Descent into Darkness

[bravenewmods]

As the characters arrive, they will find what appears to be a rather deep cavern. Upon entering, the caverns are quite narrow, with twists and turns everywhere and different tunnels that all seem to be interconnected. As characters travel deeper within the caverns, reality around them will start to warp, they will start to see and hear things that aren’t necessarily there - images of old enemies, past failures, voices of condemnation, visions that strike at the soul and core of the characters. Once this begins, it will only increase in power and volume, demanding it be confronted, lest they be trapped within these caves forever.

[OOC: This event will run for a week. All characters who enter the caves will be subject to some of their deepest fears, darkest demons, and most abject failures. To overcome them, characters must help each other out, finding their purpose through strength of character and resolve to move forward. In general, these visions should require characters to come to grips with themselves. Illusory images and voices can and will appear and can take any number of forms, depending on what is most appropriate to a character. Additionally, characters may thread with each other and are encouraged to help each other out to overcome these personal demons. For those who wish to take part, they are able and encouraged to narrate their own personal demons, which will be on display for everyone who enters their thread. IC threads may be made in this post.]

Comments

[faithfulflame]

Right.

[Rei gestures casually, letting her link to her Pokemon do the talking for her.

Ariel raises his hands and does a little dance, and an instant later a Surf is pounding towards the monster, joined not long after by a spinning bone!

Rei adds to this, since it's not particularly resistant to fire, ironically. A Flamethrower!]

[taudriver]

And that... is you?

[rainsrespite]

"The gods, perhaps. I've been confronted with this before, though. When we were in the Dream World, I fought a twisted version of myself. IT was the same here. I doubt Darkrai would bother a second time."

Which meant, maybe it was something else?

"And hey, it's okay. You missed me in my nightmare, I was way, way worse."

[aerial_ace]

[ Cordelia's vision finally focuses on Gordon, his words beginning to reach her. She gives him an uncertain nod. ]

I believe you're right.

[aerial_ace]

And yet here I am. And you'll not take him from me.

[platinumlucifer]

I don't know. They just started talking all of a sudden.

[platinumlucifer]

[ She looked like a woman haunted, her face pale even in the lantern light. It would see that, for once, Gilgamesh caught her by surprise, only gaining her attention when he called her name. The blond woman jumped, startled, drawing a pistol and pointing it in his direction. ]

Gil!

[ Her eyes were wide, and she quickly lowered her hand, letting it rest at her side, her finger still on the trigger. The blond exhales slowly, trying to put on a strong front. If she smiles, then everything is all right, right? ]

You keep sneaking up on a girl like that and she'll start to think you're up to something.

[miracle_miko]

Of course she is!

[ She was very quick to answer. Whether that was a truthful answer was hard to say, but judging how the younger girl quickly looked down, it may have been more of a knee-jerk reaction than a genuine one. ]

[miracle_miko]

Miss Mami!

[ Sanae turned toward her quickly, looking surprised. She quickly frowns, turning her attention back to the scene. ]

I'm not surprised. The Valkyries guard the Great Tree as well, after all.

[miracle_miko]

[ Again, Sanae nods. ]

[aerial_ace]

"It's inexcusable." She answers, plainly, harshly at herself. Taking a moment to step back, however, Cordelia sighs gently, turning away from the scene. She didn't want to look at it; it turned her stomach.

"I've lost comrades before. This... this was not something I wanted to see again."

[ladyofluminosity]

[ A battlefield was the last thing that Lux expected to see when investigating strange radio waves in a cave. Rampaging Tyrantrum, sure. Bickering gods, perhaps. But the aftermath of a battle, certainly not.

It wasn't something she was accustomed to seeing, and the sight turned Lux's stomach. She could practically smell it on the air and, startled, the young woman gasped out, clasping a hand over her mouth. ]

[ladyofluminosity]

[ Managing to wrest her from her own nightmare, Lux stayed with Jack out of convenience, not wanting to travel alone. These caves weren't all that they seemed, and there was no telling when she would be once again pulled into her own mind. There was safety in numbers.

Watching the taller boy, Lux stopped along with him, brow furrowed. She held her staff close, the gems on either end glowing slightly. Something must have been following them, and she quickly moved to his side, pressing her back gently against his. Physical contact might keep him grounded, and she would be able to guard his back at the same time. ]

Don't listen, Jack. Who or whatever is doing this is trying to get us to react.

