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nayialovecat · 2 years

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Lamb makes a deal with Helob

Again, I want to share with you a (very badly, I guess) translated fragment of chapter from my AU's. This isn't a big spoiler from Cult of the Wrath. Volume 3, Chapter 4 "Journey to Darkwood".

The action of the entire AU takes place when Lamb has already defeated all the Bishops - the first volume is literally his whole fight with Narinder. The next ones are attempts to embrace the new domain and at the same time present the characters and the game world in my, more logical version + in the form of flashbacks, I sometimes try to present the events of the game and the reasons why.

I didn't plan that Helob would be such a cool character - to be honest, he came out a bit like some sort of Igor, which only makes his character cooler in my eyes… I changed his style of speaking a bit. I liked this fragment so much that I can't keep it with me too long and want to share it. Enjoy!

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4. Journey to Darkwood (fragment)

(...) Once outside the church, they looked around the village as if to etch the image in their mind, wondering for a moment what they would find when they returned. They became slightly sad. Then they had leave, levitating just above the grass, to the edge of the village, and stopped only at Glade of the Passage. They took a deep breath, glancing to the sides. They saw Helob praising his living merchandise to some monstrous-looking creature with a slightly wolf's face.

"I don't have time for this," they thought. "I shouldn't..."

But after a moment's hesitation, they ran up there. Helob, who had been talking to a hungry-looking large wolf entity with glowing eyes, both two pairs, immediately pushed its aside as soon as he saw Lamb.

"Oooh! Your grace! Me heard, me heard what happened... Move, simpleton," he growled at the astonished beast, which was pushed even further, pushed carelessly with a hand. It looked surprised, especially when it saw something fluffy and soft in front of its eyes, not much bigger than a small bison wrapped tightly in a cobweb. "Your majesty, you can't even imagine what an honor it is for poor old Helob... oh, yes, a great honor. If Helob knew who the Lamb would become, he would never dare to bargain... But he hopes Lamb will continue in their generosity... yes, yes, as a new god, Lamb certainly won't get greedy... Helob's best client will not disappoint old Helob..."

Lamb felt a little sick. As always when dealing with this monster. They glanced at the bison, which trembled with fear even more - he was probably more afraid of a creature that looked like an innocent Lamb, but which he buys from a live meat trader, than a hungry-looking wolf demon or whatever the monster standing next to him was.

"Helob, I have a case in Darkwood, I may be away for a few days," Lamb said quickly, looking at the slave trader. "This one is what I'll send to my village right now, but I'd like... and listen carefully now... that you keep every new... stuff until I get back, okay? Can you do this for me?"

"Oh, yes, yes... Helob heard, yesterday was a great feast! The music was coming here, Helob was even jiggling... Yes, yes, all the preys for the Lamb, yeah, Lamb will paid in advance?"

"I'll pay you for..." he hesitated "three. If there's more, the rest when I get back, okay? And I advise you not to forget to feed or drink them!"

"Yes, yes... Helob understands... lean meat, bad meat..."

"Don't overdo it," snarled Lamb again.

"Yes. No fat, Helob remembers. Helob takes care of it right away…" The spider unhooked the bison from his web, and the wolf monster snarled. "Shut up! Can't it see that Helob has a more important client? Shu, shoo... don't disturb... Your majesty wishes to leave wrapped or... ah, no, yes, Helob remembers... The spider's web is tasteless, now Helob removes it."

The bison trembled more as the spider's fast limbs untangled him from his spider web, re-rolling him like a rag doll. Meanwhile, Lamb rose in the air for a moment and illuminated the eyes. The little bison jumped up as soon as it was raised and tried to escape - but at that moment the portal grabbed him and dragged to the village. Lamb fell to the ground. The spider chuckled.

"Your majesty is not taking any chances with them, ha, ha, Helob will never get bored with this sight... yes, Helob goes hunting... Lamb to Darkwood? So we won't meet, Helob will be in Anura... He will find a lot of tasty morsels. Three at least for Lamb, however more...

"I'll pay extra when I get back" reminded Lamb.

"Yes, yes, all for Lamb..." Helob hesitated. "Old ones too? Sick ones too?"

"As you said, I am now a god. Old age or sickness is not a problem."

"So maybe Helob should start asking the full price?"

"Don't push it."

"No, no... of course... Your grace is not angry with stupid old Helob... Of course, old and sick, always cheaper... yes, Helob will not disappoint the biggest, best customer..." Saying that, he began wind up his stuff - the scaffolding on which the net was set up, empty cages. Lamb, looking at their quantity, wondered how many they had missed.

