Dionysus You awaken on the island bridge, alone, your mother and siblings lost, sick, afraid... and the ground rumbles.

• Arsul grabs the ground, trying to steady himself

Dionysus You are a child.

• Arsul runs, slipping and blind

Dionysus It hurts to move.You sense the monsters coming, massive, dark--morags.

• Arsul runs as fast as he can, barreling past the pain on pure fear

Dionysus The ground shakes violently as the morags, multiple morags, chase you. You stumble, falling hard.

• Arsul puts out his hands to catch homself

Arsul as soon as he can he regains his feet. If he can't he moves as fast as he can on all fours

Dionysus You feel a finger break on the left hand. It snaps as you hit the ground. Your knees are skinned. The pain from disease and fear and the fall are intense. You are briefly on all fours before you make it back to your feet.

• Arsul holds his hand close to his chest with the other arm while running. Tears stream down his face

Dionysus An unmortal scream fills the air, and you feel every instance as the morag crushes you.

• Arsul screams in pain and terror

Arsul and dies?

Dionysus Eventually.

Dionysus You awaken in your dormitory at the music school. You've just had a horrible nightmare about the Island Bridge, and you hear someone laughing derisively nearby.

• Arsul sits bolt upright, sweating

Dionysus "Arsehole had another bad dream!" a taunting voice, one of the bullies, shouts. Other children approach.

• Arsul scowls. "Fuck off." he growls

Dionysus "What was that, areseface?"

Dionysus You feel his strong hands grab your shirt.

• Arsul shoves back. "You heard me." he stands quickly. One thing is good about being half-goblin

Dionysus He falls backward... into your cello. You hear it slam into the ground, and the distinctive sound of strings breaking.

• Arsul launches himself at the kid, pulling him bodily off the cello and throwing hi the other way

Dionysus As you launch forward, he rolls off the cello, and you land on it... wood splinters. You feel some enter your skin.

Arsul Hot tears come to Arsul's eyes as he feels it break beneath him but he quickly turns to rage and again throws himself at the bully

Dionysus You two fight, rough, ugly, until a teacher comes in & breaks it up. "Enough of this! What's going on?" "Arsul woke up, and when I asked what was wrong, he attacked me!"

Dionysus "Is this true, Arsul?"

Arsul "No!"

Dionysus "Now, Arsul! What did I tell you about attacking the othre children? It's not very brave of you, what with your size. Your handicap is no excuse!"

Dionysus "And you've ruined your instrument!"

Arsul "He fell on it! I was trying to move him and-- fell."the tears are back by the end of the sentence

Dionysus "You are here on scholarship, part of which is to pay for your instruments. There is money in there for upkeep, but not replacement. What do you intend to do about thios?"

Arsul "I--I Ididn't mean. I --don't know? I--" Arsul's face is contorted, trying not to lose his composure completely

Dionysus "Come with me. We will speak with the headmaster about this."

• Arsul follows, crying mostly silently as soon as they leave the dorm room

Dionysus You are taken to the headmaster's office, seated, and told to wait.

• Arsul waits, recovering from his tears but still feeling miserable

Dionysus After a moment, you are called into the office.

• Arsul fidgets and then stands, walking in

Dionysus "Sit down, Arsul. I've been told you were fighting again?"

• Arsul sets his jaw firmly, stubborn. "It wasn't my fault."

Dionysus "Come now. I've heard from a witness who says you threw a boy into your cello. Why would you do that, Arsul?"

Arsul "I didn't! He grabbed me. I stood up and pushed him away."

Dionysus "You pushed him, though? You did not call for help, or try to back out of it, or talk it through?"

Arsul "He picks on me. Talking does nothing!" anger rises in his voice

Dionysus "Arsul," he attempts to keep a level tone, "We have rules. About fighting. About how to deal with bullies. And about instrument care. You've failed all of these this morning, and it's barely past breakfast."

