Returns

Mainline-Story/04 - Returns.txt

@@ -633,17 +633,21 @@ She drops the mic on the stage and shakily walks away with Caelum's help, leavin
  
 Upon returning to the WHITE domain, you see dozens of snowballs whizzing by in every direction imaginable, screaming ringing out from every corner, and children lying in the snow. You didn't just enter a snowball fight, you entered an active snow war zone. 
  
-(NOTICE Roll) You can see the dozens of children flinging snowballs on the left, but you can't seem to make out whom is throwing them on the right. But you DO see a consistent flurry of them flying out from the trees.
+(NOTICE Roll)
+- You can see the dozens of children flinging snowballs on the left
+- You can't seem to make out whom is throwing them on the right, but you DO see a consistent flurry of them flying out from the trees. 
+ - You notice a boy in a familiar Indigo hoodie leading the charge, directing the children to aim at the trees
 
-A flurry of (those) shots head your way from the sky, but before they land, they are suddenly blocked by a familiar looking husky body jumping in the way. Exile will flop into the snow on his back, staring up at the wintery sky. "Ough.. did anyone get number of that snowplow?"
+*IF THEY APPROACH OR CALL TO HIM*
+Caelum will see you, then do a doubletake when he realizes who you are. He quickly trots off while the kids continue to aim for the trees and approaches your group.
 
-He will sit upright, his original heavy winter outfit replaced with a form fitting one clearly better designed for moving around. He also sticks out a bit more since primary silver and secondary deep blue don't exactly blend well against white.
+"Well this is a surprise, didn't expect the Kings of Kings to join in on the--" He suddenly flops face first into the snow in front of you, a solid imprint of a snowball striking him on the back of his hooded head.
 
-He will shake his head rapidly and raise his arm, before yelling "I am out!" He will stand up and dust his suit off quickly with a smile. "There is always being the next of time. Come, let us get to shelter."
+He will stand up for a moment, shouting OUT toward the battlefield, before turning back to your group. "C'mon, let's get you to the safe zone."
  
-He guides your group to a nearby wall, partly dug into the ground like a baseball dugout, and lined with blankets. Hot chocolate is being made at a nearby pitfire for everyone to drink, and despite what looked like a kid friendly war zone, noone seems too hurt or upset at getting taken out.
+He guides your group to a nearby snow wall, partly dug into the ground like a baseball dugout, and lined with blankets. Hot chocolate is being made at a nearby pitfire for everyone to drink, and despite what looked like a kid friendly war zone, noone seems too hurt or upset at getting taken out. 
  
-Ouja, the snow fox from the cabin, steps forth with a fresh tray of hot cocoa for anyone that wants it. "Oh hey, the Kings of Kings are here! This could make things more fun!" He sets his tray down once everyone has taken a cup, making sure to save one for himself. 
+Ouja, the snow fox from the cabin, steps forth with a fresh tray of hot cocoa for anyone that wants it. "Oh hey, the Kings of Kings are here!" He sets his tray down once everyone has taken a cup, making sure to save one for himself.  
  
 *WHAT IS GOING ON* 
 Ouja sits down on a blanketed seat, nursing his cocoa. "So the short version is, the kids wanted to do a snowball fight and invited Whitaker & his girlfriend to join in. Problem is, it's the two of them against a hundred enthusiastic children. A bit uneven." 
@@ -651,10 +655,12 @@ Ouja sits down on a blanketed seat, nursing his cocoa. "So the short version is,
 *UNEVEN FOR WHITAKER* 
 He laughs softly. "I meant for the children." 
 
-He takes a sip from his cocoa, his ears perking, before he continues. "Sounds like they're making their final push."
+You suddenly see a familiar little lizard poke his head up from Ouja's tied back white hair. Caelum immediately picks up his lizard and puts him under his own hood. "Thank you for watching him."
+ 
+Ouja smiles and nods, taking a sip from his cocoa. His ears perk a moment later. "Sounds like they're making their final push." 
  
 *IF THEY LOOK* 
-The battlefield looks surprisingly sparse compared to five minutes ago. There are only six children left, all looking around with snowballs in hand ready to go, all standing back to back in a circle. All of them are looking around for their target, giggling playfully like they have the greatest strategy of all time.
+The battlefield looks surprisingly sparse compared to two minutes ago. There are only six children left, all looking around with snowballs in hand ready to go, all standing back to back in a circle. All of them are looking around for their target, giggling playfully like they have the greatest strategy of all time. 
  
