The Horrors of Holmgarth

[Robin]

[OOC: Offshoot from "Light Headed".]

*Robin is rolling over and over as his body cascades down a 45-degree slope. He is vaguely aware of what is happening, although the overwhelming sensation is of pain.*

Huh... huh... huh...

*He feels a hard, brittle substance continually hitting him in the face. He has to do something, and quickly.*

Haaaaaaai!

*He brutally thrusts forward the arrow in his left hand. He feels it connect with something, and his whole body lurches forwards, every muscle screaming....*

Aaaaaaaaah!

*...and almost as sudden as it started, the whole endeavour stops. Robin, his muscular left arm holding onto the arrow, dangles from he-knows-not-where for a full minute before he summons up the courage to open his eyes.*

Ho... ho...

*The bright sunlight of a crisp Spring morning is temporarily blinding. As shapes begin to form before his eyes, he realises that he is hanging from his sharp normal arrow stuck into the thatched roof of a conical hut. Bits of straw are still gently falling to the ground from the discernable dent in the roof where he fell.*

Holmgarth?

*He lets go of the arrow. It's a drop of about half a metre. He lands on his feet. His sword, arrows, crossbow and possessions are all lying around his feet. Even his clothes are somewhat loose. But it all seems to be there.*

Hello?

*Holmgarth is not unfamiliar to Robin, although he prefers the familiar setting of his forest treehouse or the amount of action in Wolfenden. What is unfamiliar is how none of the huts in the small village seem, at first glance, to be inhabited. He can't see anything at all... yet.*

Hello?

*Robin shakes his head to dispel the residual dizziness from his trip in the light.*

Come on, Robert. Pull yourself together. Get your things, and press on.

*Although where to he has yet to decide.*

[Robin]

*Holmgarth is a small settlement, ringed with a fence composed of wooden stakes - clearly as a deterrent to any outsiders who may (or may not) be dangerous. Although with a large door leading into the village, it doesn't serve as much of a deterrent. One distinctly large, conical hut - the one that Robin has just crashed into - forms the centrepiece of Holmgarth [OOC: this one], with several smaller huts of the same design dotted around. Seven in all, with six in a democratic circle surrounding the centre hut. Outside the main gate is a semblance of a dirt track,trodden by the feet of the villagers [OOC: The track eventually leads onto the Path to Wolfenden].

If there are villagers. At the moment it seems as if there is only one person in Holmgarth.*

There, that ought to do it.

*Robin has finished unlacing, and then re-lacing, tightly, his sturdy, beaten boots. His shirt and slacks have been re-adjusted, the sash around his waist re-tied so that it, too, is tight. His quiver is re-stocked with all the arrows that spilled out during his tumble, his crossbow - which he took time to inspect - is slung back over his shoulder. As he sheathes his sword, the hero looks like an imposing sight once more, and apart from a large scuff mark in the muddy ground, you wouldn't know that Robin had crashed into it unceremoniously at all.

And there's the dent in the roof of the hut, but he can't do anything about that.*

Right, let's think about this. I was in Wolfenden, then I got hit by something, and then I wasn't quite anywhere. And now I'm in Holmgarth.

*He pauses.*

Interesting.

*He pauses again.*

But why am I here? Why aren't the others here - Grimwold, and those ladies? The crab, and that Cauliflower bloke? Have I been brought here? That's the problem with this wild magic - it always confuses things.

*He racks his memory. He vaguely remembers a lot of colours and sounds... and a strange voice. What did it say again?*

You wanna be a hero, don'tcha? Why don'tcha come find us, hero-boy?

*Somehow, he knows that this is what he needs to do. He is skeptical. Heroics he can do, but sleuthing is not his strong point. He doesn't even recognise the voice. Still, while he's here, he may as well look around. It's not often one is in a seemingly empty village, and it will take his mind off everything that's already happened today.*

All right, where do I start?

"Telling me your name would be helpful."

[Robin]

*Robin jumps about three feet in the air. He tries to regain his composure... something about this seemingly silent village was making him a little nervy anyway, and this voice coming out of nowehere doesn't help.*

I...

