Dog Tier

[14:48] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> As Lyra wakes up Derse she immediately notices that a dark shelled carapacian stands in the corner, holding what looks like a leather collar in one hand and a spear in the other
[14:49] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Aw crumbs.  Knew I shoulda killed ya."
[14:50] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra dreams a switchblade into her good hand
[14:50] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Queen demands you wear this, cur"
[14:50] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Try anything and you'll have a spear in you before you can blink"
[14:51] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "No second chances"
[14:51] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra doesn't respond.
[14:52] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard moves closer
[14:52] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "On. Now."
[14:52] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Fine, whatever.  Toss it here, wouldja?"
[14:53] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard tosses the thick leather collar to you
[14:53] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra wraps it around the hole in her elbow, wincing at the contact.
[14:54] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Around your neck"
[14:54] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I'm sorry, what?"
[14:54] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Can't hear too well.  Lots of explosions recently."
[14:55] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Don't you know that doggies wear collars around their necks? Now put it on."
[14:56] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Yeah see, here's where you're losing me."
[14:56] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Put it on around your neck"
[14:57] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Shouldn't be that hard to understand you filthy b****"
[14:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Don't swear at me."
[14:57] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Put on the collar, mutt"
[14:58] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra dreams the room's windows away, replacing them with solid walls.
[14:58] <Lyra[Strategist14]> And also attempts to sidestep the imminent death-spear
[14:59] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra focuses, and manages to do so successfully.
[14:59] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard makes no move towards you
[14:59] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Listen, cur. I don't want to have to kill you for this"
[15:00] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Why's that, then?"
[15:00] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "The Queen wants the privilege herself"
[15:00] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You should know by now she can hear and see everything we say"
[15:00] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Well obviously."
[15:01] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "So I recommend playing along if you don't want to end up a kebab"
[15:01] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "And she's been watching me this entire time through the freak in the corner."
[15:01] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Collar. Neck. Now."
[15:01] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Fix my arm, then."
[15:02] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "If I move it, I'll start bleeding again."
[15:02] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "And then the queen loses her kill."
[15:03] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You won't start bleeding, you patched yourself up just fine with that pen of yours"
[15:03] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "But you could try self harm I suppose"
[15:03] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Works for me"
[15:03] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Come on.  It's toilet paper in a gunshot wound."
[15:03] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She releases her concentration on keeping the ink in place.
[15:04] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra notices that she doesn't need to concentrate on the wound
[15:05] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Huh
[15:05] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "It will serve its purpose fine"
[15:05] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Now I'm going to tell you one last time"
[15:05] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Collar. Neck. Now"
[15:07] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "What's it supposed to accomplish?"
[15:07] <Lyra[Strategist14]> As she speaks, Lyra removes the collar from her elbow
[15:07] <Lyra[Strategist14]> and also dreams the ink away
[15:08] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The coagulated blood keeps most of your blood in place
[15:08] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "It is symbolic"
[15:08] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "To entertain Her Majesty"
[15:08] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Can robotic freaks like you even feel entertainment?"
[15:09] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I remember reading something about that."
[15:09] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "No comment"
[15:09] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "It's like, you give away more and more of what makes you *you*, until you're just a cyberzombie going through the motions."
[15:22] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra silently curses her apparent mastery of quelling bloodflow
[15:22] <Lyra[Strategist14]> And then tries to dream an anvil on top of the carapacian.
[15:28] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian darts forwards and pins your arms to your sides
[15:28] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The anvil hits the empty ground behind him
[15:29] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I really don't want to be made to kill you."
[15:29] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Please, just do as she says"
[15:29] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "She'll kill you in a heartbeat"
[15:29] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra lifts her feet off the ground, forcing the carapacian to hold her entire weight
[15:30] <Lyra[Strategist14]> And dreams the switchblade in her hand to move to the back of the carapacian's head
[15:30] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian's grip tightens, but he remains upright
[15:31] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Calmly he raises one hand and catches the blade
[15:31] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Damn, I didn't want to do this"
[15:31] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "We both know you did."
[15:31] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "But you leave me no choice"
[15:31] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra extends the blade
[15:32] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard chucks the blade aside and starts choking you, lifting you up with one of his powerful hands into the air by your neck
[15:33] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Is her arm free?))