• Arsul opens his mouth to speak but shuts it again, stewing a bit

Dionysus "For the fighting, I will have to suspend you. For the loss of an instrument... I have no choice. If you cannot acquire a new one somehow before you return from suspension, you will have a week here before I am forced to expel you. That gives you a week and a half, Arsul."

Arsul "But! How can I? We have no money. My mother lives in a swamp!"

Dionysus "You should have thought of that before you threw someone into your cello. Perhaps another patron will listen if you write a letter."

Dionysus "or have someone write it for you, I should say."

• Arsul bites his lip

Arsul and nods

Dionysus "You are dismissed. Stay away from the bullies, young man."

• Arsul stands and moves to leave

Dionysus Where to?

Arsul Do I know anything about the patrons? Especially patrons in this area?

Dionysus There's a few in town that other students have. You don't know much beyond maybe some names

Arsul any of the students someone I'm friendly with?

Dionysus I would imagine you have friends, yes.

Arsul yay

Arsul I go to one of them. before morning class if I can manage it

Dionysus You end up having to wait for the end of morning class. You just missed him, but he comes out and says, "Where have you been?"

• Arsul frowns. "I'm suspended. Because of that asshole Adam. Listen, can I ask you something? Your patron, what do you know about him?"

Dionysus "Err, my patron? He's a merchant in town, named Skylar Greeve. He, uhh, sells corn, I think."

Arsul "I--I need to talk to him. My cello-, I have to get a new one."

Dionysus "What? Really? Well, I can take you to his house next week, I think."

• Arsul frowns. "I have only a week and a half. Can you tell me where he lives."

Arsul ?

Arsul "I'll find a way to get there."

Dionysus He sounds uncertain, "His offices are near the farmer's market, downtown, next to the bursary."

Arsul "Thanks." Arsul frowns slightly. "Break's almost over. I'll-- talk to you later."

• Arsul heads down the hall, hand on a wall

Dionysus "Sure."

Dionysus You go where now'?

Arsul where is the school in the town?

Dionysus On the outskirts, an hour's walk from downtown.

Arsul not a lot of traffic then?

Dionysus A little bit.

• Arsul hesitates outside, on the edge of the street for a few moments

Arsul After a bit he walks toward downtown, walking carefully

Dionysus As you walk the rural roads, you occassionally trip, and once, you get a "Watch where you're going!"

Dionysus After an hour, you reach the proper town.

• Arsul walks as close to the buildings as he can, trying to avoid as much carriage traffic as he can. He listens for people talking of the market or noises from the market

Dionysus It takes a while, but you can find your way there.

• Arsul stops a passerby, reaching blindly for a voice not passing too quickly. "Excuse me?"

Dionysus "Yes?"

Arsul "Do you know where the bursary is?"

Arsul "I'm trying to find Skylar Greeve's offices."

Dionysus "Well now, lad. You need to buy grain?"

• Arsul smiles slightly, uncertain. "I-- I'm from the music school. I--I need his help."

Dionysus "Oh, do you? Well, why not come with me, young man? I can lead you there."

Arsul "Thank you."

Dionysus He takes your hand gently and leads you away.

• Arsul is led

Dionysus You sense a change in the atmosphere, and you feel maybe you are older, and you are being lead through somewhere strange. The air is humid, the ground is cold stone. You hear... groans of agony in the distance.

• Arsul pulls slightly back

Arsul "What is that?"

Dionysus "Just a nice place, lad. Nothing to worry about. Come along."

• Arsul follows, but is on his guard

Dionysus "Now, you just sit here... Prophet."

Arsul "Why do you call me that?" slight panic in his voice as he pulls his hand away, and doesn't sti

Arsul sit

Dionysus "Eh? Oh, just a nickname I give to kids I like. Just have a seat."

Arsul "No."

Dionysus He grabs you roughly by the collar and forces you into it, "Don't be rude, young man."

• Arsul tries to break his hold and run

Dionysus He trips you. Your face hits the ground, hard, your body failing to react in time.

Dionysus He kicks you, "Get up, and into that chair, Prophet."

