The Man with No Name stands over the body. His teammates are furious, but he doesn’t care. He thought they had enough faith in him. Guess not. Within moments Nulendar arrived. The Man did not know who he was till he announced himself. He spoke and announced that he was the voice of Osiris, but Ursus refused to let him speak. The bearman continued to run his mouth until Bennu appeared and rebuked all who continued speaking. This shut everyone up. The Man stood there still just watching. He was getting ready for another beating or his next death. Yet it did not come. Instead only the probing of the mind by Nulendar at his own risk. Nulendar confirmed that the visions were true and that The Man was in the right. His comrades acted like it was no big deal and tried to hug and shake him. They did not notice his limp body hurt by the lack of trust. To them he was a dog to keep until they felt he disobeyed. His eyes glazed over as Nulendar continued talking. He thought about his family and his farm the feel of the wheat in his hands. ‘’You shall be known as Khonsu’s Reaper!” Nulendar said of The Man. He grasped his scythe thinking of the reaping of wheat. Was this his calling? To harvest those ready for Khonsu’s bidding? He continued, “His judgement in single death should not be questioned!” The Man grasped his scythe even tighter. Nulendar doled out other names, Osiris’ Unyielding Strength to Xer’xes, Isis’ Seeker to Indaris, and Revenant of Khonsu to Ursus. The others gawked and smiled at their new titles. No Name pondered what burden just got added to him. Is his justice finally being realized, or has he gained more strings as a puppet of a god? Will there be one more ward to go off if he slips up now? He didn’t want this burden, he just wanted to feel dirt run through his fingers once more, when he isn’t burying someone.
He wakes from his thoughts to the members talking with Rooster and Grignak. The bard looked older than him. It would be nice to have someone of similar age even if he wasn’t from the same country. The group asked questions as the body was looted and parts were severed for proof.
Ursus wished to go to the temple. The Man joined him. He followed still thinking of today’s actions as he watched the werebearman dragging a bull fighting for its life. He couldn’t help but feel for it. Had it not been for the divine intervention his ‘friends’ would have drug him to the slaughter just like this bull. He watched the display unfold. He saw the horror in the eyes of the people watching the gore unfold in the middle of the sanctuary. “Is this what Khonsu requires?”, asked a priest. “No, but it is still a gift and is appreciated. It should be done more discreetly though. Khonsu wishes to find safe harbor for those that the humans call monsters, and he proves their fears by acting out so bestial for the public to witness. Create a sacrificial area where it is more private. This will kill that stigma.” No Name steps back a bit as the blood flows down the aisle and almost reaches his boot. He lets Ursus finish and makes sure he gets home safely. Some are enamored by his display, others shudder in fear. Sleep comes for most, yet The Man cannot find it but for a brief moment.
He finds himself standing in the field in front of the pedestal, the book in front of him. The figure is there silent and watching. He is drawn to it this time. He touches the cover with his finger. His flesh begins to melt away and his hand is only bone now. He wakes up. “Seek the book!”, rings in his head. He hurries to get the body parts preserved. He then heads to find a library. The others have a meeting, but it is important that he finds out the books information.
He makes his way to the Church of Khonsu. The priest from before meets him, “Good morning Khonsu’s Reaper.” With stern eyes he replies, ‘’I must find all books on Wo-Elfenbrut!” The priest reads the sadness and determination in his eyes, “Awfully grim, Reaper. Very well though I will help you find them.” Together the duo uncover all that they can. Each book a crumb in the trail. Things began piecing together after a weeks time. Wolfenbrut was located where Avramstown now is. It must be built on top. They continued searching till the young priest read some passages in a hushed tone. ’’The Wolfen were created by Elves and humans just after the Chaos Wars.” He stood there visibly stunned. It would appear that the proof was in Wo-Elfenbrut, but this could change the world. He had the priest send word to Xerx’ses as he took the proof and prepared. He was going to be prepared for Steve this time. He bought a new shirt and painted a white skull on it. Steve you will be reaped!
He sat while the group saw an got money from the boat and saw an alchemist friend. He focused his mind.
The group stood ready. Xer’xes prepared his spell. FLASH! They appeared in an empty room. Welcome to Avramstown.
Written by No Name on the 7th of Kym-nark-mar in the 24th year of Emperor Itomas.
