathered up gunpowder, alcohol, everything that they will burn. When they breach, set it alight. Do you follow me?”
1972You see a scattering of nods around the crowd.
1973“Good. You will fight in steps. First, the barricade and then when that trap is sprung you must fall back to your houses and defend them as best you can. And if those fall, you are not to stay and fight, you are to issue a fighting retreat back through the streets to the farms. Don’t leave anyone behind if you can help it.”
1974
1975“And what if the farms are overrun?”
1976It’s ‘old’ Terrance, the farmer nervously pacing back and forth within the crowd.
1977
1978“They will not be. But keep this in mind. There is no building here that is Sacrament. You are Sacrament. And it will live on if you do, even if every structure is razed. But, fear not! That will not come to pass. For while you are all doing your best to defend yourself and your homes, I will be out hunting. I will find the witch and I will crush her myself. And all I can ask of you is to endure until then.”
1979
1980“And you will go it alone?”
1981It’s Eadbert, the acting Mayor. He stands apart from the crowd with a pitch-fork in hand.
1982“Will you not take any of us with you? I’d like to get good grip on her myself.”
1983
1984“No. Your people need you more than I.”
1985That seems to chastise him appropriately and he steps back. But as the crowd disperses and people ready themselves as best they can, Eadbert approaches once more.
1986
1987“Pardon me for asking, Orion, but is there any reason you’re carrying that girl upon your back?”
1988
1989Beatrice groans again.
19901/2
1991
1992-------------------------
1993
1994>>543300
1995
1996
1997>”No reason.” Put her down.
1998
1999>”She was in my way. I removed her from my way.”
2000
2001>Tell him about her true nature. The people deserve to know.
2002
2003>”It is not my choice. She seems intent on throwing herself at me.”
2004
2005>Other
2006
2007-------------------------
2008
2009>”It is not my choice. She seems intent on throwing herself at me.”
2010
2011“It’s not my choice, I’m afraid. She seems intent on throwing herself at me.”
2012Beatrice immediately renewing her struggles in response to your comment is a small spot of joy in what is otherwise been a joyless day. She should just be happy that you’re aren’t telling him the truth about her just yet. 
2013
2014The acting Mayor peers at her while the witch attempts to stuff her head up to the neck within her hat. 
2015“Well, I won’t question that.”
2016
2017Whatever else he had to say however was not to be for it was this moment that the shadow fell. People call out in panic as the light seems to dim all around you, the entire town taking on an overcast appearance. You turn to the lamp immediately but there’s nothing wrong it, it’s burning as bright as ever. And yet the entire town is in shadow?
2018
2019“Orion!,” Eadbert chokes out. “What’s going on?”
2020
2021“Man the barricade!,” you roar and the townsfolk jump to your command, the disarray within them dispelled. “Guns first! Don’t fire if you can’t see! And for god’s sake, keep your other weapons ready!”
2022You are among the first to climb the barricade, men and women readying themselves all around you in whatever ways they can. And so you are one of the first to see it.
2023
2024Out past the tamed earth of Sacrament, past the crack that still zigzags along the concrete plains, at the very edge of the wasteland with her feet planted atop a mound of black loam, the witch is there. You can barely make out a silhouette such is the distance but the setting broken sun is behind her and from her feet spreads a vast shadow.
2025The witch is small, probably almost two heads shorter than yourself but her shadow is of something incomprehensibly huge. It spreads over the concrete plains and encompasses the entirety of Sacrament within itself as if a giant that scraped the sky itself was standing over the top of all you. 
2026
2027“Ur,” Beatrice whimpers and the disgusting word is enough for you to finally shuck her off, the witch instinctively grabbing hold of the package on your pack and dragging it down with her. You turn to catch it but it’s too late, she’s already landed upon the barricade and her finger is upon the tied-together canvas that keeps it wrapped and beyond sight. Her hat is tilted at an angle so you can see her darkened eyes open wide.
2028“This is-”
2029
2030“None of your business.”
2031You sweep it from your hands and balance it back over your shoulder where the witch used to be.
2032
2033“What are you doing with one of them? How even?”
2034
2035“Unimportant.”
2036
2037“I see them,” an old man hollers from behind you, a rifle that must be equally old clutched tightly in his hands.”They’re coming!”
2038
2039The witch hasn’t moved. But running through her shadow come the ghouls once more.
20401/2
2041
2042-------------------------
2043
2044>>543387
2045>It’s time! Charge straight for the witch.
2046
2047>Take the slower and longer route around the side of the town to avoid the ghouls.
2048
2049>Get to the rail and use the pump trolley to reach the witch.
2050
2051>You left the sword in the tavern! Grab it!
2052
2053>What does Beatrice know about the shadow? Shake it out of her!
2054
2055>Help the townsfolk defend the barricade for a little, just to be sure that they can hold.
2056
2057>Use your wick to take shots at the ghouls as they advance.
2058
2059>Change of plans. Stay back and protect the lamp-post for now.
2060
2061>Other
2062
2063-omitted one small post.
2064
2065-omitted one small post.
2066
2067-omitted one small post.
2068
2069-------------------------
2070
2071>It’s time! Charge straight for the witch.
2072
2073Every second you waste could be another life lost, you can’t afford to waste time with foolishness. Not now. You ready your weapon and prepare to descend from the barricade. Just a straight charge down the plain towards the witch should do it, she shouldn’t be able to move while maintaining this shadow. Yes, the ghouls will be in the way but hopefully their attention will remain on the town ahead of them. 
2074
2075“Wait!”
2076Beatrice tries to stagger to her feet atop the barricade and fails.
2077“You can’t go out alone against that! You’ll just die!”
2078
2079You push her away, the last thing you need right now is her scaring the townsfolk even more.
2080
2081
2082>”Stay here, they need someone to light the trap.” Tell her about the sword also. 
2083
2084>Take her with you.
2085
2086>”Then tell me what the problem is!”
2087
2088>Other
2089
2090-------------------------
2091
2092>”Then tell me what the problem is!”
2093
2094You don’t have time for this! The witch is right there! The ghouls are running ever closer, many of them regressing to four limbs and galloping like beasts. You hear the first gun go off, a crack that inspires a dozen more. A few ghouls fall but not nearly enough. 
2095“What is it then? Tell me why I shouldn’t just kill her?”
2096
2097“You can’t,” Beatrice says, her own voice rising to be heard over the gunfire and the screams of ghouls. “It’s Ur. She has Ur’s sign.”
2098Simply saying the name seems to take the fight out of her and she sits down, her hands clutching her hat. Two thin lines of blood coat her pasty cheeks.
2099“First and eldest, burned and broken to a hundred thousand pieces! The deepest! Even the shadow of his shadow will lay us low!”
2100You aren’t the only one to hear her, heads are turning all up and down the barricade and behind it too as her mad litany continues.
2101“It’s the loam! She has his sign and she has his flesh! “
2102
2103You lean down and gently pull her hat to the side, parting her hands so that her blotchy face is exposed to the world. She stares up at you uncomprehendingly.
2104
2105And then you slap her. Not hard but certainly not gentle and you do it three times for good measure.
2106“This is not the time for this! Sacrament needs your gun! Are you a human like you said or are you just another witch?”
2107
2108That gets to her, righting her mind from where it had been toppled. She retrieves her revolver from her coat along with a very small pouch. And then, in full view of everyone, she pours the black-powder into her mouth and shrieks, the bruises around her eyes darkening almost to black and blood trickling from her nose and mouth.
2109“Fine then! Just go and kill her!”
2110
2111“What about Ur?”
2112
2113“That name means nothing to me,” she insists, her mouth a grim line as she fires. A gout of flame erupts from the barrel of the gun and in the distance a ghoul collapses with his head and a large segment of his upper torso incinerated.
2114“Your dead god is stronger than hers.”
2115
2116You leap from the barricade and land, already getting ready to charge with both wick and staff ready. And as the shadow darkens and the ghouls close in you hear her call out.
2117“Oh and get her feet off from the loam! Don’t let her touch it!”
2118
2119
2120>Make straight for the witch, attempt to avoid as many ghouls as possible.
2121
2122>Meet the ghouls head on and burn your way through to her.
2123
2124>”Are you coming with me or not?”
2125
2126>Shout out a challenge to the witch.
2127
2128>Other
2129
2130-omitted one small post.
2131
2132-omitted one small post.
2133
2134-------------------------
2135
2136>Make straight for the witch, attempt to avoid as many ghouls as possible.
2137
2138As much as you might itch to put the fear of flame into these wretch’s hearts, you have business with the witch and the witch alone. Killing her won’t destroy the ghouls, they are not ethereal shades or golems animated entirely by a witch’s magic, they are hardier creatures and will persist. But without her the shadow will fade and the ghouls will surely scatter back into the wasteland without her hand to guide them. And there...there they will die the slow death that awaits all their kind, the degradation of rotting bodies without a witch to maintain their stitches. 
2139But still by God does it hurt to jump to the side and merely watch as they scuttle straight towards the barricade.
2140
2141But you must.
2142
2143The gunfire continues as you charge around the side of the main horde, desperate to conserve as much of your Wick as possible for the witch herself. The bullets won’t likely be capable of killing or even incapacitating the ghouls in a single shot but you know for a fact that every bullet lodged within their flesh is agonizing to them, the echoes of the flame that birthed it enough to drive most ghouls who have been shot to flee.
2144And yet...these ghouls are shot and they fall and yet they rise just moments later to continue the charge. The few ghouls whose sewed joints were severed by lucky shots remain on the ground, helplessly paralyzed, but every ghoul capable of doing so just ignores the pain and keeps on going. The witch’s control over them at this range must be absolute.
2145
2146The first ghoul to reach the barricade is destroyed instantly by Beatrice, a single bullet setting his entire body alight. But behind it are three more and they crash into the makeshift wall, claws scrabbling as desperate villagers beat them back down. 
2147And as those ghouls take the focus, you spot one more hit the barricade and simply slide through, the patchwork monster contorting his entire body to flow through a gap no larger than an inch. 
2148
2149You’re well out of the town now, racing along the edge of the giant shadow across the concrete plains towards the wasteland. You’re past all the ghouls now but the witch is still frozen in place, her hands twisting together and making the same sign over and over again.
2150The shadows darken and behind you, the sounds of gunfire fade to nothing as torches are blown out and black-powder fails to ignite. The light of the lamp still warms your back and the explosive bang of Beatrice’s revolver still sound but everything else threatens to fade away.
2151
2152Your feet smack roughly against the concrete as you keep running full tilt, no slowing down or holding back. The edge of the concrete and the witch herself is only thirty feet away!
2153But she’s kept a bodyguard.
21541/2
2155
2156-------------------------
2157
2158>>543671
2159Five ghouls stand awkwardly like puppets, evenly spaced out in front of her at the very edge of the concrete. You can see none of the usual joy or cruelty glinting in their eyes that characterizes such creatures, these ones are but dolls in the witch’s grasp. 
2160
2161
2162>Light your staff and bash through the closest one and then keep going.
2163
2164>Light yourself on fire and push through as many of them as you can.
2165
2166>Just run for the witch and hope they can’t catch you before you reach her.
2167
2168>Burn the ghouls from a distance as you charge.
2169
2170>She’s a little too far but try to hit the witch with a jet of fire from here.
2171
2172>Call out to her.
2173
2174>Other
2175
2176-omitted one small post.
2177
2178-------------------------
2179
2180>Light your staff and bash through the closest one and then keep going.
2181
2182The five ghouls turn as one as you approach but it’s already too late for them to converge upon you. With staff in one hand and wick in the other, you raise them above your head and slam them into one another. Your staff ignites and you duck around to the side, running for the ghoul furthest away from the rest. A step to the side takes you just past his swung claw, the very tip of his fingers raising sparks off the top of your helmet as you duck past him.
2183
2184The moment you step past the ghoul you swing your staff back in a reverse arc, smashing the burning stave into his back and through it, the flame carrying your strike all the way through until the monster falls to the ground in two burning pieces. The witch might still be keeping it alive at this distance but it won’t be capable of anything like that.
2185
2186The other four ghouls sprint towards you but you are already past them and running straight for the witch! You can see her clearly within the darkness now, a little slip of a woman with long black hair and a sour face. She’s standing atop the pile of black loam soil and...you don’t recognize her at all.
2187Looks like the witch wasn’t inside the village after all. Not exactly.
2188
2189Her hands are held in front of her, gray skin outlined in front of her filthy white dress. They are constantly moving, fingers slipping around each other almost bonessly to form the same impossible gesture over and over again. Witch-sign. 
2190Soil might be the source of a witch’s power but the signs, the names, they were the medium through her blasphemies echoed through the world. You’ve learned much of them from your studies, enough to know that each sign is a name of some deep elder thing, a sigil that cannot properly be spoken by the human tongue and is instead carried within the mind itself. Witches speak in hands, their fingers the closest means a once-human body possesses to emulating the unspeakable. 
2191
2192It is normal Lamplighter tradition to look away from the witch-sign, to avert your gaze and the gazes of others from a witch’s hands. This is because the signs can be contagious and to watch one be formed enough times is enough to give one the faintest idea of what their originating mental symbol must look like. And once thought of, such sigils are embedded into your head forever. It is best to look away and to keep yourself clean then it is to wonder upon such sigils lest you find yourself emulating them. But you are a Witch-finder and your order never takes their eyes off a witch.
2193You have at least a dozen shadowy names burnt into the back of your mind already and it’s never done you any harm, what’s another one?
2194
21951/2
2196
2197-------------------------
2198
2199>>543765
2200
2201And yet this sign, the witch-sign that Beatrice called UR...it is large. Not in any physical sense but in the same way that a simple shadow can cloak an entire town, the symbol in the witch’s hands is both nothing more than the movement of a few fingers and yet also eye-wateringly immense at the same time. Simply looking at it hurts your eyes and tilts your perspective like a warped mirror.
2202
2203You reach the end of the concrete and without even thinking you leap, carrying yourself through the air right towards the witch your burning stave and wick held aloft. And yet you cannot take your eyes off that impossible witch-sign. 
2204
2205
2206>Shut your eyes and swing down blindly as you land.
2207
2208>Keep your eyes open!
2209
2210>Other
2211
2212-omitted one small post.
2213
2214-------------------------
2215
2216>Keep your eyes open!
2217
2218You have not come this far to back down now! Are you expected to cower before a mere witch-sign, the like of which you have seen countless times before? You will keep your eyes open and you will swing true and damn the consequences!
2219Behind you hear a muffled bang and a new light joins the rest, ruddy and orange and climbing high into the sky. The barricade has been detonated.
2220
2221You keep your eyes open, the witch flickering within your strained vision. Sometimes she looks impossibly far away or just a speck within the air, sometimes she is a hundred times larger than you. But between all the false perspective you keep your eyes trained upon her true self and ignore the witch-sign’s fouling. It’ll take more than that to make you halt!
2222
2223You land beside her, feet sinking deeply within the soft black dirt. Before you even finish landing you kneel and swing your burning stave across to sweep her feet out from underneath her. But there is further witchcraft afoot!
2224There’s some dark pooled beneath her feet and for a moment you don’t recognize it. It’s her shadow, her true shadow and not the immense conjured one. Her shadow unwraps around her legs in a motion that sickens you right down to your stomach, two-dimensional hands catching the flaming staff before it can strike her. 
2225
2226The treacherous earth gives way beneath you and you begin to fall from the mound, witch-chill sinking straight through your armour and up your legs. And still the shade wrapped around her legs grips your staff tight, flesh and blood and flame pushing against nothing but air and darkness in a test of strength and will.
2227
2228>Roll 1d6. I will total the first 3.
2229
2230-omitted one small post.
2231
2232-------------------------
2233
2234>2, 5, 6
2235
2236The shadow holds out only for a moment longer and then your staff sweeps straight through it and into the witch’s slender legs. Her hands freeze and you hear a squeal as you knock her bare feet out from underneath her and send her toppling down the large mound of dirt at the same time that you fall as well. The two of you fall down opposing sides and you’re clutching hold of your wick and staff as best you can, witch-chill of a purity and power rarely felt stabbing into your body from all angles as you roll through the black loam.
2237The staff is merely smouldering now, the flame extinguished by the shadow’s touch before it ever even touched the witch. 
2238
2239Wick: 9/10
2240
2241Around you the immense shadow begins to waver but it doesn’t yet dissipate on its own. You were afraid of that! She’s signed it in so frequently already that it must have begun to ingrain as a proper curse. It’ll still disappear but it’ll take precious minutes and you doubt the witch is going to give you that. Of course, simply killing the witch should banish it regardless.
2242
2243Speaking of which, you hear discordant laughter from around the other side of the mound as you get to your feet, slowed by the witch-chill. You breathe in and center your mind immediately to shut out the Cackle, a particularly nasty witch trick that dampens the internal flames of those caught unaware. Your wick remains alight. 
2244You weren’t expecting her to be cackler but after all these shadow tricks you suppose you shouldn’t be surprised. 
2245
2246You leap around the side of the pile, doing your best to shake off the witch-chill in the process only to find that she’s been just as quick as you. The little witch dances back around the way she came, keeping the center of the mound between you as if this was all some kind of child’s game. 
2247“Good evening, mister Lamplighter,” she sings. “What are you doing still alive in this age? In our age?”
2248
2249You don’t rise to the bait, keeping your will strong in case she follows it up enough with another cackle while you desperately calculate how dangerous simply leaping through the pile of dirt to get at her will be. But as you slow, something bites at your heels and you can’t stop yourself from jumping as the witch’s true shadow reaches through your armoured boots as if they didn’t exist and draws blood along your foot. The damn thing is stretched out like a snake, winding out from the witch and curling all the way around the mound to get to you. 
2250
2251“You’ve got to be faster than that,” the witch taunts, faking a pout. “If you’re not going to play with me then you can entertain the ghouls instead.”
2252
2253The four puppet-ghouls drop from the concrete and you find yourself re-adjusting this witch’s capabilities up even higher. You’ve removed her feet from the loam and disrupted her sign, allowing the great shadow to slowly lift.
22541/3
2255
2256-------------------------
2257
2258>>543975
2259But after all that she can still move her ghouls and shade around, even summon up a Cackle?
2260
2261“What’s the matter, mister Lamplighter?”
2262Ugh, affecting that girlish tone of voice does her no favours either.
2263“My roots run deep, don’t they? Realizing just how out of your depth you are?”
2264
2265“You are indeed most powerful,” you speak to her for the first time and you can see her smile.
2266“But out of all the witches I’ve put down, you’re only ever be second-best.”
2267
2268She doesn’t even have time to react as you leap, barging right through the pile of loam, ignoring the witch-chill as it tears into you anew! Your wick flashes bright and while the resulting jet of flame is deflected by her shadow, that itself gives you the opening to slam bodily into her and bring her to the ground beneath you. 
2269
2270Wick: 6/10
2271
2272“Act your age,” you puff as you bring your knee down on her chest, wedging the staff between the two so that it traps both her arms and halts her frantic attempt at a sign. “You’re a grown woman.”
2273You bring your wick up and are ready to swing it down and set her skull aflame when you notice something dark sitting just beneath her neck, her dress tugged just low enough by the struggle to reveal it.
2274
2275A very familiar brand.
2276
2277The witch vomits, regurgitating a solid clump of mud right into your face. You cry out as witch-chill blasts her freezing touch through your mouth, nose and eyeballs and you drop back with your grip slackening, unable to stop her from rolling out of your grip.
2278You can’t see anything and the mud won’t move, rendered packed and sticky beyond its means by disgusting magic.
2279
2280By the time you’ve cleared the mud from your face and dispelled the witch-chill from your head with a minor Benediction, the witch is climbing the mound once again. This time the brand of the Wheel God is proudly displayed upon her skin. You know that brand! She should be tamed, cut off from magic forever!
2281“That’s right,” she says. “Wondering who broke it for me? Nobody. It came loose on its own. This is our world now and the sun is dead. All of his magic is draining from the world and soon? No lamps will light, no fires will spark and no brands will hold power. The source simply isn’t there anymore.”
2282
2283She makes the sign of UR with her hands once more and the shadow returns, stronger and thicker than ever before with a choking pressure that feels almost like a physical presence.
2284
2285The deep orange glow of the burning barricade behind you winks out instantly, swallowed by darkness.
2286
2287The faint boom of Beatrice’s revolver, it itself the only gun that has been sounding for quite some time, fires one last shot in the distance and then ceases. 
2288
2289Your wick still burns faintly but for how long?
2290
22912/3
2292
2293-------------------------
2294
2295>>543978
2296>Bring up your wick and empty all your power upon her in a single jet of flame.
2297
2298>You still possess one source of flame even greater than your wick...
2299
2300>Just tackle her again before her ghouls reach you.
2301
2302>Say something else to try and distract her.
2303
2304>Set your staff back aflame and fight on, conserving your Wick as much as possible.
2305
2306>Other
2307
2308-------------------------
2309
2310>You still possess one source of flame even greater than your wick...
2311
2312You raise your wick but her shadow is faster, the shade expanding within the darkness into a behemoth that rushes at you with a claw the size of your torso! You leap to the side and avoid it narrowly as it passes seamlessly through the earth beneath you. The ghouls close in but you raise your wick and swing it, the fire warding them back for just a moment. Looks like her control is slipping which means…
2313“This isn’t your power,” you grunt. 
2314
2315“It’s cute that you think that matters.”
2316She makes the sign again and you have to fight to stop yourself from falling to your knees, such is the presence of the darkness stretching out from her. In the distance you see the light protecting Sacrament begin to shrink and flicker. Even the town’s central lamp-post can stand it no longer!
2317“This is the power of a god. Where’s your god, Lamplighter?”
2318
2319The wrapped-up pole slips off your back as you roll to avoid another attack from the shade, landing in the mud beside you. You stare at it mutely for a long moment.
2320
2321No.
2322
2323It’s too dangerous. If that thing is damaged or destroyed then all is lost. 
2324
2325But is it not arrogance to think that you can fight through all of this without risking it? Would you let your pride and misplaced caution ruin all you have sought to protect?
2326You remember what Beatrice said to you only minutes ago atop the barricade. 
2327
2328”Your dead god is stronger than hers.”
2329
2330That wasn’t a figure of speech, she had just touched it and perhaps even divined its true nature. She had meant it literally. 
2331Then so be it. 
2332
2333You reverse your wick, swinging the lit end straight down the side of the package and are rewarded instantly with the smell of burning canvas and a glimpse of harsh true light.
2334
2335The witch gasps and her hands freeze once more.
2336“Stop him!”
2337Her command is verbal this time, her control loosening further with panic. From one side the ghouls lunge, from the other the shade reaches out to claw at you, beneath you the very earth begins to give way as the witch focusses the entirety of her will upon you. Will it be enough?
2338
2339All you can hold onto is faith.
2340
2341
2342>Roll a 1d6. The first 3 will be used.
2343
2344-------------------------
2345
2346The three dice system here assigns the different values for different parts of the action. For example, here the first roll is for avoiding the ghouls, second is for opening the package and the third is for avoiding the shade.
2347
2348-------------------------
2349
2350>3, 5, 1
2351
2352You sidestep the ghouls inexpertly, parrying one swipe with your staff and dodging two more. But the fourth ghoul lands a paw right on your side and the claws punch small holes straight into your breast-plate. Luckily it doesn’t go deep but you still gasp in pain as you tear at the sealed object below. 
2353Light blooms in the dark, brighter and brighter until you finally work the treasure free-
2354
2355The shade’s hand slams into you at almost the same time, bashing you in the chest and sending you flying back into the dirt. You feel at least one rib break, probably more, and your vision strains as you scream in agony. But you keep firm hold of the long pole even as your wick and stave are tossed aside. 
2356And the light, glorious light, burns away the darkness!
2357
2358“What the fuck are you doing with that?,” the witch squawks, her composure broken. 
2359
2360You must admit that it must make a strange sight indeed. The central lamp-posts are ancient contraptions, many built in the First or Second Ages themselves. They form the central basis of your entire order and are the lifeline of every town or city left in the world. Even before the end of the world turned them into a necessity of life, the central lamps were considered sacred and to protect them was the greatest duty a Lamplighter could ask for. To allow one to come to harm used to be unheard of.
2361
2362So to see a broken one in the hands of a Lamplighter must be quite the sight indeed.
2363
2364It’s battered and dented and yes, broken right at the end, smashed out of the ground right where the base should have been. You carry it aloft in both hands like you would your staff or your wick and locked deep away the lamp’s glass cage itself shines a radiance brighter than even the true flame produced by your wick or the fire you used to light Sacrament’s own lamp-post. White and blinding, it is too hot even for you to bear for long and if you were to ever take your gauntlets off, all would see the burns you have to prove it.
2365There is no Flame Art that can protect one from this.
2366
2367The lamp-post itself is your greatest shame. To even look upon it is to relive a day you’d sooner forget. But the tiny shard trapped within it? That is your greatest hope and your greatest duty.
2368You wince as you slowly climb to your feet, burdened by both wounds and the ever-growing burn of the lamp.
2369
2370“Speak no ill of the dead, witch. They just might hear you.”
2371
2372The shade lunges and, feeling the purifying fire rise up through your arms and banish all other concerns in a blaze of pure agony, you simply swing the lamp-post down. 
2373The shade falls back, withering and in two pieces. 
2374
2375The ghouls won’t even approach as you advance towards the witch, the ground around you drying up and catching fire as the light grows brighter still. You only have a minute left before you burn yourself to death but that’s more than enough.
2376This is over in seconds.
2377
23781/2
2379
2380-------------------------
2381
2382>>544200
2383The witch still has the presence of mind to duck beneath the flame as your swing the lamp-post at her but you simply keep it spinning, hitting her in the back with the broken butt of the post as she rises. She sprawls helplessly upon the ground as you lift the lamp high, ready to finally visit a much-needed judgement.
2384
2385
2386>Destroy her.
2387
2388>Touch the lamp to her brand.
2389
2390>Other
2391
2392-------------------------
2393
2394Anyway guys, I'm practically late for work as it is so we're going to have to finish this tomorrow. Same time, same place. It'll be a small session, just you wrapping up unfinished business in Sacrament. 
2395
2396For the record, the flaming tackle plan would have worked too.
2397
2398-omitted one small post.
2399
2400-omitted one small post.
2401
2402-------------------------
2403
2404>Destroy her.
2405
2406She lies helpless before you and for a long moment you entertain the possibility that there could be any other outcome. Could you touch the lamp to her brand? Would the fragment within revitalize it? It might be worth to find out just what caused its failure in the first place. The post in your hands continues to burn and with a shake of your head you banish those thoughts from your mind. What must be must be.
2407
2408“I’m sorry,” the witch croaks. “I’ll be g-”
2409
2410You swing the lamp down upon her head, obliterating it instantly. When you pull the dented lamp-post back up all that is left is a headless corpse and a burned smear of ash and bone where her skull once was. The body itself catches fire moments later and you stand over in silent vigil until you can be sure nothing remains. 
2411The shadow fades and the light of Sacrament blooms anew.
2412
2413You wrap the lamp back up as best you can, your hands trembling as all of your adrenaline and nervous energy departs. And what are you without that? Just a man who hasn’t slept for a very long time. You drag yourself to the edge of the concrete, fleeing ghouls shying away from you and the poorly concealed relic you carry until you collapse upon the rock.
2414
2415It’s over. You can rest now. You are asleep before you even close your eyes.
2416
2417………….
2418
2419You wake to the welcome sight of lamp-light flooding through the curtains of the window beside you. You’re in an unfamiliar bed within an unfamiliar room, a small wooden room with a bed and a chest and not much else. When was the last time you slept in a real bed? It would be easy to simply let yourself slip away for even longer.
2420But an hour spent sleeping is an hour wasted so you sit up and get out of bed as quickly as you can.
2421
2422Someone stripped you while you were asleep, your rune-plate, cloak and underclothes stacked neatly at the foot of the bed. On the floor beside it are your stave and wick and, wrapped up neatly once more, your broken lamp-post. 
2423You’re wearing someone else’s clothes, loose pants and a light tunic a little too small for you. 
2424
2425With little else to do you return to the window and look down upon the town of Sacrament. The main street doesn’t look too good, still cracked and scorched and you can see the signs of a great fire in the very centre. But the houses themselves are mostly intact and the lamp below shines almost like the sun of old and you feel at peace.
2426It’s been a while.
2427
2428
2429>Make your way downstairs to find the homeowner.
2430
2431>Get yourself dressed and properly washed first. How long has it been since you had a shave?
2432
2433>This is fine for now. Walk out into the town itself.
2434
2435>Other
2436
2437-------------------------
2438
2439Sorry about the delay on this one, I had a phone call.
2440
2441>Get yourself dressed and properly washed first. How long has it been since you had a shave?
2442
2443You find a washroom just across from your room and you get to work. There’s a mirror in there as well, one that allows you inspect yourself properly. God almighty, you look a mess. When did you get so dirty? Your chest is done up with bandages, no doubt for the rib but as you give it a cautious poke, you note that it’s already been set back into place. You’ve always healed easily, even for a Third Man. You strip the bandages and roll them back up in a neat little bundle. Someone will have to wash them later.
2444
2445But aside from that, you’re practically the image of health. Just a few scars here and there, the sign of a body more bent than broken. Your hands are the only exception, both of them charred black all the way up to the wrist and halfway to the elbow. You flex them and wince a little. It’s the price of your duty. The pain should fade in a few hours but the scorch-marks will never heal. 
2446
2447You tilt the mirror to show your face and hair and for a long moment you just stare. When did you get so scruffy? You know that your hair had grown out in the wasteland but you hadn’t realized just how filthy it all was. Good thing whoever lives here has a razor. 
2448
2449A short time later and you emerge, clean and shaven and with your cloak and armour back on. You don’t feel like the same man without it. You pack up your wick and stave and shoulder your burden once more, ready to-
2450
2451“Leaving so soon?”
2452It’s Eadbert, the acting mayor. Probably just the real mayor now. He’s standing by the doorframe, his spectacles in hand. This must be your house he’s staying in.
2453
2454“Soon but not yet, I have business here first. But yes once that is settled I will likely leave when the sun rises once more.”
2455
2456“I don’t suppose there’s any way I could convince you to stay?”
2457He says it lightly and you know he means it as a joke.
2458“That lamp won’t stay lit forever.”
