Chapter 16
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Live is hard. That's what I always thought, until one day I inherit an old family artifact. My name is Henry Peter Elcraft, H.P. for short. My family originally came from England, but quickly immigrated to Germany when my Scottish Grandmother married my German Grandfather in 1969, keeping the family name of Elcraft.
Family legend tells, that the American Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft famous writer of horror fiction, who I share initials with, is a far-off family member of mine.
Family and heritage aside, I, H.P. am a 25-year-old, single, Philosophy Mayor, who more or less depends on his mother's support and the money made by writing short stories.
Having my support cut in half, no inspiration in the side and my thesis incomplete, I am doomed to fail live. Having heard that I would inherit some kind of value from afar off uncle, I, at last, had my hopes up to get some money from selling it.
It is a depressing winter evening, when the package finally arrives, containing my relatives legacy. Sitting at my desk facing a window I eagerly open the box only to find to things, badly wrapped in some plastic material.
My only inheritance a red sapphire sigil ring, with the old family crest and an old slightly rusty single action Navy Revolver. Looking at the huge sapphire embedded in the ring, I ask myself: -Is this stone real?-
Caressing the stone for just a moment I make out kind of dark liquid flowing inside of it. Losing myself for a while by just looking at it, I am frightened when looking up.
In a reflection inside the window, I can see a shadowy figure rapidly coming closer. All of a sudden the lights begin to dim down before fully turning off. Despite the absence of light, the shadow becomes even more clear, finally forming a tall, lean man of universally dead black coloration but without the slightest sign of facial features. Wholly devoid of either hair or beard, and only wearing a garment best described as a shapeless robe of some heavy black fabric. His feet were indistinguishable because of the limited view the window gives me. Thinking about his appearance he must be short since there was a distinct clicking whenever he changed position.
-What a minute I am on the eleventh floor?!-
The man did not speak and bore no trace of expression on his small, regular features. He merely pointed to a book of a prodigious size which lay open the desk in front of me.
-Where did that come from?- I wordlessly ask myself, unable to speak to the shadowy presence. Paralyzed by fear, my eyes shift between the man and the leather-bound book.
From behind the window, the man more and more energetic gestures me to open the book, up to the point where is skinny finger reach through the glass separating us.
Feeling possessed, I unconsciously move my left hand, opening the book somewhere in the middle. There I can read, written in scarlet red, old English letters.
Just before I am able to read the first word the man in black reaches out to me, taking the sigil ring from my right hand and sticking it on its middle finger.
''Oh, yes... Blueblood... Well, I've come to the right place. By wearing the ring of the Elcraft, you are worthy to hear me. You need only to unravel its mystery... Hahahaha... But, where's a descent like yourself to begin? Easy, with a bit of blood of your own... But first, you'll need a contract...''
Still looking down onto the book's paper, I am able to read the letters as if they are written Times New Roman.
The contract between 'The Dark One' and 'H.P. Elcraft'
Mr. Elcraft is to enter the service of the 'Outer One', in times of sleep. Terms of service are the abandoned of dreams, the absolute loyalty to the 'Outer One' in times of sleep and participation of the hunt. Additional compensation is given in exchange of sufficient Soul Echos.
The 'Outer One' in turn guarantees the life of Mr. Elcraft, in times of service and outside of it, the means to succeed in life and the fulfillment of Mr. Elcrafts deep desire for -a harem with women of his desire- in exchange of service.
Signing Bonuses for Mr. Elcraft:
-Free Body-Customisation
-Free Summoning
-Free Inside into the true nature of the world
Feeling incensed to sign, despite seeing all this as a bad dream, I sing at the dotted line at the end of the page.
''... Good. All signed and sealed. Now let's begin the exchange of goods... Hahaha... Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens... You may think it all a mere bad dream...'' The Dark or Outer One tells me in a voice that makes my skin crawl.
The next thing I know, I feel disconnected from my body, like having my soul ripped out of my body. Searing pain invades me, breaking an unknown part of me away.
Feeling painfully incomplete, I see myself unmoving and eyes unfocused staring out of the window, nothing inside.