• Arsul curls up in pain, after the kick he rises.

Dionysus "To the chair!"

• Arsul hunches slightly, almost in a fighting ready stance. "No."

Arsul he readies to hit back

Arsul if the man tries to force him

Dionysus You don't even hear the blow come. You are struck in the stomach, bowled almost double, the wind knocked out of you.

• Arsul tries to run again, even mostly doubled

Dionysus He trips you again.

• Arsul falls hard. "What do you want!?"

Dionysus "For you to sit in the damned chair."

Dionysus "Before it's too damned late, yeah?"

Dionysus "Before you grow up into something awful."

Arsul "What are you talking about?" he says as he makes his way to standing again.

Dionysus You hear another pair of feet enter the room, and a door lock, "He's talking too much. Can't you get a damned kid into a chair?" "Sorry, yer Worship. He's a struggler."

Dionysus You feel the original man grab you again, on the arms.

• Arsul pulls away, panicking now
• Arsul kicks out

Dionysus The two grab you and start dragging you to the chair, resisting your struggles. "What was this one's name?" "Martello Toutant, sir. Martello."

Dionysus "He's the son of the Prophet." "And a Prophet himself."

Arsul "I'm Arsul!"

Dionysus "If he survives, he might end up a Shaper. Can't have that." They dont' seem to hear you.

Arsul "Survive!? Stop!" he's struggling with all he has

Arsul "I'm not him!"

Dionysus "Put him in the chair. I'll get the kris. He will make a potent sacrifice to the Stillborn God."

Dionysus "Get the worm pan, too. We'll let them drink his blood."

Dionysus "Good idea."

Dionysus You are forced into a chair, then strapped in.

Arsul "NO!"

Arsul "HELP!!!!!!!!!"

Dionysus A blow slaps your face, "Keep quiet, or we'll do this slow."

Arsul "You've got the wrong person. I'm Arsul Toutant! I'm a music student. I don't know what you're talking about!"

Arsul "Listen to me!"

Dionysus "He strapped in?" "Yeah, let me secure his feet." Your feet are tied down. "Put the pan there, under them."

Dionysus You feel worms writhing over your bare feet.

• Arsul moves his feet as much as he can, struggling against the restraints. "STOP! HELP!!!!!"

Dionysus You feel the knife bite into your shoulder, shallowly.

Dionysus Slowly, it moves, and your body, bound as it is, barely moves enough to stay it.

Dionysus A design is draw in your skin wtih a shallow groove.

Dionysus Over every part of your body, the men work, making channels for the blood to flow down, to the worms.

• Arsul screams and yells and pleads

Dionysus You pass out into darkness after hours of agony,.

Dionysus You awaken in a bed in a brightly lit room.

Dionysus Your lungs burn.

Dionysus Your chest aches

Dionysus You feel miserable. Your body is failing you.

Dionysus You are old, cancerous, in agony.

Arsul I can tell it's bright?

• Arsul shudders and lies still a moment, trying to breath slowly and hold off a cough

Dionysus You feel the warmth from the lamps.

Dionysus You can't resist the need to cough. When you do, it is pain unfathomable.

Arsul After its over I lie, utterly spent, struggling for breath.

Dionysus "Doctor," you hear, "He's awake again. Perhaps more milk of the poppy?" "No, nurse. His brother said not to. They wish to ask him of his dreams again. I don't know why--he never remembers them now." "Shall I get his family?" "Yes, nurse."

Arsul "Domy?"

Dionysus The word just comes out as a wheeze.

Dionysus You hear two heavy pairs of feet enter the room.

Dionysus "Arsul?" Guiteau asks. "We're gonna go through this again."

Arsul "What? I was dreaming-- about his death."

Arsul "It was-- terrible."

Dionysus You just cough. "You will tell us your dream from the night under the sea. The first of these dreams." His tone is cold, demanding. "We know you can speak, if you try."

• Arsul shakes his head. "No!" and coughs again. He's soon gasping