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neurotic-symbiotic · 2 years

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Bring Down the House

Jester Town. A monument to horror, built in the tundra far from the city. Only bramble and bones surrounded it, the rest dead and weather worn. It could have rivaled any structure back in the clown district. A perfect circular construct that radiated malice and reeked of a sickeningly sweet order of faygo and decay. The cloth stitched and faded, various shades of purples and mix matched with grey splotches of polka dots and stripes. Sown into the aged fabric were scores of clothing of varying types and colors. Sweaters, jackets, shirts, and sashes; each piece bearing a symbol and blood color.

Trophy’s.

This place was a monument build ages ago and stood as a primary hunting ground for highbloods painted in grease and marked with blood. Many lowbloods and midblood had fallen here, doomed to be added to the tally. A sacred place to some. The only upside was the lack of bodies they left laying around. For a place rooted deep in the joys of slaughter there was rarely a limb or torso to be found. It was unusually clean. The purples that lived here left nothing for the scavengers to pick at. Thus, that was part of the issue at hand.

“A caste that pride themselves of familiar bonds but have no qualm over killing their own that don’t follow along. These are the lowest forms. Indoctrinating wrigglers, spreading their filth. They are spreading, getting closer to my hive. Their search parties are getting bolder. The head of this sect was either culled or off planet. They’re nothing more then rabid beasts now." Dvesel rambled on, as if he needed to give background to his companion. "At least this sect is a dying breed. And I just plan to hasten it. From what I've seen there's only a dozen or so of them running this place."

“I can’t believe you got me to agree to this.” Panora shuddered, feeling anxious as they were out in the open, not a lick of cover in sight. She hung close to the jade who seemed well dressed for this little mission of theirs. “They sound like any other band of face paint wearing creeps. The more you talk the less I want to go through with this.”

“Well, they recently killed a very well-liked member of my social circle. And then they had the audacity to grind him up and feed him to their lusii." The troll in the plague doctor’s outfit barely acknowledge the rustblood's concern. This was not his first time raiding a highbloods nest but perhaps a little under armed this time. And slightly more in over their heads. "It would have been nice if they’d left a piece or two of him.”

Panora looked at Dvesel, horrified. “You what,” she muttered in a hushed tone.

“Oh, if you should find yourself deceased, I would happily save a piece of you. What are friends for, if not to treasure some lasting parts? Of course I wouldn't dream of consuming any of it.” The jade’s expression was unreadable behind his mask. His tone was soft and kind despite his words. “But back to the issue here. I need them gone and you owe me several favors.”

“…you’re upset that they aren’t feeding you corpses.”

“Please my dear, I'm not so petty.” Dvesel clicked his tongue, turning his gaze from her to the tent. “And I don’t eat corpses, my lusus does. I just like my meat aged. There is a difference. We should hurry, the sun will be up soon. They believe themselves so high and mighty they lack security at their weakest hour. Besides, what else did you have planned for this morning?”

"Probably getting pailed behind a grub hut." Panora hissed, looking up at the increasingly brightening sky.

“You are so vulgar, we should really hang out more.” The jade laughed in seemingly high spirits. Unlike her he thrived in death and the coming bloodshed was exciting him. He took the lead, guiding them across the field and closer toward the tent. He had scoped the place earlier and gotten rid of the traps in their path. They should be worry free.

“I've seen the inside of your hive, so I'd rather not.”

“Right, right." Dvesel waved his hand dismissively, "I would say this is perfect weather for a bon fire, don’t you think? Did you bring what I asked?”

“Yes,” his words made her stomach turn. Now she knew what he had planned, and she was beginning to second guess coming here. Producing the small, intricately made music box from her sylladex, she held it tentatively in her hands. “It’s a rush job so it’s not going to have the bite it normally would.” She frowned her brow, "this isn't going to work. I feel like this is a death sentence."

“It’s full proof, Panny. You slide the package under the back flap and smoke them out. I’ll cover the entrance. Then you bring the whole thing down, it’ll be fine. Just don’t loose your head. Literally. Any stragglers will too overwhelmed by the sunlight.” He was so sure of himself. His confidence was boosted by the sunrise. He’d nearly forgotten his companion wouldn’t have the same advantage. "This isn't the first time I've done something similar and I'm very much in one piece. Good luck." Leaving the rustblood to bar the entrance.