2459
2460You permit yourself a small chuckle.
2461“There’s very little I can do about that. There are others that need me more.”
2462
2463The mayor nods.
2464“Still got your duty to attend to? Then go with God, there’s a lot of towns up the rail that’ll welcome your kindness. I guess that keeps you moving, huh?”
2465
2466“There’s a stop waiting for me soon. But yes, I cannot stay. How fare the people?”
2467
2468Eadbert sighs.
2469“All is ...mostly well. We’ll be holding a few funerals later and there are a few who are still hurt. But it could have been a lot worse and there’s not a soul here who doesn’t know that. The witch is gone and the lamp is lit, they all know it’s safe for now.”
2470
2471
2472>Ask for a map for the rails ahead.
2473
2474>Walk out to see how the restructuring is going.
2475
2476>”I can tend to the hurt if you wish.”
2477
2478>You have someone else you need to see.
2479
2480>”What of the children?”
2481
2482>Other
2483
2484-------------------------
2485
2486I just grabbed up all the popular votes, you don’t really lose anything from doing all of them.
2487
2488>Ask for a map for the rails ahead.
2489>You have someone else you need to see.
2490>”What of the children?”
2491
2492“I can’t promise you that the lamp will last forever,” you tell him. “But I’ve prolonged it and it should be many months before it burns low again.”
2493Maybe less time than that, you think, recalling the witch’s words. Light and flame just don’t have the weight they once used to and if even witch-brands can fail, who can truly say how long the lamp will last? But you keep those words to yourself.
2494
2495“And in those months, will another Lamplighter visit us again? Do you know how many are left?”
2496
2497You place a hand on his shoulder.
2498“I won’t tell you any pretty lies. I can promise nothing.”
2499
2500The mayor sighs.
2501“That’s what I thought. Thank you again for saving the town.”
2502He has a lot of words left in him that remain unspoken. Most are probably about the former mayor and you know it is likely better for both of you if they stay silent.
2503
2504“Now, if I may trouble you further, do you have any maps I could use for the rails ahead?”
2505
2506“I do but you know how good they’re likely to be, don’t you?”
2507
2508You do.
2509The world has always shifted and these days it likely does it more often than not.
2510“The rails help pin it down, don’t they? I’d appreciate any help I could get.”
2511
2512He nods without speaking further and leaves the room, returning a minute later with a dusty old map of the rail lines. The corners are frayed and worn and even without those you’d know it was made before the world ended. Nobody makes maps anymore.
2513
2514“If you keep following this rail you should come up to a junction,” Eadbert says, his finger tracing down the map. “I don’t know if it’s still there but when you reach it you’ll have to switch tracks. The track that starts there will take you up north towards Edelton, Karre and Christopher’s Rest. I know those towns are still there, they have working saltpeter and lime mines and we still send food up-rail in exchange for supplies.”
2515
2516“No.”
2517
2518“I beg your pardon?”
2519
2520“I won’t be switching at the junction, I’m taking this rail all the way to the terminal.”
2521
2522“But...that’s shattered land. And it leads only to-”
2523
2524“Dis, yes. I have business there.”
2525You drop the name into a conversation with a weight to it, one that Eadbert evidently feels more than you.
2526
2527“You know what they call that place, right?”
2528
2529“The city at the end of the world? Yes.”
2530
2531“No. It has a different name now.”
2532
2533“I know. But that is where I go all the same.”
2534
2535“But why? Dis has no need for lamplighters! Why go there when so many towns upland need your help?”
2536
2537
2538>Tell him the truth about your duty.
2539
2540>”To avenge the sun.”
2541
2542>”Nothing you need to know.”
2543
2544>Don’t answer.
2545
2546>Other
2547
2548-omitted one small post.
2549
2550-------------------------
2551
2552>Tell him the truth about your duty.
2553
2554“There’s something there I need to find and if I do, it’ll be a greater service to the world than lighting any number of lamps. I know it won’t be pleasant but it’s something that must be done.”
2555
2556“I don’t suppose you could explain it? This cannot be something you do lightly.”
2557
2558“It isn’t.”
2559You dislodge the package from your back but do not open it yet.
2560“You know the names of Dis, don’t you?”
2561
2562He scowls and closes his eyes for a moment before speaking as if he was reciting something from rote memory. And he likely is, it’s all in the scriptures.
2563“In the First Age it was the First City. In the Second, it was the Fallen City. In the Third it was the City At The End of The World. And when the Fourth comes, the Forgotten City.”
2564
2565“No.”
2566You shake your head.
2567“The calendar is broken, the names given by prophecy holds no meaning anymore. Call it by what it calls itself.”
2568
2569“The City Who Killed The Sun.”
2570
2571Yes, there it is. The root and cause of all your problems, the city that broke the world so that the gears of time could grind to a halt forever.
2572“It’s still out there, past the Sentinels and at the very edge of the world. Tell me, Eadbert, what did you see when the sun died?”
2573
2574“N-nothing. I wasn’t looking directly at it.”
2575
2576“Well I was. I watched it pass over the horizon and then stop, tethered to the earth. I watched it get ripped to pieces and watched those pieces fall across the world and burn to nothing.”
2577
2578“I’m sorry but-”
2579
2580You unwrap the lamp-post once more, just for an instant and watch as Eadbert steps back from the radiance of the thing trapped within. And then you seal it tightly shut once more.
2581“And I caught one of those pieces as it fell.”
2582
2583He polishes his spectacles uselessly, a stray tear running down his cheek.
2584“I-I don’t know what to say. I’ve got half a mind to call that blasphemy.”
2585
2586“It probably is. But the sun was caught by something on the horizon, the very edge of the world and we all know there’s only one thing there on the shores of the Sea of Mud. That’s where it fell and where it was killed and that’s where will I find the rest of it.”
2587
2588Poor Eadbert looks a little lost.
2589“But even if that thing you carry really is a shard, that doesn’t mean the rest of it are there!”
2590
2591“They are,” you say with a blunt certainty. “Dis is the only damn thing in this world that still thrives. So that is where I must go. To find whatever other shards I can and to kill the sinners who dared to take that power for themselves. The sun will rise again."
2592
2593“That’s absurd. I mean no disrespect but...but it just doesn’t sound real.”
2594
2595“That’s a matter of faith. Now, I trust you understand that I will not be taking the junction?”
2596
2597He nods and then stops, He looks torn, a man whose faith is lost and worst yet, knows it.
25981/2
2599
2600-------------------------
2601
2602>>545673
2603“I’m sorry Orion. I really want to believe in this quest of yours...but…”
2604
2605“But you can’t. I shouldn’t have told you.”
2606
2607“No. Thank you. Thank you for at least trying to give me hope. And-uh, and if it actually works and the sun comes up…”
2608The poor man is dithering, almost on the verge of more tears.
2609“If the sun ever burns like it did when I was a kid and you stop back here in Sacrament, tell you what, I’ll buy you a drink.”
2610
2611You just stop for a few seconds, the offer so unexpected and petty that you don’t know what to do about it. And then you laugh and he laughs and the burden of a night where you both had to fight for your lives eases just a little bit more.
2612“Good. I’ll take you up on it.”
2613
2614Eadbert walks you downstairs and then stops just ahead of you. 
2615“Oh! I’m sorry Orion, I’d forgotten they were here.”
2616
2617Sitting clustered in a little circle on the wooden floor are the young children of Sacrament, numbering just over a dozen in total. They’re sitting just before the door, an old seat in front of them and a book of scripture sitting by its side. 
2618
2619“I was supposed to be reading them the holy book,” Eadbert says. “Since the mayor himself is gone.”
2620It is the duty of the mayor to tend to the spiritual health of his townsfolk. That includes the children.
2621
2622When the kids see you they rise to their feet immediately, joy lighting up their little faces.
2623“It’s the Lamplighter!”
2624
2625“O-Ryan!”
2626
2627“You’re alive, pa said you might have died!”
2628
2629“Can you read us the book instead, Mr Bute is boring!”
2630
2631Eadbert keeps himself between you and the horde, holding his arms out wide to stop them.
2632“Hold it! The Lamplighter has just arisen and has many duties to attend to. He can’t waste time with you.”
2633You watch their faces fall as they quiet down, disappointed and sullen.
2634
2635You don’t see Marcus anywhere with them.
2636
2637
2638>”I can spend a little time with them. It would do me good.”
2639
2640>Give them a pat on the head and leave.
2641
2642>”Where’s Marcus?”
2643
2644>”My apologies. I really have no time.”
2645
2646>Other
2647
2648-------------------------
2649
2650>”I can spend a little time with them. It would do me good.”
2651>”Where’s Marcus?”
2652
2653The disaster is over and the witch is dead. Would it really hurt to spend some time with a few children? Surely not. These are the people you fought last night to protect after all and to lose sight of that would be to betray your duty. 
2654“I think I’ll be just fine, Eadbert. Spending time with them might do me good. But if you don’t mind me asking, where is Marcus? I don’t see him here.”
2655
2656“He’s been through a lot,” the new mayor says. “I thought it would be fine to let him stay home with his uncle for today.”
2657
2658“Can I stay home today too,” a little voice pipes up.
2659“Yeah!”
2660
2661“No! And especially not today! The Lamplighter is here and he’s going to read to you!”
2662
2663You freeze. That isn’t quite what you intended when you said you’d spend time with them.
2664“I believe that is your duty Mr Bute.”
2665
2666“No!,” another of the kids speaks up.
2667“We don’t want Mr Bute!”
2668
2669The mayor sighs.
2670“Kids these days don’t have any proper respect. But if you don’t want to, you can just be on your way.”
2671
2672“No, no, it’s fine. I’m not doing anything important for a while.”
2673You sit down on the old wooden seat in front of the kids. You look at the book too as you take off your helmet. And then you just give them a grin and toss it aside.
2674“The Book of Begettings, huh? No wonder you’re bored out of your skull! Let me tell you something interesting for a change!”
2675
2676The kids cheer while Eadbert just harrumphs in the background.
2677
2678
2679>The Beginning of the World And The Four Ages. A nice basic tale that most of them probably know already.
2680
2681>The Girl Who Spoke in Hands. A cautionary tale.
2682
2683>The Lighting of the Lamps. Give them something a little more righteous.
2684
2685>The Mistakes of Jack Wick. Not even religious, just a light-hearted children’s story.
2686
2687-------------------------
2688
2689>The Lighting of the Lamps. Give them something a little more righteous.
2690
2691“Alright. Why don’t I tell you kids a little something about me? You want a Lamplighter story?”
2692
2693They raucously agreed and with that, it was on. Reciting from memory, you launch into a long recounting of the very first lamps and those who tended to them. And a little extra spice to make it more interesting, of course.
2694
2695You tell them of the first lamp-posts that were ever raised, back in the First Age between the death of the Wayward Flame but before the birth of the Wheel God, the Sun. Back when flame only existed in the hearts of the First Men who had just crawled from the boiling Sea of Mud which gave them life. They fought the darkness and raised ancient cites amidst the bones of dead gods, cities of which only the very first, Dis, still stands. Back then the central lamp-posts were lifelines, islands in the darkness and the men who upheld them, while not part of any knightly order or given any special honor, were the first Lamplighters in all but name. 
2696And then the Wheel God had been born and took to his daily voyages across the sky, scorching the wretched earth and driving the foulness into the dark places beneath the ground. The Sea of Mud heaved once more and the Second Men emerged with skin like gold and an eye for beauty and creation. Such was the beginning of the Second Age. In the Second Age, you tell them, the lamps multiplied as the world was tamed and was paved over. Concrete was mixed and made for the first time and it was spread wherever the Second Men went until the entire world was covered in it, one end to the other. With the dark powers of the earth so completely sealed and with the sun still beating down, the lamps lost their importance.
2697
2698The Lamplighters existed back then but their orders had mostly became a formality. The central lamp-posts were themselves extraneous for back then the world burned with fire. Beyond even the efforts of the Wheel God, the Second Men themselves made many lights and spun them throughout the sky and from the concrete plains they created rose titanic spires spun from metal and glass. 
2699The Lamplighters were happy to wither on the vine for those were the days when Man truly ruled the world. And even though it was foretold that the Second Age would one day end and that the Third would come, full of bloodshed and war, the Second Men grew complacent and fat within their light-filled paradise.
2700
2701What darkness could topple them?, they asked. The entire world had been sealed, either paved by omnipresent concrete and steel or thoroughly tamed. Every creature of the dark had been catalogued and studied and sent back beneath the earth without any way of ever rising up through the concrete shell. So what could lay them low?
2702The answer was, of course, a new kind of creature and one that did not have to rise from the earth but instead was born from the very heart of humanity. Witches.
27031/2
2704
2705-------------------------
2706
2707>>545973
2708Spires fell, glass shattered and concrete was broken. The unified rule of man ended and the dark rose back up.
2709
2710And in this Third Age, ruled by Third Men with gray skin and hardier bodies, the Lamplighters finally rose back to prominence. It was these long-neglected orders who saved humanity from the sundering that had just come. They lit the lamps and drove the monsters back and eventually all the shattered communities and splinter-nations of Man were held together once more, this time by a society of dogma and constant vigilance. 
2711And it had only been through the central lamp-posts and their attendants that this had even been possible.
2712
2713One of the girls raises her hand after you finish, your heart still feeling the embers of pride you once held for your organization.
2714“And where are the Lamplighters now?”
2715
2716Alas, you will not tell them the pretty lie they need.
2717“Dead, mostly.”
2718
2719“But what about us? You said we were all unified again but that’s what my dad says.”
2720
2721“No. This was before the sun broke. Now everything is wrong once more. But in the dawn of the Third it was like this and we pulled together all the same. It’ll be the same for the Fourth, trust me. Not today, not tomorrow and maybe not even next year. But we aren’t down yet and we’ll always fight on.”
2722That’s easier said than done, of course. At least back in the old sundering they had the knowledge that it had all been ordained by the Prophecy of the Ages. The ancient First Age script that laid out the course of Man from beginning to end, as listed upon the wheels of time and the solar calendar. 
2723
2724The First Age, a time of fire in the darkness and a mighty forging.
2725The Second Age, a time of beauty and prosperity but one that had been foretold to have been undone from the start.
2726The Third Age, a time of renewed darkness and survival through faith, inquisition and the sword. 
2727And then following that, there was supposed to have been the Fourth Age. A time of peace that would never end.
2728
2729But God died and the calendar spins without meaning and time is undone. No prophecy can be true now and the Third Age, with its dour militant Third Men, has spun on forevermore. You can’t truly promise these children anything.
2730“That’ll be all for today,” you say quietly and walk out the door.
2731
2732>Find Beatrice.
2733
2734>Find Marcus.
2735
2736>Get that damn sword.
2737
2738>Inspect the rail.
2739
2740>Other
2741
2742-omitted one small post.
2743
2744-------------------------
2745
2746>Find Beatrice.
2747>Get that damn sword.
2748
2749You exit the home still unsure how to feel about that. On one hand the duty to bring light to darkness has many meanings and to spend time with children who’ve never truly seen the sun and regale a few of the old war-memories was relaxing. It lifted your spirits and made you feel just a little better.
2750But on the other hand it just makes your duty all the heavier upon your back when you go to pick it up again. But that’s just your lot in life, you were never one much for idle fun.
2751Someone did their best to teach you otherwise once and to say that it didn’t quite work out would be speaking lightly.
2752
2753What you probably need right now is someone who can make you feel better. So naturally you go out in search of Beatrice, a woman likely to do the exact opposite. 
2754
2755You can tell something’s wrong the moment you reach her home. The door is broken open and her smithing gear strewn throughout the cottage. You spot the teapot that you saw yesterday lying in pieces on the floor. And smeared over the far wall across from the door is a frenzy of black paint, block letters left on the wall and the floor.
2756
2757WITCH
2758
2759Well, they’re not wrong. It looks like they finally found out. Or did she tell them? Either way you can’t say this isn’t what she deserved. You were practically ready to do the same yesterday when you met her. But it doesn’t feel quite right.
2760
2761You walk back down Sacrament’s main street and enter the tavern, swinging both doors wide as you enter. A hush falls over the crowd inside but only for a moment. When they see who you are the tavern erupts in cheers and people wishing to thank you.
2762You ignore them and walk straight to the barkeep.
2763“The sword.”
2764
2765“Oh yes sir! Right away!”
2766He reaches down and passes you the sword from where you had left it behind the bar. You sheathe it, the scabbard taken from old Mayor Edmund’s home and hang it by your side. You’re not sure how much use it’ll be or even where the old Mayor got it from but whatever its purpose, it’d be best with you. 
2767Someone offers you a beer. You refuse.
2768
2769“Who broke into the home of the witch?”
2770Your question restores silence to the room.
2771
2772Nearly twenty minutes later, you leave unsatisfied. They’d known or at least some of them had and few of them even seemed to care. It was a shame, they’d say but well...nobody saw who did it and she was a witch. She’d probably been bringing danger to everyone involved just by staying there! It could have been her fault!
2773And you couldn’t really argue with them. It wasn’t even a crime, by Lamplighter law the house had been theoretically abandoned the entire time.
2774Only humans own property. 
2775
2776In the end you rebuke none of them. As a Witch-finder you cannot find it within yourself to fault them for what they did.
2777
27781/2
2779
2780-------------------------
2781
2782>>546206
2783Luckily Sacrament is a small town and you don’t have far to walk before you find her. She’s sitting by the rail with a bag, her gun and small wooden barrel. Her hat is jammed over her head particularly hard today. She flinches back when she sees you approach.
2784
2785“Beatrice.”
2786
2787“Orion.”
2788
2789“I am glad to see you survived the night.”
2790
2791She laughs, just a little.
2792“You’re the last one I expected to hear that from. Anyway, you got room for another passenger in that dinky handcar of yours?”
2793
2794“What? You’re not coming with me.”
2795
2796Beatrice gets to her feet.
2797“It’s your choice. Trust me, if there were any other option I’d go with them. But after that little show you put me through on the barricade? Everyone knows what I am now! Thanks for that by the way. And I guess I ain’t too welcome anymore.”
2798
2799“They had the right to do so. You snuck into this town and disguised what you were. You won their respect under false pretenses.”
2800
2801The witch wraps her arms around herself and cringes just a little.
2802“Yeah, you weren’t my first choice of companion but it’s either go with you or wait nearly a month for the Edelton trade carriage to come back. Next you’re going to say I deserved it, right?”
2803
2804“Yes. Regardless of whatever else you do, it remains a human’s fundamental right to rebuke a witch. The choice you made is something that should not be forgiven or forgotten.”
2805
2806“Yes, this is it. This is what I crave. A sanctimonious lecture from the invert who broke a central lamp. Can I hitch a ride with you or not? It’ll be only be until the next town, you can just let me off there.”
2807
2808“Do you plan on lying to them too?”
2809
2810“Maybe. Do you?”
2811Her eyes flick to the wrapped-up lamp upon your back.
2812
2813
2814>”No. Stay here and face what you deserve.”
2815
2816>”Fine.”
2817
2818>”Fine but you have to pump your share.”
2819
2820>”I thought you loved Sacrament.”
2821
2822>”I’m not going up Adelton way, if that’s your intention.”
2823
2824>Other
2825
2826-------------------------
2827
2828>>546240
2829Edelton. The prompt is misspelled. 
2830
2831>>546222
2832Yes. Invert is kind of an old-timey way of calling someone a fag. And you are from an all-male order who are theoretically celibate. It's not an unknown association to be made by the impious or the crude.
2833
2834-omitted one small post.
2835
2836-------------------------
2837
2838>”Fine but you have to pump your share.”
2839>”I’m not going up Adelton way, if that’s your intention.”
2840
2841You must admit, when you first woke up today you were not expecting to find such a blight upon your quest. Does she really think she’ll ever be more than a hindrance? You must admit she was helpful atop the barricade and she fought with gun and flame better than most. To turn her aside when you could use her further would be foolish. You feel your mouth set into a hard line underneath the helmet as you realize what you must do.
2842“I’m not going up Edelton way, if that’s your intention.”
2843
2844“That’s fine,” Beatrice says. “News would probably spread via the trade carriage eventually. There are towns on the other line isn’t there? 
2845
2846“Yes,” you lie.
2847In truth you have no inkling what lies still upon your rail save for its ultimate destination. Eadbert wasn’t much help in that regard after all. 
2848
2849“Then just take me to one of those, I’ll get off there.”
2850She throws her leg over the side of the cart and sits down within it as if she belonged there.
2851“I’m not waiting a bloody month in this place, not anymore.”
2852
2853“Fine, you can come. But you’ll have to pump your share.”
2854
2855She stares at the pump in the middle of the cart with growing dread.
2856“What? I can’t do that!”
2857
2858“You’ll have to learn because right now you’re extra weight. I’ll need more hands to make this lighter work.”
2859You toss the rest of your belongings into the cart along with fully-stocked pack of rations that the people of Sacrament gave to you as you left the tavern. As you lever yourself in the cart you notice how the witch still cringes away from you.
2860Probably for the best. You don’t particularly want to touch her.
2861
2862“Thanks. For letting me on. And for killing that witch last night, even though I didn’t see exactly what happened.”
2863
2864“It went well enough. And you did an adequate job of fighting for the barricade. I assume it was you who ignited the trap?”
2865
2866“Yeah, that was me. Pretty good huh?”
2867
2868“For a moment back then I almost mistook you for human.”
2869You give her the compliment with as much grace as you can muster but she seems to take it the wrong way for some reason. 
2870
2871“So about that witch,” she changes the subject. Her voice, always ragged at the best of times, is harsh once more. “Was I right about the sign?”
2872
2873You tell her of the witch and of Ur, recounting your battle as best you can. You can’t see much of Beatrice’s face aside from her mouth but she appears surprised at your depth of knowledge concerning the witch’s magic.
28741/2
2875
2876-------------------------
2877
2878>>546421
2879“You were right, Orion. That wasn’t her power. I mean most of it probably was but that sign was from somewhere else. No, don’t ask me where. But she was too strong otherwise.”
2880
2881As she speaks she rubs her collarbone and your attention is drawn towards the location of her brand. You can’t see it right now but you know it’s still there. But is it still effective? If you are to believe the witch from last night, her own brand wasn’t struck down by any outside force, the magic powering it simply failed. Does this mean all brands are failing? Is Beatrice’s brand just a mark now? And if it is, how could she not notice? Would she lie about it?
2882No, you decide. Despite her many, many failings you are convinced the Beatrice at least believes herself to be a follower of righteousness. If her brand is failing then she simply hasn’t noticed. She might not have even set foot on proper soil for years.
2883
2884Which then leaves you the following dilemma. If she doesn’t know, should she? Should you inform her of it? If her heart is true it will only help her guard herself from the earth’s temptation. But she is a witch. By definition she has failed such tests before and will almost certainly do so again. Telling her of this will plant the seed in her mind, give her the temptation to return to what she was.
2885Not to mention the unpleasant idea that her current fixation on returning to what she was when she was human might simply be mad desperation born from her powerlessness. She might embrace the earth again the moment you turn away if you tell her.
2886
2887“Oi Orion I can’t help but notice you’ve been staring at my chest for the last five minutes. Don’t get any ideas just because I’m the first woman you’ve laid a hand on ever since you took up your vows.”
2888
2889>Don’t tell her.
2890
2891>Tell her.
2892
2893>You’ll tell her later perhaps. When you know you can trust her.
2894
2895-omitted one small post.
2896
2897-------------------------
2898
2899>Tell her.
2900
2901“If you attempt to make use of your wiles against me again while we are travelling together I will leave you behind.”
2902
2903“I wasn’t!”
2904
2905Unpleasantness aside, you’ve come to the decision that you need to tell her. As tempting as it is to keep it from her it will likely only cause trouble in the future regardless. And she has yet to betray you in any capacity beyond choosing to become a witch in the first place. 
2906“There was something else about the witch that I hadn’t mentioned. I think it would be for the best if I told you. She was branded.”
2907
2908“You mean…?”
2909Her hand goes to to brush up against her collar once more.
2910
2911“Yes.”
2912
2913“What broke it? I didn’t even know anything could break it!”
2914Is that eagerness you hear? You can’t tell. Have you made a mistake?
2915
2916“To hear her speak, nothing had broken it. Such is the way of the world now that it had come loose on its own. The sun is no more and all the magic born from the Wheel God and the flame is fading. Do you understand why I am telling you this?”
2917
2918Her grip tightens, her hand trembling.
2919“I...I think so,” she says quietly. “But I haven’t felt anything like that, I swear!”
2920
2921“I believe you but you must be on your guard.”
2922
2923“Or what? You’re going to kill me?”
2924You couldn’t identify her tone before but the sound of desperation leaking through is all too familiar to you.
2925
2926“If that is what must be done, yes.”
2927
2928“Great. Good. Great.”
2929Beatrice pushes herself back into the corner of the trolley and picks at herself nervously. 
2930“What am I supposed to do with this? Why did you have to tell me?”
2931
2932Any possible answer you could have given her is forestalled by the cry of a child and the sound of little feet flapping against the concrete.
2933“Don’t leave without me!”
2934It’s Marcus, the pale little boy running to the handcar and grabbing hold of the edge.
2935“Take me with you!”
2936
2937Beatrice leans over the side.
2938“Mark? Get out of here!”
2939
2940“Orion, please! I want to come with you!”
2941There’s a strange look in his eyes and a quiver to his movements.
2942
2943You stare him down.
2944“Why?”
2945
2946“I...I don’t know where else to go. Or what I’m supposed to do.”
2947He’s been crying a lot, you notice. Puffy eyes and stained cheeks.
2948
2949Beatrice leans back into the cart, whispering so that he cannot overhear.
2950“I’ve got to be honest with you, this kid has always been real weird. And going out of town is way too dangerous for him.”
2951
2952
2953>”Get in.”
2954
2955>”This is no place for children.”
2956
2957>Give him something.
2958
2959>”Remember when we spoke of duty? Yours remains here, I will not rob Sacrament of another son.”
2960
2961>”Be the man your father never could be.”
2962
2963>Let Beatrice handle this.
2964
2965>Other
2966
2967-------------------------
2968
2969>”Remember when we spoke of duty? Yours remains here, I will not rob Sacrament of another son.”
2970
2971Your journey is going to be long and dangerous and what lies at the end of it is certainly no place for children. And you doubt he’s making this decision for all the right reasons. You’ve been in his position before and worse besides and you know how he must feel. And thus you know that he simply isn’t capable of making the proper decision right now. 
2972If he comes with you he will regret it. You all might.
2973
2974“Marcus, remember when we spoke of duty? All men have their God-given duty and no single one of them is greater or more important than the other. Your duty remains here. Sacrament ill needs to lose another son.”
2975
2976“But why?”
2977His eyes fill with tears once more and he doesn’t even bother to hold them back.
2978“I’m just so...so angry!”
2979
2980“At me?”
2981
2982He sniffs.
2983“A little. But mostly the witch. A-and my dad.”
2984
2985“Then rid yourself of it, they are dead and it is wasted upon them. Very little of what you do now will mean anything to them. There’s only one way to gain vengeance upon those who are dead.”
2986
2987“How?”
2988
2989“Live on and live well. Become the man your father never could be.”
2990
2991“If they’re dead how will they even know about that?”
2992
2993“They won’t but you will. Now go back, Marcus. You’ve got your whole life still ahead of you.”
2994
2995And that was that. 
2996Several minutes later you and Beatrice are hard at work at the pump, the witch’s sickly face already flushing red with exertion. Sacrament is shrinking behind you and will soon vanish entirely as just another dot upon the concrete plains. 
2997It was a worthy thing, what you did back there. Yes, Sacrament has felt a calamity that they will not soon forget. But the light remains strong and the people work together to rebuild their homes. Cement is already being mixed to being the long slow process of filling in the crack and as for the dead? They will mourn and then they will move on and keep on living. Just one more star in the night sky.
2998
2999The pure sunlight of the lamp fades as you move and the two of you soon pass into a familiar world of perpetual twilight and ever-deepening shadow. All is dark. All is dreary. And when the sun rises soon none of that will change. You are journeying through the twilight of the world. 
3000But you are not in the wasteland this time, instead your trolley rattles above pure and safe concrete. And you no longer journey alone.
3001
3002The two of you relax and let the trolley simply coast for a while, a luxury bought from the safe lands you now travel through. It will not be a luxury that lasts forever. Not in the direction you have chosen.
3003
3004Beatrice leans against the opposite side of the trolley from you and guards her eyes from the replacement lantern that the people of Sacrament gave to you. It won’t clip onto your breastplate like the old one did but it is bigger and brighter. 
30051/2
3006
3007-------------------------
3008
3009>>546704
3010“You know,” the witch says. “All that stuff you said to the kid, that wouldn’t have come from personal experience would it?”
3011
3012“It is a human’s fundamental right to rebuke a witch at any time he pleases and to push her from his pump trolley.”
3013
3014“Clod.”
3015She runs her fingers around the rim of her wide hat and then slowly takes it off entirely, baring her face to the world. She looks as sick as ever and the bruises around her bloodshot eyes are a dark reddish-purple.
3016“Nobody’s around, huh? I guess I don’t have to wear this for now.”
3017
3018“Put it back on.”
3019
3020The trolley rattles deeper into the dark.
3021
3022-------------------------
3023
3024And that is that for both Thread One and Chapter One! A fair bit larger then what I intended but eh. Later threads should not quite be so engorged and the update times should be faster as well.
3025
3026Thanks for reading! The next thread should be going up in a few days, probably not tomorrow but possibly the day after that. Check the twitter for update times and all that.
3027I hope you lot all had fun.
3028
3029Oh and I'd just like to say thanks to Cegremo again for making my OP image and for doing so unasked for and completely out of the blue.
3030
3031==== END THREAD ====
3032
3033Lamplighter Quest: Thread Two
3034written by Ouro (64 posts, 23 omitted posts)
3035-------- qst2txt --------
3036
3037-omitted one small post.
3038>>563034
3039Chapter Two: The Witch of Augustine
3040
3041The sun rises behind you and bathes the world in twilight, a broken light that only serves to further accentuate the darkness that lays atop the landscape. The concrete plains expand in every direction, plain and gritty and barren, broken only by the single railway track that runs through it in a perfectly straight line. And atop those rails, wheezing and clanking with the exertions of metal and muscle both, your handcar rattles on. The large lantern hooked onto its side is the only true source of light in apparently all the world right now and is but a spark within the shadows that pass for daylight now.