*He turns around and nearly falls over backwards.*

...Robin.

*A very small girl with reams of curly blonde hair is standing in front of him. Or at least, she is in front of him - "standing" isn't the word. Her feet are clearly not touching the ground. She is hovering about a foot above it, seemingly completely oblivious to the fact that Robin clearly finds this unnatural. His face betrays his unease.*

Little Girl: "That's a nice name. Robin. Are you here to help?"

Help? What... what with?

Little Girl: "I'd have thought you'd have known, Robin. Aren't you here to help?"

*Robin has no idea what's going on. He reverts to his default setting of saying yes and looking eager. It's never failed him so far.*

Yes.

*Robin looks eager.*

Little Girl: "Come on, then. You can't wait around here all day. We have to start looking."

Looking? What for?

Little Girl: "You're the hero, not me."

Hang on... how did you know I was a hero?

*He sets off in a random direction. The little girl rises a few inches, and flies along beside him.*

Little Girl: "You look the part. I'm Sophie. And you?"

I already told you... I'm Robin. And... I'm here to help.

Sophie: "Oh yes, so you did..."

[Robin]

Hello?

*Robin peers cautiously into the hut he has just entered. A makeshift torch, crafted from some straw wound round a stick and then lit, he holds as steady as he can in his right hand, his left tightening slowly around his sword's hilt.*

Is anyone in here?

*There is no answer. Robin walks into the hut, holding the torch aloft. An arch-shaped window lets in enough light, but as the dusky sky slowly, inexorably turns slightly darker, the extra source of light makes him feel safer.*

It looks like it's totally empty. Is that normal?

Sophie: "Look closer."

*The hut is composed of one large, circular room. Lighting all the slow-burning torches, which stand in their own brackets, with his own, Robin walks slowly around the perimeter, Sophie drifting in after him, hanging back a little. There are the usual standard hut accoutrements: a table with chairs, with an unlit candle in the middle and, strangely, empty plates. But clean plates - seemingly untouched. A large bed, made primarily of bales of straw with sheets stretched over it, seems the primary feature.*

That bed...

*It looks far from untouched. There is a complicated indentation in the shape of something close to a tall human.*

There's nobody there, but there's a shape in the bed. And there's clearly nobody invisible, because... well... because...

*He nocks an arrow, and shoots. It passes through the empty space just above the bed and hits the wall with a thunk.*

...because there wasn't a scream of pain.

*Sophie flies up to Robin's side, passing the retrieved arrow back to him.*

Sophie: "It's getting dark. Are we going to stay here for the night? It's a warm hut. They all are."

*Robin doesn't need a lot of time to think.*

No. This place is creepy. Let's get back to the main hut and spend the night there.

*He exits the hut, Sophie floating along behind him. As soon as they are out, there is a loud bang behind them, making Robin jump nervously and Sophie almost fall out of the sky in surprise. The door has closed itself behind them and, judging by a push from Robin... locked itself as well.*

[Robin]

Slam.

It's no good, I can't get it open. Maybe we'll have to either sleep outside, or stay awake all night. Or get out of Holmgarth.

*With both central hut and hut number one closed and locked, Robin starts to trudge towards the exit gate.*

Slam. Clunk.

Don't tell me... we're locked in.

*He turns around. No way out of the deserted village. Two huts closed and locked, and five others which look just as uninviting, and as the dark red sky slowly fades towards black, downright scary.*

Ouch! I forgot about these summer nights! Insects everywhere! I know bats eat them, but bats are the last thing I need around here... we'd better get into another hut. I'd rather sleep in someone else's bed than be pecked by insects all night.

*Without waiting for a reply, he heads into another hut. Sophie, wordlessly, hovers behind him. As soon as they both enter the hut, Robin closes the door.*

Okay, so we... what are you pointing at?

*Sophie looks scared - the first time that Robin has seen such an expression on her face. He follows the direction of her finger-point with his eyes.*

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

*There is a huge, hideous face floating in the air on the other side of the hut. Before either Robin or Sophie can react, it opens its mouth.*

THE KEY IS

*It vanishes entirely. Almost immediately, all the torches in the hut burst into light, revealing an interior not too dissimilar - but a little more squalid - than the first hut Robin visited. The light provides a much more comforting feeling, but Robin and Sophie, both visibly shaken, look at each other.*

The key is... what?

