Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084586 ID: 681cb5
File 170895564845.png - (92.30KB , 700x550 , 2.png )

Ah, welcome back, jacinthe des bois, to my humble boutique. Here to hear the ending of my little tale?
It will be a pleasure to continue narrate this story of hardship, doom and love to you, Madam. But first, let us look back to what once was. Renard ruse, let us see what the cards have to say, about the past, present and future, yes?

After shuffling the deck he pulls the top card from it and places it in front of you. It’s the Queen of Wands.

Our story starts with Belle Knott, a vixen who’s both confident and determined, yet still passionate and optimistic. Six months ago she married the love of her life and has since then lived happy and fulfilling life. Yet, just a few weeks ago, her dear little hubby suddenly inherited an old mansion in the forgotten town of Crowmoor, flipping her whole life upside down. Even if the move was sudden and stressful, there were worse things to come. As they arrived, it didn’t take long for Belle to find herself in the middle of a large conspiracy involving cults, murder, abominations, eternal life and unfathomable beings from beyond this world. But the fox doesn’t go out without a fight… and she is willing to stand strong, even against the very end of reality.

Bernard place the next card on the table, the reversed King of Swords.

What was once the sun of her life has now become a ruthless and oppressive monster. Chris Knott was once a loving husband, but now something else has taken his form. It begun before they even arrived to Crowmoor, as he was oddly excited to move to the mansion he had inherited as fast as possible. After that, he has slowly losing himself, as another entity has gained more and more control. Is there even a Chris left to save? After all, the devil himself, the Bövel from the old world, have come to claim what he deems is his. The very soul of Chris. Only a promise made as an act of true love can save him now…

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084587 ID: 681cb5
File 170895565803.png - (93.27KB , 700x550 , 3.png )

Now, let us leave the past and focus on the present…

The next card the catfish pulls is the Five of Wands.

Conflict. Aggression. A great struggle. There will be hardships, pain and even loss, but you cannot give up, Belle. Stand your ground and fight, for us all. It might look bleak but remember that you are not alone. Father Elijah Throrn, the turtle priest. Sophia Corbin, the retired crow doctor. Perry O’mally, the hound pub owner. Bernard Samson, the catfish owner of this fine establishment and finally Josephine Rebis, the bat anthropologist. They might help you… but beware… they can’t all be trusted. One or more of your friends are not what they say... and might spell your doom if you aren’t careful.

The fourth card is the Tower.

Disaster! Destruction! The chaos has begun and the very world trembles before it! Now is the time for upheaval of the old world… so that a new, horrifying one will take its place. The ritual has begun… and only you, Belle, can stop it. They eye has seen this world… and it is coming. Do not give in to despair, no matter what.

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084588 ID: 681cb5
File 170895566784.png - (94.66KB , 700x550 , 4.png )

And finally, the future.

The next card depicts the Ace of Pentacles.

What is this? An opportunity! A resource that will aid you! Do not let it slip between your finger, mon ami, as you will only get this one chance. Watch carefully, and remember what you’ve learned… and the opportunity will present itself.

He pulls the final card, the six of cups.

Ah yes, memories. The sentimental ideas of what we have lived through shape what we are, does it not? Remember who you are, Belle. Remember who Chris is. That is the only way to save him, to save you both. May your promise to him never be broken. And that, as they say, is that… the end of this reading.

Kaktus 2024/02/26(Mon)05:54 No. 1084589 ID: 681cb5
File 170895567855.png - (91.85KB , 700x550 , 5.png )

As the catfish is about to put the deck of cards away, a final card falls from it, landing right on top of the cards already laying on the table. A red eye glares right through you as Judgment has come.

Ah, interesting. There is one final event, one final show. Reckoning has come and it is time for you to be judged for your deeds. Your actions across these days will come to fruition, and I can only hope you have done what needs to be done. Who will live and who will die? You cannot save them all, chérie, do remember that. The eye will see you… and decide your fate. May god have mercy on your soul.

But now, before we continue our story, do you have any questions, jacinthe des bois? Otherwise, feel free to wake up at any time, Belle. Whenever you are ready… to face the coming day.

>>1084589

Did you know the tarot deck is basically a poker deck with fancy illustrations? When they play poker, they discard all the major arcana except for "The Fool" who becomes "The Joker."

Why me?

Anything more you can tell us about who to trust or how to save Chris?
Once all is said and done, will we be able to sleep soundly, if we survive?

I know it's just an altered Rider-Waite deck with added references, but I love the look of this deck.

Can you tell us anything of the beast or it's lair?

