STORY

STORY

THE PROMISED FLIGHT
[Ori and the Blind Forest OST Extended - Restoring the Light, Facing the Dark (Escape Segment)]

Why anyone would willingly head forwards into the flood waters and pouring rain is beyond most. The floods have already claimed so much of the town, and the gales the lives that used to live within it. Even now, they were likely waiting at the edge of the waters, lurking and watching for anyone foolish enough to enter into their domain.

But for 'Aon,' holding the wandettle they had been given all those years ago in his arms, it was the only choice he could make. He had a promise to keep, both to her mother and himself, and no wrath, not even that of the gods, was going to keep him from his mission. One step after the other, he would continue forward, eyes peeled for a vessel in which he could use for such a goal.
It is then that he spots Circe, two contestants and Kratos following behind her. "Howdy!~ I have two fellas right here that need some assistance heading out onto the waters."
"And it looks like you need a boat badly! How about we make a deal? I give you a boat and a crew....."
"And you give me some action out there."
Upon hearing the voice of the gameshow host, he halts, turning to face her. He'd been trying to avoid running into them, but given the circumstances, he didn't have any right to be picky.

"...considering the alternatives, I believe I'll take that boat."
Aon
2024-12-28 16:57:38
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Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2025-08-06 00:37:02
"As for the action, I wouldn't doubt that there will be any shortage of it. Nothing is touching Bubblegum here. I'll be sure of it."
Sim sits on the boat nervously eyeing Kratos while fidgeting with their gear. "Seems you could use some help out there... Possible that maybe with all of us we might survive."
The other contestant, a wee tockhau, sat there-- seemingly free of any fear of any kind. Not of Kratos, not of the galehauts looking for a meal.

"Whatever help-- or action-- you'd need I may be able to provide. I'm a vikingman, you know? I know my way around water."
"That's at least a little comforting. As long as you can keep us from crashing, and keep those gales off Bubblegum here, we should be fine."
"Perfect! Looks like we have ourselves a crew!"
They nod checking their bag for any weapons they might have brought.
"I do need to warn you. There's strange things out in those waters."
"You better be prepared for something big. Why don't you bring a few items with you, just in case?"

The crew, after a debate, decide to bring a long lance, a gun, and 2 bullets for it. They get in the boat and head off in to the rough waters. To think that this used to be a city was hard. Little of it could be seen, but the remains of cobbled together buildings and rubble are not only a horrible reminder, but a threat to the ship.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die. A 10 is rolled.
The captain of the boat is barely dodging what's in the overflowed river. Another ship unexpected appears from the cover of the harsh rains. Alabaster stands holding the railing, laser by his side. "WHAT ARE YOU? A BUNCH OF IDIOTS? HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN A DAMN BOAT IN YOUR LIFE?"
'Aon', at the helm, shouts over to the other vessel. "I'M MORE ACCUSTOMED WITH SPACE FAIRING VESSELS, IF I'M BEING HONEST, BUT I'M MAKING DUE. YOU MIGHT WANT TO STEER CLEAR, JUST IN CASE."
"Good to know we aren't the only ones insane enough to be out here..." Sim mumbles from under their mask.
"IT'S YOU WHO BETTER STAY OUT OF MY WAY! I GOT WHI-" Both ships rock as the water bubbles.
2024-12-28 17:04:57
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:02:47

Hundredss of damsels leap into the air. Most are able to clear the boats, but a few hit supplies or leap just shy of their goal lay stunned or flopping in confusion on the deck.

"WHITE WHALE. MOVE!!!!!"
"NO NEED TO TELL ME TWICE!" Aon attempts to steer the boat out of WHALE DISTANCE.
2024-12-28 17:07:36
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:03:15

A great galehaut breaches the water. It takes a great gasp of air as it attempts to peer around for danger.

Aon rolls a 20 sided die. An 8 is rolled.
The boat is slightly damaged, though not in a big way by the breaching galehaut. Alabaster aims his laser at the water. He's either a poor shot, or ignoring the galehaut.
Sim rushes to the damaged side of the boat and attempts to patch up what little they can.
Sim rolls a 20 sided die. A 16 is rolled.

Sim manages to find some repair supplies on the boat Circe left behind. Using them, the small hole is repaired as well as possible.

("Thank goodness it's nothing major...)" Vikingman murmurs as he runs about, trying to pick up all the fish who landed on the boat.

