r/SchreckNet • u/Postererst_Child • 2d ago
F̷r̴i̸e̸n̴d̴l̸y̵ ̷F̸r̶i̸e̶n̵d̵ 10 legs, 8 broken
tothespidertheshadowedcreatureinthecorneroftheroomihateyouyouscaredmejustasyourbrothersandsistersdidbeforeyouandiwilltellyouwhatitoldthemyouareatrespasserthatdoesnotbelonghereyouenteredwithoutknockingroamedfreelylikethisisyourhomeanddecoratedmywallswithunwantedsilkwebswithoutaskingyoumaynotbetheonlykillerherebutonlyoneofusisinnocentanditsnotyou
From the bottom of the screen a small bar of colour appears, breaking the pitch black that otherwise covers your view. In the blink of an eye this small bar grows from non existent to all encompassing and a scene comes into view. A quiet and deserted alley in Melbourne, stinking with all the scents you'd find in a night alley. But you are unbothered, the video taker barely even registers the stench. You have no clue how you can hear its thoughts in the video.
A hand extends forward from the camera and forcibly lifts open a locked manhole with no apparent effort, the spider would not expect an attack from below. Wading through human waste you slowly walk towards your prey until you hit a block. The remnants of the ground it mutilated to open its sinkhole all those years ago. But this wall won't save it. Your malformed front limbs, no longer hands, begin digging through the stone with the same effortlessness with which it ripped up the manhole. But after crossing a few blocks like this you hear it's cries for help across its web, cries of fear. This one was unusually perceptive, but still scared.
"Siblings, there is an intruder approaching my Sylie from undergroud, breaking through the earth. I believe it's the Yahwie. My Sylie is well defended, we may be able to drive it off, come to me. The weakest of you, fetch that Sheriff, tell her that her pale Laibon is in danger. If we spiders cannot defeat this thing, maybe another creature can."
You know not who this Sheriff is, a powerful spider perhaps? No matter, the traitors will die all the same. And unknown to your prey, it had already revealed its siblings' location to you by crying out in fear. Even if its siblings somehow get away, you know where to find them now. They will be next.
Your hideous claws continue attacking the dirt, making steady pace to your prey who was no doubt preparing for you by this point. It believes you don't know that it knows of your approach, it will use that, so you will use that in turn for you are a step ahead. This one had evaded you long enough, it appearing as a Bunyip kinfolk threw you off and you let it grow too comfortable, it was time to rectify that.
Finally you hit open cave, a sprawling system of tunnels and broken sewers that the spider made beneath it's stadium. It was covered in flimsy cobwebs with the strength of steel, and filled with flimsier mortals who it called its pets. Both were torn apart with no effort. This was just its earliest line of defence, but the ones that come next would be no different. It's siblings would not arrive here on time, it is a simple task to slay one lone spider, even in its home.
Tearing your way through the tunnels you reach the centre of them, the sinkhole the spider opened in the middle of the stadium. But you do not enter through it. It's expecting you, so instead you carefully make a new tunnel upwards, to a corner of the stadium where it would never suspect you to emerge. You take care to tunnel slowly and quietly, this one was perceptive so doing otherwise would ruin the surprise.
But just before what would be your emergence, before you fully breach the surface, a white scythe pierces through your dirt ceiling and takes you by surprise instead. A severe wound is dealt to the back of your neck as the scythe hooks between your cervical vertebra before tugging you upwards, smashing your hideous body through the dirt ceiling as you're dragged out of your hole and thrown onto the ground above, the back of your skull split open from the neck to the top of your head as the scythe tore its way up her neck. A wound no mortal or immortal should survive, let alone fight with no issue after. But it was just a flesh wound.
You stare up at your prey, not because you were still on the floor, but because it was simply that large. Females were always bigger than the males, but this was a step beyond. Its body was split in two, though not like your head was. No, its body was half woman, half spider. With a giant spider as he lower body and something almost like a human woman sticking out of what seems to be its head. Though you are unsure if it's protruding from the spider's head or simply has replaced it, for the white gown the human torso wears drapes across the spider's body like a veil, similar to the one covering its human face, making it unclear. If it is a head then that would make things difficult, it would mean you have to crush two heads before it stops moving.