3042The dead sun has risen and set two times since you left Sacrament behind and you have seen no sign of life since. You can only hope what rations you brought will last you the rest of the way
3043
3044And as for you? You are hard at work. This trolley won’t pump itself and any dreams of procuring a proper combustion-driven locomotive are long dead. It is your effort, your strength that drives this handcar forward as you travel closer and closer towards the end of the world. 
3045But you refuse to tire. Your will and determination will keep you going even if flesh and muscle fail you. 
3046
3047Now if only you could say the same of the trolley’s other occupant. 
3048
3049Beatrice is half curled up against the far wall of the cart’s cramped confines, her hat slipping off to reveal her discoloured face. Even though her eyes are shut and she is surely asleep the sharp contrast between light and shadow across her perpetual black-eyes makes it look as if she is constantly staring at you with vast and empty eye-sockets.
3050The effect is somewhat disconcerting but even more disconcerting is that she somehow managed to weasel her way into sleeping while you did all the work.
3051
3052She claimed frailty as her excuse and said that she needed the rest and yes, you suppose that she appears frail enough. But how much of that apparent weakness is simply her sickly appearance and little else? She was once a Third Man too and should still possess that hardiness. Is she simply trying to fool you?
3053
3054Once again you contemplate throwing her from the trolley. It would be easy.
3055
3056
3057>Wake her up and tell her to join you.
3058
3059>Let her sleep and carry on.
3060
3061>Let her sleep but take a small amount of rest yourself. The trolley can coast for a little while.
3062
3063>Wake her up and put her to work while you rest a little.
3064
3065>Other
3066
3067-omitted one small post.
3068
3069-------------------------
3070
3071>Let her sleep and carry on.
3072
3073You just sigh and remain at work pushing the trolley. These last two days have been strenuous ones and for reasons that have had nothing to do with working the damn pump. Both you and Beatrice are practiced travellers but neither of you are used to traveling with another, let alone someone with which your contact is already strained. 
3074You’ve made no secret of your disdain for her actions in the past and while she tries to hide you can feel her resent you in return. As if you have treated her in any way that wasn’t suitable for someone of her station!
3075
3076So when you think of it that way, the longer she stays asleep the better. Even if that means you have to keep pushing on.
3077Bit you’ll remember this. Not so much this act specifically but her air of intractability in general. There’s been no need for this journey to be as arduous as she’s made it. Perhaps you’ll act upon it later. Perhaps not. You are free to judge as you see fit.
3078
3079So it comes to transpire that you are the only one awake when the trolly begins to bump and rattle at an even greater rate than normal. What is the meaning of this?
3080
3081Peering over the side you make an unwelcome discovery. The very concrete itself beneath the rails is cracked. Nothing like the great chasm that was called up within Sacrament, these are all simple hairline fissures. But they run deep and they extend for as far as you can see in this limited light, radiating out across the plains from something up ahead.
3082The rails themselves appear to be unharmed but they no longer sit easily and shift ever so slightly more than they should as the handcar passes over them.
3083
3084This is an ill sign for what lies up ahead.
3085
3086But you musings upon the state of the concrete are interrupted by the harsh caw of a bird far above. You stop pumping for a moment and look up and as you barely discern the shadow of something small flying ahead your heart lightens just a little. How long has it been since you’ve seen a bird? Far too long and it is a most welcome omen for such a creature would not likely be far from a safe source of food. 
3087
3088But such a fleeting moment of happiness soon turns to confusion and then consternation as the bird descends, circling lower and lower until it drops from the sky and swoops towards you! And what you see beneath it are no ordinary talons but are instead of great knifelike spurs of bone!
3089
3090>Wake Beatrice.
3091
3092>No time! Grab your staff!
3093
3094>Pick up the lantern and hold it between you and the bird.
3095
3096>Grab the sword!
3097
3098>Grab your wick!
3099
3100>Duck down beneath the lip of the trolley.
3101
3102>Other
3103
3104-------------------------
3105
3106>>563128
3107I don't think I understand this question.
3108
3109>>563150
3110It depends! They usually have some means of tutoring themselves and so it range from a few dozen like Orion to hundreds. It is believed by Witch-finders that there are 333 symbols in total.
3111
3112-------------------------
3113
3114>Pick up the lantern and hold it between you and the bird.
3115>Wake Beatrice
3116
3117“Witch! Beatrice! Get up!”
3118You don’t have the time to reach out to her but you stomp the bottom of the trolley as you reach for the lantern. The entire contraption shakes and she wakes with a startled yelp just in time to clutch her eyes as you unhook the lantern and swing it up.
3119
3120You do it just in time, the misshapen crow veering away from the light at the last moment and giving you time to see it for what it truly is. Its eyes are bulging, its beak permanently open thanks to the grossly oversized tongue and thick black cords loop between its wings and its body. 
3121It’s a ghoul! You’ve never seen the like of this before.
3122
3123It swoops around to the side but does not immediately flee the light. Even worse then, there’s somebody else controlling it. And the worst part of it is that it’s so small and fast that it’s almost impossible to track the wretched thing!
3124
3125It loops around and you swing the lantern to repel only for it to dive right past it and straight for your face!
3126
3127>Roll 1d6. The first 3 will be totalled and used.
3128
3129-omitted one small post.
3130
3131-------------------------
3132
3133>2, 3, 4
3134
3135You try to swing the lantern back around to catch it before it strikes you but you simply aren’t fast enough. The bird collides with the side of your helmet and immediately brings its claws to bear. Your armour is fine but it can’t handle this, jagged ghoul-spurs punching holes through the metal. You can feel the oozing warmth of blood run down the side of your face as you drop, doing your best to hold onto the lantern in the process.
3136
3137You hit the other side of the trolley and use that to right yourself, ducking your head down from the ghoul’s assault and swinging the lantern back up! Your wild strike actually hits the crow and smacks it into the floor of the trolley where it writhes, feathers smouldering with a most unpleasant stench. 
3138
3139Beatrice is still waking up and she recoils from the bird at her feet. And at the same time, the monsters beak cracks open even wider with a sound of breaking gristle and its tongue, a fat distended pseudolimb, lashes out for the witch! 
3140
3141
3142>Pull Beatrice towards you.
3143
3144>Try to catch the tongue.
3145
3146>Swing the lantern down and crush it.
3147
3148>Immolate the bird immediately.
3149
3150>Kick the ghoul away.
3151
3152>Other
3153
3154-omitted one small post.
3155
3156-------------------------
3157
3158>Try to catch the tongue
3159
3160You react before you even truly think, one hand snapping out and grabbing hold on the tongue just inches away from reaching the witch. Beatrice barely has the time to focus before you heft the entire creature up into the air by its tongue and whip it into the metal side of the trolley with a loud thud. Aside from flame, crushing and bludgeoning a ghoul are also worthy ways to deal with such a beast.
3161
3162The tongue curls in your hand as the monster still does their best to defy you but you are ready for it. Your other hand still on the lantern, you feel the heat rise up from it and flood into you as the lantern itself begins to dim. You channel it harmlessly through your body and into your fist. Your gauntlet bursts into flame and the ghoul screams as your grip alone burns their tongue in half. 
3163
3164Wick: 2 /3
3165
3166You bring your burning hand down and ignite the accursed beast properly, watching as its flesh becomes like that of wax beneath the flame. 
3167
3168“God,” Beatrice swears, her gaze captured by the burning corpse sitting between the two of you. “Is that a ghoul?”
3169
3170“Yes. Have you seen the like of this before?’
3171
3172“No, never! You’re not supposed to be able to stitch up something that sma-”
3173
3174The crow finally burns to nothing as it does, something buried deep within it pops with a soft and fleshy sound. A faint spray of vapour accompanies, something light and wet drizzling over the two of you. You, with your helmet, are protected. Beatrice is not.
3175
3176“Ugh!,” she chokes, her words cut off as she starts spitting and coughing uncontrollably. “It got in my mouth!”
3177
3178“What is it? Acid?”
3179
3180“No, no.”
3181Beatrice waves you off, already looking even paler than usual.
3182“I think it’s ghoul venom. Don’t worry, it won’t kill me.”
3183
3184“I know what ghoul venom does,” you say, thinking back to the still-moving remains of the Chesters.
3185“It keeps you alive.”
3186
3187“Exactly. It’s to help the uh, breeding process.”
3188Disgusting. You can’t help but wonder how much of this blasphemy Beatrice herself has personally presided over. 
3189“It’s not really dangerous in any other way. Leaves the system after a few days.”
3190
3191“Then why modify a ghoul to do that upon death?”
3192
3193The witch shrugs.
3194“I don’t know. But it’s just the venom, I can taste it.”
3195
3196“We should remove it from you anyway, just to be safe.”
3197You raise your hand and she cowers back.
3198
3199
3200>Give her a Purging Benediction.
3201
3202>Question her on witchcraft and ghouls.
3203
3204>Question her on her past regarding these things.
3205
3206>”Are you sure it has no other effects?”
3207
3208>Other
3209
3210-------------------------
3211
3212>>563488
3213Third Men are grey-skinned and built for hardship, intended to outlast the tribulations of the Third Age until the time of peace was meant to arrive. They are bulky and pack a surprising density of muscle as well as a natural healing factor.
3214Beatrice is slight but even she should be able to work the trolley for hours at a time without rest.
3215
3216For the record, Third Men are no larger than 'normal' people (who do not exist) but are noticeably more heavyset.
3217
3218-omitted one small post.
3219
3220-------------------------
3221
3222>Give her a Purging Benediction.
3223>Question her on witchcraft and ghouls.
3224
3225You pull back your hood and take your helmet off as you tend to your own wounds first and foremost. It doesn’t feel too bad for while your armour cannot stop a ghoul’s claw it can be relied upon to at least soften the strike. None of these claws struck deep and while there’s a lot of blood you can probably put that up to just being a head wound. You don’t think the bone of your skull was even more than lightly scratched. 
3226But still, this really is just a bit too much blood. Better to seal it up for a few hours and give it time to close up.
3227You dig the bandages out from your collective packs and get to work. It’s only then however that you catch Beatrice staring at your face. Is this really the first time you’ve taken off your helmet in front of her? It might be, the runes make wearing it as easy as the cloth hood that goes on top. 
3228“Is something the matter?”
3229
3230“No. I didn’t realize you were so...old.”
3231
3232“I’m not,” you grunt. “This coloration was earned, not grown into.”
3233You refer, of course, to your hair. It’s been a dirty shade of white ever since a particularly memorable battle with a witch many years ago. You yourself remain unwrinkled and unbent by the passage of time.
3234
3235“Maybe true,” the witch muses. “But the sun broke nearly thirty years ago and I don’t know about you but my Lamplighters ran around like headless chickens right after so I doubt they got much training done. So what are you? Forty? Forty five?”
3236
3237“I have no idea,” you admit. “But it does not feel as old as that. Time has run off its tracks and out in the wasteland years can pass in the blink of an eye.”
3238
3239“I’m not sure if it works like that.”
3240
3241“But surely I could ask the same of you? You were a branded witch already when the Wheel God died and yet here you sit acting like you’re nought more than twenty? You’re older than you look.”
3242
3243“Not the best compliment for a lady, Orion. And we have our ways.”
3244
3245“Witches, you mean. I know you always look younger than what you are, I’m just surprised that it still works with you.”
3246
3247“What are you implying? Do you doubt my conviction to the flame?”
3248
3249“Yes, actually. What has faltered once will ever be built upon shaky foundations. But that wasn’t my intention then. I’d like to know more about your ….state. What other quirks of witchery still linger? How do you use the flame?”
3250
3251“You know how I use the flame.”
3252
3253“Not well enough. How is your Wick?”
3254
3255Now this question draws her up short and she looks away as if she was guilty of something.
3256“I don’t have one,” she admits.
3257
3258“Then how do you use it?”
3259
3260“I use it like a witch!,” she snaps. “Because I guess that’s what I still am. Is that what you want me to say?”
3261
3262“No. I was already certain of that.”
3263
32641/3
3265
3266-------------------------
3267
3268>>563921
3269She sighs, a long process that slowly turns into a groan halfway through.
3270“God save me from over-zealous sods.”
3271
3272“He will not.”
3273
3274“Oh, shut up and let me finish. I don’t have a Wick, I haven’t had one since I was back in the College. When I turned my Wick was snuffed out. Maybe forever. Probably forever. So I use transubstantiation instead.”
3275You don’t answer her, forcing her to eventually continue through the awkward silence.
3276“It’s a witch thing. Look, the world was made when the Wayward Flame and the First Men fought the old gods and threw their corpses down into the Sea of Mud right? And their bodies became dirt and soil and that dirt and soil made up the world.”
3277
3278“This is basic theology.”
3279
3280“Just let me finish, holy shit! The process through which we-, I mean witches gain their power is from transubstantiation. We eat the soil and as it passes through our gullets it is reverted to the flesh and blood of gods. The stronger the connection to deep soil the better, etcetera. That’s where this brand strikes us, that’s why its right beneath our throats like that. It nullifies the entire conversion process and so no power reaches us. That’s how it works since none of us have Wicks. Well I still don’t have a Wick and this thing meant I didn’t have any dirt either but I figured, why can’t transubstantiation work for other gods? The Wayward Flame and his son the Wheel God, their bodies are flame and light. All of that is the grand substance of their being a-”
3281
3282“This theory has been considered heresy for decades. The Wheel God and Flame are ethereal and not of any flesh.”
3283
3284“Well I guess I just proved it right. And I guess you did too because you’re carting around a primordial piece of the Wheel God’s corpse like a right and proper blasphemer!”
3285She retreats after saying this and only continues when she’s sure you’re not going to strike her.
3286“But I can’t just eat fire, that hurts like shit! But if I eat things that contain heat and flame, not actually yet but the possibility of them...like gunpowder. Those can pass through me and transubstantiation returns it to the flesh of the Wheel God inside my body.”
3287She coughs.
3288“That hurts a lot by the way. But it puts fire in my heart and in my blood and it can be like a Wick for a little while.”
3289
3290You can’t help but feel disgusted by the implications of all of this. 
3291“You’re a...you’re a carrion feeder.”
3292
3293“All witches are.”
3294
3295“And you said the flame had accepted you back. But it hasn’t or else you’d have a Wick! That’s why it hurts you! Not because your witch body rejects your blood or whatever foolish lies you might believe. That’s the flame resisting being burnt by a Witch and being used for ill!”
3296
3297“Didn’t I prove I was a human back on the barricade? If the final effect is the same then the means shouldn’t matter.”
3298
32992/3
3300
3301-------------------------
3302
3303>>563953
3304“That was back when I was under the illusion that you’d been accepted back. But you’re a creature of dark the same as any other witch, just one idiotic enough to slowly kill herself because of a delusion!”
3305
3306Beatrice sits down in the face of your tirade, jamming her hat down back over her head.
3307“I know what I am and you can’t sway me from that.”
3308
3309“Oh? Then let me help get the venom out of you.”
3310She looks up in surprise but it’s already too late as you summon up the Purging Benediction, your fingers leaving faint trails of light through the air as you take her hand in yours.
3311
3312Wick: 8/10
3313
3314“This will draw the poison out, you need not worry. Unless the light judges you unworthy in which case receiving its bounty will sicken you. Which is it?”
3315
3316“Stop that! Get off me!”
3317
3318You pull your gauntlet back and sit back down. Beatrice, on the other hand, rises to her feet and advances.
3319“What the fuck was that? Do you want me to be a proper witch or something? Because it starting to feel like you do. Because that would be so much easier, wouldn’t it? Then you could just kill me and your conscience would be clear.”
3320
3321You ignore her anger completely and when you speak, it is with complete calm.
3322“How do you feel?”
3323
3324“I feel fine! Better than fine! I am completely he-oh shit.”
3325She collapses against the side of the trolley for a moment and with shaking hands she pulls herself up until she’s leaning over it. And from there you can hear her vomit out the contents of her stomach onto the track below. When she’s done she steps back and slides back down.
3326“I’m fine. Just a little railsick. The venom is gone.”
3327
3328It doesn’t look gone to you.
3329
3330
3331>Purge her again.
3332
3333>Try a different Benediction to test her.
3334
3335>”You can lie to yourself if you want. Just don’t lie to me.”
3336
3337>Strike her.
3338
3339>Apologize. Your reaction may have been a little too hasty.
3340
3341>”You must accept yourself for what you truly are. Only then can you work towards being something better.”
3342
3343>”Consider this penance. You likely lead the witch to Sacrament after all.”
3344
3345>Ignore her.
3346
3347>Other
3348
3349-omitted one small post.
3350
3351-------------------------
3352
3353Calling it for these two
3354>Apologize. Your reaction may have been a little too hasty.
3355>”You must accept yourself for what you truly are. Only then can you work towards being something better.”
3356
3357since they had the most votes
3358
3359-------------------------
3360
3361>Apologize. Your reaction may have been a little too hasty.
3362>”You must accept yourself for what you truly are. Only then can you work towards being something better.”
3363
3364In hindsight, you may have been a little too hasty in both your words and your actions. Not wrong, mind you, nor unjustified. But hasty. It is your every right to judge a witch but as a Witch-finder you’d like to think that you hold yourself to a somewhat higher standard when it comes to the quality thereof. And if this witch wants to believe herself still capable of climbing towards the light, who are you to deny her that? At the very least she’ll do some good in her delusions.
3365
3366“I’m sorry.”
3367
3368Beatrice looks more stricken than she had been right before she was about to vomit.
3369“Sorry? You? You want to apologize?”
3370
3371“Is that so unbelievable.”
3372
3373“I don’t mean to be rude but...well yes actually, I do want to be rude. You’re a stiff jerk who acts like you’ve got one of those fancy wicks of yours jammed right up your ar-”
3374
3375“Enough. You might it very hard to apologize.”
3376
3377“Oh, do I? I can’t imagine what’s prompted me to act this way.”
3378
3379“I was, perhaps, a little hasty with my reaction there. But what I said was not untrue. You must accept yourself for what you really are. Lying to yourself does nothing to change it. But only through confronting it can you climb towards the light.”
3380
3381Beatrice slumps over and when she next speaks, her voice is even more ragged and tired than usual.
3382“God, are you just an endless pile of platitudes? They just fall out of you every time you open your mouth.”
3383
3384“Perhaps if you had paid heed to these ‘platitudes’ in your earlier life you would not be in this position today.”
3385
3386“...I can’t deny that.”
3387
3388“Listen, Beatrice. The flame will not take you back just because you eat gunpowder and grasp whatever sparks you can get from that. Repentance is not something to be earned or stolen back but is given. You made a choice long ago that damned you and we both know how terrible of a thing you really did when you accepted it. And that’s not going to go away just because of time or even good deeds. If you are truly sorry and repentant than the Wheel God may someday take you back.”
3389
3390“Bit hard what with him being dead and all.”
3391
3392“That didn’t stop you the first time, did it? My point remains that you’ll never find what you’re really looking for by gaming the system.”
3393
3394“I know.”
3395The witch grumbles and grouses but otherwise doesn’t object.
3396“It’s really hard to argue with a Lamplighter, you know? I remember being brought up thinking you lot were the best any of us could ever hope to be.”
3397
3398“Evidently it didn’t stick.”
3399
3400“Apparently not. And I had plenty of time to be disabused of that notion after I was branded anyway.”
3401
3402“And what lead to that anyway?”
3403
3404“Pardon?”
3405
34061/2
3407
3408-------------------------
3409
3410>>564223
3411“I’m not going to understand what you are now if I didn’t know what you were back then. What made you make that choice?”
3412
3413“The choice? You mean to forsake my humanity, snuff out my Wick forever, become one with the ever-malignant corpse gods intent upon humanity’s destruction? That little old thing?”
3414
3415“Yes.”
3416
3417She pulls her hat even further down as if intent on suffocating herself.
3418“I’d really rather not. You see there was this bo-”
3419
3420Her words are broken off as the carriage suddenly rattles and bangs beneath your feet! You remain steady but Beatrice is tilted to the side and it only grows worse! The cart is shaking from side to the side with a hideous din, your packs sliding everywhere and spilling open.
3421“Hold on!”
3422
3423You barely manage to stand up long enough to see over the edge. And what you see isn’t pretty. Those cracks spiderwebbing the concrete plains? Looks like you’ve been getting closer to their origin this entire time and they’ve only gotten worse.
3424The concrete ahead of you is splintered and broken, a jagged plain of loose rock and boulders. The track itself is unbroken but is twisted in much the same way and in your conversation with Beatrice you’ve let the railcar coast too far towards it!
3425
3426Up above is what you can only describe as a crater of some kind, the centre-point of the cracks and the ruined and ravaged ground. A vast dimple in the earth that plunges straight through the foot or so of concrete and has kicked up soil and rock and broken the concrete plains all around it like a stone through a window. And the tracks are heading straight for it, the downward incline giving your trolley momentum unearned through muscle.
3427
3428
3429>Leap from the cart with as much as you can carry, tell Beatrice to do the same.
3430
3431>Leap from the cart with as much as you can carry, including Beatrice.
3432
3433>Just because the ground is a little torn up doesn’t mean the track itself won’t hold! You can ride this through!
3434
3435>Do your best to halt the carriage before it gets too far.
3436
3437>Other
3438
3439-------------------------
3440
3441>Do your best to halt the carriage before it gets too far.
3442
3443“Witch! Start dumping the cargo!”
3444You don’t wait to see if she understood you, hauling yourself back over the side of the cart with staff in hand. You do your best to keep yourself steady and your feet firmly upon the metal as you slam the staff down into the concrete racing past beneath you. 
3445
3446It nearly shakes out of your hands immediately but you keep it steady as best you can, the staff bouncing as you drag it against the ground and you are rewarded with the feeling of the pump trolley slowing down. But then you take a look ahead up at the crater and immediately decide that it isn’t slowing fast enough.
3447“Take this!”
3448You push the staff into Beatrice’s hands and she understands right away, dragging the staff back down albeit at a much greater lack of success.
3449
3450As for you?
3451You throw yourself from the cart and land on your feet, staggering forward before running back alongside the trolley and grabhing hold of the back. You dig your heels in and grit your teeth as the cart slowly drags you forward across the concrete…
3452And then stops, the trolley coming to a halt scant meters from the edge of the crater. 
3453
3454Beatrice lets out all of her breath at once.
3455“Right in time. Look at that sucker.”
3456
3457Needless to say, the track doesn’t make it across the crater in one piece. It almost does, a testament to its construction and the runes that guard it but the railway over the crater is twisted and mangled and the cart would almost certainly try to throw you.
3458“Hold up,” you pant. “I’ll go grab everything.”
3459
3460You slowly walk back along the rail, sweeping up everything that Beatrice had hurled off. Luckily none of it split. By the time you get back the witch is standing outside of the handcar and looking down at the crater below.
3461
3462“So. How are we getting around this?”
3463
3464“We walk around.”
3465
3466“With the cart?”
3467
3468That brings you to a stop. Just how are you going to get this cart across to where the rail continues properly once more? You’re strong but you’re not that strong.
3469
3470
3471>”We’ll walk around the crater and continue on foot.”
3472
3473>”We’ll walk around the crater and drag the pump trolley with us.”
3474
3475>”Push the trolley down the rail into the crater, it might slide all the way to the other side while we walk around.”
3476
3477>”We’ll walk through the crater and guide the pump trolley along the rail by hand. Won't break our backs trying to drag this thing."
3478
3479>”Let’s try to ride this across.”
3480
3481>”Maybe we can climb down and try to prop the rail back up?”
3482
3483>Other
3484
3485-omitted one small post.
3486
3487-------------------------
3488
3489>”We’ll walk through the crater and guide the pump trolley along the rail by hand. Won't break our backs trying to drag this thing."
3490
3491“Well then,” you say. “I don’t see us picking this up or even really dragging it.”
3492
3493“Are you sure you can’t drag it?”
3494You just look at her and she grimaces.
3495“What? You’re a real big guy, aren’t you?”
3496
3497“Not that big. And I feel like you are just suggesting this to get out of helping me. No, the tracks are warped and bent but not intractable. We can climb down and walk across the crater while guiding the trolley along the tracks by hand. That won’t break our backs at least.”
3498
3499“Speak for yourself,” she grumbles but she ultimately relents to your proposal. “You know that’s soil down there, right?”
3500
3501“I am aware.”
3502You grab hold of the left side of the trolley with your right hand and hold the lantern up in your left. Beside you Beatrice grabs the right side of the trolley with both hands.
3503“But soil itself is not too dangerous, we aren’t in the wastelands after all. This is just a crater of soil surrounded by concrete. For anything Dark to come here it would have to pass through miles of inimical terrain.”
3504
3505Together the two of you start to slowly push the trolley down the steep incline, pulling it up at the same time so that it doesn’t slide down too fast. The rail bucks a little but holds firm.
3506“What if something burrowed up?”
3507
3508“Then the two of us will destroy it and then return to our work.”
3509
3510“That’s a lot of faith for someone who nearly got rocked by a bird.”
3511
3512“Faith is my profession. Perhaps the repentant should not make so light of it.”
3513
3514The two of you set foot upon the broken upturned soil of the crater at the same time and both of you have the same reaction, jolting back for just a moment. You nearly let go of the handcar.
3515
3516Witch-chill.
3517Old, fading witch-chill but chill nonetheless.
3518
3519“It’s...It’s probably long gone,” Beatrice mutters, more to reassure herself than to help you.
3520
3521The crater is large, over a hundred feet in diameter and the light of your lantern only goes so far. It stretches out ahead of you, dark and unknowable.
3522
3523
3524>”Push on.”
3525
3526>Light your wick and then push on. You’ll have to give the lantern to Beatrice.
3527
3528>”Beatrice, get your gun ready. I’ll handle the cart by myself.”
3529
3530>Try to push it back up the slope. 
3531
3532>Call out a challenge to any witches.
3533
3534>Other
3535
3536-omitted one small post.
3537
3538-------------------------
3539
3540>Light your wick and then push on. You’ll have to give the lantern to Beatrice.
3541
3542“Here, take the lantern.”
3543
3544You pass it across to Beatrice and she stops, surprised enough that it takes her several seconds to grab it. Even then she holds it gingerly as if she can scarcely believe what she is hearing.
3545“Are you sure you trust me with this?”
3546
3547“I trust you not to stab me in the back right this moment, yes.”
3548As she takes up the lantern you reach into the trolley beside you and retrieve your helmet. Still in mostly serviceable condition but you’re going to have to find an armoursmith sooner or later. These holes drilled in the side just won’t do. 
3549You put the helmet back on and pull the hood of your cloak back over the top of it. You can’t help but feel safer now that you are properly armoured once more, even if the finest armour in the world wouldn’t stop the wrath of a witch. Your free hand takes up your wick once more and you slam the butt of it against the concrete, sparking a slender finger of true flame into life atop the tool.
3550
3551Wick: 10/10
3552
3553“Now that’s more like it,” you rumble. “The witch is probably long gone but I can’t imagine they’d like to try their luck against this.”
3554
3555“One already has.”
3556
3557The two of you carry on into the crater, bringing light into the darkness before you as if daring whatever beasts lurk within to attack you. But aside from a few stops where you have to pull the trolley up from the rails with Beatrice’s help and set it back down after a nasty kink blocks the way, little else assaults you. The rail is twisted but mostly maneageable though you wouldn’t have liked to try your luck actually riding this thing.
3558Some of your belongings are thrown from the cart more than once after all, particularly during that one time it got away from both of you and nearly topped off the side of the wobbly track entirely.
3559
3560And even if this was the easiest route, it is hard strenuous work and neither of you have time to talk. And yet you learn something about Beatrice anyway. Namely that you can rely on her not to let go of a runaway trolley even as it drags her along with it. 
3561A useful skill to have in today’s world.
3562
3563You have nearly made it across when Beatrice breaks the silence.
3564“What’s that?”
3565
3566You follow her pointed finger and there, out in the far darkness you spot a faint glimmer. The lantern’s light glimmering off something metallic or reflective. You can barely make something out in the shadows behind it. Is that a boulder? Whatever it is it’s big and it doesn’t look alive.
3567And it’s sitting in the dead center of the crater itself.
3568
3569
35701/2
3571
3572-------------------------
3573
3574>>564619
3575Sorry about that, internet cut off for a moment.
3576
3577>”What is it? None of our business, that’s what.” Push on and leave.
3578
3579>Leave the cart and go investigate together.
3580
3581>Tell Beatrice to go over and report back while you guard the cart.
3582
3583>”Stay with the trolley.” Go investigate by yourself.
3584
3585>Fire off a plume of fire with your wick to try and cast light upon it. You won’t be aiming direc
3586
3587>Other
3588
3589-omitted one small post.
3590
3591-------------------------
3592
3593>push the trolley out
3594>come back and investigate
3595
3596“There! Don’t you think there’s something there!”
3597The witch is still pointing towards the centre, towards the glint of reflected light.
3598
3599“I see it.”
3600
3601“So why aren’t we stopping?”
3602
3603“Get to the cart to safety first. Then we can return and be ready to escape if need be.”
3604One does not survive the wasteland without becoming practical.
3605
3606“It’s just a big thing! It’s not alive!”
3607
3608“It’s probably just some rock.”
3609
3610“So what’s the harm?”
3611
3612“I’ve yet to see anything good spring from untamed earth and I doubt this’ll be the first.”
3613
3614The two of you wrestle the trolley up the slope to the other side of the crater, finally setting the handcar back down upon the unbent rails beyond with a heavy clunk. 
3615“But it ain’t from the ground,” Beatrice protests after she’s had nearly a full minute to catch her breath. 
3616
3617“Is this another mystical witch sense I’ve yet to learn about.”
3618
3619“I wish. I uh, I mean I don’t wish! But look at this crater! I know you see this kind of shit a lot back in the wasteland but this is civilized land! These things don’t happen without a reason. And maybe the reason is this thing.”
3620
3621“Are you suggesting it fell from the sky?”
3622You slide back down the slope of the crater, Beatrice doing her best to follow you. She loses her footing halfway down and rolls the rest of the way. You think about helping her up but ultimately decide not to spoil her too much.
3623
3624“It could have. Or it was thrown or exploded. This is hardly forbidden earth-lore Orion, craters don’t just pop out of the ground fully formed.”