 (NOTICE ROLL) You spot something moving in the snow, a faint line of black moving around the base of a nearby tree. You also notice the branch, which is covered in snow, is slowly lowering itself to the ground, and you spot a familiar pair of beady little eyes. 
  
@@ -666,7 +672,7 @@ At some point, he accidentally throws one so hard in the air that he stumbles an
  
 The weight on the branch disappears as Whitaker steps out and kneels down in front of the last little boy, simply touching a snowball to his head. 
  
-He is also wearing a much different outfit of a tight white vest with a ring of black around the midriff & a matching black choker, white jean shorts with a black belt, long white boots with fur between the ankle & knee, and white arm warmers. You also see what you assume is some kind of backpack composed of snow white feathers. 
+He is also wearing a much different outfit of a tight white vest with a ring of black around the midriff & a matching black choker, white jean shorts with a black belt, long white boots with fur between the ankle & knee, and white arm warmers. You also see what looks like some kind of backpack composed of snow white feathers.  
  
 You hear a soft sigh from beside you, and Morana steps forward, sipping on her own cocoa. "Guess the snowball fight is over, for today."  
  
@@ -697,7 +703,7 @@ She will walk up to Whitaker and pick him up from behind, setting him on his two
 *IF CHALLENGE IS MADE* 
 Whitaker will frantically look around, realizing she is gone, gripping his weapon tightly. And he will sudddenly remember he HAS it, staring down at it. He will pull it out of its sheath slowly, looking at his own reflection for a second, deep in thought. 
  
-You can see his eyes glowing a soft white, even from this distance, before he cranks it back into place and slips it onto the back of his waist, resting a hand on the handle.
+You can see his eyes glowing a soft white, even from this distance, as a flurry of snowflakes begins to dance around him in a tight circle. He clacks the sword back into its scabbard, causing the snow to blast outward in all directions. He slips it onto the back of his waist, resting a hand on the handle. 
  
 He takes a deep breath and tries his absolute HARDEST to look serious. "M-my name.. Is Whitaker Tormet'i, a-and I accept your challenge!" 
  
@@ -716,6 +722,7 @@ He will bashfully nod a bit and turn to your group, clinging to Morana tightly.
 Morana will just grin down at him and reply "What he said~" She will stand back up and walk away, carrying him all the way home. 
  
 *IF THEY WIN*
+
 Whitaker will crumple into the snow onto his back, his blade jammed straight down into the powder. Exhausted, battered and bruised, he stares into the sky, smiling a little. 
  
 Morana will walk over him and stare down at him with a Cheshire grin. "Well? Did you have fun?" 
@@ -777,12 +784,14 @@ And every single criminal suddenly shuts up right quick. Although you DO hear on
 Fulmo simply leaps over the twelve foot razor wire fence, his legs charged with electricity for a moment as he does so, and lands beside your group. "On that note, I believe we are ready to begin, yes?" 
  
 *IF YES* 
-He will pull out a pair of pure silver revolvers from behind his coat, his body crackling with energy as it channels into his guns. "Then let this battle be the finest these brave soldiers have ever witnessed. Say the words."
+He raises his hand over his face, and quick as a flash, his head becomes engulfed in electricity, himself now sporting a helmet of black and silver, molded after an old fashioned 8-point police cap with an over-the-eye visor built right in. He then attaches a bottom half face covering mask. "Then let this battle be the finest these brave soldiers have ever witnessed." 
+ 
+He will pull out a pair of pure silver revolvers from behind his coat, his body crackling with energy as it channels into his guns. "Say the words." 
  
 AFTER THE FIGHT 
  
 *IF THEY LOSE* 
-Fulmo will stand proudly, his outfit in tatters, both guns aimed at your group in shaky hands. Panting heavily with a trail of blood drooling down his lip, he will slide both guns into his holsters on his backside, and winces from the pain after.
+Fulmo will stand proudly, his outfit in tatters, both guns aimed at your group in shaky hands. Panting heavily with a trail of blood drooling from behind his mask, he will slide both guns into his holsters on his backside, and winces from the pain after. 
  