*As Robin gets ready to bed down for the night, adjusting the sheets on the bed so they don't get creased too much, another voice comes to him, from inside his head...*

You wanna be a hero, don'tcha?

The key is...

[Robin]

*He was falling back into the light, with dizzying colours and shapes all around him.*

Gah.

*His eyes snapped open. He was lying on his back in the hut. A small window revealed that it was the dead of night - stars were winking at him from outside, and the moon hung full in the sky.*

I shouldn't be sleeping.

*He scrambled up, strapped his crossbow to his back, and sheathed his sword.*

I can't sleep anyway. There's some form of mystery to be solved, even though I don't know exactly what it is yet. Plus... it's more atmospheric, heroics at night.

*Robin steps out of the hut, closing the door behind him. Clunk. It's locked itself.*

Right, let's get on with...

*He immediately wishes he hadn't. Directly in front of him, in the middle of the village, emerging from the door of the central hut (which he had previously thought locked), is a huge, red demon. Horns, talons, teeth... the full deal.*

Oh... golly.

*The demon opens its mouth.*

THE KEY IS FOR THE BRAVE

*It advances. Robin is shaking, visibly - but not too violently to stop his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.*

I'll show you brave.

Zhing!

[Robin]

Owwwww!

*Robin is thrown back and his body lets out a sickening crunch as he hits the floor and slides a few inches into hut number three. He gets up, shakes himself to see if anything's broken, and then runs forwards. The door throws itself closed and locks itself, but he hasn't noticed this. He has a huge, open wound on his left arm, and the ground is spattered with his own blood.*

That... all you got... demon?

*The demon, huge and hulking, is facing him, fire pouring from its hideous mouth. It lets out an inhuman roar and starts swiping at Robin, as the hero nimbly dodges and darts around its flailing claws. But he knows he can't keep this up forever.*

Okay, think. I'm best with my sword, but it's...

*He chances a quick look at where it is.*

...embedded into the roof of the central hut. I'm not entirely sure how it got there, but I think it was something to do with the fact that the demon had me in one of its massive claws.

*He shakes his left arm and more blood spatters the floor. The demon grins with devilish glee.*

I'm not even sure how I got out of that one.

Aaaaaaaaaah!

*He's been caught with a glancing blow from one of the demon's huge, clawed hands. Thrown to the right, he crashes against the wall of the central hut. Dizzy with pain and almost numb with fear, he sees the monster open its mouth and begin to blow white-hot flames towards him. He screams and throws himself aside, but knows that any good blow would finish him off.*

Jesus Christ!

*Chunk. He nocks a random arrow. He looses it at the demon. Thunk! It embeds itself in its head. It hardly seems to notice.*

WHAT?!

*Shoonk. Shoonk. Shoonk. More arrows. No effect, anywhere he aims to hit. The demon keeps coming...*

I.... ah.....

*As the demon opens its mouth, fire shooting out, Robin grabs a thin arrow, with a waxed-paper sack tied to it securely. It hits the monster's jaw, and it practically swallows it with a slight reel back.*

Demon: "Gulraaaaaaaaaagh!"

*The packet explodes and water cascades out into the demon's mouth, extinguishing its fire. Temporarily stunned, it stops moving, giving Robin a few seconds to regain his composure.*

Fire extinguisher arrow? I never thought I'd need that.

*He kicks off the ground and grabs the edge of the central hut's thatched roof. Scrambling up and over, he grabs his sword and wrenches it out of the thatching... and then runs over to the demon, which is roaring, apoplecticly with rage.*

Forget every time I've said this before, because... this is the stupidest thing I've ever done!