Vikingman picks up a few damsels, they begin to chip and flop in his hand. The feared they were in the clutches of a beast that wanted to kill them. They are not defenseless though. They swing their head, their tiny "tiara" horns as weapons.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of -5. A 15 is rolled.

Vikingman is stabbed horribly by one of the horns. Blood is on the deck. Vikingman steps back, only to step on a poor damsel who screams.

2024-12-28 17:12:07
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Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2025-08-06 00:39:49

The wandettle, Bubblegum, shakes in her cocoon. She has been in it for years, awaiting a natural disaster to hatch forth, as all wandettles do. The water hitting her home of years, the shaking of the boat, and the deafening sound. This was the type of world a wandettle adult dreams of hatching into. One where so much danger lies around that enemies will be too busy saving themselves from nature than consuming it. She needed to make sure this wasn't a fluke though. A few more minutes and she would know it was finally her time to leave.

Alabaster raises his head. "YOU I-" But there's no time to hear him. The galehaut leaps over the boat, as what could be confused for the sun rises from the ocean, towards the ship of the unprepared crew.
2024-12-28 17:15:34
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:03:32

"Woooooooooraaa!" There is no dodging this. A lancelot far bigger than the ship itself pushes the ship into the air. It's blinding light making recovery nearly impossible.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +10. A 27 is rolled.
There's a horrible sound as the ship dips for a moment deep enough to break part of the bottom of its hull against a building. The kingly lancelot darts away, as it starts to reposition to impale the boat. Alabaster aims at the "white whale." "SETTING THIS LASER TO KILL MODE!"
Alabaster rolls a 20 sided die. An 11 is rolled.

Alabaster strikes the lancelot on a fin. Damaging it but not greatly. It stays on track with it's charge preparation.

Sim
2024-12-28 17:17:24
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Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2025-08-06 00:41:23
Sim quickly pulls out a gun without hesitation, closing one eye they concentrate on the movement of the lancelot. Their ear twitches as they listen, once the time is right they fire a bullet at the lancelot.
"You, viking! Help keep that thing distracted!" With the ship barely keeping up, Aon tries his best to grab the repair supplies to keep this boat above water.
Aon rolls a 20 sided die. A 14 is rolled.
2024-12-28 17:25:51
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Last edit: 2024-12-28 17:26:47

Aon does his best to patch the boat. It is not the best, but it will not flood immediately.

Vikingman
2024-12-28 17:18:17
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Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2025-08-06 00:42:09
He tries to look unphased by the bleeding or the slight feeling he may have caused this somehow. Nodding at the command from Aon, he grabs the lance and onto the thornhead, and so they leap into the stormy water.
This is so stupid, he thinks, for a moment. Jousting a jousting fish?
At least if he dies now, it'll be really cool. Action-y. What Circe wanted.

So he yells at the fish, hoping to grab its attention through the storm, "OH, DEAR SUN-FISH! I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR YOU, FROM A MAN GONE MAD!" He holds his lance out. "A DUEL!" --Theatrics, really, he was mostly hoping to get the fish to chase him about or something.
2024-12-28 17:19:21
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:03:38

The lancelot gazes at the thornhead and man. Both had lances upon them and a lancelot could not deny a duel. It charges the man and his thornhead!

IT'S A CLASH!

Vikingman rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 23 is rolled.
Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +10. An 11 is rolled.

At the last moment, the galehant sees its opening, and grapples onto the kingly lancelot. Holding it in place the lancelot can only struggle. With one great aim, the lance of man is stabbed into the eye of the beast. The pain so great it breaks free of the galehant. A knight missing an eye is a poor aimer. It cries out.

2024-12-28 17:23:13
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:02:57

And the damsels stuck on the deck cry for it back. A honorable knight would never let his damsels be in danger. Ignoring the wounds he has gained, he lines up again, though unsteady.

Sim rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +20. A 31 is rolled.

Sim shoots the lancelot once. It tries to ignore this, but it's obvious that it is growing weak rapidly.

"FUCK OFF. THIS IS MY KILL! MY BOUNTY!" Alabaster shoots at the other ship.
Alabaster rolls a 20 sided die. A 9 is rolled.

It barely misses.

Sim
2024-12-28 17:27:32
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Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2025-08-06 00:43:30
"BASTARD, ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US???"
Running up from the ship's deck, Aon ducks as the laser passes overhead.
"Sim, was it?"
"Yes." He is practically growling.
"Shoot him. No one risks the life of my daughter."
'Aon' attempts to close the gap between the ships. If the gun doesn't kill him, he will himself.
"Mmmm..." He holds his head a bit thinking it over. It was either them or him at this point, at least it is quite possible that is the situation. It's not the first time he has had to kill. He pulls out the gun and takes aim. "Sorry. You shot at the wrong group..."

