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

[sparkofgenius]

"No...no, it can't be," Lucca echoes, looking at Gil with obvious and apparent fear in her eyes. "How could we be here? I mean, this was ten years ago..."

That sound continues, loud and angry chunking, mechanical clunking and creaking. Gato shrugs and he and Gonzales wander on inside, with Lucca following rather numbly. Her voice has a distant quality, her Steel nature coming out more fully.

"There's nobody here? How'd...an illusion like this get down here anyway?"

Her hands reach out and start poking at a workstation, several obvious levers and buttons drawing the eye. They seem, perhaps, the most real of all of this.

"Why would anyone want to look at this old place?"

[untalented]

Yosuke, don't--

[He didn't have time to finish his sentence before the Magus interjected.]

"Oh? And what did you come here for? To tell us that we can't continue our work?"

[The Magus seemed to chuckle.]

"As if we would listen to anyone from the outside. A child of Union or a child of Citadel-- none of you have any place in our affairs....isn't that right, Waver Velvet?"

[Waver tore his gaze away, unsure of what to say.]

[frozenflame]

"It's..." Yukiko's eyes go white with embarrassment, and a little bit with fear. What the hell was this?! Why was there another her?

"Let me help you with that. It's me! Oh no! Except it isn't." The shadow jabs a finger at Yukiko. "You always need someone's help. You're just waiting for someone to come along and rescue you because you're too afraid to do things on your own. You know you're weak, that's why you rely on people like Yosuke, or Chie, or Rise. It makes me sick!"

She takes a step back now, stumbling into Cassandra and falling over the Absol, landing on her back.

"W-what?! No! That's not true!"

The shadow seems to grow angrier, surging forward with fury in her eyes.

"Yes! It is!"

[conquerorofwaves]

His tail thrashed, betraying his agitation at the vision - that was not a sight or voice he had wanted to hear again. "Good - it's not just me." But not good if it kept pulling things out of his head.

"So we're dealing with illusions, at least those can't hurt us."

[actsmagnificent]

[ Rushing Wind the Pidgeot gives an assenting whistle from low in her throat. They need to look out for their Trainers. Would either of you like to scout ahead with her?

...She raises the babies at the theater. Teamwork is her thing.

Haruka snorts. ] We'll know when we catch them.

{{But you won't.}}

[ ...oh, great. Whatever-it-is breaks the silence for ominous voices. That isn't irritating at all. Haruka bites back a sigh. She's above this. She is the wind. ]

[conquerorofwaves]

He almost starts at the touch of his instructor's hand on his shoulder - instinct barely kept his tail in check. "I'm fine." Sinbad shook his head as Badr slithers around him - a Dragonair is much longer then a Dratini, but he still holds on tight.

"You recognized that hall, huh?" He whispers softly as he strokes his fins before turning to Yuuna. "This is - what you saw is a Laboratory near my homeland, we called it a Dungeon not knowing any better. You can say it's where I started to gather the desire to leave the Archipelago."

OPEN

[nippy]

[ so much for this being fun. Jack had started to feel claustrophobic the longer the tunnels went on, soles of his bare feet itching for open space, every inch of his skin prickling with the effort it took to keep his innate coldness reigned it before he ended up giving everyone else hypothermia. he's hardly going to turn tail and run because of a little discomfort, though. and when the voices started - indistinguishable whispers accompanied by shadows flitting across his peripheral vision - it only makes him more determined to see this through to the end.

that will only last for so long, though. ]

Jack Frost.

[ this new voice rings clear in the caves, and Jack goes unnaturally still - everything about him stops, he doesn't blink, doesn't breathe, looking for all the world like a statue. that man's voice is one he couldn't possibly forget. it's the first voice he ever heard. those are the first words he ever heard. but he's never heard that voice since, not outside of nightmares (is he just asleep? no no he can't be, but the thought sits in his mind nonetheless) and he feels torn between fear and anger, an urge to pursue and an urge to flee.

the voice goes on, different in some implacable way: ] Oh, I'm sorry - that isn't actually your name, of course. But then... you don't have a name. Not one that you know.

[ Jack shakes himself free of whatever had come over him, and he twirls his staff in his hands so that it is held out like a weapon - or a defence. there is already frost creeping along the wood, spreading across the rock under his feet. his breath leaves curls of icy mist in the air. ]

Har har. I get it, very funny. [ he paces like a cornered animal, turning sharply every time he sees a shadow. ] I know you're not him.

