tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79819560135830098902024-02-08T07:53:45.131-05:00Hidden in the TreesJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-39609078026285774842011-08-20T17:24:00.000-04:002011-08-20T17:24:59.365-04:00Memento MoriI don't expect to survive this. I'm at the point where I'm measuring my life in hours.<br />
<br />
I'm in an apartment building. I can no longer access the City. I can hear a sound above me-- knives scraping against the floor. It's the Rake.<br />
<br />
I look out the window and I can see my former master-- Slender Man, might as well call him what he is-- standing out there, watching me. People pass by as if he's not even there, oblivious to him. One group of people moves oddly, their limbs loose, their movements strangely exaggerated. The Wooden Girl's dolls.<br />
<br />
I look out another window and Judgment is there. I remember he said something about his sins burning him up soon, and I see now what he meant. I can't even recognize Sleight's body anymore; it's so decrepit looking, like he's aged 60 years in the span of a week.<br />
<br />
I hear whispers, telling me to just give it all up, and a gray blur moves in the corner of my eye. I don't know why the Choir is after me, but there are a lot of things I don't know.<br />
<br />
And I can feel the Ichor within me, spreading. I cut myself on a nail about an hour ago, and no blood came out. Only clear fluid. It won't be long now.<br />
<br />
One way or another, I am going to die soon.<br />
<br />
And you know what? I'm OK with that.<br />
<br />
In the past few months, I went from just some random, insignificant college student to a supernaturally sponsored murderer. I've killed people without hesitation, and afterward I'd come up with justifications for it, and I'd try to ignore that feeling in the back of my head that what I'm doing is wrong. I'd try to block the inevitable nightmares from invading my sleep. I'd try and try, but to no avail.<br />
<br />
Guilt is the punishment for our sins, and I feel little else these days.<br />
<br />
<br />
But my sins end tonight. I have no intention of becoming a puppet. Not again.<br />
<br />
So, all you monsters, all you horrific abominations? What are you waiting for?<br />
<br />
I've got a machete on my right and a shotgun on my left. First prize goes to the one who brings me down.<br />
<br />
My name is Joseph Amory Steward, and I'm ready for you.<br />
<br />
So come and get me.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-74744323530852124322011-08-19T20:03:00.000-04:002011-08-19T20:03:44.817-04:00Oh God Judgement was waiting for me in the City. I just stepped through the Door and there he was with a knife in his hand, shouting about how horrible I am.<br />
<br />
Horrible. Horrible. I'm a horrible person.<br />
<br />
Killed people. Dead because of me.<br />
<br />
Couldn't protect Crystal or Glorius or Acedia or Lexi.<br />
<br />
He was my one companion. The voice in my mind that kept me company. He made sure I was never alone. If I was good and loyal, I'd never be alone again. Why did He betray me abandon me why why kill me kill me kill me kill me liklle m,emkkille m eme be Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-14203527876625572072011-08-19T16:29:00.000-04:002011-08-19T16:29:46.837-04:00IchorI can feel it inside of me.<br />
<br />
It's like some kind of slime, slithering through my veins. I feel a need, no, an <i>obsession</i>, with, of all things, counting the hairs on my arms. I keep losing count and having to start over.<br />
<br />
This is the favor, isn't it? The debt I owe to the Ichor. It's coming to collect. It's infested me, and now it's replacing my bodily fluids with its own ink.<br />
<br />
Soon, I'll lose myself. I'll become a Camper, just another limb of the Ichor.<br />
<br />
Maybe it's what I deserve.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-87741971567300565802011-08-18T16:43:00.000-04:002011-08-18T16:43:19.142-04:00RunningI can't use the Path anymore, but it seems that I'm still Marked, so I can travel through the City.<br />
<br />
To those offering to help, thanks, but trust me: you don't want the things chasing me to come knocking on your door. No amount of magic or connections will save you from them.<br />
<br />