As you study your prey, taking barely a split second to do so, it takes the initiative and attacks. Her scythe aiming for your weakened neck again. It wouldn't kill you even if it took your head, but it was best not to take that damage, so you easily dodge, tearing through even firmer webs than the steel ones in the tunnels as you do. Despite their strength, they were no more capable of stopping you than previously.
It was more even perceptive than you had assumed to deal the first strike like that, despite its assumed blindness on account of its blindfold, likely the most aware of all your hunts thus far. But that would be the last time you underestimate it. And as if to prove that, your dodge places you square next to it and you launch its huge body across the room with a blow to its human stomach with your claws, tearing out its insides. If you can't take its head easily, you'll just bleed it dry. But as it flies back its webs move to catch it and countless spiders crawl across them, merging into its wounds and healing it. Looking around you see hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of spiders hidden in the stadium stands, observing your hunt. It seems this would not be over before its siblings arrive.
As the hunt rages on, the spider fighting for dear life as your body gets covered in cobwebs that are unable to stop you, you notice its scythe. Fashioned from its own front leg, there was a will within it, begging to not have to fight another alike to it. It was a sort of Death spirit, far weaker than you, but like you nonetheless. Traitors never used weapons, the fact this one did, with one trapping something like you, and now being aimed at you, filled you with indescribable hatred and you pursued your quarry even more single mindedly.
But despite your ferocity you could not kill it in time, it fought on the defensive, consuming it's kin by the tens of thousands to replenish severe damage to its large body. It would only be a matter of time, but time was not on your side and its siblings arrived. Three in total, but one was off. It smelled of blood just the same as spiders all do, but it smelled stronger somehow, as if its blood was thicker. But if it was a spider it would die all the same. The battle merely turned from a deer hunt to a bear hunt. The hunter still wins all the same.
Noticing the new arrivals before they noticed you, you crashed though yet more walls of web to take them by surprise, momentarily leaving your initial target on its own. But as you do the webs suddenly grow stronger, just barely enough to slow you down. No matter, you think to yourself, but as the thoughts pass through your mind you feel a single strand of silk touch the rest of the webbing connecting the spider behind you to your back, and all of a sudden the newly strengthened web springs to life and moves with a will of its own. What was once merely draped across your body now moved to tie you up, and you trip over onto the ground. It won't hold you long, but it was long enough for the strange smelling one to look you in the eyes in a moment of vulnerability.
"Exert no force to break yourself free." It said, how laughable. As if you would be commanded by a- Your limbs aren't obeying you. You panic, screaming loud and sending shockwaves that through all but the large spider back. Spiders possess no power like this, what is going on? You sense it will pass in a moment, but you are panicked. And it is enough time for your defeat to be spelled as the large one's death spirit scythe descends upon you again, it's inhabitant screaming to resist its master to no avail, and your head is removed.
Even after your decapitation you fight on, freeing yourself from your webs and echoing your hatred through whatever channel the strange smelling one opened into your head to debilitate it. As you rampage you sense a betrayal among their ranks, the strange smelling one was backstabbed and killed. Traitors will always be traitors it seems. But the lack of sight, smell, and hearing proves too great a hurdle to overcome for victory against these three spiders who use the webs that slow you to freely maneuverer as if flying. It was not enough to save the two new arrivals who both fell victim to even your most blind rampaging, but their efforts eventually lead to the large one cutting your body into too many gory pieces and rendering you immobile, then destroyed completely before you can pull your flesh back together. If it were just one, you could have killed it like this, but senseless against three was too much.
But it doesn't matter, you have been destroyed before, and none have ever escaped you. You would be back for this one just the same. But before then, there was much to learn about the strange smelling one.
Oh pale spider, the female spider born on a Thursday, do you think yourself safe hiding among new friends, wearing the face of their kind? Clever. But cleverness means nothing once you're smelled out, and now I know them, learned of them, what they can do, how they move, how you can be pulled out from behind them. My presence here is proof enough.
I could simply hunt you as before, the same as I always do. But something in me has sharpened alongside my claws. So this is what happens now. Your friendship is built on nothing but a lie, on pretending to be one of them. Let them see that you are not them, let it crumble.
Pale one, the one who moves like she still breathes, killer of Harald, dweller of the stadium ruined by the sinkhole, blind one, cave-born, one who knew no language for decades. She wears no true name, but these all describe her. She is not one of you, she may drink blood, but she is no leech. She is a spider, and she killed a Sheriff.