[ She listened, closely, glancing at her companion from over her shoulder. If these illusions were somehow feeding on their subconscious--which she was beginning to believe more and more... Why did their conversation a few weeks earlier come to mind? ]

We aren't interested in what you have to say. Unless you want to come out and say it plain.

[nippy]

[ at least she's cheering up, even if it is going to take a bit more to get through to her; it seems like she wants to believe in his fairytale but she's too... what, mature? jaded? it makes him sad either way. this isn't how things are supposed to be for kids; no wonder she had envied his freedom, so much that she was heedless of the drawbacks that come with vagrancy. he almost wishes he had been able to meet her earlier in her life. ]

How would I know who needed my help if I didn't know their names? [ he makes it sound matter-of-fact, like it's simple. he can easily play the fey stranger here. ] Besides - a smart, pretty girl who longs for adventure, locked up in a tower? That sure sounds like a princess to me.

After their meeting in Excellen's thread?

[platinumlucifer]

[ These caves could go take a short hike off a long cliff as far as Excellen was concerned. Plagued by voices from the past, she was rattled, searching for the exit. Her pistol was neatly tucked away in its holster, easy to retrieve if the occasion called for it. She hoped it didn't.

Hearing the echo of another silvery voice, carrying through the caves. Her eyes narrow, and a hand dangles at her hip, where her gun sat. The added uneven breathing set her even more on edge, but she knew from the erratic pattern that she had the upper hand, in case the beast she assumed it was decided to strike.

She thankfully caught a glimpse of him before he got a jump on her. He looked terrible, which was unsettling in and of itself, knowing how immaculately he kept himself otherwise. ]

Holy hell, what happened to you?

[ She walked toward him, slowly. He had the look of a wild animal to him, and she couldn't be too careful. ]

[platinumlucifer]

[ For the most part, Excellen had been disappointed by this whole expedition. After hearing so much about Union's Crazy Caves™, she expected something more... exotic, maybe? She knew that it had been an exaggeration. ]

The least they could've done is make whatever it is down here easy to find.

[ She was hardly grumbling as much as she was making conversation, her hands rested behind her head. Trailing behind the taller man, she kept a watch of his back.

Excellen saw the cavern change a few seconds after Hayato did. The sudden, artificial light hurt her eyes, and she raised a hand to shield them. Lowering it, she too stopped. ]

Hayato, what are you...

[ Her words trail off, and she takes a step back. Perfect weapon? This lab...

Hadn't Hayato disappeared for a while? No one quite knew where he went, they just assumed he was KIA. She was surprised to see him in Union, in fact; but she was beginning to realize just what he had been up to while he was missing. ]

H-hey now, Hayato get a hold of yourself here. Stop being so creepy.

[ Another step back. Her smile fell, and she went quiet. ]

[platinumlucifer]

[ She could feel the heat. Smell the smoke and chemicals in the air. Her body ached and felt numb at the same time, as Excellen watched silently like a ghost.

Kyosuke was hurt. Badly hurt. She'd never seen him so battered and torn, and that in and of itself was enough to set her off. ]

Kyo...

[ She saw it. The mangled body. Her mangled body. Blood. There was so much blood. She could smell it. Taste it. She couldn't breathe, her lungs frozen. Excellen's hands trembled, and she tried to will herself to move, her mind screaming.

Go to him.

Run.

Comfort him.

Forget what you saw.

Dear gods. How... The voices she heard earlier, they said she was dead.

...Had she...

Dammit, Excellen, say something! Do something! If you're still alive, do something! ]

Kyosuke...

she really is

[pathofheaven]

Worry about yourself. I don't intend to get hurt by a fist with no conviction behind it.

[ This time, Tendou doesn't even move. If this man was going to ignore the Pokemon, he was going to get burnt.

The Honedge slipped between them, putting up an Iron Defence to stop Hayato's attack. ]

So feel free to keep rampaging, I'll be here until you've calmed down.

[ladyofluminosity]

[ She gave him a skeptical look, unsure of what to think of the whole situation. ]

John sent you.

[ Lux was convinced. It was the only logical explanation, after all. No one else called her Lux--although she would like it if they did, even just once in a while. It was always "Luxanna," or "Miss Luxanna," or, in severe cases, "Lady Luxanna." She hated that. Luxanna was boring, helpless, trapped.

Maybe Lux was someone a bit stronger than she was? ]

But princesses need a prince or a knight to help them. They never do for themselves.

[ She would know, judging from all the fairy tale books she read. ]

Adventure is all well and good, but I hardly want to wait for someone to have one. If that's the case, than I would rather be something else.