How do you know so much? Why do you disappear sometimes, like when Edward was looking to recover his medallion?
What will become of you if we fail?

And more importantly, do you have any advicebon how to continue our search?

Can you play us a song to sooth our uneasiness?

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085430 ID: 681cb5
File 170959789757.png - (134.20KB , 700x550 , 6.png )

>Did you know the tarot deck is basically a poker deck with fancy illustrations?
…no, it’s the other way around. A poker deck is just a tarot deck with the major arcana removed. Now, do you have any real questions, chérie?

>Why me?
Why anyone? You were simply in the wrong place at the right time, nothing more.
>Can you tell us anything of the beast or its lair?
While part of its soul is still that of a child, do not try and befriend it Belle. It being has been tainted by evil… and it will not hesitate to kill you if given the chance.
>Do you have any advice on how to continue our search?
Follow that tracks of those that worship the eye. Find out what they are doing.

>Anything more you can tell us about who to trust or how to save Chris?
Sadly, mon ami, I cannot.
>Will we be able to sleep soundly, if we survive?
Maybe, maybe not. Will you?
>How do you know so much? Why do you disappear sometimes, like when Edward was looking to recover his medallion?
There are a few provisos, a couple of quid pro quos, that I have to adhere to, chérie. Though, I am sad that I wasn’t able to say goodbye properly before I left, Belle.
>Can you play us a song to sooth our uneasiness?
I would… but it’s time for you to wake up… and smell the ashes…

Looking down at the cards one last time, you spot a new one lying on top of the others. The Lovers. Where did it come from?

A crossroad is up ahead, jacinthe des bois… which path will you choose?

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085431 ID: 681cb5
File 170959790784.png - (47.33KB , 700x550 , 7.png )

Something cold and hard is pressing against your cheek, pulling you struggling mind out from your dream. For a moment or two, you just stare into nothingness… and then after blinking a few times, you-

Kaktus 2024/03/04(Mon)16:18 No. 1085432 ID: 681cb5
File 170959791522.png - (86.24KB , 700x550 , 8.png )

IS THAT AN AXE!? HOW- WHAT- WHY!?

Shaking your head, your try and compose yourself. What happened last night? You remember eating dinner and then… falling asleep? You weren’t even tired… odd…

You can hear Chris mutter something under his breath in the foyer, something you can barely hear…

Chris: “...vel…”

Is he talking to the statue?

Yeah there's only one person here who could have left that axe there, Chris has been compromised.
Before he sees that you're awake, locate and secure the shotgun.

Grab axe, go find the shotgun while Chris is busy. Leave him here to... distract the spirits.
And himself.

> Now, do you have any real questions, chérie?

No I love you Bernard ♥

>>1085432

Seems like Bövel Chris used that axe to chop off your head. Except for some reason he couldn't, and left it stuck in the chair instead. Hm... seems Chris is having a conversation with Bövel right now.

The food was drugged, you almost got killed by Bovel. I think you'd better go get the shotgun. I'd suggest taking the axe too but you'll make noise pulling it off the chair and Chris will notice. Bovel might win the current struggle if he gets distracted. But hey, now you know Chris is really in there somewhere, and he's strong enough to fight back.

Hmm, if you trapped Chris in a room, would it prevent the ritual? Maybe... but the cultists would come up here to free him, and you can't exactly fight all of them in a siege as they arrive to reclaim their leader. (also it would really throw the plot off the rails)

Oh and don't threaten Chris/Bovel with the shotgun, you're just taking it to keep it out of his hands.

>>1085461
Also I doubt he'd keep a loaded shotgun in reach.

Kaktus 2024/03/09(Sat)13:48 No. 1085924 ID: 681cb5
File 171002092639.png - (88.58KB , 700x550 , 9.png )

>I love you Bernard ♥
Huh? What does Bernard have to do with anything? You know, you really should visit his shop again… he might know more about what’s going on.
>The food was drugged, you almost got killed by Bövel. But hey, now you know Chris is really in there somewhere, and he's strong enough to fight back.
Ugh, no wonder you have a headache… and you’re pretty sure it’s the other way around. Bövel is the one that’s in Chris… and now you know he can influence him enough to try and attack you. Dammit… you better be alright, hubby.

