Spooky Story Contest (EU) - Entry thread

[LadyAveria]

What springs on madness? What is madness? Is it the screams filling someone’s ears to the point where their mind snaps open; baring all the horrors of their nightmares into their conscious? There was something bittersweet about the notion of falling to one’s knees and giving up; staring into the face of polished death as it comes crashing down onto a tired skull. Maybe that is what insanity is, forsaking the ideology of survival instinct and giving up the struggle to live. The absence of emotion ties to anything, sapping away any remaining strength to fight against the ticking sands of time threatening to consume everyone.

Perhaps it is the lack of empathy towards another that sparks madness within a person’s soul, the dull lifeless reflection of a victim’s suffocating glazed over vision staring into the pits of emptiness of their attacker as they scratch and gag for mercy. A quick flex of strong fingers snapping their neck and watching them drop to the ground without a glimmer of remorse.

She wasn’t sure what she was doing anymore nor who the real enemies had become, all she knew was the beckoning call for her aid and the now lifeless form of the bandit under her boot. The battle had long been secured in her favour but the previous cries still rang in her blood soaked ears; drumming in beat with a thumping heart. Was the straggled man even one of the others that roamed across the farmlands; raping and pillaging everything in sight or was he simple male that reminded her so much of a force that has impacted her life so harshly that anything that even resembled the man she harboured a deep hatred for deserved to die?
This thought is what carried her piercing gaze over the foul smelling mangled bodies of everything she has killed in a single sweep of power. Were any of them so wrong they belonged rotting away in the dirt? Her own worth could be measured up and deemed it fitting for her to join their ranks in the land of the dead.

Countless battles have worn this once proud creature into nothing more than an embodiment of destruction, she remembered the first time she was accepted into the ranks of the Scions and how everyone referred to her as a being of purity and hope, now twisted into fear and distant trust whenever evil steps forth onto this land. This must be what it is like to be a beacon for salvation, something where dread and distaste can be battled against without any sympathy for the mind combating it.
This is what it must mean to truly be a warrior of light.

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Character name: Alice Madhatter
World: Zodiark
Prize : Chocobo Noble Barding

[NubSil]

There they were, Alexander almost dead, they could feel it, excitement showing in all their faces, 5% hp left, almost there....almost...there. Suddenly, red symbols appeared, all stuck still, panic starts to set in, they were so close, yet victory shall not be theirs this day. FF XIV SERVERS HAVE GONE DOWN



character: Nubsil
world: Zodiak
prize:Chocobo Noble Barding

[Noriko_Masuda]

Character name: Noriko Masuda
World: Jenova
Prize: Chocobo Noble Barding



A cold wind blew through the quiet streets of Aleport, a dense mist drenching the old stones in a pale moonlight. Popping her colar, Noriko moved quietly from alley to alley as she thanked the twelve for the waves' masking her footsteps. This job had given Noriko a run for her money already. It had begun when a merchant had approached her in Gridania; a middle-aged man who looked aged beyond his years. His hair was thin and nearly white from stress. His eyes sank into his face revealed many a sleepless night. The man had explained everything amidst nervous glances around him, as if something stalked him within his own shadow. He spoke of a woman in red who spread misery in her wake. For weeks she had trailed her, and here they were, the woman was an Au Ra, clad in a red dress. Her long, blonde hair falling down her shoulders and hiding her face. She had left the local tavern a few minutes ago and roamed the streets aimlessly.

With each step they took the wind bit harder into Noriko's face. An unnatural tension filled the air, making her look over her shoulder often as the scarce street-lamps caused her shadow to dance. A couple minutes later the woman found her way onto a ferry. Exchanging but a nod with the skipper she got on and they sailed quietly. Cursing her luck Noriko rushed to find a small, wooden boat and hoped she could row fast enough to keep up with.

The boat ride was rather short, soon Noriko reached a small island with the Isles of Umbra in the background. As Noriko stepped onto dry land, the hair on her tail stood up. The waves' murmur sounded like an unsettling lullaby. The air felt heavy and the land itself seemed to watch her every move. As she approached the ferry, she found no one inside, nor the Au Ra, nor the skipper.