By my count, I have about five godlike entities after me. If I get near you, there's no way you'll be able to protect yourself.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-12371758379138972132011-08-17T18:39:00.000-04:002011-08-17T18:39:33.228-04:00The Battle in the BayHere's what happened.<br />
<br />
I rented a boat and went out to the coordinates Master gave me. I waited there for an hour before He appeared on the deck.<br />
<br />
The Rake appeared a few minutes later.<br />
<br />
It looked right at Master, and it <i>smiled</i> at him. Like it had won something. And then it turned its attention to me. Those eyes-- those horrible, pitch black, but perfectly intelligent eyes-- took me in, and I felt something emanate from them. Expectation.<br />
<br />
A command floated into my mind. A command from Master. I was to walk to the Rake.<br />
<br />
I was tribute.<br />
<br />
Whatever deal they'd worked out, my life was part of it. I couldn't even move. Fear held my body rigid.<br />
<br />
The command came again, stronger this time, and I found myself stepping forward. Toward that <i>thing</i>.<br />
<br />
And then there was gunfire.<br />
<br />
The Rake's right eye exploded and reared back in rage and pain. I watched, dumbstruck, as its eye reformed on its face, and it turned to look in the direction of the shots. I followed its gaze and saw another boat approaching us. More gunfire rang out, and more bullets pummeled the Rake's body.<br />
<br />
I started to walk toward the other boat, but found that I couldn't. Black tentacles held me back. Master had no intention of letting me get away.<br />
<br />
I ducked down-- the tentacles gave me enough leeway to do that, at least-- and watched as bullets began to slam into Master's body. They made little splashes, little ripples like they were going through water, and Master stood there, unharmed, quietly watching as the boat approached.<br />
<br />
It must have gotten close enough, because I saw people leaping onto our own boat, brandishing knives and machetes and hatchets... It took me only a moment to figure out who they were. The movement of their limbs gave them away. Dolls.<br />
<br />
And then the tentacles were gone, and I saw Master burst into a thousand tendrils of darkness, lashing out at all the dolls near him. One's head flew clean off, another took a slash across his stomach.<br />
<br />
But even dead, their bodies continued to move, continued to attack, controlled by invisible strings.<br />
<br />
I crawled across the deck and dimly realized that the Rake had fled the scene. Evidently he didn't want to be caught in the chaos it had brought on.<br />
<br />
I stood and prepared to leap off the boat.<br />
<br />
I felt something cut against my back.<br />
<br />
I screamed as a slash of heat arced through me and warm sticky blood seeped down my body. I spun around to face my attacker.<br />
<br />
Charlotte stood there, a bloody knife in her hand, grinning at me. "Hey there, Stew-stew. Bye-bye." She slashed at me again, and I ducked to the side. Then I found myself have to scramble away as quickly as I could. The girl was <i>fast</i>. There was no way someone her age could move so quickly, with such accurate strikes.<br />
<br />
And abruptly, all sound of battle ceased. Charlotte froze in place, dropped her knife, and fell to her knees. She brought her face to the floor and stayed in that position. I turned to see who she was bowing to.<br />
<br />
Just four feet away from where I sat, Master and the Wooden Girl stood face to face with eachother.<br />
<br />
The Wooden Girl moved first, striking out with a knife in her right hand. Master deflected it with a humanoid arm that extended from the blackness that comprised his body. The strings around the Wooden Girl unwound themselves and flew at Master, wrapping around what limbs they could and trying to pull Him to the ground.<br />
<br />
A futile effort. He merely slid out of the strings as if His body were smoke, and a tentacle lashed out from somewhere deep within His body. This wasn't like the other ones I'd seen. The smoky, inky tendrils of blackness. No, this one looked... it looked like it had actual substance.<br />
<br />
It crashed against the Wooden Girl, and wrapped around her. I felt something in my mind, like snarl of rage, and then fire spewed forth from the depths of Master's body and down the length of that tentacle. The fire spread out and consumed the Wooden Girl.<br />
<br />