>Grab axe.
You add the axe to your pocket. (How does all this trash even fit your pockets!?)
>Before he sees that you're awake, locate and secure the shotgun
Shotgun? The only shotgun you’ve seen so far is the one O’mally the pub owner has under the counter. Do you mean the hunting rifle Chris used yesterday? The good news is that the rifle is easy to find… the bad news is that the reason why you found it is because Chris still has it with him. Maybe you can-

Chris: “Stop sneaking around, Bluebell.” the rabbits tired voice startles you, “I’ve heard you fumbling around ever since you woke up.”
Belle: “Oh, I wasn’t…” with hesitation, you ask, “Are you alright?”
Chris: “No…” he rubs his temple, “I have a killer headache. What did we even drink yesterday?” the rabbit shakes his head, “I remember making dinner… and then… nothing?”
Belle: “…something took over your body, Sunflower.” an annoyance visibly washes over Chris body as you talk, “And drugged our food.”
Chris: “Can you stop it with that mumbo jumbo.” he snaps, “Ghost doesn’t exist… and even if they did, why would one try and drug us? That’s just absurd.”
Belle: “Chris, you’re in-”
Chris: “Do you ever shut up?” for the first time in this conversation, he turns his head to look at you… and just for a moment, the thing staring at you is not Chris, but a creature of pure hate and madness. “Ugh, sorry, I didn’t…” his voice cracks slightly, “Just leave me alone, love. I just need some time…”
Belle: “Okay…”
Chris: “Thank you.”

It’s clear that he’s waiting for something, but what? Not to mention, he’s also keeping tabs on you, so that he knows where you are. What is he up too? If only there was a way to spy on him without him noticing…

[Current objectives:]
What is Chris doing?
What’s up with the strange flute? Music is important for the rituals?
Use the lens with the telescope… and learn the true name of the red star.
Find the tower of light and figure out what 13b650 means.
Find a house of flesh and gore, where the beast sleeps, and retrieve something important from there.
Where is the slaughterhouse?
Find a way to remove the mist.
Stop the blessed event and defeat Bövel.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Note with the Symbol of Graves
Music Box
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Wood Chopping Axe
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey

>>1085924
You can use the spy holes in the walls, if you want to spy on him.
You know, you could just ask to borrow the rifle.

Trade axe for gun? because its time to go beast hunting.

Bernard seems to be pretty knowledgeable. Maybe if we show him the flute he might be able to play us a tune with it.

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086347 ID: 681cb5
File 171036801130.png - (67.48KB , 700x550 , 10.png )

>Bernard seems to be pretty knowledgeable. Maybe if we show him the flute he might be able to play us a tune with it.
Maybe… but even if he can’t, you still have a lot of questions for him. You should go find his shop later.

>You know, you could just ask to borrow the rifle.
Chris: “What?” he seems genuine confused for a moment, before he looks down at the rifle he’s currently holding, “No, I need it. Go away.”
Belle: “What if I trade my axe for it?” you ask him, holding up the axe in question, “It’s a very fin-”
Chris: “Just leave me alone, Belle.” the rabbit mutters, rubbing his head, “I’m really not in the mood right now.”
Belle: “But-”
Chris: “I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP AND LEAVE!” he suddenly turns around and snarls, showing of his wicked teeth, “Is that so hard to understand!?”
Belle: “…”

>You can use the spy holes in the walls, if you want to spy on him.
As you make your way to the stairs Chris moves into gallery, trying his best to keep his distance... yet, you can feel his eyes burning into your neck as you ascent to the second floor. Moving quickly, you enter the library and open the secret passage there, the one that leads into the impossible corridor that open up the observatory.

It takes a few tries to find the right peepholes, as your husband is moving around down there, but you finally manage to spot him in the living room. Walking up to the fireplace, he raises his gaze and looks right at you, smiling… can he see you!?

But as he fixes his hair and start looking even smugger, you realize he’s staring at the painting of Bövel, the one you’re currently looking out from.

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086348 ID: 681cb5
File 171036802649.png - (86.66KB , 700x550 , 11.png )

You follow his path as he move around the house, first to the dining room, then the kitchen before finally going down the stairs to the basement.

There, the rabbit stands in front of the wine rack with the false bottles, taking his time to look around just to make sure you weren’t following him.

Grabbing one of the bottles, he twist it counter-clockwise while pushing it in, making it emit a loud click as it slide into place. You can’t see which bottles he grabs afterwards, but you can hear the same click four more times…

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:13 No. 1086349 ID: 681cb5
File 171036803269.png - (76.44KB , 700x550 , 12.png )

And then, the wine racks slides away, revealing a hidden entrance behind it. A gaping maw that leads into pitch darkness, its breath can be heard as the wind flows through it, making it howl like a beast…

Kaktus 2024/03/13(Wed)15:14 No. 1086350 ID: 681cb5
File 171036804188.png - (85.62KB , 700x550 , 13.png )

And then the wine rack slide back into place, as if it never moved in the first place.