*Robin launches himself forwards with a loud cry. He lands squarely on top of the demon's head, and drives his sword down - hard - through its skull and into its brain. There is a split-second's silence, and then suddenly, the demon vanishes with an action somewhere between an explosion and an evaporation. Robin is thrown clear... and when he hits yet another rough, thatched roof... he blacks out.*

[Robin]

*When he comes to, it is still the dead of night. Stars and a big round moon shine in his face. Holmgarth is damaged - large scorch marks and swathes dot the ground. Three of the huts are locked and bolted, and the central hut - which he could have sworn the demon emerged from - appears to be so, too. The wound along his left arm throbs repeatedly like regular punches... but nothing appears to be broken. As his vision comes back into focus, he realises that Sophie is hovering slightly above him.*

Sophie: "Well done, hero!"

Urrrgh... thanks. I've no idea what that... thing was, but it's, well... not here any more.

*He doesn't want to use the word dead. He didn't see it die. He saw it disappear, albeit in a violent manner, but saying it's dead would be tempting fate. He sits up.*

Right... so what do we do now? More huts, do you think?

Sophie: "You almost died! Do you still want to look at more huts?"

You said it yourself - I'm the hero, right? And I think a brush with death is just what I needed to energise myself. Robin's back in business! Besides, there are only three huts left... what else could happen?

*Almost convinced of what he appears to be telling himself, Robin stands up. Sophie floats a little higher.*

Sophie: "I collected these while you were out."

*She hands him what look like a handful of slightly used arrows. They are all whole, and although some are slightly bent, they all look suitably sharp.*

Thanks. Right, hut number four.

*Robin marches off towards said hut, but just before he crosses the threshold, he realises something... he never asked Sophie how she got out of hut number two.*

[Robin]

*Hut number four is completely empty. No cloth hangs over the window, which is noticeably larger than that of the other huts, so the moonlight easily illuminates the inside of the hut. But it is bare. No furniture, no supplies. Nothing whatsoever. Robin trudged forwards, senses on red alert. Sophie, hovering at shoulder height, floats after him.*

It's strange... this hut looks...

Sophie: "Empty?"

Well... yes. But there's something about it.

*Robin can't quite put his finger on it - but what he feels is unusual. Although totally empty, the hut doesn't give out an air of being totally uninhabited. In any case, there aren't any cobwebs or visibly active insects. The floor, as in all of the huts, is little more than compacted mud. It looks well-cared-for - swept, cleaned, almost pristine. Holmgarth's example of an empty show home.*

We should go.

Sophie: "Why?"

I'm not sure. But this isn't right. It's a totally empty hut. It's not right. We should leave, and see if the door locks itself as well.

Sophie: "Wait... there is something."

*Robin casts a look around. He seems nothing, apart from the walls, one open window, and the floating girl.*

Where?

Sophie: "I don't know. But there is something. I can... feel it."

*Robin shrugs his shoulders, which cricks his neck slightly. Flexing his muscles to dispel the dull ache, he does catch sight of something... above him.*

Oh, I forgot. When searching for something, it's always good to look up.

*Painted on the roof of the hut, in what looks like whitewash, are the words...*

WHEN THEY LIE

...When they lie?

Sophie: "What?"

The key is for the brave, when they lie...

Sophie: "I always thought brave people didn't lie."

So did I.

*They both reflect for a moment. The ill feeling that was in Robin appears to have dissipated. From the less-agitated look on Sophie's face, it appears to not be affecting her either. After a shared look, they exit the hut withut a word. Sophie pulls the door shut, and a clunk announces that the door is locked - although not unexpected this time.*

[Robin]

*As Robin and Sophie enter hut number five, there is a shriek of maniacal laughter from behind them. As soon as Robin whips around, the door swings shut of its own accord, shutting Robin in the hut, with Sophie trapped outside. Robin tries the door, but it is locked... and there is no discernable bar or hinge to be unlocked.*

Sophie? What's going on out there?

Sophie: "I don't know, there's a... wait... wait..."

What?

*There is a small scream with more bursts of hideous laughter.*

Sophie?

*More laughter, and another scream.*

SOPHIE?!

Crash.

*Robin turns around, and realises a split-second too late that the hut he is in is beginning to collapse! He dives out of the way as a roof beam falls just where he was standing, but is caught by a glancing blow to his back where a clay pot has seemingly thrown itself at him...*

S-sorcery? Po-poltergeists? I... heeeeeeelp!