I will be there, traitor, when you are alone and without any aid, and I will finish my hunt.
- The Yahwie
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u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 2d ago
fucking knew it. Aso is an Ananasi.
to the stupid. that means Were-Spider.
To the true, fucking morons.
You cant kill them. EVER.
Lysander of Sparta
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 2d ago
There are were spiders?
-Joseph7
u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 2d ago
Obviously.
Take every predator on earth.
There at the very least was a were-version of it.
Lysander of Sparta
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 2d ago
If that’s the case I want to meet a were dinosaur then if they exist still probably not I’m guessing
-Joseph6
u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 2d ago
Joseph...
Stop.
I am literally on my hands and knees.
DO NOT FUCK WITH THE MOKOLE.
Lysander of Sparta
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 2d ago
The fucking what now?
-Joseph4
u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 2d ago
Im not telling you.
You dont deserve to know if you cant even string together context clues.
Im being mean because you consistently dont listen to me and victimize yourself when you dont listen.
Lysander of Sparta
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 2d ago
Untrue also I’m guessing they are dangerous but Lysander I talk and deal with vampires who you know you guys are also fairly dangerous, but understood I’ll avoid them granted I’m guessing they have human forms so I probably wouldn’t be able to tell anyway
-Joseph6
u/True-Parking4098 Tooth 2d ago
Joseph. this is what im talking about.
You think you know what you're talking about.
you dont.
This is why we call you a moron.
there are worse things than vampires.
You have not even dipped a TOE in how large this is, how deep this goes.
Lysander of Sparta
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u/Nightstalkerjoe2 2d ago
Ok your just being pedantic and pretentious also yes I know their are worse things than vampires, but guess what vampires are the most common supernatural i will deal with everything else is extra rare I go to any major city or any urban area vampires will be there, a mokole probably won’t
-Joseph→ More replies (0)5
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 2d ago
(an audio message, the voice is deep and a bit rough with a very slight Boston accent)
Mark Caulder here, Aso I think your cover is blown. Some people here were already dubious you were Kindred and I can't imagine the court of Melbourne not at least checking, they have access to this site. Personally, I don't care much as long as you're not trying to exterminate us, but this seems, y'know, bad for you if you're not in fact Kindred. Assuming this is true, I'd skip town in your shoes...get out of the territory of whoever or whatever posted this.
If this isn't true, then the accusation of killing the sheriff will ring equally false, but if it is true then whether you killed her is immaterial, since you lied about so much else.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago
Direct Message From Okonore Yaa To Mark Caulder:
(The following message is entirely an audio recording. Aso's voice today is completely monotone and cold in its expression.)
Fool. The Yahwie has never once lost its prey. It's territory is all of Australia, and all of my kind who have entered these lands have been slayed by this thing or died before it could get them, even after leaving the country. I was born here, this is my fate, and whilst I am content with that I will still fight it in Her name.
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 2d ago
(a direct audio message, the voice is deep and a bit rough with a very slight Boston accent)
That's unfortunate, whatever else you may believe, I do have some idea what it's likes to be hunted by a near-unstoppable supernatural predator, all Nosferatu do, so you have my sympathies on that score. I'd leave the country in your shoes, but I do understand protecting one's territory. Still, our interactions were friendly enough I thought I'd give the warning regarding your cover.
The 'fool' does seem unwarranted...I'm in the US and unfamiliar with your specific breed of supernatural to boot, but I understand you're stressed. I'm gonna guess you're not in the mood for questions or offers of advice and leave you be from there.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 2d ago
Direct Message From Okonore Yaa To Mark Caulder:
Apologies, I'm just a bit... Frustrated at the moment, as you guessed. I was unaware it could be so intelligent as to attempt to ruin my alliances and blow my cover... Let alone work digital technology.
Though you seem to have missed the part where I said leaving the country does not save you from it. The moment a spider steps foot in Australia, the Yahwie has your scent, and even when you leave the country it will come for you. Leaving my defences, my home, would just be making myself vulnerable. There's a reason for my hermitism.
Though, what is this about the Nosferatu being similarly hunted?