Do you? I don't think you know much of anything. [ Jack inhales sharply. ] How old are you, Jack? Where do you come from, Jack? Why you, Jack?

[rainsrespite]

[That's okay. They aren't very fast. So maybe you should and they can guard.]

Catch...

[Yuuna's words die in her throat as she hears that voice, looking around.]

W-Who's there?!

[rainsrespite]

"Laboratory?" Yuuna's mouth twists around the word in disdain. "Were you held here against your will?"

That may seem obvious, but she wants a bit of confirmation before she goes forward with any assumptions.

[rainsrespite]

"Can't you tell, boy?" The woman calls out to Waver, swaggering across to stand a few feet in front of him.

It's definitely Yuuna, though older, more lined...her whole body rigid with muscle and tension. Her hair though, is the most obvious change. It's still short and a bit shaggy, but there are streaks of electric white running through it. Her sneer too, is obviously different, something that's completely replaced the sunny summer smiles of the Ranger.

"You...holy shit! You're...me?!"

The woman scoffs, the Hitmonchan at her side all but growling at her. Yuuna takes a step back, eyes looking away.

"No, weakling. I'm nothing like you at all. I'm strong, and you're weak. You've not come close to your potential..."

[pathofheaven]

[ "Nobody can tell me to stay quiet!" Was what Tendou would have said if there was anything important to say. Instead he's perfectly content to walk more or less together with Haruka: a few feet between them, but moving in the same direction. It wouldn't help either of them to be moving alone now. ]

Is this your nightmare, or mine? [ He had to move closer to speak quietly, but oh well. ]

[actsmagnificent]

{{ It's your fight, and you can't even manage it. }}

[ Right, definitely a hallucination. Haruka bends her knees, one hand going to her own sword. She looks around too, choosing to address the deserted cityscape at large. ] Probing where you aren't wanted's rude.

[ World Shaking moves to guard Haruka's back, and Rushing Wind heads down the street with a nod for the dragons. She's off to see what's in this direction.

Only to discover the path is blocked by fallen buildings. Back she flaps, squawking a warning. ]

[untalented]

Eyes wide now, clearly displaying his fear and unease at the woman's approach, Waver took a step back and subtly shifted closer to Yuuna. A single glance was enough show the veracity in the woman's words; there was no denying that the differences between the two women went beyond age, experience, and relative skill level.

"She's different from you, Yuuna," he muttered quickly in a voice that was barely above a whisper. "There's an electric type-- but that makes no sense!"

He shook his head helplessly, lanky hair flying into his face with the motion. There were so many questions flying through his mind at that moment that he had to accept the raw information that was before him, discrepancies and all.

[actsmagnificent]

[ There's a chance this could be generated by this person's head, too? This time he gets a whole glance from Haruka. She doesn't know this person. They're also concerned about the world ending? ] Does it matter?

[ Shoot, it's got her on edge just by existing. Just by the fact that guessing it's not real doesn't make it go away. Haruka stamps down on her temper, but that doesn't do much for her facial expression. ]

open

[incousinswithyou]

[silence is the word of the day. Crumbling buildings, scattered objects, broken toys. The heavy, oppressive atmosphere is only accentuated by how utterly silent it is.

Michiru's face is blank, as she seems to take it all in stride. The Gardevoir trailing behind her seems a bit more nervous, looking everywhere for threats to her Trainer.

Wait. Michiru comes to a sudden stop. But she came down with...] Haruka?

[where did she go?]

[rainsrespite]

[Yuuna relaxes against Kyo as the Tyranitar plods up, hugging her close and protectively. He's always been like this, and he's going to stand tight beside World Shaking.]

So is talking without showing yourself. Who are you? and what are you?

[rainsrespite]

The skill and power differential was never more apparent than the instant he mentioned that electric typing. "Yuuna" held up a hand, and electricity crackled along her fingers, chittering and snapping in the spotlights. The crowd cheered, and the shadow sneered at both of them.

"I Awakened. I was given a path to power. And I took it." she responded, while the real Yuuna stood there, stunned speechless. She awakened into something like that?

"That...doesn't make sense. I wouldn't...I'm not Enlightened? And I wouldn't use Pokeballs."