And then she did something I never thought I'd see her do.<br />
<br />
The Wooden Girl screamed.<br />
<br />
The sound seemed to almost break and tear itself, and for an instant I could see a vast void of nothingness surround the two Entities, and then it was all over, and Master let the charred corpse of his opponent crash to the deck.<br />
<br />
I was just beginning to relax when another scream tore through the air. I spun around and saw Charlotte, now in her feet, he back arced and her eyes wide in pain and terror. She screamed and screamed as her flesh began to split apart. And from beneath her skin, wood emerged.<br />
<br />
It grew out of her, and it continued to grow, covering all of her. Her screams finally cut off as the wood grew over her mouth. For a moment the wooden shape before me simply stood there, and then shapes began to appear on it, as if painted by an invisible hand.<br />
<br />
A puppets face soon looked straight at me, a painted on smile taking me in, and then the Wooden Girl vanished in a burst of power. I was thrown backward, and the last thing I remember before passing out was cold water coming over me.<br />
<br />
I woke up on the beach an hour before dawn, and went to the first safehouse I could think of.<br />
<br />
I've been running since.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-65990389175476877492011-08-17T06:17:00.001-04:002011-08-17T06:17:14.668-04:00I can't stop for long. I have to keep moving. I'll explain later.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-71177962031889992232011-08-16T16:49:00.000-04:002011-08-16T16:49:55.378-04:00MemoriesBeen hanging in the area. Tonight's the night Master faces him.<br />
<br />
So many memories... I've been walking around my old neighborhood. Someone else is living in my old house now. I guess they don't mind living in a place where a family was murdered.<br />
<br />
Were they my family? Sometimes I find it hard to believe. What memories I have are distant, and the rest... well, I gave my childhood to the Blind Man, didn't I?<br />
<br />
But non of that matters now.<br />
<br />
Tonight, one way or another, this all ends.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-5321651433187144352011-08-13T08:24:00.000-04:002011-08-13T08:24:26.396-04:00Master will soon confront the Rake.<br />
<br />
A meeting ground has been chosen. I almost laughed when I heard it. It's a place that I know well: the Chesapeake Bay.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-38455213612027414212011-08-11T20:23:00.000-04:002011-08-11T20:23:03.702-04:00The CompulsionIt was all so fucking obvious.<br />
<br />
But I couldn't see it? How could I? He's just a beast. A mindless animal. That's what I saw when I looked at him. That's what we all see.<br />
<br />
That's exactly what he wants us to see.<br />
<br />
We focused on his claws and his fangs. We forgot about his voice. That voice that implants ideas and instructions in our minds when we are at our most vulnerable.<br />
<br />
He worked for years to make sure we only saw the feral aspects. Even the Entities came to see him as beast. They were blind to the chaos he was sewing within their ranks.<br />
<br />
So much patience. So much careful planning. So much work, just to make sure that humanity knew about Them. Just to make sure that humanity would rebel against Them. Chaos is doubtlessly his end-goal. For from chaos, anything can rise to supremacy.<br />
<br />
And we were all too eager to follow the instructions he whispered into our ears.<br />
<br />
He is the Feral Beast. He is the Whisperer. He is the Incubus. He is the Lord of Nightmares.<br />
<br />
He is the Rake.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-82462574646256424502011-08-11T17:34:00.002-04:002011-08-11T17:34:51.365-04:00LightbulbTake a look at <a href="http://forinthatsleepofdeath.tumblr.com/">this</a>.<br />
<br />
Doesn't it make you think?Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-79627622473317107662011-08-10T17:16:00.000-04:002011-08-10T17:16:53.692-04:00JudgmentI've been hunting down the members of Sleight's old magic troupe. None have given me any useful information. No matter how strenuously I question them, no matter how forcefully I beat them, no matter how tearfully I beg them to just tell me what I want to know so I. Can. Stop. Hurting. Them.<br />
<br />
The one I visited this morning didn't survive his questioning. He had a heart condition.<br />