At that moment, the wolf monster roared, then directed its muzzle at Lamb. It looked like it wanted to attack them. The growl grew louder - but the woolen creature showed no fear, and the spider merchant ignored it too. Paws buckled slightly. Lamb didn't want to do that, but...

Blood spurted. The wolf monster howled, clutching its muzzle with its paws and taking two steps back quickly. Lamb looked at them coldly, while the sword in the form of the Crown had already returned to their head.

"I don't advise you to come here again," they said slowly. "So far I'm nice. But if I see you again in MY domain I swear I will make you into a meal for my people... get it?"

The wolf creature whined with bass voice. It couldn't quite fit in its head that the tiny compared to it, woolly creature just slashed it through its muzzle with a sword who become a crown. That it had bought its meal before it and was treated better by the slave trader than it was. It understood nothing anymore.

"Ha! Helob warned you, idiot!" the spider laughed derisively, putting his stall on his back. "Important customer. More important than any other! Heard his grace? Shoo, shoo, never here again..." And then he whispered in private. "Helob now in Anura..."

"Helob, we have a deal!" reminded Lamb sharply.

"Oh yes, yes... now there are no preys from Helob for anyone... Big order, yes... Helob then in Silk Cradle, find there... Four days from now, yes, yes, Helob will be there..."

Lamb turned, breathing hard. As always, talking to this disgusting spider made them feel sick and dizzy. But they was smart enough never to try to deny Helob's belief that Lamb and their followers would eat the preys they had bought from him.

(...)

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Polish version:

4. Podróż do Darkwood (fragment)

Gdy znalazło się na zewnątrz kościoła, rozejrzało się jeszcze po wiosce, jakby chciało wyryć sobie ten obraz w pamięci, zastanawiając się przez chwilę, co zastanie, gdy wróci. Lekko posmutniało. A potem już wypruło, unosząc się w powietrzu tuż nad trawą, ku skrajowi wioski i zatrzymało się dopiero przy Polanie Przejścia. Odetchnęło głęboko, zerkając na boki. Dostrzegło Heloba zachwalającego swój żywy towar jakiemuś potwornie wyglądającemu stworzeniu o nieco wilczym pysku.

"Nie mam na to czasu - pomyślało. - Nie powinnom..."

Ale po chwili wahania podbiegło tam. Helob, który rozmawiał z głodnie wyglądającym wielkim wilczym bytem o świecących oczach, całych dwóch parach, natychmiast odepchnął go na bok, gdy tylko zobaczył Jagnię.

- Oooch! Wasza łaskawość! Słyszałem, słyszałem, co się stało... Suń się, prostaku - warknął na zdumioną bestię, która została odsunięta jeszcze dalej, odepchnięta niedbale ręką. Wyglądała na zaskoczoną, tym bardziej, gdy dostrzegła przed sobą coś puchatego i miękkiego niewiele większego od zawiniętego ciasno w pajęczynę małego bizona. - Wasza miłość, nawet sobie nie wyobrażasz, jaki to zaszczyt dla biednego, starego Heloba... o tak, tak, wielki zaszczyt. Gdyby Helob wiedział, kim stanie się Jagnię, nigdy by nie śmiał się targować... Ale liczy na to, że Jagnię nie ustanie w swojej hojności... tak, tak, jako nowy bóg, Jagnię z pewnością nie stanie się chciwe... Najlepszy klient Heloba nie zawiedzie starego Heloba...

Jagnięciu zrobiło się lekko niedobrze. Jak zawsze, gdy miało do czynienia z tym potworem. Rzuciło okiem na bizona, który drżał ze strachu jeszcze bardziej - chyba bardziej bał się stworzenia wyglądającego jak niewinne Jagnię, które kupuje jednak u handlarza żywym mięsem, niż wygłodniale wyglądającego wilczego demona czy czym tam był potwór stojący obok.

- Helob, mam sprawę w Darkwood, może mnie nie być kilka dni - rzuciło szybko Jagnię, przenosząc wzrok na handlarza niewolnikami. - Tego tu zaraz wyślę do mojej wioski, ale chciałbym... i słuchaj uważnie teraz... abyś każdy nowy... towar zachował, dopóki nie wrócę, dobrze? Możesz to dla mnie zrobić?

- A tak, tak... Helob słyszał, wczoraj była wielka uczta! Muzyka dochodziła tutaj, Helob nawet podrygiwał... Tak, tak, wszystkie ofiary dla Jagnięcia, tak, Jagnię płaci z góry?