 "Mmf.. Kings of Kings, you are an incredible force. I genuinely believe my victory was nothing short of luck today. I know you will all likely wish to challenge me again sometime, and I openly invite and welcome the opportunity." 
  
@@ -791,7 +800,7 @@ He will slowly limp away from the battlefield, as the Thunder Force agents all a
 Valeos stays behind, kneeling in front of your group. "That was a hell of a show you put on. You should be proud." 
  
 *IF THEY WIN*  
-He will collapse onto his knees, dropping both guns as he falls onto his hands, his sunglasses falling onto the ground to fully reveal his face. 
+He will collapse onto his knees, dropping both guns as he falls onto his hands, his helmet & mask falling onto the ground to fully reveal his face again. 
  
 He will look up to your group, electricity seeping out from around his eyes like a flow of energy, almost looking... angry? But he will close his eyes and sigh deeply, reopening them as they return to the original cool blue orbs you've seen.  
  
@@ -874,102 +883,175 @@ He reaches under his cloak and pulls out a mask in the shape of a wolf skull, pl
 AFTER THE FIGHT 
  
 *IF THEY LOSE* 
-He slams the blade of his scythe into the ground, using the staff to hold himself upright. "It has been some time since I have experienced such a challenge.. you are all indeed worthy fighters. If I could die, I would be satisfied if my last act was to lose to you all in combat." He hobbles past you, hefting the scythe over his shoulder as he heads out the door. "I will await our rematch, my friends." The door will slam shut behind him, leaving you in a room of only silence.
+He slams the bottom of his scythe into the ground, using it to hold himself upright. "Id has been some dime since I have exberienced such a challenge.. you are all indeed wordhy fighders." 
+ 
+He hobbles past you, hefting the scythe over his shoulder as he heads out the door. "Should you desire a remadch, I will be waiding." The door will slam shut behind him, leaving you in a room of only silence. 
  
 *IF THEY WIN* 
-He kneels on the ground, staring at the floor. "Magnificent... an honorable loss, to be sure... you have most definitely earned your prize, Kings of Kings." He grabs his scythe and slams it into the ground, the blade jammed into the pavement and the handle sticking up at an angle. "You have more than earned my Grimm Requiem, take it with my blessing."
+He kneels on the ground, staring at the floor. "Magnificend... an honorable loss, do be sure... If I could die, I would be sadisfied if my lasd acd was do lose do you all in combad." 
  
-"I shall take my leave and... lick my wounds, as the saying goes... but you are welcome to return anytime you like." He heads toward the doors before turning back to you, smiling a bit. "I was not joking, by the way... Remember this place if you are in need of a venue." He pushes through it and lets it close behind him with a soft click.
+He grabs his scythe and slams it into the ground, the blade jammed into the floor and the handle sticking up at an angle. "You have more dhan earned my Grimm Requiem, dake it widh my blessing." 
+ 
+You see the pews around you begin to rumble a bit, suddenly launching into the air as they rearrange back the way they were when you arrived, the doors to the building quietly swinging open.
+ 
+(PLAYER WITH GIFT) Inside the mist, you see people of all ages and sizes helping Thanatos back to his feet, dusting him off and straightening his outfit for him.
+
+"I will dake my leave now and,... lick my wounds, as dhe saying goes... Bud I wish you luck on your journey. And do remember dhis place if you ever need a venue for your... ceremonies." He slowly turns and walks away with a limp, stepping out the back door of the building.
 
 -----=====-----=====----- 
  
-Upon returning to the BLACK domain, there has been a significant change. The trees have regained their color and foliage since the last time you were here. You can now see it in its full splendor as a lush green nighttime forest, sounds and all. And, any creatures that normally inhabit the forest are ALSO back, including several VERY dangerous species of animal and insect. Which you see flying, crawling, and swinging around near immediately.
+Upon returning to the BLACK domain, there has been a significant change. The trees have regained their color and foliage since the last time you were here. You can now see it in its full splendor as a lush green nighttime forest, sounds and all. And, the trees & ground are literally crawling with animals and insects once more. 
  
-However, you ALSO see another change in that there is a FAR more clear cut path through this dense forest, where it appears several trees have been cut down and removed, in the exact same direction of where your encounter with Cassius the Black Fox occurred.
+However, you ALSO see a FAR more clear cut path through this dense forest, where it appears several dozen trees have been cut down and removed, in the exact same direction of where your encounter with Cassius occurred. 
  