3625
3626“Is that supposed to make it less suspicious?”
3627
3628“Ugh, never mind. But there’ll be no need to run because whatever the hell this thing is, it ain’t living anymore.”
3629
3630“It could be a dormant golem in which case we would both be dead in very short order.”
3631
3632“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.”
3633Beatrice begins to slow down behind you.
3634“You know maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe we should just leave.”
3635
3636“Too late now.”
3637You raise your wick at the same time Beatrice raises her lantern, light advancing forward to illuminate the thing in the centre of the crater. This way is best for if there is something dark about here the combined light at once should help to stun it and buy you valuable time.
3638
3639But there is nothing of the sort.
3640
3641“What the fuck is that? That’s not a rock.”
3642Beatrice pulls her revolver from her cloak but stays her hand, keeping it down by her side with her finger off the trigger. 
3643
36441/2
3645
3646-------------------------
3647
3648>>564738
3649The thing that lies before you is half submerged in the earth, battered and dented but still in mostly one piece. A fat cylinder at least three times your size, it is forged from silvery metal and coated in concrete dust. Glass orbs and slender paneled wings extend out from its body, all mostly cracked and broken from the fall. You step closer and stop when you see there’s not a single seam. It was as if this entire contraption was carved from a single piece of gleaming steel
3650But you know that isn’t true. They’re just too small and perfect to see. While you’ve never seen this thing before you’ve seen other things that had been brought into the world by the same makers.
3651
3652And as you look at as a whole, noting the broken glass eyes and the shredded wings and stubby cylindrical body, you come to a conclusion. You’ve seen this before. Not in the flesh but in ancient holy texts. A picture of a long cylindrical relic with flat square wings…
3653
3654“It’s a star,” you announce.
3655
3656“Holy shit.”
3657
3658Back in the glories of the Second Age many lights were thrown up into the sky. Some claim that it was purely to light up the night but you know that to be false. You’ve spoken to people who claim to have read through ancient technical manuals and texts left by the Second Men. The stars were placed for a far more inscrutable purpose, one that has long since been lost forever.
3659
3660Beatrice stars up at the sky, the few dozen moving stars overhead still visible through the sun’s pale twilight. 
3661“When do you think it fell?”
3662
3663“I don’t know. I know it must have attracted a witch when it did. A witch who was very far inland. But there is nothing they could have done to this. Look.”
3664You bring the light around to the side and show her the footprints still barely visible in the soil right before the fallen star.
3665“We’re lucky that there’s so little rain or wind these days. The witch must have tried to gain entry but failed.”
3666
3667Beatrice reaches out to touch the side of the ancient relic and then recoils as if she was expecting it to somehow be hot.
3668“He’s lost his shine.”
3669She sounds strangely lost. You guess you can understand why. A starker reminder of the world’s incoming end would be hard to find.
3670“Do...do you think we should try to get inside?”
3671
3672“That’s not our place.”
3673
3674“Nothing’s this thing’s place anymore.”
3675
3676
3677>”No.” You have to leave, you don’t know when the witch will return. Especially since you killed what was probably their ghoul.
3678
3679>Grab a piece and pull it off. Maybe it’s still holy.
3680
3681>You might as well try! What’s the worst that could happen?
3682
3683>Unwrap your lamp-post.
3684
3685>Other
3686
3687-omitted one small post.
3688
3689-------------------------
3690
3691>You might as well try! What’s the worst that could happen?
3692>Unwrap your lamp-post
3693
3694You refrain from punishing Beatrice for her blasphemy, stopped by the thought that she might be correct. Was it really improper to set foot upon a star that has been cast from the heavens? This star is no longer ashine, having lost its light like so much else in the world today. And better you than a witch, surely?
3695
3696“Very well. We lose nothing from trying.”
3697
3698“Except our lives possibly. Not that I’m voting against!”
3699
3700“There is no vote,” you grunt as you place your hands upon the side of the star. What are you supposed to do here? Use a Benediction? A Flame Rite? No, none of those seem right. So instead you and Beatrice spend nearly twenty minutes combing over all of it that you can find, searching for a panel or a door or a window. Anything!
3701But you don’t find a single way in, put to a halt like the witch before you.
3702
3703I’m going to try talking to it,” Beatrice says from the other side. “Maybe it’ll understand us if we just ask to be let in.”
3704
3705“I don’t recall ever reading that stars could talk.”
3706
3707“They do in all the stories!”
3708
3709“Folktales are not holy canon, Beatrice.”
3710
3711“About as effective in my experience. I’m going to try.”
3712You hear a loud rapping as she knocks on the side of the star.
3713“Oi! Hello? Can you let us in?”
3714
3715Nothing happens.
3716
3717“I don’t think anything’s going to work really,” Beatrice concludes twenty minutes later. “Look at it, he’s all dimmed out. If he was ever alive he’s long dead.”
3718
3719“Maybe so,” you mutter to yourself, distracted by a whole new train of thought. The light is out, is it? The Second Men might have been conceited but they had still been holy, still possessed the touch of flame and all the magics left to Man by the Wheel God. And surely some of that had been involved in constructing this marvel! 
3720So would it heed God’s touch? Because that would probably be the only Flame Art left in this miserable world capable of emulating such feats.
3721
3722Only one way to find out.
3723
3724You take the lamp-post out from off your back, picking at the canvas and feeling it slowly spring to life beneath your fingertips.
3725“Stay on the other side of it, Beatrice! And close your eyes!”
3726
3727You unleash the lamp and simply stand back for a moment, feeling the holy flame rush over you in exquisite agony. But you cannot linger. The burn spreads.
3728
3729“Star! You, who were once kindled to life with God’s blessing, return with his touch!”
3730You bring the head of the lamp-post gently down upon the side of the star, resting it against one of the broken glass eyes. 
3731
3732And then you stumble, feeling as if some invisible force was trying to pull the burning lamp from out of your grasp! But the reality is more intangible, something deep within the star grasping hold of your lamp’s light and draining it.
3733
3734Wick 100/100
3735
3736Wick: 90/100
3737
3738Wick: 80/100
3739
3740Wick: 70/100
3741
37421/2
3743
3744-omitted one small post.
3745
3746-------------------------
3747
3748>3, 3, 3
3749
3750Right. Anyway guys, I've got work in half an hour so I can't spend any more time on updates tonight. Sorry.
3751I'd been planning on updating a little quicker but eh.
3752
3753I'll probably not be back tomorrow except for maybe one update because game day starts earlier than usual. 
3754But I will be back the day after that and hopefully much faster! (probably not that much faster)
3755
3756-------------------------
3757
3758>>564939
3759I mean, there's a female character that people voted to bring along and then voted to not treat her like complete garbage. Clearly Orion and Beatrice have already boarded the waifu train and there's no end in sight.
3760
3761Anyway, to make up for the fact that I'm going to be absent for the next day thanks to poor timing (losing Monday and all) I'll chuck up an update now, leave it open for ten or eleven hours and then do another in the morning right before I have to leave to game-day tomorrow.
3762
3763Writan'
3764
3765-------------------------
3766
3767I feel like I should clarify that that comment was sarcastic since I know that doesn't always carry itself over text all the time.
3768Anyway considering that Orion still holds Beatrice's fundamental nature in disgust and has a fit about her 'wiles' every time anything remotely oriented to the direction happens, I think you'll be safe for now.
3769
3770-------------------------
3771
3772>3, 3, 3
3773
3774Wick: 70/100
3775
3776You pull the lamp back as the pain builds higher but the star doesn’t want to let go! There is a haze of heat and light building around you and the lamp now, one that you are only blearily aware exists outside of your own mind. The star is glowing now too, light shining through its broken glass eyes as it feeds upon the shard of the sun. 
3777
3778And then the burn gets too much and you finally free yourself, falling heavily to the ground with your head spinning and your eyes blurred. Your arms are burning as if they were aflame but you know from experience that that would actually hurt a lot less. 
3779The lamp-post lies where you dropped it, away from both you and the star, still burning with a terrible radiance.
3780
3781And as for the star itself?
3782It shines bright once more, the silver steel glowing a painful white as heat rushes through the systems of the great machine and ancient magics revive themselves. The two square wings unbend and you avert your gaze as the broken panels upon the wings begin to right themselves in flashes of blinding light. 
3783And then it lifts into the air with a thrum so deep that you feel it before you hear it. 
3784
3785The star floats higher and higher until it is almost twenty feet above you. And then, wreathed in primordial flame, it throws itself up towards the heavens with enough force to send both you and Beatrice to your knees, the air twisting and screaming as the star takes back its rightful place in the sky.
3786
3787“-wanted to get in you! Come back!”
3788It occurs to you that Beatrice had been yelling the entire time. You hadn’t heard her.
3789“Nice going. I thought you were going to give it enough power to open the door, not re-ignite.”
3790
3791“This might be for the best.”
3792You’re still having some trouble believing what had happened. But if this is an omen of any kind its message to you is clear. This star had fallen and gone out. It had just been another sign of a world close to the edge. But you stopped that. Even if it was for something that might just be meaningless to your quest, for a single moment you stood there and you reversed the collapse towards the end. 
3793A falling star is a strange and powerful omen. But what is a rising one?
3794
3795Lacking anything else to do, the two of you slowly trek back towards the trolley. It’s still waiting for you and your belongings have been unmolested. 
3796“I really wanted to see inside of it,” Beatrice complains as she climbs in.
3797
3798“A childish impulse.”
3799
3800“Shows what you know. Childish impulse is what being a witch is all about.”
3801
3802“Then perhaps you should be trying to grow up. Why are you so excited over stars anyway? That seems unlike you.”
3803
3804“You don’t know me. I loved hearing all the stories about the stars and their adventures when I was a kid.”
3805
3806“And yet you chose to sell yourself to those who would extinguish them forever.”
3807
3808“Is it impossible to have one conversation without you rubbing that in my face?”
3809
38101/3
3811
3812-------------------------
3813
3814>>565088
3815“Nobody ever said repentance would be easy. Speaking of which, you’ll be joining me at the pump for the rest of the day. We need to make up for lost time.”
3816
3817Hours pass as the two of you push the handcar through the cracked concrete plains. This isn’t just the result of one impact, you belatedly realise. There have been multiple, all spread out across this area. Is this why there are so few stars in the sky up here?
3818You almost don’t want to think about that.
3819
3820By the time a town comes into sight, Beatrice is a wreck. You let her collapse upon the floor and take up her half of the work with only minimal effort. Still, it would be nice to get some sleep in the settlement up ahead.
3821
3822As the rail takes you closer and closer you see that the town appears to be in increasingly bad shape. One of the impact sites must be very close by for the concrete is cracked and raised in huge blocks, tilting large sections of the entire landscape. The houses are ill-built and badly taken care of, some already in the process of slowly sliding down the broken slopes. And naturally the entire place is shrouded in shadow and twilight. Whatever lamp-post this place had it lost all spark a long time ago.
3823It’s small, much smaller than Sacrament.
3824
3825A man is standing outside the town hall when you and Beatrice slowly drag yourself into whatever passes for ‘town’ here. He’s very tall, as tall as you even but much more slender and dressed in sombre shades of black from his trousers to his vest. His hair is white and he has a beard that is long directly beneath the chin and clean-shaven elsewhere.
3826It makes him look like a billy goat.
3827
3828“State your business, strangers! The town is in meeting.”
3829
3830You draw yourself up, displaying the spoked wheel upon your cloak.
3831“I-”
3832
3833“Hey look he’s a Lamplighter,” Beatrice says over the top of you. “He’s real and alive and wonderful and he’s here to give you your sunlight back. Fantastic. Great. We can skip all the awe and praise now and get to the point where he uses that respect to requisition us some proper beds to sleep in.”
3834
3835If the old man is taken aback by her most improper introduction, he shows no sign.
3836“My name is Jeremiah Stocks, acting town elder. It is good that you have come, Lamplighter.”
3837
3838“Yes, I’m Orion. Can you take me to your mayor?”
3839
3840“We do not have a mayor any longer.”
3841Behind him, the doors to the town hall open and the people slowly file out. Even as they see you and your sigil you spot little joy on their faces. There’s so few of them, even less than the buildings had lead you to believe.
3842And there’s much less children than there should be.
3843
3844“What happened here?”
3845
3846“Welcome to Augustine, Lamplighter. I’m afraid we must beg your assistance. We have a severe witch problem.”
3847
38482/3
3849
3850-------------------------
3851
3852>>565090
3853>”Just let me tend to the lamp post first.”
3854
3855> “Can you set aside a bed for my companion?”
3856
3857>”Tell me more, I can start immediately.”
3858
3859>”What’s wrong with your mayor?”
3860
3861>Clip Beatrice around the ear for showing disrespect.
3862
3863>”Nice town you have here. Very scenic.”
3864
3865>Ask about the falling stars.
3866
3867>Other
3868
3869-------------------------
3870
3871Alright, I'll leave this vote open for eight hours or so while I sleep and then update once again before having to leave to game-day.
3872
3873Sorry about the delay on this one by the way. First I got distracted talking, then by watching videos and then 4chan went down when I actually wanted to post. Mostly my bad.
3874
3875-------------------------
3876
3877>Clip Beatrice around the ear for showing disrespect.
3878>”Let me tend to the lamp-post.”
3879>Ask about the falling stars.
3880>“Can you set aside a bed for my companion?”
3881
3882You sigh as Jeremiah’s words sink in and you realize you’ve just spent days of exertion and travel just to get from witch-cursed town to another. But such is the nature of your duty. There might be no rest for the wicked but the righteous are worked twice as hard. 
3883And speaking of which…
3884
3885You let your hand curl up slightly before driving the back of your gauntlet into the side of Beatrice’s head. Not hard enough to cause any real pain but with enough force to remind her of her place in these procedures. The witch yelps, more from shock than anything else and you step forward in front of her.
3886“Please forgive my companion, she does not understand the seriousness of this situation. 
3887
3888If Jeremiah Stocks is fazed he gives no outward sign. You’re getting the feeling that he may simply be a very dreary man.
3889“Very good, Lamplighter.”
3890
3891“My name is Orion.”
3892
3893“So be it. You are needed.”
3894
3895“Yes, yes, the witch. Fear not. But I think I will tend to my primary duty first. Where is your lamp?”
3896
3897“You hit me!”
3898Beatrice sounds like she almost doesn’t believe it which is strange considering that she’s spent the entire journey thus far cringing away whenever you so much as raised your hand.
3899
3900“The lamp-post is this way Lamplighter but I’m afraid I have bad news.”
3901
3902The assembled townsfolk watch in silence as Jeremiah leads you into what passes for the central town square. It’s split up the middle with a small fissure, one block of concrete rising nearly a foot over the other. And right by the division is the central lamp-post.
3903Or what’s left of it.
3904
3905The post is bent out of shape in at least three places and what isn’t bent is covered in dents and the glass is cracked. There isn’t even twilight left in it anymore, it’s completely dark.
3906
3907“You hit m-holy shit!”
3908Beatrice had been lagging behind a little but no longe. She pulls her hat down further as you all stare at the broken lamp.
3909“Remember when I said that letting me off at the next town was fine? How about we wait for the one after this instead?”
3910
3911You don’t even acknowledge her, barely able to take your eyes off of it. You step closer and bring your wick to bear, Jeremiah and Beatrice both stepping back as you call forth true flame. What happened here? How could a simple earthquake, a little shattering of concrete, harm a lamp-post so?
3912And…what are people still doing here? Their mayor, the spiritual protector that every town needs, is apparently dead. The central lamp-post isn’t just out, it’s broken. And there’s a witch afoot? Why have they simply not just abandoned this town and left?
3913
39141/2
3915
3916-------------------------
3917
3918>>566591
3919Unlike Sacrament there is no tamed earth to sweep aside as you inspect the lamp-post and eventually the cause of its destruction becomes apparent. The crack, the tiny hairline fissure, has split right through the circle of runes carved into the concrete around the lamp-posts base. You know from awful experience that that can be enough to make it vulnerable.
3920
3921“The witch left it standing to torment us,” Jeremiah drones. “Bent and broke it with terrible magic while we slept.”
3922
3923You raise the wick all the same and do your best to light it but...the magic just isn’t there anymore. The lamp-post sparks and takes on a faint glow but that is all. What can you even do here?
3924“Falling stars and a broken lamp. If I had any doubts that I was moving in the right direction...they have been answered.”
3925The end of the world looms close. The satisfaction and hope that the rising star once gave you is fading in the face of this blasphemy. 
3926
3927“Aye, the stars are falling,” Jeremiah says. “The first one, the one that cracked Augustine itself, it came just before the first witchin’.”
3928
3929“I suppose there is little I can do here save to end this threat for you. But before that, could you spare a bed for my companion here? She is not well.”
3930You neglect to mention that she’s always unwell.
3931
3932The old man sucks in his breath, his mouth tightening. 
3933“That depends. How much are you willing to pay?”
3934
3935Beatrice looks up, her hat wobbling dangerously.
3936“Pay? He’s a Lampligher! He’s going to kill the witch for you!”
3937
3938“I am loathe to agree but this is an unusual request,” you admit. Normally you can subsist quite well off of the charity and gratitude of the towns you pass through. And these people want to charge you for it?
3939
3940“There’s no beds enough for even us alone, Lamplighter. To allow her in would be to deprive another. Cross my palm with coin and we can come to an agreement.”
3941
3942You don’t even have any bloody coin on you! You didn’t think you’d need it.
3943
3944
3945>”You’ll have to pay for yourself, Beatrice.”
3946
3947>”This is an ill way to show gratitude towards your would-be witch-slayer.”
3948
3949>”You’ll have to sleep in the handcar again.”
3950
3951>”Do you dare defy my authority?”
3952
3953>”Surely there is one that is not in use!”
3954
3955>”What use is coin out here? Can you eat it? Does it keep you warm at night?”
3956
3957>”First witching? Just how many have you had?”
3958
3959>”Point me at the witch. I long to leave this town already.”
3960
3961>”Why are you people still living here!”
3962
3963>Other
3964
3965-------------------------
3966
3967Anyway, as I said earlier this is the only update I can do today on account of game-day starting early. I'll be back around this time tomorrow and I'll do a full session then. Until then the vote remains open.
3968
3969I'd post the flake.jpg but eh, it's not really my fault this time.
3970
3971-omitted one small post.
3972
3973-------------------------
3974
3975>”First witching? Just how many have you had?”
3976>”What use is coin out here? Can you eat it? Does it keep you warm at night?”
3977>”Why are you people still living here!”
3978
3979You shake your head, dismissing his proposal. You don’t much like the look of this town. No proper mayor, no proper greeting for one of your status and now actually attempting to charge you for a basic service? You understand that witch predation can make one dour but this is surely stretching the bounds of good taste. 
3980“What use is coin out here? Can you eat it? Does it keep you warm at night?”
3981
3982“Neither. But the people of Augustine have suffered enough. I’ll not let you deprive them for your companion’s sake without cost.”
3983If the elder senses your disapproval, it doesn’t worry him. 
3984“You are one of us, Lamplighter and we will honor requests on your behalf. But the girl is an outsider.”
3985
3986You’re about to speak further on the matter when Beatrice gingerly taps the side of your arm.
3987“It’s fine, Orion. I’ll find a place to be sick elsewhere. If they want to be clods then that’s their God-given right.”
3988
3989“Then so be it. Jeremiah, if Augustine’s situation is so desperate then why are all of you still living here? Surely there are greener pastures elsewhere.”
3990
3991“Leave? Where to? We have no locomotive and no means to fuel it even if we did. Are we to walk to the closest town? With our oldest and our slowest not falling behind? That’s a week on foot and across broken concrete to boot. I cannot ask such a thing of the people.”
3992Jeremiah turns and gazes across the horizon.
3993“And we would surely be bedeviled upon your way. The safety of Augustine is weak protection indeed but it is still better than being upon the open road when she comes for us yet again.”
3994
3995“You speak as if she has come many times before. Just how many times has this witch attacked?”
3996
3997“Too many to count and at first she was not alone. Walk with me, Lamplighter. There is an easier way to show you.”
3998He walks through the town square, clearly expecting you to follow him.
3999
4000“You two can do that,” Beatrice pipes up from behind you. “I’m going to find a place to sit, maybe eat something.”
4001She approaches one of the townspeople still lingering in the street, a young man with a perpetually downturned expression. 
4002“Do you have a place where I can sit or rest? There’ll be no sleeping involved.”
4003
4004Jeremiah calls out from across the square before the man can even respond to the offer.
4005“Five sols!”
4006
4007“What, really? Fine. I probably wasn’t going to use these for anything anyway.”
4008The witch digs about in her pouch for a small handful of sols.
4009“I think I have enough.”
4010
4011
40121/2
4013
4014-------------------------
4015
4016>>571964
4017>”No. You’re sticking with me, Beatrice.”
4018
4019>Follow Jeremiah. The sooner you get this out of the way the quicker you can leave this accursed town.
4020
4021>”Surely there must be another way she can pay.”
4022
4023>Take the coins from her. “We pay for nothing. This is absurd.”
4024
4025>”You said you wouldn’t charge a Lamplighter. So why would you charge one’s official assistant?”
4026
4027>Other
4028
4029-------------------------
4030
4031>Follow Jeremiah. The sooner you get this out of the way the quicker you can leave this accursed town.
4032
4033You decide to leave Beatrice to her own devices for now. Does it really matter if she spends her coin? What else are you going to even use it on? There’s nothing ahead of you but the apocalypse. If she wants to give these people some mostly meaningless metal than she is free to do so. You doubt that she’ll cause much trouble in your absence. 
4034Instead you walk forward, taking long strides but being careful not to run, endeavouring to catch up with the town elder. He’s surprisingly quick on his feet.
4035
4036“Just what is it that you want to show me?”
4037
4038“You’ll see. It’s better to see it than to hear of it.”
4039
4040At the far end of the town square is a strange little cul de sac that branches off, filled with abandoned and empty houses sitting at a tilt thanks to the uneven ground below. And at the furthest end of it, a large scorch mark covering the street, a black scar upon the concrete itself.
4041And within it are the corpses, men and women piled high in various states of cremation. Some aren’t even burnt at all but were simply staked to the ground or buried under rocks and broken chunks of concrete.
4042
4043“When the witches first came, they took far too many of us,” Jeremiah explains. “The mayor and his assistant, the children. We were unable to leave the town and were thus forced to cremate them here.”
4044
4045“They killed this many?”
4046It’s hard to believe. In fact, you don’t believe it. There are too many corpses here and many have been clearly mutilated or crushed after death.
4047
4048“Of course not. But lacking little else to do, we turned to the hunt. The witch had infiltrated us, you see. Claimed the hearts of weak men and women who had aided her in consuming us. So we searched up and down through all Augustine and we tore them from their homes. At first we burned them but when the fires stopped lighting, we turned to other means of executing the traitors and the witches. And we did it here, atop the bodies of their victims.”
4049
4050There is nothing quite so terrifying as an amateur witch-hunt. And that doesn’t explain it all yet either. Some of these bodies are relatively fresh.
4051“And what of the new corpses? I thought you had purged Augustine of all the traitors.”
4052
4053Jeremiah Stocks shakes his head.
4054“One can never be too vigilant. The hunt continues and perhaps always will for the witch outside will never stop attempting to corrupt this community. I know to you this may seem crude but I am not a Lamplighter, I am but a man. But I have still done my best to purge the darkness from our home and I will continue to do so, no matter the cost.”
4055
4056“I see that plainly.”
4057
40581/2
4059
4060-------------------------
4061
4062>>572183
4063“I hope you understand the gravity of the situation. The witch is tireless and I have only stopped her influence upon this town by rooting it out at every opportunity. We live in a state of constant vigilance, brother watching brother. But I cannot seek the witch out and end her myself. Only someone like you can do that.”
4064
4065And you’ll have to do that before Augustine finishes devouring itself by the look of things.
4066
4067
4068>”I must praise your zealotry but I am afraid you have gone too far.”
4069
4070>”Very well. Let’s get this over with.”
4071
4072>”And how strong was the evidence that lead to all these deaths? This witch is smart, all she has to do is show herself and you’ve started killing yourselves.”
4073
4074>”...Have you ever actually seen the witch? In person?”
4075
4076>”You have overstepped your bounds!”
4077
4078>"But why keep the bodies inside the town?"
4079
4080>Other
4081
4082-------------------------
4083
4084>”And how strong was the evidence that lead to all these deaths? This witch is smart, all she has to do is show herself and you’ve started killing yourselves.” 
4085>”...Have you ever actually seen the witch? In person?”
4086>"But why keep the bodies inside the town?" 
4087>”You have overstepped your bounds!” 
4088
4089You’ve seen this happen before though it was in happier times and far less severe. A witch hunt directed by common people who know little of witches is naught but a mob, one more likely to catch pariahs, strangers and deviants than it is to find a witch or her cultists. Even if you do understand and sympathize with the intent behind it, it is clear to you that these people have made a grave mistake.
4090“And how strong was the evidence that lead to all these deaths? Was there conclusive proof that every single one of these had sold their souls to darkness?”This witch is smart. All she has to do is to show yourself and you destroy yourselves.”
4091
4092Even now, the elder seems to be mostly unfazed by your accusations.
4093“I have done the best anyone could ask of me, Lamplighter. Your duty is to slay the witch, not to question our means against the darkness!”
4094
4095“You overstep your bounds! This is the duty of a mayor or someone else of equal spiritual inclination. I respect that you stood up to lead your people after the mayor was slain but you are not a clergyman. This was not your burden to bear and by attempting to do so, you have borne it poorly.”
4096
4097“And what else was I supposed to do? Let us be undermined from within?”
4098
4099“That has already happened. Have you ever even seen this witch that has you all so deeply under her thumb? Does she exist? Or do you strike at shadows and nothing but!”
4100Jeremiah might not be angered but you can feel your own hackles rising as you argue with him. There was innocent blood spilled here, you are sure of it, even if some of them were true traitors.
4101“And why do you keep these damn bodies here! Have you not disrespected them enough? Is the stench to your liking?”
4102
4103Jeremiah draws himself up, his teeth pressed together.
4104“I have seen her. And you would do well, Lamplighter, to not throw doubt upon our ways! If even a few innocent souls are caught up, so be it! That is the cost for expelling blasphemy from our midst! And where else are we to put the bodies? Throw them into the plains to be scattered to nothing? Into the craters so that the witch might turn them against us?”
4105
4106
4107>Burn the bodies yourself.
4108
4109>”Point me to this witch’s crater. I will seek her out myself and put an end to this.”
4110
4111>”Once the witch is dead, I want you to stand down and relinquish your hold over this town. You are plainly not fit to lead.”
4112
4113>”Let me show you a proper purge is done. Assemble the townsfolk and I will divine this matter myself.”
4114
4115>Tap a Benediction upon him, just to be sure.
4116
4117>”You did the best you could in your circumstances. But after I finish here, this all ends. Understand?”
4118
4119>Other
4120
4121-------------------------
4122
4123>Burn the bodies yourself.
4124>”Point me to this witch’s crater. I will seek her out myself and put an end to this.”
4125
4126“Listen to me, Jeremiah. Witches and other creatures of darkness thrive on discord and fission. It is how they seek to throw shadow over the children of Light. Hunting down your fellow man without proper cause serves their cause as well as if they had killed them themselves. The witch simply chose to destroy you with another, slower way.”
4127You don’t wait for his reply as you point your wick towards the pile of bodies.
4128
4129Wick: 8/10
4130
4131Wick: 5/10
4132
4133A jet of flame ignites the pile as you set them all alight. You’ve brought light back to Augustine but only in the most macabre of senses. 
4134“Now point me to this witch’s crater. I will seek her out myself and put an end to this.”
4135
4136Jeremiah takes a step back and then seems to relent.
4137“Thank you. Come with me.”
4138
4139He leads you out past the scattered and downtrodden townsfolk and past the cracked borders of Augustine itself. He points off to the distance, his finger following the path of the fissures as they all lead back to a single source.
4140“Her name is Agatha. She has lived out beyond the village for years, a strange old biddy but mostly harmless. I never had much to do with her but she has become something twisted now. She seeks vengeance for the isolation that she imposed upon herself. You’ll find her by the crater’s edge.”
4141
4142You nod, peering out at the horizon as if you could pin this elusive evil down with a stare alone.
4143“And when was the last time you saw her?”
4144
4145“When she broke the lamp-post just the last evening. I was there and I was helpless to do anything but witness it. Feel free to judge us all you wish later, Lamplighter, but she must be stopped now!”
4146
4147
4148>Head out immediately.
4149
4150>Head out and take Beatrice with you.
4151
4152>”You can come too, if you’d please.”
4153
4154>”I will but not yet.I need time to recover my Wick.”
4155
4156>Other
4157
4158-omitted one small post.
4159
4160-omitted one small post.
4161
4162-------------------------
4163
4164>Head out immediately.
4165
4166You do not much savour the prospect of having to fight a witch with your Wick half-lit but you cannot help but admit that she may have seen or otherwise detected the cremation you had summoned forth. The hour or so that it might take to replenish your fire could mean the difference between life and death for a few more hapless folk. And the people of Augustine have surely suffered enough.
4167
4168“Then I will leave immediately. Would you like to come with me?”
4169
4170Jeremiah steps away from you, shaking his head and setting his long thin beard shaking.
4171“I would rather not, if it pleases you. I am but a man and she could rend me in twain before I take action. You and your companion may go, wherever she might be now, but I will not face her.”
4172
4173“There are some who’d call that cowardice.”
4174
4175“I would simply call it practicality.”
4176
4177“Well then,” you say as you suddenly step in close to him, your fingers leaving faint trails of light as you tap him in the chest with a basic Benediction of Warmth before he can react.
4178“Please allow me to bless you properly before I go.”
4179
4180Jeremiah shudders at the unexpected contact but shows no other signs of cold. If he was the true witch or some other dark creature he would have had a greater reaction to the chill, surely. But he remains standing and as dour and stoic as ever.
4181“Thank you. Will you be requiring anything else before you set off?”
4182
4183
4184>”You don’t actually have a choice about coming with me.”
4185
4186>”Tell my companion that I have left to slay the witch.”
4187
4188>”Fetch my companion, I would like her by my side.”
4189
4190>Requisition several men to come with you and help you in the fight. It’ll put them in great danger.