*Animated, seeemingly, the table that the pot was on begins to shoot across the room. Robin instinctively picks up a stick that was lying on the floor and slashes at the table, which is thrown off-balance by the strike, and smashes itself against the wall. This still doesn't solve the immediate problem of the rapidly collapsing hut, though.*

I have to do something... I...

*Another roof beam crashes down near him, and a cascade of hay falls all around him. Panting, he runs full-pelt across the hut, with the crumbling brickwork and wooden stilts seemingly chasing him. As the wall in front of him crumbles, he hurls himself straight at it with a yell.*

Hyaaaaaargh!

*It is something like a small explosion as Robin crashes through the wall, which (thanks to timing and a great deal of luck) was disintegrating fast. The Woodsman flies forwards, bits of rubble and timber all around him, and straightens up.*

Well, that was... was... was...

*He screams.*

[Robin]

*He isn't sure why, or more importantly, how... but Holmgarth is a nightmare. Once again, the source is the central hut. But instead of just one demon, there are hundreds of small, shadowy figures pouring from its door, window, chimney - malevolent sprites that shriek and laugh and surge forwards, all heading towards Robin.*

...What?

*He springs upwards, grabbing and scrambling up onto the roof of hut number six. Sophie is there, being pulled in separate directions by two cackling shadows.*

Get your stinking hands off her, you damn dirty... whatever you are!

*He draws his sword, and slashes at both shadows. They disappear with howls.*

Sophie: "Robin, what are we going to do? There are too many of them."

I don't know! I don't know what to do!

*The shadows creep up over the walls of the hut. They are small, but increasing in number every second.*

You can fly! Go! Save yourself! I'll just...

*He sees something.*

No.

*The night has been long. Dawn should be breaking. And sure enough, the first few rays are appearing over the horizon... but they are black. Black sky, black sun, black shadows. And amid the cackling laughter of the shadows, Robin raises his eyes to the heavens for any form of assistance... and sees the last few stars spell out a message, before they too are extinguished in blackness.*

AS IN THEIR GRAVE

Sophie: "Robiiiiiiin!!!"

*He turns his head. The shadows are swarming over the roof, and one has a grab on Sophie's leg. She shoots upwards, but she can't shake it off.*

I'll just...

I'll just...

just...

...what am I going to do?!

[Robin]

THE KEY IS FOR THE BRAVE
WHEN THEY LIE AS IN THEIR GRAVE

*Robin's mind is racing, amid Sophie's screams and the hissing and cackling of the shadows as they swarm up towards him. The dawn's early light is growing, and as more and more of the village is cast into shadow, these shadows approach too. In the throng, he can see smaller demons, and twisting, turning shapes... spawns of Chaos and of darkness. He is terrified.*

What do I do? I have clues, but no solution to...

*He draws his sword.*

I don't want to lie in my grave! No... no, wait. As in my grave. As in my grave... as in...

*He thinks, quickly, hard. Every distorted image he has encountered so far in Holmgarth comes back to him... the hovering girl, the self-locking doors, the empty hut, the gigantic demon, and... and... and...*

That's it!

*He takes a few steps back.*

Sophie: "What are you doing?"

What I ought to do.

*He runs forward at full pelt. Letting out an involuntary battle cry, he leaps forwards as far as he can. For all his athleticism, he can't reach hut number four - five took up a lot of space - from here. He lands on the ground, but just clear of the mass of shadows, who now all turn their attention to him, switching direction and chasing him with moans and screams as he clears the rubble of hut number five, scrambling up onto four's roof.*

Come and get me!

*He runs again, over the roof of number four, leaping from it to three, and from that to two. Hut number one is directly ahead of him.*

I'm going in!

*Sophie's voice sounds clear, even from the other side of the village.*

Sophie: "But you can't go in! The door's locked!"

I'm not aiming for the door!

*A remembered refrain of you wanna be a hero, don'tcha? ringing in his ears, Robin jumps as high as he can, nocking an arrow to his crossbow and pointing it directly at hut number one's roof.*

As in their graaaaaaaaave!

[Robin]

Shunk.

This had better work.