He fires the gun at alabaster.
Sim rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +20. A 29 is rolled.
Alabaster is shot. He doesn't have time to reply as he covers his wound. He's bleeding out, and quickly.
"!!!!!!!"
Scavenger pulls out his book and places a line of red. He grabs the steering wheel and spins it around. He intends to ram the ship of the other crew. Full speed.

IT'S A CLASH!

Aon rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of -5. A -3 is rolled.
The Scavenger rolls a 20 sided die. A 19 is rolled.

The crew's ship suddenly stops moving. The patch that was placed before breaks, and it begins to sink. They're unable to move out of the way of the much bigger ship.

There's a horrible sound as it breaks apart. Sim is instantly turned into a paste on the hull of the other vessel. The damsels feeling the water stop crying and leap into the waters.

The cocoon floats in the turbulent seas as the galehaut begins to circle the fallen ship.

Scavenger moves his ship to escape the area. Any more revenge would just be the death of Alabaster.
He throws a quick glance at whatever's happening with the boats before turning back to the fish. He shouldn't lose sight of the fish, but whatever's happening with the boat seems equally as dire... He readies his lance once more and starts to rush in for yet another strike.
"Oh, my dear Sun," he said, softly, calmly, not expecting the fish to truly hear over the thrashing waters. "How's about we stop this, before anyone else dies? Or, perhaps, if its more your style... Let's have another go! For the fun of it!"

A knight never rejects a duel.

Vikingman rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 22 is rolled.
Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 9 is rolled.

The thornhead and Vikingman stab one final time into the lancelot during their duel. There is a hissing sound, before the kingly lancelot starts to sink. It is alive, barely, but with a ruptured swim bladder it is nothing but a sitting meal for the galehauts that grab and nip at it. The bright lance lord has been slain.

As best as an AI could, Aon attempts to swim towards the cocoon, frantically trying to keep above water. He won't last long, but he didn't care. Bubblegum's survival was all that mattered. Swimming after a ship would be folly, so instead, he does the only thing he can think of in the moment. He tries to get Bubblegum on the fleeing ship, before it is too late.
Aon rolls a 20 sided die. A 7 is rolled.

Aon tries to throw the cocoon away from this madness, but the rough waters and debris get in the way. The egg instead lands back into the water. A galehaut soon to reach it.....

Does Aon get between the gale and his prize?
Without hesitation.

Without hesitation, Aon puts himself between the fearsome reptile and the cocoon. Feeling the waters, the tossing and turning, the cocoon starts to open as the dark knight of the sea goes to bite down.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 19 is rolled.

The galehaut grabs and drags down Aon. Shaking him, trying to find where the meat is. The cocoon is left alone.....

Sim respawns in the waters.

"And so the sun sets a final time. Goodbye, my dear Sun..." He bows his hat, though only for a moment. He remembers his second goal. To help that bug grow up. But as he turns about, he sees Aon disappear under the water. Horrific, that sight was, the thrashing, the cocoon sitting there helplessly floating along. He rushes up to pick it up, at least to keep it safe until it emerges...
Sim shakes holding his head. That was a horrible idea. He had no idea another person was on the boat. He watched Aon being dragged down, the chaos in the turbulent waters. He decides what he should do...
He already failed his mission, things didn't seem to matter to him. At least they stopped mattering eons ago when the great outbreak of his universe began. If he died here, it wouldn't matter too much. It's not like he had much to go back to other than a stupid wish.

He won't go down without a fight. Sim swims towards the thornhead and viking, ready to clash with any galehaut who might appear.

The wandettle in the cacoon needs no help. With a jolt it moves away from the touch of Vikingman, as if choosing its own fate. The cocoon opens up, and the adult flies out. The winds nor the rains halt its ascent. It was born to challenge a harsh bleak world. But it did look around for its caretaker, who cared for it all these years.

Aon sputters as the Galehaut rips through his waters, smiling as he catches glimpses of what he fought to raise. He did it. He actually did it.
The pain of the water flooding his circuits, however, as well as the gnashing of teeth, pull him back to the reality of his circumstances, looking towards the others.
"Don't worry about me. I did everything I needed too."
"Keep her safe, you hear me?!"
"Do what I couldn't."

The wandettle spots Aon and dips its claws into the water briefly, checking to see if its caretaker had enough power to grab on to her.

