a Demonathon Adventure
Ghosts of the Past
The last cabinet is unnaturally chilly and there is not a breeze in the room. It feels stale, like no one has opened these doors in hundreds of years. Yet, you are among many others in the exhibition, wondering what exactly is here. It says the "Ghost Room", but there's not much to be seen. At least, nothing that immediately pops out at you.
The room is a graveyard, a mix of all kinds of headstones and markers from every culture throughout history. Some of the graves are so old that they no longer can be read, and some are so fresh that they have laser-etched, color photos on the markers. It's peaceful, and everyone is quiet out of respect, but no one seems to understand what the exhibition is about.
Then, you notice a grave that catches your eye. You can't read the name, but the writing is one you've come across in your research. This is a demon language. You point and ask your demon if they can read it.
They nod and say something that makes your ears hurt a little. "Sorry," they say, "I forget this language doesn't like to be heard by mortals."
You just nod and ask if it's marking a demon's grave.
"No," they say. "It's a human grave made by a demon. I think the demon really loved their human friend, so they marked the grave. It keeps the unethical away from the remains if they seem to be claimed."
You don't know what they mean by "the unethical", but you don't ask about it. Sounds like more than you want to know at this point.
A tall man looms over the grave, a hand on the headstone. You look up and immediately look away. It's hard to stare at him, but he wears a white suit and his eyes are piercing. You feel the ground shake beneath you, like an earthquake just beneath your feet. As you stare down at the dirt, you see a ghostly head pop out of the ground.
You jump back, landing on your butt, and stare at the woman who climbs out of the ground. She smiles at you and waves. She says something, but you can't hear any of it. You're a bit sad because she seems very friendly. After she realizes that you can't hear her, she huffs and crosses her arm. You give her a sorry smile. It must be frustrating not to be able to communicate after so many years.
Suddenly, she waves to get your attention and energetically points at a demon in the far corner of the room. The demon is with another human, similarly looking at the graves with confusion. You look between your demon and the girl, and you wonder if perhaps she knows that demon in the corner.
You beckon the ghost and your demon to follow you and you make your way over. The ghost looks excited, bouncing at your side even as she glides a few inches off the ground. With a polite "excuse me", you get the attention of the human and demon pair.
The demon immediately recognizes the ghost and smiles brightly. "Meli!" they say and immediately try to hug the ghost. Sadly, it doesn't work, but the girl and demon have a good laugh about it.
You feel good that you were able to reunite them, though you're not sure who the man was, nor where he went. You look around, trying to find anyone who makes it hard to stare, but you don't see anyone. Maybe he was a ghost? Or perhaps he was something else....
Prompt for Iku of Yoruba:
As you and your demon walk around the graveyard, more and more ghosts rise up and walk around. Some find demons they are familiar with, and others tag along like lost friends at a party. The graveyard is now alive with stories: demons telling their new contracts about the old adventures they used to have with the ghosts, and the ghosts signaling their delight through body language and facial expressions. Your demon hasn't found anyone they know, but that's okay. You're very much enjoying listening to other demons recount their old contracts and share some of the best memories they have.
You and your demon sit on a bench under a tree for a little rest. There's been so much today, and you just need a moment to take it all in. This cabinet is bittersweet, but you like it. It's a strange thing having ghosts on display, but you suppose it's not so much the ghosts as the stories left behind. That's a kind of collection you can understand and support.
However, there's a slurping sound coming from above you, and it is freaking you out a little.
You look up, finding a little, hairless goblin-like man with bright red skin staring down at you with dead eyes. He's completely naked except for a few leaves that he is dressed in, and his fingers are flat with suckers on the end like a frog.
"Hungry," it says, staring at you. "HUNGRY."
"No eating the summoners," a voice says on the wind, and it gives you the coldest chill you've ever heard.
"But HUNGRY!" it whines.
You wonder if you could give it something to satiate it's hunger, and maybe prevent any, uh, "accidents" from happening...
Helper Demon:
Feed the Yara-Mah-Yah-Who
your ENTIRE TBR
Retain all projected points.
If you are doing hard mode, you forfeit your chance at the giveaway