- Zapłacę ci za... - zawahało się - trójkę. Jeśli będzie więcej, reszta, jak wrócę, jasne? I radzę ci, żebyś nie zapomniał ich karmić ani poić!

- Tak, tak... Helob rozumie... chude mięso, złe mięso...

- Nie przesadź tylko - warknęło jeszcze Jagnię.

- Tak. Zero tłuszczu, Helob pamięta. Helob od razu się tym zajmuje... - Pająk odczepił bizona z sieci, a wilczy potwór warknął. - Zamknąć się! Nie widzi, że Helob ma ważniejszego klienta? Sio, sio... nie przeszkadzać... Wasza miłość życzy zostawić zapakowane czy... ach, nie, tak, Helob pamięta... Pajęczyna niesmaczna, już Helob usuwa.

Bizon drżał bardziej, gdy szybkie kończyny pająka rozplątywały go z pajęczyny, obracając jak szmacianą lalkę. Jagnię tymczasem uniosło się na chwilę w powietrze i rozświetliło oczy. Mały bizon, gdy tylko został postawiony, poderwał się i próbował uciec - ale w tym momencie portal porwał go i wciągnął w stronę wioski. Jagnię opadło na ziemię. Pająk zachichotał.

- Wasza miłość się nie cacka z nimi, ha, ha, Helobowi nigdy się ten widok nie znudzi... tak, Helob rusza na łowy... Jagnię do Darkwood? Nie spotkamy się zatem, Helob będzie w Anurze... Znajdzie dużo smacznych kąsków. Trzy co najmniej dla Jagnię, jak więcej...

- Dopłacę, jak wrócę - przypomniało Jagnię.

- Tak, tak, wszystkie dla Jagnię... - Helob zawahał się. - Stare też? Chore też?

- Jak sam powiedziałeś, zostałom teraz bogiem. Starość czy choroba nie jest żadnym problemem.

- Więc Helob może powinien zacząć żądać pełna cena?

- Nie przeginaj.

- Nie, nie... oczywiście... Wasza łaskawość nie gniewa się na starego głupiego Heloba... Oczywiście, stare i chore, zawsze taniej... tak, Helob nie zawiedzie największego, najlepszego klienta... - Mówiąc to zaczął zwijać swój kram - rusztowanie, na którym była rozstawiona sieć, puste klatki. Jagnię, patrząc na ich ilość, zastanawiało się, ilu przegapiło.

W tym momencie wilczy potwór ryknął, a potem skierował pysk na Jagnię. Wyglądał, jakby chciał je zaatakować. Warkot nasilał się - ale wełniana istota nie okazywała nawet odrobiny lęku, a pajęczy handlarz ignorował. Łapy lekko ugięły się. Jagnię nie chciało tego robić, ale...

Bluznęła krew. Wilczy potwór zawył, chwytając się łapami za pysk i cofając szybko o dwa kroki. Jagnię zaś popatrzyło na niego chłodno, podczas gdy miecz w postaci Korony już wrócił na jego głowę.

- Nie radzę pojawiać się tu kiedykolwiek więcej - oznajmiło powoli. - Na razie jestem miłe. Lecz jeśli zobaczę cię jeszcze raz w MOJEJ domenie, przysięgam, że to ciebie przerobię na posiłek dla moich ludzi... jasne?

Wilczy stwór zaskomlał basowo. W jego głowie nie mieściło się, że maleńka w porównaniu do niego wełniasta istota właśnie cięła go mieczem, który staje się koroną, przez pysk. Że kupiła jego posiłek przed nim i była traktowana przez handlarza niewolników lepiej niż on. Nic już nie rozumiał.

- Ha! Helob ostrzegał, durnia! - zaśmiał się szyderczo pająk, zakładając swój kram na plecy. - Ważny klient. Ważniejszy niż jakakolwiek inna! Słyszał jego łaskawość? Sio, sio, nigdy więcej tutaj... - A potem szepnął poufale. - Helob teraz w Anurze...

- Helob, mamy umowę! - przypomniało ostro Jagnię.

- A tak, tak... teraz nie ma ofiar od Heloba dla nikogo... Duże zamówienie, tak... Helob potem w Silk Cradle, tam znaleźć... Cztery dni od teraz, tak, tak, tam Helob będzie...

Jagnię odwróciło się, oddychając z trudem. Jak zawsze, rozmowa z tym odrażającym pająkiem przyprawiała go o mdłości i zawroty głowy. Ale miało dość rozumu, aby nigdy nie próbować dementować przekonania Heloba o tym, że Jagnię i jego wyznawcy zjadają kupowane od niego ofiary.

