A Dark Corner Of The Earth

The shifting vines of extreme darkness grew thicker as I progressed further towards what seemed to be the source, often forcing me to make precarious jumps over what my instincts screamed was certain death as I moved closer to the less densely occupied ceiling. When my tail narrowly avoided slapping right into a tendril on a slightly botched jump I once more questioned why I had ever thought this was a good idea.

Following my instincts to go further into the hallway controlled by whatever this is makes me severely question both my judgement and my instincts.

Paranoia +1

Had I the proper anatomy my scowl would surely have been more recognisable, but it was truly a magnificent scowl none the less. While I'm not one to scoff at any benefits I can get my dripping claws on, the implicit judgement from the system was less than welcome; when the threat is real, there is no such thing as "over-prepared" or "too cautious".

I may not have solid proof that mental attacks are possible, but equally I can't say they aren't either. My Sociopath Trait mentioned "emotionally manipulating attacks", which validates the plausibility of mental manipulation to some extent.

The system not just giving me a skill named "Paranoia" and a trait "Paranoid" but also leveling said skill when I question my own motives for continuing into further and further obvious danger seems… condescending and suspicious.

Paranoia +1

The skill is very useful, giving me essentially limited omniscience of the area directly around me, but the circumstances are suspect. I have no idea if something could be manipulating the system to try and quell my suspicions, but I can't discount the possibility completely.

Paranoia +1

Equally suspicious is my own drive that even now has me ducking and weaving around an increasingly thick thicket of shifting shadows. As much as my persistence in continually scrubbing myself down even when the skill is already active is blatantly some sort of nervous tic I'll need to deal with in the future, many predators hunt via smell, justifying the action at least in part.

Paranoia +1

Scent Scrubber +1

Further, as the tendrils I had to jump over and latch onto the ceiling to avoid testified, ambush predators exist; it's entirely possible that some utilize some sort of mental manipulation in much the same way carnivorous plants use sweet smells to attract insects. Whether this shifting mass of darkness is even alive let alone operating on the same principal, I don't know; but the possibility that it is drawing me further in by manipulating my curiosity and instincts is both disturbing and currently unfalsifiable.

Paranoia +1

Dark Vision +1

Stealth +1

Hmm, at least constantly avoiding these tendrils has been recognised as an act of stealth. Conveniently, this level also validates the idea that this… thing could potentially detect me. The piece of my instincts that I'm eighty seven percent sure is legitimately my thoughts is the feeling that letting this thing discover and touch me is a very, very bad idea.

Paranoia +1

I dug my claws into the ceiling, somehow maintaining my grip on the oddly soft stone despite gravity trying to bring me down. No matter how much the system seemed to condescend and potentially mislead with these Paranoia levels, the skill itself is immensely useful. I am completely aware of everything for as many feet around me as I have levels in the skill. This awareness made avoiding the tendrils far easier; I no longer have to look at them to know where they are and where they may be going inside a dangerous range.

This effect allowed me to continue down the path well beyond the point of sanity and safety to the point where even my (suspect) instincts were telling me to turn back. A glance behind me showed that the "path" behind me was gone; there is no turning back now. I have to keep going forward and hope I haven't completely fucked myself over.

I have no idea how long I scrambled forward, hugging the ceiling, scraping my belly raw on the soft but rough stone below (above?); it may have been minutes or hours (I'm dead certain it wasn't days). A short time after my strength began to leave me and I almost slipped repeatedly, I saw something. The sight invigorated me, driving me forward with a rush of falsely renewed energy. This must surely be the end of the road; either death or escape.

Endurance +1

Strength +1

Agility +1

The not-darkness seemed to grow restless and angry as I grew closer to whatever was at the end of this tunnel, snapping at the walls and writhing quicker and more violently. My decision to not let this thing touch me was justified when a tendril snapped forward in front of me and dissolved a piece of the ceiling.

Of course, seeing that I was surrounded on all sides by writhing tendrils of fucking acid was not encouraging. I scuttled forward as swiftly as my short legs could take me without losing my grip on the ceiling. Stone dissolved around me as the darkness thrashed with apparent rage, somehow never hitting me as I scrambled forward, abandoning most stealth in a desperate attempt to reach the end as fast as possible (I was decently sure it couldn't see or hear anyway).

Numerous times I came within millimeters of losing limbs and certain death, but speed and fortune carried me through. What had become clear as a speck of light grew closer and larger with every step. Unfortunately, as I grew closer it became increasingly apparent that the light was not on my level but rather, dead center of the 2 meter wide tunnel.

I grimaced but didn't slow; I couldn't stop to think this through, couldn't even afford to so much as slow to consider this; I had no choice but to simply do the math as best I could on the fly. Half remembered lessons on trigonometry and physics flying through my mind as I tried to guesstimate the optimal angle for the force I could output and the effect of gravity, before I blindly leapt for the only hope of salvation I had seen since I set out on this idiotic journey down this nightmare tunnel.

Of course, I inevitably fucked it up. I knew halfway, even as tendrils shaved by so close I could feel the slightly caustic air ruffling my fur, that I wasn't going to make it, that I jumped to soon and was going to fall straight into the proverbial (or perhaps literal) beast's maw.

As I watched the light pass me by, despaired resolution filled me; another miserably, nameless death far from anything one might call a home. Perhaps I'll do better in my next life if I'm so lucky as to be given a third chance?

My saving grace came in the form of blinding pain slamming into my torso, the caustic tentacle carrying enough force that even as fast as it dissolved my flesh, the blow flung me through the air back up and towards the light. Of course, considering everything above halfway through my ribs was simply fucking gone and the remains burned like fire's angrier cousin, I was in no condition to really care about my trajectory.

HP -10

Even as delirious with pain as I was, I could see the once buzzing mass of shadow suddenly freeze at the contact, seemingly just as struck as me by the unexpected contact. As the light grew nearer my foe's momentary halt came to a very sudden and violent end. Every inch of the false darkness surged toward me from every angle, seeking to devour and destroy me in a tidal wave of consuming shadow.

My luck held though as I managed to regain some semblance of my senses just in time to reach out a paw and hook the edge of the light leaking tunnel. I pulled myself forward with all my might, rocketing through the hole as the hall behind me became solid darkness. Once more I was just slightly too slow, and a good third of my tail vanished in a flash of pain, consumed by the darkness.

HP -3

Skill Gained: Pain Resistance

I hit the ground on the other side and began to roll, agony spiking through my beleaguered body every time the rough floor touched my exposed innards. I barely had the strength to groan as I came to a halt.

Pain Resistance +1

HP -1

I was dying, again. Even without my status showing my single point of health, I could easily tell by the trail of blood and organs staining the cobbled floor in front of me. I sighed, watching my lungs expand and contract from their place a slight distance from me in a puddle of blood and bone fragments; at least everything seems to still be mostly connected. I suppose if I somehow manage not to bleed to death in the next few seconds I might be able to stuff my organs back into place.

My fatalistic musings were interrupted by a distant noise like a mountain clearing its throat, "My my, now how did you manage to get in here, eh?"

Hidden Stat Unlocked: Fortune