We open deep into Canadian wilderness, a small group of Century Corps members are in a camp, having previously surveyed the wilderness. The sky is darkened as a grim overcast hangs over their heads. The small group is currently contacting someone others via hologram
Atlantic (Over Hologram): So, the reports are true, the river is full of crests?
We move over to the person she’s talking too
Hudson: Yeah, that’s correct, I have no idea how this is possible
Atlantic (Over Hologram): Hey, it’s your area of expertise, not mine
Indica (Over Hologram): Regardless of that, you need to get to the bottom of this
Griay: Affirmative
Hudson: And if we need you?
Indica (Over Hologram): We’re nearby, don’t worry about us
Hudson: Heh, makes me glad to hear
Atlantic (Over Hologram): Alright, we gotta go finish up our current work here, see you guys soon
Atlantic and Indica end the holo-call
Griay: They sure are a busy bunch
Hudson: They’re Septarian Guard members now, way above my station
Griay: I guess that’s true
Hudson: Let me get the others, it’s time to set off
Griay: How about I do it?
Hudson: No no I insist I do it
Griay: Fine by you, go do wha-
Suddenly, a crackle of branches is heard, as someone slowly approaches them.
???: Are you Century Corps?
Hudson: Yeah, what of it?
The strange Centennial brought their massive rifle up into the scene at the two soldiers
???: My name is Boone and I reckon you stay out of these woods?
Hudson: There’s a mystery afoot, my colleagues are here to discover why the river is logged with what look like discarded crests
Boone: You won’t be findin the answers ye be lookin for
Griay: Why won’t we?
Boone: Let me just say, you won’t
The other members of the Century Corps expedition team emerged from their tents at the sound of Boone
Vivuhal: Hey, uh, what’s the meaning of what’s going on outside?
Wadah: Let an old soul sleep for a bit longer
Hudson: Hey you guys are awake,
Wadah: I don’t feel all that awake
Griay: Eh it’s whatever, we’ve gotta go see the river anyway
Wadah: Now who’s the fellow with the really big rifle?
Boone: My name is Boone, and I wouldn’t go looking for a fight
Hudson: We’re not looking for a fight, just an answer
Boone: Then you’re not asking a good question
Vivuhal: Are we done here with the pleasantries, we’ve got a mystery to get too
Hudson: An event like this is unprecedented
Boone: Fine…but if you must go I must come with you
Griay: Fun
Hudson: I’ll allow it
Wadah: I see no reason why you wouldn’t?
Hudson: I don’t either
Boone: All right, but let it be known I’ve got a bad feeling about this, your group is just a danger magnet.
The group emerges from the woods and begins heading towards the river bank, it’s part water, part blood, black blood, formed from stray crests clumping together.
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Hudson: This collection of crests lining the river bank should not be possible
Vivuhal: What do you mean by that Hudson?
Hudson: Crests are essentially a physical manifestation of destiny imprinted on a person. They should not be able to ripped away like that unless you sever someone’s connection to their own humanity.
Vivuhal: Well if that stuff would have prevented this from happening in theory, then why can’t Centennials gain crests?
Hudson: The reason Centennials cannot be binded to crests is still unknown but I believe the reason why is because Centennials were created without the necessary components to form their own destiny that allows crests that bind to living organisms.
Vivuhal: Well if that’s the case how do I have such a natural affixiation to our natural world via aether
Hudson: It’s something you were built to do, so you were built to carry large amounts of aether in your body
Vivuhal: That makes a lot of sense, it’s pretty insightful
Griay: Thanks for the lesson Crest guy
Boone: Heh, so why the heck are they bonded to a river?
Hudson: They look like pollution, like they were thrown into there by someone else?
Wadah: Someone who can rip off crests?
Vivuhal: Can someone like that exist…
Hudson: No clue, but we need someone who can take us down the river?
Boone: There’s someone up ahead named Marmin, a life-long friend of mine.
Hudson: Can you take us to him?
Boone: I’m not sure I want too
Griay: Please man, we’re not going to get anywhere if we don’t have a boat.
Boone: Ok fine, his boat should be up ahead, he docks it either nearby or outside his abode
Hudson: Thank you Boone
Boone: No problem, now let’s hurry up, he’s coming
Hudson: Who’s coming?
Boone: You’ll see
Begin Black Blood Riverbank 1
When you’re 25% of the way through, a strange human made of darkness begins staggering towards the party..
Boone: He knows we’re here
Hudson: Who knows?
The hollowed human begins speaking
Hollowed Man: The Crest Queen takes no prisoners
Hudson: The Crest Queen?
Griay: Wait, I remember someone who called herself The Crest Queen
Vivuhal: You do?