There was no talking the insane jadeblood out of this suicide mission, Panora just sucked it up and was partly thankful for what life she lived thus far. At the back of the tent she crept in close. She wasn't picky about where she'd leave her little surprise. Winding up the music box while she found a good spot to leave it. Lifting up part of fabric and slowly sliding in the neatly concealed trap. The soft melodic notes playing to a simple beat. The final note would trigger the small bomb set inside. All she needed to do was let the box ignite the flame while she met with Dvesel and spread the fire. Well, that was the idea. Just as she stood to leave the same flap was pulled up revealing three figures inside.

"So you're the one who's been skulking 'round here." The tallest of the three grinned down at her, a purpleblood that stood easily a head and a half taller then her. HIs facepaint smeared from sleep, his smile made obscenely larger by the grease paint. He didn't give Panora much time to react before dragging her inside into the waiting arms of the other two highbloods. By now the music had stopped as he held the box in his hand, gesturing from it to her. "Not sure what you're planning. Not sure what the shit this is for." He examined it, fingers on the small lever to keep the spring still to prevent the last note from playing. "And not sure what to do with you."

"It's just a mis-" Panora knew it was futile to try and wiggle free from the iron clad grip of the two trolls. She could only try and plea, hope that Dvesel could pick up that something was wrong. But opening her mouth only rewarded her with a sack slid over her head. She thrashed then, her horns tearing at the bag but doing nothing else to free her.

"Hey now he haven't had any company here in awhile, shouldn't wear her out too quickly. Get the dunk tank, she's looking a little thirsty," one of the purples piped up. There was a bit of mumbling and bickering before they all agreed.

Panora felt a rope tie around her neck followed by being dragged off. "No, no, no!" In the commotion and cheering no one noticed the jade blood sneak in.

The pavilion was huge but empty. At one point this place had been a big hit, it was easy to tell from the aged stains. The severe lack of audience was mostly due to the ever pressing blood lust these trolls had. They had in the past cleared out any settlement that was too close. There was an obvious lack of restraint though they seemed eager to drag out the suffering of this particular troll. A squeaking sound of rusted wheels broke through the chatter. Two trolls, one of them not a purple nor even a highblood, wheeled an old dunk tank onto a rickety old stage. The tank was lined in barbed wire, as to not allow the troll inside to escape their watery torment. The water was murky, nearly black and reeked of rot. The chair the victim meant to sit upon was covered in spikes though through time and use were somewhat worn down. They all roared and cheered as Panora was dragged and placed into the seat. Hoisted into place she had no clue what was happening or what was to come.

When she felt the hands leave her arms she immediately tried to pull the sack from her head, the struggle nearly sent her tumbling over and she felt a sort of weightlessness for just a brief moment. Gripping onto the arms of the chair and feeling the dull spikes dig into her palms. She couldn't quite piece together what was happening until she felt something hard strike her shoulder, then her face and chest. Aiming for the circle that would drop her into the water some of the Juggalos were avoiding the target and just aiming at her. While some threw hardened rubber balls some were made of metal and a few had spikes that cut and stabbed. She could only throw her hands up to protect herself.

Then it happened. Some lucky troll hit the target and triggered the chair to drop the rustblood into the water.

Heart pounding in her ears as the laughter of a dozen or so trolls surrounded her. She couldn't see as the tainted water burned her eyes, she couldn't breathe. Water drenched the heavy fabric of whatever material the sack on her head was made up of. She couldn't swim and she struggled to stay afloat. Her wounds burned as the tainted water hit them, she wanted to scream but she would only swallow the putrid dark water. Clawing at the sack to free herself when a pair of arms dragged her out of the water and placed her right back in the chair again. She was scared and shaking. There was no name she could think of to call out, no one who could save her. She'd already given up on the jade the moment she was grabbed. Terror gripped her so tightly that she felt like she was drowning even out of water. This wasn't going to end quickly for her. She felt so hopeless.

She dropped again, causing another huge splash as she went under the water, the sensation of drowning was all that she could think about. Her hands tried to get a hold of something, anything to drag herself out. Banging on the glass but it wouldn't give. Her fear and hopelessness turned to anger. Anger into hunger. And then her vision cleared. It was as if she was standing just feet away from her tormentors. She could see every bit of them, from their gaudy outfits to their sneering faces. All of it as near as night. The feeling of fear and panic melted away. She felt... nothing.

Something wasn't right. "Hey what's up with that," one of the trolls pointed out how the water went still on the lowblood's second dunk. "She can't have died that fast. Fish 'er out."