<br />
When I turned to leave his house, I found Sleight standing in the doorway.<br />
<br />
I froze.<br />
<br />
"Who are you?"<br />
<br />
Sleight smiled. It wasn't a cruel smile. It wasn't a joyous smile. It was... peaceful. "You know."<br />
<br />
"You can't be here. You were trapped in the City."<br />
<br />
Sleight nodded. "I was trapped when I was called Sleight who was called John Kramer. But now my identity has shifted. I am a new being. No longer the Empty City's."<br />
<br />
I didn't say anything. I stood there and watched him. Waiting to see what he'd do. Trying to figure out what his game was.<br />
<br />
"The Eye found me. It entered into me. A new identity was born. I am the Eye. The Eye is me. I am Judgment." Sleight or Judgment or whatever began walking toward me. A knife flashed in his hand. "The sins of my old self burn within me. Soon the flames will consume this body and a new Judgment must be found. But for the time being I live, and I have a purpose. Retribution."<br />
<br />
He struck out at me. It was like watching a cobra. I put my arm up defensively and jumped back. My arm stung. Blood trickled down my skin.<br />
<br />
"Your sins weigh heavily on you, Joseph," he said. "Accept my cleansing. It is the sweetest fate you can be given. They have all taken notice of you. You cannot be at peace unless your sins are burned away." He struck out at me again, and again I dodged it, and again I felt a new cut running down my flesh.<br />
<br />
"I can see all your sins. Even the ones the Sightless One took your memory of. I can see the first lie you ever told. The first person you ever hit. The first time you were ever intentionally cruel to someone. Every sin in your life glows like an ember. It is a wonder people do not burn on their own, so infinite are their evils."<br />
<br />
He slashed at me again, and this time I retreated into the Path.<br />
<br />
I ran down the trail, and I heard his voice call out to me, as loudly and clearly as if he were right behind me.<br />
<br />
"You cannot run, Joseph. Face Judgment, or suffer at Their hands. Either way, your time in this world is growing short."<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-33290795578762454972011-08-06T15:56:00.000-04:002011-08-06T15:56:19.529-04:00FoolsIt was stupid.<br />
<br />
I was SO STUPID.<br />
<br />
She's dead. Just like Crystal. The same scene. The blood everywhere. The hotel room. The killer standing over her corpse.<br />
<br />
Lexi.<br />
<br />
Gone.<br />
<br />
Scarneck. That bitch.<br />
<br />
She tried to say something. I think she tried to tell me her name. I don't know. I don't care. No weapons. Just my fists.<br />
<br />
I was so angry. The murderous bitch. Poor Lexi....<br />
<br />
Scarneck died with a smile on her lips. What right did she have to die that way? What right!?<br />
<br />
No right. No one has any rights.<br />
<br />
I let myself forget that. I let myself be taken in by the empty promises of human companionship.<br />
<br />
Human life is fleeting. Humans are traitorous and treacherous and always changing. Friend becomes foe becomes friend. Living becomes dead.<br />
<br />
There is only one constant in life.<br />
<br />
Master.<br />
<br />
I let myself forget that. I was foolish. I let myself grow soft and weak.<br />
<br />
No more.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-19897762483575328762011-08-06T09:59:00.002-04:002011-08-06T09:59:40.914-04:00No<br />
<br />
nonononononono<br />
<br />
Not again<br />
<br />
not again not again NOT FUCKING AGAIN<br />
<br />
NO NO NO<br />
<br />
DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE NOT AGAINJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-75944217422928971062011-08-05T18:08:00.000-04:002011-08-05T18:08:40.849-04:00Life Goes OnI, um, I have a confession to make.<br />
<br />
I've never been in a relationship (at least not that I can remember, though I doubt I ever had some kind of hildhood romance, so...). Not really. I mean, there were girls that I liked but I was too shy, too scared to really talk to them...<br />
<br />
Yeah. I know. The big bad "proxy" (God, I hate that word) is a little loser underneath his tough-guy exterior. Shut up.<br />
<br />