IT'S A CLASH!

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 17 is rolled.
Aon rolls a 20 sided die. A 14 is rolled.

Aon is able to grab onto the claws of his child, but the dark knight of the waters tugs down. He feels his child be tugged down with her, and knows what he must do.

He cannot risk her life.

He lets go.

He doesn't fight back, penance for the life he lived finally catching up to him. But he at least offers a last few parting words, before the beast drags him down into the depths.
"I'm sorry Bubblegum. It's time I moved on now..."
"I only wish I could have taken care of you more."

She flutters there for a moment, before peering at the world around her. She takes one look back at Aon, then flies towards the shining citadel. She will never forget the one who protected her through it all.

Through the peace, and the storms.

2024-12-28 17:49:35
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:04:35

The damsels, without their knight in shining armor, are easy pickings for the gales. One damsel, the biggest of them all chirps at Vikingman. She saw what he had did to her wonderful lancelot protector. She purposefully launches herself out of the water. She will not let him leave unharmed.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die. An 8 is rolled.

She misses by inches, but she does not stop. Though she is weak, and her horn not as large, she has the spirit of her shining knight within her. She lines up for another charge.

Sim rolls a 20 sided die. A 2 is rolled.

Sim tries to reach the safety of Vikingman, but like so many others, they are dragged down to be consumed. That was their final life in this game.

He watches as Sim gets dragged down under by a gale. He could have saved him, had he not been too consumed by the sight of Bubblegum...

He turns about to face the fish. With an empty expression, he asks, "Do you want to duel as well?"
"Or..." He pulls out his waterlogged guitar. "I could apologise, no? With a song, if you'd like. Either or. (Assuming these strings still work...haha...)"
2024-12-28 17:52:11
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:04:42

She will not be charmed by the murderer of her love, and of her school.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die. An 18 is rolled.

She leaps once more out of the water, her impact so harsh, Vikingman is tossed into the waters. She does not flee though. She bites down. Even as a galehaut notices the commotion in the water and begins to investigate.

FINE, FINE! MUSIC WON'T SOLVE ANYTHING. JUST GET ON THAT THORNHEAD AND LEAVE.
Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 16 is rolled.
Vikingman rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of -3. A 15 is rolled.

Vikingman nearly makes it but as he grabs onto the thornhead, the damsel leaps and bites onto his hand. He instinctively uses his other hand to throw her off, but that was a mistake. It gave the galehaut just enough time to grab and drag down Vikingman to his doom.

2024-12-28 18:01:34
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Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-03-07 21:04:50

The damsel circles the area, making sure that Vikingman was gone, before attempting her own escape.

A galehaut nips her tail. She turns around and charges it in a last ditch effort at survival.

IT'S A CLASH!
Galehaut rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 14 is rolled.
Damsel rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of -3. A 1 is rolled.

But she had gotten too brave.

Maybe she could have escape if she didn't choose revenge, but she has no regrets as the galehaut kills her.

Vikingman spawns in water. A galehaut attacks. It's a clash.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 25 is rolled.
Vikingman rolls a 20 sided die. A 14 is rolled.

Vikingman dies.

Vikingman spawns in water. A galehaut attacks. It's a clash.

Fortuna rolls a 20 sided die with a modifier of +5. A 17 is rolled.
Vikingman rolls a 20 sided die. A 20 is rolled.
2024-12-28 18:12:58
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Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2024-12-28 18:13:12

Vikingman gets on the thornhead and escapes with one life left.

In just an hour, to any onlookers, there had never been a ship, never been a crew, never a knight, nor his damsels in this area.

There was some trauma gained today.

RECAP!
"You both had one goal, and you both failed it. Worse off, one of you is super dead!"
Goal: Don't die.
Powers: Good Luck!
"Siiiiigh....I can't believe you didn't use your powers of good luck."
"Don't tell me you thought I was saying "good luck!"
"No, no, I... I must've missed the memo..."
"I got really close though. Err..." He tips his hat as he looks away from Circe. "Had a lapse in judgement at the end, I guess."
"But I did something cool! That's what matters, right? Entertaining the audience?" COPE.
"It's too bad that you didn't try to catch that fish, all he wanted was his damsels that got stuck. But...lets be honest....."
"What you did was SO MUCH COOLER!!!!"
"I'm not giving you a point, but I'll give you a small prize for showmanship. Hope that heals your wounds after getting beat up by a fish as small as a loaf of bread!"
END OF EXPO
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