[TW: Horror Roleplay. The following is an excerpt from a much longer and involved multi-player roleplay wherein the focal character here is in the beginning stages of training in one of our subclasses, Shadow Walker. She has been driven mad by the use of Hex Dust, the properties of which has given the void parasite she bargained with for power temporary control of her body. Here we find her in deadly pursuit of her Anchor, the one in her life who is supposed to remind her she is, indeed, a Troll and not a monster. If you like psychology, Vou’doun is my attempt to personify and write a story about complex PTSD.]
In practice, there are essentially two types of protectors. The first are born of privilege. They are raised in power, taught that the purpose of those with it is to protect those without from the monsters of the world.
Then there are those who became the monster to survive the ones that tormented them. Their existence is desperate dance to shelter others from the true monsters of the world… as well as themselves.
Vou’doun is the latter of these two.
Several focused steps after They dismounted from the disintegrating lobstrok husk, Vou’doun’s eyes calculated, her hands raised, fingers twitched. Shadows rose, spiked downwards, then fell sharply towards and below her torso, swarming around and slashing with vicious and unrelenting speed. Her robe from the waist down was in tatters, spatted with blood from several hundred small cuts - blood that the Shadows hungrily fed upon.
Their fingers twitched again. Shadows softened, spinning and weaving the shredded clothing around Their marred legs. A memory flashed and was pushed away, intense fear flooded Them. Vou’doun’s lips smirked as the Visitor simultaneously converted that fear into pleasure, into intent. They were driven forward by the adrenaline that surged, driven to remember, to fuel more.
A darkened swamp, " 'Ya have no power here, girl. ‘Vou’doun.’ " a malicious cackle. They picked up the pace to a hurried walk. The unforgettable sounds of bones snapping, flesh ripping, over and over. A jog, arms pumping. Move away. Move faster. We leave that behind. The soul-sucking sound of a blood-clad Ma’da demanding more, from her, from… They took off at a dead run, sprinting full force in the midday, desert sun. Shadows steamed from her, streaming behind, falling off in footsteps that evaporated without a trace. Vou’doun’s face laughed in pleasure. Vou’doun’s eyes were tortured.
Memories flooded her, both beckoned an unwanted. On and on, they sprinted, full force. Beyond. Driven. The dying, desperate prayers of parents heard by the young, the confused. Helpless. Countless vicious wounds healed on demand, only to be torn open again. Flashes of blood, of dark, of light. Another run through different scenery. Sickly moist plant life ripped at her and caught her as she desperately tried to escape. The burning eyes of Bwom’samdi, who had no interest in her… alive. On and on the memories fed Them, drove Them. Faster. Faster. Dark Shadows were spent behind Them in greater waves.
This was not our bargain.
We must catch him.
We- No, -I- was to set the pace.
He will not escape us.
You are consuming Us. -I- can feel it. We will not last.
We will catch him… Her brother’s pleading face rose before her eyes. Her heart pounded as still more effort was pulled from her. …or We will return and find another. His dying words spoke softly in her ear, “Not again, Ma’ri. End it.” She choked, tears streaming. Faster. His lifeless eyes staring at her. Tears mingling with Shadows that drank them as eagerly as blood. More. Those same eyes, now staring from the face of Vrak’nal.
A screaming “NO” of absolute rage rolled a wave of Shadows from her. Vou’doun stumbled and fell. They scrambled awkwardly and grasped Their head, shambling forward once again, towards the Prey. “No,”, quieter, assertive. Another wave of Shadow was sent to evaporate in the sun, dropping Them to their hands and knees. They crawled one pace, then two.
We will-
-I- will not be forced to do that again. Vou’doun collapsed, her face half-burried in the sand by the impact. “Vrak’nal… does not… deserve…” Silence.
In the harsh Tanaris sun, unfed by emotions, the cooling Shadows that enveloped her body slowly dissipated. More than one creature eyeing the once-fearsome, emaciated form began to wonder if they had, instead of their own death, found their next meal.