-*IF THEY CONTINUE*
+*BEHIND THEM* 
+The lumberyard has also changed, as you see the pallots of rotten wood are now gone, many of them replaced with brand new wood. You also see the uniforms inside are clean, the tools are all recharged, and there are some paper punch cards lying on a rack on the wall saying people have come in and out almost every day since you fixed the issue. 
+ 
+*TOWARD CASSIUS' HOME* 
 For the most part, the creatures around you (that you know are watching you) seem to leave you alone as you travel down the "beaten path." You will see an occasional bat or snake cross your path going from one part of the forest to the other, but they overall pay you no mind. 
  
-It takes significantly less time this time to make it to the clearing, where you now see a brand new 2-story cabin, complete with open wood windowsills and candles nearby.
+It takes significantly less time this time to make it to the clearing, where you now see a brand new 2-story cabin, complete with a full front porch, open wood windowsills, and candles inside. 
  
-(INVESTIGATE ROLL) The inside of the building looks surprisingly normal. Everything is made of hand carved wood, professionally so. Tables, chairs, couches, shelves, cabinets, stairs & guardrails, counterspaces, baskets, all of it from different colors and varieties of wood.
+(INVESTIGATE ROLL) You look in through the window, and the inside of the building looks surprisingly normal. Everything is made of hand carved wood, professionally so. Tables, chairs, couches, shelves, cabinets, stairs & guardrails, counterspaces, even wicker baskets.
  
-*IF THEY ENTER*
-The door opens easily enough, but all you can see inside is pitch black nothingness, a complete contrast from the view in the window.
+However, the back side of the house directly connects to a thickly interlaced wall of trees, practically acting like a natural fence. And the tops of these trees are so thick, getting in over them doesn't seem like a viable option. 
+ 
+*CHECK THE DOOR* 
+The door doesn't have an actual factual lock, and is in fact easy to push open. But past the door is pitch black nothingness, a complete contrast from the view in the window. 
  
 *ONCE THEY GO INSIDE* 
-The door slowly closes behind you all, sealing you inside the pitch black space. After only a few moments, you see a small flickering light in the distance, the tiniest of flames, and it is approaching slowly.
+The door slowly closes behind you all, and you can no longer see it in the pitch black. You can see nothing, you can hear nothing.
 
-Once you are close enough, it is revealed to be a candle on a candle stand, being held by Striker. And he is dressed VERY much differently than normal, wearing a brown sleeping robe with a matching nightcap. You can also smell the strong aroma of coffee coming from a cup you just noticed was in his other hand. Oh, if it isn't the Kings of Kings, how wonderful to see you again. Your timing is a bit off though, I was just on my way to bed~"
+After a few moments, you see a small flickering light in the distance, the tiniest of flames, and it is approaching slowly. 
+ 
+It is revealed to be a candle on a handheld candle stand, being held by Striker. And he is dressed VERY much differently than normal, wearing a brown sleeping robe with a matching nightcap. You can also smell the strong aroma of coffee coming from a cup you just noticed was in his other hand.
+
+He rubs his eyes and mumbles a bit. "Oh, if it isn't the Kings of Kings, gracing my Master's brand new home in the dead of night, completely uninvited and unannounced... you missed the housewarming party~" 
  
 *DM/REGALIA/CHALLENGE* 
-"Oh, then your time couldn't be better~ He awoke a short time ago when the sun went down, and he is likely out back working on... something or other. You can go straight through the back door behind me~" He will utter a sinister chuckle before stepping closer. "But I will give you a bit of free advice, tread VERY carefully from here. My master's home is not so kind to tresspassers..~" He will simply walk past your group and extinguish his candle, fading into the darkness.
+"Oh, then your time couldn't be better~ He awoke when the sun went down, and is out back working on... something or other." He will step past your group, revealing a single wooden door in the distance of the seemingly infinite darkness. 
  
-(INVESTIGATE ROLL) It takes you a moment of searching, but you eventually find what you believe is the door outside.
+He will call your attention again. "A bit of free advice, tread VERY carefully from here. My master's home is not so kind to tresspassers..~" The candle he is carrying will suddenly pitter out, and he will give his trademark sinister chuckle as you are left in the darkness, your only company the door that you can SOMEHOW see. 
  