[15:34] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Her arms are free, but reflexively she is struggling with the hands around her neck
[15:34] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Understandable.  Lyra starts scrabbling helplessly against the carapaced claw around her throat
[15:36] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> As Lyra's world fades to black she hears the click of a catch clasping around her neck, and suddenly is dropped onto the ground
[15:38] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra fights to remain conscious
[15:39] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> When her vision returns, Lyra sees the carapacian standing with his back to her, motionless
[15:41] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She brings the maroon pen to bear and draws a balloon over top of the imp's head
[15:41] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian waggles his finger warningly at you
[15:42] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Is the imp still tied down in the corner?))
[15:43] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Yes
[15:43] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Ah, screw it."  Lyra flops down onto the bed.  "What's the point?"
[15:44] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra coughs her way feebly onto the bed, feeling the collar scratch her throat
[15:45] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Is she still able to speak, or is it too tight?
[15:46] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Due to the combination of being choked, and the tight collar, she cannot do more than whisper
[15:46] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "What's... the... point?"
[15:47] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian turns around after another minute
[15:47] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Get up"
[15:47] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "And dream away the walls you made"
[15:48] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She doesn't bother responding.
[15:48] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> His tone is gentler now than before, you think. It is barely noticeable if it is, you might be imagining
[15:50] <Lyra[Strategist14]>  /No more words, and only one arm to try and fix that/, Lyra thinks to herself.
[15:51] <Lyra[Strategist14]>  /Three guesses as to which limb I lose when I get close./
[15:52] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She dreams a computer screen into the ceiling above the bed
[15:53] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Did I not make myself clear?"
[15:53] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Undo these walls"
[15:54] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra briefly considers shrugging in response
[15:54] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You will have time to mope after you return"
[15:54] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Until then, you are in my care and I will do with you what I see fit"
[15:54] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Don't care."  She whispers
[15:55] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian walks over and backhands you
[15:55] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Get up"
[15:56] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra dreams a cordless earbud into her ear, and dreams a video playing on the screen.
[15:56] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> *Lyra's face stings in much pain from the slap
[15:56] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She also makes a muffled grunt of pain
[15:56] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian rips the earbud out of your ear, smashes the screen and turns your head forcing to look him in the eyes
[15:56] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> He is crying
[15:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She spits in his face
[15:57] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Undo this"
[15:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I"
[15:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She takes as deep a breath as she can manage
[15:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "*liked* that video."
[15:57] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You can watch it later"
[15:57] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Back on."
[15:58] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You think I want to do this?"
[15:58] <Lyra[Strategist14]> A terse nod
[15:58] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian has tears flowing down his face
[15:58] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "If I don't do this they'll kill me and my family"
[15:59] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Now undo this"
[16:00] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra raises her good hand and jabs the carapacian in the side, using the pen
[16:00] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Don't care."
[16:00] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The carapacian catches the pen and crushes it in his fist
[16:01] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I DO CARE DAMMIT"
[16:01] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "GO OUT THERE AND DO THIS"
[16:01] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra gives a halting sort of laugh.  "Do what?"
[16:02] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Let's do this the hard way then"
[16:03] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> An explosion from the previous location of the window knocks a large portion of the wall out, where a hover ship floats outside
[16:03] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She dreams the wall back up.
[16:03] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The hover ship draws close and extends a drawbridge to the room
[16:04] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Before Lyra is able to dream the wall back up she is outside being dragged across said drawbridge
[16:04] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Damn these bastards are fast
[16:04] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "This..."
[16:04] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Is the worst..."
[16:04] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Railroading..."
[16:04] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "SHUT UP"
[16:04] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Ever"
[16:06] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard chucks you into the loading bay forcefully against the back wall as the ship starts hovering away
[16:06] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard forces you to your knees
[16:06] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Stay down."
[16:06] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Sure."
[16:06] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard clips a leash to your collar
[16:07] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra tries to laugh again
[16:07] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "We are going on a walk" the guard says face forwards between gritted teeth
[16:07] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "R- really upping the B-word jokes, huh?"
[16:07] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard kicks you in the stomach, knocking the wind out of you
[16:08] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra falls prone
[16:08] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The ship slowly descends down to ground level and the loading bridge reveals what appears to be a market square style area
[16:09] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Black shelled carapacians swarm around the square
[16:09] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Stay on your hands and knees and walk"
[16:09] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((About how high is the loading bridge?))
[16:09] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Do anything I don't approve of and I'll hurt you more"
[16:10] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <from about 5 ft down to  2 ft of the ground
[16:10] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Able to respond, or still wind-knocked-out-of?))
[16:10] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <it is sloped>
[16:11] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <You are able to respond after another minute's heavy breathing>
[16:12] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((About how long has this dream been so far, including travel time?))