Noriko's ears twitched as she felt a presence looming behind her. Turning around she found a derelict cottage close-by, she was just as alone as when she had arrived. The door opened with a loud creaking sound. Inside, a dusty and empty room awaited her, but Noriko felt her breath grow shorter, a sense of dread and fear washed over her. The presence from before was close, too close. She felt a faint breath on her neck and spun around, stumbling against the table. The Au Ra stood at the door, her golden hair covering her face. The Au Ra approached silently as Noriko tried to move, but her legs did not obey. The Au Ra stopped next to Noriko and time seemed to stop. The Au Ra grabbed Noriko's shoulders and lifted her head in a sudden movement.

A powerful wave crashed against the island's rocks, drowning a shriek of horror. A lone Miqo'te, clad in red made her way onto an old boat, as the fog began to lift.

[Kiruru]

1) Character Name: Kiruru Seles
2) World Name: Phoenix
3) Choice of Prize: Chocobo Noble Barding

Distant screams echoed throughout the darkness, getting louder and more intoxicatingly thick with each second that passed. My small, shaking body felt as if it was being dragged from my temporary sanctuary. The screams were slowly becoming looped whispers inside my head, my name arising from the countless voices overlapping each other. My head was pounding against my skull, I had to close my eyes. For what seemed like an eternity, for as long as I can remember, I have been held prisoner. My body forced itself to use my powers for naught, whilst my mind battled every second against it.

‘Embrace!’ The voices shrieked, demanding me to obey. For what seemed like an eternity, that same word has been hammered inside my head over and over and over again, without rest. My heart began to pound inside my chest, and my eyes became wide with terror and deranged with sights from my past, from before my soul was chained.

I see a flicker of light green light from the corner of my eye, as I always do before my body pulls against me such as this. I force my weight towards the light, reaching out to try and reach it, but the pull was too strong and I snapped back into place, causing me to cry with pain.

‘No, not this time,’ I mutter as my body disappeared from the isolated darkness.
I had a sister once, the voices roared; a reminder. A sister whom represented nothing but sunlight and warmth. I felt an agitated twitch inside my chest. My body cracked into the open of an on-going battlefield. I had been summoned.

My ‘owner’ yelled for me to embrace her allies, to heal their wounds, which I had been doing for what felt like an eternity. The blood-red moon hung low in the night’s sky. Tonight was different. My body felt free surrounded by all of the lush trees stained with metallic blood. I was no longer bound.

A ghastly grin spread across my face, and a sour chuckle emitted from my lips as my arm rose high above my head. I stared at my owner, and her eyes were wide with fright.

The battlefield burst with topaz and purple energy, and within seconds, the chaotic battle-cries were silenced. A lone, glowing faerie fluttered alone, surrounded by countless bodies.

Beware, for eerie phenomena occur on the 31st Sun of the Fifth Umbral Moon.

[OcelotTsuchino]

Fantasia - Hauntingly Beautiful

Name: Kaida Xiao'long
World: Lich
Prize: Ahriman Choker

_____



"Did you ever wonder what happens to your previous form? Your previous body when you use Fantasia? You go to sleep, and awaken anew. Don't believe anything that seems too good to be true."

Kaida had always had it. Since birth, her eyes had been mismatched. One was a deep red, and the other was a rather clashing cloudy white. It was believed that she was blind in that eye, a complication during the birth process, but Kaida had always known better. That eye of hers saw more than the normal naked eye could ever see. It saw people's Aether.

It didn't take long until she took after her parent's footsteps and became an adventurer, specifically, taking up the sword and shield. Even joining a Free Company, something that she never thought she'd end up doing. The gift that her eye granted upon her stayed throughout her adult life. She'd occasionally see the odd little glimpse of something out of the ordinary, but that wasn't much. When it really started, however, was when...

Fantasia! The miracle potion that took Eorzea by storm! People were going crazy at the markets, everyone wanted to be something they weren't. It was crazy, mothers turning into fathers, brothers turning into sisters, wives turning into husbands. It seemed perfect to the common gaze, but the effects were everlasting. Be it physically, mentally, or even towards the ones you love.

Though, not everything was perfect. Something as mystical as Fantasia had to have it's side effects... They wouldn't label the side effects on the bottle because they could get away with it. Who would use their product if they knew the hidden side effects? Well, no one would know, except a select few. Kaida was one of those few.

What do they see, you ask? It's simple, in the Aether that surrounds you, are the spirits that you forced out. The bodies that previously stood in your place, now follow you. Those spirits are you. Or rather, the previous versions of you, the people you left behind. The versions of you that are lost to time. The unfortunate ones can hear their cries for help, feel their pain, their sorrow.