4191
4192>”That will be all.”
4193
4194>Other
4195
4196-omitted one small post.
4197
4198-omitted one small post.
4199
4200-------------------------
4201
4202>”Fetch my companion, I would like her by my side.”
4203
4204“Fetch my companion, I’d rather not face the witch alone.”
4205
4206“A reasonable request.”
4207Jeremiah gestures to one of the sullen townsfolk and they depart to find Beatrice and fetch her back. The elder spends the time it takes for them to get back saying nothing, doing nothing save watching the horizon. And you spend that time watching him.
4208Amatuer witch-burner aside, there’s something about this man you really don’t like. The stoic ease with which he takes everything in stride isn’t quite natural. But your Benediction didn’t chill him, he must be human. But maybe he’s a cultist or….
4209Or maybe you just don’t want to think of how a town can just as easily be destroyed by misguided humans with the same cause as your own as it can be by the creatures you’ve sworn to stop. Maybe that’s why you want to think of him as something other than what he appears to be.
4210
4211Either way, you’ve decided that it would be best to get out of his presence as soon as possible. So you decline to try forcing him to come with you as entertaining as the idea may be. 
4212
4213Beatrice arrives shortly afterwards, flanked by two villagers in a rather uncomfortable manner. Do they not trust her? She’s carrying her small keg in both hands, the one full of gunpowder. 
4214“We going witch hunting?”
4215
4216“Aye. She’s in the crater to the north by north-east.:
4217
4218“Another crater?”
4219
4220It only now occurs to you that Beatrice has apparently been ignorant of the presence of further impacts this entire time. Where did she think the cracks were coming from? You hadn’t said anything about them to her because you thought it had been opposite.
4221“I’ll fill you in as we walk. Let’s go.”
4222
4223The two of you walk across Augustine’s shadowy border in silence. Both of you keep your words to yourselves at first but Beatrice lets loose an explosive sigh the moment you’ve passed from earshot of the town.
4224“Oh fuck that place is uncomfortable.”
4225
4226“Agreed.”
4227
4228“Did you see the way everyone was looking at me?”
4229
4230“No. How so?”
4231
4232“I’m not sure what they meant by it but I sure didn’t like it. Not a huge fan of being looked at.”
4233She lifts her hat and exposes her face as she walks. 
4234“All I want is a normal enough town that I can settle down in and live alone there for the rest of my life. Is that so hard? It doesn’t even have to be normal!”
4235
4236“Then you picked the wrong handcar to climb into. I doubt you will find what you seek following me.”
4237
4238“Thanks. But on the other hand if I hadn’t gone with you I’d still be back in Sacrament waiting for the supply cart still. Or maybe not. Maybe they would have put me to the stake and torch already.”
4239
4240“You are a Flame Artist of some deviant kind. You will not burn and there is no need to be so melodramatic about it.”
4241
42421/3
4243
4244-------------------------
4245
4246>>575797
4247“Yeah buddy, you’ve made your position regarding this clear in the past. And for the record I’m only kind of immune to being burnt. Do you even know what’ll happen to me if I swallow some flame or just get too hot?”
4248
4249“What?”
4250
4251“I’ll explode.”
4252She says it with a completely straight face, bruised and bloodshot eyes looking straight at you.
4253
4254“You’re joking.”
4255
4256“I wish. Do you think having all this gunpowder in me is good for my health? I’m a volatile girl and I mean that literally. So uh, I bring this up since we’re going to be dealing with this witch together and all...it’d be great if you didn’t blow me up.”
4257
4258“Your existence becomes more and more ridiculous the more I learn about you. What experience do you have with hunting a witch anyway?”
4259
4260“None from this end. I’ll call out if I see anything weird.”
4261
4262Before long Augustine is just a speck upon the dark horizon and the lip of the crater looms before you. Your lantern and wick are the only islands of light within a sea of shadow. 
4263
4264“Hold up,” Beatrice announces. “Now that I know Augustine can’t see us I’ve got to do some preparation.”
4265She sets the keg down and starts to slowly work it open.
4266“Hey, do you think we’ll find another star in here?”
4267
4268“Don’t sound so hopeful.”
4269You lift your wick so that light falls across the crater’s wall. It is littered with torn-up chunks of metal mixed in with the broken concrete.
4270“Not all of them survived the fall in one piece.”
4271
4272“Shit. I guess you ain’t piecing that one together by just shaking your lamp at it, are you?” 
4273
4274“Unlikely.”
4275
4276Beatrice slams the little barrel shut once more, a few pinches of gunpowder scooped up in what appears to be an embroidered handkerchief. Instead of eating like she did upon the barricade however she instead lifts the handkerchief to her nose and snorts, a long and horrible sound. 
4277“Aaaaaaaaaaa,” she intones monotonously and you watch in disgusted fascination as the bruises around her eyes darken and swell up in seconds, excess blood leaking from her nose and eyes. 
4278“There. I feel better now.”
4279
4280“What was that abomination?”
4281
4282“This way’s quicker than just eating it and more importantly, I’ve been feeling sick all goddamn day and taking it in this way gives more of a rush. Gives me the time to feel alive before it all gets transmuted into fire.”
4283She’s starting to twitch.
4284“Downside is that I am really going to regret this later.”
4285
4286
4287>Split up and search along the crater’s rim to see if you can find the witch’s den before descending.
4288
4289>Do this but without splitting up.
4290
4291>Go straight down into the crater. The less time you give her the better.
4292
4293>Have Beatrice fire a shot to get the witch’s attention.
4294
4295>Other
4296
4297-------------------------
4298
4299>Do this but without splitting up.
4300
4301As long as both of you remain on concrete the witch shouldn’t be able to sense your arrival. Unless she’s watching you already with some kind of informant. But your encounter with the ghoul crow is still fresh in your mind so you’ve been watching the skies. You think they’re clear but in this darkness it’d be too easy for them to hide.
4302“Do you know of any way we could remain hidden even upon the soil?”
4303
4304“Depends. How do you’re like your chances of strapping two concrete blocks to your boots? It literally doesn’t matter anyway. She can see our light from a mile away.”
4305
4306“Point taken.”
4307
4308The two of you spend about ten minutes slowly marching around the side of the crater, lantern and wick both extinguished. The twilight of high noon will have to be enough light for now. It’s only when you reach the far edge that Beatrice wordlessly points something out. 
4309It’s at the very edge of the crater, half in and half out along the slope. A squat pillar of concrete, wider than it is tall. And atop this makeshift pedastal is a tiny hut, tilted slightly to the side as if it had just fallen down. The hut is surrounded by pails and buckets, each one filled with dirt.
4310
4311“Weird,” Beatrice mouths.
4312
4313“Why doesn’t she just take soil from the ground? Why keep it in buckets?”
4314Dirt contained is a dirt with its connection to the greater earth broken. Tamed. 
4315
4316“It’s a good disguise at least.”
4317
4318Something’s not quite right here. Ignoring Beatrice’s silent protests you kneel down and drag your finger into some of the dirt packed into the crater’s wall. Yes, doing this would mean that an attuned witch would feel it. But…
4319It’s as you thought. There’s no witch-chill here.
4320
4321“Beatrice,” you whisper. “Do you know of any witches who can suppress their blight upon the earth?”
4322
4323“Kind of? But it’d mean her power is monstrous.”
4324
4325
4326>”This isn’t a witch. Let’s go back.”
4327
4328>It might not be a witch but it still bears investigating. Keep quiet.
4329
4330>Knock on the front door.
4331
4332>See if you can take one of the buckets.
4333
4334>Send Beatrice in instead.
4335
4336>Call out to anyone in the hut.
4337
4338>Other
4339
4340-omitted one small post.
4341
4342-------------------------
4343
4344>Knock on the front door.
4345
4346“That’s it,” Beatrice hisses, her finger hovering close to the trigger of her pistol. “If she’s this powerful than we need t-”
4347
4348“I doubt we need anything. I don’t think there is a witch here at all.”
4349
4350“Eh?”
4351
4352“No witch-chill, living on concrete, tamed earth...More likely to be just an eccentric.”
4353
4354“But everyone seemed so convinced that she was a witch!”
4355
4356You’re about to make a retort that she of all people should know the danger of over-enthusiastic witch hunters but stop. It’s entirely possible that the only witch-hunt she’s taken part in was her own and that one had been completely justified.
4357“When people start suspecting witchcraft, it’s easy to blame or suspect the strange people, the hermits and the outsiders. I think we have one of those situations here.”
4358
4359“Then who’s the real witch?”
4360
4361“Maybe there isn’t one. Maybe the witch of Augustine just passed through one night and left. I’m going to go talk to this Agatha and judge her myself. Stay back and watch my back.”
4362
4363You slide down the side of the crater, catching yourself on the edge of the concrete plinth that serves as the foundation of Agatha’s little house and pull yourself up until you’re crouched before the front door. As you stand you can’t help but inspect the buckets just a little.
4364Plants. She’s been keeping a garden. Pale grasses and night-flowers. You don’t trust night plants but they’re hardly a sign of witchcraft by themselves.
4365There’s a tatty awning hanging over the doorway, strange little metal trinkets hanging from it like wind-chimes.
4366
4367Making sure that Beatrice is still standing over you at the edge with her revolver drawn, you knock three times.
4368“Agatha! I come peacefully!”
4369
4370The voice from inside is shrill and high-strung.
4371“Bugger off! If Jeremiah wants to come he can get off his high and mighty buttocks and-oh. Oh! I’m sorry. Thought you were someone else.”
4372The door creaks open to reveal an old woman, one who may have once been tall but has been almost bent in half with age. Their hair is iron-gray and filthy, clumped together in wispy strings and a half-done bun. Agatha herself paints no prettier a picture, her face lined with wrinkles and grime in equal portions. Her nose is huge and hooked to the point where it nearly touches her deformed, pointed chin like a particularly ugly crescent moon.
4373She points at you with a wizened claw.
4374“Who are you? What’s your business?”
4375
4376You’ve never met a witch so terrifically ugly. That could almost settle it on its own.
4377
4378>”My name is Orion, a travelling Lamplighter. I was asked to investigate a witch.”
4379
4380>Push past her and investigate her hut.
4381
4382>”Are you a witch?”
4383
4384>Tell Beatrice it’s all clear, she can come down too.
4385
4386>”Just a traveller passing through.”
4387
4388>”I have some questions I’d like to ask you.”
4389
4390>”What is your relation to Augustine?”
4391
4392>Other
4393
4394-------------------------
4395
4396>Tell Beatrice it’s all clear, she can come down too.
4397>”My name is Orion, a travelling Lamplighter."
4398>”I have some questions I’d like to ask you.”
4399>Benediction
4400
4401You lack the mastery required to place a Benediction upon the unwilling but as long as you take her by surprise you should be able to get it to stick! But you’re going to need more light than this!
4402“Agatha, I presume? My name is Orion, a travelling Lamplighter.”
4403You slam the butt of the wick into the ground and the tip flares to life as if it to punctuate that statement. Your free hand is already moving as the light blooms, fingers gently brushing across her shoulder in the traditional gesture of blessing.
4404“Blessings be upon you and your house.”
4405A basic Benediction of Warmth yet again.
4406
4407Agatha’s eyes widen and her jaw drops, revealing a mostly toothless maw. 
4408“You really are the real thing! Haven’t seen one of you around for going on thirty years now! Come in, come in! What’s mine is yours.”
4409
4410“Thank you.”
4411She steps back into the house and you shake your head at Beatrice, who has had the pistol trained upon the old woman the entire time. The witch seems to get your message and jumps down to join you.
4412
4413“Oh, there’s more of you? She can come in too! And...oh dear, what happened to your face?”
4414
4415“I could say the same to you,” Beatrice mumbles almost inaudibly. “And uh, Orion can go. I think I’ll just stay out here and keep watch.”
4416She stands uncomfortably just outside the awning, refusing to take even another step in. Curious. You’ll ask her about that later.
4417
4418The inside of the hut is an extension of what is outside it, pots of tamed earth and plants, strange little knick-knacks and oddments. There’s only one chair and Agatha doesn’t offer it to you, slowly levering herself into it instead.
4419“Oh, it’s been so long since I felt a proper fire. I don’t suppose I can ask it of you?”
4420She beckons to her long-empty fireplace and you see no reason to deny her request. The firewood is ancient but it still burns well enough and soon the entire hut is filled with light and warmth. As it should have always been.
4421
4422“Oh, thank you, thank you. Now...are you here on behalf of the town?”
4423She looks at your shrewdly, apparently trying to note your reaction despite your helmet.
4424“I’m not a fool. Those lads have been trying to take my head for years. Got it into their fool heads that I’m some sort of witch! Hah!”
4425
4426“Are you?”
4427
4428“What? No! Never. I mean, yes, I do some work on the lay of the land. I see how things work and I make use of that. Like the night-plants or the way the dirt moves or the knucklebones. But that isn’t witching, that’s just good sense.”
4429
44301/2
4431
4432-------------------------
4433
4434>>576514
4435>”Is there any other reason anyone might want you dead?”
4436
4437>Ask about Jeremiah.
4438
4439>Ask about the witch.
4440
4441>”Knucklebones?”
4442
4443>”Do you really survive off these night-flowers? I’d not trust them.”
4444
4445>Ask her what she’s doing in the crater.
4446
4447>Demand that Beatrice come inside.
4448
4449>”I’ll take my leave then.”
4450
4451>Other
4452
4453-omitted one small post.
4454
4455-------------------------
4456
4457>”Knucklebones?”
4458>Ask about Jeremiah.
4459>Ask about the witch.
4460
4461If Agatha is a witch than she’s quite excellent at hiding her true nature. Most witches you’ve ever met were beautiful, rejuvenated by their powers and strangely finicky about their appearances. Agatha is anything but. And she doesn’t shy away from the flame like even Beatrice does.
4462“You do know about the situation in Augustine, don’t you? The town has gone mad in its search for a witch. For you.”
4463
4464“Oh I know all about that,” she snaps. “Would be that I’d get a lad over every week or so shouting at me. They don’t dare try to actually do anything by themselves of course.”
4465
4466“But if you aren’t the witch, who is?”
4467
4468Agatha shrugs.
4469“Nobody? I’ve seen neither hide nor hair of her, almost think she just attacked and then left. Let people tear themselves apart over a threat that wasn’t even there anymore.”
4470
4471“Do you have any history with Jeremiah Stocks? Any reason he might want you dead?”
4472
4473She shakes her head, greasy hair sent swinging.
4474“Barely ever met the man. Bit of an old boy, Augustine born and raised. I’ve always lived out on the fringes, it’s how I do, even when the star nearly crushed me. People tend not to tolerate up close ‘cause of what I know. But Jeremiah specifically? I think I’m just the last good suspect left. But really, I just wish he’d come himself instead of sending lackeys. I’d love to give him a piece of my mind.”
4475
4476“Indeed. What we have here might simply just be a misunderstanding.”
4477You hope so at any case. It would be nice not to have to fight a genuine creature of the dark in every town you come across. 
4478“You must admit, you make quite the suspicious figure though. You work with the earth and from what you said before, you have a number of rites or practices that most people don’t know. Some would call that withing on its own.”
4479
4480“Those ‘some’ are idiots,” Beatrice speaks from outside the shack. “You should know that more than most, Orion, considering what you do. Witchcraft has deep roots and it’s based on the very earth we live upon, the way the world moves without the Wheel God imposing order. There’s a lot of lore and rites and little practices that can be picked up from just watching how everything works.”
4481
4482“Indeed.”
4483You use more than a few of them yourself. But still, it’s rare to find someone who appears to have genuinely struck upon witch-lore without studying witches themselves.
4484“What else do you do? You said something about knucklebones?”
4485
4486“Yes, yes. Just promise you aren’t going to set me aflame.”
4487Agatha reaches into her deep pockets and pulls out a pair of carved knuckle-bones. Dice.
4488“Here, drag that pot over, the one with no plants in it.”
4489
4490You push it over, the tamed earth sitting right in front of Agatha as she crouches over in her chair.
4491“It’s all about fate. You’ve got to listen to it.”
4492
44931/2
4494
4495-------------------------
4496
4497>>576732
4498“Fate? The sun is dead, the solar calendar broken. The Prophecy of Ages no longer applies. Time and fate no longer apply.”
4499
4500Beatrice makes a rude noise with her mouth, apparently secure in her belief that you won’t leave the hut to strike her.
4501“Yeah but all that stuff is just order that the Sun forced upon the earth. The earth has its own fate and it ain’t nice.”
4502
4503Agatha nods.
4504“Where’d you get this girl from, Lamplighter? She knows. The earth is always whispering what is to come and if you roll the dice upon it sometimes you can get a glimpse. It’s how I knew to be ready for when the star fell.”
4505She places the two dice upon the tamed soil.
4506“Tamed earth still works and is safer besides. You do this too often and you risk getting attention from those who lurk below. Same reason I’m only using two dice instead of three. Three would be best, that’s the good number. Here.”
4507
4508She picks up the bone dice, their sides still smeared with soil and holds them out to you.
4509
4510“Rub them in your hands, Orion, and cast them upon the dirt. I’ll read the signs for you, for what is to come. Consider it an act of gratitude.”
4511
4512You’re a little unsure about this. Isn’t this straying a bit too close to genuine witchcraft? Listening to the earth has never done anyone any good.
4513“Beatrice! Have you ever seen this before?”
4514
4515“Nope, this new to me too. I didn’t know there was a way to do that without burying y-nevermind. Didn’t know there was a way that wasn’t witchcraft.”
4516
4517
4518>Take up her offer but have Beatrice ready in case she sees anything that resembles withcraft.
4519
4520>Just take up the offer. You’ll probably never have this chance again.
4521
4522>Decline.
4523
4524-------------------------
4525
4526>Take up her offer but have Beatrice ready in case she sees anything that resembles witchcraft.
4527
4528“Very well but understand that I do not do this without precaution. Beatrice, if you see anything wrong about any of this, shoot the pot.”
4529Agatha doesn’t object but you do see a few beads of sweat start to run down her grimy forehead as the witch levels her pistol. You pick up the carven dice in your hands, feeling the weight of them and giving them a shake. You were never much for dice games but these feel heavier than they should.
4530
4531You roll them onto the dirt and they bounce only once before both dice come to a stop, each showing the same face. A single black dot against a backdrop of bone.
4532Two ones. Snake eyes.
4533
4534Agatha crouches even lower, peering at the dice and tracing the tracks they left upon the soil. 
4535“I’m terribly sorry Orion, after I claimed expertise and all that, but these signs are foreign to me. Can you- ah!”
4536She sits back in her chair with surprising swiftness. 
4537“You bear a terrible burden. It is so large that I couldn’t even see it for a moment.”
4538
4539You can almost feel Beatrice’s gaze fall upon the swaddled lamp-post but you do your best to stay calm. Is there something to this trick after all?
4540“That I do.”
4541
4542“May I beg of you to roll again? I’ve never seen the signs like this before.”
4543
4544You oblige her, scooping up both dice and rolling them again with a bit more force behind them this time.
4545
4546A pair of ones. The same result. Agatha flinches a little as she sees them.
4547“Ones again,” she murmurs. “Odd. But regardless of the faces I can see the design in their tracks. This burden did not come easy to you. It came as a disgrace and a mistake. But...you do not bear it alone.”
4548
4549“What do you mean?”
4550
4551“You have two brothers Orion. Brothers in sunlight not in blood. They carry what you carry and for the same purpose. And seven sinners who await you at the end of the world. It-It all leads there. Roll again!”
4552She barks the last two words. Not a request but a command.
4553
4554Beatrice gives you an uneasy nod from the doorway and you roll again.
4555
4556Two ones for the third time in the row. And Agatha shrieks, crumpling back in her chair like a sack of rags. And yet Beatrice doesn’t pull the trigger.
4557“They watch,” Agatha groans. “Look at them! They watch! They’ve seen us!”
4558She pushes the pot over and earth spills everywhere, the two dice sent skittering across the concrete ground.
4559
4560When they come to a halt they both stop at the exact same time. Two ones.
4561
4562“Enough! Get out! Leave my house!”
4563
4564You catch Agatha’s wrist as he begins to flail wildly.
4565“Calm down. What’s wrong?”
4566
4567“The dice have been watching back! Orion, I don’t know what awaits you but beware! Something with its claws upon the fate of the world knows of you, has seen you. They were waiting for you! And now they’ve seen me too!”
45681/2
4569
4570-------------------------
4571
4572>>576917
4573She scrabbles to her feet, shuffling her various belongings together.
4574“I’m leaving, going to another town, anywhere else. I’ll change my name, wear a hood and never touch the dice again. They’ve seen me!”
4575
4576“Who are they? Beatrice?”
4577
4578“I don’t fucking know!”
4579Beatrice looks as puzzled as you.
4580
4581“It waits for you at the end of the world! Now get gone and take these with you!”
4582She scoops up the two knucklebone dice and throws them at you. You reflexively catch them with your free hand. 
4583“I’ll have no more truck with them or with you! It is one thing to see but I was never meant to be seen! Go! Go!”
4584
4585
4586>New Dice Rule: Snake-eyes. Whenever you are called upon the roll 3 dice and at least 2 come up as one, the gaze of something foul falls upon you with uncanny effects.
4587
4588>New Witch-Lore: Roll the Bones. Orion may roll two or more dice at any time and compare their results. The dice that show 1s point the way towards Dis. 
4589
4590
4591Options
4592
4593>”So be it!” Leave. 
4594
4595>Tell her about Sacrament. She’ll live well there.
4596
4597>Give the dice to Beatrice.
4598
4599>Throw the dice away.
4600
4601>Force Agatha to stay.
4602
4603>Other
4604
4605-------------------------
4606
4607>Tell her about Sacrament. She’ll live well there
4608
4609“Agatha! I won’t stop you from leaving but I hope you have a plan that doesn’t involve simply trekking into the plains to your death. Get back to the rails if you can and follow them south. There’s a town called Sacrament there and they should be able to take you in.”
4610
4611“Thank you.”
4612She sounds a little begrudging and you suppose you can’t blame her though you understand little of what just happened. 
4613“If I had known you had a doom like that upon you I wouldn’t have looked at nothing. Good luck Orion. I think you’ll need it.”
4614
4615And with that, you part ways. You doubt you will see her again.
4616
4617“Well that was a bust,” Beatrice complains. “I got all jittery for nothing.”
4618
4619“Was it? Strange dice aside we’ve learned that there is no witch or if it is, it isn’t Agatha. We can give this news to the people of Augustine and they can finally put aside their hunt.”
4620
4621“But will they?”
4622
4623“I can only hope. But it isn’t my duty to protect people from themselves and I would be stretched far beyond my limits if that were so. We will be on our way and let them decide among themselves what to do. Hopefully it starts with finding someone more clergical to lead them instead of Jeremiah.”
4624
4625“If they even have any of that sort left. Actually, do we even have to go back there? Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say.”
4626
4627“We do, our handcar is still parked up on the rail right next to the damn place.”
4628
4629“Okay but we might be able to sneak around and get into and leave without having to talk to them.”
4630
4631“I won’t do that, Beatrice. Jeremiah might be unpleasant but his people deserve to know that they have been chasing after nothing.”
4632
4633“People? Pfft. I don’t like any of them. They’re all cold and rude, like they were just waiting for me to leave.”
4634
4635“It doesn’t feel good to be treated the way you treat others, does it?”
4636
4637“Whatever. Let’s just get in the fucking trolley before I come down.”
4638
4639The gray sun is getting low in the gray sky by the time the two of you find your way back to Augustine. There’s a small crowd waiting for you in the town square. Must be the entire population, men and women all. You spot Jeremiah in the back, standing in the doorway of what you assume must be his house. 
4640Three large carts are sitting within the crowd, loaded up with something obscured.
4641Have they come to see the errors of their ways and seek to reward you for killing the witch? You hope not, you don’t actually want to take anything from these people. What they have is meagre enough already.
4642
4643It is Jeremiah who breaks the silence, calling out as the two of you enter the square and approach the crowd.
4644“The Lamplighter has returned! And what of the witch? Have you torn her from her home and called down the judgement she deserved? Has the hunt ended?”
4645
4646-omitted one small post.
4647
4648-------------------------
4649
4650>”There was no witch.” Tell them what came to pass.
4651
4652You stare at them all and you don’t feel satisfaction. You don’t feel joy. There’s no sense of victory from protecting a town. All you feel is vague disgust. Why the fuck do they all look so sullen anyway? You’re sick of this wretched village.
4653“There was no witch,” you say flatly. “Agatha was just an eccentric old woman and she’s gone now besides. If there was a witch I’d say she’s long fled and left you to claw at each other’s throats. There is no witch in Augustine, there is only you and what you have done. Leave this place! It is cold and dead. Your lamp-post will not shed light again. The blood will never truly be scrubbed away. Move on and climb towards the light once more.”
4654
4655The people don’t even respond properly. Sure, they look awkward but they don’t look shamed. They don’t even look surprised when you say Agatha wasn’t a witch. 
4656
4657“Orion.”
4658Beatrice reaches up to tap you on the shoulder.
4659“Maybe you should over in this direction for just a moment.”
4660
4661The crowd around you is dispersing and spreading out. Surrounding the town square. Metal glistens in the light from your lantern as the carts are thrown open. Pitchforks, spears, axes and swords. Cold steel all. Not a gun or a torch between them.
4662
4663“I’m afraid you’ve been under a misunderstanding,” Jeremiah intones from the very back. “The Lamplighter is a fraud! Corrupted by the witch! I warned you all that this would happen! No outsider can solve our problems. All they can do is make them worse and to think he has the nerve to berate us? He seeks to turn us aside from our holy cause! Should we show them what we do to friends of the witch?”
4664
4665“Wait!”
4666You ignite your wick and true flame springs from its tip.
4667“I remain strong in the flame! Do not listen to this man!”
4668
4669“The fire was stolen from us long ago,” Jeremiah speaks. “Why would it work for this man when it will not for us? Those who wield it can no longer be trusted. And who save a Lamplighter would know how to destroy a lamp-post? And is it not odd that it was destroyed on the eve of his arrival? Spurn this false Lamplighter and know him for what he is! He has forsaken his vows of purity! He travels with a woman, some paint-smeared slu-”
4670
4671Beatrice shoots him in the face, a crack of flame within the bullet that explodes everything above his lower jaw. Jeremiah falls, bouncing against the doorframe and toppling over into the building. Killed on his own doorstep.
4672
4673“Bad choice of words,” is all the apology Beatrice has to offer before the townsfolk fall upon you, weapons at the ready!
4674
4675
4676>Use a jet of flame to scare them off.
4677
4678>Fight but do so only to incapacitate if you can. These are just people.
4679
4680>Fight only to incapacitate but Beatrice may do as she likes.
4681
4682>Strike to kill.
4683
4684>Try to just run.
4685
4686>Try to talk them down.
4687
4688>Other
4689
4690-------------------------
4691
4692>Use a jet of flame to scare them back.
4693
4694Beatrice backs away from the oncoming townsfolk and you can see that she’s already raising her pistol for a second shot. If she fires into the crowd you know how this will end. You’ll have to fight and the blood of fools will be spilt aplenty. But all men are fools sometimes and it is best to stay your hand against such when there remains a chance of mercy. 
4695Battling humans really isn’t what you swore your oaths for. These aren’t even cultists as far as you can tell!
4696
4697“Enough!”
4698You swing the wick as it bursts into flame, a spray of fire dividing the space between you and the people of Augustine. They stop, cowed by the flame they have spent their whole lives revering.
4699
4700Wick: 2/10
4701
4702“You have been lead astray. Any man or woman who steps within this circle of flame will be struck down! And look!”
4703With your other hand you point to the star above, the one you had personally placed back into the sky.
4704“Before I came here, this star was gone from the sky! You know that to be so! You saw it rise upon the eve of my approach! Do not be mislead and transformed into tools of evil. Just stop and think, I beg of you. What kind of creature opposes the fire? What kind of creature steps forward when the sun is gone and seeks to snuff out the last few candles remaining? Think of what you will become if you step across this circle. You are allies of light and there are too few of us left! Do not let yourself become otherwise!”
4705
4706Your voice dwindles away and for a single moment that seems to last forever, the world is frozen. Yourself and Beatrice, divided from the rest by a line of flame. The townsfolk at the forefront, unable to step foward or back.
4707And then a miracle occurs.
4708
4709The first man steps back, shakes his head and backs away from the circle. And men and women follow him. Without the witch hunter to spur them on and facing what they know to be righteous, they cannot advance.
4710
4711All save one. A black beared man leaps across the fire, pitchfork in hand and a warcry still in his throat. Foolish. You see Beatrice take aim. 
4712
4713
4714>Burn him. It’ll use more Wick however.
4715
4716>Let Beatrice shoot him.
4717
4718>Step up with the sword to fight him.
4719
4720>Step up with your staff to fight him.
4721
4722>Beat him down with your bare gauntlets.
4723
4724>Stay Beatrice’s hand and take the strike across your armour without moving.
4725
4726>Try to grab him and throw him into the flames.
4727
4728>Other
4729
4730-------------------------
4731
4732>Step up with the sword to fight him.
4733
4734"So be it. You are no brother of fire."
4735You draw the sword and step in towards him, Beatrice pulling back with a sigh. 
4736
4737It is best to finish this quickly and as impressively as possible. Leave the rest in no doubt that you are a proper champion of the light. His pitch-fork shouldn't even dent your armour. 
4738
4739He looks around hesitantly, obviously expecting other people to have followed him. When he sees you walking towards him with your sword drawn he roars and makes a desperate lunge!
4740
4741You swing.
4742
4743>Roll 1d6. The first 3 will be counted.
4744
4745-omitted one small post.
4746
4747-------------------------
4748
4749>6, 6, 3
4750
4751His pitchfork has the greater reach and strikes home first, the man’s triumphant scream turning into a choked gurgle as the pitchfork bounces off your breastplate without effect.
4752You sword bites clean through his neck, decapitating him in a single strike and sending the severed head rolling across the circle and into the flames.
4753
4754A hushed silence falls as you kick the body aside.
4755
4756The effect is somewhat ruined by Beatrice jumping up and down on the spot behind you.