 *OPEN THE DOOR* 
-You find yourselves surrounded by forest once again, but this time feels a bit different. The trees are much closer together out here, some of them mere inches apart, seeming to form walls in a sense. And in this manner, you can sort of see there is a pathway leading through the trees, one straight ahead, one to the left, and one to the right.
+You find yourselves surrounded by forest once again, but this time feels a bit different. The trees are much closer together out here, some of them mere inches apart, seeming to form walls. And in this manner, you can sort of see there is a pathway leading through the trees, one straight ahead, one to the left, and one to the right. 
  
-*ALL OF THE PATHEAYS ARE TECHNICALLY CORRECT, AS IT IS ESSENTIALLY A TREE VERSION OF A HEDGE MAZE, BUT AT A RANDOM INTERVAL, EACH PLAYER WILL MAKE A WILL ROLL, AND THE LOWEST ROLLER WILL BE MET BY THEIR TROUBLE MANIFESTED IN A SHADOWY MANNER, UNTIL EVERYONE HAS CONFRONTED THEIRS*
+*ALL PLAYERS MAKE A WILL ROLL*
+*LOWEST WILL BE FIRST AFFECTED*
+*MANIFEST THEIR TROUBLE BEFORE THEM*
+*WHOLE TEAM FIGHTS IT TOGETHER IF POSSIBLE*
+*REPEAT FROM LOWEST TO HIGHEST ROLL*
  
-At the end of the passageway, there is a large wooden door surrounded by trees, the first sign of any kind of change you have seen in the area since you came outside. But the second you see it, you hear an eerie wailing noise in the distance.
-
-Around the edges of the trees, you see an ever growing blackness slowly spread around the corners. Not the inky blackness from before, but more like animated shadows are slowly creeping your way from the walls and the ground. *You might want to run.*
-
-Upon reaching the door, the shadows are still approaching slowly, but now you also see a pair of red eyes atop a pitch black creature's body, and they are staring right at all of you. *And you get the distinct feeling this creature is hungry.*
-
-*ALL PUSH ON THE DOOR TOGETHER*
-The door suddenly swings open and your entire party falls into a grassy opening, the door slamming behind you all right before the creature manages to wrap its teeth around you. Looking back, you see you came right back out through the same back door to the cabin you THOUGHT you exited from in the beginning. This time, the trees look normal, spread out in a relatively sparse manner in a circle-like formation in the open yard.
-
-(NOTICE ROLL) You hear a strange scraping or grinding noise, and upon seeking it out, you see Cassius kneeling in the middle of the grass with a draw knife in hand, slowly whittling down a piece of wood with every scrape. He either isn't aware of your existence, or doesn't seem to care.
+*AFTER CONQUERING* 
+You finally find a large wooden door surrounded by trees, the first sign of any kind of change you have seen in the area since you came outside. 
 
 *IF THEY APPROACH*
-He continues to work on his piece of wood like you aren't even there, seemingly too focused on whatever project he is working on. Eventually, he will stand up and carry the piece of wood to a nearby pile of carved pieces, and begin work assembling them.
+(NOTICE Roll) You hear a familiar demonoc snarling noise in the distance. 
  
-*WHAT IS HE DOING*
-"My hobby."
+Around the edges of the trees, you see a slowly creeping forward puddle of inky blackness. It moves like tar, slowly coating everything in its touch, and you see the familiar sight of the trees losing their color.
  
-*WHY WOODWORKING*
-"It... fills the void."
+Upon reaching the door, anyone looking behind you also sees a very large ink covered limb coming around the corner, stepping into the goo and spreading it further.
 
-*WHAT WAS THE CREATURE*
-"You have your home defense, I have mine."
+*PUSHING ONE AT A TIME*
+The door is straining but will not budge, and the creature has rounded the corner. It seems to know where you are, and splits its head open, screeching demonically with its six mouth flaps full of teeth and three tongues.
  
-*WHAT WAS THE MAZE*
-"The creature likes to play with its food."
+*ALL PUSH ON THE DOOR TOGETHER* 
+The door suddenly pops open, and your group falls into a field of grass, the door slamming behind you all right in front of the creature.
 