Kaida simply sees them, their cries for help fall upon deaf ears.

"You listened to my ramblings. I assume it's because, somewhere deep down, you feel it. You've overindulged Fantasia too, haven't you? I can see them. The people that were before you, the people who's lives were lost. They are suffering. Though, I'm sure you'll be with them soon enough."

[KeiSilverwind]

Character Name: Kei Tsukimori
World: Cerberus
Prize: Scarf of Wondrous Wit

The Collective Unconscious

Fate

Glassy eyes downcast, azure hues reflecting in the shimmering surface of the waters.

A merciless thing

Something that he had realized very quickly within his trade, it would show no mercy as it ran its course through one’s life.

He heard footsteps coming up behind him, ears coloured like the darkest of nights twitched in response to the sound, he turned his face to the side, azure orbs lighting up as a soft smile settled on his features.

A female hyur lowered herself next to him.

She said nary a word other than a smile in response to his, they proceeded to sit in comfortable silence. She gazed towards the heavens, tracing the stars with her soft, beautiful brown orbs.

Moonlight lit up both of their features, enhancing their eyes, azure and brown, both stared heavensward.

He understood her clear interest for the stars, through them, he could see things that which others could not. Both of them sat like that for a while, admiring the skies, azure eyes growing ever so unfocused as time passed.

And then he could see.

Fate

A glimpse of scarlet.
Liquid flowing among the cracks of cold, hard, stone.

Fear

It echoed throughout his very being. There’s something behind him, why can’t he move. Why can he de naught but move forward with tiring steps.

Help

Salty liquid flowed from brown eyes filled with fear, he did not know what to do, where to go. What could he do.

I’m scared

Forlorn, that’s how he felt, pitiful, sad, abandoned. Nobody would be there to save him. They had abandoned him.

Make it stop

A hoarse scream echoed throughout, deep, dark tunnels as he felt a searing pain throughout the entirety of his back.

A glimpse of scarlet

He didn’t understand, couldn’t understand.
Why, why, why, why, why, why.
Why is this happening?
Why is this going to happen.
Why can’t he change anything?

Bones crashing asunder

Pain wracked throughout his body, everything burned, everything hurt, the screams had stopped as he just laid there, empty.

Souls writhing in agony

She couldn’t rest, why couldn’t she rest. Wasn’t everything supposed to end? A shambling husk deep within dark, cursed halls, lost to the ages. There was no reprieve, no safe-haven. Everlasting torment would be her calling.

Her fate

He let out a soft gasp as reality dawned on him once more.

He was still here, sitting, in silence, alone. He stood up and looked around him wildly. She was gone, bright, brown eyes, that adored the stars, just like he, filled with fear and agony.

It was cruel, so very cruel.

Yet, despite all his wishes, there would be naught he could do.

[Mjuffsan]

Character: L'oneya Mjuff
Server: Moogle
Prize: Bluebird Earrings
Note: Entry heavily inspired by 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe.
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Once upon a midnight dreary, after dungeon runs, tired and weary,
Drawn many a quaint and curious volume tomes of Lore-
Getting sleepy, tired of duty, questing hard for loot of beauty,
I intended to brew tea, brew tea which spilled on the mansion floor.
"'Tis some pity," I muttered, "brewed tea on my mansion floor -

"Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak November;
And light from each separate ember revealed dolls spread on the floor.
A fit I had earlier thrown;-across the mansion my plushes flown.
Now there suddenly was a groan-groan from other side the door
A voiceless sound spoken by someone on the other side the door

Nameless here for evermore.

And I gazed 'hind the curtain, albeit reasons remain uncertain
Thrill filled me, the voice was closer than before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"Let not be a marlboro entreating entrance at my mansion door-
'Tis just some lalafell entreating entrance at my mansion door;-

This is it and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Hydaelyn" said I, "your blessings I now implore;
protect your children whom are weak, let no monster havoc wreak.
Remove the voices I hear from beyond my mansion door,
That I scarce was sure I heard."-and here I slam open the door;-

Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered creaking floor,
The whispers of an ancient mansion, and its echoes of yore.

Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me churning,
Soon my ears picked up a cry somewhere other than before;
'Come day I would not give fright, but this was in the deepest night.
I steeled myself with might, with this I thereby swore;
"No mystery outside my window too eerie not to explore;-

'Tis the wind and nothing more!"