Glorius and Acedia-- Gerald and Dana-- they had each other. When life was too much for either one to bear, they looked to one another for support. I never had something like that. Even with my friends, I was always distant. I have trouble really relating to other people. Well, no that's not the word I'm looking for. I have trouble connecting to other people.<br />
<br />
So yeah. That's me. Never had a girlfriend. Never been kissed.<br />
<br />
Until the other day.<br />
<br />
It's just... it's been so hard. Losing those two. And me and Lexi, we're together constantly....<br />
<br />
I mean, there was attraction since day one, but... Maybe we're just clinging to each other because we're both hurt. Is that healthy?<br />
<br />
Heh. Look at me, concerned for my mental health when I work for an incomprehensible monstrosity.<br />
<br />
I'm just afraid. Afraid that I'll lose her. Afraid that I'll drive her away. Afraid that this all just a phase or something...<br />
<br />
I've never really dealt with these kind of... issues before.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-73927175900596848022011-08-01T18:17:00.000-04:002011-08-01T18:17:00.206-04:00WarehouseI found Spike in a warehouse. He was expecting me.<br />
<br />
"Well, Mr. Chief Proxy is here!" He shouted. "I'll make you scream! And then I'll make your boss scream! SCREAM!"<br />
<br />
I ducked behind a crate as he began shooting at me. His laughter almost seemed to drown out the gunfire.<br />
<br />
"I'll kill all you proxies!" He shouted. "You, Morningstar, Messenger, Executor... I'll slaughter you all! It's what you deserve!"<br />
<br />
I opened up the Path and stepped in.<br />
<br />
I took two steps.<br />
<br />
I stepped out.<br />
<br />
Spike stood before me, with his back turned. Firing at the crate I had been crouching behind just moments ago.<br />
<br />
Fucking dumbass.<br />
<br />
He started laughing again, and I grabbed his shoulder and jammed my knife into his fucking neck.<br />
<br />
Good riddance you piece of shit.<br />
<br />
Scarneck: I hope you're reading this. Because you patsy is dead and I'm coming for you next. Whoever your boss is is going to regret ever crossing paths with me.<br />
<br />
You are beyond redemption.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-36880862148028743342011-08-01T09:32:00.000-04:002011-08-01T09:32:00.216-04:00The Hunt BeginsI found Spike's current location.<br />
<br />
Time to make that bastard pay.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-72598520329046477032011-07-31T11:11:00.027-04:002011-07-31T11:17:14.962-04:00The Final Testament of a Broken ManAround midnight Glorius ran off. He didn't say anything. He just disappeared.<br />
<br />
Lexi didn't want to look for him. She was shivering. I don't think she's seen much death. Especially by the standards of Master's servants. Acedia had shaken her.<br />
<br />
I left her in a safehouse and went to find Glorius.<br />
<br />
I found him in a mall.<br />
<br />
Spike had a rifle with him, and I could see Scarneck behind him. She seemed... I don't know. Lost? Glorius had his own weapons and was firing at the two from across the hallway.<br />
<br />
Spike took aim. And he fired.<br />
<br />
Glorius went down.<br />
<br />
Scarneck turned around and a Door appeared before her. She said something to Spike (I was too far away to hear it) and the two of them stepped through it. I rushed out of my hiding place to Glorius' side.<br />
<br />
"Steward?" he asked, when I got there. His voice was barely above a whisper. "That you?"<br />
<br />
"Hang on," I said. "I'll get you out of here."<br />
<br />
He shook his head. "No... no... I'm going to go see Dana...."<br />
<br />
It took me a second to realize who he was talking about. Dana. Acedia's real name.<br />
<br />
"It was all so easy when she was with me. They gave us memories. I can remember losing my parents in the 9/11 attack... I can remember the Tall One finding me. I remember meeting her there.... but I remember meeting her three years ago too. I remember introducing her to my parents. Meeting hers. I remember we were walking down the street one day when He showed up..."<br />
<br />
I was quiet.<br />
<br />
"It was easier to just pretend that the fake memories were true... It was easier with her.... Dana...."<br />
<br />
"Just hold on, Glorius. We're gonna get help."<br />
<br />
"Gerald. My name is Gerald."<br />
<br />
And then his breathing stopped.<br />
<br />