-He will finish assembling what looks like a master crafted level throne made entirely of hand carved oak, and suddenly sit upon it, slumping back into it immediately and propping his head up on his fist with the elbow on a chair arm. He finally visually confirms he sees you, his full moon like eyes shining lightly at you. Under the light of the moon, you see he is wearing a rather regal white dress shirt and gray pants, neither of which have any traces of wood shavings anywhere. "State your business."
+*BEHIND THEM*
+You watch the wooden door bow out form a sudden slam, clearly the creature running into it. You also recognize the general pattern of the house attached to it as Cassius' cabin, which means you finally made it into his backyard.
+
+*ALL AROUND*
+The yard itself is surprisingly well maintained. The grass is lush but clearly kept cut, the trees in the yard are formed up in such a way that resembles a natural fence, and the tops of the trees have a clear and open pathway to the nighttime sky.
+ 
+(NOTICE ROLL)
+- You hear and smell the distinct sound and scent of a fire, and finally take notice of the large campfire in the direct center of the yard, its smoky trail leading straight up and out of the opening at the top of the trees. And there is plenty of open space to sit around it.
+- You hear loud scraping noises from the opposite side of the large campfire, and see Cassius sitting behind it, a large chunk of wood leaning against him and a draw knife in hand, scraping away at the wood & letting the scraps fall into the flame.
+- There is a pile of carved wood just a couple yards behind him. implying he has been working at this for some time.
+
+*IF THEY APPROACH / CALL OUT*
+He doesn't even seem to notice you, too busy carving away at that piece of wood.
+
+From within the light of the flame, you see his shadow suddenly extend and pull itself off the ground in a blob-like fashion, reaching behind him to pick up each piece of wood and pull it all together in moments, taking rhe piece in his lap and assembling it together.
+
+He stands and steps away from the flame for a moment, sitting in a brand new masterfully crafted wooden throne, the backrest and seat made from handcrafted wicker.
+
+He sits down and lies back, immediately propping his head on one fist while its elbow rests on the chair arm. Now that he's finally in the proper light of the flame, you can see he looks far better than he did when you last saw him.
+
+New black pants, new black shoes, and a spotless white Victorian dress shirt, puffed sleeves and all. And there is not a scrap of wood on any of it.
+
+He finally acknowledges your group. "State your business."
  
 *REGALIA*
-"You trespass into my home in the dead of night, disturbed the peace I only recently reclaimed, and disturb my work in the process... just to challenge me for my weapon." He will suddenly stand, his shadow stretching out from behind him and enveloping the throne, before causing it to sink into the ground behind him. "I will show you no mercy."
+
+He will stand from his throne. "You dare to tresspass on the property of Cassius Summus, disturb my work, and take away the modicum of peace I only JUST reclaimed... to challenge me for my Regalia."
+
+His shadow will stretch out from behind him again, envelops his new throne, and pulls it straight down into the darkness until it disappears. He pulls his black dagger out, taking a loose combat stance. "Consider your impending loss at my hand... MY compensation."
+
+-----
  
 AFTER THE FIGHT 
 
 *IF THEY LOSE* 
-He will stand before you, both arms hanging in front of himself loosely, his hand loosely clinging to his blade. "You are... stronger than you appear."
+He will stand before you, both arms hanging in front of himself loosely, his hand barely holding his blade. "You are... stronger than you appear." 
  
-He will suddenly begin to crack and crunch his body, shoulders straightening and back cracking as he resumes a normal stance. "I had intended to end you all tonight... but... you have piqued my curiosity."
+His body will begin to crack and crunch in a terrifying way, his shoulders popping into place and his joints crunching loudly, until he resumes a normal stance. "I had intended to end you all tonight... but... you have piqued my curiosity." 
  
-He will turn away from your group, heading toward the forest. "I will await our rematch." He will then walk into the trees and slowly dissipate into the shadows, making no noise as he does so.
+He will walk past your group, heading toward his home. "You may see yourselves in OR out of my home safely... for now." 
+
+-----
 
 *IF THEY WIN* 
 Cassius will suddenly kneel, dropping his weapon at his feet, doubled over in pain. "This... is unexpected..." 
  
-His eyes will suddenly light up bright red, staring you all down. "After the last fight, I intended to remove each of your heads upon your defeat."
+His eyes will suddenly glow bright red, staring you all down. "I intended to remove each of your heads upon your defeat." 
  