…huh.

>>1086350
Well we basically know the combination. It's the descendants, in order.

You may know the combination but... do you really want to go down there? It felt like when you went to the observatory and entered something hungry and alive.

>>1086355
Nothing ventured...

Set up a trap. Open the cellar, but spread some tar and tacks so when he returns he'll be incapacitated for a while.

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)15:05 No. 1086534 ID: 681cb5
File 171062671121.png - (119.29KB , 700x550 , 14.png )

>Do you really want to go down there? It felt like when you went to the observatory and entered something hungry and alive.
…you need to save Chris, even if it means braving the very jaws of hell itself.

>Set up a trap. Open the cellar, but spread some tar and tacks so when he returns he'll be incapacitated for a while.
Well, you don’t have any tar or tacks, but you do find a bottle of grease. Pouring it on some of the steps, you make it rather hard to ascend the stairs without slipping if you don’t have as long legs as you have. Hopefully he won’t hurt himself to bad…

Kaktus 2024/03/16(Sat)15:05 No. 1086535 ID: 681cb5
File 171062672542.png - (47.42KB , 700x550 , 15.png )

Making your way to the wine rack, you find it sitting there like last time, taunting you. Each bottle are stamped with a letter, from A to Z… so there must be a code here, surely?

>Well we basically know the combination. It's the descendants, in order.
Hmm… he only pulled five bottles, so it can’t be any of the longer names… wait, do you mean just the first letter? …what were their names again? And in which order where they born? Gah, you better go back up and check-

Suddenly, you hear the front door slam open, followed the footsteps of at least a dozen people scurrying inside.

“FIND HER!” someone snarls with a deep and guttural voice, more fitting a beast than a man, “THE MASTER COMMANDS IT!” And with that, you hear people start moving around the house above you. Most of them are going to the second floor, but there is a few that are walking around in the halls right above you.

It’s just a matter of time before they find you down here… you better get moving.

[Inventory:]
Strange Flute
Strange Lens
Note with the Symbol of Graves
Music Box
Old Photo Album
Oil Lamp
Your Wedding Ring 
Wallet
Wood Chopping Axe
Pocket Flask of Strong Whiskey
Bottle of Grease

Well, if each bottle is for one letter, he pulled out five bottles, and it's the name of a Kråkholme. Should be easy enough.
More than likely it's Bövel, but there's a chance it could be Björn as well. Or maybe it's just magic and goes with the name of the current owner and it's Chris.

I'd say try Bövel first, then Björn, and if nothing else works, Chris.

The purity of cold fear has granted you clarity.

Bövel
Marius
Sigmund
Emerik
Dragomir

5 letters

This guy is some special kind of narcissist, making puzzles out of his past names all the time.

Kaktus 2024/03/23(Sat)15:19 No. 1086976 ID: 681cb5
File 171123236034.png - (75.40KB , 700x850 , 16.png )

>Likely it's Bövel, but there's a chance it could be Björn as well. Or maybe it's just magic and goes with the name of the current owner and it's Chris.
Hmm, no… that strange O letter doesn’t exist here… the one with dots above it. And it can’t be Chris, as you’re sure you saw him pull this bottle that’s marked B. Hmm… maybe if you spell it with just an O? Or maybe…

>The purity of cold fear has granted you clarity.
…B for Bövel… M for Marius, his grandson… S for Sigmund, the grandson of Marius… E for Emerik, the grandson of Sigmund… and finally D for Dragomir, the grandson of Emerik. Each of the inbred children that Bövel has possessed over the years. Every last puppet he has consumed for his own use… and now, Chris is next.

As you push in the final bottle marked D, the wine rack starts to move to reveal the secret passage behind it. A narrow set of stairs descending into the deepest pits of this wicked place, carved out from the very limestone that the town rest upon. Is this a natural cave or… is manmade? It seems to smooth for a drill… and to uneven… but surely nature wouldn’t create something like this?

Your train of thought is derailed as you hear people start shouting and moving above you, making it clear they heard the wine rack move as well. You have no choice but to venture on, to run from these lunatics. As you start to make your way down the steps, the door behind you closes… and you can hear someone tumble down the stairs and swearing in a familiar voice… but you can’t place it. With a soft thud, your way out from this tomb has closed off, leaving you alone with your lantern in the dark.