[ Her confidence quickly faded, however, and she sat back down. ]

But every time I sneak out, I get caught. It doesn't matter anyway. Once I am married, I belong to my lord. He is a kind person but...

[ "But he does not love me, just as I do not love him." She wanted to say. ]

There are certain expectations. Certain obligations, Mister Frost. Even if I leave, I have to come back. This is the only life I know, and I...

[pathofheaven]

Takeshi Hongo? It's a good name. It's the name of a strong man, and of one who remembers his roots.

[ Tendou nods, simultaneously acknowledging the information the voice was giving him while dismissing it out of hand. He was hardly going to let himself be burdened by other people's troubles, or led astray by anything in this cave. ]

I am Tendou Souji. The man who walks the path of heaven, who will stand over all.

[ It was only right to return your name once one's been given, right? ]

[pathofheaven]

There's nothing wrong with having your eyes on the prize, but don't let that blinker you, or you won't even know if you've been led astray. [ Tendou taps the broken pillar behind him with a knuckle. ]

This is the second, possibly the third time we've passed this. If you don't believe me, keep running, I'll be waiting.

[ It was a strange phenomena, but this entire cave was a strange phenomena. In the first place, how could a cave fit the entirety of a ruined Union City within it? It simply made no sense mathematically, so of course it was always possible that they were running on the spot. Tendou had not thought of that at first, but now it seemed obvious. ]

[flying_chains]

"You could not 'make' me do anything, Sinbad. I wish to help of my own free will."

Normally, Morgiana was an bit shorter than Sinbad. Right now, however, she seemed to tower over him. "Now do you want to let me help, or do I need to drag you out of this cave and explore it myself?"

[schmott_guy]

He quickly analyzed the machine, then reached over to rip out something important and hopefully shut it down before the woman (probably Lucca's mother) got hurt. Obviously, his hand went write through the phantom lab without touching it, leaving him unable to change the fairly gruesome end of this little tragedy.

He came back to say something comforting to Lucca, but when he opened his mouth there were no words he could think of to say. He ended up just standing there looking sympathetic and kind of awkward.

[nippy]

Hey, hey!

[ he drops to his knees with her as soon as she sits, and he gently grasps her by the arms to get her attention. this is worse than he thought; most children he drags away from their parents are all too eager to neglect their duties in favour of playing games with a mysterious boy. ]

Listen, everybody needs help sometimes. If you need a prince or a knight or - [ he winks ] - a friendly spirit to break you out of your prison, that's okay. After that, the adventure is all yours, I promise. A princess can do just as much as anyone else.

[ the last thing she said is more important, though. this is the only life I know. ]

I'll let you in on a secret, though. [ and here he lowers his voice, cups a hand around his mouth like it really is important and confidential. ] I'm not supposed to tell you this, but one day, you're gonna be free of all this. You get to live the life you want and have all kinds of adventures and make your own choices about everything. I've seen it.

[nippy]

[ physical contact doesn't just keep him grounded - it draws his attention like a magnet, and he's embarrassed by how his breathing stutters. there must have been things like this in his old life, but he can't remember them. all he's ever known is small flashes of touch, a child's hand in his own while he leads them along. the support of Lux's back pressed to his, prolonged, would be dizzying if it weren't for the fear that the Mage stirs up.

as it is, the contact draws Jack out of his shock and terror enough to breathe, to be focused rather than in a state of panicked alertness. ]

Right. The guy he's pretending to be wouldn't be down here, not in a million years. This is just a trick.

Do you have so little faith in yourself that you won't even believe your own eyes? [ a man dressed in white steps into view from one of the tunnels, his clothes formal and aristocratic, face hidden by a hooded white cloak. Jack stumbles away, his arm thrown out to shield Lux and usher her back too, even though the Mage's hands are folded behind his back and he shows no signs of aggression. ] Well, she asks me to be plain, and I suppose I should. Gods know Jack never would.

Stop it. [ Jack's voice is thin with stress. the hand he has held out across Lux is shaking. ] He's not here, this isn't real.

[ and it clearly isn't. unlike the convincing illusion that Lux's haunting had boasted, the Mage's features are indistinguishable, and it's a jarring thing to look at. as if there is something there that the eye simply refuses to see. the harder one tries to look at him, the more confusing it becomes. he is the kind of figure that is only ever meant to be glimpsed, the details of him lost by Jack's vague memory. still, Jack doesn't seem to be any less affected by his presence. it's not clear whether Jack has even noticed the incongruities of his spectre. ]

Does she know what you are? You've been vocal enough about that, at least.