Shrike Introduction Act One

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))Of all the tents in your camp, the one belonging to your amnesiac paladin was perhaps the most unusual. There was nothing especially strange about it, yet its very lack of defining features was unsettling. It was brutally utilitarian. A plain red tent, a bedroll, and a travel pack. Much like your companion, there were no hints about the life the paladin had lived, or any traces of personality at all. It was an empty shell. Shrike stands sentry outside their tent, unmoving, as though lost in the labyrinth of their mind. If it weren't for their occasional blinking, you might have mistaken them for a training dummy. You wave as you approach and they turn to face you. "Hello." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[How are you today?]] 2. [[Tell me about yourself.]] 3. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 4. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''How are you today?'' Shrike tilts their head slightly. "I am...better, I think. My headaches haven't gone away yet, but I've suffered worse...I think." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[ 1. [[Tell me about yourself ->Tell me about yourself.]] 2. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 3. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87)) ''Tell me about yourself.'' "Hm..." Shrike furrows their brow. "My name is Shrike and I am a paladin." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[//Wait for Shrike to continue.// ->Wait for Shrike to continue]] 2. [[What kind of paladin?]] 3. [[Tell me something I don't already know about you.]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''You're pretty...unusual.'' Shrike stares. "I am?" (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 3. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 4. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 5. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Leave'' You hear somebody call your name from across the camp. The conversation had reached its natural conclusion, and it was clear that Shrike was fumbling for how to continue your chat further. You decided to bid farewell to your companion for now. There is a certain energy to their stance now, as though your talk had awoken something inside them. They no longer looked lifeless, but renewed with an unspoken vigour. Their eyes do not leave you as you walk away. [[Homepage]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''//Wait for Shrike to continue.//'' You wait silently for your companion to elaborate, but they do not. Their flaming red eyes stare at you. Unblinking. (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[What kind of paladin?]] 2. [[Tell me something I don't already know about you.]] 3. [[How are you today?]] 4. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''What kind of paladin?'' "A good one." They declare. A few moments pass before they appear to remember something. "Oh, I have this book. I think I was a paladin of vengeance. At least, that seems to be the kind of oath that fits me best." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[A book? That's strangely convenient.]] 2. [[Are you sure it's yours?]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Tell me something I don't already know about you.'' Shrike lets out a loud, singular laugh, abrupt and unnatural. "If I knew more, I would tell you. My name and some fragments of memories are all I have." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[I can't even imagine what that must be like.]] 2. (link: "(Persuasion) What can you remember?")[(Persuasion) What can you remember? (go-to: (either: "Success", "Fail")) ] 3. [[(Illithid) //Use the tadpole to connect to Shrike's memories.//->Use the tadpole to connect to Shrike's memories.]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''A book? That's strangely convenient.'' "I suppose it is," Shrike mused. "I'm not sure what I would have done without it." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Are you sure it's yours?]] 2. [[Tell me something I don't already know about you.]] 3. [[How are you today?]] 4. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Are you sure it's yours?'' "That...is a good question. Hm..." Shrike pauses and falls silent. It would seem that the thought that the book couldn't have been theirs had never crossed their mind until now. "No, it must be mine. I can channel divine magic, Gale told me so himself. And it has the initials 'SF' inside the cover, which I guess must be my name." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[A book? That's strangely convenient.]] 2. [[Tell me something I don't already know about you.]] 3. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 4. [[How are you today?]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''I can't even imagine what that must be like.'' (text-style:"outline","fade-in-out")[Shrike Approves] Shrike grabs your shoulder. You flinch at first, but you see their smile soften. "And I pray that you never have to know. I suppose I can't truly appreciate what I've lost as I don't remember what I had to lose to start with." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[You're pretty...unusual.]] 2. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''(Illithid) //Use the tadpole to connect to Shrike's memories.