The sounds of commotion echoed around the streets of North Castle. Screams and cries of, "Stop, freak!" Could be heard above all else. If one were to listen closely to the sounds, one would track them to a quite disturbing scene in the courtyard, where a man was brutally mauling the carcass of some large dead creature. On closer inspection, it could be determined as a horse, but the corpse of the poor creature was mutilated so badly it was almost beyond recognition. Blood and guts were spilled everywhere, and continued to fly through the air as the frenzied man tore into the dead animal with a broken, heavy, iron bar, yelling, "Get up, you lazy cur!" Clearly the Horse would never rise again.

"Somebody do something!" Screamed one of the townsfolk. She spotted a nearby guard and pleaded, "Please, why don't you do something??"

The guard regarded the scene calmly before simply saying, "I used to be in good enough form to do something about that. But then I took an arrow to the knee." and turning around to walk away, leaving the gory mess behind him.

OoC: Yay allegories!
No really. This started as a post about Streets of the Dead, but then I decided to let it become a more encompassing topic, and I think it pretty accurately describes HA2 and my continued attempts to return to it.
I SHALL NOT GIVE UP.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

A hooded figure suddenly emerged from the crowd of astonished civilians. His armor gleamed in the sunlight- it was unmistakable. He donned the symbol of Hyrule's Royal Guard on his shoulder plate, and an indigo cape extended from the back of his armor down to the back of his knees. Zane Ray, a Royal Guard battle-mage, stood in bewilderment at the scene. He could feel the weight his voice was about to carry, as the fury that coursed through his veins bubbled to the surface.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!" He cried out as he drew his sword. It began to emanate a blue aura that encased the blade. An enchanted sword, deadly when in the hands of a skilled swordsman. The Royal Guards were trained with only the best facilities.

"My name is Zane Ray of the Royal Guard. You're under arrest for animal cruelty! Hands behind your back at once!" His eyes burned with anger, and his voice commanded immediate obedience. "I'll see your head roll if you give me any resistance." He added as he waited.

The man stopped and lowered his mangled weapon, looking with fear at the newly arrived guard and his dangerous weapon.

"Gee, sir." He said apologetically. "I'm just tryin' ta git my horse here to do it's work. It's always been a stubborn, lazy creature. I promise as soon as it gits off it's lazy butt, I'll stop beatin' it. But s'far as I know, beatin's been the only way to git it ta move. Been a stubborn ole mule it's whole daggum life." He said, shooting the animal a withering glance.

The battlemage didn't bat an eye before commanding once more, "On your knees. Hands behind your back. I don't expect an apology, I expect you to follow my orders. Perhaps I'm using the term, 'resistance' too loosely." His leather hide gloves made a sound as if he had tightened his grip on his weapon before he bared his teeth.

All the ferocity of his previous tone had easily doubled as he spoke his next words. "Now. Final warning. Drop your weapon. Step away from the horse. Make no sudden movements. Get down on your knees. And place your hands behind your back." Finally, two more guards appeared, each with their weapons drawn. Lances at the ready, they also carried the symbol of the guard on their armor. Their helmets covered their eyes, but their mouths hung agape with shock as they observed the bizarre morbidity.

"About time you showed up," Zane whispered harshly.

The guard to the right finally spoke, "What's going on here? Did that horse attack someone?"

Zane shook his head. "No. The horse is the victim. This man is a sicko."

The three guards stood at the ready, awaiting the previous commands to be followed.

"Remember," The battlemage called out to the man. "This is your final warning. Do as I commanded, now."

The man began to visibly shake with fear as he dropped his weapon and fell to his knees, placing himself in the position the guards had commanded of him.

"Please, sirs..." He said, tears forming in his eyes, "I don't know what's going on... I'm only trying to get my work done... please don't hurt me!"

The three guards immediately moved in on the man, Zane slapping handcuffs around his arms.

"He seems to have no idea that his behavior was... abnormal." Zane muttered to the other two guards. "I don't know what to make of it."

"Mental illness?" One of the guards suggested as they stood him up.

"Solid theory," replied Zane. "Whatever the case, he doesn't appear to know what he's done wrong. I'll take him to the castle for questioning. As for you two... Clean up that poor animal's bleeding and bloody carcass."

The two soldiers moaned as Zane moved the man towards the castle. "Back to your business, people!" The battlemage called out as he guided the man. "Nothing to see here! Move along!"

Zane shook his head. Humanity... I swear, I really meet the looneys in this line of work.

OoC: Ah... so uh... I guess since I'm here and Mr. RG appears to be here as well... I'll uh... passive-aggressively mention that Deserted Dwellings, Into the Deep, A Locked Building, and the current Group of Beasts are all awaiting RG moderation, as noted in the Current Topics post in the courtyard. Just. Throwing that out there .-.