Facing myself, a yellow leather-bound journal appears floating right next to my head, flipping open, showing my Origine options.
-Is this an Rpg?- I ask myself not having played one in years.
[Milquetoast (available):
"Ordinary, happy upbringing. All attributes average."]
[Lone Survivor (available-->selected):
"Lone survivor of lost hamlet. High life essence and vigor."]
[Troubled Childhood (available):
"Suffered misfortune in youth. Highly resilient as a result."]
[Violent Past (available):
"Terribly violent past. Rash, but stronger for it."]
[Professional (available):
"Born specialist, fit for sleuthing or academia."]
[Military Veteran (available):
"Experienced in war. A soldier with strength and skill."]
[Noble Scion (selected-->available):
"Scion to a respectable line with faith in your pedigree."]
[Cruel Fate (available):
"Faced terrible hardships, but now confident in your purpose."]
[Waste of Skin (available):
"You are nothing. Talentless. You shouldn't have been born."]
Changing my Origines, I question myself: -Aren't these the player classes from bloodborne?-
Not getting an answer, my body's face and appearance turn blurry and except for my gender, nothing is clearly seen.
Not totally confused I think that this must be the same feeling Colter Stevens the Protagonist from the movie 'Source Code' must have been feeling when awakening.
Thinking that my appearance changes to that of Jake Gyllenhaal. -Ad a thick beard and a huge cock and we have a winner!- I think to myself, just before I am ripped back into my body...
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Live is hard. That's what I always thought, until one day I inherit an old family artifact. My name is Henry Peter Elcraft, H.P. for short. My family originally came from England, but quickly immigrated to Germany when my Scottish Grandmother married my German Grandfather in 1969, keeping the family name of Elcraft.
Family legend tells, that the American Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft famous writer of horror fiction, who I share initials with, is a far-off family member of mine.
Family and heritage aside, I, H.P. am a 25-year-old, single, Philosophy Mayor, who more or less depends on his mother's support and the money made by writing short stories.
Having my support cut in half, no inspiration in the side and my thesis incomplete, I am doomed to fail live. Having heard that I would inherit some kind of value from afar off uncle, I, at last, had my hopes up to get some money from selling it.
It is a depressing winter evening, when the package finally arrives, containing my relatives legacy. Sitting at my desk facing a window I eagerly open the box only to find to things, badly wrapped in some plastic material.
My only inheritance a red sapphire sigil ring, with the old family crest and an old slightly rusty single action Navy Revolver. Looking at the huge sapphire embedded in the ring, I ask myself: -Is this stone real?-
Caressing the stone for just a moment I make out kind of dark liquid flowing inside of it. Losing myself for a while by just looking at it, I am frightened when looking up.
In a reflection inside the window, I can see a shadowy figure rapidly coming closer. All of a sudden the lights begin to dim down before fully turning off. Despite the absence of light, the shadow becomes even more clear, finally forming a tall, lean man of universally dead black coloration but without the slightest sign of facial features. Wholly devoid of either hair or beard, and only wearing a garment best described as a shapeless robe of some heavy black fabric. His feet were indistinguishable because of the limited view the window gives me. Thinking about his appearance he must be short since there was a distinct clicking whenever he changed position.
-What a minute I am on the eleventh floor?!-
The man did not speak and bore no trace of expression on his small, regular features. He merely pointed to a book of a prodigious size which lay open the desk in front of me.
-Where did that come from?- I wordlessly ask myself, unable to speak to the shadowy presence. Paralyzed by fear, my eyes shift between the man and the leather-bound book.
From behind the window, the man more and more energetic gestures me to open the book, up to the point where is skinny finger reach through the glass separating us.
Feeling possessed, I unconsciously move my left hand, opening the book somewhere in the middle. There I can read, written in scarlet red, old English letters.
Just before I am able to read the first word the man in black reaches out to me, taking the sigil ring from my right hand and sticking it on its middle finger.
''Oh, yes... Blueblood... Well, I've come to the right place. By wearing the ring of the Elcraft, you are worthy to hear me. You need only to unravel its mystery... Hahahaha... But, where's a descent like yourself to begin? Easy, with a bit of blood of your own... But first, you'll need a contract...''