//'' (text-style:"outline","fade-in-out")[Shrike Disapproves. ] You tune into the tadpole squirming in the paladin's skull, forcing your way past their defenses. Your vision floods with red as your nostrils are assualted by an onslaught of puke, urine, and faeces. Severed limbs clinging by a single tendon swing from the spikes the corpses have been impaled upon. A burning tightness grips your throat as a shattering blow beats the air from your lungs. You feel a crashing thud to the back of your head as you plummet to the floor. You return to your body to find Shrike pinning you to the ground by your throat. A murderous aura seems to emanate from them. ''"Stay out of my fucking head!"'' They roar and tighten their grip. "Don't you ever try that again, or next time I may not want to let you go." They watch you squirm as their lips twitch into a cruel smile, before eventually releasing you. You splutter out a half-formed apology, but they don't stick around to listen. [[Homepage]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''(Persuasion Success) What can you remember?'' Shrike closes their eyes and breathes deeply. "I...can remember only visions of red. The vibrancy of blood on cobblestones and how its warmth coated my skin. I remember the shatter of bones, the convulsing throbbing viscera of people unseamed by my hand. That strangled gurgle of a dying man's breath. The sweet stench of decay and cadavers left to fester in the dark. It all feels so real to me. So much death...and I think I liked it." They open their eyes. There is a frailty that you have never truly seen from them. A darkness in their heart that seems to scare them. They unconsciously wrap their tail around their leg. "I think part of me still likes it...the same way a blade might feel joy when plunged into the beating heart of a creature. Like a weapon fulfilling its purpose." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''(Persuasion Fail) What can you remember?'' Shrike steps back and ponders for a moment. "I...I'm not sure. They aren't pleasant memories, if they are true..." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[(Persuasion) In what way? You can trust me. ->Success]] 2. [[I understand.]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''I understand.'' "Thank you," Shrike says with an air of resignation. "I'm still figuring it all out...and I'm not quite ready to share yet. But you would be the first person I would talk to when I am." (text-colour:#a61e4d)1. [[Leave]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Those markings on your face are moving.'' "I think they've always done that. Though I've no idea why." Shrike says matter-of-factly. (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]]] (text-colour:#a61e4d)[2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 4. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.'' "They don't? I can't say I've met many tieflings before, or at least I don't think I have, so I wouldn't know." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[What about the tieflings at the grove? ->What about tieflings at the grove?]] 2. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 3. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 4. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 5. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]] 6. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.'' "I do?" Shrike blinks. "But I thought eye-contact was polite?" (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[It is, but too much can be rude...or creepy.]] 2. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 5. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]] 6. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''You are scarily at killing people.'' "Thank you. I can't quite explain it, but fighting feels right. As though I was meant to wield a blade and paint the ground in our enemies' blood." Their voice trails off for a moment. "How do you feel when you fight?" (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Excited mostly, there's nothing like a good fight.]] 2. [[Worried: worried about me, about you, everyone.]] 3. [[It doesn't really bother me.]] 4. [[Pretty fucking terrified if I'm being honest.]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.'' Shrike laughs and shoves your shoulder, perhaps a little harder than you were expecting. "Very true! I don't envy you, trying to keep all of us in line. Though if you do need a hand, just say the word." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 5. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''What about the tieflings at the grove?'' "Those were tieflings? Huh..." Shrike stares off into the middle distance. "I suppose we look similar enough. I guess I'm a tiefling then." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 4. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''It is, but too much can be rude...or creepy.'' "Right..." Shrike averts their gaze and kicks at a small stone. "Sorry." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 3. [[You are scarily good at killing people.]] 4. [[I'm not complaining, we're all pretty strange here.]] 5. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Excited mostly, there's nothing like a good fight.'' (text-style:"outline","fade-in-out")[Shrike Approves.] "See? I knew you'd understand. Remind me to talk to you about our battle plans and training regimen. I think I know how I can take us to the next level." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Worried: worried about me, about you, everyone.'' (text-style:"outline","fade-in-out")[Shrike Approves] "You have a very kind soul." Shrike smiles softly. "Please don't let this world change that." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[Leave]] ]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''It doesn't really bother me.'' "Huh, interesting." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[Leave]]]

(enchant:?page,(text-colour:#570000)+(bg:#d9bf87))''Pretty fucking terrified if I'm being honest.'' (text-style:"outline","fade-in-out")[Shrike Approves ] "I had no idea...you always appeared so capable. Huh...you are incredible, you know that?" Shrike holds onto your hand and kneels before you. "And I swear on my oath that for as long as I have breath I will keep you and all of our companions safe. I promise you that." (text-colour:#a61e4d)[1. [[Those markings on your face are moving.]] 2. [[You tend to stare at people, without blinking, for a long time.]] 3. [[Most tieflings don't have spikes on their tails.]] 4. [[Leave]]]

(Link: "Homepage") [Homepage](goto-url:"https://bardic-perdita.neocities.org/")