Bulletin #9 - Courage in the Face of it All - NoQu 2025

NoQu 2025

Day 28

Total Words: 46,676

Chapter 9: Courage in the Face of it All

"Go by reverently, and read with sober care

How a great people, riding with defiant shouts

The centaur of Revolution,

Spurred and whipped to frenzy,

Shook with terror, seeing the mist of the sea…"

—Edgar Lee Masters, "Captain Orlando Killion"

There was only one way to go: through the long passageways of the griffin's domain to the island at the mouth of the cove. The little scrap of glowing parchment in your hand lit the way as you traveled through the cool stone tunnels for the next several hours. Then, the smooth stone shifts to cobblestone.

"What kind of place is this?"

You can only name think to call it a massive sewer system. There are no ladders, but the map leads you to ramps that go to the surface. You peek out to see what is ahead.

The city above is strange. A single glance down the street tells you why. The only people about are centaurs.

Prompt: The weather suddenly changes, and your character must face their inner self.

You walk the rest of the way up the ramp, and chaos unfolds. The busy centaur folk spook, dropping baskets and jumping away from the sudden movement in a wave of panic.

"Easy there," you say in a low, calm voice despite your pounding heart.

They stand around you, eyes wide, trying to figure out why you're here. A tall mare takes a hesitant step towards you, eyeing you as though you were about to explode at her.

"Are you— are you here for the Courage?"

"I— what?"

"If so, I'm sorry… it's gone."

You harden your mouth in a thin line. "Take me where it's supposed to be. I may be able to help."

Ambiance: Victorian City 

The mare gives you a suspicious look, but waves her hand for you to follow. The rest of the townsfolk began picking up their scattered belongings, not without more little spooks, though. Finally, after a few spooks of her own, the mare brings you to a large trough in the center of town.

"It gives us— gave us— courage. But now? Now it's just water," she says sadly. "And every little— every little thing is terrifying!

You take a deep breath and nod. The map scrap in your hand is almost burning, like it knows exactly where it needs to be.

A bell tolls overhead.

"I have to go!" The mare canters off down the street and centaurs everywhere lock themselves inside.

Dare: Grab something to drink and lock in. Take a sip after every paragraph for the next 45 minutes.

The streets are quiet now, except for the lonely tolling bell and the call of a murder of crows. Clouds hide the lazy summer sun, and the muggy air fills with cold sea mist. You shiver involuntarily and clutch the map closer to stay warm.

You peer at your reflection in the trough. It is strikingly clear, only softly rippling as the faucet slows to a thick dribble and the water gets darker. It's just your face, the white highlights of the sky, and the black depths of whatever has corrupted the trough.

You could've sworn you hear something rustling behind you. Your spine prickles and your frosty breath joins the mist. The map will keep you safe—

"Ow!" It burns you and leaps from your hand into the water.

And slowly, magically, it clears. A single shining horseshoe lays in the bottom of the trough, and you collect it— the last token for the phoenix. You aren't so cold now.

Question: What frightens your character most about themselves?

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