END OF CHAPTER 2 ; EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... END OF CHAPTER 2 - WEEK 232 Narrators Remain ; It's execution day, naughty murder children. Breakfast is served in the dining hall, all the better to fortify you for what is to come. Wherever you might wander in the castle, you will find yourself drawn to the foyer when the clock strikes not twelve, but ten. In the distance, there is the sound of clanking armor. Sandalphon appears, flanked on either side by suits of armor, escorting him to his punishment. His expression is one of grim acceptance, and he takes each step toward the door without faltering. A moment later, the Dragon appears on the foyer's staircase. Her hand trails down the banister as she descends, and she takes her place at the head of the group, standing in front of what appears to be a wall. "Come," she says. "The execution awaits." You blink, and then it's there — a door leading to the outside. The Dragon steps through it. You have no choice but to follow. Welcome to your third execution post! Please see here for the results of yesterday's voting. In addition, make sure you fill out your CR Chart for Chapter 2! If you have any questions, please ask on our Discord server or ping us on plurk. Please direct pings for the NPC to Dana (Discord DMs preferred, then decals), as she will be taking point for today's NPC, and the moderator team will be on deck for all other questions. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

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(frozen comment) EXECUTION

[themodsgrimm]

sandalphon ; to be continued

This time, when the group steps through the doors, they do not appear out at the castle's entryway - rather, they find themselves standing in a clearing in the heart of the woods. They are urged to step aside by the suits of armor that guard Sandalphon and usher him forward, and as he walks past, he is engulfed by swaths of glimmering white light. When it fades, he is transformed.

Gone is his usual garb - in its place is the elegant attire of a prince, complete with a gold-embroidered doublet and a crown perched on his head. Or - perhaps perched is not quite the wright word. It's wedged very tightly on his head, digging into his scalp to the point that droplets of crimson liquid (ink, though it looks very much like blood) tracks down his face.

At the center of the clearing is a glass coffin. The group is made to fan out around it in a semicircle, watching as he approaches it; when he comes to the coffin's side, he stares down into the glass.

The face of Lucifer stares back up at him, though none but him can see it clearly.

One of the suits of armor shifts the top of the coffin open so that he can lean down, lips poised to brush against the lips of the figure in the coffin. But before they can touch, he flickers out of view, and the lid of the coffin slams shut. The Narrators watching will see Sandalphon's hands beat against the glass from the inside, frantic, desperate. It does not open, and the suits of armor standing guard step away.

But it isn't over yet. The Narrators hear the sound of seven sets of approaching footsteps, and a whistled rendition of a mourning song. From deep within the woods, a line of dwarfs appear, holding pickaxes. They each have a wild, bloothirsty glint in their eyes, and their beards are matted with blood and gore. They surround the glass coffin which Sandalphon struggles to escape from, and they raise their pickaxes in unison.

Somehow, the weapons pass right through the glass without shattering it. There is a cry from inside and a spray of crimson ink against the glass as the dwarfs swing mercilessly, again and again and again. The points of their pickaxes come away stained with ink, fabric, and flesh. They do not stop. Not for at least ten more swings after the figure in the coffin goes silent, not until crimson ink begins to seep out of the corners of the coffin, staining the glass.

Finally - when the glass has been coated so thoroughly with ink that it is impossible to see who is inside - they stop. Their axes come to rest on their shoulders, and they march back into the woods single file, whistling a much more jaunty tune than before.

Silence falls over the group, and you can't help but wonder:

The story of Sandalphon has come to an end ... or has it?

LOOSE ENDS

[themodsgrimm]

[ Following the execution of Sandalphon, everyone will be led to the grand foyer. The ornate clock opens beneath the face, revealing a compartment in which a large glass container is unveiled to the eyes of everyone present. Two spouts lead from the interiors of the clock into the glass container. From one side comes a stream of purple ink and from the other, twice as much crimson ink. Once the stream of purple ink stops, there is a pause - and then a stream of gold ink comes from the same spout, in the same amount as the purple. When all three colors mix into the container, it appears to be black. The Dragon watches the ceremony with the ceremony with reverence and sadness alike.

Ion will find himself overcome with a sudden burning sensation. Many phantom feelings pass him all at the same time: his feet undergo a sensation like they're being ignited with flame, his heart is going to be pulled out of his chests, and there is the faintest feeling as though a blade is cutting across their necks - the roulette wheel spins for how his death is going to be carried out as partnerless until—

It stops.

He feels perfectly fine, like everything is slotting back into place. In front of him, the ground cracks open - a hand, caked in dirt, emerges from the earth, and as Natsuo fights his way back to the surface, a flicker of red string is seen connecting the two of them before it is gone - almost a trick of the light.

The Dragon, having surveyed over everything hums a soft note, for once sounding.... pleased. ]

... they came through for you. [ She turns back to the rest of the Narrators and announces. ] Natsuo has returned from the grave, and your partnerless have been spared.

[ There is a pause - if the Narrators were expecting to receive tokens for the Wishing Well, they'll be disappointed; no such thing happens. Instead, she speaks to dismiss them. ]

You may take your leave.

[ The Dragon will remain for questions. ]

AFTERMATH

[themodsgrimm]

[For your reactions and subsequent threading for Sunday.]