The Day of Thunder

[Yoshitsune Ayako]

Ayako’s eyes flew open. It was dark, but there was the hint of … something in the corner of her eye. Something evil. But she couldn’t move a muscle.

No! she screamed inside her mind. I will not just sit here and do nothing while this happens! Not again!

Despite the Crab’s paralysis, her hands began to shake. Then they clenched into fists. Then…. She was free!

Ayako turned to face the thing that was threatening her….

—
3EN Resist Sleep Paralysis 1, raw Willpower +Void Point, free raise to lower TN | 5k5 ⇒ 21 (TN: 20)

[Bakuriel]

A shuffling sound can be heard in the room as Ayako fights against the encroaching influence, and it is towards this direction her gaze is drawn as she overcomes the grip that tried to pin her down.

Standing before her is...something...vaguely human in shape and slowly garbing itself in a pale-colored sheet. It seems to notice when Ayako becomes aware of it, because it freezes in place, the "garment" falling from its grip.

Staring back at the Crab warrior is her own face, devoid of eyes or teeth, draped loosely over a shoddy simulacrum of a human head, stretched and distorted as the weight from the rest of the sheet begins to weigh it down. The thing turns to flee, vanishing into the air, the strange garment billowing out to reveal the shapes of arms and legs, a mockery of Ayako's own visage, before it too disappears from view.

[Yoshitsune Ayako]

Ayako cried out in horror at seeing the horrible apparition, the not-Ayako, looming behind her. Seizing her axe, the Crab hurled the weapon at the misshapen head of the dreadful thing ... but it had already vanished. The blade of the axe passed through the gauzy garment that still remained, floating in the air, before the weapon struck the ground with a solid thunk. Then even that wisp of fabric was gone.

Approaching cautiously, Ayako pulled the axe from the ground and inspected its edge. Then she carefully searched the area where the nocturnal visitor had disappeared from...but she found no trace of it.

Had it all been just a dream?

[Bakuriel]

Nothing, not even a sound or a change in air temperature, suggested anything had been in the room at all.