[16:12] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard yanks your collar down the loading bay
[16:12] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <You are a bit too stimulated to fall asleep right now>
[16:12] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Worth a try))
[16:12] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Come, cur"
[16:12] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Say please."
[16:13] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> He kicks you again and starts dragging you out with the leash
[16:13] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((This is in full view of the carapacians, yes?))
[16:13] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> A small crowd of hooting and jeering Carapacians has amassed around the craft
[16:14] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> It grows larger as more Carapacians view the spectacle
[16:14] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra tries to shift into an even remotely-comfortable position to be dragged in
[16:15] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> There is none to be had
[16:15] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Walk mutt"
[16:15] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Walk on your hands and knees like a good pup"
[16:15] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "P- pay me."
[16:15] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She preemptively curls into the fetal position
[16:16] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard leans down and whispers into your ear:
[16:17] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I can make you hurt in more ways than you could ever imagine. Get up and do this so I can get it over with"
[16:17] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I will only hurt you if I need to or am forced to"
[16:17] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Now move"
[16:18] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> *The crowd roars and begins throwing tomatoes and other produce at Lyra^
[16:18] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra forces back a snort of derision.
[16:19] <Lyra[Strategist14]> She also begins to drag herself forward with her working arm
[16:19] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard gets up and starts strolling around the pre-existing walking path as Lyra gets pelted by various unsavory things
[16:20] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "This... is... it?"
[16:20] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Just shut up and move@
[16:21] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Lyra's being dragged behind the guard, right?))
[16:21] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra often moves too slow for the guard's liking, in which case he threatens her and waits for her to catch up
[16:21] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <yes>
[16:22] <Lyra[Strategist14]> From behind him, Lyra plants her bad arm into the ground as a brace, then throws her entire body weight into an elbow with her GOOD arm to the back of the guard's knee.
[16:22] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard lifts his knee and stands still as Lyra chucks herself to the ground in front of him
[16:23] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I can hear you doing that"
[16:23] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "You suck," she rasps
[16:23] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "We all have enhanced sense from Her Majesty"
[16:24] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Maybe you should stop being a immature b**** and get this over with"
[16:24] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Don't swear at me."
[16:24] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "I don't want to do this anymore than you have to"
[16:24] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Move"

[16:25] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((AFK again, sorry))
[16:25] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <no problem>
 [16:35] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Back again))
[16:35] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <alright>

[16:36] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra follows the guard.
[16:36] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> <Can I just jumpcut to end of walk?>
[16:36] <Lyra[Strategist14]> ((Sure, yeah))
[16:37] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard walks Lyra around the square, and by the end of the walk Lyra is panting for breath and aching everywhere due to the tight collar and positioning
[16:37] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra also has considerable amounts of compost all over her
[16:38] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard pulls back up to the hovercraft and the loading bay closes after you are inside
[16:38] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> He looks at you
[16:38] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I kinda hate you."  Lyra informs him
[16:38] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You made it this hard on yourself"
[16:39] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "My goal is to psychologically break you"
[16:39] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Dude."
[16:39] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Just... Play along and it will be easier for both of us"
[16:39] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "Yeah, yeah."
[16:39] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard is trembling at this point
[16:41] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra sits up.  "Y'know, that was a pretty terrible choice on Queeny's part."
[16:42] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard kicks you back down and continues raining blows onto your curled up form until you are bleeding everywhere
[16:43] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You don't talk about Her Majesty like that"
[16:43] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "S'not Her Majesty," Lyra spits
[16:43] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard knocks the wind out of you again
[16:44] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Say it again"
[16:44] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I said, it's not, her majesty."
[16:44] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard leans in close
[16:44] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Excuse me?"
[16:45] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "I h-hereby challenge the queen of Derse for her crown."  Lyra headbutts the guard
[16:45] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard steps on your crippled arm directly on the wound until you are screaming in pain
[16:46] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> He lets up after a good minute or so after you are finished screaming and have burst into tears
[16:47] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Are you quite finished?@
[16:48] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra mouths something indiscernable in between gulps of air
[16:48] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "What was that?@
[16:48] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "You'll have to speak up"
[16:49] <Lyra[Strategist14]> "On... the grounds... of high treason."
[16:49] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> The guard sighs
[16:50] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> And with a single slashing motion cuts of the rest of your crippled arm from below the elbow
[16:50] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> "Somebody grab her a bandage or something"
[16:50] <Lyra[Strategist14]> Lyra faceplants onto the floor
[16:51] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Blood gushes from Lyra's wound
[16:51] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> Lyra loses consciousness
[16:51] <ATtheorytime[Huelicopter]> And awakes in the station