bravenewworld | Descent into Darkness

Descent into Darkness

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.]

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So you still haven't told them?

[Isabela is walking through the caves, trying desperately to ignore the phantasms around her and remember both the way out and why in the Land God's flaming ass she had come here in the first place. She's currently being bothered by a middle-aged woman who looks a bit like Isabela would if she wore decent clothes and put on about ten years.]

I think they've a right to know about you.

Go away, mother.

You're lucky I'm even talking to you, you know. How many other worthless rebellious deadweights get a chance to make up with their parents?

Very few who were sold into slavery, I imagine.

Marriage isn't slavery, little one.

Hell, then. And shut up, I'm trying to find my way out of here.

You never will, you know. Not while you chain yourself down. Trapped, trapped...

[Isabela clamps her jaw shut and draws a knife. She doesn't think this image is real, but could it really hurt to try?]

[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?!]

Of course it's not bloody real.

I'm at least as real as your whole "pirate queen" act, dear. Working for pennies in a walled tower full of do-gooders? Doesn't it just make you feel so--

[Isabela hurls her knife at the apparition, which disappears in a cloud of smoke. At the same time, iron chains suddenly appear, shackling Isabela's feet to the ground and her hands behind her back. A male voice takes over for her "mothers"'s.]

--trapped?

[Isabela immediately starts swearing and struggling at the chains, making a rather horrible clanging.]

[Yuuna'd never quite bought the pirate queen act, but that didn't matter. It was the front Bela put up, and that was all that mattered.

When the chains appear, though, Yuuna immediately moves to her back and pulls out a hairpin, working on the lock while leaning close to her friend's back.]

Don't worry, and don't struggle so much. You're not trapped. I've got you.

[Smith's daughters know something about locks after all.]

Hey, dude, why don't you go jump in a lake. She's not stuck anywhere she doesn't want to be. Or she'd be gone.

[Isabela keeps struggling for several moments, breathing heavily and panicking too much for Yuuna's words to immediately register. She eventually bites her lip to force herself to stop, letting Yuuna work.]

[A specter of a balding, goateed man appears to match the voice. Despite blood dripping from a deep slash wound across his throat onto his expensive silk shirt, he speaks with no trouble.]

She stays because she doesn't know anything BUT the chains. 'Trapped' by her mother. 'Trapped' by me. Now she's trapped by Union, only she doesn't have anyone to have murdered to get out of it.

[Isabela, with some difficulty, opens her mouth again.]

How many times do I have to say it? Someone else had your fat arse assassinated! I just took the opportunity and ran with it.

[Isabela's own voice echoes back from the cave walls, distorted into an entirely different statement.]

Luis? Yeah, I had his fat arse killed. A handsome fellow did it as a favor, and for the rings on his fingers...

[Luis (apparently) chimes back in.]

Always with the lies, Little Beauty...

[Yuuna’s fingers work deftly, and she pulls Isabela close against her in a bid to keep her from struggling too much more. A half-hug, half hold. Another moment’s work and there’s a click, the manacles on her hands free.]

Isabela. You know Union’s not holding you, right? If you want to leave, at any point? You can. I’ll take you as far as the Warp Band goes, maybe a bit farther.

[She drops to her knee and starts working the locks on her friend’s feet, precise movements with her pick working the tumblers. She can’t say she’s not interested in hearing what’s being said, but the way it’s affecting the normally unflappable pirate? Is beginning to make her feel as uncomfortable as Banzu’s dreams.]

That’s all there is too it. Ignore this guy, I don’t care what he’s got to say, you’re anything but trapped. We don’t work like that, we’re not Gigas. You have a choice, you always have a choice. Savior knows that I’ve exercised that right more than once.

I don't--

[The image of the man interrupts.]

She doesn't want to leave. Too comfortable, too lazy, too afraid of the big world. She never wanted freedom, she just wanted someone else to tell her right from wrong.

[The chains on Isabela's arms reappear as fast as Yuuna loosens the ones on her legs.]

In fact, you could say her "friends" are holding her here. Didn't you promise yourself not to get attached?

[Yuuna keeps working anyway, fingers easily breaking the lock. Rising quickly, she interposes herself between the figure and her friend.]

So what? Friendships aren't chains. And we've never told her right from wrong. She comes along when we're doing these sorts of things because she wants to.

[Turning back, she looks at the pirate queen and flashes a grin.]

Don't listen to this clown. Seriously, if you really wanna go, then go. Merrill and I won't hold you down. Or stay. It's your call, you know.

[Isabela grits her teeth.]

So what, Luis, I should bugger off just to spite you?

