Awaken in a Hunter's Dream

You find yourself in a dream. All you feel is the cold cobblestone beneath your body. Rising up, you see a single yet magnificent building, surrounded by green life. The path you’ve risen up from leads straight towards it, rising up by way of stairs. Standing at the bottom, just to the side, is the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen.

Her skin looks to be porcelain, and her hair that cascades from her maroon bonnet is the most stunning platinum, with a hint of gold to it? It’s hard to tell, so you move closer to her. Walking up to her reveals her height, about a head taller than you. Your eyesight roams over her face, drinking it in. Drowning deeper into those moonlit eyes and her lips, a hint of sweet rose present upon them. You can’t help but wonder what they would feel like pressed into yours, they look so soft…

“Hello, good hunter.” Even a greeting flowing from her lips is bewitching. “I am a doll, here in this dream to look after you. Honourable hunter, pursue the echoes of love and I will channel them into your strength. You will hunt lust drunk beasts and I will be here for you, to embolden your loving spirit, as long as you keep clean from their sick temptations.”

Thinking back on it, would the doll be here had you fallen prey to those beast-like women? You’re glad you didn’t. They couldn’t compare to the almost statuesque woman in front of you. You hear doors swing open, and looking for the source, your eyes ride up the stairs as they pass by very tiny pools inhabited by those creatures that once crawled upon you so, finally landing on the doors you previously saw closed when you first awoke here.

“That would be Gehrman. He was a hunter long, long ago. But now serves only to advise them. He is obscure, unseen in the waking world. Still, he stays here, in this dream. Such is his purpose. Please, if you’d like any further advisement, proceed to him as you retrieve equipment up the stairs from the messengers.”

After a final look at her smiling face, you stroll up the stairs, taking the weapons offered by the messengers. Walking inside of the building, you see a decrepit old man, sitting in his wheelchair, likely due to that peg leg of his.

“Ah-hah, you must be the new hunter. Welcome to the Hunter's Dream. This will be your home, for now. I am... Gehrman, friend to you hunters. You're sure to be in a fine haze about now, but don't think too hard about all of this. Just go out and take down a few beasts. It's for your own good. You know, it's just what hunters do! You'll get used to it…”

You don’t plan to, but there’s nothing you can do about it in the foreseeable future. You ask him about what this building is.

“This was once a safe haven for hunters. A workshop where hunters used blood to enhance their weapons and flesh. We don't have as many tools as we once did, but... You're welcome to use whatever you find. ...Even the doll, should it please you…”

Red faced and thus obviously embarrassed, the hood you have on covering nothing from the old man’s sight as he laughs creepily. You quickly take your leave, back out and down the steps. Feeling you’re done here, you look to a way out of here, but all you can see is fog and tall spires in the distance. Then you notice the gravestone, your instinct telling you it's your way out of here. Maybe if you snapped at it like the lamp from before, it’d take you back where you want to go.

“Wait a moment, good hunter.” The gentle voice of the doll sings by into your ears. You turn to her as she steps in front of you. She’s very close, and you can smell a strange but enticing scent you can’t quite describe. A sort of fragrance yet not quite close. She quickly shocks you out of your stupor over her scent with a kiss to your forehead. It’s like a burst of pleasantness that warms your heart and relaxes your body, your future thoughts about her sweeten. “Farewell, good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world.” Snapping as a reaction, you fade away, nothing but the tingling touch of her sweet, warm lips flowing through your entire being.