4757“Yeah!{/i] Eat shit! Your town sucks and you’re all a bunch of cunts! We’ve both spent our whole lives killing people like you! For different reasons but still...so step off! I’m all hopped up and jittery on gunpowder and trust me, I am fucking ready! Anyone else want some?”
4758
4759You guess this is why she doesn’t snort the gunpowder all that often. 
4760But still, interruption aside, the message of the severed head burning in the fires before you is still one that can be heard loud and clear. The crowd is breaking apart and nobody seems eager to repeat the first man’s mistake.
4761
4762“I’ll take you up on your offer, girl.”
4763You spin around, already recognizing the deep voice that speaks out. But Beatrice killed him!
4764
4765A pale hand grasps the doorframe and someone scream as the headless corpse of Jeremiah Stocks pulls himself back to his feet. But he’s not so headless now, is he? Sprouting from his scorched stump of a neck is something you can only describe as a jagged horse’s skull, bent down and forward in a curve. The bone is smeared with blood and where the eyes should be are eye-sockets full to the brim with some kind of dark liquid. They overflow and leak constantly as Jeremiah steps forward, black teardrops sizzling as they strike the concrete.
4766Worse yet, Jeremiah’s ruined lower jaw seems to still be somewhat intact, a thin strip of flesh, bone and teeth worn around the bottom of the inhuman skull like a macabre necklace, long billy-goat beard still dangling from it.
4767
4768One of the villagers calls his name and the monster just laughs, a sound you never heard Jeremiah make.
4769“That man is long dead, Susanna. But fear not, I have been here in his absence to comfort you for all this time. For all of you.”
4770
4771“Fuck,” Beatrice says in a resigned tone of voice. “It’s an imp.”
4772
4773“The Lamplighter speaks truth save for one important correction.”
4774The imp steps forward, skull still sprouting from his puppet human body. 
47751/3
4776
4777-------------------------
4778
4779>>577955
4780“You are no creatures of light. Why do you think you were spared when I lead you to purge so many others? You are the dregs, the scum, the only people in Augustine I could trust to blindly follow my lead. And follow you did! It was I who killed the mayor and all the rest! I broke the lamp! But all those others, those too brave or too pious, too sceptical or too virtuous, all those who wouldn’t follow me and thus conveniently became witches and cultists? You killed them. You stand tasting the ashes of a world that was only created with your best efforts.”
4781The people cower away from the monster, the imp clearly enjoying himself.
4782“You are not humans. You haven’t been humans for nearly a year. You are beasts! Creatures of darkness! And a finer herd of which I could not hope to find.”
4783
4784Something fell falls across the crowd and you watch as their screams fade, their muttering stops. Weapons drop from hands that have suddenly forgot to use them and the spark of intelligence fades from every man, woman and child left in Augustine.
4785Where there was a confused mob just seconds ago there now simply stands a milling herd of beasts in human skin, no more possessing of a Wick or of sapience than any cattle.
4786
4787Imps.
4788
4789Imps are one of the more troublesome creatures of darkness, their origin and motivations hotly disputed. They are of the darkness itself, the most common theory describing them as fragments of the ancient gods. Just as corpses slough off rotten flesh, so do the dead gods beneath the earth throw off imps. They aren’t always strong and cannot be forced to dwell within the bounds of any active lamp-post but they remain one of the most terrifying creatures of all. They can crawl into the bodies of any human who willingly and truly decides to let them in, some of have been seen possessing small witch-sign capability and they take forever and a day to truly kill.
4790And they can ‘tame’ people.
4791
4792You’ve only ever seen this once before and it had only been a single person. It takes months, years sometimes of constant trusting contact with the imp. Eating what they give you, believing all what they tell you. It requires spiritual submission to the imp. Only then can the imp reach out and snuff your Wick forever and make the most base of animals where there was once a man. 
4793How long has this cancer been festering within Augustine’s heart so that this monster could do this to dozens?
4794
4795“Lamplighter,” the imp speaks as it steps through the mindless herd of beasts-in-human-shape. “Did you know that such a weak basic Benediction can only touch my outer shell when I’m playing human? All the same, damn your bitch and damn her aim. Damn you all for forcing me to this.”
4796
47972/3
4798
4799-------------------------
4800
4801>>577977
4802“Oh shut up you grandstanding prick.”
4803Beatrice is able to speak before you can.
4804“You can’t be that strong, you probably got stopped by the same starmetal chimes that got me. That’s why you wanted to throw us at her right? Who called you up? Who owns you?”
4805
4806Beatrice nudges you in the side as the imp considers the question.
4807“Oi,” she whispers. “We’re safe for now, fuckers love the sound of their own voice. We might get some useful information out of it before I shoot it down.”
4808
4809If Beatrice is at all fazed by the mass domestication she gives absolutely no sign of it. She acted more horrified the time you cuffed her.
4810
4811But you? You have yet to act or speak and not because you’re afraid. Those were people! They had heeded your words and had bowed before the flame! You had been about to turn them around, to raise another star back into the heavens.
4812And then there was this thing. The blood pounds in your head and you can barely hear Beatrice speak beside you.
4813
4814What can you do?
4815
4816
4817>Charge forward and kill it. Now.
4818
4819>Do your best to sit and let Beatrice talk to it.
4820
4821>Smack Beatrice aside. How many times has she seen this scene play out before? How many times was she the cause?
4822
4823>Unwrap the lamp.
4824
4825>Other
4826
4827-omitted one small post.
4828
4829-------------------------
4830
4831>Do your best to sit and let Beatrice talk to it.
4832
4833No, you must control yourself for at least a little while longer. Are you not a Witch-finder? Knowledge is power. If Beatrice can get this imp to speak upon its purpose and if it has a master than it can only be for the greater good. But your outrage cannot simply be asked to die.
4834No, the best you can do is to hold it back and to focus it. That is all that can be asked from you for now.
4835
4836“I serve no master,” the imp finally hisses.
4837
4838“Oh bullshit. And you just crawled your way out of the ground on your own, then? This place sucks but it doesn’t suck that much! You’ve sold your services to a witch...or maybe a bigger imp? You do have the look of a bitch to me.”
4839
4840“Impossible! I would never bow to another imp! I serve a witch and a better one I could not ask for! So take that information and choke on it, girl! This land belongs to Zeno! He pulled the stars from the sky to mark the mere boundaries of his domain. Against him you both are as dust.”
4841
4842Beatrice nods, apparently impressed.
4843“Pretty good, pretty good. But you know witches, am I right? All they have is power. And they actually die the first time you kill them!”
4844
4845“Yes, yes-what are you to know this?”
4846
4847“I bet you’re the brains behind all this, aren’t you? I mean, pulling down the stars sounds impressive but turning a town against themselves like this? And all the people who were too religious,” she scoffs as she says the word, “you got everyone else to think they were cultists? That’s fucking art, that’s what is. I bet Agatha was the only one left who didn’t follow you and it wasn’t even because she suspected anything, she was just a weird old bitch.”
4848
4849“Do you seek to flatter me into forgetting that you tried to kill me?”
4850
4851“That was before I knew what you were, silly. Your human disguise was that good. But does Zeno appreciate what you do for him? He...he doesn’t keep other imps, does he?”
4852
4853“No! No. I’m almost certain he doesn’t.”
4854
4855“Well, far be it from me to judge but you don’t sound like an imp whose been well-treated.”
4856
4857“Enough! Stop dancing around and tell me what you want.”
4858
4859Beatrice rips the top of her coat and blouse open, displaying the brand below her throat and several inches of cleavage that she absolutely didn’t need to show. 
4860“Let’s just say I’m looking to hire. Maybe just borrow you for a little while?”
4861
4862“A witch. You don’t look the part.”
4863
4864“Blame the brand. But you know as well I do that these brands don’t mean much anymore. My powers are returning and when they do? I can tell you that I’d really appreciate a good imp.”
4865
4866“And yet you travel with a Lamplighter? This dumb brute?”
4867
4868“Only for necessity. Do I need to remind you that we came from the south? And that we are still heading north? What lies up that way?”
4869
4870“Dis,” the imp breathes with what could be a wistful tone. 
4871
48721/2
4873
4874-------------------------
4875
4876>>578354
4877“Dis. If I wasn’t who I say I was, why would I be going there? I’m ready to join the winning team.”
4878
4879“And what of the Lamplighter?”
4880
4881“That’s what I wanted you for, darling. I know you’ve got a master for now and all but...actually, who is Zeno anyway? I’d rather not step on toes if I can avoid it.”
4882
4883“Zeno is the witch who holds these lands and those plains to the north. All towns here pay tribute to him in some form and the fallen stars mark the edge of his domain. He is the self-styled gatekeeper of Dis although,” and you swear you hear the imp snicker a little. “He has never set foot in the city itself.”
4884
4885“Sounds powerful. I imagine he must also lend you his essence then.”
4886
4887“No, of course he doesn’t.”
4888
4889“Really. I’d take yours if you had it. Just part of working with imps as far as I’m concerned.”
4890
4891The imp stops, the human body still slowly peeling away around it. It hasn’t stopped perpetually crying either.
4892“I may take you up on your offer but only for a time.”
4893
4894“Well good. First task: can you kill this Lamplighter for me? He’s still in my spell but I’m afraid to go near him myself.”
4895
4896“Ohoho, you have bargained unwisely. I would gladly have done that for free!”
4897
4898The imp rears up, both human hands blending together to start forming a witch-sign. Beatrice pales beside you, having apparently expected the imp to close into melee range with you. What’s worse, you recognize that sign. He’s going to pull the blood from his herd of beasts and impale you with it.
4899
4900
4901>Try to jump forward and stop the sign before he can finish it.
4902
4903>Set your staff aflame and throw it at him.
4904
4905>Throw Beatrice at him.
4906
4907>Just dodge!
4908
4909>Attack Beatrice. The imp might stop to defend her.
4910
4911>Other
4912
4913-------------------------
4914
4915>Try to jump forward and stop the sign before he can finish it.
4916
4917You’ll have time to question Beatrice’s questionable negotiating tactics in good time. But for now, all you have is a moment you’ve been training for your entire life! Someone is casting a witch-sign before you. If they complete it and all goes well, you will probably die. He’s not in the circle, still far enough that you won’t reach him with a single leap.
4918It all comes down to this.
4919
4920You leap out of the circle and hit the ground running, pulling your staff free and swinging the end down right into the middle of the imps twisting hands! 
4921
4922>Roll a d6. The total of the first 3 will be counted.
4923
4924-omitted one small post.
4925
4926-------------------------
4927
4928>6, 6, 4
4929
4930The staff is an excellent tool for disrupting witch-sign, its long reach perfect for dashing apart hands. And that is exactly what you do, bringing the staff down so that it smacks into the imps hands with a loud thwack, breaking them apart and keeping them from rejoining.
4931And then, while the staff is still forced between his hands…
4932
4933Wick 1/10
4934
4935You set the staff aflame and the imp screams, disentangling himself from the staff and trying to back away. But even as he does so, a shot rings out and the right half of his skull explodes in a shower of flame and bone fragments. He stumbles back even further, a full half of his exposed horse-skull missing and leaking a shower of black acid from the blown-open eye socket. 
4936
4937“Hey arshole,” Beatrice calls out. “You should have asked what I was doing with a gun!”
4938
4939“Wait,” the imp splutters. “If you let me get away with this I prom-”
4940He is interrupted by you jamming your still-burning staff into his skeletal mouth. His scream is muffled but you can still hear it as he begins to burn from the inside out.
4941His hands come up for one more attempt at a witch-sign but you disrupt it with a well-placed kick, the same kick pushing him back into the wall and letting you retrieve your staff before he can bite it in half. 
4942
4943You bring the staff whirling around as he tries to get to his feet, smashing into the arms he’d raised to block and snapping the bones within. And then you simply reverse the strike and swing it from the other side and you break his other arm.
4944The third strike smacks right into his left eye-socket, cracking it open and leaving a scorch mark. This in turn gives you the opening you need to grab the lower jaw of the skull and to pull.
4945
4946The imp falls apart, leaving just you and Beatrice alone with the herd.
4947
4948“Nicely done, Orion. You uh, you didn’t mind the whole ‘kill the lamplighter’ bit did you?”
4949She cringes away from you as you approach. 
4950
4951“Do your blouse up, you look indecent.”
4952
4953“It wasn’t for you,” Beatrice grumbles but does so anyway. “I don’t suppose that was his last life?”
4954
4955“Considering how cavalier he was? I doubt it.”
4956
4957Imps have a bad habit where it takes them a long time and multiple attempts for them to die properly. Each imp has to be killed three times before it finally takes. Until then each death only sends them back to the earth.
4958“At least he won’t bother us again. It should take him some time to burrow back up.”
4959
4960Beatrice shakes her head.
4961“A witch owned him, he’ll be back by tomorrow.”
4962
4963Damn it.
4964“Speaking of witches,” you say as you turn to her. “What was that all about?”
4965
4966“The what?”
4967
4968“The…that!:
4969
4970It takes a moment for Beatrice to understand what you are having problems alluding to and when she does she laughs like a madwoman.
4971“Oh Orion, we’re both adults. Surely you can say the word ‘sex’.”
4972
49731/2
4974
4975-------------------------
4976
4977>>578601
4978“Just explain yourself. You looked like you were ready to lie with him.”
4979
4980“Well, that’s what he wanted. That’s what most imps want. Do you know how imps have babies, Orion?”
4981
4982“I’m not sure I want to know but my duty as a Witch-finder compels that I listen regardless.”
4983
4984“Good. Well imps aren’t strictly male or fema-”
4985
4986“Yes, I am aware that they can be of either gender whenever they wish.”
4987
4988“Terrible listener. But I repeat myself. The point is that they do it to breed. You see, what they need to do is first the imp has to take a female form and uh, receive ‘essence’ from a male. Can be human or witch. But the donor has to be under the same rules as an imp’s possession. Fully willing, uncompelled and aware of what it involves. So you might imagine such men are hard to find. But then the imp must carry that essence within them, take a male form and then do the same but with a female partner that matches the same criteria. And those ones are even harder to find. Most imps end up doing this process with witches only but even so it’s pretty rare. So you don’t get many little imps and more importantly, the fuckers are horny nearly all the time because they don't get any. Actually promising to help them along is a huge deal."
4989
4990“So I was right. You did seduce it. Disgusting.”
4991
4992“Kind of? I wasn’t actually intending on following through with it.”
4993
4994“You didn’t sound out of practice. How many imps have you...have you…”
4995You can’t bring yourself to say it.
4996“Have you aided in this process in the past?”
4997
4998“Wow, look at that question I am under no obligation to answer. And regardless, there have been zero imp-children on my end. Ending life that’s inside you is a ridiculously easy sign to lear-”
4999
5000She trails to a stop as you glare at her. It’s hard enough to get along with her as it is. The last thing you need is for her to actually answer your questions about what she’s once done. 
5001
5002“So uh...how about these idiots?”
5003Beatrice changes the subject to the human herd still milling about you, the beasts placid and brainlessly unconcerned with everything that has just occurred. 
5004“What are we going to do with them?
5005
5006“I don’t know, maybe you’d like to defile yourself with them too.”
5007
5008“Alright Orion, answer the question seriously. And don’t you dare make that accusation again, I take this shit seriously.”
5009
5010
5011>Kill them yourself. 
5012
5013>Tell Beatrice to kill them.
5014
5015>”You put this half out of their misery, I’ll get started on the rest.”
5016
5017>Get them all into the town hall and set it aflame.
5018
5019>”Let them be.”
5020
5021>Punish her for taking that tone with you.
5022
5023>Other
5024
5025-------------------------
5026
5027Anyway, I've got work right now so I have to go. I'll be back in a few hours to finish this thread off and the vote is open until then. It'll probably only be one update.
5028
5029The thread has been archived, check the twitter for when the new thread is coming, etc etc.
5030
5031I hope you all had fun!
5032
5033-omitted one small post.
5034
5035-------------------------
5036
5037>Get them all into the town hall and set it aflame.
5038
5039You find yourself somewhat puzzled at her reaction to your words. It was really no worse than anything else you’ve said to her in the past. But then you think back to the start of this damned fight and the word that incited her trigger finger in the first place.
5040“Are you still trying to hold onto your dignity as a woman? You’ve already thrown away your dignity as a human being so I don’t see the point.”
5041
5042The witch just stares at you for a long moment.
5043“Truly, your insight into the female mind is without peer. Can we get back to the matter at hand?”
5044
5045“Gladly. Help me herd them into the town hall, we can still give them a death befitting human beings.”
5046
5047You and Beatrice slowly round up all of the two-legged beasts. The men, the women and the children. Not a single one retains even a shred of who they once were, their faces slack and placid with an idiot joy. They didn’t deserve this. It didn’t even benefit the imp in the slightest. It was done to spite you specifically, to tear away the congregation you had been leading back towards the light. The imp had broken them forever just to keep them from slipping through his fingers.
5048You stop to pick up a little girl who had fallen and started crawling like a dog. She can’t have been more any more than five years old. 
5049The wick quivers as your grip tightens.
5050
5051“Easy, Orion. You’ve already punished the one responsible.”
5052
5053“But I haven’t. I know how imps work, that monster still has at least one or two more deaths awaiting him before his dues can be paid.”
5054
5055“Well we’re heading deeper into his master’s territory so odds are good our paths will cross again. You can trounce him all you like and this Zeno too.”
5056
5057“For all you were willing to play the harlot you discovered surprisingly little, Beatrice.”
5058
5059“Oi, stop that. And no, I quickly figured that he didn’t have much worth knowing. The more bluster they have, the weaker they are, that’s the general rule for imps. That and the fact that Zeno’s had him stuck with a crappy little town as his plaything for at least a year.”
5060
5061“So if he wasn’t that important to him...do you think he has more?”
5062You keep pushing the beasts into the town hall one by one.
5063
5064“More imps? Probably not. I don’t know if you noticed but imps all hate each other. They’re extremely territorial, especially when it comes to witches and similar folk.”
5065
5066“Why?”
5067
5068“You’re not going to like this answer. It starts with an ‘s’ and ends with an ‘ex’. Breeding is already insanely hard for an imp, you think it gets easier with more of them around?”
5069
5070“Forget I asked.”
5071
5072Beatrice pushes the last animal inside and then shuts the doors to the town hall before any of them can wander out. This is the same building where you first saw Jermiah. Damn it. He’d been out here waiting for you.
5073
50741/3
5075
5076-------------------------
5077
5078>>578967
5079“If it helps,” Beatrice says. “Imps are real bad at the whole seduction business. Probably because when they’re not stealing a human body they all look ugly as sin. And it’s not like they can rape-”
5080
5081“I cannot possibly fathom how this would make me feel better. Now, do you want to set the hall on fire or shall I?”
5082
5083In the end you do it together. Your wick summons up fire and Beatrice puffs up her lungs and blows through it, gunpowder-laden breath creating a mighty stream of flame. In time you hear screams from within the hall but no words. Just meaningless animal bellows.
5084
5085“This is shit,” Beatrice remarks. You can’t help but agree.
5086
5087An hour later and you are working the pump while the witch sleeps fitfully in the other side of the trolley. She’s outlived the frenetic burst of explosive energy that she’d mainlined to cure her sickness and is now completely out of it as a result. She doesn’t even wake when the trolley rattles over broken concrete. But the cracks are lessening now, the craters fewer. 
5088
5089You can’t believe you still haven’t gotten any rest while Beatrice has gotten away with at least three in the same period of time.
5090
5091As what’s left of the sun begins to set, you come to yet another junction. At least six rails all intersect here, looping and leading off across the concrete plains in all possible directions. You stop the handcar and get out, roaming around the broken concrete until you find a hole that goes all the way down to the soil. It’s depressingly easy.
5092You take up a handful of it and scatter it across the junction and from your pocket, you pull two knucklebones carven into the shape of dice. 
5093
5094You sit down in the very center of the rails and start rolling upon the little clump of earth, rotating just a little around with each roll until you find the direction where the dice show nothing but ones. That’s it. That’s the rail you need to take. That’s the rail that leads to the end of the world.
5095You maneuver the pump trolley through the junction and onto the right track and in the far distance, you see a bird. An ungainly crow perhaps, with stitched-up wings and a cluster of claws where its feet should be? And then it is gone and out of sight.
5096
5097As night falls and twilight deepens into greater darkness you finally take your rest. You let the trolley slowly coast to a stop as you sit down and lean up against the side of it. You do not sleep, not just yet. You cannot, your mind still too busy revisiting the same old thoughts.
5098What good did you do in Augustine today? Helped extinguish a town already dead? This was no Sacrament, a town to be saved despite what it lost. In Augustine there was nothing you could have done.
5099
51002/3
5101
5102-------------------------
5103
5104>>578970
5105And how much of the world is like that now? How many little stars wink out and are never lit again? And ever the shadows deepen and the darkness rises up from the earth. For all the people out there right now, all the towns barely struggling to survive...it’s only going to get worse. Can there be any survival for all those trapped upon this broken world? 
5106It is then that you see another light in the night sky.
5107
5108At first you think it to be just an errant star but as it grows brighter and moves in a straight line you find yourself leaping from the trolley entirely, feet smacking into the concrete as you stand and stare.
5109
5110It’s a town.
5111
5112Some kind of flying Second Age relic slowly soars up above, far from the earth and supported by Third Age balloons. And in it, light. They must have their own central lamp-post up there! There are buildings and netted pathways and people and all of it is so bright. 
5113
5114For a time you think of calling out, of somehow gaining their attention. But you know they would never stop for your sake even if they impossibly heard you somehow. No, you just watch until it passes over the horizon in the opposite direction to your own, searching for skies with more stars than this one. 
5115
5116You return to the trolley and begin to pump anew.
5117
5118-------------------------
5119
5120That is all for tonight and that is all for this thread. There will probably be a new thread in a few days, check the twitter, etc etc.
5121
5122There'll be at least two more pastebins up then including a bestiary.
5123
5124==== END THREAD ====
5125
5126Lamplighter Quest: Thread Three
5127written by Ouro (39 posts, 18 omitted posts)
5128-------- qst2txt --------
5129
5130Archives: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Lamplighter%20Quest
5131Twitter: https://twitter.com/OuroQM
5132Questions: http://ask.fm/OuroQM
5133Character Sheet: http://pastebin.com/4TrWRPPq
5134
5135-------------------------
5136
5137>>598343
5138Chapter Three: High Noon
5139
5140The cart rattles on through the twilight, the circle of light from the lantern hooked to its side an island of visibility in the dark. The sun is out, for all the good that does these days, having just cleared the horizon a few hours ago. You lean over the side and confirm that the ground beneath the tracks is whole. The network of cracks left throughout the concrete plains by the falling stars has been left behind you, the gray expanse beneath the rune-carven rails unbroken and whole. Normally this would be cause for relief. But the words of the imp prey upon your mind still and you know what it really means. You’ve passed the boundary Zeno marked with the craters and are now well and truly within his territory.
5141It has been one day since you left the ruins of Augustine and chose the Dis-ward rail. Several times you’ve seen what might be towns or settlements in the far distance but the rail you’ve chosen is one with particularly calamitous intent, angling far from any town and letting the other rails service them as it strikes out in a straight line for the end of the world. 
5142
5143There is something tranquil about the bleak landscape that you currently travel through, the illusion of safety and calm. You don’t let your mind become ensnared by such foolish complacency but you feel yourself relax just a little anyway. You keep your hand steady despite the shaking of the trolley and remain at work. Pen scratches ink on paper.
5144“There is a certain peacefulness to be felt here, is there not? I don’t trust it.”
5145
5146“Peaceful?” Beatrice wheezes as she works the pump. “Well thank god one of us has time to...time to fucking ruminate holy shit. Holy shit.”
5147She stops halfway through her sentence to catch her brief, the witch looking particularly dishevelled and covered in sweat. You’ve left her to power the handcar by herself while you worked on more scholarly pursuits and she hasn’t been taking it well. 
5148“What the fuck is the deal with that book anyway?”
5149
5150“Just a journal of sorts,” you reply, still concentrating on the little book in your hands as you write. “It occurred to me after the events of yesterday that people need to be better educated on the matter of humanity’s foes.So I’ve begun to write a bestiary filled with what I know so that others might learn from it.”
5151
5152“Shouldn’t…,” Beatrice takes a brief pause to wheeze uncontrollably. “Shouldn’t I be the one writing that?”
5153
5154“No, you’re pumping the cart.”
5155
5156“Yeah okay sod but I mean I know a lot more.”
5157
5158“In some areas, yes. But I don’t wish to include unreliable sources.”
5159
5160“Unreliable?”
5161
5162“How you choose to use that knowledge has been dubious. Even aside from your history, you neglected to inform me that minor Benedictions would not afflict a monster inside a human body.”
5163
51641/2
5165
5166-------------------------
5167
5168>>598346
5169Beatrice’s mottled eyes grow wide with the perceived injustice.
5170“You didn’t even tell me you were doing that! What was I supposed to do, just volunteer that little fact from nowhere? Prick. The least you could let me do is do a little work on the book, scribble some words in. I...oh god holy shit holy shit...I can write pretty good.”
5171
5172“Absolutely not. This journal will be as a guide to the innocent and the ignorant and I better not catch you even so much as touching it.”
5173
5174“...Okay.”
5175The witch lets go of the pump and sinks to the ground, lying down curled up amidst the rags that pad the trolley’s metal floor. She picks up her hat from where it had fallen and places it atop her face directly.
5176“Writing break is over. Take the wheel captain.”
5177
5178You frown beneath your helmet.
5179“I don’t recall telling you to stop.”
5180
5181“Fuck your permission. Fuck you too.”
5182
5183
5184>Just take up the pump. It's not worth it.
5185
5186>Put the book down and get back to work but only if she does as well.
5187
5188>Give her a little kick to get her back into action.
5189
5190>Just let the trolley drag to a stop for now.
5191
5192>Other
5193
5194-omitted one small post.
5195
5196-------------------------
5197
5198>Put the book down and get back to work but only if she does as well.
5199
5200You close the book gently and set it down as you rise, pretending not to notice the witch watching you from beneath the hat’s rim.
5201“Very well. But you only have my help, I’m not letting you just sit this one out.”
5202
5203“Are you shitting me?”
5204
5205“I assure you that I am not. I let you come with me with the assurance that you would pull your own weight. I didn’t just mean on the battlefield. I meant it literally. Now get up and pump.”
5206You are more than ready to give her a little kick if you have to be. Thus far violence has been an easy way to make her fold. But in the end you don’t have to, the witch getting back up and joining you at the other side of the pump with a foul look upon her face.
5207“I have noticed that you are uncommonly frail,” you remark as you both get to work. “And easily winded to boot.”
5208
5209“I wonder where that could be from? I’ve really got no idea!”
5210
5211“There’s no need to be sarcastic.”
5212
5213“Too bad. I walk the path of flame and for me that mostly involves feeling terrible and sick all the time even before I have to push the goddamn trolley.”
5214
5215The two of you lapse into silence as the trolley rattles on and before thirty minutes has passed, the witch spots something along the rail up ahead.
5216“Is that a town?”
5217
5218You turn to look and indeed, so there is, the scattering of tamed earth before it to soften the concrete giving it away before the buildings even pull into view. But it isn’t simply close to the rails like most settlements are. It’s on them. The rail goes straight up and down through the main street, buildings clustered on either side. 
5219“That’s a little inconvenient.”
5220
5221“It’s a godsend is what it is. Just you wait, the moment we set down I’m out. I don’t care what town this is, as long as it isn’t a ghoul-nest or a ghost town or whatever the fuck Augustine was, I’m getting out and I’m settling down where nobody will pay me no mind.”
5222
5223
5224>Good riddance.
5225
5226>”This town likely belongs to Zeno.”
5227
5228>”I’m sure there’s something wrong with it.”
5229
5230>”I don’t intend to be stopping by for any longer than it takes to light the lamp and refill my supplies so better make it fast.”
5231
5232>Other
5233
5234-------------------------
5235
5236>”This town likely belongs to Zeno.”
5237
5238You strongly doubt that this town is completely free of taint or trouble, it’s too close to Dis to be otherwise. But you have an even more pressing concern to air first.
5239“This town likely belongs to Zeno. I’ve seen no reason to believe that we’ve passed out of his territory.”
5240
5241“First of all,” Beatrice puffs, “That’s not always a black mark. As long as it’s a town he doesn’t give a shit about and the people don’t ask too many questions. And secondly, we don’t even know if we’ve been travelling in the right direction or not!”
5242
5243“The imp called him the self-styled gatekeeper of Dis so I’d say this direction lining up with his conquests is a given.”
5244
5245“I’m not feeling great about tangling with a man who can pull the stars down. Does that not bother you?”
5246
5247“I have faith that an opportunity will present itself.”
5248
5249“Great. Well if you must seek out his ire please do so while I am not present. For all we know this town isn’t even part of hi-oh fuck never mind.”
5250
5251There’s a man dressed in black standing in the very middle of the street of the town ahead, both feet planted on either side of the railroad. He has his head down and both hands looped around his belt. And as the town grows ever closer the light of your lantern makes something flash white. Bone. 
5252The hands by his belt are skeletal, seven-fingered claws. The man looks up as the trolley approaches and reveals a deformed horse skull where his head should be, ever-weeping with black acid. 
5253
5254“He’s back already?”
5255
5256“You know,” Beatrice says weakly as her pumping begins to slow, “When I said he’d be back by tomorrow thanks to his witch I didn’t mean it literally.”
5257
5258
5259>”Shoot him.”
5260
5261>Slowly rattle into town and see what the fuck he’s doing here.
5262
5263>Speed up. If he wants to block the rail then so be it!
5264
5265>Call out before you reach the town.
5266
5267>Come to a stop outside and wait.
5268
5269>Other
5270
5271-------------------------
5272
5273>Come to a stop outside and wait.
5274
5275You let go of the pump, leaving Beatrice to be shaken around by it until she gets the message and lets go as well.
5276“The last time we met this creature in a town it didn’t go so well. I am loathe to do so again without prior confirmation.”
5277
5278“I doubt he’s turned them against us. Look.”
5279You follow Beatrice’s finger as the trolley slowly grinds to a stop just outside the small settlement. The windows are all closed but you can see movement behind them and even pale light, the flickering light of candles whose light has run wan. Every door and every window is closed off and the townsfolk watch cautiously from beyond.
5280“Looks like everyone’s afraid of him.”
