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

[darer]

[ There's a body in front of him. A body that can't be here, that has no business being here. Thorin doesn't even react to the hand on his shoulder right away, unable to look away from it.

Kili has never in his life worn a uniform. It looks wrong on him. Nobody would ever make a soldier out of him. All the same, there he is, for all intents and purposes looking like he died a gruesome death in battle, even though the sound of it has dimmed like it's far, far off now.

It's a few false starts before Thorin manages to look up far enough to recognize Taki. His shoulders shake at his attempts to compose himself enough to say... something. Anything. ]

I know- I know this isn't real, but-

[ He trails off. How could he walk away? He can barely look away. ]

[leadingspirit]

Someone else helping to convince you that this would be more likely the fate of whoever tried to put him in that uniform might help.

[The smile is brief, because he doesn't want to just joke. He understands the bomb that drops in your stomach and explodes into dread so cold it feels hot when you see something like this. Even the objective knowledge it isn't real is hard to swallow when it's looking you right in the face, and he won't tell anyone, much less Thorin, that they're wrong for looking twice.]

[darer]

[ The joke falls flat for Thorin. He only shakes his head. ]

If he were to choose this, I wouldn't stop him.

[ This. The Battallion. War, and everything it entails. He doesn't feel like he has the right to decide for his nephews, even if this is what it comes down to, and he does not say so lightly. ]

I only hope he never does.

[leadingspirit]

[He withholds his brief horror over Kili joining the Battalion. Lord help all involved if he did.]

[His hand, though, is still on Thorin's shoulder, which he squeezes very slightly.]

Me, too.

[darer]

[ Lucky for everyone involved, that day won't ever come.

Thorin sighs, and very slowly wills himself to get back to his feet. He can't stay here forever. It's still hard to look away though. ]

I shouldn't have come here.

[leadingspirit]

[Taki takes a small step back from him to let him stand, bracing his hands on his hips.]

I'm about 90% sure that's something that most people down here have thought.

[darer]

Likely so. But I should have known better to begin with. The last time tunnels opened near Union and groups went in to explore them, their so-called gods had their fun putting us to some kind of test. Hayato may have mentioned it.

[ Finally, finally turns away from the body to look at Taki instead. Around them, the shadows provide muffled, distant screams for ambience, the shriek of metal being torn and twisted by something far too powerful, but all of it far away. ]

[leadingspirit]

[He quirks his mouth.] Yeah, he did.

[The sounds don't seem to bother him, and he offers Thorin a somewhat rueful smile.]

I think it's time we boycott caves.

[darer]

At least any that suddenly appear in the area.

[ He shakes his head. The tension doesn't really leave him. ]

We should go.

[ Before it gets worse again. The sounds subside, for now. ]