Kaktus 2024/03/23(Sat)15:19 No. 1086977 ID: 681cb5
File 171123236932.png - (101.78KB , 700x550 , 17.png )

At the bottom of the stairs, the tunnel widens into a colossal cavern. Teeth of limestone jets out from the floor and ceiling, making the already claustrophobic stone halls even more hostile. Across the walls several maws opens up, tempting you to go deeper and deeper into the depths of these limestone catacombs. The air is stale and hard to breathe, while the light from your lantern barely managed to travel a few meters before being consumed by the endless darkness. Somewhere, deep in these twisted corridors, something drips slowly into a pool, the sound echoing through the hallow halls breaking the suffocating silence.

There are no sign of Chris… nor is there any indication that the ones above are following you down here. They probably don’t know about these secret passages… Bövel is not one to share his secret, you feel like.

>This guy is some special kind of narcissist, making puzzles out of his past names all the time.
At least he didn’t build a bunch of statues in his likeness or anything… you really wouldn’t be able to handle more than that horrid painting upstairs.

…a feeling of dread smothers you, as you feel that death waits behind every corner down here. You better be careful.

Maybe it's the burrow of some giant beast. You have seven passages, seven ways to go, but look! Each passage has something carved into the stone beside it, some sort of symbol. That should tell you where to go, and what leads to danger. What are the significance of these symbols? You must have seen them before. Think!

The middle bottom passage has the burial ground mark next to it.

Also worth checking;
The blood trail over there, is it fresh?
Is there light coming from the furthest passage?

>>1086977
Do the symbols look familiar?

Kaktus 2024/04/08(Mon)14:42 No. 1088280 ID: 681cb5
File 171261255651.png - (49.84KB , 700x550 , 18.png )

>Maybe it's the burrow of some giant beast.
…can a beast of this size even exist? These caverns are huge…
>The blood trail over there, is it fresh?
Looking at it, you can see it slowly trickle across the limestone, fresh enough to not even having dried yet. You really hope that isn’t Chris’s blood…
>Is there light coming from the furthest passage?
There is… maybe it’s Chris? Surely, he should have a light? Then again… if it isn’t Chris… you don’t know who you just might find down there instead.

>Each passage has something carved into the stone beside it, some sort of symbol. What are the significance of these symbols? You must have seen them before. Think!
Strange carvings marks each of the passages, but you can’t for the life of you figure out what they mean. Have you seen any of these before?
>The middle bottom passage has the burial ground mark next to it.
That’s the symbol Josephine gave you! It’s a perfect match! What did she say again? It would lead you to the main grave site of the Misquat tribe? Surely, it has to have some kind of significant, seeing how they were the first one to… well, find the red star.

Deciding to take the Bat’s advice, you follow the corridor even deeper into these twisted tunnels. Soon enough you enter a massive cavern, one that is just as tall as it is wide. Looking up you can see nothing but darkness, while below you there is such a massive chasm that you can’t help but wonder if it goes all the way to the center of the earth. Finally, over said chasm an old, rickety suspension bridge hangs, beckoning anyone foolish enough to walk over it. You’re about the turn around to find a safer path when you spot footsteps on the dry planks. Rabbit footsteps. Chris’s footsteps. Taking a deep breath, you push away your fears and take the first step onto the bridge, making it creak and sway…

You can’t help but feeling watched by something in the dark… something huge…

Kaktus 2024/04/08(Mon)14:42 No. 1088281 ID: 681cb5
File 171261256652.png - (56.21KB , 700x550 , 19.png )

Halfway across, you can see a shadow shift in the darkness. Something is moving around, something big. Glimpsing the sight of massive fingers dragging the creature forward, as if some kind of scorpion of hands, you turn around to run. But behind you another massive shape has taken form, one at least three times as tall as yourself. It, too, starts moving towards you, unfolding into a giant flower of all too long arms, making it skitter across the bridge like a spider. The old wood of the bridge creaks under their weight, as they silently creep closer to you.

…the smell of death and decay fills the air…

Welp.

Yeah, you're screwed.
But you have one gambit left to play.
Use your inventory to chop the bridge, then hang to the side you want to land on. From there, it's a matter of luck and strength.

>>1088283
Yeah, this is the way to go. Cut the bridge, hold onto the side nearest your destination, climb up after it falls.

>>1088283
You've seen Indiana Jones right? Wrap your arm around one rope, chop the other, then just hold on.

Maybe they're friendly zombie horrors?

The music box!

Open the music box!

>>1088296
This.

>>1088296
Oh, only cutting one support might be enough, yeah.