5281
5282“Nevertheless, he clearly wants us to stop in the town or else he wouldn’t be blocking the rail. So I’m not even going to come close until I see what he wants.”
5283
5284The witch huffs.
5285“What he wants? He wants to kill us.”
5286
5287“Maybe not you.”
5288
5289“Especially me probably.”
5290
5291“It doesn’t matter. We’re not going to play into his hands again.”
5292
5293The two of you sit in the cart and watch the imp ahead in the darkness, locked in a stand-off. Should Beatrice just shoot him? Why this town in particular? None of this sits well with you.
5294Luckily the imp breaks first.
5295
5296“Oi! Get over here! I come bearing a message!”
5297When neither of you reply the monster throws his hands up into the air in a despairing motion and starts to walk along the rail right towards you.
5298“It’ll do you no good if you don’t hear it, these games of yours are worthless!”
5299
5300He’s out of the town now, the rails shaking with the sound of his long-legged strides.
5301
5302
5303>”Pump! Now!” Full speed!
5304
5305>Get out and meet him halfway.
5306
5307>Tell Beatrice to get out and talk to him. It’s her business after all.
5308
5309>”You can shoot him from here, right?”
5310
5311>Set it into reverse and start pulling back away from him.
5312
5313>Call out to him and tell him to stop. He can relay his message from a distance.
5314
5315>Other
5316
5317-omitted one small post.
5318
5319-omitted one small post.
5320
5321-------------------------
5322
5323I really doubt it's mouth cancer but it is true that I've been feeling like crap for weeks on end now. It's really been slowing my updates down. Not to mention unfortunate RL events.
5324In hindsight, I started this quest at a really unfortunate time. I might take a break.
5325
5326-omitted one small post.
5327
5328-------------------------
5329
5330The vote will remain open for quite a few hours until I wake up, naturally.
5331
5332>Call out to him and tell him to stop. He can relay his message from a distance.
5333>”You can shoot him from here, right?”
5334
5335You stare at the approaching imp and for a moment stare on right past him, looking through him and seeing only the empty ruin of Augustine and the burning bodies of its townsfolk. An apt reminder of just what kind of creature you’re dealing with here. 
5336“You can shoot him from this range, can you not?”
5337
5338“Of course. Do you want me to?”
5339
5340“Not yet. But consider it an option. Imp! Stop where you are! Not a single step closer!”
5341
5342The imp slows and then freezes, one boot on the rail and the other perched almost comically in the air mid-step. Acid-filled eyesockets stare you down as the monster peers at you.
5343“It speaks? At last, I was beginning to think you mute from our last encounter. What are you doing with a witch anyway? Particularly that lying whor-”
5344
5345“Hey bud, great to see you too!,” Beatrice calls out from across the distance. “Nice face. Get to the point and maybe you’ll get to keep it.”
5346
5347“Refrain from taunting the imp, Beatrice.”
5348
5349“Oh he hates me already. Imps take things like my offer from yesterday seriously.”
5350
5351The imp slams his foot down upon the rail and you can feel the vibration.
5352“Are you quite done? Listen, for I bear a message from Zeno himself, gatekeeper of Dis, lord of the concrete wasteland, feller of stars! And he bids you welcome to the small town of Enoch!”
5353
5354“What’s this town got to do with anything?,” you bellow. “What have you done to it?”
5355
5356“Nothing. Not yet. I think you’d like it here Lamplighter. Good people and mostly reverent. But they respect strength more than they do martyrdom and thus they pay monthly tribute to Zeno. There is no faith that cannot be cowed! And so my master has a little proposal for you and the people of Enoch.”
5357The imp’s voice is unnaturally deep and loud, echoing off the faces of buildings with a deep boom. All can hear it and you doubt he’s doing it for no reason.
5358“Zeno comes for you, Lamplighter! He will arrive in Enoch today at high noon and there, at the sun’s zenith shall be break you apart and feed you to the crows! All will see the Wheel God’s champion fall in the hour of his god’s greatest strength!”
5359
5360“That doesn’t seem right,” Beatrice mumbles. “What if we just leave Enoch before then?”
5361
5362“And if high noon comes and you are not here to face him like a man,” the imp continues, “He will have no choice but to drop a star from the sky upon Enoch and all those within it. The same for if he arrives and sees that you have lit the lamp-post here! Make your choice, Lamplighter. Your life or that of an entire town. Choose!”
5363
5364“What about my life? Can’t help but notice that hasn’t been mentioned yet.”
5365At the very least you can always trust Beatrice to look out for herself.
5366
53671/2
5368
5369-------------------------
5370
5371>>601703
5372“Zeno will give you to me to punish as I see fit for what you did to me.”
5373
5374“I see.”
5375Beatrice nods slowly and then turns to face you, her voice low.
5376“Orion I think it’s time to face up to the fact that a single town isn’t really all that important in the grand scheme of things.”
5377
5378Before you can reply to her the imp howls, a screech that shivers the tracks and makes the flame within your lantern flicker. 
5379“Choose now or later, it does not matter! I take my leave of you. Just know that come high noon, human blood is being spilled one way or the other. Consider what that means to you.”
5380
5381
5382>Call out to the imp. “I accept his offer. Tell him that I await him here.”
5383
5384>Call out to the imp. “Tell him to call down whatever stars he wishes. My duty is of greater importance than any single town.”
5385
5386>Strike Beatrice for her disregard of innocent lives.
5387
5388>”It becomes easier every day to see why you chose to become a witch, Beatrice.”
5389
5390>Regardless of what answer you give him, you’ll be taking another of his lives with it. Kill the imp.
5391
5392>Try to extract more information from the imp with casual talk.
5393
5394>The above but let Beatrice do it, it’ll probably be better. Probably.
5395
5396>Call out to the imp. “Tell your master that I am willing to give him a chance. He can flee these lands now and I’ll pretend I never heard this.”
5397
5398>Other
5399
5400-------------------------
5401
5402>Call out to the imp. “I accept his offer. Tell him that I await him here.”
5403>”It becomes easier every day to see why you chose to become a witch, Beatrice.”
5404>Regardless of what answer you give him, you’ll be taking another of his lives with it. Kill the imp.
5405
5406What kind of choice is this? You can tell that the imp delights in it, that he wants to cause you suffering. And not just for what you did to him yesterday or even that you are a Lamplighter. The malice he holds for you in his empty eyes would be the same if you were Lamplighter, a mayor or a helpless woman with child. Whether they knew him or had ever even met him mattered nothing to it. Imps are creatures born to hate.
5407
5408And yet, for you, the answer to his sadistic question is easy. You don’t even falter.
5409“Tell your master that I accept his offer and that I will await him here.”
5410
5411“Hey!,” Beatrice hisses. “Think about this Orion! I don’t want to let these people die either but sometimes you have to make a choice.”
5412
5413She’s tpo close. You stare at her coldly until she cowers back, her hands raised in expectation of a strike.
5414“It becomes easier every day to see why you chose to become a witch.”
5415
5416“What?”
5417
5418“Some choices,” you grunt as you grab the side of the trolley and throw yourself over, landing both feet flatly upon the concrete, “Are never to be made!”
5419
5420“Yeah, I know, I know. We’ve got to be righteous and al-”
5421
5422“No you don’t know. Not really. Else you’d never have become a witch.”
5423
5424“What do you think you’re doing?”
5425The imp stares at you, looking back and forth from you to the trolley that you had just vacated.
5426“Get back in the cart!”
5427
5428“No. I’ve given you a message for your witch. And he can have it when he draws you back up from the ground!”
5429You charge forward along the tracks. 
5430
5431
5432>Use your wick to burn him from a distance.
5433
5434>Set your staff alight and be ready to disrupt witch-sign.
5435
5436>Set your sword alight and just go for the killing blow as quickly as possible before he can do anything.
5437
5438>”Fire!” Though Beatrice will probably do this on her own anyway.
5439
5440>Set yourself aflame and tackle him.
5441
5442>Other
5443
5444-------------------------
5445
5446That's all for today I'm afraid. One of my out of town friends needs a lift so I have to leave early. This vote remains open until I close it tomorrow.
5447
5448Sorry about not really being here for either of these days. Tomorrow will be a full session, I promise.
5449
5450-omitted one small post.
5451
5452-------------------------
5453
5454>Set your staff alight and be ready to disrupt witch-sign.
5455
5456You hold your staff and wick aloft in both hands as you charge and as you draw ever closer, you bang the wick against the staff and draw forth flame!
5457
5458Wick: 9/10
5459
5460The staff wraps itself in holy fire and you drop the wick behind you as you take up the burning staff in both hands. There’s no hesitation in your movement, just you barreling towards the monster as fast as you can. And the imp doesn’t back down either, slamming both his hands together and preparing to make witch-sign.
5461Can you reach him before he completes it? You think so but you aren’t certain. And this is the way it has always been. Risking death or worse on the basis of something so trivial as how fast you are. 
5462Or it would be, if you had been facing the imp alone.
5463
5464A shot blows a hole through the imp’s chest, setting his vest alight and revealing a swirling crater of bent and broken finger-bones in the shape of ribs. You slam the staff down upon his fingers just a moment later, forcing them apart and letting you grab hold of his left hand with your right. The imp is light so it is trivial thing to pull him forward off his feet and guide his deformed bony face straight into the path of your staff. 
5465
5466And as it does, a tiny skeletal hand, no larger than that of an infant, worms its way out of one of the imps’ empty eyesockets, still wet with black acid tears, and swipes down right for your face!
5467
5468>Roll 1d6. The total of the first 3 shall be used.
5469
5470-omitted one small post.
5471
5472-------------------------
5473
5474>1, 4, 4
5475
5476You swivel and duck to the side in a desperate attempt to avoid the blow, the tiny claw soaring right by your helmet. Unfortunately doing this slowed your own momentum in the process and your staff doesn’t do much more than tap him on the skull, burning him but doing little else. 
5477
5478The imp staggers forward, less from your attack and more simply because they over-extended themselves. You slam the staff back up and force it beneath his elongated chin, holding it against his neck with hands on either side and forcing his head up. 
5479The imp screams from the flame and you let go of the staff with one hand, letting the now freed end swing around and pivot around the imp’s bony neck. The imp lashes out but it’s already too late. Now that staff is to the side, you simply drive it back down as hard as you can. It slams into the side of his neck and pushes him from the railway and onto the concrete, legs and arms sprawling as he collapses.
5480
5481The imps shrieks come to a sudden end as you bring the staff down upon his head with enough force to smash the top of his exposed skull open. Black acid leaks onto the ground and you pull your staff back before it can be damaged. 
5482
5483You hear Beatrice behind you, the witch emerging from the cart with smoking gun still in hand. 
5484“Too much to hope for that that was his third?”
5485
5486“Probably.”
5487
5488“Hrmph. You’re welcome by the way.”
5489
5490You don’t reply to her, still studying the imp’s dissolving remains and the town that lies behind them. You can see people peeking through the curtains, doors beginning to open.
5491
5492“You’re welcome by the way. For the shot and all.”
5493Beatrice isn’t yet quite willing to give this up.
5494“Thanks Beatrice! Shooting the imp sure helped me even though I overcomplicated the shot by charging right in front of him. I’m grateful to have her travelling with me and definitely don’t treat her like shit literally all the time.”
5495
5496
5497>”Are you done?”
5498
5499>Ignore her, just walk into town.
5500
5501>”You don’t deserve accolades for being a good person, that should be the baseline.”
5502
5503>Grab her by the hair again.
5504
5505>”If you don’t want to be treated as such, stop being it.”
5506
5507>Benediction of Warmth
5508
5509>Other
5510
5511-------------------------
5512
5513>”You don’t deserve accolades for being a good person, that should be the baseline.”
5514
5515“Beatrice, do you believe that being a decent person is deserving of special thanks? For acting like any proper man should? That should be the baseline. I expected you to back me up and you did. I would not wish for you to thank me if our positions were reversed. I would not need it.”
5516You walk a few steps back down the rail and retrieve your wick, the flame upon your staff winking out as you do so. You walk past her and she steps aside without another word.
5517“It was a good shot.”
5518
5519The town is slowly coming to life in the darkness as you walk along the rail and set foot upon the dust of their main street. Curtains covering windows are twitched aside and the men and women who had been cowering in their homes from the imp slowly open their doors and emerge to thank their saviour. And to excuse themselves as well.
5520
5521“Are you truly a Lamplighter?”
5522
5523“Please forgive us!”
5524
5525“We pay tribute to Zeno but only for our safety!”
5526
5527“We don’t worship him or the dark!”
5528
5529“What are you going to do about the star?”
5530
5531“Enough!,” you cry and the small crowd grows quiet. “Return to your homes and go about your business. Come high noon this problem shall be dealt with. Where is your mayor?”
5532
5533“Present,” a man in the back of the crowd speaks and the rest part to let him through. He’s a surprisingly young man, brown-haired and with a thick beard. He has a level gaze and he doesn’t avert his eyes from you.Hopefully this mayor is better than the last.
5534“Please forgive our people, Sir…?”
5535
5536“Orion. And no sir is necessary.”
5537
5538“Orion then. We pay tribute to the witch but we still hold the fire in our hearts. You must understand that. But…”
5539
5540“But?”
5541
5542“When it comes between choosing you or all my people…”
5543
5544“I think I understand.”
5545
5546
5547>Address the crowd. “Zeno will be arriving by noon and he will probably not come alone. If any of you wish to stand by my side and help fight for your town, please seek me out before then.”
5548
5549>Attempt to requisition the townsfolk to aid you.
5550
5551>Light the lamp.
5552
5553>”This is Beatrice, my travelling companion. She might be staying here if all goes well. Please take her in.”
5554
5555>”Stay in your homes.”
5556
5557>Ask about Zeno.
5558
5559>Other
5560
5561-------------------------
5562
5563>Address the crowd. “Zeno will be arriving by noon and he will probably not come alone. If any of you wish to stand by my side and help fight for your town, please seek me out before then.”
5564>”This is Beatrice, my travelling companion. She might be staying here if all goes well. Please take her in.”
5565>Ask about Zeno.
5566
5567“”Now, what can you tell me about Zeno? How will he arrive? What does he look like? Mayor..
5568
5569“Edward.”
5570The mayor shakes his head.
5571“I’ve never seen him in the flesh. Don’t think any of us have. But I’ve heard he travels the rail and that he can call the stars from the very sky with his witchcraft.”
5572
5573The rail? That’s unusual. How does he do that? But aside from that interesting little detail, the mayor doesn’t seem to have much for you.
5574“Does he have any other servants beside the imp that you know of?”
5575
5576Mayor Edward looks cautiously from side to side before slowly raising his hand and pointing to the town hall, a steepled building that seems to double as the local church. At the very top of the steeple, sitting on the holy wheel itself, is a fat crow with knife-like talons.
5577Ghoul.
5578
5579The monster caws and takes into the air as you see it, spiralling up further and further and then a shot rings out and it is sent tumbling to the ground. 
5580Beatrice walks into town behind you, her pistol still held out.
5581
5582“This is Beatrice, my travelling companion. She might be staying here if all goes well.”
5583Should you tell them about her being a witch? It would be the right thing to do but it would also doom any attempt she makes to settle down here. Do you really want to trap her with you?
5584
5585Beatrice blinks, evidently quite surprised by your words. She pulls her hat lower and cringes a little as everyone looks at her.
5586“Hi,” she croaks, her voice like broken glass. “Uh...any help would be appreciated also.”
5587
5588The mayor looks like he doesn’t quite know what to make of her. He must have caught a glimpse of her blotchy face in the dark before she hid it.
5589“Pardon?”
5590
5591“She’s right,” you say. “Zeno will be arriving at noon and he will probably not come alone. I will face him regardless of whatever happens but he has come prepared to kill me. If any of you would like to stand by my side and help fight for your town, I would greatly appreciate it.”
5592
5593Silence falls.
5594
5595You look across the crowd one by one, noticing how none of them wish to look you in the eye.
5596“Very well. Anyone interested should seek me out before noon. And for now, I go to my duty.”
5597You can see the central lamp-post sitting by the town hall, still protected by its runes. But should you light it? Would you be calling Zeno’s bluff or simply calling down his wrath?
5598
5599“Please, Orion, stay your hand!”
5600Mayor Edward moves between you and the lamp-post.
5601“We all heard the imp. If that is lit, we all risk death!”
5602
56031/2
5604
5605-------------------------
5606
5607>>608703
5608“Hold on, Beatrice says. “Can’t you just all leave Enoch? Evacuate?”
5609
5610“Where to?”
5611The mayor spreads his arms to encompass the concrete horizon.
5612“We would be run down like dogs before the ghouls. Enoch is our home and our safety. It cannot be threatened.”
5613
5614
5615>Light the lamp now.
5616
5617>You’ll avert from your duty for now.
5618
5619>Perhaps you can light the lamp later as some kind of trap?
5620
5621>Other
5622
5623-------------------------
5624
5625>Perhaps you can light the lamp later as some kind of trap?
5626
5627You look up at the lamp and slowly shake your head. It is your sacred duty to keep them lit but even in these cases, even today, practicality must win out. The only crime you have seen of these people thus far is weakness and if Zeno is even as remotely powerful as he claims then they can hardly be blamed for choosing to pay tribute. You will not endanger them unduly. 
5628“I shall light it after Zeno’s blood stains the concrete.”
5629Practicality also demands that you should not always be entirely honest. You might be able to use this lamp later.
5630
5631“Thank you Orion,” the mayor says. “By no fault of your own you have already brought calamity upon us. Please do not invite more.”
5632
5633“Fear not. I promise you that I do not come only to bring bad omens, Edward. You have my word that I will leave Enoch brighter than it was before my arrival.”
5634You stare up into the sky, able to look directly into the sun without your eyes even feeling it. A sad reminder of just how much the flame has diminished perhaps but also a reminder that you have several hours before noon. 
5635
5636“I see a pub,” Beatrice speaks up from behind you. “I’m going to get something to eat, maybe talk some people up into helping us. You coming?”
5637
5638“I do not drink.”
5639
5640“You can do other things in pubs.”
5641
5642
5643>Go with the mayor to try and round up townsfolk to help you.
5644
5645>See if you can find a blacksmith. The metal capping your staff has been etched with acid.
5646
5647>Maybe you can break the rails?
5648
5649>Try to get people to evacuate regardless.
5650
5651>Go buy some rations. You don’t have any money but you doubt you’ll need it.
5652
5653>Meditate upon your wick.
5654
5655>When Beatrice is gone, tell the mayor that she is a witch.
5656
5657>Other
5658
5659-------------------------
5660
5661Ugh, sorry guys. My head feels very stuffy and kind of painful, makes it hard to write. I think I need to get some more sleep if I'm going to be in any proper shape to work tonight.
5662I'll continue this tomorrow.
5663
5664-omitted one small post.
5665
5666-------------------------
5667
5668>See if you can find a blacksmith. The metal capping your staff has been etched with acid.
5669>Go buy some rations. You don’t have any money but you doubt you’ll need it.
5670>Meditate upon your wick.
5671
5672You leave Beatrice to canvass the locals in the pub, you have more pressing matters to attend to. The metal capping the end of your staff has been etched with acid from caving in the imp’s skull. It’s not destroyed but you’d rather not let such small damages accumulate if you can help it.
5673And while Enoch might be small, it is not a town that has been in want as of late. There is a smithy still present, a large man bent over a pale flame, the tools of the trade scattered around him.
5674
5675“Smith! I would have you fix my staff if you are able.”
5676You hope that he isn’t going to demand payment.
5677
5678“Able?”
5679The blacksmith coughs.
5680“That’s the problem there, friend. I’ve done my best to keep the embers up and the forge lit. Sacrificed countless nights. But the flame simply cannot hold any longer.”
5681
5682You tap your wick against the bundled-up lamp-post on your back, drawing strength and heat from that. You swing the wick down into the firepit and the dwindling flame re-ignites with a faint roar. The smithy is lit properly once more in shades of orange and yellow.
5683“Consider this payment.”
5684
5685Wick: 8/10
5686
5687The blacksmith drops to his knees before the firepit with his hands held out to warm himself against it. 
5688“What can I do to repay you?”
5689
5690“Do not let it go out. And also fix my staff, I need one of the metal caps redone or replaced.”
5691
5692You give him the staff and he nods, still unwilling to take his eyes off the fire.
5693“Aye. Come back later and I’ll have this ready for you, I swear! Thank you!”
5694
5695You leave the smithy satisfied and walk back down the main street towards the general store. You can see the people in the corners and at the windows or clustered outside the town pub. You can feel the stares and hear the whispers. And not all of it is nice.
5696Is it fair for the people of Enoch to resent you for Zeno’s ultimatum? No. Is it natural? Of course. 
5697
5698The general store is run by a husband and wife and at first, all goes well. You procure a steady supply of rations and other small supplies, all of what they are willing to give you without payment. But then talk naturally turns to noon. 
5699
5700“It’ll be dangerous,” you say. “Can I trust you to lend me aid?”
5701
5702Their expressions turn cold.
5703“I’m afraid not.”
5704“You brought this down upon our heads. If you die that’ll be a tragedy. But if you die and Enoch goes with you because we chose to help you...that’s worse.”
5705
5706You leave them without another word.
5707
5708The people watch as you walk back out down the rail to the handcar and settle yourself within it. You’ll linger here for the time being, get the time to recharge your Wick.
5709The shattered sun climbs ever higher in the sky.
5710
5711
5712>Recharge the lamplighter’s wick as per normal.
5713
5714>Try to charge the broken lamp-post.
5715
5716-------------------------
5717
5718>Try to charge the broken lamp-post.
5719
5720You sit cross-legged in the trolley, alone and enclosed. You set your long handled wick down beside you and take the wrapped post from off your back, balancing it across your knees. 
5721
5722Wick: 70/100
5723
5724It still hasn't recovered from what was lost when you used it to recharge the fallen star. You must admit that you really don't know how the fragment within works. Can you recharge it like a proper lamplighter's wick? Will it not recover its own flame over time?
5725Or will it always dwindle and never re-ignite? 
5726
5727What difference can you make to such a mighty source of power? Surely you are nothing more than a drop in the ocean to this thing.
5728
5729>Roll 1d6. The highest of the first 3 will be chosen.
5730
5731-------------------------
5732
5733Sorry about the delay, was eating lunch.
5734
5735>6
5736
5737Regardless of your worries, let it never be said that you did not pursue your duty with conviction! You keep the lamp wrapped so that it does not burn you and do your best to flow power back into it.
5738
5739Wick: 76/100
5740
5741It was as you expected, little more than a drop. But when the time comes it might prove to be the difference. 
5742
5743You wander back into time and see that the dull sun has nearly reached the highest chamber in the sky. No doubt Zeno finds great joy in making the wheel god's corpse the messenger of doom. 
5744But whose?
5745
5746You return to the smithy, expecting to see him finishing up with your staff or to see it already completed. Instead you see it propped up against the wall, acid marks still etched upon the metal at its top. 
5747You look the smith in the eye and you can see guilt.
5748"What is the meaning of this?"
5749
5750"Look, I'm grateful for the fire, I really am. But as I was working some blokes came by and they talked about some things."
5751The blacksmith is clearly uncomfortable though he has been no doubt preparing for this conversation.
5752
5753"Talk about what?"
5754
5755"About what...what might happen if Zeno kills you. What if he goes about asking us if we helped you and finds out that I did? I don't want to die or have a star fall on the town. Sorry."
5756
5757
5758>Say nothing. Take your staff and leave.
5759
5760>"You don't deserve this forge."
5761
5762>Force him to do it.
5763
5764> "I understand."
5765
5766> Other
5767
5768-------------------------
5769
5770>Say nothing. Take your staff and leave.
5771
5772You pick up the staff and inspect it in front of him while saying nothing. In your mind your play through half a dozen retorts and then stop. What use is telling him any of them? You might as well just let it drop for now. Silence is all he deserves.
5773You take your staff and leave without another word.
5774
5775Your exit back onto the main street of Enoch is well timed for you are just in time to catch a disturbance outside the local pub. 
5776“Get your fucking hands off me!”
5777A slow and dreadful realization is already creeping over you before you recognize the voice.
5778
5779Beatrice stumbles out of the pub, pushing patrons away from her and clearing space. Her hat has been pushed up on one side and sits unsteadily, half her disfigured upper face out in the open for all to view. She pulls her dirty-blonde hair to the side in a vain attempt to hide it.
5780“You’re all cowards! What, you think you can just sit in your homes and wait and hope the witch politely passes you by? You’re not just yellow, you’re all fucking morons!”
5781
5782It looks like Beatrice’s attempt to recruit the townsfolk inside the pub didn’t go well.
5783
5784“I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
5785The doors swing open as another man steps onto the steet, tall and lithe with dark hair. He’s almost as large as you and exceptionally hairy.
5786
5787“Eat shit and die.”
5788Beatrice’s hands move and for a long terrifying moment you think she’s about to somehow summon witch-sign once more. But no, it is a far simpler and far ruder gesture. 
5789“I’ve left the pub. I don’t want anything to do with your pub. You’re probably all inverts anyway.”
5790
5791“No. I’m going to ask you to leave this town.”
5792The man steps forward and cracks his knuckles.
5793“You’re putting us all in danger just by being here. Walk up the rail and meet Zeno as he comes. I’ll not have you endanger Enoch and insult it.”
5794
5795You can see Mayor Edward in the crowd behind the man, the mayor trying in vain to make himself heard.
5796“Abe! Stop this! You’re only gonna-”
5797
5798“Stay out of this Ned! I was willing to stay quiet when they brought death to this town but I’ll not have this bitch stand in my pub and call us all cowards.”
5799
5800“I’m not in your pub,” Beatrice says, backing away from the encroaching crowd. “And it was a pile of shit anyway.”
5801And then she reaches into her coat and pulls out her gun.
5802“Go ahead. Try and throw me out.”
5803
5804This has gone on long enough.
5805
5806
5807>Grab the gun off of her before she starts something stupid.
5808
5809>Take her side.
5810
5811>Just interpose yourself and try to talk this out.
5812
5813>”Beatrice, go back to the cart.”
5814
5815>”If you want to fight her, you’ll have to fight me too.”
5816
5817>”We don’t have time for this nonsense. Both of you should be ashamed.”
5818
5819>Other
5820
5821-omitted one small post.
5822
5823-------------------------
5824
5825>”We don’t have time for this nonsense. Both of you should be ashamed.”
5826
5827The crowd goes silent as Beatrice pulls out her pistol, people slowly backing away from her as she points it at the barkeep. Her finger is thankfully not on the trigger but still…
5828“Not so loudmouthed now, are you? Where’s your gun? So ba-”
5829
5830“Beatrice.”
5831You push your way through the crowd, wick and staff still in hand. 
5832“What are you doing?”
5833
5834“He threw me out-”
5835“She’s been causing tro-”
5836
5837“Be quiet!”
5838You don’t quite shout but it’s enough to make yourself heard. You raise your hand and point towards the sun.
5839“We don’t have time for this nonsense. Both of you should be ashamed.”
5840
5841Beatrice adjusts her hat but you can still see her frown.
5842“But Orion…”
5843
5844“But nothing! Are you a child? So the people here won’t help us. That is sad but you will put that gun down and rethink your actions. You are too easily goaded.”
5845
5846The barkeep, Abe, nods his head as Beatrice stares at the ground.
5847“Thank you.”
5848
5849“And as for you! I’m not taking your side. You readily fight those who would free you from the darkness even though you refuse to fight the darkness itself. I will not force you to do so. I will not force any of you to do so. I understand why you would not. But Zeno will not simply stand by idly either! If you don’t fight him then you let him win! Whatever darkness he throws over Enoch after my departure will be entirely upon your own head. Think of that before you insult someone who is actually willing to fight.”
5850
5851You grab Beatrice by the arm and leave, not walking in any particular direction, just away from the trouble.
5852
5853“Orion…”
5854
5855“Yes? Have you thought about your actions?”
5856
5857“I can’t believe you actually took my side!”
5858
5859“No I didn’t.”
5860
5861“Get fucked cowards!,” Beatrice yells as you drag her away. “The Lamplighter agrees with me!”
5862
5863You pick her up and throw her over your shoulder and promptly march off before she can make any more trouble. 
5864“Calm your temper or I will leave you behind.”
5865
5866“That was the plan!”
5867
5868She has learned nothing.
5869You dump her on the ground and she curls up into a ball. But you don’t kick her as she is so clearly expecting. You just keep on walking and leave her there. 
5870
5871******
5872
5873Time stretches on and high noon arrives all too quickly. You plant your staff atop the concrete and take up the position the imp once had, standing across the railway that bisects Enoch. Your wick is lit, your sword by its side and the lamp-post across your back. 
5874
5875Standing off to the side and a little behind you is Beatrice, the witch looking profoundly uncomfortable about being out in the open like this. She has her pistol held loosely in one hand and her small barrel of gunpowder by her foot. 
5876
58771/2
5878
5879-------------------------
5880
5881>>612791
5882And the two of you are alone. Nobody in Enoch has come to help you. They hide in their homes and in the pub, curtains flicking across windows and doors locked shut. Just you and the witch.
5883
5884The sun is at its zenith.
5885
5886“Orion,” Beatrice says. “Since we’re both about to die now anyway I figure I’ll say I’m sorry.”
5887
5888“For what?”
5889
5890“For that thing earlier? For being what I am? For whatever else I do that apparently pisses you off constantly?”
5891
5892“You don’t anger me.”
5893
5894“Oh come on I’m about to die because of you, the least you can do is not lie.”
5895
5896“Your choices anger me. The person you chose to become angers me. I’m sure Beatrice the Collegiate flame artist was a nice enough girl, albeit tragically weak-willed. But to talk so often to her corpse disturbs me.”
5897
5898“Consider the apology retracted.”
5899She doesn’t sound as angry about it as you expected. Mostly just tired.
5900
5901Before you can say anything else, the sound of rattling begins to echo in the distance. A grinding shriek, the sound of metal on metal. The rails shake beneath your feet.
5902And over the horizon, a sight you never thought you’d see again. A train, an honest to God locomotive forged from blackened steel. An engine and a smokestack at the front, wheels grinding across the tracks, three small carts the size of your pump-trolley pulled behind it.
5903A sight from a better time. A better world.