BOOM!

*The arrow flies straight for the thatched roof of hut number one, and explodes on impact. The hole it has blown isn't very large, but it is enough. Robin takes a step back, and as he jumps, he feels the sharp scratch of a shadow whip the air behind him, missing his heel by a hairsbreadth. He tumbles through the hole and lands nimbly on the floor inside the hut.*

Okay. Here goes.

*The hut is exactly as he remembers it [OOC: here]; the untouched plates and table, and the bed with the human-shaped indentation on it. As the chatter of the approaching shadows grows closer, threatening him, Robin jogs over to the aforementioned bed.*

You're right... the key is for the brave... that's me...

*He removes his quiver, and lays down his bow and sword.*

...to lie, as in their grave.

*The shadows swarm in through the hole and one of them lets out a howl of joy as it notices Robin is trapped. But Robin, without flinching, almost calmly lies down on the bed, fitting himself neatly into the human-shaped indentation. He crosses his arms, and closes his eyes... "as in his grave".*

...

*The shadows continue to swarm forwards, towards the bed... but Robin is no longer in it.*

[Robin]

*His body feels light. He opens his eyes and becomes conscious that he is floating. He isn't in Holmgarth any more, nor is he in the chaotic whirl of colour and sound that he had experienced before [OOC: in Light Headed]. He is floating in a world of white, with almost blinding light coming from elsewhere.*

This is... different...

*As his vision adjusts, Robin is slowly aware that he feels good. His left arm is whole and undamaged, and although there is a faint scar, there is no demon-inflicted tear in his flesh, and no pain. No bruises on his body anywhere. Even his throat, which had been feeling a little sore through shouting and screaming, is feeling better.*

I feel... strangely...

Am I dead? No. No, I've been dead. This is... this is peaceful.

*A shape comes towards him. As he looks, he realises that the shape is human, and behind it a multitude of other humans. He can't discern them exactly, but as they come closer, he notices a few distinguishable features. One is a burly man with a huge moustache. One is a thin, old woman. One is a boy in his late teens. They are all floating forwards, expressionless.*

What...?

*But Robin's attention is drawn to the first human shape that he saw. Ahead of all the others, floating towards him, is a little girl, with reams of curly blonde hair cascading down over her shoulders.*

Sophie: "Well done, Robin."

*She raises a hand, and everything fades to white once more. Almost immediately, Robin feels his feet touch terra firma.*

[Robin]

*When the smoke clears, Robin is standing back in Holmgarth. The sun is high in the sky, casting a crisp morning light over the small village. The small collection of people he saw in the white light are standing around various places. Some are raking dirt and gravel over the long scorch marks left by his fight with the demon. One is carefully re-thatching the hole in the roof of hut number one. A group of strong-looking young men are looking through plans for rebuilding the collapsed hut number five. For a very small village, it seems surprisingly busy.*

Phew.

*He checks himself over. His costume and weapons are as tight and arranged as they have always been. In a corner, next to the exit to the village - which is wide open - lie a pile of discarded arrows. Realising that they must be his, he walks over to them. Carefully selecting the usable arrows, he re-stocks his quiver.*

Right... well... yes. That one was a piece of cake.

*He pauses. The man with the moustache walks past, talking to a small, mousy-haired woman.*

Man: "Don'tcha wanna see the plans for ya new hut, Ethel?"

*Robin recognises the accent, and smiles to himself. He is halfway out the exit gate when he pauses, reflects, and turns around, looking at the settlement and its inhabitants.*

You would think, wouldn't you, that one of them might acknowledge my existence? Even if I hadn't just saved their village, surely a man in a costume like this would get at least one look?

*Something catches his eye.*

Oh...

*The door of the central hut is open. Something is emerging from it... albeit something far from demonic. Something that does acknowledge him. Even from this distance, the long, curly blonde hair and pretty dress are difficult to mistake. But there is a bigger smile than he's ever seen this time.*

Yes, that will do nicely.

*He returns Sophie's smile and small wave... and with a light in his heart that he hasn't felt for a while, he turns, walks out the gate, and begins to trudge down the dirt track, leading back towards the woodland.*