#Cult of the Lamb #Cult of the Wrath #Wrath the Lamb #Red Crown #Helob the Spider #random wolf-monster #random follower #I'm really proud of that one :3 #my novel

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whaleofatjme1920 · 2 years

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(Heyyy, I figured I'd throw my own letter into the event this time. Beloved anon here. (She/her) I'm good with darkwood, marble hornets/creepypasta, or your lovely OCs, whatever Yue Lao thinks fits best. 😌 Romantic matchup please.)

Dear Yue Lao,

I'm not one to buy into these sorts of things normally. But stubborn independence aside, it gets tiring being on my own all the time. For one reason or another, I felt called to write to you.

I romanticize many things in life, both little and big. All I want is someone to cherish all the things in life with. Someone who will give me reassurance when I need it, and won't complain when I cling on them like a little kid. Who just smiles when I grab their hand and tug them in the direction of my excitement.

I can be a bit childish, a bit stubborn, a bit too much of a doormat at times. And I don't know if I'm worth the patience it takes, but I hope you can find someone who might consider me to be enough.

Sending my sincerest regards.

- 💜

Enclosed within the letter is a very aged skeleton key on a thick silver chain. Having once served as an heirloom, the necklace is now severing the family ties, in hopes of forming a new one. There's also a few petals of an orchid flower, and a handful of hand picked raspberries.

[Disclaimer: The Red String of Fate event is a special event I'm running from August 12th, to whenever I feel it necessary to end - right now, I'm giving it to the first week of September! Check out rules HERE]

Sitting in the courtyard of his palace under the moon is the God of marriage and love, his fingers gently tracing over the things that you've brought him. The aged skeleton key is tied to the neck of his cat, who knows she will be running very soon. Resting across from him sharing the raspberries is the beloved Goddess Nuwa. Her snake tail rests along his gardens, her smile gentle and soft as she reads what another one of her distantly related creations yearns for. The orchid's petals you've gifted him has been replanted in the courtyard's garden and blooms beautifully under Chang'e's light.

Their thoughts are similar, it's why Yue Lao has called her to his side. Admittedly, the God was a bit puzzled on who to tie your string to. This was not due to a lack of suitors, but rather, far too many he saw as auspicious! Asking a Mother Goddess for help, she guided his thoughts to an odd man living in the woods. A man who was gentle, and fair, but lost in the trees. On his lap, the God's cat purrs as she watches him tie the string to your right pinky before he searches the earth for a man only known as 'The Trader'.

Upon finding him, both Nuwa and Yue Lao chuckle and place the other side on his left pinky. This man is exactly what you need, and you are exactly what he needs. Allowing him to find you may prove to be difficult given the nature of the woods - the trees grow faster and faster by the day - but a small favor from Pangu and the trees know to abide by the rules of the string. It is Nuwa herself that visits you in your dreams in the form of an alabaster snake, guiding you to the one you may call yours and yours alone.

When you wake, Yue Lao's cat is sitting at the foot of your bed. She's purring, and nuzzles against your right hand to show you the gift her God has bestowed upon you. And just like that, you're up! Hardly even thinking straight, you make plans to follow the string, amused that it seems to be leading you to somewhere in Eastern Europe. His cat never leaves your side, and if she does, she always returns. It's not until you reach the outskirts of some place protected by the government that the cat finally darts forward.

You watch as she slips into the thick trees, following your thread deeper and deeper in. A slight jolt of anxiety tingles up and down your spine from where it's led you, who Yue Lao thinks you're best suited to. Out in the distance, the Trader sees the small creature come up to him from the thick barrier of trees. He hasn't been able to pass through them, but this is where they lead to - out of the woods. He lovingly scoops the cat up and then plucks the skeleton key from her neck knowing it's tied to the same one he's seen in his dreams. He gently places her back down and watches as she mews to the woods.

His eyes widen as the trees begin to part, the red string a straight shot from one side to the other. The glow of the ruby like red thread guides the two of you in, your steps slow and calculated. And through the darkness of the trees that refuse to close around you, you see him. He's tall, wearing a gas mask and there's written marks in sharpie on his forearms. He's got tired eyes, but lights up when he sees you.

You raise your hand to greet him when you're finally close enough, only for him to enclose his around you and pull you into a hug you didn't know you were waiting for.

#red string of fate the event #beloved anon #the trader x reader #darkwood x reader

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