Picture by Nightmare Factory.
Comments
Your best No Name log yet- really gets into his feelings. Well done.
Agreed! Love how everyone’s reactions totally change once a god’s herald starts throwing his weight around (verbally speaking). So in the end, the Reaper was right. I’m glad. But something tells me that No Name is not too happy with how they initially reacted, and even worse about how they didn’t stand their ground after Nulendar came. I think he doesn’t like it when people are without conviction. A piece of me thinks that he sees conviction is more virtuous than being nice or showing mercy. Great log! Love the 3rd person POV. Paid off big time here. It sets the tone well.
Like seeing him follow Ley-Rhy’s lead. Didn’t know it would consume him into nightmares…oh wait, yes I did. Hehehehe. Like how the connect to the Wolfen origins came out. Woelfenbrut is actually German for “Where the Elf Spawn are” or “are from”. Great work!
This is a fantastic log !!!!!!!!
I loved the logs about his backstory, but it is high time a log about him currently has come. I daresay we might have had more sympathy for him had this been the case. I still see him as selfish. His conviction is about ending his pain. Not about finishing the quest to restore Osiris.
If No Name wants or expects trust (even respect), then try giving some first.
I love that everyone forgets how simple Xerx’ses is and even CrIsis of his arrival did not trust him. Overkill wrote a log that said he was afraid the Minotaur would eat him as a snack in his sleep. Until the Lopanic Games the world did not trust him, and if he was not making sure EVERY step was on his best behavior his companions would not trust him. The player had to write scores of logs about this very fact, but the things that are different.
!. Xerx’ses communicated till he was blue in the face. People could talk to him!
2. He gave respect and never asked for it. Hoping for it is not the same thing. Trust and respect took time, but they did eventually come.
No Name won’t talk and CrIsis isn’t being told why someone whom is confirmed as being evil is in their midst.
Xerx’ses thoughts are:
Θ Do the gods think good people are incapable of winning such a war?
Θ Is this why they allowed Xerx’ses to loose his path which used to be far more pure?
Θ Is it his job to corrupt evil and make No Name good once more?
Θ Or is he suppose to kill him alongside Mangy Carl in judgement when this is over?
Θ If he is suppose to kill him after the quest does he want to get to know him?
Θ No Name could solve all of this by trying to communicate but he doesn’t, why?
Θ Do all evil people think their suffering is more important than the world?
Θ Is No Name a test from the Gods? Are we passing by just being inclusive and allowing him to come along or failing?
Θ If only I was smarter like Grignak I would know how to proceed, but I’m not. What the Gods say, goes, if they ask – it is a command and not up for debate. It will get done even if I must die after it gets done.
Thanks guys. To answer your questions Xer’Xes, he hasn’t not answered questions. He just needs someone to ask them. Socially he is an introvert so he will not volunteer information unless someone asks in a cordial way that is both specific and sincere. So an interrogation may not work as well as someone saying “Hey man tell me a little bit about …..” He is still figuring out the team thing, but he works in absolutes a lot. So he thought there would be absolute support. I am not saying he is right though. He also comes from a place where decisions need to be made in split seconds so he does act fast and harsh compared to today’s social norms, but maybe a bit more normal in those medieval settings. In his mind he trusts you guys, and he knows you are good (for the most part). This is why he would have not fought back in self-defense. He could have gotten away but he does not because he trusts you all. He’s kinda emotional, but that doesn’t get in the way of his decisions. He works in binary a lot. There isn’t much grey. He is only evil because he doesn’t fit into one mold. Everything is good except that he deals with evil people like an evil person.
That is a brilliant response, but with the pace the game moves I am not sure there will be anytime for this. The funny thing is Xerx’ses has never had a reason to just hang out with No Name for the same introvert motivations. He is stuck on the notion most people don’t like him or he is boring. I hope time develops for character growth, we only have two years to go though. Well here’s to hope.
Don’t write it off. A lot can happen in even one game.
It was great seeing No Name’s perspective again on recent events. This has made me wonder though it perhaps the gods included The Man With No Name in CrIsis because they have become so focused on the end-goal that they’ve developed an “end justifies the means” attitude towards it? I feel like the chaos ravaging the Palladium world helps to support this.