5904
5905But there’s no smoke, no whistle. The chimney is dead. There is no fire aboard this train. The wheels move but only barely, grinding against the rails as if the entire thing was simply being dragged forward by an invisible hand. 
5906The small train grinds to a stop just outside of Enoch, the rail behind it a straight line heading towards the horizon and passed it, express to Dis. 
5907
5908The door to the front carriage swings open and a black leather boot stamps a footprint upon the dusty concrete. A man steps out wearing an old formal suit from better days, black and white with a silver bolo tie around his neck. He doesn’t look anything like you expected, a young-seeming man with glossy black hair and a neat moustache. And as he draws his suit-jacket back you see something even stranger, a pistol glinting silver at his side.
5909Why would a witch have a gun?
5910
5911“Howdy boys,” Zeno says. “I’m glad you’ve taken the time to wait for me. I hope you don’t mind that I brought a few friends.”
5912
5913Two more men step off the train, wearing plainer and more practical clothes. One of them is carrying a black suitcase, one forged from seamless metal and handcuffed to his wrist. 
5914
5915Is that all? Two more men? Are they witches? Imps in disguise? 
5916
5917Your train of thought is cut off as the doors to the other two carriages slowly open. And bursting from them in a gust of rotten feathers, bloated tongues and sewed-off wings, is an entire flock of crows.
5918
5919-------------------------
5920
5921Alright, I'm still feeling a little sick and work has been super stressful as of late so I'm going to stop here again.
5922Lamplighter will resume tomorrow.
5923
5924Apologies for cocking up this whole thread so many times.
5925
5926-omitted one small post.
5927
5928-------------------------
5929
5930The sun shines directly overhead, its pale light casting more shadow than it illuminates anything. The people of Enoch cower behind closed doors and curtains as you stand before the small train. The central lamp-post, still shining with faint twilight radiance, lies further down the street behind you. 
5931And the sky is thick with ghouls.
5932
5933Sewn together crows spiral through the air, dozens of them, hundreds even. Each one has their talons replaced by bristling stacks of bone knives, ghoul-claws at the ready. There’s enough of them here to annihilate the entire town if they wished. And yet they do not attack. They just linger in the air like a foul smell.
5934
5935Zeno is still just standing there, black jacket pulled back to show the gun by his side. What use would a witch have for a gun? His two companions stand silently behind him with the metal briefcase. The air grows thick with cast-off feathers and the stench of rotting corpses.
5936
5937“I’m surprised that you acquiesced so easily, Lamplighter,” Zeno drawls. “Surprised but not ungrateful.”
5938
5939“I wasn’t going to involve a town of innocents in my fights,” you say. You half expect Beatrice to say something snide about Enoch itself in response but she’s quiet, keeping her hand on her gun and swallowing repeatedly.
5940
5941“Fight? I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong idea.”
5942Zeno’s left hand drops to the pistol holstered to his side.
5943“I haven’t come here to fight. I’ve come here for an execution. Drop your weapons and kick them over to me! Now!”
5944
5945Beatrice stares at you for confirmation.
5946
5947
5948>Do as he says.
5949
5950>Do as he says but tell Beatrice to fire when he’s distracted by you doing so.
5951
5952>You’ve set a trap with the lamp. Now would be a good time to spring it.
5953
5954>Keep your weapons in hand. “Whose execution however, remains to be seen.”
5955
5956>Ask about the ghoul-birds. Try to get him to talk.
5957
5958>Ask about the stars. Try to get him to talk.
5959
5960>Ask about the imp. Try to get him to talk.
5961
5962>Ask about Dis. Try to get him to talk. 
5963
5964>Other
5965
5966-------------------------
5967
5968>You’ve set a trap with the lamp. Now would be a good time to spring it.
5969
5970As you noted earlier it is often best to be practical over being honest. You chose not to light the lamp upon your arrival but you did so with the notion that you could use it as a trap later when you saw fit. But Zeno’s threat of calling down a star wasn’t one you could take lightly. Not when you’ve already seen several of the craters involved. 
5971But now that he’s in town...surely he wouldn’t drop a star upon himself?
5972
5973You slowly kneel just a little, bending as if you’re about to place your staff upon the ground at his request. Zeno nods, his gaze flicking across you and then to Beatrice. His eyes linger on her longer than they should.
5974“Drop your gun too, girl. You’re not part of this and you’re kin in a sense. Just stand back and I’ll let you live. I’m only here for the Lamplighter.”
5975
5976Beatrice doesn’t move.
5977“No.”
5978
5979“Stocks has told me of your situation. Drop your gun and I won’t just spare you, I’ll help you with your brand. Even if you don’t like me, surely you can see that doing that is the lesser of two evils here.”
5980
5981“Choosing the least of two evils is still choosing evil.”
5982Beatrice nods her head to the town around her.
5983“Plenty of people here have already chosen that anyhow. I don’t want to be seen with them.”
5984
5985And there it is. Enough time has been bought for you to set off your trap. But what manner of trap did you set?
5986
5987
5988>You lit the lamp just minutes ago but delayed the flame. Holding a lamp’s flame like this is risky however.
5989
5990>There’s a thin line of gunpowder leading from near your foot to the base of the lamp-post and up its side to the open lamp. You should be able to transmit a lamp-lighting this way.
5991
5992>The entire lamp-post has been doused in precious oil taken from the townsfolk and just awaits a spark. Crude but the post itself shouldn’t be damaged.
5993
5994>Who said you set it with THAT lamp-post. Throw the package on you back to the ground and let it unravel.
5995
5996>Other
5997
5998-------------------------
5999
6000>Who said you set it with THAT lamp-post? Throw the package on your back to the ground and let it unravel.
6001
6002You unhitch the covered post from off your back, pretending to be setting it on the ground as just another weapon. And so with one corner of the thick canvas wrapping in hand, you flick it out and roll it across the ground. The wrapping peels away and the battered and broken lamp-post itself falls to the ground and the world around you erupts into radiance!
6003It’s one thing to light a central lamp-post and to bring light back into a town. It’s another entirely to unleash this holy scourge upon them.
6004
6005Beatrice shrieks and covers her eyes, sinking to her knees as just a meagre shadow before the lamp’s terrible light. Zeno himself jumps back with his arm raised high to shade his face but his two men aren’t anywhere near as quick or as lucky and they drop to the ground dazed. 
6006And the carrion birds, oh how they scream! The light from the broken lamp spreads across all of Enoch and the ghouls flee from it. If Zeno had enough control to force them to stay within the light then the distraction was enough to break it as the crows scatter to the four corners of the earth!
6007
6008Zeno appears to be retreating, stepping backwards over the writhing bodies of his own men with his suit jacket unbuttoned and drawn up over his head like a hood. His hands slam together as he searches desperately for witch-sign!
6009
6010
6011>Pick up the lamp post and charge!
6012
6013>Throw the lamp-post at him.
6014
6015>Charge at him with your staff or wick.
6016
6017>Go for Beatrice’s gun and shoot him.
6018
6019>Other
6020
6021-omitted one small post.
6022
6023-omitted one small post.
6024
6025-omitted one small post.
6026
6027-------------------------
6028
6029>Charge at him with your staff or wick.
6030>”Beatrice, shoot the others!”
6031
6032“Beatrice! Shoot the rest!”
6033If the witch hears you she doesn’t reply. She’s still kneeling on the ground with her hands over her face as she cowers away from the dropped lamp sitting upon the tracks. Her pistol is lying on the concrete beside her and any sign that she might be reaching for it is obscured by light strong enough to blind nearly you.
6034
6035The rail is growing hot and small fires are starting to flicker. You best be quick or even though you aren’t touching it, the broken lamp will burn you all to ash as surely as any falling star.
6036
6037You’ll just have to trust that Beatrice will be able to snap out of it in time to help! You can’t afford to waste time helping her, there’s another witch who demands your attention! You charge forward as his fingers begin to twist and make a shape. It’s not a name you recognize.
6038And behind him, the train begins to shudder and shake. 
6039
6040Either this witch-sign is one that he is exceptionally well-practiced with or he’s just that good, either way you’re not going to reach him in time before it takes effect! 
6041You lift your wick and level it at him, the end of it bursting into righteous flame as you charge! If you can’t reach him in time then you’ll just have to roast him before he’s done!
6042
6043But how much power are you pushing into this Immolate?
6044
6045>Burn 3 Wick, the bare minimum.
6046
6047>4 Wick.
6048
6049>5 Wick.
6050
6051>6 Wick.
6052
6053>7 Wick.
6054
6055>8 Wick.
6056
6057>9 Wick.
6058
6059>10 Wick.
6060
6061-omitted one small post.
6062
6063-------------------------
6064
6065>5 Wick
6066
6067Wick: 3/10
6068
6069Witches often have means of protection against simply being burnt and even though the light of the lamp behind you should be stopping or weakening most of them, it’s better to be safe than it is to be sorry. You draw out a full half of your Flame Internal and project it through the air as a lance of white-hot flame! The stream of fire washes over Zeno and rewards you with the sound of him screaming and his hands pulling apart. 
6070
6071A simple three Wick would be enough to burn a normal man alive and yet Zeno still isn’t dead.
6072
6073As the flame ceases and you stand over him you quickly see the reason why. His jacket is packed with soft earth, stuffed into his pockets and lining the very seams within it. He’s ripped it open and brought up a thin shell of soil to protect himself but it wasn’t enough. His hair, impeccably neat before, is now a frazzled and half-burned mess while his legs and much else of his lower body are charred almost to the bone. He must have been curled up beneath the shell to protect his hands.
6074The stench of cooked meat fills the air.
6075
6076And as you stand over him, ready to give a final judgement...you hear the sound of metal scraping upon metal. Zeno laughs or at least tries to, his throat far too dry and choked up to make a sound.
6077“Go ahead and kill me,” he whispers. “And lose your god.”
6078
6079The train has been animated once more, the steel behemoth being pulled along by an invisible force, wheels dragging and locking horrendously against the tracks. His sign must have been finished even as you were burning him!
6080And the train is pumping straight towards the fallen lamp-post! 
6081
6082Can the fire trapped within survive being trampled by such a metal beast? Or will it spark out and die and your cause be lost forever?
6083
6084
6085>Run for the lamp.
6086
6087>Run for the train. Surely it must still possess a brake!
6088
6089>Kill Zeno.
6090
6091>Try to force Zeno to stop it.
6092
6093>”Beatrice! Get the damn lamp!”
6094
6095>Other
6096
6097-omitted one small post.
6098
6099-------------------------
6100
6101Apologies for the delay on this. I was distracted.
6102
6103>Kill Zeno.
6104>”Beatrice! Get the damn lamp!”
6105
6106For but the briefest of moments you pause and your purpose is stymied. The witch is right before you, you are ready to pass judgement! But the lamp is in danger and without that all hope is lost. But if you were to sprint to save the lamp and that’s supposing you were even able to reach it in time, what would Zeno do? His legs are burned but his hands are still free. You would just be granting him another chance to unleash witch-sign. 
6107
6108“Beatrice!”
6109Will the train stop upon Zeno’s death? Almost certainly, that is how most witchcraft functions. But what if it doesn’t? What if momentum keeps the train rumbling forward those last few fatal inches? What then?
6110
6111You have two choices here and either might damn you forever. But indecision will be even worse. That is the last thought that passes through your head before you deliberately empty your mind of all thought. Unburdened by doubt or fear you swing the wick down upon his head and channel what’s left of the flame within you. Just a simple Ignition Rite but one that has been brought to bear with the skin of his face and scalp as the target. 
6112
6113Wick: 2/10
6114
6115He dies without another word and as per your prediction, the train slowly grinds to a halt as friction reasserts her inexorable grasp. But it doesn’t stop in time. It draws over where you left the fallen lamp-post and against its light casts a shadow long and dark.
6116
6117You run back towards the train, ears and eyes straining against the rattle of metal and the blinding glare. Was that a shatter of glass, a smashing of metal that you just heard? Will you find that the fragment has been freed from its prison and is burning out to nothing against the concrete? Would you even have time to get it to another worthy vessel? 
6118
6119But as you approach the front of the train you see that the rail ahead is empty. Beatrice lies to the side of the track, the one opposite from where you had left her. And in her arms, the lamp. Still broken, still battered but no more damaged than what was already there.
6120The witch is staring into space with an empty face, her hat blown back nearly off her head. She gasps faintly and drops it. Her hands and forearms are burned black. 
6121
6122She saved it. She must have leapt across the tracks at the last moment and took it with her, even as it blinded and burned her. You are...you are actually uncertain on what to say.
6123“Finally,” you eventually decide upon. “It’s about time.”
6124
6125You whisk the lamp-post away from her and quickly wrap it up before it can do her any more harm. The light vanishes and Enoch is cast back into shadow save for the orange glare of those small fires still impossibly burning along the concrete. 
6126You gambled with the world at stake and you nearly lost but in the end the witch was destroyed and another town sav-
6127
6128“Hands where I can see them pal.”
6129
61301/2
6131
6132-------------------------
6133
6134>>615979
6135You slowly turn around to see the two men that Zeno had brought with him. They’re standing, blinking furiously and with a darker shade to their gray skin but otherwise completely unharmed by the light. Were they just humans after all?
6136One of them is still clutching the briefcase shackled to his left wrist and the other appears to have retrieved the gun from Zeno’s corpse. And its long silver barrel is pointed right at you. 
6137
6138The gun misfiring is probably too much to ask for, not with this much flame still around. The man scowls and shakes his other hand.
6139“Hurry it up. Drop everything and put your hands up or I shoot.”
6140
6141Can your armour stop a bullet? It’ll slow it. Can it stop multiple bullets? Probably not. And he could just shoot Beatrice as she lies defenceless upon the ground.
6142
6143
6144>Hands up, drop your weapons.
6145
6146>Charge him!
6147
6148>Try to talk him down. Zeno’s dead, isn’t he?
6149
6150>Try to pick up Beatrice’s gun. Now you have a proper standoff.
6151
6152>Other
6153
6154-omitted one small post.
6155
6156-------------------------
6157
6158>Try to talk him down. Zeno’s dead, isn’t he?
6159
6160You don’t drop your weapons but you do slowly rise and put your hands up in the air. Not above your head but close. You don’t make any sudden or hasty movements either. You might be immune to flame and the tools thereof but a bullet through the heart will still make you dead as anyone else. 
6161But if this is just a man, just a cultist or some other form of accomplice, you can still talk him down. He’s not a monster. Not yet.
6162
6163“Hold up just a moment,” you say. “Why are you doing this. The witch is dead! Shooting me won’t avenge him. And whatever power or servants he left behind are useless to you. You don’t have to do this.”
6164
6165“Oh, I don’t know about that.”
6166The man’s finger hovers anxiously over the trigger as he beckons the other man up.
6167“I reckon people don’t have to know about this. I reckon me and James can keep this tribute racket going.”
6168
6169“How? People are going to notice that Zeno and his witchcraft isn’t around. Do you think the imp will do it for you? He won’t.”
6170
6171“Zeno wasn’t known for his witch-craft,” the gunman says. “He was known for this.”
6172
6173The other man finally manages to undo the clasp on the steel briefcase shackled to his wrist. The case unhinges in a strange way, the entire contraption seamless and gleaming in a way you don’t think Third Age metalworkers ever really understood. Which means…
6174It’s not actually a briefcase at all, not really. There’s no hollow inside. It’s the outer case of some kind of machine that folds out, one side swinging open to show a slab of metal set with flashing lights and thick square buttons with the other side being nothing more than a glass screen within which lights and numbers dance. Constellations.
6175
6176“The Starbreaker stays with us. And I think with it we won’t need Zeno to back us up any longer. We can still get tribute from whoever we please around these parts. Or else.”
6177
6178You take a step forward and the man practically jams the gun right into your helmet.
6179“Not another fucking step! Me and James are leaving, you hear me? We’re going to be borrowing that pump trolley of yours and-”
6180
6181The door to the pub swings open and Abe the barkeep steps out onto the dusty street with a cudgel in his hand. 
6182
6183“Get back inside! Get back or I’ll shoot ya!”
6184The gunman stumbles away from you, his looted pistol wavering between you and the approaching barkeep. Abe doesn’t stop, still slowly walking towards him one step at a time.
6185
6186
6187>Try to disarm him.
6188
6189>Go for the man with the machine. You need it!
6190
6191>Try to grab Beatrice’s gun while he’s distracted.
6192
6193>Kick Beatrice awake.
6194
6195>Try to hit the gunman with your staff while the gun is pointed away from you.
6196
6197>Throw Beatrice at the gunman.
6198
6199>Other
6200
6201-------------------------
6202
6203>Try to hit the gunman with your staff while the gun is pointed away from you.
6204
6205Abe, the man who had been only seconds away from getting into what appeared to be a fistfight with Beatrice just an hour before, takes another step towards the gunman. 
6206“Hey! Stay back! What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”
6207
6208The barkeep grits his teeth.
6209“Then shoot. But if you shoot me I don’t think he’ll give you the time to shoot again.”
6210
6211The gunman turns back towards you but you’re already striding forward, your staff at the ready.
6212“You better make your choice wisely,” you say. “It may be your last.”
6213
6214One second passes.
6215Both you and the barkeep take another step forward.
6216
6217Two seconds.
6218
6219Three seconds.
6220Abe is sweating but he still keeps pace with you. The gunman is starting to twitch.
6221
6222Four seconds.
6223
6224Five seconds.
6225
6226You swing your staff around and in that very moment, the gunman makes his choice! Before you know it you’re looking down a silver barrel as he points the pistol at you and pulls the trigger.
6227
6228Click.
6229
6230You stop.
6231
6232He pulls it again.
6233Click.
6234
6235And now it all makes sense. You can’t help but laugh, even just a little.
6236“You idiot. Zeno was a witch, a gun wouldn’t ignite in his hands even if he wanted it to. He just carried it to confuse and threaten people, I reckon. Not a bad tactic for keeping people away and giving you time to witch-sign. It’s empty.”
6237
6238You smash him in the face with the staff and hear his nose crack open, blood staining the concrete. The man with the Second Age relic whimpers, turning to run even as he screams.
6239“No! D-”
6240
6241His words are cut short by Abe tackling him to the ground and beating him around the head and shoulders with the cudgel. You give the gunman a few more good whacks, just enough to make sure that you’ve broken his legs and then walk over to the other man.
6242“Give me the key to those shackles.”
6243
6244He’s already unconscious, his head battered and bleeding. The barkeep was remarkably efficient. You pat him down instead and find nothing.
6245
6246But of course he wouldn’t have it.
6247
6248You walk back past the train and pat Zeno’s charred corpse down instead, taking what you can from his burned suit. It’s mostly full of witch-chilled soil but you find a small silver key in his pocket. Excellent. The shackle is opened and the ‘Starbreaker’ is yours.
6249
6250For a moment you just stare at the strange machine. So Zeno hadn’t been strong enough after all. He’d been using this. What was it? What was its intended purpose? You’re not sure if you’ll ever know.
6251
6252
6253>See to Beatrice.
6254
6255>Acknowledge the barkeep.
6256
6257>Inspect the train first.
6258
6259>Execute the two cultists.
6260
6261>Hand the two cultists to the mayor.
6262
6263>Assemble the townsfolk.
6264
6265>Light the lamp.
6266
6267>Other
6268
6269-omitted one small post.
6270
6271-------------------------
6272
6273>Acknowledge the barkeep.
6274>Hand the two cultists to the mayor.
6275>Light the lamp.
6276>See to Beatrice
6277
6278The mysteries of the Starbreaker can wait for now. You have more pressing business at hand. You walk back down the rail towards Beatrice’s collapsed form, the town of Enoch slowly opening itself up back around you. You can see townsfolk at the windows and creeping back through the doors, the men and monsters who would rule them lying motionless along their street. Blood mingles with scorch-marks and the dust and a single discarded pistol.
6279Justice has come to Enoch.
6280
6281Bit your satisfaction over having brought it is dimmed by the manner in which it occurred. You come to a stop and look back down upon Beatrice’s ragged body. She did this to herself for your sake, for the sake of your cause. Could this have been avoided? Could you have set aside the shard of God that you bear and have risked it out in a conventional battle? Invoking the fragment within the lamp-post grants you to strength to dispel any darkness, destroy any enemy but always at a cost. Whether it be the damage to your hands, the draining of the immense Wick within or...this.
6282You kneel by the fallen witch and pick up her gun, tugging her coat aside to put it back into her pocket.
6283
6284You can see her brand beneath her throat clear as day, screaming out that this isn’t a person deserving of any kind of help. And for a long moment that stalls you. But then you just button her coat back up and pick her up, placing her broad-brimmed hat over her face before the townsfolk can see. 
6285Her arms are burned black but the damage doesn’t seem to go too deep. Much like your own. 
6286
6287“Does anyone have a bed they can spare? She needs rest!”
6288
6289And Abraham is beside you once more, his arms held out wide.
6290“Give her to me. She can have mine for as long as she needs. I will sleep in the bar.”
6291
6292“Thank you. For this and earlier.”
6293
6294He scowls again.
6295“It was the least I could do. What you said to me about fighting the dark...it didn’t sit right. And I’ll not be called a coward by a woman.”
6296
6297“For what it’s worth, I cannot blame you for refusing to fight the witch. That is a task I can demand or expect of nobody.”
6298
6299“Aye.”
6300
6301You leave Beatrice with him and trek back down the street, feeling the gaze of all Enoch upon you as you kick Zeno’s burned corpse aside. The Lord of the Wasteland dying on concrete. The Feller of Stars but only because he had a machine that apparently anyone could use. The Gatekeeper of Dis dead without ever having set a foot within it. 
6302You wonder if he ever realized how little he mattered. Did that infernal city even know his name? Or know of him at all? 
6303
6304You pick up the two unconscious cultists and drag them down to the town-hall, their bodies leaving great furrows in the tamed earth. Mayor Edward is waiting for you.
6305“Here,” you drop them at his feet. “These two are for you.”
6306
63071/2
6308
6309-------------------------
6310
6311>>616930
6312“I don’t know what to say. Thank you Orion! We will have never-”
6313
6314You brush him aside and take up your wick, the fuse at the end catching light the moment your fingers rest upon it. 
6315“Do not thank me for my expected duty. Just be happy that anyone is left to do it at all.”
6316And remember how quickly that could have been lost entirely, you say silently, while you watched and waited. You will not judge them openly for their fear. Indeed, it had been well-justified. It was the sensible response and the cautious are well-needed by Man in this time and place. But if all Man were as Enoch, there would be no Lamplighters at all.
6317
6318The central lamp-post is waiting for you, a Second-Age machine with signs of First Age design influence. Of course. You are journeying ever closer to the centre of such things. You spark it to life and the magic within still responds, blanketing the town in the light of day.
6319Day as it once was.
6320
6321The townsfolk crowd around you, cheering and calling your name. There are many of them who seem eager to pat you on the back and lavish you with gifts. You let it wash over you without effect. You don’t even remember seeing the faces of most of these people until now.
6322
6323
6324>Stay and celebrate a little. It does the body good.
6325
6326>No, there are more deserving people in need of greater help. Go see how Beatrice is holding up.
6327
6328>Visit the smith again.
6329
6330>Recharge your Wick.
6331
6332>Inspect the train.
6333
6334>Inspect the Starbreaker.
6335
6336>Other
6337
6338-omitted one small post.
6339
6340-------------------------
6341
6342My internet freaked out for a few hours there but I can finally post now once again.
6343
6344>Visit the smith again.
6345>Inspect the train.
6346>Inspect the Starbreaker.
6347>No, there are more deserving people in need of greater help. Go see how Beatrice is holding up.
6348
6349You ignore the people around you and simply step out of the crowd, townsfolk trailing after you as if the crowd itself was reaching for you, unwilling to let you go. You snub them all without a word. Let them talk. You bore the weight of their entire town upon your shoulders today, the least they could do is swallow a little impropriety. 
6350
6351The train has been left unattended for now but you doubt for much longer. How long has it been since anyone here’s seen one of these beasts? How long has it been for you, even? You open the door to the engine and take a brief look inside, noting the unused sacks of coal sitting by the corner. Why did Zeno even keep coal around when he was moving the train through witch-sign? Curious. 
6352But that’s plenty of fuel and as far as you can see the engine itself is merely suffering from disuse and is not in pressing need of repair. 
6353
6354You might have to lay a claim on this before the people of Enoch get their hands all over it. This is a welcome step up from your little handcar. 
6355
6356The three carriages are mostly empty save for feathers and rotting flesh, little bits and pieces scraped from the flock of carrion ghouls that had been stored in here. The smell is atrocious. 
6357In the first carriage you find a map pinned up by a window and though it is in no language you can decipher, you recognize the landmarks well enough.
6358
6359A field of patchwork gray, broken only by ancient railways and earth-bound stars. The rails are a twisted tangle, each one splitting off towns to service other towns, the result of generations of different track-layers and builders. Of different Ages even. And yet despite all the confusion only a single line breaks away from the confounded mess, a straight rail leading away from every settlement and into the desolate brown at the edge of the gray.
6360It strikes out from there towards the coast marked upon the map with solid black ink, past the semicircle of dots that you know to be the Sentinels and finally curving in across the wasteland to a red dot that sits astride the black coast and stands out from the rest of the map like a blood-drunk tick. 
6361
6362All concern for your course is at an end. All your doubts in the dice are put at ease. You’ve done it. You’ve found the almost mythical express-line to Dis. You’ve been travelling along it ever since Augustine. 
6363Did the people of Enoch even know what their town had been built across all this time? 
6364
6365The Dis Express is an apocryphal thing, shrouded in myth and while referenced in many holy books and records of older ages, it is only just that. Referenced.
6366
63671/3
6368
6369-------------------------
6370
6371>>618401
6372From what you’ve been able to understand, it had been a task of mammoth proportions and logistics. The plans for it had been laid down in the First Age but had never come to fruition before the Wheel God rose. In the Second Age the plans had been brought back up and construction had started but the intended project, a line that ran from Dis all the way through the world to the other coast of the Sea of Mud, was apparently never finished. Perhaps the city itself rejected it, having already grown isolationist and contrary even then. 
6373
6374So the express-line had been left half-finished with nearly all records of it lost in the tumult that ended the Second Age and gave rise to the Third. And over the course of the Third many aspiring railway barons had hunted for it, some had even claimed to have found it and to have joined it to their own networks but the hostility and mystery of Dis itself had prevented those claims from being proven. 
6375
6376And so the myth of the Dis Express had come to pass, the legend of a single rail that lead into Dis past its terrible yawning gates and through which a soul could both enter and leave unmolested. A rail that some claimed was never finished and is simply dragged behind Dis like a tadpole and its tail, one that some claim joins innocuously onto a Third Age rail network with few even aware of where it leads. Some even believe it to move, the connection point of where it cleaves to the rebuilt rail networks changing night by night. 
6377As luck would have it, it would appear that neither the former or the latter had it right. Had the many different builders of this tangled-up network of inter-town rails even been aware of what rail they had hooked up to when they were salvaging their way across the ruins of the Second Age? 
6378
6379You guess it matters not. You are on the right path.
6380
6381From the window by the map you can see the Starbreaker still lying in the dust where it had been left in the struggle. Did nobody pick it up? Did they think it cursed? You can’t be having that. You still haven’t accounted for that damned imp and you’ll not spoil a hard-earned victory by letting steal away such a powerful weapon from right underneath your noses.
6382You leave the carriage and pick up the Starbreaker, still trying to understand its function. You’ve seen Second Age mechanisms of this kind vaguely before. You should be able to press the little buttons to make the display in the glass change. But what is it? A weapon? Some kind of command device for the stars themselves?
6383
6384The display is filled with writing but you cannot decipher it. It’s the same script as the map, no doubt some arcane Second Age language lost to time. But Zeno had apparently figured it out. Or had he somehow stumbled across star-killing power through trial and error?
6385
6386All these mysteries will have to wait. So will the people of Enoch. As much as it pains you to admit it, there may be someone more deserving.
6387
63882/3
6389
6390-------------------------
6391
6392>>618412
6393On your way back towards the pub you stop by the smithy, stepping inside without knocking or waiting for invitation. Before the smith can stumble his way through his many apologies you simply throw your staff to him and leave without giving him a word. Let him think on that.
6394
6395Abraham is waiting for you inside the pub, leading you away from the people inside and down out towards a back room. 
6396“Again, if there’s anything else I can do…”
6397
6398“You did all I needed you to do when you stepped out to take the bullet for me today.”
6399
6400“Right. But that was all for nothing. The gun was empty.”
6401
6402“None of us knew that. As far as I’m concerned it might as well not have been. How is Beatrice?”
6403
6404“Still asleep.”
6405The barkeep shifts his weight from one foot to another awkwardly.
6406“Look, when she comes round can you tell her that I’m sorry for that scene I caused earlier? I took her insults too personally when perhaps I should have listened to what was behind them.”
6407
6408“I cannot blame you for being riled such. But I will not be your messenger, you can tell her yourself once she wakes.”
6409The best thing a man can do with his regrets is to cast them off. It took you far too long to learn that lesson, you’ll not have others make the same mistake.
6410
6411You step into the dingy little bedroom and the first thing you see is that the barkeep left her hat exactly where you left it, covering her face to protect her from the townsfolk. Did he look?
6412You step in close over the bed and sweep her hat off. She’s a sight for sore eyes but no more than usual. She doesn’t wake but you don’t see anything wrong with her breathing. 
6413
6414You’d almost swear she was sleeping normally if it weren’t for the deep black scars mottling her hands and forearms. You already know that they won’t heal. The pain will dull over time but never quite completely. She’ll bear those scars for the rest of her life. 
6415
6416But she’s alive! Over the course of your life and your journey you’ve made a bad habit of losing companions. And despite her being a witch she doesn’t deserve to die or to be injured because of your accidents. No. Perhaps she deserves to be taken to trial and then burned at the stake but only with your deliberate judgement. And that time is yet to come.
6417Was it right of you to use the lamp in such a manner? Almost certainly. But once upon a time you wouldn’t have included that ‘almost’. 
6418
6419You speak a silent prayer to a god who has been dead for thirty years before sitting down in the corner with your back to the wall and your legs crossed. You might as well recharge your Wick while you wait.
6420But you’ve fallen asleep before you even start.
6421
6422-omitted one small post.
6423
6424==== END THREAD ====