-He will pause, his eyes slowly going back to their normal yellow hue. "But... you have bested me. I will honor the rules."
+He will pause, his eyes slowly going back to their normal yellow hue. "But... you have bested me. I am honor and duty bound to follow the rules I have been tasked with." 
 
-He will pick up his weapon and pitch it directly at your group, causing it to land between one of your member's feet. "The price to keep this Dusk Kris safe form the Crooked King was a year of endless pain and blind solitude. Do not waste either mine or Striker's efforts." 
+His body will begin to crack and crunch in a terrifying way, his shoulders popping into place and his joints crunching loudly, until he resumes a normal stance. He will pick up his weapon and pitch it directly at your group, causing it to land between (PLAYER)'s feet.
 
-(AFTER THEIR RETORT) He will slowly phase into the ground through his own shadow silently, leaving you with your prize.
+"The price to keep this Dusk Kris safe form the Crooked King was a year of endless pain and blind solitude. Do not waste either mine or Striker's efforts."
+
+He walks past your group, opening the door of his home. "You may exit the way you came. Safely. For now." He steps away from the door, walking toward a pile of logs just out of sight.
+
+-----
  
 *EITHER WAY* 
 *IF THEY USE THE BACK DOOR* 
-Upon opening the door, instead of an endless forest, you actually see the inside of a relatively normal log cabin. All the furniture inside is hand carved from different types of wood, there is at least one slow burning candle inside giving everything a soft warm glow, and Striker is dead asleep hanging from his own spiderweb in a corner of the living room ceiling.
+This time, you actually see the inside of a relatively normal log cabin. All the furniture inside is there, there are candles every so often to light the way, and there is a fairly clear path leading to the door.
+
+(NOTICE Roll)
+- You spot the throne-like chair Cassius made in the living room, framing the rest of the room surprisingly well
+- You spot a massive spider web hanging from the ceiling, and Striker lying within it, smiling wide to a creepy degree.
+- His web is horribly off pattern, his mug is lying on the floor bone dry, and his breath reeks of coffee.
+
+"Oh ho ho, you made it out alive, that's so greeeaaat~" He will hiccup a bit, shaking his head quickly to clear his thoughts. 
+
+"I thought for sure Master Cassius wouldn't let you walk out of here alive, or at least would throw you to his guard dog~"
+
+*WHAT WAS THAT*
+Striker will awkwardly turn so he is hanging from the web, slurring his words a little. "Mm.. when you went in, you were confronted by the dark manifestations of your own deepest darkest nightmares, were you not?"
+
+*IF YES*
+"That is exactly what it was. A manifestation of a nightmare, tamed and turned into a guard dog~"
+
+*CASSIUS' NIGHTMARE*
+Striker suddenly bursts out into laughter, rolling around in his web for a moment before it breaks and he flops into the couch with a heavy THUD. "OEUF... that's one way to sober up..."
+
+He sits upright and looks up to your group, stretching his arms out. "Master Cassius has no nightmares to speak of. He is incapable of experiencing fear. Or sadness, or joy, or... anything at all. His body, mind, and soul are as barren and empty as the dark magic he commands."
+
+*WHOS NIGHTMARE*
+"Is it not so obvious?"
+
+*STRIKER'S NIGHTMARE*
+"I am the closest thing Master Cassius has to a friend. He would throw me to the wolves if he so felt compelled, and I would allow him to. He would feel nothing from it either. As such, I feel it is my responsibility as a piece of him to... experience such things for him. And he made use of my nightmares as a result."
+
+*THAT IS HORRIBLE*
+"You wouldn't understand. I am not a being like him or you, I am a magical construct given consciousness that has outlived his purpose. I am simply enjoying every moment of my life while I have it. And I choose to spend it here, so I may bring him... whatever desire his empty existence needs."
  
 -----=====-----=====----- 
  
-Upon returning to the BROWN domain, everything appears the same at first glance. Same valley, same trees, same lake, same gym. Except the gym is completely empty, and so is the climbing store aside from the Koala running the counter.
+Upon returning to the BROWN domain, everything appears the same at first glance. Same valley, same trees, same lake, same gym.
  
 *IF THEY ASK* 
 He will explain everyone is behind the gym, working up a sweat in the ore mine at the base of the mountain behind the building. He also mentions if they plan to pitch in, he has a deal on helmet, pickaxe, and shredding backpack rentals of 5z each, two of them for 8z, or one of all three for 10z.