Griay: Yeah…she locked me in this armor…
Hudson: You…can’t be fucking serious…not those old bastards again, why do they want to cause pain and misery to everyone
???: Maybe it’s because misery tastes so delicious…
Boone: YOU
Boone begins firing several rounds into the sky as the strange figure shrouded in black flies down
Griay: Who the heck is this guy?
???: I’ll catch you up on my exploits, I’m a scavenger, I pick up the discards of the world, I circle above those close to death and thrive on their fear and misery. That doesn’t mean I don’t kill people, I kill people, lots of people. The world thought I died, but they can’t kill me. I’ll always be circling around the world, like a Buzzard.
Hudson: Wait, THAT Buzzard?
The Buzzard: HAHAHAHAHAHA, you have an acute memory, I did kill a member of your guild before
Boone: You sick twisted bastard, I’ll put you in the ground right now
Boone aims their rifle at The Buzzard but their hands are quivering with fear as they can’t pull the trigger
The Buzzard: You’re cute, but my darkness is pervasive and I’ll take crests as I see fit from the victims I make, but those unworthy of being absorbed, I throw into the river and I can only take the best crests this world has to offer.
Hudson: So you’re responsible for why this place is like this?
The Buzzard: Well not entirely, I’d like you to meet the lucky, lucky inhabitants of this twisted forest.
Suddenly, a horde of small children appear, their hearts marked by malice and darkness, darkness eminantes from them as they just appear as crestless puppets
Hollowed Children: Kill..kill…killl…
Griay: What the-
Boone: …
The Buzzard: Meet my new army, The Hollowed Orphans…
Hudson: These children…they were innocent
The Buzzard: I’m not the one who broke them, I just found them as empty shells
Vivuhal: That’s horrifying
Wadah: I’ve seen enough of this
Wadah begins using their strongest wind magics, blowing away the Hollowed Orphans and The Buzzard
The Buzzard: I can’t stand this wind, so I guess I’ll fly
The Buzzard opens his wings and lets the wind take him away as the Hollowed Orphans begin falling into the river, their black hollowed blood merging with the river
Hudson: WADAH STOP!
Wadah: Why should I?
Hudson: They’re melting!!
Wadah stops their magic
Wadah: That is horrific.
Hudson: You’re absolutely right
Griay: Well, we have to put a stop to this
Hudson: And to do that we have to find Marmin
Boone: Right…
Griay: You ok Boone?
Boone: No, I’ll be fine
Continue Black Blood Riverbank 1
When you’re at 50% completion
Vivuhal: Hey Hudson?
Hudson: Yeah Vivu?
Vivuhal: How does The Buzzard remove crests?
Hudson: I have no idea
Vivuhal: What do you mean?
Hudson: His methods are beyond foreign to me.
Vivuhal: That so
Hudson looks at the river, the black blood covering the crystal blue water
Resume
When you’re at 75% completion
Boone: The Buzzard is an evil fuck
Hudson: We know
Boone: I…hate that guy
Hudson: Mind telling us why?
Boone: Why do I need to tell you anymore than what he says?
Hudson: It’s clear something happened else between you two
Boone: …
Hudson: So?
Boone: Nothing happened
Resume
When you’ve reached the end, a small dock shop is seen very nearby
Griay: Is this your friend’s place?
Boone: Workplace yeah, although I wonder how much of a business there is in sailing up a river that’s mostly blood.
Griay: Well, we’re prepared to sell out
Boone: That won’t be necessary if he’s not here
Wadah: So you’ve got an unreliable friend?
Boone: Marmin is not unreliable, just erratic in his behavior
Suddenly someone else emerges from the shop
Marmin: Boone? Customers?
Boone: Well look it’s the mad man himself?
Marmin: What are you doing with the Century Corps?
Boone: They want to go down the Black Blood Rapids
Marmin: Need I ask why
Hudson: We’ve got to go down the river to find the source of this?
Vivuhal: Didn’t we just learn the source of this?
Hudson: Somebody left this area in a state for The Buzzard to exploit
Griay: The so called Crest Queen
Hudson: Yeah, if she’s who we think she is she’s gotta be stopped
Griay: Well she wasn’t there when we took out her groom, so I wonder what she was doing?
Hudson: No clue?
Wadah: Pardon me, but who are you talking about in this instance?
Hudson: Our dear friends have two asshole parents that seem to always be causing problems in this area
Wadah: Alright, I see the issue now
Vivuhal: So that’s it?
Marmin: Pardon me, but are we ready to head out?
Boone: You’ve got a boat large enough for the six of us?
Marmin: Why do you even ask?
Boone: Heh, fair enough
Griay: So, can we hit the water now?
Marmin: Yes
Boone: I don’t like the descent we’re about to make
Marmin: Don’t worry friend, I will lead the way
Hudson: Alright, let’s go
Marmin joins the Party
Marmin takes The Party out to his boat and they all get on it and depart into the river