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately demon, purple wings he bore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
A wild mess made he; knocking down all I care for-
But, with some demeanour, flew up above my chamber door—

Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this white devil beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
With its fancy whiskers, and bright pom-poms it wore,
"Though thy have dismayed me in my haven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
I am no devil maven, but alas thine fluffy fur I do adore-
Pray tell me what thy lordly name is, oh creature I now adore!"

Quoth the Moogle "Kupopo!"

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[Maedyel]

(No prize preference because... let's face it :P)

Maedyel L’monn of Phoenix in…
The Chilling Tale of the Mysterious Linkpearl

It was the night before All Saint’s Wake and all was quiet in the Mist.
But in the basement of a particularly cosy cottage, a duskwight by the name of Maedyel was decorating.
She stood back and admired the room she’d been working on all day.
‘Something’s missing…’ she mused, tapping her chin.
After a few moments of consideration, Maedyel was struck by an idea.
‘I know,’ her eyes lit up, ‘if I can get a sofa from Haukke Manor, this whole room will come together!’
But it was late, and Maedyel didn’t want to venture out alone, especially not to Haukke Manor.
So she grabbed her free company linkpearl, hoping someone would still be awake.
‘Hello, is anyone there?’
There was a moment of silence before an unfamiliar voice slowly answered.
‘Greetings Maedyel.’
‘Oh, I didn’t think anyone would be awake.’ Maedyel laughed. ‘Would you like to help me get something from Haukke Manor?’
‘I would be delighted.’
‘Thanks! I’ll meet you there.’ Maedyel beamed.
‘I’m there already. Waiting for you.’ The voice replied.
‘Even better. I’ll be there are soon as I can.’
After a teleport and a quick ride, Maedyel left her chocobo at the Haukke Manor fence.
She walked through the garden and then past the inexplicably open and inviting doors.
‘Greetings again Maedyel,’ said a voice.
Maedyel looked around, only to see a terrifying ogre standing at the top of the stairs.
Her eyes widened as the ogre advanced down the stairs towards her.
‘Oh my… That is an impressive glamour!’ Maedyel looked him up and down.
‘Glamour? This is my true form, mortal; you have fallen for our trap.’ The ogre gave a toothy smile.
At this, an entire flock of voidsent materialized out of the air around them.
‘Wow, you guys have really put in an effort.’ Maedyel observed. ‘Your glamours are all flawless, and your acting is great too.’
‘Will you not run from us, puny mortal?’ the ogre said menacingly. ‘Or will you stand there and act coy in the face of your impending doom?’
‘Ohh, so I’m supposed to run?’ Maedyel realized. ‘I’m sorry, I’m terrible at this roleplaying stuff. Okay, I’ll run. Sorry!’
With a smile, Maedyel took off, running back past the manor doors and through the garden, the voidsent right behind her.
When she reached the fence, Maedyel mounted her chocobo and took off into the Shroud.
The chocobo leapt and bounded through the brush, and the rough movements soon dislodged the free company linkpearl from Maedyel’s pocket, making her curse.
‘I’ll have to get a new one tomorrow,’ she frowned.
The chase continued, but after toying with the voidsent for nearly an hour, Maedyel grew bored.
So she lost the voidsent and returned home, but when she did, she saw something that made her blood freeze.
Her free company linkpearl was sitting on the table.
Where it had been the entire night.

[Wyvrex]

A mysterious thief and saboteur had been terrorising the merchants of Ul’dah. For weeks now, I’d heard complaints of stolen items, of people being spooked by eerie shadow puppets and even of locals being poked and tickled by an unknown force. Understandably, these encounters had the local people upset, and it wasn’t long before wild rumours of ghosts began to fly around.


However, I speculated something less ethereal was to blame. Thus, I sought out the one and only detective extraordinaire to help me capture the culprit.