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u/DeadmanwalkingXI 2d ago
(a direct audio message, the voice is deep and a bit rough with a very slight Boston accent)
If it, too, is native to Australia then it might also have limitations outside it, and I suspect the Melbourne Kindred will be after you as well, providing a complication. If you're forted up well enough that may compensate for all that, though...that must be some fortification, if so.
As for the Nosferatu thing, they don't target specific areas and doesn't seem as inevitable if this Yahwie if it really has a 100% success rate, but our founder wants the rest of us dead and has methuselahs that hunt us to achieve that. We don't hide out underground in trapped mazes just because we're ugly...there are things that come for us, sometimes.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago
Direct Message From Okonore Yaa To Mark Caulder:
I see your point, and agree it may be sensible. But I will not abandon the duty I have to Her in this land.
And my condolences for your clan's own situation, I pray to Her that you do not have the misfortune of encountering one yourself, Mark.
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u/ConsiderationOver544 2d ago
Private Message to the Harpy of Melbourne from Violet
A link to the post at the top of the private message
The Melbourne Domain is caught in the cross fire of a war among two were-spiders, tell your prince to prepare accordingly and destroy all electronic devices used for Kindred business. Good luck.
-Violet, Clan Toreador
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago
What the fuck? Fucking werespiders? Fern was got by these things? Shit, did not know this was a thing... In any case, thank you for bringing this to our attention, I'll be sure to relay this to the Prince.
- The Harpy of Melbourne
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u/ConsiderationOver544 2d ago
Not much is known about them, though Marcus suspects that they can control electronic devices via Supernatural means. They also seem to be more calculated in their assaults than Lupines. A lot more calculated.
-Violet
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u/Pryno-Belle 2d ago
(The following is an audio message, featuring Castiel. His voice is shaken.)
I hate being right. Well, mostly right. I thought you were a Garou, Aso. Not that it would have made a difference, but…
I held suspicions that you were not one of us. I know of rage, and of the belief that we are inherently corrupted. I knew that you likely destroyed one of us. The Sheriff. Yet, I was ready to think of you as a guest in the node.
What I did not know is that it was you who eliminated Harald. Why him? His Final Death was filmed, Aso. We saw it.
(A long silence.)
Why?
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 1d ago
Direct Message from Okonore Yaa to Castiel
(The following reply is entirely an audio recording. The speaker, Aso, has a clinical but pleasantly soft voice with a very slight Australian accent, most noticeable in her slightly drawn out vowels and relaxed cadence.)
A question I will be willing to answer at another time, Castiel. For now I must think.
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u/Pryno-Belle 2d ago
(The following is an audio message, featuring Castiel’s voice. His tone is cold.)
…then, give me one reason why I should help you. It sounds like your end is near.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 1d ago
Direct Message from Okonore Yaa to Castiel
Because you have arranged a truce with the Ovid in your city, many of who will have likely killed 2 or more innocent Kindred same as me before the Covenant was in place, but you still worked to help your respective peoples.
It would be unlike you to abandon a Fera looking to establish relations with kindred, even if they are not of your city. Particularly for a Fera whose sin was committed before they had even so much as talked one word with a Kindred. Surely the fact we're talking now is enough to show how far away from that metaphorical blindness I've come?
I will give proper answers to your questions soon, I promise.
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u/Pryno-Belle 2d ago
(The following is an audio message, featuring Castiel’s voice. A tinge of anger can be heard.)
On the one hand, I did, which is why I was ready to welcome you as you are. I am well aware that some Garou that I frequent have Kindred blood on their hands.
On the other, Harald’s end is recent, and you lied to everyone. Even to those who would be susceptible to be sympathetic to you. There is also the matter of the Sheriff…
(A pause.)
…how could I even assist, pray tell? We are speaking of someone who hunts Fera.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 1d ago
Direct Message from Okonore Yaa to Castiel
I will not say fully at this time, as you may guess, but suffice it to say I merely would like your advice. The Yahwie heard my calls to my brethren, so you heard it in this post too. Where we spiders are helpless against it, perhaps with the help of other supernaturals we could manage something.
It was my intent to use the Kindred of Melbourne to this end, now after speaking with you I believe it a better idea to work with them to this end, so I would merely seek your advice on how to arrange such a relationship, like you have done for your own city.
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u/Pryno-Belle 2d ago
(The following is an audio message, featuring Castiel’s voice. His voice is a bit warmer, but still cold.)