I left him there. It was a quiet walk out of the mall. I tried to ignore the Eye's gaze upon my back.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-63794704370699938572011-07-30T22:01:00.012-04:002011-07-30T22:01:00.552-04:00AttackAcedia is dead.<br />
<br />
Spike found us. He had a gun. We didn't even know he was there until the window shattered and Acedia crumpled to the ground, leaving a cloud of pink mist in the air.<br />
<br />
Glorius screamed. It was... it was a raw, primal thing. A howl of rage and of morning.<br />
<br />
And then we heard Spike's laughter coming from the outside. And we heard him shouting "all you proxy fuckers need to die!"<br />
<br />
Lexi and me had to drag Glorius through the Path. He was struggling to go find Spike. To kill him. To...<br />
<br />
Oh God. I'm so sorry.<br />
<br />
I'm so sorry.Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-26857115364300747562011-07-30T07:09:00.000-04:002011-07-30T07:09:10.084-04:00WolvesRemember <a href="http://iamhissteward.blogspot.com/2011/05/lead.html">that Camper</a> I met some time ago?<br />
<br />
He showed up in my room last night.<br />
<br />
I just turned around, and there he was. Same pale face. Same blank expression. Same damp black hair. Same fake smile.<br />
<br />
"Hello, Joseph Steward," he said. "It has been a while."<br />
<br />
"It has. Mind telling me what the fuck you're doing in my room?"<br />
<br />
"You are indebted to us. We are simply interested in your continued health."<br />
<br />
I nodded. I'd forgotten that part.<br />
<br />
"How goes your search? Have you learned your foe's identity?"<br />
<br />
"Not exactly, but I have my suspicions."<br />
<br />
"Do tell."<br />
<br />
I hesitated a moment. "The Wooden Girl."<br />
<br />
That fake smile got bigger, though his eyes remained the same. "What are your reasons for suspecting her?"<br />
<br />
"Her betrayal," I said. "She used the death of her Dolls as an excuse to betray Master. It's flimsy. And I know that she's never cared for those in her service."<br />
<br />
"You have concluded that she purposely murdered her Dolls as part of some grand plan?"<br />
<br />
I nodded.<br />
<br />
The Camper was silent for a moment, and then spoke again. "Wolves."<br />
<br />
"Excuse me?"<br />
<br />
"It has been said that if you see a lone wolf in front of you, the rest of the pack is behind you. They are animals. Similar to dogs. But they are cunning. They hunt with finesse. They hunt intelligently. Do you know what apes, rats, and certain birds have in common?"<br />
<br />
"...Warm blood?"<br />
<br />
"Correct. But there is also evidence of the capability of metacognition. Thought about thought. Self-awareness. They are more intelligent than one would assume. Just like wolves."<br />
<br />
This was getting annoying. "Is there a point to all this?"<br />
<br />
A real smile this time. "There is." And then he was simply... gone. Back to wherever the Ichor needed him.<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-49467087994747679832011-07-28T16:46:00.000-04:002011-07-28T16:46:52.366-04:00GOD DAMNIT!There was a massacre at the local police station last night. Everyone there was torn to pieces. I'm not even exaggerating. I used the Path to go see for myself, and after I threw up I went back through the Path, trying to push the images out of my head.<br />
<br />
...And Spike's missing.<br />
<br />
So I guess my mysterious foe has decided to make use of him? This is very bad....<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-38790475521494814252011-07-27T19:56:00.000-04:002011-07-27T19:56:52.922-04:00I'm BackI don't know where I was. There was a woman who took me. She was African, had curly hair down to her shoulders, kind of slanted eyes... and there was what looked like a burn scar on the left side of her neck. She's the one who took me and stuck me in that cabin. Let's call her Miss Scarneck.<br />
<br />
I can't remember much of my captivity. Mostly it just blurred by up until I woke up with Lexi, Glorius, and Acedia standing over me, and then I had to order them to tie me up and lock me in a room, since I upon waking I was suddenly overcome with an urge-- no, a <i>need</i>-- to kill them all.<br />
<br />
That's how I spent the last few days. Tied up in a room, with no one to keep me company. Well, the eye thingy showed up once. It grew out of the wood on the door and stared for hours until I fell asleep, then it was gone.<br />
<br />