One jug' volunteered to go see what was up. When they approached the tank The air grew warmer. Curiosity got the better of them as they pressed a hand to the glass to feel the notable change in temperature. They were met with a pair of red eyes peeking through the hazy glass. Then another pair. And another. "Hey bro, I think you should this. It's kinda funky." The glass tank shattered spilling out the inky black waters as well as the pristine white skull similar to that of a canine. Well the upper half of it was. The troll, though, wouldn't have much time to process what they were seeing as the top half of them was bitten clean off.

It creature wheezed as if struggling to breathe, it's eye sockets empty aside from a steady stream of black smoke. Tendrils huge from the upper jaw, writhing like mass of snakes. It's body looked to be made of fur but every inch twitched as if it has sentience. Every so often a set of eyes peeked from behind the fuax fur. Crawling out of the ruined tank and standing at it's full height to face down it's tormentors. It made no sound aside from the scrapping of claws on the floor. It was a hot minute before the remaining trolls to pull themselves together after witnessing one of their own cut down. There was hesitation as some trolls took the offensive and others worked their mind games to break the beats will.

In the ensuing chaos Dvesel had managed to get in close enough to snatch up the makeshift bomb from the original troll that had it. He'd lock eyes with the prupleblood for a split second, "yeah, so..." he pulled his arm back and tossed the box as hard as he could. The impact was enough to activate the catalyst inside. The explosion that followed was small but the fire that erupted from such a small device was huge and spread quickly as if alive. The upper parts of the tent were easily consumed by the flames and thus let the blinding light of day in. There was curses and redoubled efforts to kill the two trespassers.

"I don't know if you can hear me in there, Pan, but we're still sticking to the plan!" This was not how Dvesel foresaw this going down but he'd make due with what he had. By now half of the group had turned their attention on him. The jade was ready to strife, his steel claw-kind at the ready, but it was obvious he was outmatched. The element of surprise was gone he could only stand his ground. He could have run after seeing what had become of Panora and he was sort of regretting that decision while he parried and narrowed avoided the highbloods attacks.

Most attacks left no mark on the beast that lumbered toward the Highblood. Stabbing and bludgeoning its sides and limbs did nothing. With some instances of weapons simply passing through the creature as if made of thin air. The only effective option was using their chuckle voodoos to subdue the beast. Inside was still a troll, a lowblood one at that. Even in this form the more skilled users could pick up on the fear and pain located somewhere in the raging shadow mass. Debris from the ceiling began to rain down on them, bits of cloth and burning wood embers began to litter the ground. The fire didn't stop the creatures advance, it swiped and rend anything within reach.

Daylight began to flood in, partially blinding some trolls and causing immense pain to Panora when it touched her. Her pain didn't go unnoticed. As a group the Subjugs surrounded her and forced her further into the light. While an inconvenience as most to trolls it was like acid on the skin. The monster wouldn't yield. The room grew hotter still, the smoke that rose from the creatures eyes became just as black as the rest of it's twisted body. The beast made no sound when it threw its head back, the tendrils that acted as its lower jaw opened and revealed a multitude of unblinking eyes, the whispers of the dead filled every trolls head till their ears bled.

In their stricken state most of the trolls couldn't fight back as each was pulled in close, chewed on and discarded. The resulting massacre lasted only a minute. When it was over there was silence again. Only the roar of the flames and crackling crunch of the big top tumbling down.

Dvesel wasn't quite sure how he made it out of their in one piece nor had he any clue what had happened to the highbloods that caused them to stop in their tracks. He was only thankful he managed to escape. His ears were still ringing and his outfit singed. His mask had kept most of the smoke out, luckily. There was no sign of any other troll. Just then the pearly white tip of a skeletal nose poked out from under the tent. Black smoke billowing out of the nostrils but it didn't move. It was clear the creature could not leave it's fiery prison.

"Panora?" Dvesel took several precautionary steps back. "I'm not sure what I saw back there, but it is you, isn't it?" There was no answer. "Are you... coming out of there? Can you come out of there?" Still no answer but the slow rise of smoke. He was ready to just leave her there, call it a day with a job done. There was a painful twist in his chest that made him stop and turn around. He wasn't sure if she could even understand him in this state. It might have been his deep empathy brought on by his caste that made him decide to stay and wait. "I've seen many a terrible thing, done terrible things. What you are now... isn't you're own doing is it?" Silence. "We aren't monsters. We are simply the byproducts of misfortune. We adapt. We have to."

She could not speak, barely able to hold onto consciousness. She slept as the burn rubble buried her.

#panora things #dvesel things #backstory #small session #theyre besties now #shadow creature panora #this should have been posted on halloween sorry #long post #also it was rushed and not edited #i had to cut out some parts for length purposes #my art #lots of spelling errors whoops #bring down the house

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