“Hildebrand, my good man, will you lend your keen eyes and sharp mind to my cause?” I asked him, careful to groom his ego just enough to persuade.
“Why, of course, Lady! Nashu and I would only be too glad to help solve these mysterious hauntings - in fact I already have the perfect plan to catch this phantom of the night!” He grinned excitedly.
“You do…? Already…?” While I was not one to question the inspector’s methods, I thought it best to at least impart some of my knowledge, “Mayhap I could tell you of what I’ve learned so far? I believe it may be a ninja -”,
“Shh! I hear something” he interrupted.
We went silent and heard a faint scratching. The three of us looked towards the sound, but it stopped. I felt something grab my ankle and spun round in alarm - there was no one there.
“You too?” said Nashu, looking terrified. I nodded.
“The phantom was here!” Hildebrand exclaimed.
“That’s odd. I’d heard it mostly came out at night...mostly” indeed, it was only the afternoon.
“We must be near to it’s lair and it overheard my cunning plan!” said Hildebrand.
“You haven’t even told ME your cunning plan,” I pointed out,
“How else could I make sure it wouldn’t be overheard by ghoulish ears!”
“Brilliant idea, inspector!” Nashu crooned. I rolled my eyes.
“Right, we’re going to need some paint...” Hildebrand explained his plan to lay a trap for the invisible culprit. We knew it enjoyed shadow puppets and stealing, so we laid a table of knick-knacks against a wall and set up a torch not too far away so good shadows could be cast. This, the inspector theorised, would tempt our prey. We ran trip wires around the area, with cans of red paint attached. Thus, the phantom would be covered in paint and we would discover their identity.


Night came and we waited. It wasn’t long before the plan actually worked.


The paint can rolled onto the floor and we peered over the wall to see a severed arm.
“Hey, I know that arm,” I whispered “it’s Raubahn’s!” I had heard tales of creatures and people becoming possessed, but never limbs.
“Caught you red handed!” Hildebrand cried. The arm, perched on its fingers froze and scuttled away.


We never did find it, but the reports stopped coming in. Yet, it irks me to know that somewhere in the lairs of Ul’Dah, Raubahn’s zombie arm lies waiting...

Character Name: Lady Deathstryke
Server: Lich
Prize: Chocobo Noble Barding

[addz3]

1. Character: Bauer Auditore
2. World: Excalibur
3. Prize: Chocobo Noble Barding

The Wondrous Scary Tale

"Khloe… I have another tale for you, it isn't so wondrous...Well you'll see"

Bauer widened her eyes, a rather gaunt and hazy look on her face.

"Bauer…. What's wrong with you. Why are you looking at me like that!? Could you please blink, you've making me feel weird…." said a perplexed Khloe.

The young Miqo'te's tail climbed up her back.

"Hahahaha" An eerie laughter burst from Bauer's lips. "Meet me at my place. I have a little cottage in the Lavender Beds".

"Okay.." replied the nervous Khloe.

Thinking to herself quietly, I'm going to need some Thanalan soil, a Garuda's feather, something resembling a Rolanberry and I might be able to make use of those masks….

"Umm… Bauer are you here?" A quiet voice spoke and a gentle knock on the door followed. Khloe's knock was enough to make the cottage door creak open. The only illuminance came from the Dravanian Down Tree outside.

She stepped inside and closed the door, as she turned back inwards she was met by the house steward who was close enough to Khloe's face they could feel the warm breathe of one another. Shivering with panic Khloe asked "Erm... Who are you?"

She was met by a vacant stare and a monotone voice that simple said "Miss Auditore said she was expecting company. Please head downstairs" Khloe turned back and locked the door, continuing to talk to help keep her emotions at bay "So are you a friend?"

"My my, aren't we inquisitive for such a young kitten" The steward spoke from the darkness.

With heavy feet and slow steps untrue to her age, she was almost at the bottom and with the last step to go, the light vanished.

Panic in her voice. "Bauer are you here!? Please if you are say something. This isn’t funny anymore!!" She ventured into the room.

Hiding behind the oriental partition, Bauer threw the Thanalan soil at Khloe, quickly met by screams "AAAAAAGGGGHHHH!! BAUER HELP!"

A squadron member had crept behind her wearing a Crag Mask and bellowed a mighty roar.

"ARRRRRGHHH TITAN!!!" The young kitten ran, unfortunately for her it was right where Bauer had wanted. She ran the Garuda's feather at the back of Khloe's neck, her ears and tail pricked up, paralyzed with fear. She reached round to where the feather had tickled to find a gooey substance, rich deep red in colour.

"IS THIS BLOOD!?!?!? I'M GOING TO DIE, IM GOING TO DIE" She repeated over and over again to herself.

"Hahahahah" laughter everywhere now as the cottage fireplace lit up revealing the mischief makers enjoying the victory of a plan well wrought.

Her eyes welled up with water, out of pure relief. "Bauer, how could you! I thought we were friends!" Khloe murmured. With a smile on her face "The greatest story I could ever give you would be the one you experience yourself" Bauer replied.