"No YOU wouldn't, but when the Gigans came in and took over I sure didn't have much choice. The Warp Band towers are gone. And I wasn't about to lose power. Hell, without it I'd be fucking dead."

[rainsrespite]

[It's actually hard to hear this. It's really hard listening to it, knowing that Isabela's going through some of the same shit she went through earlier. But...]

It's not real, Bela.

[...but you were married?!]

[conquerorofwaves]

He blinks as he walked on ahead. "What? No -" Sinbad shook his head. "It's a place that's been gone, from before the whole disaster. The royal family had been sending people in there to try to find ancient weapons or some other edge for the stupid war. Though when we got forced in, it was filled with dragon-types, all with a grudge against humans."

A voice calls out at that. "For good reason..." it purrs, and it sounded strangely familiar, though he couldn't quite place it. "You're a walking example why humans can't be trusted."

[rainsrespite]

Yuuna blinks at the sound of that voice. That wasn't good! Not at all! She follows Sinbad more hesitantly, her Hitmonchan taking up the rear with the dragon babies.

"What do you mean? Sinbad's a great kid! He's the most understanding trainer I've seen in ages."

[conquerorofwaves]

"Speaking isn't understanding." It intoned.

"Understanding doesn't mean caring." A second voice - flat and calm added.

Sinbad. Don't listen. Badr chirps, the gem on his throat glinting. The young man shook his head.

"Shut up. I'm not like that, I do what's right!" He calls out as he covers his ears, despite it being useless.

"Right? Right? Right for who?" the first voice repeats mockingly.

"There he goes again with the pretty empty words, all gilt and hollowed out with rotted half-truths."

[pathofheaven]

[ Tendou resisted a smirk. ] It really doesn't.

[ For someone faced with what was possibly his own nightmare, he was oddly calm. He had already seen it enough in his head, lived it even, to let himself be broken down by something he knew was an illusion. ]

Calm down. A boiling pot only turns to steam. [ His grandmother's wisdom again. Technically it was a call for men to stay cool, but really, it applied to both sexes. ]

[expertonshutters]

[Hayato was down here looking for a few of his housemates, but he didn't expect to get as lost as he did in this twisting caverns. If it wasn't really important that he come down here, he wouldn't have said fuck it to Union explorations and their shitty caverns. He had no desire to meet the gods again after all that.]

[Either way, stepping out into what looked like some kind of arena- which he assumed is what it was because it didn't look anything like the ones back home. There was something ...No.]

[And then he sees Yuuna and ...another Yuuna? What the heck was going on here. He's immediately on edge but there's still a short laugh that comes from him.]

Man, I really should have learned my lesson the first time about Caves and Union, but here I am.

[imprudens]

[ There isn't a lot someone like Totsuka can do against this cold. He's lucky he brought a jacket, and he's doubly lucky for the pokémon accompanying him lending him a little additional warmth - a Talonflame perched on one shoulder, a Zubat laying across the other, listening. Once in a while his sneakers scrape across the rough stone floor.

There's a faint glow that accompanies him, like parts of the walls have turned to embers that are almost gone out, but no heat comes with it. ]

You know, that's pretty rude for someone to ask just like that. Someone who isn't even here, besides.

open!

[imprudens]

I early on

[ Totsuka's only with two pokémon today, instead of half a menagerie that often follows him. But Kotori, the Talonflame, refused to leave, and Lady, the Zubat, is probably his best bet at being helpful in a cave.

What he didn't count on was the specific issue with these caves and tunnels. The place makes him uneasy. Totsuka steps lightly, clearly on the jumpy side. Voices drift in and out of hearing, but nothing clear enough until a shadow solidifies nearby. The shape is that of a child, a young girl in a dress or gown, but the only thing that stands out from the black of the sillhouette are her red eyes. She seems sad. ]

You know... if you stay with them, you won't live very long. Your time's almost up, Tatara.

II later

[ By now he's been down the tunnels and come back out, only to return into the dark once he realized some people were down there who needed help. This seems like the kind of thing he can do.

The voices and shadows still manifest now. There's the voice of a grown man, slurring slightly. A faint smell of liquor on the air. This one almost sobs. ]

You really are heartless, you know.

[ Totsuka sighs, and his tone is patient. Long-suffering, been there done that, but kind all the same. ]

I know, father. I know. It's okay.

[ There's a faint glow that follows him now, like dying embers in the walls, but no warmth to go along with it. ]