[He shrugs.]

Not like you never did THAT before.

Yes, but unlike you, the people here actually have some redeeming qualities other than money. Plus, and I feel like I should emphasize this, you're dead.

[The apparition is silent at that.]

Right...you're dead, and never coming back, and I never have to even pretend to listen to your sleazy opinions anymore, so...why should I care about anything you said or did?

["Luis" disappears, but the chains don't.]

Right. So. Step one accomplished...

[This whole display is rather troubling, given that she can tell just how much it's affecting her friend. And how little effect she's having on the chains.]

Hey, Bela. You...you know you don't have to feel trapped by us, right? We're not making you stay.

[A beat, and she does her best Merrill impression, complete with a vague smile and head cocked to one side.]

You like Union, don't you?

I like the people. And the wide array of poorly-secured knickknacks.

[She pauses. Ugh, she's not going to get out of these chains easily, is she.]

But it's not...what if...what if I forget what the sea smells like under all the coal smoke?

[The chains stay. That's not quite it. After a second, she shakes them and shouts in the general direction of the ceiling.]

Oh come on, is this some kind of quiz?

Isabela.

[Yuuna laughs now, a gentle sound, almost chidin and accompanied by a full on frontal bear hug.]

It's not like you can't just leave, whenever you want. The sea is only so far, and you have the power to just fritter off whenever you want. You like the place, that's obvious. You've made a home, same as all the other vagabonds. Admit it, you feel that way and it scares you. But you can leave. It's totally in your power.

[Isabela takes a deep breath in, and lets it out. Situation aside, she's still not really used to people who get this touchy-feely platonically.]

It was in my power to leave Luis, too. I had to wait until someone killed him. I promised myself to never be tied down like that again.

[She grinds her teeth.]

And then you goody-two-shoes landlubbers have the temerity to actually be likeable and treat me like a human being. That's not...something I've had anywhere else.

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...Told us what, Isabela?

[Hey, there's Merrill. Where the heck did she come from? Who knows, but she's here now.]

First of all, that's not her name.

[Isabela glares at the apparition.]

Shut up! Don't you dare do this in front of Merrill.

Whyever not? She's a grown woman - unlike YOU, with that attitude. Doesn't she deserve to know you're a worthless load, Naishe?

Don't you ever call me that!

[The image of Isabela's mother disappears, replaced with a middle-aged man walking around comfortably despite blood from a cut throat spilling on his pricey clothes.]

Ah, so you do prefer the name I gave you. I'm so happy you appreciated at least one gift...

Naishe...?

[Merrill tilts her head questioningly, but she doesn't get much of a chance to follow up on it before the next figure appears. The blood running down his clothing elicits a gasp of surprise.]

Oh! Oh goodness, he's bleeding...! Isabela, who is this? Shouldn't we help him?

Like hell. He's dead.

Surely I live on in your heart. You cared enough to have me killed instead of just run away, right?

Ignore him. He's a liar!

Something we have in common, my dear little beauty...

[Merrill looks to the man, and then to Isabela. Thinking. Remembering. Putting it together.]

...This man owned you?

He married me, so, yes.

That's just hurtful.

He must not have been a very good husband to have ended up like that.

[He laughs, which is a horrible sight when blood is pouring out of someone's throat.]

She didn't think so. She had me killed.

Still a lie.

Deny it all you want, but this is what happens to anyone who tries to get close to you. You stab them in the back before they can do the same to you.

Shut up, would you?

[Okay, even Merrill has to wince at that.]

Isabela... what really happened between you?

[Isabela grits her teeth, but if anyone could hear her life story and not hate her, it was probably Merrill.]

When I was young, I was basically sold off into marriage. Mother had a lot of problems with me, and with money. Luis here was a rich merchant. Bought me lots of things. Kept me where he could see me.

[She sighs.]

I got...bored with him. I hated him and the things he made me do, too, but mostly I hated being stuck. I wanted out. A handsome fellow with sharp knives hired by one of his rivals gave me the chance, and I helped him. And then thanked him, repeatedly, on a nightly basis for several nights.

[At about this point, the specter of Luis disappears. His role in her story is done.]

And after that, I swore I'd never let myself be tied again. Not to a person, not to a place, not to an idea. Just...me. Alone. Free.

[Merrill listens, slowly nodding and waiting for her to finish before responding.]

...But you've been in Union an awfully long time, haven't you? And you aren't alone here at all.

[Yes, that is what she got out of all of that.]

Exactly! What am I even doing? I might as well lock myself up in a bloody cell. With nice curtains on the windows, or some other metaphor for you being legitimately nice.

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