So what have we learned? The Compulsion has a time limit. Within a few days, it fades away, which means that whatever causes it has to re-administer its orders every now and then. Interesting.<br />
<br />
After I was free from it, I did a bit of research and also learned this: Spike, or "Sheldon Butters" (I'd change my name to "Spike" too...) has been in police custody for the last five days. Turns out that he was really bad at covering his tracks and left a trail for police to follow. Dumbass.<br />
<br />
I also learned that a few of his murders don't match up. A number of the killings left <i>no</i> evidence. They were carried out the same way that Sleight's killings were carried out. I didn't pay much attention to them, because they weren't ours. Turns out they were the Wooden Girl's. That would explain why she's so mad (or at least, it provided her with a good excuse to turn against Master).<br />
<br />
My guess is that Scarneck was using Spike to her advantage to cover up her own activities. Looks like we found Sleight's successor.<br />
<br />
Pieces are beginning to fall into place.<br />
<br />
Let's see what else we can learn, hmm?<br />
<br />
-STEWARDJoseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-39422907565118825702011-07-24T16:08:00.000-04:002011-07-24T16:08:58.849-04:00RescueWe got Steward back.<br />
<br />
Acedia tracked the girl next time she showed up, and we followed her through some kind of portal.<br />
<br />
On the other side there was... a forest. It wasn't the Path of Black Leaves. The trees were all normal seeming. I'm not sure where we were. There was no sign of the girl anywhere.<br />
<br />
We found a cabin nearby. It was sort of old-timey. It sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.<br />
<br />
Steward was inside. He was tied up and unconscious.<br />
<br />
We took him and we went through the Empty City to get out of wherever we were. It wasn't long before the Dolls found us, but we left the City as soon as they did. The rest of our traveling was done with the Path.<br />
<br />
He's still out, but he seems fine.<br />
<br />
Please wake up soon.<br />
<br />
~=Lexi=~Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-51122614871335734592011-07-23T23:05:00.000-04:002011-07-23T23:05:19.239-04:00Possible SuspectGlorius noticed that some girl has been following us. He didn't get a good look at her.<br />
<br />
We found a note this morning saying that Steward would be returned to us alive and unharmed if stopped looking for Spike.<br />
<br />
I... I don't know what I should do. Steward wouldn't want us to stop our investigation, but then again he probably wouldn't want to be hurt either. And for all his faults and emotional issues, he's a pretty nice guy when you get to know him. I don't want to abandon him.<br />
<br />
But if we abandon the mission, what would the Tall One do to us?<br />
<br />
~=Lexi=~Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-17971252814550332842011-07-21T19:23:00.002-04:002011-07-21T19:23:56.055-04:00BetrayalThe Tall One sent us word: the puppet thing, the "Wooden Girl", betrayed Him. Those people that attacked us in the City were hers.<br />
<br />
So did they take Steward? Or did he... no. No, he wouldn't do that. He'd never do that.<br />
<br />
Bad thoughts.<br />
<br />
~=Lexi=~Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7981956013583009890.post-15776729565117483112011-07-20T17:55:00.000-04:002011-07-20T17:55:09.001-04:00EnemiesWe still haven't had any luck finding Steward OR Spike.<br />
<br />
We tried to open a Door to the Empty City (I still cannot get over that that thing is real), thinking we might find him there... somewhere. Next thing we know there are these people attacking us. They moved really weirdly (is that a word?) and one of them had this freaky clown-looking mask.<br />
<br />
So we can't use the City anymore. Those people are there waiting for us. Glorius was almost stabbed by the masked guy.<br />
<br />
I don't know what's going on. When I joined, I thought my job with the Tall One would be simple. I didn't ask for all this crap with these other "Entities" or "Fears" or "PREs" or "Aspects" or whatever the fuck they are. That was Steward's area of expertise. None of us know what we're supposed to do.<br />
<br />
~=Lexi=~Joseph Stewardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02810467045487124703noreply@blogger.com2