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)

Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:55 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:55 am

"It's nothing to worry about," he insisted.

"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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Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:57 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:57 am

"If it's nothing, why are you avoiding the question?"

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:59 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:59 am

"Because it isn't worth answering." They were nearly to the top of the stairs.

"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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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:01 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:01 am

"Would you humor me then, please?"

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:03 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:03 am

He sighed heavily. "If you wish. He gave me a flogging, sir, with his belt. For not reading his note and going out on my own."

"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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Points 999

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:06 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:06 am

Kivvien considered this. "Have you seen the note since returning?"

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:12 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:12 am

He shook his head. "I did look for it while I was cleaning. It's hard to discern which papers were written when...I know that's no excuse."

"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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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:17 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:17 am

"It is an excuse," Kivvien argued as they came to the door, "You master was negligent."

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:19 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:19 am

"He left a note!" Hieronymus retorted. "I was the one who failed to see it."

"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

she/her

Teddybear

Gender

Points 999

Reviews 95

Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:20 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:20 am

"He left a needle in a haystack and left you to die in his mess."

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:21 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:21 am

"I won't hear this," Hieronymus huffed, backing away. "Goodnight. Don't talk about my master that way. Please. Goodnight."

"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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Points 999

Reviews 95

Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:27 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:27 am

"Sleep well Heironymus," he said, "I wish you a safe recovery." Kivvien unlocked the door and slipped inside.

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:29 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:29 am

Hieronymus turned without another word and headed down the stairs.

"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

she/her

Teddybear

Gender

Points 999

Reviews 95

Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:30 am

Teddybear says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:30 am

Kivvien rearranged to reveal the cot which sat forgotten in the corner of the room and laid down to sleep.

formerly TheMulticoloredCyr

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Ljungtroll

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Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:32 am

Ljungtroll says... · Thu Jun 02, 2022 4:32 am

Laurean had dozed off on the floor by the time Hieronymus got downstairs. He did that often; Hieronymus suspected the old man was narcoleptic. He moved around him carefully and headed to his little loft.

"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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