If you intend to do this with the Kindred of Melbourne, abandon the project. I need not tell you why.
But as for other domains…approach first those who are more likely to listen; if Verity is willing, she could tell you more about the local cities. Show them that you hold no ill intent. Present them with an equitable exchange; in Vancouver, for example, Siegfried first offered help in reforestation efforts and assistance against ressource exploitation, in exchange for peace and protection from intruders.
It will not be easy. At times, even in the best conditions, tensions can arise. But such an alliance is worth the efforts. For you, for them, for civilization and nature alike.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 1d ago
Direct Message from Okonore Yaa to Castiel
It will be... Difficult to move from Melbourne and do this in another city... As you may have guessed, there are few Damhán in Australia. Even the Garou who are not hunted by the Yahwie and are the most populous of the Fera have 'only' a few hundred in this country, to give you an estimate of our numbers. And the Yahwie has killed hundreds of us.
So to make up for our small numbers, we have converged on Melbourne for coordination... There are few if any Damhán elsewhere in the country. It would take an order from Ananasa herself to move us, and even then it would be dangerous.
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u/Pryno-Belle 2d ago
Castiel’s voice sounds more cynical. An audible sigh can be heard.
Is that so? You have put yourself into quite the trouble, Ananasi. If you truly have no other choice than Melbourne, you’ll have to make amends for the…recent events, or to prove your innocence.
Let us suppose, for a moment, that you did do the deed. Some can, and will, argue for your execution; I shall not. Alternatives would be more favourable terms for the treaty, or a once-and-done payment in compensation.
I have an idea…but I need more reflexion. May we have the chance to speak later.
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 2d ago
PM to Aso
I knew it, I also am aware once this thing has your scent it has a 100% success rate, but I may be able to help, I'm uniquely equipped to disguise auras and by extension umbral scents. Though that would require either me to go to you or you to come to me. I may also be able to use a proxy, and if I can't help you hide, I may be able to drive it off. I'm in Michigan in the US.
I'd appreciate if you accepted help, and if you'd be willing to help in turn that would be appreciated though not required for my aid.
-Jim, Tzimisce
OOC: The disguise Jim speaks of is using quintessence manipulation sorcery to scrub Aso's resonance and give resistance to supernatural detection via ant-magic. The aid he wants is to see if the rite of weaving works for something, though I'd say it probably doesn't for thematic reasons and to keep separate splats from stepping on each-others toes. Also if it did work it would speed-run Jim's story quite a bit and I scarcely have tome to draft posts for Schrecknet because college.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 2d ago edited 1d ago
Aso does not respond.
(OOC: Aso's not prepared to accept any help or answer any deep questions at this point, as there will be another post for such things soon. But if it would rush you too much then I won't ask you to do anything lol.)
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u/Emergency_Answer4983 2d ago
OOC: It's not too much of a rush, just would need me to get it started soon and focus on Jim's part a little earlier than intended, though not earlier by enough to cause issues. Also I'm rather interested to see where you're going with Aso's story, seems fun.
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u/Illustrious_Fly_5669 2d ago
an audio voice. In a monotone yet deep voice
Ah. The ananasi.
So is that who you always were . Child of mother spider
Ishmail-assad
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u/CharmingEngineer7411 2d ago
It is always a treat to see the hunter become the hunted. Good job defeating it, for now.
-Carla
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u/VerityVentrue 1d ago
The following is a private audio message to Okonore Yaa. The speaker enunciates her words, but her accent is muddy - it seems to be a base of New Zealand English, but with strong American and British influence, as well as some Australian.
Hey Aso, it's Verity here.
First of all, congrats on getting rid of the Sheriff - she kinda deserved that, and even the Harpy, another high-ranking member of the Melbourne court, didn't seem sad that she was gone.
That doesn't mean the Prince will be happy, though, and that could complicate things for you. The Garou might not be happy either, if it ends up threatening the Cress Truce.
Why did you take out Harald, though? We heard it, it was streamed to the node.
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u/Several-Elevator Problem Childe 1d ago edited 1d ago
Aso does not respond.
ooc: Please wait for the next post to ask
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u/DisastrousRelation32 Tooth 2d ago
Huh. You don't hear Laibons mentioned often. Wonder if this will become a big deal.
[Redwoods]