Upping the Ante

Discussion in 'The Twister's Domain' started by Guy, Oct 2, 2015.

  1. Guy

    Guy Admin admin

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    Guy found himself quietly hovering over the coarse, mushy ground that made up Moruge Swamp. He had traversed this region just enough times to know it was inherently dangerous, even to a Deku Scrub like himself. Thus, the sudden chill down his spine--a horrible and overwhelming feeling of danger--set up on edge more than he could describe.

    All it took was the snap of a branch, and Guy shot up into the air, propelling like a scared cat. Though flustered, he landed carefully, eyeing his surroundings as his heart beat a mile a second. Why was he so on edge? That was probably some harmless frog, or something similarly pathetic. He was better than this, Guy told himself. He was normally calm, no matter the situation. Something--he needed something to take the edge off, to regain his composure.

    It had been a day since he last partook. A hand uneasily slipped towards his Adventure Pouch, pulling out a small mushroom before slipping it into his stone snout, and swallowing it whole. His hand lingered on his cold, smooth face. Stone was stronger than wood, to be sure, but he felt as though he might never fully grow accustomed to this...

    "...Speak of the devil," Guy scoffed. No wonder he was so on edge. No wonder things felt so indescribably dangerous. It was the faceless one. Yet, it seemed different. Was there more than one of these creatures? No, it must've been the same one. Considering what it did to him and his sister, he doubted there was much beyond this creature's capabilities.

    With a sigh, Guy hovered over to the desk. He tried glaring into the creature's eyes as it grinned so intensely back at him, but felt as though those eyes could not be seen even as he stared into them. He desired to understand it, to fathom the phenomenon that was this creature, but at the same time felt such a thing was infinitely beyond his grasp. It was like an ant daring to question and dissect Nayru.

    "You can read my mind, can't you?" Guy dropped the question flatly. He didn't expect the face to respond to small talk, but found himself making it anyway. "You know I'm too stupid to resist something this bizarre, this unexpected. Did you grow tired of the carnival wheel? Why did you set up shop here, of all places?"

    Perhaps because Guy expected the creature to not respond, it didn't. That's what he thought, anyway. Instead, in the silence, Guy carefully considered what he would sacrifice. Did it matter what he gave up? What were the rules and the specifications to this 'game,' anyway? He felt even if he asked, he would not receive an answer. Maybe he would not receive an answer because he presumed none would be given.

    First, thirty-three little green gems were laid forth. Then, stone fingers gently pried off a pair of Fireshield Earrings, and placed on the desk. Thanks to this creature itself, he had no more use for them anyway. Not only that, but he pulled out his mechanical Beetle and placed it upon the wood as well. Finally, Guy added, "I can offer you abilities as well, can't I? That is what my sister did... or so she tells me. I want to offer my ability to hop across water. Not everyone can do that, so I assume it's some kind of ability."

    It never specified that he could only offer only one treasure and only eleven rupees, right? Would that be rewarded? Guy was curious to see if this would be accepted. Would he only get one thing in return? Or three? He hoped, worse-case scenario, she would only accept a portion of his sacrifice. Regardless, he didn't give the girl time to stop him. His hand shot out towards the dice, and quickly rolled them with a sweep of his arm. Instantly, a potent mixture of doom and anticipation flooded his mind.


    (To be specific, Guy is attempting to simultaneously give up his Beetle, his Fireshield Earrings, and his ability to Water Hop--in addition to 33 rupees.)
  2. The Twister

    The Twister The faceless face grows a grin most mischievous.

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    The die was cast, but as always, the game was rigged in her favor. Oh, surely the game remained one of chance, but that lost all meaning as the embodiment of chaos. As the Deku moved to roll the dice, the nonexistent eyes of the figure before him followed, watching as the bones clattered against the table. Her smile grew wider as the dice rolled slowly, like they were held in molasses. This did not bode well for the Deku. Of course, she didn’t truly have anything against him, but it was the principle of the matter.


    Oh, certainly he seemed to have the appropriate amount of fear for her. But fear and respect were two different things. His gift was outwardly generous: three things of value, and glistering gems as well. And yet, the first item he offered was a pair of gaudy earrings, of which he no longer had use. She trembled at the insult, as if she had been slapped in the face. His gamble was meant to be without consequence, but this game, it belonged to her and her alone. No, she’d see to it that he could never roll dice again, for the abject terror of what might go wrong this time?


    The Deku’s stone heart would be pounding against his chest as he watched the die roll, reminding him of the eternity he had spent reforming his body in his initial transformation. There, the dice were teetering upon an edge, and with knowing dread, he saw as they began to fall onto a pair of angry, hateful eyes, ones he imagined belonged in the head of the girl before him. Her smile would haunt him in days to come, appearing whenever he might close his eyes.


    No.


    Chill, biting winds beat down upon the two figures suddenly, like some divine gust had descended. Had it been windy before? The Deku’s head lifted, having fallen upon his hands and knees, finding storm clouds in the sky. His gaze fell slow, to see that even the girl was nearly brought to a knee, though her titanic strength kept her on her feet. Her visage was twisted, as if she were loosing a primal scream at even the gods above. The dice had blown to the ground, and whether it was luck or fate, twelve now looked up at the Deku.


    She looked down at the die, at the Deku, and again at the sky. “That’s not fair!” Her voice a cacophonous blast, tremoring throughout the stone body of the Deku. Even the gods could be humbled by a game of chance, and it seemed the Deku’s luck had won the day. With another scream, she shattered the table and was gone in an explosion of smoke and thunder. There, Guy remained, on his hands and knees…


    His eyes were transfixed on the dice though, his eyes unable to leave the six-pair returning his stare. Twelve shadowy hands exploded from the faces of the die, attached to willowy and elongated arms. Guy’s breath caught in his throat as they descended upon him, bracing himself for the inevitability of being torn apart. And yet, rather than cruel grasping and tearing, he was caressed and cradled, as if he were a newborn child. He felt his body slowly begin to relax, further, and further, until it seemed even his stony flesh had begun to melt into lava.


    Slowly, he would open his eyes with renewed vigor, as if waking from restful sleep. He looked down at his hands, seeing that his skin had taken upon itself a change. His body now appeared to be made of the darkest jet and obsidian, as if those shadowy limbs had merged with his own body. Looking down, he would realize why: his shadow was now gone, a part of his physical body. A calm understanding overtook him, as new information flowed into his mind.


    His shadow could now unattach itself from his physical body, wandering where it may, leaving only an inanimate statue of glistering diamond in its wake. Like a pure black wraith, he could wander anywhere he might walk, as long as he remained within some shadow. He could see while in this form, though could experience no other senses. He also knew that any attempt to affect the physical world would be futile, though he would still be subject to any physical barrier in his way. Yet, he knew, too, that any ability or treasure of his that might involve shadows or illusion would still remain usable in this form. Upon concentration, he could summon his body to his shadow at will, though such a process always drew enormous attention, his shadow hissing loudly. Guy was reminded of the Wizzrobes he had fought in the past: their ability to teleport was not unlike that of his own, though this Twist did not occupy any ability to possess great treasures. Lastly, enveloping his original body would allow him to reinhabit it.


    However, such a prize came at a cost. Now that two Twists were inextricably joined, he could never return to his normal self by the rules of the original twist. Now, only a powerful mask could see him returned to his original form should he so desire.
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