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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[Oh man. He stops a little short at that but only for a moment. He clenches his jaw and hurries to close the distance between them. He's done this, it's not the worst he's seen. It's fake, it's an illusion, its in his head.]

[He's a little on edge, though not nearly as worn as Thorin appears- which is a problem all on it's own.]

[Once he's there he nods to him, closing his eyes.]

I did. He's safe. He hasn't left the city.

[ He bows his head as he sighs, relieved, shoulders slumping. ]

Thank you.

[ Pulls himself together with so many years of practice. It might be he stands a little straighter now, too, with not quite as much weight on his shoulders. ]

We should never have come here.

You had to try. We didn't know where he could be. I'm just glad I dropped by the park before I came down myself.

[He offers him a wan smile before he turns and looks towards what he hopes is the way he came.]

Let's just try and get out of here. Did Fili come, too?

He did. If it wasn't for him, I might've waited on word from you first.

[ Really, after the debacle with the last mysterious cave, Thorin hadn't expected Kili to be very eager to explore another one. In a few long strides, he catches up to Hayato. Truth be told, between time and hallucinations, he's completely lost his way. ]

But we got seperated. I can only hope he's made it out already.

[ Wait. Wait- dropped by the what now before he- ]

You said the park? That's where he was?

Heh, go figure.

[But okay, they should probably start heading off then.]

I'm sure he's fine. He's a tough kid. [Are you even older than him, hayato. Probably not.]

[But he nods.]

A small one on the other side of town.

[ Thorin nods in return. ]

Chances are, Fili will already have left this place. I'm not even sure how much time has passed since I entered. It seems Kili was the sensible one this time, for not coming down here.

[ Mark that one in the calendar.

... Wait. Did the ground just shake? It definitely felt that way. ]

There's a line about irony here, somewhere, but this is probably a bad time.

[He was attempting to lighten the mood, for however good it will do. He turns like he's about to head back the way he came when the ground shakes. His goes tense, staring around.]

Did you feel that?

[Caves and earthquakes were not things that should ever go together.]

I did.

[ It's hard to identify where that came from. But no matter the direction, it's probably really, really bad news. ]

Let's hurry.

[ Even though it's the direction Hayato came from, around the next bend the tunnel opens into a vast hall. It's still undeniably underground, but the polished stone floor, the pillars supporting the high ceiling carved with intricate symmetrical designs, the veins of precious stone within the walls - it might put a noble's palace to shame.

Many lamps hang suspended from above, making the whole place brightly lit. After a second or two, it becomes clear that this large hall is not empty - there are people around, and pokémon as well, milling about as in... well, a mess hall. In contrast, perhaps, to the beauty of the surroundings, the people are dressed utilitarian, and many are covered in dust and dirt. Miners, judging by their clothes.

Nobody's panicking yet. Thorin stops dead in his tracks. ]

[He nods and heads after him. He starts to notice something amiss pretty early, but when the tunnel opens up into a hall he stops shortly behind him.]

[This ...what was this? The people looked Calderan for sure but he didn't think he knew this place at all.]

What-?

Oh, no.

[ But Thorin knows this place, he even knows this day, looking around with what's part recognition and part horror.

The ground shakes again. The first people stop eating and share worried glances. Pokémon begin showing signs of distress. ]

We can't stay here.

[ Willing himself into motion again, he cuts across the hall at a brisk pace. He knows how this goes. He knows all too well. ]

[Oh- Oh shit. That shaking isn't lost on him. Thorin seems to know what this is so he just nods and follows after him.]

[He knows this isn't real- so is it a memory, then?]

Where are we?

[The question is quick but tentative.]

[ There's a false start there, but it's so quick maybe Hayato won't notice. He doesn't dare name the place, seeing it so real and vivid once again. ]

My grandfather's mine. It's... I grew up here.

[ This is home. But he doesn't linger or look left or right, speeds up, if anything. On one side of the hall, far from them, part of the floor tilts and sinks. Around them miners and pokémon panic, some starting to run, a few arguing they should at least try to warn the others, we can't just leave them down there!! versus there's no time!

This is home, and it's not going to stay standing. ]

[He keeps pace with Thorin easily enough. He's quiet, wondering why this place wasn't so familiar- then the floor splits and sinks. His eyes go wide, slowing just a tad.]

Shit-

[He almost turns to go after them- to help anyone over there. Thorin might have to snap him out of it.]

[ He sees Hayato veer off course and grabs him by his collar, yanks him back on track. His tone is not kind of patient, the statement issued like an order. ]

Stay with me. They are not real and you can not save them.

[That snaps him out of it. He's yanked successfully back to Thorin. He stumbles a little but otherwise falls back into step, if a little startled. he looks over his shoulder again.]

[Quietly:] This place is going to come down, isn't it?

[ It turns quiet around them safe for shouting, and Thorin faces stubbornly forward, taking the time for a few long strides before he responds through gritted teeth. ]

Yes. And fast.

[ There's dust in the air now, from the direction where the floor sunk - though it has stopped sinking for now, but Thorin heads for a wide flight of stairs at the center of the front wall, stairs which he takes two at a time. Despite the silence, there are cracks in the stone here too. If they had the time to wait and watch, they'd see them widen.

Is it getting warmer? It might just be the pace. ]

[Hayato was pretty sensitive to heat- in that fire was VERY bad for his typing. The heat is something he notices and being that he was Calderan, those were not wonderful implications. They're probably right under the volcano.]

[He matches Thorin's speed, easily taking two at a time as they climb the steps. He keeps an eye on those cracks and tries to avoid stepping on any.]

[ So they run, and a while at that. Down a hall and up more flights of stairs and winding tunnels, and if one had time to look around one might notice the craftsmanship of it. It's more likely all their attention is taken up by fleeing, and they're not the only ones who are. There are more tremors as they go, some stronger, some less so, but the heat is undeniable.

Thorin stops in front of a large stairwell. They're almost out of here, the exit is close if the draft of cooler air is anything to go by.
To the left the wide hallway stretches in darkness, but the cavern it opens to is filled up with an orange glow. Outlined by it is the sillhouette of a man who can't be anything other than Earthkin, claws and a scaled tail visible even at a distance. He's the first who isn't running in panic. He's who Thorin is looking at, when by all means he should be moving. ]

[He runs, and is thanking his body for once for the stamina is possesses now. He keeps pace with Thorin, only slowing down when the tremors make it impossible not to.]

[As they make it to the end, he can all but feel the difference. He doesn't let himself be relieved yet, but he does break out in a short grin before ...what was that?]

...

[He didn't have a good feeling about this.]

Thorin.

[ Still not moving. ]

You need to run.

[ But he doesn't even look at him as he says it, can't bring himself to look away from the end of the corridor. ]

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Descent into Darkness

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surprise change in scenery!

darn you union cavesssss

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