05-14-2018, 10:29 AM
<b>"Did you ever think,"</b> says a quiet voice from somewhere behind Astarael, <b>"That perhaps the issue lies with you?"</b>
There is nothing there, only a shimmer of movement and a rustling of the winter bare branches.
<b>"That perhaps you were not gifted because you were not worthy of gifts?"</b>
There is the sound of a scuffle, and a chill burst of wind whips down the mountain. A cut-off noise, like someone silenced against their will, and a murmur of many voices too soft to be heard.
<b>"You want to be special?"</b> says a voice, as soft as the first but clearly a different speaker. Despite the harshness of the first voice, there is something more sinister about this second speaker, something darker.
<b>"Be special then, but don't come back if you're unsatisfied."</b>
Astarael feels sharp pains behind her shoulder blades, and a terrible ache on her head. Something - somethings - press against her skin from the inside. Darkness, colored at the edges with blood red, overcomes her vision, and she will wake to find herself at the base of the mountain.
<i>Astarael has been cursed. Demonic horns (your choice of shape and number) will grow from her forehead, and be full sized in six BQ months. Bat-like wings will slowly grow from her shoulders, taking a year to reach a size large enough to bear her weight. She will find out in short order that other horses seem fearful in her presence, a result of the glowing red fear aura that she now possesses.</i>
There is nothing there, only a shimmer of movement and a rustling of the winter bare branches.
<b>"That perhaps you were not gifted because you were not worthy of gifts?"</b>
There is the sound of a scuffle, and a chill burst of wind whips down the mountain. A cut-off noise, like someone silenced against their will, and a murmur of many voices too soft to be heard.
<b>"You want to be special?"</b> says a voice, as soft as the first but clearly a different speaker. Despite the harshness of the first voice, there is something more sinister about this second speaker, something darker.
<b>"Be special then, but don't come back if you're unsatisfied."</b>
Astarael feels sharp pains behind her shoulder blades, and a terrible ache on her head. Something - somethings - press against her skin from the inside. Darkness, colored at the edges with blood red, overcomes her vision, and she will wake to find herself at the base of the mountain.
<i>Astarael has been cursed. Demonic horns (your choice of shape and number) will grow from her forehead, and be full sized in six BQ months. Bat-like wings will slowly grow from her shoulders, taking a year to reach a size large enough to bear her weight. She will find out in short order that other horses seem fearful in her presence, a result of the glowing red fear aura that she now possesses.</i>