Still looking down onto the book's paper, I am able to read the letters as if they are written Times New Roman.
The contract between 'The Dark One' and 'H.P. Elcraft'
Mr. Elcraft is to enter the service of the 'Outer One', in times of sleep. Terms of service are the abandoned of dreams, the absolute loyalty to the 'Outer One' in times of sleep and participation of the hunt. Additional compensation is given in exchange of sufficient Soul Echos.
The 'Outer One' in turn guarantees the life of Mr. Elcraft, in times of service and outside of it, the means to succeed in life and the fulfillment of Mr. Elcrafts deep desire for -a harem with women of his desire- in exchange of service.
Signing Bonuses for Mr. Elcraft:
-Free Body-Customisation
-Free Summoning
-Free Inside into the true nature of the world
Feeling incensed to sign, despite seeing all this as a bad dream, I sing at the dotted line at the end of the page.
''... Good. All signed and sealed. Now let's begin the exchange of goods... Hahaha... Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens... You may think it all a mere bad dream...'' The Dark or Outer One tells me in a voice that makes my skin crawl.
The next thing I know, I feel disconnected from my body, like having my soul ripped out of my body. Searing pain invades me, breaking an unknown part of me away.
Feeling painfully incomplete, I see myself unmoving and eyes unfocused staring out of the window, nothing inside.
Facing myself, a yellow leather-bound journal appears floating right next to my head, flipping open, showing my Origine options.
-Is this an Rpg?- I ask myself not having played one in years.
[Milquetoast (available):
"Ordinary, happy upbringing. All attributes average."]
[Lone Survivor (available-->selected):
"Lone survivor of lost hamlet. High life essence and vigor."]
[Troubled Childhood (available):
"Suffered misfortune in youth. Highly resilient as a result."]
[Violent Past (available):
"Terribly violent past. Rash, but stronger for it."]
[Professional (available):
"Born specialist, fit for sleuthing or academia."]
[Military Veteran (available):
"Experienced in war. A soldier with strength and skill."]
[Noble Scion (selected-->available):
"Scion to a respectable line with faith in your pedigree."]
[Cruel Fate (available):
"Faced terrible hardships, but now confident in your purpose."]
[Waste of Skin (available):
"You are nothing. Talentless. You shouldn't have been born."]
Changing my Origines, I question myself: -Aren't these the player classes from bloodborne?-
Not getting an answer, my body's face and appearance turn blurry and except for my gender, nothing is clearly seen.
Not totally confused I think that this must be the same feeling Colter Stevens the Protagonist from the movie 'Source Code' must have been feeling when awakening.
Thinking that my appearance changes to that of Jake Gyllenhaal. -Ad a thick beard and a huge cock and we have a winner!- I think to myself, just before I am ripped back into my body...
Live is hard. That's what I always thought, until one day I inherit an old family artifact. My name is Henry Peter Elcraft, H.P. for short. My family originally came from England, but quickly immigrated to Germany when my Scottish Grandmother married my German Grandfather in 1969, keeping the family name of Elcraft. Family legend tells, that the American Howard Phillips H.P. Lovecraft famous writer of horror fiction, who I share initials with, is a far-off family member of mine. Family and heritage aside, I, H.P. am a 25-year-old, single, Philosophy Mayor, who more or less depends on his mother's support and the money made by writing short stories. Having my support cut in half, no inspiration in the side and my thesis incomplete, I am doomed to fail live. Having heard that I would inherit some kind of value from afar off uncle, I, at last, had my hopes up to get some money from selling it. It is a depressing winter evening, when the package finally arrives, containing my relatives legacy. Sitting at my desk facing a window I eagerly open the box only to find to things, badly wrapped in some plastic material. My only inheritance a red sapphire sigil ring, with the old family crest and an old slightly rusty single action Navy Revolver. Looking at the huge sapphire embedded in the ring, I ask myself: -Is this stone real?