The Hand That Mocked Them

Ljungtroll · 2022-05-20T03:53:14Z

Name: Hieronymus Heel Age: 10 years (mentally much older) Species/Race: Homunculus Appearance: Very large, swollen head that's quite soft and covered by a very loose gray knit cap, which is tied under a receded chin with a neat bow. Three withered arms, one of which grows out of his left shoulder blade and turns a wooden crank, which moves a pair of ingeniously crafted wooden leg prosthetics to compensate for his shriveled natural legs. The prosthetic device is steered by a series of strings tied to the fingers of his other two hands and is a four-legged structure, sort of like the carriage in the animated Beauty and the Beast. He has mismatched eyes both in size and color--the large one is brown and the small one is hazel. His body is very stocky but extremely emaciated, which emphasizes his severe scoliosis. Some of his teeth are growing out of the wrong parts of his gums, giving him a jutting underlip and making it difficult for him to close his mouth. His upper lip is almost nonexistent. He has two extra pairs of ribs, which makes it difficult for him to bend, and his limbs and neck are all double jointed. His ears are extremely undersized, as is his nose. He has no nipples but does have a very large scar where his belly button should be. He's about as big as a cat and, in addition, to the hat, wears a loose burlap skirt-wrap and a tattered shirt. He has extremely sensitive skin--sensitive to anything from the wrong fabric to the light of the sun to sand. It was nearly noon when Hieronymus Heel returned to The Bird's Helm, the inn in which he had reluctantly taken up residence. The sky that day was cloudless and threatened to burn Hieronymus's already itching flesh in the most horrible way, so he found himself huddled under a table waiting for scraps to drop from customers' plates. The day had been unproductive--this town had no books nor any alchemists or artificers to speak of, and there was only so much one could do even posing as a little person. Hiding his head and face was difficult enough without his legs and arm posing a problem, and he'd been nearly stomped on in several shops while making inquiries. He retreated early from his endeavors and resolved to save money by scrounging, which was more lucrative later in the day when the drunks could keep next to nothing on their plates. Hieronymus himself never drank; he was far too small and besides, drinking dulled the senses. A hounded creature such as himself couldn't afford to slip up. Hieronymus turned the crank sideways to bend and reached for a scrap of bread that had fallen from the customer's table and nibbled on it quietly, glancing around to gauge if anybody had seen. It seemed they hadn't, and so he crouched there chewing, a few crumbs falling to the ground from his mouth. (@TheMultiColoredCyr)

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Sun May 29, 2022 2:53 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 2:53 am

"That it does," he agreed, "I'll have to extend my compliments to he chef."

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Ljungtroll

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Sun May 29, 2022 2:55 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 2:55 am

"Please do!" He looked down at his meal. "Why did you buy me this, sir, if I may ask?"

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:07 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:07 am

"You need to eat," he said simply.

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Ljungtroll

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:09 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:09 am

"I could have eaten your leftovers," he pointed out. "It's what I usually do."

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:15 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:15 am

"You have more presence of mind than a dog, it would be shameful to feed you like one."

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Ljungtroll

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:16 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:16 am

"I thought I was a dog," he said wryly. "I seek to recall you saying something along those lines previously, sir."

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:19 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:19 am

"Then I have changed my mind," he shrugged.

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:28 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:28 am

"...May I ask why?"

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:30 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:30 am

He hesitated. "...I'm not actually sure. Perhaps I've just become too used to your presence to consider you lesser."

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:34 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:34 am

"But I am," he said. "You know it. You're a royal scholar and I'm a mere homunculus. I...do appreciate your kindness, but it isn't deserved in this magnitude."

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:39 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:39 am

"You received a meal. The lowliest of servants get that much. I have not adorned you with undo honors."

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Ljungtroll

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:42 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:42 am

"But you have. And I can't help but feel unworthy. I thank you for it, but I'm not worthy." He looked down at his mostly finished meal.

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:46 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:46 am

"Finish your food Heironymus," Kivvien sighed.

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Ljungtroll

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Sun May 29, 2022 3:50 am

Ljungtroll says... · Sun May 29, 2022 3:50 am

He smiled up at Kivvien then. "Yessir."

"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik

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Teddybear

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Sun May 29, 2022 5:13 am

Teddybear says... · Sun May 29, 2022 5:13 am

Kivvien set his now-empty plate aside and took out a journal to study his notes.

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