- Caressing the stone for just a moment I make out kind of dark liquid flowing inside of it. Losing myself for a while by just looking at it, I am frightened when looking up. In a reflection inside the window, I can see a shadowy figure rapidly coming closer. All of a sudden the lights begin to dim down before fully turning off. Despite the absence of light, the shadow becomes even more clear, finally forming a tall, lean man of universally dead black coloration but without the slightest sign of facial features. Wholly devoid of either hair or beard, and only wearing a garment best described as a shapeless robe of some heavy black fabric. His feet were indistinguishable because of the limited view the window gives me. Thinking about his appearance he must be short since there was a distinct clicking whenever he changed position. -What a minute I am on the eleventh floor?!- The man did not speak and bore no trace of expression on his small, regular features. He merely pointed to a book of a prodigious size which lay open the desk in front of me. -Where did that come from?- I wordlessly ask myself, unable to speak to the shadowy presence. Paralyzed by fear, my eyes shift between the man and the leather-bound book. From behind the window, the man more and more energetic gestures me to open the book, up to the point where is skinny finger reach through the glass separating us. Feeling possessed, I unconsciously move my left hand, opening the book somewhere in the middle. There I can read, written in scarlet red, old English letters. Just before I am able to read the first word the man in black reaches out to me, taking the sigil ring from my right hand and sticking it on its middle finger. ''Oh, yes... Blueblood... Well, I've come to the right place. By wearing the ring of the Elcraft, you are worthy to hear me. You need only to unravel its mystery... Hahahaha... But, where's a descent like yourself to begin? Easy, with a bit of blood of your own... But first, you'll need a contract...'' Still looking down onto the book's paper, I am able to read the letters as if they are written Times New Roman. The contract between 'The Dark One' and 'H.P. Elcraft' Mr. Elcraft is to enter the service of the 'Outer One', in times of sleep. Terms of service are the abandoned of dreams, the absolute loyalty to the 'Outer One' in times of sleep and participation of the hunt. Additional compensation is given in exchange of sufficient Soul Echos. The 'Outer One' in turn guarantees the life of Mr. Elcraft, in times of service and outside of it, the means to succeed in life and the fulfillment of Mr. Elcrafts deep desire for -a harem with women of his desire- in exchange of service. Signing Bonuses for Mr. Elcraft: -Free Body-Customisation -Free Summoning -Free Inside into the true nature of the world Feeling incensed to sign, despite seeing all this as a bad dream, I sing at the dotted line at the end of the page. ''... Good. All signed and sealed. Now let's begin the exchange of goods... Hahaha... Oh, don't you worry. Whatever happens... You may think it all a mere bad dream...'' The Dark or Outer One tells me in a voice that makes my skin crawl. The next thing I know, I feel disconnected from my body, like having my soul ripped out of my body. Searing pain invades me, breaking an unknown part of me away. Feeling painfully incomplete, I see myself unmoving and eyes unfocused staring out of the window, nothing inside. Facing myself, a yellow leather-bound journal appears floating right next to my head, flipping open, showing my Origine options. -Is this an Rpg?- I ask myself not having played one in years. Milquetoast available: "Ordinary, happy upbringing. All attributes average." Lone Survivor available--selected: "Lone survivor of lost hamlet. High life essence and vigor." Troubled Childhood available: "Suffered misfortune in youth. Highly resilient as a result." Violent Past available: "Terribly violent past. Rash, but stronger for it." Professional available: "Born specialist, fit for sleuthing or academia." Military Veteran available: "Experienced in war. A soldier with strength and skill." Noble Scion selected--available: "Scion to a respectable line with faith in your pedigree." Cruel Fate available: "Faced terrible hardships, but now confident in your purpose." Waste of Skin available: "You are nothing. Talentless. You shouldn't have been born." Changing my Origines, I question myself: -Aren't these the player classes from bloodborne?- Not getting an answer, my body's face and appearance turn blurry and except for my gender, nothing is clearly seen. Not totally confused I think that this must be the same feeling Colter Stevens the Protagonist from the movie 'Source Code' must have been feeling when awakening. Thinking that my appearance changes to that of Jake Gyllenhaal. -Ad a thick beard and a huge cock and we have a winner!- I think to myself, just before I am ripped back into my body...
